Character Analysis: Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood

Grace Marks being the protagonist of the historical novel Alias Grace matures and grows as most protagonist do. Grace goes through many stages in her life where she needs to adapt to the situation in order to not be taken advantage of. She Is either too naive, too deep in self-pity or too self-aware. She Is a dynamic character who goes from being a scared little girl Into a convicted murderess. The stereotype surrounding her being a woman – making her too fragile to take part In such a crime actually helps her and saves her from the noose.Like every proper girl Grace was very naive when It came to things of the sexual nature. When she observes Nancy dress to have some Ink-Sis snuff stains she tells herself â€Å"she most likely slipped and fallen down† (262) She TLD understand where the stains could've came from, besides getting dirty doing house work. Throughout her story Grace speaks a lot about Mary Whitney and all she taught her regarding men such as ‘not sitt ing where a man just sat' and how street whore's made money. Unfortunately Mary died while going through an abortion, which ironically Grace did not understand at the time.All of this new information did scare Grace, until she finally realized how naive she really was when she was informed about Mr†¦ Skinner and Nancy relationship as to which she remarked â€Å"l was much surprised , and said so; â€Å"l was not so knowing as I thought myself, and could scarcely see the nose before my face†. (295-296) Grace started losing luck as soon as she decided to work for Mr†¦ Skinner. Chapter 23 in the novel is named â€Å"Snake Fence† hinting Grace is walking into danger. Immediately after she enters the town she is confronted by a stranger before being saved by Jeremiah (239).Once she began working in the new village she felt very isolated † . It struck me at once how very solitary I was, as I had no friends here except Nancy, if she could be called a friend . . .1 did not know where my family was, which was the same as having none†. (301-2), she also confesses tootsie Walsh, â€Å"l felt would cry again, and said simply, I have no friends here. † (303). Unfortunately Grace soon finds out that that sort of loneliness is nothing compared to what was waiting for her in solitary confinement, where she would soon have to learn how to entertain herself â€Å"l sing a song, Just to hear a voice and keep myself company†. 37) By the end of the novel grace becomes very self-aware of how people view her, she knows people view her as a type of romantic notion and tells Lydia â€Å"But If I laughed out loud I might not be able to stop; and also It would spoil their romantic notion of me. Romantic people are not supposed to laugh, I know that much from looking at the pictures†. (27) And later admits â€Å"l look at him stupidly. I have a good stupid look which I have practiced†. (43).Her role playing seems to throw ma ny off when It comes to her being guilty or not, because she is so deep into her role of playing the â€Å"Lady of complete truth to Doctor Jordan it would never be known, with all the role playing she admits to doing. Grace's character and Tattoo's feminist views play a big part in how Grace is portrayed throughout the book. Just analyzing Grace acutely one cannot miss how her traits and situations make her seem to usually be the victim. But then again, if this wasn't the case, her story wouldn't be so interesting to the masses.

Theory of Equity

Is equal pay the same as equitable pay? First you need to know the difference between the two. Equal pay would be a female doing the job of a construction electrician getting the same pay as her male counter part. Equitable pay is the perceived fairness when employee†s compare pay from their job with other jobs in the company. You also need to know that pay adequacy is the pay level that allows the employee to meet basic needs and to achieve a standard of living that is minimally acceptable to the employee. (Kirkpatrick 1996) the last thing to describe is Equity Theory. Equity Theory maintains that people seek a balance between there efforts and rewards and the rewards that others receive for their efforts. Thus, if one employee believes that his or her efforts are being under-rewarded in comparison to his or her colleagues' efforts, the employee will attempt to restore balance by either securing additional rewards or reducing his or her efforts. Equity pay can undercompensate or overcompensate, two forms of inequity, and cause â€Å"distress† that workers seek. The results suggest that it is not necessarily the case that each [worker] is simply out to get as much as he can for the work. There appear to be equally strong desires that each one should earn the right amount-fair and reasonable amount relative to others. Workers who receive compensation that is considered less than equitable are more likely to strike, file grievances, or eventually withdraw from the workplace if the inequity, or the distress associated with inequity, is not reduced. Equity pay also implies that underpayment produces a different reaction in workers than overpayment does, although both reactions are considered distressing. Underpaid workers may experience feelings of deprivation and of being cheated, whereas overpayment may produce feelings of guilt and unworthiness. These different expressions of distress may engender quite different strategies for reduction. How workers reduce or avoid feelings of inequity caused by overpayment. Individuals would rather raise their estimations of their own inputs than reduce the valuation of their outcomes; the latter process could be far more costly to the individual. Attitudes that devalue the job and/or its outcomes could eventually lead to job dissatisfaction, which is likely to diminish one's overall well-being. Kirkpatrick emplies that â€Å"If employee†s are not meeting pay adequacy through pay or other resources, then striving to maintain fair pay is irrelevant. † (P158) An organization that decides to base an employees' compensation on his or her impact eliminates the need for job classifications and for most compensation management tools. Although this may seem extreme, it's an attractive option, especially given the weaknesses of most classification and compensation systems. Current job classification methodologies attempt to create job level hierarchies based on such criteria as knowledge, skills and the required abilities. The logic here is that the classification system aids compensation management by providing a means to compare salaries paid to equivalent jobs throughout the organization. Compensation should be driven by an employee's contribution, not by his or her classification. Impact analysis eliminates the need for most compensation management tools, including salary surveys that sound the depths of a collective pool of ignorance. Instead of capping salaries at some percentage of what everyone else is paying, compensation can be limited by the estimated r actual return generated by the position. In those rare cases in which market pressure and operational necessity demand that a position be paid more than the return it will generate, impact analysis will keep management apprised of the negative return to prevent its being lost or forgotten. Equal pay not only treats individuals fairly it benefits us all–particularly our Nation's families. It empowers individuals to become more self-sufficient, reducing the dependence of many families on government assistance. It also rises women's purchasing power, increases their pensions, and improves their capacity to save, all of which help to strengthen our economy. During the past three decades, our Nation has made a strong commitment to ensuring that every American is treated with dignity and equality in the workplace. Legislation such as the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act has helped us make progress in correcting discriminatory practices. But we still have a long way to go before the wage gap between men and women are eliminated.

Client-server and Human Resource Essay

The proponents have found the following studies and literature as relevant to the system being proposed. The review of related literature and studies will serve as an overview of the presentation in the analysis of the system. INTRODUCTION Human Resource Information System (HRIS) improves information and communication between the company and the employees; it becomes an important strategic tool since it collect, manages and reports information for decision making. Modern HRIS needs to help the organizations by automating most of the Human Resource (HR) functions. The changing world new technology that is available, managers need to be aware of the technology that will increase effectiveness in the company. Early Human Resource, then called personnel, were limited to employee record keeping and were provided as a service to the organization. There was no HRIS as we know it today. Personnel record keeping was done by hand, oftentimes utilizing a system as simple as an index card file. The personnel department was typically small with little power and limited interaction with the organization’s business mission. After WWII organizations became more aware of human capital issues recognizing the importance of employe e morale in the success of organizations. Formal selection and development processes were developed but there was no real change from the original responsibility of the â€Å"personnel† department that of record keeping. As record keeping was still done by hand, HR information systems, pre-1960, hardly gave a hint of what they would become with the advent of workplace technology. In the late 1960’s and 1970’s the term â€Å"human resource management† gained common usage in place of the term â€Å"personnel† and by 1974 the new term, human resource management, was appearing in media headlines and was eventually shortened to just â€Å"HR.† From the 60’s to the 80’s organizations firmly integrated HR into their core business missions. At the same time regulatory reporting requirements for employees increased significantly. Large organizations used mainframe computers to maintain organization data bases and technology based Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) provided an efficient solution for the increased record-keeping and reporting required by government regulation. The human resources department became one of the most important users of the org anization’s computer systems, though the primary task was still record-keeping. In this modern era of Information Technology (I.T), human resource information system (HRIS) has become an important management discipline at enterprise level. HRIS plays a vital role in implementing the strategic business objectives of the organization, and in running the daily operations/functions efficiently and effectively to improve the productivity and proficiency, human capital becomes the only sustainable resource of the competitive advantage for an organization. Firms that is successful at finding, managing, retaining and developing good employees. Since 1990, the economical rapid change with globalization and technological innovations led for the development of human resource information systems (HRIS) and advanced internet capability facilitates to create a real-time shared data information-based, self-service, and interactive work environment. Information Technology with web-enabled capabilities helps human resource (HR) as it becomes a more horizontal and self-learning o rganization, by enabling human resource to contribute to the strategic focus of the organization. The strategically focus in human resource significance from the resource-based view of the firm that treats human capital as a strategic asset and a competitive advantage in improving organizational performance. Human Resource Information System is a systematic procedure for collecting, storing, maintaining, retrieving, and validating data needed by an organization. HRIS comes to the rescue of human resource professionals, because it has common shared database, tools to analyze to aid in decision making and many other features such as scanning and matching resumes compatible with requirement of the organization. HRIS empowers the employees to access their personnel records, view the payroll, tax payments and compensational benefits like health coverage, retirement benefits and other perks and incentives. In the literature, Database, Employee Tracking, Benefits Administration, Payroll Administration, Employee Interfaces and attendance monitoring are deemed to be major components of hu man resource information systems. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE John Gill et al., (2010) described the HRIS is a computerized system typically comprising a database or inter-related databases that track employees and their employment-specific information. Broderick (1992) states that HRIS can influence effectiveness in four ways: Firstly, with emphasis on increased productivity from the workforce, recruitment, short term working, temporary, and less redundancies. Secondly, it deals with the increasing demands made be legislation, which related to HR practices and the increased need to produce statistics for government. The third factor was the rate of the development of computer technology. The final factor was the increased availability of HRIS at lower costs. The professional body argued that effective HRIS use leads to efficiency. Michael et al., 2008] Florkowski et al., (2006) in his research paper: ‘The diffusion of human-resource information technology innovations in US and nonUS firms’, evaluated the diffusion of information technologies that are transforming HR service-delivery and revealed that the modest correlation between the number of acquired Information Technologies (IT) and HR-transactions automation supports the general call for more formalized HR-technology strategies at the firm level to coordinate purchasing and implementation decisions. Hussain ZI (2002) in his article stated that HRIS can help large or small businesses. By organizing the payroll, benefits and employee information among other things, it’s imperative to stay current on any changes to this software. Keeping the HR information system secure and compliant with other software should be the most important aspect. (International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences 52 http://www.euroasiapub.org ) The emergence of Information Technology, especially internet-enabled technology has affected and enhanced many management areas that include HR management. The decreasing costs of computer technology versus the increasing costs of employee compensation and benefits made acquisition of computer-based HR systems (HRIS) a necessary business decision. Resource Information Systems in Jordanian Universities ABSTRACT The main purposes of this study are to explore the extent to which public Jordanian universities have adopted Human Resource Information System (HRIS) and to examine the current HRIS uses, benefits and barriers in these universities. A structured questionnaire was constructed based on other previous studies; it also pre-tested, modified and translated to capture data from HRIS users in Jordanian universities. The main findings of this study revealed that the quick response and access to information were the main benefits of HRIS implementation. While the insufficient financial support; difficulty in changing the organization’s culture and lack of commitment from top managers were the main HRIS implementation barriers. The present study provides some insights into the performance and applications of HRIS in Jordanian universities that could help Human Resource Management (HRM) practitioners to get a better understanding of the current HRIS uses, benefits and problems, which in turn, will improve the effectiveness of HRIS in Jordanian universities. (http://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=related+studies+of+hris&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&ved=0CFgQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournal.ccsenet.org%2Findex.php%2Fijbm%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F7638%2F5867&ei=JjeGUPzYA-qNmQW3uIHQAQ&usg=AFQjCNHTHGH-AykQNcyM-sDYPla0MI9RHA) Human Resource Information System The system that seeks to combine the task and activities involved with human resource management and information technology (IT) into one universal database through the use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. The goal and objectives of HRIS is to combine the different parts of human resources including payroll, labor productivity, and benefit management into a less capital-intensive system than the mainframes used to manage activities in the past. Which is also called Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS). The Human Resource Information System is a database software or online solution for the data entry, data tracking, and data information needs of the Human Resources, payroll, management, and accounting functions within a business. Generally packaged as a data base, hundreds of companies sell some form of HRIS and every HRIS has different capabilities. Pick your HRIS carefully based on the capabilities one need in one company. Figure1.HRIS Human Resources Information System is a system that lets you keep track on all of employees and information about them. This is basically done in a database or, more often, in a series of inter-related databases. These systems include the employee name and contact information and all or some of the following: department, job title, grade, salary, salary history, position history, supervisor, training completed, special qualifications, ethnicity, date of birth, disabilities, veteran’s status, visa status, benefits selected, and more. (http://managementdemand.com/2012/07/hris/) How can HRIS contribute value to the organization? An HRIS serves two major purposes in organizations: HR Administrative and Operational Role: The first purpose of an HRIS is to improve the efficiency with which data on employees and HR activities is compiled. Many HR activities can be performed more efficiently and with less paperwork if automated. When on-line data input is used, fewer forms must be stored, and less manual record keeping is necessary. Much of the reengineering of HR activities has focused on identifying the flow of HR data and how the data can be retrieved more efficiently for authorized users. Workflow, automation of some HR activities, and automation of HR record keeping are key to improve HR operations by making workflow more efficient. HR Strategic Role: The second purpose of an HRIS is more strategic and related to HR planning. Having accessible data enables HR planning and managerial decision making to be based to a greater degree on information rather than relying on managerial perception and intuition. For example, instead of manually doing a turnover analysis by department, length of service, and educational background, a specialist can quickly compile such a report by using an HRIS and various sorting and analysis functions. Human resource management (HRM) has grown in strategic value in many organizations; accordingly, there has been an increased emphasis on obtaining and using HRIS data for strategic planning and human resource forecasting, which focus on broader HR effectiveness over time. What are the Uses of an HRIS? An HRIS has many uses in an organization. The most basic is the automation of payroll and benefit activities. With an HRIS, employees’ time records are entered into the system, and the appropriate deductions and other individual adjustments are reflected in the final paychecks. As a result of HRIS development and implementation in many organizations, several payroll functions are being transferred from accounting departments to HR departments. Beyond these basic activities, many other HR activities can be affected by the use of an HRIS. Figure2. Uses of Human Resource Information System (http://www.nmatec.com/hrwise/what) REVIEW OF RELATED SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT OF SUPPORT AND BENEFITS OF HRIS IN MEDIUM-SCALE TEXTILE INDUSTRIES ABSTRACT In the current fast-paced global competitive business environment, the efficient and effective management of human capital is an immense challenge to the human resource departments Information systems contributes to improve the organizational performance, and enhance the competencies of human resource professionals. This paper aims to assess and establish the support levels and the benefits of the human resource information systems in the medium scale textile industries. As a core part of the study, the primary data was collected from the selected of respondents of textile companies who are using human resource information systems with the help of a survey questionnaire. The data analysis that was performed using cumulative weighted average technique concludes highly moderate support levels of human resource information systems exists in the medium-scale textile industries and they are able to attain only 2/3 of the benefits. Further the research, based on an evolutionary view of computing growth suggests improvements in the human resource information systems in order to gain the competitive advantage and to maximize the benefits. (International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences 52 http://www.euroasiapub.org ) THE ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCE INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING IN PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS IN SRI LANKA ABSTRACT Human Resource Information System (HRIS) has become one of most vital information systems in the market. This study focuses on the role of HRIS in human resource planning (HR) in private sector organizations in Sri Lanka. The purpose is to explore the functionality and contribution of HRIS in HR planning through HRIS recruiting and training & development subsystems as perceived by senior HR executives in Sri Lankan private sector organizations. A pilot survey was carried out to identify the problem using structured interviews with Heads of HR of three selected private companies. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from senior HR executives of selected private sector companies in Sri Lanka. Answers received from 89 respondents were analyzed. The overall response rate was 48 percent. The deductive mode of reasoning, cross-sectional study and quantitative techniques were selected as research methods. The results of the survey showed that the most frequently accepted HRIS feature is training needs analysis (TNA) and that there is high positive correlation between HRIS job analysis and the effectiveness of HR planning. Most Sri Lankan private sector organizations perceived the contribution to efficiency of HR planning through HRIS skill inventory, HRIS TNA, HRIS training program evaluation, HRIS succession planning, HRIS labor demand and supply analysis and decision-making, as the greatest contribution of HRIS. This study shows that HRIS needs to offer more intelligent capabilities to increase the effectiveness of HR planning. HRIS vendors need to win the trust of HR professionals through enriching features and increasing the awareness and usage of HRIS in HR planning, especially its effectiveness. DEVELOPMENT OF HR INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR AN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY ABSTRACT The usage of a proper HR Information System (HRIS) has always been an important contribution for the HR (HR) operation in any organisation to work effectively. HR is one of the important functions of any industry. Hence it is important to keep this function equally efficient and effective compared to other operations in an organisation. One of the factors which contribute to the proper functioning of HR operation is data. Storing, analysing, processing and retrieving of data for decision making become necessary in this context. In the current study, the existing manual systems and processes in the HR department has been studied and observed. By studying the various processes with the help of tools like flow charts, use cases and data flow diagrams various parameters has been analysed. The HRIS has been designed using object oriented analysis and design methodology along with PHP version 5.0 for the front end and MySQL as backend database. Various forms like employee information, leave approval has been designed. Partial implementation of HRIS with Leave Management System as one of the modules has been carried out. Various reports like new and existing employees, leave pending/approval has been created. The HRIS has been implemented against the existing system on internal server with Windows operating system which reduced 49.24% of time compared to the existing system. The developed HRIS will help the organisation to effectively store employee data more securely and accurately. This study can be further extended in implementation of other modules of HRIS like recruitment, training, and development, compensation, benefits and payroll. (http://www.msrsas.org/docs/sastech_journals/archives/May2011/8.pdf) HUMAN RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN INDIA – ISSUES AND CHALLENGES Deoki Nandan*, K.S. Nair** and U.Datta*** Availability of adequate number of human resources with suitable skill mix and their appropriate deployment at different levels of health care set-up are essential for providing an effective health care service for the population. Since independence, concerted efforts have been made to address the need for human resources for health in India. However, shortage exists in all categories of human resources at different levels. Ensuring the availability of human resources for health in rural areas and building their capacity in public health are daunting tasks. Future challenges include planning for human resource for public health at State/national level, framing of State specific human resource development and training policy, creation of human resource management information system, reorientation of medical and para-medical education and ensuring proper utilization of the trained manpower and standardization of training. It is also important to link human resource development and trai ning policy to the National Rural Health Mission in achieving its goals. (http://medind.nic.in/hab/t07/i4/habt07i4p230.pdf)

Why world war II is a good war for THE UNITED STATES Research Paper

Why world war II is a good war for THE UNITED STATES - Research Paper Example This brief analysis will attempt to elaborate upon some of the primary means by which the Second World War worked to benefit the United States, increased the economic output, level of industrialization, set the United States predominately upon the world stage, opened up new markets and reduced the competitiveness of former rivals. Additionally, the war helped to differentiate the world into a bipolar system that forced nearly each and every nation to either select the United States or the Soviet Union as a protector and potential market for goods. In particular, the war brought the economy in America back to life after the malaise of the Great Depression. A number of contradictions thus arise from the actions taken by leaders during the activities of World War II. In this way, the proceeding analysis will attempt to detail the most prominent ways in which the Second World War was actually beneficial to the United States. Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, the war helped the United States to rapidly define and integrate a formerly backwards and relatively un-industrialized economy. Moreover, due to the level of malaise that the United States experienced as a result of the Great Depression, a spike in the level of industrial growth and the need to integrate a high number of skilled professionals into the economy meant that the nation was able to rapidly train and employ a high number of skilled professionals in a variety of industrial crafts. Though the industrial revolution had occurred many years previously, the level of development was neither impressive nor complete. However, as a result of the need to rapidly expand the economy and provide the soldiers fighting in the field with the necessary hardware of war, the industries of munitions production, heavy manufacturing, ship building, advanced electronic devices, early forms of computing technology, an advanced aircraft production industry, and a litany of other fields came to be well developed and robust b y the end of the war. According to Mooney, the United States was keen on providing the Allies with the necessary equipment for continuing the war even prior to the Attack on Pearl Harbor. This meant that the United States industry was required to produce and replace many of the goods and materials of war that were being sent to the allies overseas. Says Mooney, â€Å"In September 1940 the United States agreed to trade fifty old naval destroyers to British in exchange for leases on naval and air bases in British possessions throughout the Western Hemisphere.†(Mooney 187). As such, even the â€Å"trade† of 50 old destroyers is in and of itself a monumentally important factor due to the fact that these destroyers represented a percentage of United States naval power and must necessarily be replaced by the powers of industry. Such a representation of lend-lease or cash and carry was adequately defined by Mooney on page 185. The rampant growth of American wartime industry c ombined with the fact that many of the men in the nation had vacated their jobs and were now joining the armed forces created a unique opportunity for women. Due to the fact that women had previously been confined to the home as a result of gender norms and the identification that a woman’s place should be in the home, this opportunity was a powerful dynamic in helping to shape the way in which the United States developed and industrialized. The United States government soon got on board with the untapped labor pool and began to promote propaganda to engage even larger numbers of women in the workforce. By utilizing such evocative posters as â€Å"Rosie the Riveter†

To what extent are labour and capital really mobile within the EU Essay

To what extent are labour and capital really mobile within the EU - Essay Example hick (2005, 4) European Union would be rather considered as a ‘treaty-based, institutional framework that defines and manages political and economic cooperation among its 25 member states (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom)’. On the other hand, it has been found that all member states tend to be influenced by specific social and financial phenomena like the following ones: ‘market globalization, the European single market, and European supranational institutions’ (Verdier, 2001, 227). The reference to the above phenomena is made by Verdier (2001) because these phenomena are mostly related with the following sectors of European Union: ‘labour market, capital market, electoral competition, and centre-local government relations’ (Ve rdier, 2001, 227). In accordance with the above the freedoms provided to the citizens of the member states can be limited under the influence of specific factors that can be related not only with the public sector but also with the private one (as it is represented by the multinational firms that participate in the development of globalization internationally). With a reference especially to the movement of persons and capital across the EU, it is stated by Malone (1999, 54) that ‘right from the outset, two of the fundamental objectives of the European Union (as it is called today) have been to facilitate the free movement of labour and the free movement of capital across member states’. On the other hand, the study of Donaghey et al. (2006) refers especially to the movement of persons (especially of workers) within the European Union. More specifically, it is noticed by the above researchers that ‘citizens of the EU have the right to work in another Member State and the right to reside there for that

Soyfutures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Soyfutures - Essay Example ..12 Bibliography Chapter 1 Executive Summary The soya bean (or soybean in the US) is a legume grown mainly because of its edible bean which also has other multiple uses (Sidney & Smith 1972). A native crop of East Asia, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation classifies it as an oilseed and not a pulse. Of the entire soya bean crop produced worldwide, 85 percent is processed into vegetable oil and soya bean meal. 60 pounds of soya bean bushel yields 11 and 47 pounds of crude soya bean oil and soya bean meal respectively when processed. The high protein content makes soya beans ideal in the manufacture of livestock feed, especially in the United States. Human consumption is mainly in the form of dairy and meat substitutes, edible oils, soya flour, and infant formula. The use of soya beans in the non-food industry has also been on the rise, most significantly in the energy sector. Through the process of transesterification, biodiesel fuel can be obtained from soya bean oil for use i n diesel engines (Drapcho, Nghiem & Walker 2008). The process simply removes glycerine from soya bean oil. Because soya biodiesel burns cleaner than petroleum based diesel oil, it is non toxic, environmentally friendly and renewable. Environmentally friendly solvents can also be produced from soya oil that remove oil from shorelines, streams and creeks without causing any harm to the environment, humans, animals and marine life. It is also used in the manufacture of industrial solvents, lubricants, paints and cleaners. In the building industry, soya bean extracts are used in the manufacture of building materials, known as biocomposites, replacing the traditionally used wood in furniture making and flooring (McCormick 2006). Another use of soya bean oil is the manufacture of crayons, which makes them safer for children because they are non toxic. Candles made from soya bean oil produce less smoke and burn longer. With the growing non-food use of soya beans, this report will identify and analyse international market opportunities as well as risks involved for Soyfutures in their bid to develop market for soya bean oil. The US remains the world’s highest producer of soya beans, as shown in the table below, provided by UN Food and Agricultural Organization. Country Million Metric Tons in 2011 United States 90.6 Brazil 68.5 Argentina 52.6 People's Republic of China 15.0 India 9.8 Paraguay 7.4 Canada 4.3 Uruguay 1.8 Ukraine 1.68 Bolivia 1.63 With an annual soya bean production of 500,000 metric tons that is mostly used locally, Nigeria can produce and export biodiesel to Latin America, Asia and Europe where there is extensive use of diesel engines in farm equipment, automobiles, trains, generators and marine machinery. Although the focus of Soyfutures was to venture into markets outside Africa, the research found that Africa

United States Uniform Personnel Identification System Thesis

United States Uniform Personnel Identification System - Thesis Example the world – the United States of America, with her idealism of liberty and equality inviting all, has to strengthen the security systems deemed to be the best and path-breaking by pioneering the use of exclusive Identity Cards, Biometrics and Microchip Implants for all her citizens – thus upholding the urgent mission of Homeland Security â€Å"to lead the unified national effort to secure the country and preserve our freedoms†. The advancement of technology and multi-faceted information system, as has ushered in a hi-tech futuristic era in the history of the Human race, it has also indulged in cryptic criminological affairs. This has necessitated a supremely secured, safe and sophisticated identification and access control methodologies thus strengthening screening specifications to protect sensitive information with a vision to shield the Nation against any covert intervention and activity. Thus in the foreseeable future United States of America can plan to build up a more protected networked society by the introduction of revolutionary human identity recognition systems. This unique personnel identification model can be based on broadly three factors, namely, introduction of single ID Card, implementation of biometric distinguisher and microchip implant identifier for each and every US citizen. This thesis proposes to strategize and explore on the broad spectrum of implementing this classified recognition system for American Citizens – its implications, the advantages, hindrances, legal aspects, process and period of introducing this system and long term prospects. This study will also formulate the development of a dedicated, stand-alone department within the US Department of Homeland Security to execute and monitor the above-mentioned security setup. United States of America, the pinnacle of power and prosperity supplemented by ideal illustration of liberty, equality and fraternity, has been the target of worst terrorist attacks in the history of

Process Analysis In Software Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Process Analysis In Software Engineering - Essay Example There are various goals of process analysis. One of the goals of process analysis is to understand the processes that are run in these processes. It is good to understand the processes that are run in a system. This will give a clear working relationship and will enable one to update the system with ease. Another goal of process analysis is to be able to understand the relationships that exist between processes and their associated activities. This will enable the system analyst to understand the process that is being analyzed to the various processes that are integrated in the software that is being developed. The last goal of a process analysis is that of relating the specific process that is found in a system with a process that is found in another part of the organization. This will help to analyze the processes and know which one is optimized and perform a better than the other one. This will help in undertaking an analysis of the performance of the processes in the various depa rtments and parts of an organization (Patten, G. Larry, 2007). When one undertakes a process analysis, what they are doing is that they want to know about the process and undertake the necessary corrections that will improve on the inefficiencies that have been found in the program (Kerzner, 2003). It is important to know how the program works in the system. In the agile method of undertaking process analysis which is: Exploration phase This is the phase where the different requirements of the user will be translated to different tasks that are to be performed by the user. These tasks are then noted done on task cards. Commitment phase This is the stage where the tasks that have been identified are given to different programmers. The programmers are also given the approximate time when the tasks will be required to end. Steering phase This is the stage where tasks are undertaken and then the user story and the products are compared to see if there is an outcome. There are tools that are used in the undertaking. One of the procedures that are used is that of process mapping. With this, it is possible to analyze a process and know what is required and how information flows between them. Process mapping tools include Flowcharts. These are used to analysis the flow of information in the system. This is an important tool that is commonly used to analyze a process. It brings out the issues that are associated with the various processes. References Kerzner, H., 2003. Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. 8th ed. New York: Wiley. Patten, G. Larry. 2007. Strategic Organization Development. AuthorHouse. Question 2 There are various processes metrics that are mentioned in the text. The three metrics that are mentioned include the time that a process takes to be completed. This is an important issue that should be taken into consideration. Another process metric that will be considered is that of the resources that should be used in undertaking a particular process. The last metric is that of the number of occurrences that have been experienced in a particular process(Sprankle, & Hubbard, l 2008). The time that is taken for a given process to undertake a given task is very important. The time that a process takes can be evaluated based on the time that a particular process has been assigned to operate. This process measurement metric can be used to gauge whether a process has improved the efficiency of a particular process. In a normal system development, there are various paints that are considered when developing the processes. These points could include collecting system requirements, the development

Social Network criminal Investigation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Social Network criminal Investigation - Essay Example It was owing to their usability that their use was taken into accordance for every possible usage. As a result of this presently we see information and technology based devices around us everywhere. Human beings cannot execute even a few hours of their lives without the involvement of their personalized high tech devices. Since the use of everything is prone to both use and misuse it is imperative that certain ethical and moral boundaries be marked with respect to actions demonstrating a line between what actions and permissible and which are not. When these demarcations are done officially, they are referred to as laws. Laws govern each and every mode of life. Since information technology and more specifically computing based device are well knit with human daily routines, the use of these devices must also be governed by laws. What Is Law? Officially in the words of the Department of Justice, Canada, law can be quoted as, â€Å"Rules made by government are called "laws." Laws are meant to control or change our behaviour and, unlike rules of morality, they are enforced by the courts. If you break a law - whether you like that law or not - you may have to pay a fine, pay for the damage you have done, or go to jail.† (Department of Justice- Canada, 2009) The HISTORY of law dates back to the history of mankind. Ever since man has existed, so have laws. They have evolved with the evolution of man himself. Each law was formulated every time its need would arise. The modern society has its own set of laws that govern it. Though they may not be entirely different from those dating back to a few hundred years they sure have innumerable new additions to them. These new developments have emerged with the evolution of man himself. The present technology prone human society should have in itself a number of laws that govern it. Since the technology based world uses computing devices everywhere it is the need of the hour that the misuse of the same be taken into not ice and limited by enforcing relevant laws. The present study is an attempt to enlighten the need for laws with respect to social networks. SOCIAL NETWORKS What are social networks? For a novice it may be really hard to explain what this terminology refers to, however for a technology literate it may be said that, A social Network is a virtual Social structure that is composed of different nodes. These nodes are connected together via a network. The internet is the most widely used network of the current times since it is universally accessible. Thus each computing device may serve as a node when connected to the internet. There are various websites over the internet that offer their web portals as domains upon which each of these nodes can register themselves and maintain their virtual profile. It is then via these personalized profiles that social networks flourish and contacts establish. This entire domain of social networking has a number of pros and cons. Though its pros outnum ber the cons associated with it but the pros themselves are immensely grave in nature. Where social networks assist in globalization and make physical boundaries immaterial, they are also responsible for the development and flourishing of a number of criminal activities. These activities often go unnoticed when they are in relation with the very adored social networks and this makes them even more dangerous and harmful. Figure 1: (Levy, 2011) False profiles can very easily with

Tsunami Maldives Essay Example for Free

Tsunami Maldives Essay Natural disasters act as strong bonds to join the hearts of people even if they live poles apart. Irrespective of caste, religion and creed, everyone sympathise with the victims and comes forward to help them. Helps pour in from every corner of the world. Even persons who have little idea about the locations where such disasters occur, offer their wholehearted support, be it monetary or simple condolence messages. I have chosen this topic because of its sensitivity. It is very necessary to highlight the issues which are very crucial from humanitarian point of view. Tsunami in South Asia created havoc and caused widespread devastation. As an educated and responsible person, I volunteered to work for the needy people. I actively took part in the rescue and relief operations in Maldives. I performed my duty to my home country as well as to the mankind. It is always seen that volunteers always take the initiatives to participate in the rescue operations much before the official machinery reach there. It is a unique example how the tragedies unite people emotionally. Such tragedies make the national boundaries irrelevant. In such terrible times, we only remember one thing that we are human beings and offer physical and moral support to our fellow brethren who are suffering at the moment. I could not have chosen a better topic than this one. Rather than writing on my works, I have focused on how people from all sections of society join hands to help the people in distress. Humanity plays a great role in such incidents. Importance of volunteers and workers in such disasters cannot be undermined. It is necessary to make people aware of their responsibilities as human beings. Everyone should know about the impact of such disasters on the affected people who go through traumatic experience. The difficulties experienced by the official machinery in helping the affected people clearly emphasise on the need of volunteers in such incidents who are always in a better position to reach the victims immediately. Tsunami in South Asia A devastating earthquake occurred off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra (Indonesia) on 26 December 2004. It magnitude was measured at 9.0 on the Richter scale. Another earthquake of magnitude 7.3 occurred in the Great Nicobar Islands, India. These two earthquakes triggered Tsunami in South Asia. A series of aftershock were reported in this region. The worst-affected countries by Tsunami were India, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia. The 30 feet high tidal waves or Tsunami that travelled at the speed of up to 500 miles per hour, caused massive destructions all over (Behreandt, 2005, p. 4). Maldives was one of the countries in South Asia, which was affected heavily by the killer Tsunami waves. Maldives comprises of 199 islands in the Indian Ocean. It has a population of around 300,000. The geographic position of Maldives makes the transportation system a little bit complex. Boats and Ferries are the prime mode of transportation between the islands in Maldives (Behreandt, 2005, p. 16). When Tsunami struck, it damaged most of the boats, ferries and jetties. Falling trees and damaged houses blocked the public transport system. It became tough to rescue the victims who were stuck under the debris. The government machinery was completely paralysed as it was never prepared to deal with such a situation. It did not have the resources and immediate manpower to help the victims. Isolation of places and problems in transportation aggravated the situation further. Bad weather hindered the rescue and relief operations. Agencies such as Red Cross, Red Crescent and others found it difficult to provide immediate relief to people who lived in distant places. Several areas in Maldives were without power and water due to the damage caused by Tsunami. There were several tourist resorts in Maldives which were completed damaged. Heavy Destruction Rescue Operations in Maldives At the time of Tsunami, I was in Maldives due to vacation. My mother was in one of the most affected island (TH VILUFUSHI) during tsunami. But it was not possible for me to go there as all the communication links were cut off. Although I was disturbed and panicked for the well-being of my mother, I knew I could only pray for her safety. Situation around me was tense and horrible. Death toll was mounting and people are not getting the help they desperately needed at that time. Official machinery was not effective and other agencies were finding it difficult to reach the affected areas. In such a situation, there was need of volunteers who could understand the geographical conditions very well and offer helping hands. I joined the group of volunteers in the rescue and relief operations. Maldives was experiencing the worst disaster in its history. There was panic and grief all over. Our main focus was to save as many lives as possible. We dig out the debris to look out for the survivors. We had witnessed people crying under the debris for help. It was not easy to rescue the survivors safely as they were already injured and we had to pull them out with proper care and caution. I remember one incident when one of my co-workers got himself injured during the rescue operation. He was hit by a large stone on head and bled heavily. We immediately rushed to his help with first-aid. But he urged us to ignore his condition and help the victims who had been affected badly by the killer Tsunami and needed immediate attention. That incident filled new spirit in us and made us more determined. Role of Volunteers in the Tsunami Relief Operations Although the death toll in Maldives was 82, there were many people who would have died without the rescue operation undertaken by volunteers. Volunteers played a major role in locating the survivors and providing them food and medical aid. It was really heartening to see the youth volunteering in the operation without any self interest. Our group was comprised of 20 people and we carefully carried out our operations. Our first priority was to recover, identify and bury the dead. We provided emergency food, water and shelter to displaced people with the help of NGOs and other foreign agencies. We experienced a series of problems in burying the dead as many of the bodies were beyond recognition and could not be identified. There were several people who were crying and looking for their family members and relatives. We tried our best to help them in identifying their deceased relatives and then burying the bodies. Sometimes, we got distracted by the emotional experience around us. But we knew we had to keep patience and help the survivors who were completed stranded without any basic amenities. I remember a 12-year old boy who lost all his family members and was crying bitterly. He had lost everything in the disaster and was clueless about his future. There were several such incidents which occurred before us and other volunteers. While the rescue operation was going on, I got the news of safety of my mother. It boosted my confidence and filled new spirit in me. I was determined of doing my best to help people of my country at the time of disaster. My country was going through the worst-phase of its history and it desperately needed volunteers like me. Once the debris was cleared and all the survivors were rushed to safe places, we had another challenging task in hand. It was very necessary to clear the mess created by the Tsunami. Broken houses, debris, falling trees and contaminated water would have resulted in deadly epidemic like situation. With the help of government officials, NGOs and other foreign agencies such as Red Cross and UN volunteer groups, we worked on a war-footing to restore the water and power supplies. We had launched a cleanliness drive to purify the water and improve the sanitation facility. It was really surprising to see a large number of volunteers participating in such operations. Role of Foreign Groups and Agencies in the Tsunami Relief Operation The overwhelming response received from governments, charities and NGOs of foreign countries had provided a great support to the rescue and relief operations in Maldives. There were several such groups and agencies that played an important role in helping Tsunami-affected people. The death toll in Maldives would have been much higher without the help of volunteers who came to rescue of the victims and survivors. The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, in coordination with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR), had deployed teams of UN Volunteers in Tsunami-affected countries. Their aim was to help governments and other UN agencies provide relief to thousands of people who lost their homes and family members. The UNV sent its team of volunteers who worked along with the local people in the rescue and relief operations. They mainly work for the rehabilitation and restoration of the fishing villages devastated by the Tsunami in the islands of Maldives (Behreandt, 2005, p. 24). RedR is one of the agencies which played an active role in the Tsunami relief operations. It deployed logisticians, engineers and camp managers in Maldives. It provided selected relief personnel to clear the areas and rebuild them. Australian Volunteers International (AVI) worked in areas affected by the tsunami. Many of the volunteers had expertise and experience in handling such type of operations. During the rehabilitation process, AVI launched a project to tackle the shortage of teachers in Maldives (Behreandt, 2005, p. 25). Another volunteer organisation, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) launched a number of projects such as the educational sector grant initiated by the Development Cooperation of Ireland. It provided library books and facilities to 27 tsunami-affected schools. It also trained 230 teachers in 20 schools across the Maldives. Another key voluntary organisation was Friends of Maldives (FOM) that sent over 100 tons of medical supplies, food, clothing and tools to Maldives. FOM is the major NGO bringing aid to the Maldives aftermath Tsunami (Behreandt, 2005, p. 25). Rehabilitation Process According to the government estimates, more than two-thirds of the population in Maldives were affected by Tsunami. Fifty per cent of houses in Maldives were affected. Communication links, jetties, power supply, hospitals and sewerage system had been heavily hit. Transportation to the islands had become more difficult. The government had little resources to cope with the situation arisen after Tsunami. The President of Maldives declared a State of National Disaster and called for international help. Several countries and foreign agencies responded with the financial aid. Donations of food, clothing, medicine, tents, blankets and other necessary goods poured in. However, it was necessary to distribute these relief materials among people. It would not have been possible without the help of volunteers. We coordinated with the local officials and a team of Red Cross workers who developed an effective psychosocial program in the Maldives. The main focus of the psychosocial program was to address the physical, mental and social well-being of the Tsunami-affected people in Maldives. We took the initiative of providing community support to families. After the disaster, children were too scared to go to school. Once the school buildings were repaired, we met their parents and convinced them to send the children to school. With the help of other agencies, we provided them food, clothing and books. There was shortage of teachers in the schools. Most of us volunteered to assist the teachers in our spare time. I also took part in the teaching programmes and taught in two schools on a part-time basis for a few weeks. Red Cross played an important role in the rehabilitation work. Besides launching psychosocial programs and providing educational support to the children, it reached the local women groups that were active in the society. Red Cross believed that providing support to women would benefit their families and children. It launched mass awareness programmes to persuade people come out of their home and work to earn money for their families. Due to the joint efforts of Red Cross and local volunteers, more than 13,000 people were assisted by the psychosocial programme. The Commonwealth provided medical assistance to the Tsunami-affected Maldives. Doctors from the Commonwealth countries were brought to Maldives to provide adequate treatment to the injured people. Doctors with expertise in orthopaedics, paediatrics, general surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology and medicine joined the team of volunteers under the Commonwealth Service Abroad Programme (CSAP). They coordinated with the local staff for the development of rehabilitation health programmes (Behreandt, 2005, p. 26). Teaching the children was a great experience for me. It was a tough task to motivate the students who were already going through the traumatic experience of Tsunami. They could hardly concentrate in study. Our first priority was to help them regain their confidence. We were trained with child-centred teaching techniques. The new techniques involved bringing the children into groups and wiping out the fear from their mind. Rather than going for the traditional way of teaching methods, we tried to create a child-friendly environment. That worked perfectly and they soon started forgetting the bitter memories of Tsunami. They felt more comfortable in groups and became more open. We introduced games, competitions with rewards and other entertainment programmes to add fun to their life. It was a great achievement for us as we succeeded in bringing smile to the faces of the horror-stricken children. Conclusion From my experience as a volunteer in Maldives, I realised the importance of working for the well-being of the needy people during disasters. The poor and helpless people desperately needed help in those hours of crisis. The role of volunteers becomes very crucial in such rescue and relief operations as the official machinery always find it difficult to cope with the situation. Its time for the youth to realise its full potential in life. They need to rise to the occasion to fulfil their obligation towards the nation and the mankind. Every responsible youth must understand the importance of volunteering during disasters. We understood our responsibility and did whatever we could for the benefit of the community. Our sincerity and dedication have been appreciated by everyone. Our work was purely based on humanitarian ground and we never expected anything in return. We had a one point agenda – to bring smiles on the face of people who lost almost everything in the disaster. Â   Bibliography Behreandt, Dennis. 2005. Swept Away: The Epic Disaster in Southeast Asia Has Taken Many Thousands of Lives. As Failures by the Involved Governments Attest, the Relief Efforts Are Best Left to the Private Sector, The New American, Vol. 21. Walls, Michael, 2005, Report: Review of Tsunami Recovery, 30 October 2005, http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2005/trn-tsunami-24Jun.pdf. Winston, Stacy, 2005, The beginning of a Red Crescent National Society in the Maldives, 30 October 2005, http://www.ifrc.org/docs/News/05/05100501/index.asp. Mark, Amanda, 2005, Red Cross Programs Help Rebuild After Tsunami, 30 October 2005, http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_440_4091,00.html. Rice, Alison, 2005, Post-tsunami reconstruction and tourism: a second disaster?, 29 October 2005, http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/pdfs/Final%20report.pdf. Dhivehi Observer, 2004, Tsunami waves flood Maldives, 30 October 2005, http://www.dhivehiobserver.com/tsunami_december_2004/day3.html. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2004, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand and, Somalia Earthquake and Tsunami: OCHA Situation Report No. 4, 29 October 2005, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/12/mil-041227-un1.htm. Thomas, Dan, 2005, Tsunami offers schools opportunities for change, 30 October 2005, http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/maldives_27300.html.

Biological Conservation And Its Importance Environmental Sciences Essay

Biological Conservation And Its Importance Environmental Sciences Essay The irreversible loss of the earths diverse biological resources is given major importance today. The living resources are primarily threatened by habitat degradation and loss, habitat fragmentation, overexploitation, and species invasions (Groom Carroll, 2006; Mittermeier Bowles, 1993) which most experts believed we are now confronting the sixth major extinction in history. The different natural resources or biodiversity, as defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity, is the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems (CBD, 1992). The planets biological diversity basically gives value to our social and economic life. We use the living world as a resource for food supply, an energy source, a source for recreation, a major source of raw materials for medicines, and a natural resource for industrial products. It is a source of many of our current medicines (e.g., 25% of all pharmaceutical prescriptions in the US contain active ingredients from plants and 3000 antibiotics such as penicillin are derived from microorganisms, (WRI/IUCN/UNEP, 1992). Furthermore, people are looking to the natural world as an escape and as a means of maintaining their sanity, especially in the industrialized nations. All of this translates into good economics as well, as the growing industry of ecotourism and other nature-based forms of recreation (e.g., fishing, hunting, hiking) becoming ever more popular. Worldwide, nature tourism generates some $12 billion annually (Lindberg, 1991) and it is likely to grow even more rapidly in the tr opical countries, where it is already a major foreign exchange earner for several countries. Moreover, Pearce et al. (2007) categorized the economic values or benefits of biodiversity into four general components: First, its contribution to ecosystem functions which include watershed regulation, nutrient cycling and microclimate mediation, the provision of global services such as climate regulation and carbon sequestration, and evolutionary processes. Second, the commercial and use values which involve the harvesting use and marketing of particular biodiversity commodities, such as timber, bush meat and medicinal plants. Third, non-use values which reflect the peoples willingness to pay for biodiversity conservation regardless of the uses made of biodiversity. Motivations for non-use value vary some notion of stewardship, some notion of Natures right to exist, a concern to leave an asset for future generations, aesthetics, and so on. Fourth, its contribution to ecosystem resilience derived from aggregated diversity i.e. from the aggregated value of genetic diversity within species, species diversity and ecosystem diversity. The diversity of nature not only offers us a vast power of choice for our current needs and desires. It also enhances the role of nature as a source of solutions for the future needs and challenges of mankind. The earths genes, species, and ecosystems are the products of over 3 billions of evolution, and are the basis for our survival. Humans depend on other organisms for food, medicines, and raw materials. Our survival is tied to the health of the ecosystems we live in. The diversity of life ensures that living things will be able to adapt to a future, which is certain to be full of change. In very basic terms, in order to adapt to a changing environment, the raw materials of nature as well as humanity itself require genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. Daly Cobb (1989) emphasized this point when he said that the diversity of nature increases the likelihood that at least some species will survive and give rise to new lineages that will replenish the earths biodiversity. Living things also have an intrinsic value and a beauty that is considerable and without which our life would be poorer. All these things make the maintenance of biological diversity vitally important to humankind, coming from the opportunities it provides humanity to adapt to local and global change. Biological resources now face serious repercussions due to pervasive human activities. Species are becoming extinct, ecosystems and ecosystem types are lost and the remaining populations and species are losing their diversity. Thus, everyone is convinced about the importance of biological conservation. Conservation of natural resources is the major focus of Conservation Biology the scientific study of the nature and status of earths biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystem from excessive rates of extinction. To date, some 1.7 million known species exist but the great majority of species alive today, possibly as much as 90 per cent, are not known (Gunter, 2004). IUCN (1980) defined conservation as the management of human use of the biosphere so that it yields benefits to present generations while maintaining its potential to meet the needs of future generations. The scope of IUCNs concept of conservation is further expounded by the objectives of living resource conservation, and that is (1) to maintain essential ecological processes; (2) to preserve genetic diversity: and (3) to ensure the sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems. The key aim of biological conservation is to maintain the diversity of living organisms, their habitats and the interrelationships between organisms and their environment (Spellerberg Hardes, 1992). Furthermore, as claimed by Siipi (2004), biological conservation can be carried out in various ways but generally, it revolves around the standard methods of ecosystem preservation, ecosystem restoration, and ecosystem engineering. There are several studies conducted on assessing attitudes towards environmental issues. Major themes of study commonly focused on the attitudes of the people towards environmental conservation (Badola, 1998; Fiallo Jacobson, 1995; Newmark et al, 1993; Infield, 1988; Walpole Goodwin, 2001). Other studies directed their attention on the attitudes towards wildlife conservation (Morgan Gramann, 1989; Kellert, 1994; Sekhar Udaya, 2003; Gadd, 2005). Attitudinal surveys were also conducted to students pertaining to environmental awareness, knowledge and attitudes. Chan (1996) and Tikka et al (2000) reported that female students showed more positive environmental attitudes than male students. However, Arcury et al.(1986) showed that males are more aware and sensitive to environmental issues than females. While Thang Kumarasamy (2006) and Caro et al. (2003) reported that gender had limited or no bearing on students perceptions of the environment. Previous researchers like Deng et al (2006) and Larijani and Yeshodhara (2008) also found out that environmental attitudes differ among race, cultures and societies. Academic major is said to be a contributing factor also which affects environmental attitudes (Karanth et al., 2008; Ozden, 2008) and as well as the type of conservation knowledge imparted to students strongly influenced their commitment towards conservation initiatives (Barraza and Walford, 2002). Results of different studie s also showed different manners for several factors like school type, age, income, and residence (Korhonen Lappalainen, 2004; Tuncer et al., 2005). What are ENGOs? Definition of an NGO There have been a lot of labels that apply for NGOs such as, peoples organization, peoples movement, trade union, cooperative, community organization, coalition, network, federation, alliance and united front. These names are still current but are now captured by a new catch-all category civil society organizations (CSOs). The concept of civil society is complex, vague and elusive, however, as it is difficult to deploy a single definition to cover a range of organisations broad enough to include the church, tribal structures, major international agencies, single issue campaign groups, semi-independent public sector agencies, business fora, and small local/national NGOs, while still retaining operational usefulness (Haley Clayton, 2003). . Moreover, civil society is sometimes referred to as the third sector, indicating its distinct status from the public and private sectors (McArthur, 2008). Thus, CSOs refer to different types of non-corporate private voluntary institutions promoting a variety of public causes. NGO is only one form of CSO, though often the two are taken to mean the same thing. However, it can be argued that all NGOs can be regarded as civil society organizations though not all civil society organizations are NGOs. NGOs take different forms and play different roles in different continents, with the NGO sector being most developed in Latin America and parts of Asia. The roots of NGOs are different according to the geographical and historical context. As stated by Schiavo-Campo Sundaram (2001), NGOs are not-for-profit organizations and can be recognized as such if they are privately set up and sufficiently autonomous in its activity, that is independent of direct governmental control. Secondly, an NGO should clearly define its voluntary character. Thirdly, it cannot be considered a political party with an aim of attaining political power. And lastly, an NGO should support development which demonstrates its public interest character. Furthermore, the non-governmental aspect of NGO, as stated by White (1994), places it conventionally outside the state in civil society, i.e. intermediate associational realm between state and family populated by organizations which are separate from the state, enjoy autonomy in relation to the state and are formed voluntarily by members of society to protect or extend their interests or values. Although there is contestation of the definition of an NGO, it is widely accepted that these are organizations which pursue activities to relieve the suffering, promote interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, and undertake community development (Cleary, 1997). While Turner and Hulme (1997) stated that NGOs are generally registered organizations, community groups, professional associations, trade unions, cooperate charity organizations whose aim is to improve the well being of their members and of those areas in which they exists. The World Bank, on the other hand, sees NGOs as private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, and/or undertake community development. The concept of NGO came into use in 1945 following the establishment of the United Nations Organizations which recognized the need to give a consultative role to organizations which were not classified as neither government nor member states (Willett, 2002). There are certain features which differentiate NGOs from government agencies, even when they are performing similar roles. NGOs have the capacity to experiment and learn from experience, linking processes to outcomes and are also able to enlist the energies and commitment of intended beneficiaries. Fowler (1988) has identified two key distinctive characteristics of NGOs. Firstly, the relationship of the NGO with intended beneficiaries is based upon principles of voluntarism rather than those of control which is typical of government. This means that intended beneficiaries are involved in program design and management. Secondly, it is argued that NGOs have a task oriented approach that permits them to achieve appropriate organizat ional development, which encourages change and diversity rather than control and uniformity, which may hamper progress. Environmental NGOs (ENGOs) One of the stakeholders involved in biological conservation is the so-called Environmental NGOs (ENGOS). These interest groups hope to save the worlds biological resources from rapid extinctions and aspire to awaken a sleeping public to the tragic loss of biological resources that is unfolding today. ENGOs exist at local, national and international levels (e.g. Friends of the Earth, WorldWide Fund for Nature, Greenpeace, etc.). Many ENGOs operate under the explicit purpose of preserving endangered species and ecosystems, and thus make biological conservation the core principle under which they operate. Others focus more broadly on sustainable development and within this framework, they also contribute to biological conservation. As stated by Trzyna (2008), not all conservation organizations have kept their traditional focus but they have become part of the broader environmental movement. There is an increasing number of organizations that started either as conservation or conventiona l environmental groups but now define themselves as part of the new movement for sustainability. Most of the largest NGOs working on biological conservation are either based in the United States (e.g. Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy) or Europe (World Conservation Monitoring Center, Birdlife International). In the opinion of Astbury (1998), an ENGO has a mission statement and/or set of guiding principles emphasizing environmental concerns, e.g. biological conservation. They play an increasingly prominent and important role in representing environmental interest. Environmental NGOs are distinct from environmental movements in a way that there is a formal organization exists in ENGOs. For example, the famous Chipko movement in India, involving village people who hugged trees when loggers arrived to cut trees down, was not an NGO because although there were leaders and followers, there was no formal organization (Potter Taylor, 1996). These organizations are not really new but have been existing over the years. For instance, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was founded in 1886; the Sierra club in 1892; the Audubon Society for Protection of Birds in 1886; the Wildlife conservation Society (as the New York Zoological Society) in 1895; and fauna and flora International (as the Society for the preservation of the Fauna of the Empire) in 1903. Some of the largest organizations were founded more recently, but with a specific focus on international conservation, including the World Wide fund for Nature (founded as, with some of its constituent organizations still operating as, the world Wildlife Fund) in 1961, and Conservation International in 1987 (Cobb et al., 2007). ENGOs may have existed for a century or more but it is only in recent decades, and particularly since the success of NGOs in shaping the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) or the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, that their numbers have multiplied. Participating civil society organizations officially recognized by the United Nations (UN) in this particular international conference were grouped into major groups such as women, children and youth, indigenous peoples and communities, NGOs, Workers and Trade, Scientific and Technological Community, Business and Industry and farmers. ENGOs are one of the key actors in shaping the creation of Agenda 21 and the Conventions on Biodiversity which saw a heightening of global consciousness about the needs of biodiversity conservation. These are international agreements signed by majority of the countries to guide the world in its actions for development and the environment in the 21st century. Over 20,000 participants of 9,000 organizations in 171 countries were present, and over 1,000 meetings were held between NGO representatives in a forum parallel to official intergovernmental discussions (Fisher 1993). Thus, this event culminated the increasing attention paid to biological conservation by NGOs. Since then, ENGOs expanded their conservation efforts on the ground, especially in tropical countries. For instance, the international conservation programmes of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have grown from just over $3 million in the late 1980s, to nearly $50 million in 2005, nearly half of WCSs overall operating budget (MacDonald Service, 2007). Although the WCS has programmes in North America, all but $5 million of these funds are sent overseas in developing countries. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), founded in 1951 primarily focus on USA conservation issues, is probably the largest conservation organization in the world, with one million members, and an annual budget of over $800 million (The Nature conservancy, 2004). Conservation International (CI), with a focus on biodiversity hotspots and tropical wilderness areas, was founded in 1987 and has grown to an organization with an annual budget of over $100 million. Roles ENGOs Play ENGOs involved in biological conservation are highly diverse, including local, national, regional, and international groups with various missions dedicated to environmental protection, sustainable development, poverty alleviation, animal welfare, and other issues. A key area in which ENGOs have made an imprint is in assisting the global community to establish global priorities. Such approaches included from those that look at representation of species and habitat types, those that focus on species diversity and levels of threats, those that focus on areas of higher or lower human impact as a surrogate for scaling threat and those that focus on levels of endemism and evolutionary uniqueness in a particular taxon (Cobb et al., 2007). ENGOs importance lies as well in their expertise (Esty, 1998; Charnovitz, 1996). They conduct scientific research and disseminate the results to policy-makers and public (Mohd Ahmad, 2005; Jasanoff 1997; Madon 1999). The degree to which NGOs pursue expert knowledge for complex scientific predicaments makes them critical international players. They translate this knowledge into action. As added by Hempel (1988), international environmental NGOs are usually better prepared than governments to implement studies of environmental protection. NGOs often have much better analytical and technical skills and capacity to respond more quickly than government officials. NGOs can also mobilize and influence individuals or group of individuals to address a problem through awareness campaigns and outreach (Bauer, 2006; Gunter, 2004) and express that issue interest to government agencies. ENGOs raise awareness through media stunts. Through TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines, ENGOS bring this envi ronmental abuse into peoples everyday lives and enable people to act bear witness (Wapner, 1995). Additionally, ENGOS stimulate public pressure aimed at changing governmental policy or directly lobbying state officials. They facilitate in defining an issue area, convince policymakers and publics that the problems thus defined are soluble, prescribe solutions, and monitor their implementation (Keck and Sikkink 1998). ENGOs also aid in empowering local communities to increase capacity and capability in carrying out biological conservation projects; they organize and conduct seminars, environmental education programmes and expeditions to natural; and target private actors in their campaigning efforts (Raustiala, 1997; Themudo, 2000; Chitra, 2003; Jepson, 2005). Indeed, ENGOs have been major contributors to biological conservation by providing funds and expertise, building public support, promoting action, and advocating conservation interests. As argued Gunter (2004), ENGOs are the most appropriate medium for protecting biological resources because of their unique ability to see both small and big and their unique positions above and below the state. NGOs operate at both the micro and macro levels, working on the ground in local villages as well as participating in international negotiations. Moreover, Gunter argued that states are paradoxically both too big and too small when it comes to resolving transnational threats like loss of biodiversity or climate change. ENGOs generally obtain most of their funds from national governments, government agencies, bilateral and multilateral banks, large foundations, transnational corporations, and international foreign aid agencies like UNDP, UNEP and the Global environmental facility (GEF) (Dowie, 2009; Bebbington Riddell, 1995). The GEF which is a multilateral funding mechanism prepared to reduce the burden from Southern countries for environmental protection has become a pilot program to a permanent financial mechanism in 1994 and is supporting the growth of ENGOS. GEF is under the stewardship of the World Bank and the United Nations. The World Bank manages a significant portion of GEF biodiversity funding and also makes additional grants and loans in the biodiversity and protected area domains. ENGOS engage in various activities meant to influence public support. Smith and Connelly (1999) identify ten (10) types of ENGO activity: informal, discreet lobbying; formal lobbying; collecting and sending letters or petitions from the public; producing scientific research and reports; taking legal action; organizing demonstrations and marches; staging media stunts; promoting consumer boycotts; engaging in non-violent direct action; and, engaging in violent direct action. To this list, one might also add giving campaign contributions or endorsements to environmentally-friendly candidates (Grossman and Helpman, 1994, 1999). This activity mostly directly political support and can change the weight given to ENGOS in the political calculus (Binder, S and E. Neumayer, 2005) On the other hand, Gunter (2004) summarized the common strategies used by ENGOs. The two main categories of different approaches are mainstream strategies which include lobbying, litigation, scientific/technical research, property acquisition/maintenance, and monitoring and participatory strategies like grassroots networking and community education. Very few studies are conducted on how people perceive ENGO as one of the crucial players in biological conservation. Researchers like Hyseni (2008), Wong (2003) and Ivy et al. (1998) assessed the attitudes of local people and students towards these organizations but the main focus of their studies were not directed to the roles of ENGOS in general. As Jasanoff (1997) contends, the systematic assessment of the role that ENGOS play in environmental decision making remains noticeably absent in the studies to date. Philippine ENGOs Teehankee (1993) reported that environmental NGOs in the Philippines emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During the martial law in the early 1970s, social movements appeared provoked by the dictatorship. Militant organizations pressured for political structural and ideological changes. Social movements and other civil society groups started to register as legal entities to be formally recognized by government. This was to avoid being tagged as illegal rabble rousers. In 1986, the EDSA I or the People Power Revolution replaced the totalitarian martial law by the democratic force of the people. Accordingly, two streams from which present-day environmental NGOs originated were identified. The first stream is composed of nature lovers such as conservationist societies and hobby groups which alter expanded their concerns to socio-political issues related to environment and government policies. The other stream is said to consist of field-based activist groups concerned with human r ight issues of tribal communities and poor settlers being displaced by environmentally-destructive projects of the martial law regime. The Philippine Federation for Environmental Concerns (PFEC) was established and this commemorated the first effort at coordination and networking among environmental NGOs. Two more national federations emerged since then the Philippine Environmental Action Network (PEAN) and the Lingkod Tao Kalikasan (LTK). Numerous groups mushroomed then like Haribon Foundation, World Ecologists, Green Forum, and Earth Savers. Aside from the diversification of environmental NGO activities into community resource endeavours, the post-Marcos period was also characterized by the decision of prominent development NGOs, like the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), to integrate environmental concerns into their strategic programs (Magno, 1999). . Environmental NGOs were very few before the 1960s. There were sporadic efforts at conservation. Up to about 1970, influenced by the spirit of the time, most development NGOs didnt consider the environment as part of the development framework. Environmental concerns were isolated from social development. Carrying capacity of the environment was not given importance due to the abundance of what nature can provide then. Environmentalists, on the other hand dedicated their work on protection and conservation of genus and species for its authenticity and aesthetic value with no qualms about poverty and human development. Most of the conservationists then came from philanthropists and rich individuals Philippine ENGOs have done and still do fund raising, modelling and implementing viable methods and strategies in the protection and conservation of the environment toward sustainable development. They play multiple roles in influencing policy reform and formulation. The most common role would be that of a lobbyist, using social pressure and the media. Furthermore, many NGOs also play the role of community organizers, educators/trainors, researchers, media practitioners, negotiators, advocates, and catalysts. Taiwan ENGOs Taiwans environmental awareness was not awakened until the 1970s and then was limited to small group of people, mainly from the intellectual class. Not until the late 1980s did the general publics concern over the environmental issues bloom. During this time, environmental problems had reached crisis proportions. The countrys economic miracle was achieved at the cost of environmental deterioration. Reported serious pollution incidents like the one caused by Du Pont in 1986 and the Lee Chang rong Chemical factory in 1982 drew public attention (McBeath Leng, 2006). These events showed that local residents finally had gained environmental consciousness due to unbearable pollution and environmental damage. At this stage, environmental protests led by opposition politicians reflected NIMBYism (not in my backyard)- complaints about local environmental pollution. As reported by Hsiao (1999), there are three streams of environmental movements in Taiwan. These are the anti-pollution, nature conservation, and anti-nuclear movements. In the nature conservation movement, people become more concerned with destruction of Taiwans natural resources. Hence, ENGOs emerged and perceived as key actors in this particular campaign. After the lifting of martial law and as democratization programs were launched in the late 1980s, the environmental movement also gained momentum and developed a national instead of a local focus. During this period, ENGOs accumulated social capital and public trust in Taiwanese society. ENGOs helped to create a plural society through the enlargement of channels of social participation and communication. ENGOs were said to be champions and advocates of Taiwans democratization at early stage, and laid a foundation for democratic consolidation after the md-1990s. The general public gradually learned to think beyond local instances of environmental abuse and paid greater attention to ensuring balance in national policy among economic development, environmental protection, and social justice. Nation-wide ENGOs emerged then from the early to mid-1990s. Hsiao (1999) estimated that there are over 232 environmental NGOs in Taiwan. Most recognizable groups are The Society of Wildlife and Natu re, Bird Society, Taiwan Greenpeace Association, Ecological Conservation Alliance, Life Conservationist Association, Homemakers Union and Foundation, Green Consumers Foundation, Wetlands Taiwan and The Nature Conservation Union. International environmental organizations are not regular participants in domestic environmental protection. Taiwans diplomatic isolation constrains its participation in major international organizations, and international lending institutions such as the World bank and Asian development Bank are not actively involved in its environmental policies. However, occasionally, ENGOs have built close relationships with major international NGOs. In the past, domestic ENGOs exposed cases of trafficking in illegal wildlife and ecological degradation to the international mass media and invited international NGOs to monitor Taiwans mitigation record. McBeath and Leng (2006) outlined the common roles that ENGOS play in Taiwan and these are organizing grassroots demonstrations, promoting public policy making, setting the agenda of public issues, educating the public on environmental issues, monitoring government policies and publicising environmental issues.

International Business strategy for Arcelik Home Appliances

International Business strategy for Arcelik Home Appliances Arcelik Home Appliances is the leading manufacture of home appliances in Turkey with a market share of 50% in the domestic market as at 2003 (Chemawat, 2008). It supplies the market using two brands namely Arcelik and Beko. The company has adopted an international expansion strategy and has already been marketing its products to more than one hundred (100) countries mainly in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia, and North Africa (Chemawat, 2008). Arcelik was originally founded to produce metallic office furniture in 1955 but diversified into production of household appliances shortly after. It has been hailed as the first company to introduce appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators to the Turkish households. Arcelik would face further challenges when it became apparent that the Turkish government would be participating in the European Communitys tariff reduction which was meant to reduce to zero from 1992 to 1996 (Chemawat, 2008). The challenge would be competition from other manufactures from the European Community who would be able to sell their products at more competitive process in the domestic market. Arcelik overcame this challenge by investing heavily in research and development thereby substantially improving the quality of their products. The company is currently the leading holder of patents in the Turkish market. This strategy cemented its market leadership in the domestic market as consumers preferred to spend a little more to obtain goods whose durability could be assured. This preference was also enhanced by Turkeys fluctuating market where inflationary forces were highly unpredictable with the greater odds being to the consumers disadvantage. Arcelik would later grow to establish its market dominance in Turkey for decades but would later face challenges that would trigger its focus on international expansion to ensure its survival and growth. Arceliks motives for international expansion The focus on international expansion by Arcelik was triggered by the economic crisis that hit Turkey in 2001. This crisis had led to soaring levels of unemployment and a significant reduction of market demand by an estimated figure of 35% (Chemawat, 2008). This strategy mainly comprised increasing exports as well as engaging in international acquisitions. The economic crisis in Turkey must have proved to Arcelik the vulnerability of firms wholly dependent on domestic markets. Pressures from business cycles, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates and political forces are prevalent in domestic markets. On the other hand, international markets tend to be better insulated from such pressures since they will rarely apply across several countries. Economic crisis in one market would normally not be prevalent in the rest of the markets hence multinationals can ensure stability by marketing their products across many countries. Arcelik had to get a way to survive the economic crisis in 20 01 and as well ensure that future company performance was stabilized by reducing its level of vulnerability to domestic market fluctuations. Arcelik also sought to focus on international expansion in order to increase its level of production and increase its economies of scale (Chemawat, 2008). This means that with additional production, the cost of producing each unit product becomes significantly lower hence allowing a company to make higher margins per unit or allowing them to charge lower per unit without incurring any losses. Economies of scale allow a company to remain competitive in the ever-evolving economies. To ensure that the economies of scale do not end up in accumulation of dead stock, or in the escalation of warehousing and storage costs, Arcelik would need to look to markets that would be able to support its intention of increasing the economies of scale through a larger demand. The national demand within Turkey would not be able to absorb these additional products h ence the rationale behind Turkey looking to expand international trade. The level of demand for home appliances in Europe alone is about 25% of world demand (Chemawat, 2008). Arcelic sought to tap into this huge demand to support its competitiveness and the large levels of production occasioned by their strategy of maximizing on the economies of scale. International expansion can also be explored where a company seeks to lower its production costs by having a significant proportion of their production done from regions where the cost is lower than in the domestic market. One of the major factors of production that normally influence the decision of overseas production is labour. When considering labour, it is imperative that a company weighs between the benefits of the savings from paying the lower labour cost, the differences in the productivity of the workers between the higher wage and lower wage areas, and the transport and storage cost implications. It is also worth noting that in many cases, where the labour costs are low, other factors of production such as land would also be relatively lower. The labour cost in Western Europe is estimated to be five times that in Turkey. Labor cost in Turkey is three times that in Eastern Europe (Chemawat, 2008). In China, it is four times lower than in Turkey. Labor productivity also varies and must be taken into account. For instance, in China, labour productivity is just half of that in Turkey. Additional transportation costs are determined by both the distance between the production facilities and the legal environments of the countries through which the products must cross to get to its intended markets. Access to international markets is crucial to any organization that seeks to expand itself. Domestic markets will often in many cases be found insufficient to support the growth targets that the companies set for themselves. They are also in many cases unable to enable an organization to recoup the investments the y may make in research and development in time. The complexity and the level of innovations in the global market is advanced and often leads to production of new and better fulfilling products. This significantly reduces the product life cycles and the companies engaging in research and development need to gain assurance that their investments can be recouped before the products lose demand. This assurance can only be found by marketing extensively in the international markets where the demand is much larger and can ably support the level of sales needed. Arcelik was motivated to focus on international markets since it had opted to distinguish itself as a research and development specialist who focused on the production of quality and durable products. These features would mean that it would need to charge relatively higher prices for the products. On the other side, the products from other European countries were finding their way into Turkey due to the zero tariff arrangement with the European countries. The entry of other products in Turkey meant that Arcelik would either have to lower their prices in order to maintain its domestic share market, or expand its operations to European and other markets in order to maintain or increase its level of sales to clients that focus more on quality, suitability and durability of the products they purchase. Arceliks options for expansion In order to realize its goal of expansion into the international markets, Arcelik has adopted a number of options to help them realize this goal. The international market entry options adopted by Arcelik include use of exports, international acquisitions, use of private label contracting, and product diversification. Organic domestic growth and use of exports Arcelik ensured growth domestically by ensuring reliable accessibility to the market using exclusive distributors and agencies who also served as centres for offering after sales services. This exclusive network also served as an entry barrier for any new market operators. Exporting entails maintaining the companys operations in the home market and selling the products in overseas markets (Giroud, Sinkovics, and Yamin, 2011). It is hailed as the least costly mode of foreign market entry but at the same time the most vulnerable to various entry barriers as government regulations. The cost effectiveness of this entry method is enhanced by the fact that it requires no involvement with the foreign governments or the companies operating in the target market. It is often seen as the best mode of entry for an organization operating on a lower scale. With subsequent growth of exports, the company may open sales agencies in the foreign markets to be the link with the companys clients overseas. By 2003, Arcelik had grown to be the leading player in Estonia and Lithuania with a market share of 25% in these two markets. It also had a commanding presence in the rest of Eastern Europe. The presence of Arceliks sales agencies helped grow significantly in Western Euro pe with a markets share of 15% in the United Kingdom. Arcelik also conducted a successful export strategy gaining a 70% market share in Romania with its Beko brand. The net effect of these exporting strategies was a significant increase in Arcetiks production capacity from 440,000 to 750,000 in 2003 and 2004 respectively (Chemawat, 2008). International acquisitions This mode involves a company buying out another firm operating in the target market hence assuming full legal rights over it. This method is hailed as the best mode of expansion into other markets since it grants a company total control over the foreign subsidiary as well as full profits generated thereafter (Giroud, Sinkovics, and Yamin, 2011). The full control over the activities of a subsidiary is viewed as essential in ensuring they run in accordance with the philosophies of the parent company hence ensure the goals of the company are achieved as intended. The targets for acquisition would need to have the unquestionable ability to complement Arceliks growth strategies. Arcelik would also evaluate the foreign firms brands and take consideration on how these brands would help strengthen them as well as complement their capabilities. The target subsidiarys contribution to sustainable growth was also a key factor. Arceliks acquisitions in 2002 include Bloomberg, Electra, and Flavel and Leisure in Germany, Austria and the UK for the two latter brands (Chemawat, 2008). They also acquired Arctic in Romania. The acquisitions of brands in the target markets was likely informed by the fact that many consumers tend to prefer purchasing brands that they can identify with: the brands they consider national brands. These acquisitions tremendously increased the product range offered by Arcelik and lead to its significant growth within the European markets. Use of license contracting Licensing involves the company transferring certain rights to another firm to enable it manufacture products using its brand. In licensing, the consideration that the licensor gets is only the royalty or the license fee (Giroud, Sinkovics, and Yamin, 2011). It does not take part in profit sharing or any other marketing processes of the licensee. Licensing offers the advantage of enabling a firm to avoid government regulations and other restrictive policies such as tariffs and quotas. It also enables market penetration without involving extensive capital expenditures. However, this method is highly restrictive in the level of control the company can have over the activities of the licensee. There is also the risk of the licensee gaining the technical expertise and becoming a competitor in the production of close substitutes after the expiry of the mutual arrangement. Arceliks production in 2004 comprised 40% from various licensing arrangements (Chemawat, 2008). This complimentary effo rt helped ensure Arceliks brand presence in the Europeans markets. Diversification into other businesses within Turkey In order to enhance further growth in the domestic market, Arcelik sought to capitalize on its elaborate distribution network to provide consumers with additional products. By 2004, Arcelik was offered various types cellular phones and was already getting into arrangement with various Japanese firms to act as distributors of various electronic products. The diversification proved to be a great success and further cemented Arceliks leadership in the Turkish market. Additional Options for Expansion Arceliks ambitious goal of achieving revenues of three billion Euros in the next year may be difficult to realize unless additional methods were employed to ensure its continued growth in the international markets. Domestically, Arcelik could opt to but out local competitors in a bid to solidify its hold on the local market. This solidification would help reduce the downward pressure on its product prices by reducing the significance of competition locally. In addition, the additional channels of distribution gained through any such acquisition would act as an entry barrier to any foreign firms hence ensuring steady domestic growth. Internationally, Arcelik could embrace a number of methods to ensure its continued growth. These methods include engaging in Joint ventures, franchising and use of strategic alliances. Joint Ventures Joint ventures involve the formation of a partnership arrangement with a different company where the parent companies provide the resources to operate it, share responsibility on management, and share profits realized thereafter (Giroud, Sinkovics, and Yamin, 2011). This type of venture is especially popular where it comes to sharing the intelligence and technical knowhow required for research and development. With their determination to distinguish themselves as the masters of innovation and product development, this method can be used to ensure its rapid growth. Instead of engaging in competition with the already existing companies in the foreign market, Arcelik could identify a strategic partner who knows the market remarkably well. They could then research into the market needs in a bid to try and unveil any unsatisfied demands in the market. Having found the features lacking in the products found in the market, they could, through the joint venture develop new products that woul d suit this need and capture the unreached market. This method would be convenient to Arcelik since it would not involve many unnecessary government regulations that normally bar entry. In addition, such a venture, if well implemented would easily capture the market as it would be riding on the goodwill and distribution network of the strategic partner in the foreign market. Franchising Arcelik needs to consider franchising in order to minimize the risks involved with the licensing as it currently practices. Here, Arcelik would transfer some rights to the franchisee to produce the products under its brand but will reserve the right to provide some aspects of technical support (Giroud, Sinkovics, and Yamin, 2011). This way, Arcelik will be able to be abreast with the activities of the franchisee. In addition, in Franchising, the royalty is based on the amount of sales hence Arcelik will be able to generate higher revenues in the event the franchisor is able to realize significantly higher sales. Franchising is easy to start since the franchisor incurs minimal capital cost hence Arcelik can expand into more foreign markets with relative ease. Moreover, the franchisee assumes all the risks and foots for all costs of labour and facility establishment. The company will also be able to avoid any political risks associated with foreigners operating in national markets. Arc elik can therefore easily expand its scale of production without worrying about high capital expenditure hence edging closer to achieving the revenue targets Strategic alliances A strategic alliance differs from joint ventures in that it does not necessarily involve formation of a legal entity. Strategic alliances are formed to enable companies use each others distribution networks, technologies, production capacities, management experience and others (Giroud, Sinkovics, and Yamin, 2011). One very essential factor in ensuring product penetration in the market is the distribution network. This has been evident in the manner in which Arcelik has been able to capture the domestic market by using effective distribution networks in Turkey. Arcelik should also try to replicate this experience in the foreign markets. However, by virtue of the fact that its a foreign market, they may not have the resources to establish an effective distribution network in those markets. It would therefore be relatively more convenient to identify foreign companies with a distribution network that serves their target customers effectively, and then enter into a strategic alliance wit h them. This may be companies offering similar products or those making completely different products. When the products are easily available to the consumers, they more likely to buy these products and this would lead to an increase in the amount of sales realized by Arcelik. The strategic alliance could also involve sharing of certain technologies between the companies in question. Arcelik could choose to leave the production of a certain product components to a company with a comparative advantage in its production in exchange for providing a component which it can produce more efficiently. This exchange could lead to lowering the production cost which would be useful in helping the company become more price-competitive in the market. Conclusion Arceliks growth is mainly dependent on how the company can enter and prosper in the international markets. This is because it is already commanding the domestic market in Turkey and may have limited growth opportunities locally. Growth and diversification are often related as is evident from Arceliks company history. Arcelik has grown in the past by steadily improving on the product range that it offers to the market and this diversification should be continued to ensure continued growth.