Multicultural Counseling Theory

Abstract This paper addresses the various issues associated with multicultural counseling theory. The pros and cons of multicultural counseling theory were analyzed with regards to factors that affect the work of multicultural counselors. People have ceased from being confined in their regions because of the scarcity of opportunities.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Multicultural Counseling Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More People from various backgrounds are meeting in countries that have cultures that far much different from theirs. They encounter difficulties while trying to adjust themselves to the changes. The challenges affect them at varied intensity depending on their age, gender and religion. The multicultural counselors must be ready to tackle such difficulties in order to assist their clients overcome these obstacles. He/she should act as the role model of his/her clients. Both the couns elor and the client must undertake their responsibility appropriately. The counselor must stick to the ethics of being a counselor. There are some personality traits that should be portrayed by a qualified counselor. The clients expect the counselor to be open minded rather than being reserved. Besides that the counselor should pay close attention to the progress of their client and if they realize that the problem has remained persistent they should consider other alternatives. These are some of the issues that have been analyzed in this paper. Introduction Counseling entails giving people advice concerning their problems and the professionals who offer this advice are called counselors. When one is faced with difficulties and he/she does not know how to handle it or what steps to take, they are expected to consult a counselor. A counselor’s job is very demanding because he/she must change the thoughts of the client. This job can further be complicated when the counselor dea ls with clients from all walks of life. Counselors are expected to deal with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities, thus leading to the concept of multicultural counseling theory. This paper reviews the pros and cons of multicultural counseling. Today our communities have been mixed up because the increase in human population has forced people to relocate to other countries in search of work. This is owing to the fact that the resources in their nations could hardly sustain them hence when they secured opportunities in foreign nations they decided to settle there.Advertising Looking for research paper on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although they exist in foreign land they continue to exhibit their cultures which make them unique. However, multicultural counselors must be acquainted to the cultures of their clients because that way they will be in a position to understand their multi cultural clients better (James, 2008). Pros and Cons of Multicultural Counseling Theory The pros and cons of MCT are attributed to factors such as ethnicity, gender, age, disability, and religion. The following are the strengths of MCT: (1). is flexible and takes into consideration different cultures; 2. It is in itself a theoretical model; 3. Understanding it helps counselors to deal with people from different cultures; and 4. several alternatives can be applied using MCT. On the other hand, the limitations of MCT include: 1. the counselor need to understand different cultures; 2. there is need to understand the underlying concepts of MCT; 3. the theory has little research in relation to analytical evidence; 4. it neglects traditional therapies; and 5. It is generally difficult for counselors to adopt MCT. In this light, the following section discusses the factors affecting multicultural counseling and the qualities required by a multicultural counselor. The factors are discussed i n relation to the mentioned pros and cons of MCT. Factors Influencing Multicultural Counseling MCT outlines that when a counselor is giving advice he/she must not compromise the culture of his clients thus he/she should appreciate their differences. If the clients feel that their counselor does not understand them, such as why they do certain things or why they behave in a certain way, they will opt for a counselor who belongs to their ethnicity and thus multicultural counseling will loose its meaning. The best strategy towards the success of multicultural counseling is to have customized approaches to client issues which might help solve their problems. If a counselor applies a uniform approach in solving clients’ problem he/she will not solve their problems in a satisfactory manner. This is because people understand things differently and their thoughts are influenced by their backgrounds and cultures. It is unacceptable for a counselor to speak negatively about the culture s or ethnicity of his/her clients. If the clients came to realize this they would loose the pride that they have towards their culture and this may result in hatred.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Multicultural Counseling Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Pedersen (2002), counselors should promote the tolerance of cultural diversity by appreciating their clients regardless of their background. If a counselor must discourage against a given cultural practice he/she must bring the point home in a polite manner because using rude language will make it sound like an insult. The counselor should establish a friendship based on trust with his/her clients. For this trust to be realized, the counselor must prove to his/her clients that what they share is confidential because if they feel that their secrets are not safe they can’t dare to share vital information with the counselor. Thi s information is important because it makes the client to provide the relevant information that could be the root cause of their problem. This means that the counselor should be neutral while dealing with his/her clients because if he discriminates some of them the others will come to realize in one way or another and this will have a negative impact on the integrity of the counselor. This implies that a multicultural counselor should have strong interpersonal skills to enable him/her handle situations involving people from different cultures (Gladding, 2009). Counselors must be familiar with the cultural values of their clients and also understand how the people of various backgrounds interact with the rest of the world. This refers to their likes and dislikes which is greatly influenced by their cultures. Failure to understand their tastes may cause the counselor to apply inappropriate approach to their problem. The above stated scenario occurs quite often and that’s why yo u will hear clients saying that they sought professional help from a given counselor and it was not effective while another client may praise the competence of the same counselor. This could be due to the fact that the two clients are from different origins and the counselor in question could be familiar to the culture of one of them hence he was able to offer appropriate help. When people from different cultures and races come together their differences become their identity. Pope-Davis and Coleman (2001) suggest that these differences are important because they give them a sense of belonging. Assuming that we were all different from each other, interaction would be impossible. When people from various cultures occupy the same habitat there are two possible outcomes of their interactions. First, one culture might be eliminated by another. Either of the two cultures may be eliminated, that is, the host culture or the foreign culture, but this process depends on the one that dominate s the habitat shared by the two cultures. For instance, if the foreigners outnumber the hosts, the culture of the foreigners is likely to be reserved while that of the host is scrapped off.Advertising Looking for research paper on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Secondly, the two cultures may be reserved but this happens when there is a balance between the hosts and the foreigners. In addition, some people are very conservative hence they can’t allow their cultures to be eliminated and thus they will do anything to ensure that their culture is recognized wherever they are located. This poses a greater challenge to counselors. But this depends on how individuals feel about their culture. This is because there are some cultures that are seen to be enslaving people hence when the generation that introduced them dies, those who remain abolish it gradually. For instance, female circumcision among some African communities was a mandatory rite of passage but of late very few people continue to practice it because people are now aware of the dangers that come with it. Multicultural counselors should also understand the differences of gender and sexuality, that is, men and women. Cormier, Nurius and Osborn (2008) explain that this is because both genders respond to situations differently. Furthermore, men and women have different attitudes. These elements are influenced by their genetic composition. Women tend to be emotional hence they are more delicate than men. On the other hand, men are physical and that’s why when a man breaks up with his spouse its easier for him to move on with his life compared to the woman who takes more time to heal the wounds. Besides, counselors should familiarize themselves with clients of various sexual orientations. By doing so, they will be able to provide appropriate advice to their clients irrespective of their gender or sexual orientation. This is because misunderstanding might cause the counselor to apply the wrong procedure towards solving the problem of the client. For instance, the counselor might recommend a strategy that is best suited for men to a female client hence it may not be effective. Additionally, we all know that men and women possess different characteristics. For example, we know that women have mothering ability hence they are the ones who can best monitor their infants than the fathers of their young ones. Prochaska and Norcross (2007) reckons that counselors must appreciate their clients’ sexual orientation regardless of whether they are gay or lesbians hence when they are dealing with such people they must try their best not to show their hatred towards people who are of unacceptable sexual orientation but instead focus on the matter at hand. For example, when a counselor is dealing with a client who is bisexual and is suffering from HIV/AIDS, he/she should not blame the orientation of that client for his sickness but should rather help the client to cope with the stigma that is associated with the ailment in question. Some people are troubled by small issues such as being under the leadership of a woman. This could be due to the fact that women are not supposed to assume leadership as far as the client’s background is concerned. In order to understand issues that are related to gender it would be best if the counselor inquired from the client what her/his community expects from each gender. This implies that the counselor should engage the client in analyzing the roles that are supposed to be played by men. The other most important aspect in multicultural counseling is power analysis. It is a simple method that is used by counselors to enlighten the clients about the powers that are entitled to them and the reasons why they are allowed to exercise the same powers. The power in this case is limited to the client’s life with regard to what they own and what they can’t do. Counselors must learn how to deal with people of different ages. This entails learning how they behave at various ages. This helps the counselor to find out which measures are best suited for teenagers, youths, and the elderly. This is because people have different thoughts at different ages. For instance, teenagers think that their parents are too old hence they perceive them to be outdated and come to realize later in life that their parents were actually right. Moreover, teenagers tend to be rebellious hence when a counselor is making suggestions he/she should be patient with them. The elderly on the other hand are fond of forgetting things very fast hence they have to be reminded frequently. This means that the counselor must be patient with them and also be gradual with them instead of rushing things. Another group of people that is delicate comprises of the disabled. Skovholt (2001) explains that counselors must watch their tongues while conversing with such people because they are easily offended by negative remarks that could be unintentional. People with disabilities don’t like it when they are given special care due to their condition hence when a counselor is assisting such a person he should mention that it’s done to everyone. Besides, counselors must be acquainted wit h the issues that affect the disabled and their families. Religion and spirituality also influences the effectiveness of counseling. The counselors must get used to handling clients from various religions. Religion comprises of believes and faith which are crucial in counseling. Some recommendations that are made by counselors could be against the religion of the client hence there will be a conflict. The counselor should analyze the beliefs of his/her clients before he gives counsel because that way he will establish measures that are suitable to people of a particular religion. When counseling goes against the beliefs of the client, it will make the client feel guilty because to some people religion is so dear to them. When a counselor is dealing with a huge group of people from various backgrounds its important to select those that share the same cultural values and isolate them from those who are extremely different from each other. The counselor should then revisit each clientà ¢â‚¬â„¢s background information to establish the best possible solution. It is also necessary to consider the thoughts of the client in relation to those whom he/she interacts with on a daily basis. The counselor should inform the client that changes are part of life because different people do things differently hence some of the things that are acceptable in their motherland may be unacceptable in the foreign country. Besides, when a counselor is obtaining information from a client who hails from a different culture he/she must ignore the mistakes that may be on the speech of the client such as incorrect grammar. This will make the client to feel at home and thus give more information pertaining to his/her problem (Safran and Muran, 2000). The counselor should allow the client to set the things that are more important and relevant to him/her. The counselor should handle cases differently just as they are brought by different people. Some counselors assume they already know where t here client is headed hence they misinterpret their client’s statement. This is most common in cases where the counselor and the client are from the same background. This generalization and assumption is bad because the situation may not be close to what the counselor thinks. The response of a counselor should not be protective. This means that if the client explains his/her problem the counselor should not make a remark that implies that the problem is not that serious. For instance, if a client expresses how he/she was humiliated in a public gathering just because he is of a different ethnicity, the counselor should not make statements such as â€Å"you will get used to it†. According to Freire (2005), a counselor should never victimize people who belong to a race that is perceived to be hostile to others or criminals even when he himself has encountered their discriminating traits or his relatives. For instance, a black American might feel uncomfortable when dealing with Native Americans when she knows that her father was brutally murdered by a Native American. To deal with this problem a counselor should know that when he/she is offended by someone from a different community it does not mean that everyone from that race is a criminal or something close to that. MCT requires that the counselor should seek to know the cultural background of the client. The counselor should employ an approach that is appropriate. This means that the question about the client’s racial background should be introduced indirectly. This is necessary because some clients don’t like it when someone asks them about their ethnicity because they fear that they will be handled according to their background. This fear is owed to experiences of the client in question. Counselors should encourage their clients to mingle with the people who are of different cultures from others. This will help the diverse people to accept each other and thus live in harmony. The client should be informed that going back to their mother land is the last option hence they should get used to seeing things being done differently as opposed to what they would expect. For counseling to be effective both parties must play their parts well. The client should follow the counsel of the counselor and the counselor must provide the appropriate counsel. There are counselors who go against the ethics of counseling. They do this by sharing information concerning their clients with others. This suggests that such a counselor does not have the interests of his/her clients at heart. Gladding (2009) advises that a good counselor should be honest when dealing with clients. They should not lie to their clients. Lying can mislead clients and when they realize that the person whom they trusted with their problems and secrets is untrustworthy they will look for another reputable counselor. Some counselors lie to their clients even when they know very well that whatever they are sa ying could be dangerous. If a counselor is not sure about something he/she should be sincere while giving advice. Lying occurs when some people want to portray themselves to know everything. A counselor should be caring to his/her clients. A counselor should caution his/her client about the consequences of any affirmative action that the client wishes to take. There are times when clients have fallen victims of dangerous consequences at the hands of their counselors. Such counselors are only interested on the money that they are paid by their clients. A counselor should be flexible such that if the measure he/she recommends to the client does not work he/she should have another strategy ready for implementation. Some counselors are not flexible because they stick to the same strategy for a long time just because it worked for a few clients while it does not work for the rest. There are usually several ways of doing something to achieve the same results. A counselor should have a cle ar objective towards helping the client’s problems. A counselor should overcome the hurdles that arise in the course of helping the client. He/she should consider doing anything possible to assist the client. Sometimes the counselor has to make sacrifices towards the success of his/her client. This means that the client is given the first priority. There are counselors who put money before their clients to an extent they can’t listen to the problems that are being passed across by the client unless money is put on the table. A good counselor should be patient with his/her clients. This means he/she should give the client some time to get used to the measure they intend to implement on the client. A counselor should know that since the problem of the client did not develop in one day it’s not possible to eliminate it in one day. Healing is a gradual process because if it happens abruptly it might cause drawbacks. Diller (2007) argues that a counselor should not s how any sign of weakness even when it seems the situation is getting out of hand. Showing weakness will make the client loose confidence in him/her because the client expects him to offer the necessary support that is needed by the client. It is during such occasions that the counselor should provide warmth to the client which is meant to encourage the client to continue soldiering on. Conclusion Multicultural counseling theory demands a lot of efforts in cultural diversity and thus its limitations overweigh the strengths. This paper has discussed the pros and cons of multicultural counseling with regard to factors the influence the theory. The factors include ethnicity, gender, age, disability, and religion. I essence, a multicultural counselor should have compassion over his/her clients. This aspect goes hand in hand with love for people because without love a counselor cannot make a single sacrifice towards the wellness of his/her client. In addition, the counselor should exercis e caution over sensitive issues that concern his/her clients. He/she should consider the consequences that are most likely to occur when sensitive issues that are highly valued by the client fail to bring the desired results. Therefore, a multicultural counselor should have dealt with many people from diverse cultures for him/her to have broad knowledge of carrying out multicultural counseling. References Cormier, S., Nurius, P. Osborn, J. (2008). Interviewing and Change Strategies for Helpers: Fundamental Skills. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. Diller, J.V. (2007). Cultural Diversity. 3rd Ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson, Brooks/Cole: Freire, P. (2005). Education for Critical Consciousness. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group. Gladding, S.T. (2009).Counseling: A comprehensive Profession. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. James, K.R. (2008).Crisis Intervention Strategies. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole. Pedersen, P. (2002).Counseling Across Cultures, London: Sage Inc. Pope-Da vis, B. Coleman, L.H. (2001).The Intersection of Race, Class, and Gender in Multicultural Counseling. California: Sage Learning. Prochaska, J.O. Norcross, J.C. (2007.). Systems of Psychotherapy: A Transtheoretical Analysis. 6th Ed. Pacific Grove, CA: Thomson Learning. Safran, J.D., Muran, J.C. (2000).Negotiating the Therapeutic Alliance: A relational Treatment Guide. New York: Guilford. Skovholt, T.M, T.M. (2001).The Resilient Practitioner: Burnout Prevention and Self-care Strategies for Counselors, Therapists, and Health Professionals. Boston: Allyn Bacon. This research paper on Multicultural Counseling Theory was written and submitted by user Kimberly Whitley to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

IKEA Foundations of Marketing Essays

IKEA Foundations of Marketing Essays IKEA Foundations of Marketing Paper IKEA Foundations of Marketing Paper Essay Topic: IKEA A companys marketing strategy and competitive strategy is important to make sure that your products are marketed correctly, not only for profit maximisation but also to create awareness of your brand name. An effective marketing or competitive strategy makes sure that you are always one step ahead of your competitors. You may be achieving maximum sales at the current moment but an effective strategy would look in to the long-term and plan for the future so that the success is not short lived. IKEA the Swedish furniture retailer has global brand recognition and enjoys great success all over the world as the low cost producer of stylish and functional furniture products. This report highlights IKEAs marketing strategy and how they place themselves against its competitors in order to gain market share and achieve overall success. IKEAs main aim is to be the low cost producer in the market it operates in and therefore has introduced innovative and cost efficient methods of manufacturing products. Components for products are bought from around the world and wastage of raw materials is seen as another invention to make another product. These cost conscious methods are employed at every stage in the production, manufacturing and distribution process so that the products that reach the customer are affordable for as many people as possible. Your partner in better living. We do are part, you do yours. Together we save money (IKEA 2005) is IKEAs market positioning statement. This means that in order to save money the customers are implemented in the IKEA process and thus they have to pick up the furniture and assemble it themselves. This differentiation strategy gives IKEA a competitive advantage and is a marketing tool that sets it apart from its competitors like Argos. IKEA growth strategy is to expand with opening more stores all around the world. However its main competitor Argos is also implementing a similar strategy within the UK market and has taken over IKEA.IKEA must therefore re-establish themselves through short term strategies like promotional offers. However they must try to focus on long term strategies like the IKEA store card which develops a long term relationship with its loyal customers. By focusing on the long term they reduce the risk of losing anymore market share. Overall IKEA is achieving great success with some short-term down falls but there strategies will try to overcome these short coming. However IKEA must focus on trying to provide low cost items of high quality while marketing IKEA as a shopping experience rather than just a furniture store as this differentiate itself from its competitors like Ilva a Danish furniture firm trying to expand in to the UK market. With profits totalling to 14.8 billion euros(IKEA 2005) IKEA can be classed as a global and local success in many countries. However they must become confident as they are target to local and international competition. To overcome this they can use the environmental friendly processes as a marketing tool to attract new customers. They can also try and find new innovative practices of producing and distributing goods in the most cost effective ways to ensure that they remain the producers of high quality and cheap products. Introduction IKEA, a Swedish furniture retailer is known for its cheap prices and high quality products. IKEA is a global success with over 200 stores in countries around the world with profits increasing rapidly (IKEA 2005) . IKEA has effectively implemented a marketing strategy and placed themselves in a position to overcome its competitors. Its marketing and competitive strategy of high quality products at cheaper prices which is embedded in the culture starts at the design process and continues through all manufacturing, production and distribution stages until it is received by the customers so that they can achieve their promise to produce products which are affordable for as many people as possible. The Company IKEA began in the early 1940s, when Ingvar Kamprad the founder of IKEA sold general household products which people demanded. Due to his success he opened up a showroom and began designing his own furniture range which led to innovation and low costs. The real success came when they realised they could flat pack the furniture so transporting goods to IKEA and for the customer would be easier. This differentiation was their marketing tool which made them a household name on global scale. IKEA a Swedish retailer offers a large range of stylishly designed, functional home furnishing products at low prices. This is the single idea at the heart of everything IKEA does, including the way they produce, buy products and the way they sell them in IKEA stores around the world. They produce high quality products at low prices and this is done by cost-efficient and innovative methods. Sales and Profit Trends This graph shows that between 1995 and 2001, IKEA had major success because there is an increase of 6.4 billion in profits. This might due to all the heavy promotion but also because of new stores opening around the world. The profits have increases from 2001 onwards it has not been a very substantial increases compared to 1995 and 2001 but it just shows that between a space of ten years IKEA has achieved great success. The Market Environment IKEA operates on a global level with 231 stores in 33 countries. The top five countries with the most sales are Germany 19%, USA 11%, UK 11%, France 9%, and Sweden 8 %. (IKEA 2005). This shows that IKEA products have an international appeal and are targeted at many markets. The main objective of IKEA is to produce low priced products of high quality. Its products are produced from resources from all around the world which gives them a competitive cost advantage. The large, yet simple retail stores on the outskirts towns makes them easily accessible for customers and distribution. Trying to achieve the lowest costs in production and distribution means that they have incorporated a cost-leadership strategy this has been embedded into the IKEAs culture through efficient processes. IKEA works on the idea pile them high, sell them cheap idea (Marcousà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ et al 1999 pp164). The profits may initially be low but with high turnover it makes a healthy profit. The reduction in price does not mean that the quality must be compromised. The Five Forces Model This model helps to contrast a competitive environment. As the diagram shows IKEA is working in a competitive environment with large and small furniture retailers trying to gain market share as barriers to entry are very weak. Customers are in a strong position as they have more bargaining power and negotiate for goods which meet customer needs. A wrong move could have a detrimental affect with your competitors moving ahead of you. Competitive Environment IKEAs strategic positioning is unique. Few furniture retailers have engaged in long-term planning or achieved economies of scale as European furniture retailers are smaller than IKEA. Even when companies have joined forces as buying groups, their operations have made it difficult for them to achieve the same degree of co-ordination as IKEA. IKEA offers limited customer assistance but creates opportunities for customers to choose transport and assemble units of furniture which differentiates them from its competitors. Porters Generic Strategies Model Porter identifies three competitive positioning strategies on which the firm can follow (Kotler et al, 2005 pp 504 213). Achieve overall low-cost leadership in the industry The emphasis on efficiency at all levels within the organisation is the central idea to a cost leadership strategy .Costs need to be monitored at all levels to ensure that they gain benefit form economies if scale. A low cost leadership strategy will only work if the products produced are cheaper compared to its competitors. Concentrate on products that are differentiated. A differentiation strategy requires the organisation to offer something which is unique and valued by the customers .The value added by differentiation results in the ability to charge a higher price. This is to cope with added costs of differentiation, leading to higher profit margins. The risk involved with this strategy is that the consumers may perceive the product as a value added the product IKEA supports a cost leadership strategy while adopting a differentiation strategy by adding the customers in the value chain. The customers are source of labour, knowledge and transportation. The customers are told what is required of them, for example customers have the responsibility of picking up the items from the warehouse. The suppliers are seen as customers gaining knowledge form IKEA specialists. This value added process makes sure that IKEA selects suppliers who provide high quality materials at low costs. IKEA effectively employs a cost leadership strategy while focusing on the needs of its target market segment. The Competition IKEA has faced competition from small local furniture retailers, large DIY chains and supermarkets. IKEA has been placed as the fourth on the most popular furniture list in the UK, behind MFI, Argos and DFS. Argos, has come broadened its appeal to a variety of customers through high quality furniture and enjoys a 5.1% market share compared to IKEAs 4.6 %( Business Scotsman 2004). IKEA is also faced with indirect competition with home make-over shows and magazines which indicates unsatisfied customers. Their new Kitchens campaign is another attempt to diversify and satisfy customer needs. Target Market The typical IKEA customer is young, low to middle income family and generally for first time home buyers. They also focus on the mature and childrens market through some of its products. The company targets the customer who is looking for value and are willing to do a little bit of work themselves by transporting the items home and assembling the furniture. PEST-G Analysis PEST-G is used to analyse the business and economic conditions an organisation faces and how it effects businesses decision making. The table shows how each factor affects Ikeas decisions and the way strategies are implemented. Each factor affects IKEA at varying levels Political factors * Legislation affects IKEA on issues such as product liability and product standard * The political scene is stable at the moment so short-term decisions are not affected as much as long term decisions as the political scene may change * New laws are likely to increases especially with more EU countries trading in the free market means regulations are put in place so that there is no unfair trade. * IKEA is also influenced by different political factors in the different countries it trades with. Economical factors * The interest rates are low but the rise in inflation may means that interest rates may increase and this will affect IKEA as they are planning to invest through opening up new stores this therefore means borrowing is going to much more expensive * IKEA locates on out skirts of towns and thus employment rates around the area must be taken in to account. Employment levels for different countries they are wishing to trade with must also be taken in to account. It is an unwise decision to build IKEA stores where unemployment levels are low as you will to need to offer higher wages to poach workers. * The exchange rate will also affect IKEA as they are importing or exporting goods with the international market. * The GDP level is an important factor as it will show prosperous and poor areas and therefore products will have to marketed according to peoples abilities Socio- Cultural factors * These factors will vary from country to country depending on the dominant religion, attitudes on foreign products, the population demographics and the roles of men and women * For example in the UK we have a multi-cultured society this will affect IKEA in the way the products are promoted, the people they recruit and products being offered must meet the needs of the different user. * The increase in lone parent families means that the IKEA shopping experience has to incorporate procedures which are child friendly, for example playrooms for childrens and products directly aimed at young children * The increase in the older generation has affected IKEA and this can be seen in the products they offer as new ranges of products are aimed directly at that target market. Technological factors * Technology is an important factor as more research and development is taking place. They need to find new and innovative ways of producing goods quickly and cheaply. IKEA is constantly faced with not in stock items, an effective just in time approach could resolve this problem * New technologies offer consumers and businesses more innovative products and services such as ordering, booking and buying products through the internet which IKEA could introduce to gain more consumers. * Distribution, transportation and communication, is easier and more effective with the introduction of new technologies like EDI (Electronic data interchange). Communication is more efficient within the departments in IKEA but also with the customers through for example emails, newsletters and multimedia messaging

Winter Weather Terminologies

Winter Weather Terminologies The terms winter storms and snowstorms may mean roughly the same thing, but mention a word like blizzard, and it conveys so much more than just a storm with snow. Heres a look at the flurry of winter weather terms you may hear in your forecast, and what each means.   Blizzards Blizzards are dangerous winter storms whose blowing snow and high winds lead to low visibility and white out conditions. While heavy snowfall often occurs with blizzards it isnt needed. In fact, if strong winds pick up snow thats already fallen this would be considered as a blizzard (a ground blizzard to be exact.) In order to be considered a blizzard, a snowstorm must have: heavy snow OR blowing snow, winds of 35 mph or more, and a visibility of 1/4 mile or less, all lasting for at least 3 hours. Ice Storms Another type of dangerous winter storm is the ice storm. Because the weight of ice (freezing rain and sleet) can down trees and power lines, it doesnt take much of it to paralyze a city. Accumulations of just 0.25 inches to 0.5 inches are considered to be significant, with accumulations over 0.5 inches considered as crippling. (Just 0.5 inches of ice on power lines can add up to 500 pounds of extra weight!) Ice storms are also extremely dangerous to motorists and pedestrians. Bridges and overpasses are especially dangerous when traveling since they freeze before other surfaces. Lake Effect Snow Lake effect snow occurs when cold, dry air moves across a large warm body of water (such as one of the Great Lakes) and picks up moisture and heat. Lake effect snow is known for producing heavy bursts of snow showers known as snow squalls, which drop several inches of snowfall per hour. Noreasters Named for their winds which blow from the northeast, noreasters are low pressure systems that bring heavy rain and snow to the East Coast of North America. Although a true noreaster can occur any time of the year, theyre most fierce in the winter and spring and can often be so strong that they trigger blizzards and thundersnow. How hard is it snowing? Like rainfall, there are a number of terms used to describe snowfall depending on how fast or intensely it is falling. These include: Snow Flurries: Flurries are defined as light snow falling for a short duration. They can also be tiny snowflakes falling for longer periods of time. The most accumulation that can be expected is a light dusting of snow.Snow Showers: When snow is falling at varying intensities for brief periods of time, we call it snow showers. Some accumulation is possible, but not guaranteed.Snow Squalls: Often, brief but intense snow showers will be accompanied by strong, gusty winds. These are referred to as snow squalls. Accumulation may be significant.Blowing Snow: Blowing snow is another winter hazard. High wind speeds can blow falling snow into almost horizontal bands. In addition, lighter snows on the ground may be picked up and redistributed by the wind causing reduced visibility, white out conditions, and snow drifts. Edited by Tiffany Means

CRIMINAL LAW Barrister advice and defence statement Essay

CRIMINAL LAW Barrister advice and defence statement - Essay Example Mr. Olmeda saw the defendant, Joseph Wearn, hovering around a display of walking sticks. Mr. Wearn was looking around rather suspiciously. Mr. Olmeda contacted his colleague in the video control room to have the camera operator focus on Mr. Wearn. Mr. Olmeda then witnessed Mr. Wearn take a walking stick. Mr. Wearn camouflaged the walking stick and made a speedy exit through the front of the store without stopping to pay for the item. Mr. Olmeda followed Mr. Wearn all the way to the main concourse area inside Brent Cross shipping centre. Mr. Olmeda took hold of Mr. Wearn’s arm and cautioned him that he was the store detective and that he watched him remove a walking stick and exit the door without paying for it. Mr. Olmeda asked Mr. Wearn to step inside the store with him while he contacted the store manager, Mrs. Linda Levison. Mr. Olmeda retrieved the walking stick from Mr. Wearn when he stopped him outside of the store. Mr. Wearn repeatedly shouted obscenities while on the w ay to the store manager’s office, Mrs. Linda Levison’s office. Mr. Olmeda explained to Mrs. Levison what had just transpired and handed her the walking stick. The store manager, Mrs. Linda Levison, phoned the police who arrived at 12.50 hours. Mr. Olmeda explained what had transpired and then he returned to his post. Witness: Mrs. Linda Levison Occupation: Store manager of John Lewis, Brent Cross, London Statement taken: 9 December 2010 Summation: Mrs. Linda Levison is the store manager for John Lewis, Bent Cross, London. On 8 December 2010, Mrs. Levison was met in her office by store detective, Javi Olmeda. Mr. Olmeda informed her that he had apprehended Mr. Joseph Wearn for taking a walking stick from the store without paying for it. Mrs. Levison took Mr. Wearn, who was escorted by the store detective, Javi Olmeda, to her office. She proceeded to call the police who arrived on or about 12.50 hours. This is pursuant to the store policy of contacting the police wheneve r a theft is alleged. According to Mrs. Levison, the alleged perpetrator, Mr. Wearn was crying while they awaited the police to arrive. Once the police had arrived, Mr. Olmeda, the store detective, recounted the allegation and returned to his post. According to Mrs. Levison, the walking stick that she had been given by Mr. Olmeda was characterized by a prominent lion’s head handle. It also had the store’s label attached to it so that Mrs. Levison was able to ascertain that the item in question was indeed sold at her store and part of the inventory. With the information from the label of the walking stick, Mrs. Levison was able to identify it as part of the store inventory and that such a walking stick, according to computer records, was not sold on 8 December 2010. Mrs. Levison handed the walking stick over to one of the attending officers, PC May. She then witnessed Officer May arrest Mr. Wearn and watched them leave her office. Mrs. Levison is producing the computer records from 8 December 2010 (Exhibit LL/1), and is willing to give evidence in court. Witness: Richard Fairchild Occupation: Security camera operator Statement taken: 9 December 2010 Summation: Mr. Fairchild is employed as a security camera operator by Securigard PLC. On 8 December 2010, he was working at the John Lewis Partnership’s central office manning the camera desk. Mr. Fairchild is responsible for operating the security camera. The security camera is set up to monitor and record

Globization international business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Globization international business - Essay Example In the end of 90s globalization in Argentina was considered to be a successful tendency. There was an essential growth of GDP in the country (8.1 percent in 1997). Three years of a deep recession followed this complicated period. Governmental policy of Argentina is rather vague and it is hard to entrust money of Argentina citizens to the national banks because of bank deposit freezes, â€Å"public social protests and the resignations of the finance minister and the president† (Measuring Globalization, 2003).  Therefore, it is relevant to consider the way Argentina managed to cope with the challenges connected with the process of globalization. On the example of the country’s management to deal with internal affairs and foreign policy development, the basic issues of globalization processes in Argentina are discussed further on. Different aspects of Argentina’s globalization Moreover, there is a gradual conflict in Argentina’s policy, because during the p eriod of financial crisis, weak currency has been an intimidating factor for the nation. On the international arena Argentina should have been positioned as the country experiencing a rapid economic recovery. Still, financial crisis caused a negative impact on the country’s economy. ... the internal affairs of the country and thus on the international level there are a lot of challenges caused by the inconsistent national and foreign policies of the country (Measuring Globalization, 2003). Moreover, it is relevant to consider foreign policy of Argentina from hyperglobalist and skeptic perspectives. The hyperglobalization paradigm is relevant to the foreign policy of Argentina, because in accordance with this policy the globalization makes a country almost powerless. With respect to Mishkin (2007) all states are influenced by globalization and the majority of them perform â€Å"a courtesan role† in serving the main interests of the global political economy of other state actors on the international arena. Therefore, hyperglobalist views of globalization processes in Argentina are the most relevant in terms of this country. Thus, for example, many Argentines claim that their own government is the one to blame for mishaps in the process of financial crisis in th e country. Citizens claim that â€Å"imprudent fiscal and macroeconomic policies and persistent corruption during Carlos Menem's second mandate were at the core of Argentina's recession† (Miskin, 2007).   Moreover, gaps in neo-liberal policies implementation have also influenced on political inconsistencies of Argentine. Moreover, IMF was criticized for inconsistencies in the process of neo-liberal policies implementation. Hostile moods of citizens in Argentina are directed on their negative attitude expressed in relation to IMF and the World Bank, naming them â€Å"the pro-globalization camp† and it is evident that Argentines are dissatisfied with the processes of globalization (Guille, 2001). Unfortunately, economy of Argentina is described in terms of Outliers. The Administration of the President

Regency Plazza Essay Example for Free

Regency Plazza Essay 2.1. Post-teaching Assignment: Group Project Students will be allocated to groups with 6 to 7 students per group. Each group is required to submit a detailed written report on the Regency Plaza case study. 70% of the Assignment2 overall mark is allocated to the written report on the Regency Plaza case study. Case Synopsis: Designed to examine the process of project management during the development cycle of a luxury condominium building for the Regency Plaza group, this case explores the issue of how the design, development strategy, project organization, and project personnel are interrelated. More specifically, it looks at how these factors shape the day-to-day operations of a development and how they affect the formal and informal mechanisms that a project  manager has at his or her disposal. Case Assignment Questions: 1. Evaluate the project definition phase of the Regency Plaza project. How do the problems that emerged during the project relate to how the project definition phase was managed? Dilanka 2. Evaluate the role of the project manager (Kris Hodgkins) in the case. What skills do you think are required to be the project manager for the Regency Condominium Development Project? How well do you think that Kris Hodgkins meets these skill requirements? Do you think Kris Hodgkins was a good project manager? Janaka 3. Evaluate how well risk was managed in the Regency Plaza project. You should use the four stage Risk Management framework from the module in answering this question. Dinidu 4. Given the situation that Kris Hodgkins finds herself with the Millers at the end of the case, evaluate all of the options available to her and recommend the course of action your group thinks she should take? Anusari Each and every question should include †¢ Theoretical background †¢ Application of theory †¢ Findings †¢ Analyze findings First read the case and prepare rough note. I’ll inform you the word count later for each and every part. Guidelines for the written assignment: †¢ The report should contain a minimum of 2500 and a maximum of 3000 words. The word count is from the start of the Executive Summary to the end of the Conclusions sections and does not include the cover page, references and appendices. †¢ The required format for the layout of the report is as follows: o Cover page as per UCD specifications.   Executive Summary †¢ In a single paragraph, summarize the contents of the entire report. This should written last when the rest of the report is completed, so that you know what you are summarizing. Hasitha/ Sachintha o Introduction to the selected project †¢ Briefly give an introduction to the project you have chosen to analyze. †¢ Outline your plan to analyze the project, i.e. what topics you will use and the elements of theory or frameworks within those topics you will apply to the project. Hasitha/ Sachintha o Analysis of the Project †¢ Using the theory in the module topics, analyze the project. †¢ You should not spend too many words describing the theory you use (referencing it is sufficient), but devote most of the effort to applying the theory to the information you have obtained about the project. o Discussion and Conclusions †¢ In this section, you discuss your findings and explain why the project can be deemed a success or failure – what worked well and why, what didn’t work and why, and what your group would have done differently if you were the project manager. †¢ Identify the key learning points in the project and what your group learned from undertaking the assignment. All   References †¢ All third party material used in the report must be listed here using a formal referencing system such as the Harvard system. These must be correctly cited where used in the body of the report. †¢ This assignment will enable students to identify the challenges of Project Management in the global business environment, and to develop the following skills: teamwork due to the group nature of the task, written communication, and research skills from gathering information from multiple sources about their chosen case study. †¢ As this is a group assignment, all members of the group will receive the same mark for the written submission of the project. However, all members are also required to state clearly their contribution to the group project at the end of the document. †¢ This Assignment must be submitted to your Programme Manager in hard copy and via Blackboard. See the deadline in table 2B. Please read the Grade Descriptors in the Main Assignment Grade Descript or table.

A Comparison of A Farewell to Arms and East of Eden :: comparison compare contrast essays

A Farewell to Arms and East of Eden "Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while." This quote summarizes Catherine and Henry's love for each other. Even though Catherine died, Henry had a huge space of emptiness left in his heart. Marriages in today's society are very serious relationships although some people don't seem to take them so seriously. Take for example Dennis Rodman, who married Carmen Electra and they divorced a week later. This shows how men are sometimes over powered by looks. My essay contrasts the relationships in Hemingway's Farewell to Arms to the relationships in Steinbeck's East of Eden. E. Hemingway displays a sense of respect for couples whereas J. Steinbeck portrays that women are venerable can't hold a steady relationship. Abra gradually fell in love with Cal and eventually cheated on Aron with his brother Caleb. Cal slowly tries to ruin Aron. Cal influences Abra's thought of Aron by saying sweet things to her. Adam smiled at her. "You're pink as a rose," he said. (590) T he passage shows that Cal is trying to romance Abra. He knows Abra is venerable because Aron is away in the army and she misses him. By Aron absent, Abra needs a man and she turns to Cal. Henry and Catherine hold a steady, loving and trustworthy relationship even through the tough times of war. Even though there are disputes on whether Henry and Catherine really loved each other, they held a good relationship. They tended to each others needs. Catherine took it slow while Henry wanted to rush into things to quickly. "Hello," I said. "When I saw her I was in love with her. Everything turned over inside of me." (91) Catherine and Henry were inseparable. Throughout the novel, their relationship became more serious and Henry had finally decided that he was in love with Catherine Barkley. "I really love you. I'm crazy about you." (92) This quote displays how Henry just can't get enough of Catherine how he wants to rush into things to quick. Henry doesn't like Catherine for who se really is but is taken over by the power of her looks. Cathy is a back stabbing devil and everyone knows it. Cathy tricks Adam into drinking her opium medicine so it allows here to sleep with Charles. Cathy heard Charles footsteps as he returned home. A Comparison of A Farewell to Arms and East of Eden :: comparison compare contrast essays A Farewell to Arms and East of Eden "Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while." This quote summarizes Catherine and Henry's love for each other. Even though Catherine died, Henry had a huge space of emptiness left in his heart. Marriages in today's society are very serious relationships although some people don't seem to take them so seriously. Take for example Dennis Rodman, who married Carmen Electra and they divorced a week later. This shows how men are sometimes over powered by looks. My essay contrasts the relationships in Hemingway's Farewell to Arms to the relationships in Steinbeck's East of Eden. E. Hemingway displays a sense of respect for couples whereas J. Steinbeck portrays that women are venerable can't hold a steady relationship. Abra gradually fell in love with Cal and eventually cheated on Aron with his brother Caleb. Cal slowly tries to ruin Aron. Cal influences Abra's thought of Aron by saying sweet things to her. Adam smiled at her. "You're pink as a rose," he said. (590) T he passage shows that Cal is trying to romance Abra. He knows Abra is venerable because Aron is away in the army and she misses him. By Aron absent, Abra needs a man and she turns to Cal. Henry and Catherine hold a steady, loving and trustworthy relationship even through the tough times of war. Even though there are disputes on whether Henry and Catherine really loved each other, they held a good relationship. They tended to each others needs. Catherine took it slow while Henry wanted to rush into things to quickly. "Hello," I said. "When I saw her I was in love with her. Everything turned over inside of me." (91) Catherine and Henry were inseparable. Throughout the novel, their relationship became more serious and Henry had finally decided that he was in love with Catherine Barkley. "I really love you. I'm crazy about you." (92) This quote displays how Henry just can't get enough of Catherine how he wants to rush into things to quick. Henry doesn't like Catherine for who se really is but is taken over by the power of her looks. Cathy is a back stabbing devil and everyone knows it. Cathy tricks Adam into drinking her opium medicine so it allows here to sleep with Charles. Cathy heard Charles footsteps as he returned home.