Marketing graduate career trends

Introduction Employability refers to the collection of personal attributes that one possesses making him/her valuable at the workplace, and in the global economy (CBI/NUS 2011). A marketing graduate must have work experience to be employed by either middle-sized companies or big companies. Employers assess knowledge, skills, and experience (Hall, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Marketing graduate career trends specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to CBI/NUS report (2011), knowledge refers to analytical skills. Various selection tools, and procedures are used to assess the various competencies that an individual possesses. Assessment centers are recognized for their accuracy in selecting the right candidates. Some companies may use an additional selection process known as the graduate schemes. A marketer in a big company may specialize in one line of operation such as account specialist. In a small-s ized business, the various duties of marketing are carried out by a single individual. Employers around the world consider perfect academic grades may not be reflected in the actual performance. However, graduates with good grades may be considered as having a successful past which may be repeated at work. Most employers find business and customer awareness as a rare attribute among recruits (CBI/NUS 2011). Analysis Employability in marketing Employability is a term used to describe personal qualities that augment the technical skills making an employee more productive. According to CBI/NUS report (2011), employability is â€Å"the set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labor market participants should possess† (p. 12). This indicates that the attributes are shared across different sectors. The main attribute is positive thinking. Other attributes include communication skills, business and customer awareness, team-working, and self-management among other skills. The se skills make it easier for a marketing graduate to fit in the workplace easily. One is able to shift easily from sector to sector according to career preference. CBI/NUS (2011) discusses that employability is â€Å"always in demand and is never outdated† (p. 11). However, technical skills such as marketing need to be reviewed or else they become outdated.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Maintaining employability requires marketing graduates to â€Å"constantly update their skills so that they are desirable to potential employers all the time and at any time† (Ridderstrale Nordstom as cited by Francis 2012). Employers believe that the qualities of an individual are portrayed in the brand image. Heffernan et al. (2010) discuss that â€Å"communication, both written and oral, are to be the most important attribute for a marketing graduate† (p. 4). An em ployable marketer that wants to work with leading companies and middle-sized companies must demonstrate good communication skills during competency tests. Information transfer, networking skills, and ability to engage foreign languages were considered first in communication attributes (Heffernan et al. 2010). A marketing graduate enhances employability through â€Å"role plays, real life consultancy projects, guest lectures from respected practitioners, employer ‘question time’, and international ‘buddying-up’ systems† (Heffernan et al. 2010, p. 4). These among other techniques are also identified by Hall (2012, slides 20-23) as the practices that help a marketer build specific skills to be used for self-marketing. Employability trends are changing according to High Flyers Research (2012). Employers are more likely to hire those graduates who have experience with them. The research illustrates that 36% of vacancies in UK’s leading employers wi ll hire graduates who had internships with the particular employers. According to High Flyers Research (2012), â€Å"6,200 positions from this year’s entry-level vacancies will not be available to the other finalists from the Class of 2012† (p. 12). As a marketing graduate, it is necessary to seek internships with your target employer. This increases your suitability as a candidate to fill a position in the company. It also exposes you to the operations of the company, and the industry. This is an advantage during assessment.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Marketing graduate career trends specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Work attachments are beneficial to students by the fact that most companies are offering paid work placement. The number of â€Å"paid work experience for 2012 is 11,000† in all sectors of the economy in the UK (High Flyers 2012, p. 32). Investment banks are the leading pr oviders of internships with 2,700. As a marketing student, the fact that employers are offering paid work placements makes it easier to manage a personal budget while working for experience. Employment opportunities of graduates vary according to the economic environment. It is noted that during the global recession, only the public sector in the UK increased employment opportunities. All other sectors reduced recruitment (High Flyer Research 2012). In the period 2007-2009, public employment sector increased by 44.9% while the â€Å"The Times Top 100 Graduate employers’ recruitment declined by 23.3%† (p. 16). A marketing graduate should recognize the role played by the public sector in absorbing graduates during times of recession. However, the public sector, and the retail sector are among the lowest in remuneration in the UK. On an average, investment banks offer the highest paid employment opportunities. Marketing may be similar to IT in that a graduate is employabl e in various sectors. The High Flyer research (2012) notes that â€Å"IT companies are few and yet the volume of graduates needed to work in IT functions in a wide range of employers in other industries is considerable† (p. 15). This makes IT to hire more graduates at 57% compared with marketing at 38% (see appendix 1). Marketing applies to many industries such as pharmaceuticals, PR, entertainment, banking, and many more. A marketing graduate should have expectations of venturing into other fields apart from marketing media, and consumer goods. Employers’ expectation The traditional expectation of employers is that all graduates are supposed to have an â€Å"open mind, transferable skills, cultural awareness, and readiness to work† (Andreanoff 2012). Heffernan et al. (2010) note that employers constantly meet graduates who do not have the qualifications they are looking for.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This creates the need for additional procedures to test the specific attributes they seek. Carson et al. (2001) discuss that the â€Å"dissatisfaction among CEOs with the performance of marketing managers has caused the number of jobs for marketing graduates to decline† (p. 225). The High Flyer Research (2012) discusses about a change in employers attitude towards graduates. Many leading employers in the UK are increasing their annual intake of graduates. Employers have a slight preference towards some universities and colleges. According to High Flyer Research (2012), the five most targeted universities are Manchester, London, Cambridge, Nottingham, and Oxford (see appendix 2). This indicates that a marketing graduate may have an additional value by studying in the most targeted universities. However, other qualities such as work experience with the employer could make them overlook the university from which one has studied. CBI/NUS report (2011) discusses the need for colle ge students selecting universities that are â€Å"right for them and their areas of interest† (p. 16). Courses as well as universities have their own distinct approach. However, all of the learning institutions are expected to develop students’ â€Å"powers of thinking and analysis† (CBI/NUS 2011, p. 16). What employers consider as knowledge according to the CBI/NUS report (2011) is the ability to use numerical skills, and literacy. The report discusses that graduates must demonstrate â€Å"ability to analyze facts for example sift evidence, develop ideas† ( p. 10). Ability to reason, and present your thoughts in a convincing manner is necessary. Many universities are developing career based programs to create awareness of needed working skills. They are assisting students to get work placements. The marketing workplace is constantly changing to successful trends in the world. The factors that marketers should update themselves about include â€Å"global ization, technology, economic/political factors, organizations, how people are employed† (Andreanoff 2012). A marketing graduate should study the emerging trends in these factors. Some of these factors are intertwined. For example, good communication skills require a marketer be able to use social networks as a marketing tool. This falls under information technology, art and design. Emerging trends include receiving feedback from customers from social networks such as Facebook, and Twitter. Uploading files on ‘YouTube’ can also be used for marketing. Heffernan et al. note that â€Å"customer orientation must be high for potential employability† (2010, p. 5). Employers want graduates with a global experience. Marketing graduates are expected to involve themselves with extra-curriculum activities. Hall (2012) describes volunteering as a win-win situation for getting an experience that employers seek. Ciletti (2011, p. 42) describes a good business entity as o ne that â€Å"pays taxes and contributes to causes that are important to the community.† By being good citizens, businesses are expected to engage in charitable deeds. Employers expect marketing graduates to display a high level of knowledge, skills, and experience. Hall (2012, slide 4 quotes Birchall) explains that graduates without experience â€Å"have little or no chance of landing a well-paid job with a leading employer, irrespective of the university they attended.† This emphasizes the need to engage oneself with part-time job, or attachment while studying in college. Experience creates the marketer’s ability to solve problems, communicate, and understand customer preferences among other abilities. Employers lay a strong emphasis on commercial awareness, and numerical skills (Hall 2012). Numerical skills mean the ability to analyze data quantitatively. Qualitative data may be assigned weights so that it is analyzed empirically. Stanley (2003) discusses tha t graduates need to demonstrate â€Å"an ability with figures† (p. 70). As a marketer, it is necessary to interpret statistical outcomes such share prices, market share of a firm, impact of promotions among others. A marketing graduate seeking specific skills to develop as a brand should consider customer awareness. CBI/NUS report (2011) indicates that most employers do not find recruits that are aware of their have knowledge of the business or customer awareness (see appendix 3). As a marketing graduate, one should take time and study reports about consumer preferences and industry/market surveys. Being aware of business and customer needs will give a marketer an advantage. Hall (2012) discusses that the past success of a graduate is promising enough to recommend one for a job. When such a graduate does not have the immediate skills to handle a particular job position perfectly, employers may consider training the graduate to fit the position perfectly. Hall (2012) explains that graduates must show ability to â€Å"do the job now or be trained to do the job.† When they consider training, past competencies are relevant for consideration. Hall (2012) discusses that â€Å"employers want evidence of success†. Research and Education Association (1997) discuss that marketing graduates need to pursue related courses such as statistics, and organizational behavior for them to be market research analysts. The first impression of an interview matters a lot. A wide knowledge about an organization is advantageous. Hall (2012) elaborates the importance of highlighting key areas in a curriculum vitae. This includes highlighting relevant work experience. Preparing a cover letter telling what one will be offering the company in exchange for the job. Trends in employment selection methods Employers are seeking a distinct brand personality. Stanley (2003) points out that employers are â€Å"looking for your personality rather than your degree area† (p. 70). The process starts by selection of â€Å"a sufficient number of suitably qualified candidates from which an organization chooses† (Francis 2012). The selection may occur in several stages. A few graduates may be eliminated at each stage. The final stage takes a few candidates to fill the needed positions. The personality brand is gaining appreciation in vacancy consideration. Francis (2012) discusses that your personal brand â€Å"differentiates your unique promise of value and resonates with the target audience.† Francis (2012) elaborates the accuracy of various selection tools. The top three selection tools are assessment centers (68% accuracy), structured interviews (63%), and aptitude test (54%). Employers are shifting their selection methods to tools that are considered more accurate. Interviews, with 15% accuracy, may be a less determining process in selection. Hall (2012) lists the selection trends that are put into use before the face-to-face interacti on. First, a company’s recruitment exercise does not have a period such that it happens all-year round. Interactive media are used in the initial stages of selection such as on-line tests, and telephone screening. Employers emphasize the use of assessment centers for their accuracy. Assessment centers test a number of capabilities since they apply job simulation exercises (see appendix 4). It is an integration of several activities such as reasoning test (testing problem-solving), and group presentation (testing leadership skills). Assessment centers use social events to test social behavior (Edenborough, 2005). Information sessions test what a graduate knows about the organization or industry. Other exercises test an applicant’s abilities such as numerical competency. Performance in assessment centers rely on what you think rather than what you know (Prospects 2012). Marketing graduates must demonstrate knowledge about the organization, and skills on the job they want to be recruited. Competency questions are used for on-line selection. There are ability tests for problem solving capabilities, client care and teamwork capabilities (Hall 2012). Snowdon (2010, diagram) discuss the various paths taken by marketing graduates in 2008. It is noted that 30.6% were recruited in marketing, sales, and advertising, 17.9% entered the commercial /industrial/public sector management. Those who were employed in clerical and secretarial services account for 13.5%. Retailing and catering accounted for 12.6%. From those who were employed in marketing, sales, and advertising, 59% were marketing/advertising executives. Public relations officers were 8.2%, 7.5% sales representatives, and others 14.8% (see appendix 5). Snowdon (2010) describes that graduates in marketing can be employed in â€Å"retail, fashion, manufacturing, financial and public services, leisure and tourism, consumer goods, music, electronics and so on† (para. 6). Their responsibilities may fall under market research, recruitment (Victoria University 2011), â€Å"public relations, sales, brand management, advertising, and general management† (para. 7). A community relations manager may be involved with managing activities for a community’s well-being (Steinberg 2006). Marketing research involves finding out the causal agent of an outcome in marketing. A project manager is involved with implementation of research projects. Account representative â€Å"interprets client needs and represents clients to project manager† (Steinberg 2006, p. 11). Research specialist designs research, analyses statistical data, and mathematical modeling. In advertising, a media buyer/coordinator manages â€Å"the purchase and control of large blocks of media time/space† (Steinberg 2006, p. 13). Media analyst maximizes effectiveness of advertising by studying trends in audience preference, and circulation while reducing advertising costs. Art directors â€Å"work on the visual side of advertising as part of a creative team† (Steinberg 2006, p. 13). These indicate that there are numerous roles to play in the marketing field (see appendix 6). Specialty is needed in some of the marketing careers such as market research analyst, and advertising art directors. A marketing manager in a small-sized company may be required to carry out all the responsibilities that need specialization in a large company. A marketing graduate stands out in the crowd because of his/her consciousness of the immediate surrounding. A marketer using the social media, has â€Å"a sense of the rules and customs, and of who the influential people are† (Zarella 2010, p. 185). The dressing choice may match emerging fashion trends. The clothes that a marketer chooses to wear should partly portray his/her personality brand. A marketer is an enthusiast of products. The social behavior is inviting to those who are around, and is almost influential. A marketer has an u nderstanding of human perception, and behavior. He/she understands the market mix of characters. A marketer sells his/her brand personality, the company, and its products. The selection process in BAT Eastern Europe starts with the filling-in of application forms, and attaching a CV. The two are reviewed, and promising candidates are invited to a psychometric test. Psychometric tests assesses reasoning and numerical abilities. The test may be done on-line in various languages. Telephone assessment is the next stage. This assesses leadership and functional competencies. The next step is the face-to-face interview with a member of the recruitment team. This opens an opportunity for the candidate to ask questions related to the organization. The assessment comes just before the final stage which is an interview with your head of function (BAT Graduate Careers Eastern Europe 2009). The Univar company graduate scheme takes two years. There are four placements where each takes six months to complete. Graduates can choose between two core streams, commercial or operations. One is assigned a manager in the business who acts like a mentor for the period. Graduates are expected to travel across the UK to â€Å"experience the Univar network† (Univar Graduate Scheme 2012, p. 3). Training is provided on â€Å"time management and interpersonal effectiveness, understanding leadership, presentation skills, giving feedback, and performance management† (p. 5). The graduates’ assessment outcome is disclosed at the end of the period. Successful candidates are placed in target position within the organization (Univar Graduate Scheme 2012). Conclusion A marketing graduate must have work experience before he/she can be hired by well-known companies. The brand personality is considered to portray what the graduate stands for. Assessment centers are considered to be more accurate than other selection tools because they test a multiple of skills in a single event. Recruitment and selection happens in several stages. From application, telephone-screening, face-to-face interview, to assessment centers and graduate schemes. Companies are eager to know what value a marketing graduate will add by joining them. A marketing graduate seeking employment must know the organization, and assess what areas need value addition. One must be prepared for competency tests. The performance of a candidate relies on reasoning capabilities. Graduate schemes are more accurate than assessment centers because they offer same exposure for candidates to access information about an organization’s operations. There is a need to study related fields of interest to have an advantage of being selected. Marketing responsibilities â€Å"vary among organizations and industries† (Mansfield 2011, para. 1). Reflection I chose marketing because of the freedom it gives when it comes to presentations. I admired the role played by marketers in the media industry. There is no need of similarities in appearance or character. Marketers have enthusiasm as a common attribute. Initially, I never thought numeracy is strongly considered in marketing. Marketing absorbs a wide range of personalities while also offering a wide range of opportunities in different sectors. It would be a great challenge for me to be employed in the retail sector. This is because it has among the lowest income rates. It may be tiresome without any positive results. However, it offers opportunities to understand the customer, and the market. The presentation by Deloitte made to long for the company but I note how much they value good academic grades before other attributes are put into consideration. I need to join academic and social clubs at the university for me polish my attributes as well as learn about about emerging career opportunities. My knowledge about the magazine industry is that they value fashion very much. The leaders in marketing must be the first to wear an eme rging trend. You magazine features have to generate debate. You must not copy from others especially those whom you share the same market. This makes hiring artists and designers necessary. I have learnt, through this module, how import it is for a marketing student to obtain work experience through internships. I have to target a work placement with my potential employer as statistics indicate that 36% of employers are most likely to employ those graduates who have already worked with them (High Flyers report 2012). Without work placements, one is left out of employment opportunities. I have learnt that employers are discontented with the type of graduate recruits they meet mainly because of their lack of business and customer awareness. I must study recent surveys on customer needs and preferences in my target industry. In addition to this, I should know the overall consumer behavior. I have learnt that when employers refer to knowledge they refer to analytical skills. Employabili ty refers to possession of personal attributes. These attributes are applicable in all sectors, and are never outdated. They are in demand in all fields. In future I will apply my excellent fluency as a complement to numerical skills that I am developing. References Andreanoff, 2012 (mentoring scheme).  BAT Graduate Careers Eastern Europe, MT Selection Process, 2009, British American Tobacco. Web. Carson, D., Gilmore, A., Perry, C., Gronhaug, K., 2001, Qualitative Marketing Research, SAGE Publications, London. CBI/NUS 2011, Working towards your future: making the most out of your time in higher education, March. Ciletti, D. 2011, Marketing Yourself, South-Western, Cengage Learning, Mason. Edenborough, R. 2005, Assessment methods in Recruitment, Selection Performance, Kogan Page Ltd., London. Francis, 2012 (Andrew Francis on R$S). Hall, E. 2012 (Emma Hall’s master classes). Heffernan, T., Feng, W., Angell, R., and Fang, Y., 2010, Employability and Marketing Education: Insi ghts from the United Kingdom, University of Plymouth, UK. High Flyers Research 2012, The Graduate Market in 2012, High Flyers Research Ltd, London. Mansfield University 2011, Marketing Job Positions.  Web. Prospects 2012, Interview tests and exercises, Assessment centres, Graduate Prospects. Web. Research and Education Association 1997, Careers for the year 2000 and beyond, Research Education Association, New Jersey. Snowdon, G. 2010, What to do with a degree in marketing, The Guardian, 30 January. Web. Stanley, A. 2003, Careers in Marketing and Public Relations, Kogan Page Ltd., London. Steinberg, M. 2006, Opportunities in Marketing Careers, McGraw Hill Companies, New York. Univar Graduate Scheme , Univar a transformational chemical distribution partner, 2012. Web. Victoria University 2011, Work wizard- what can I do with my marketing degree.  Web. Zarrella, D. 2010, The social Media Marketing Book, O’Reilly Media, Sebastopol. This report on Marketing graduate career trends was written and submitted by user Analia Boyer 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.

Cause and Effect Essay Sample

Cause and Effect Essay SampleIn this essay, we will cover the topic of cause and effect. This is a concept that is often ignored in formal writing, but is commonly used in private conversations. The author has chosen to write an essay on this topic, and will use an example of this kind of essay in order to demonstrate how one could use it effectively.To begin with, this essay is about essay writing in general. It will be very basic and will only require that the writer know something about the main concept. There are many common ideas that appear in this essay, and we will cover them all. It should be noted that not all of these ideas are relevant to the topic of this essay.First, note that all states in a sentence are the same as the state of being. For example, the state of your breath would be the same as the state of being the place where you are right now. A new point that has been brought up is that the case of 'I am here' has the same meaning as the state of 'I am breathing' w hich is the same as 'I am in a place where I am breathing'.Second, to illustrate the relationship between cause and effect, the introduction should be a reference to the topic of the essay. However, when the essay is used as a private conversation, the introduction can have several other uses. For example, the introduction could serve as a statement that the person involved is not a 'lawyer', which will then be used as a defense for a violation of the law in another situation.The topic of the essay can also change from question prompts, to a hypothetical situation, or a statement that nothing in the essay is true. This is because the idea of cause and effect is open to interpretation. The 'everybody knows that' does not mean the same thing in every situation. Each topic of the essay will be given its own description in order to make sure that there is consistency between questions and answers.Third, the process of cause and effect should always be used with examples. The example sho uld stand on its own, without the explanation of the difference between the cause and effect. For example, the same state of being, will come into existence once the cause of being is caused. Once the cause of the 'I am here' state has been shown, the essay will then have a topic that is 'would you do this if it were true?'. This can then be followed by questions such as: What would happen if this were true?Fourth, note that the essay is about cause and effect, and that it should use no internal logic that can influence the situation. This is because this type of essay is about the workings of a principle, not a particular situation. In order to use a valid cause and effect example in an essay, the cause and effect must be something that the person who is looking at the essay already knows, and does not need to be explained.Fifth, the essay can also use the notion of 'if this were true, it would be the cause of this effect'. This is done with the introduction, as well as all other p arts of the essay. As mentioned before, this essay can be used as a private conversation or for formal writing, so it is important to make sure that the premise of the essay is what is needed for the outcome of the essay.

What Is the What by Dave Eggers Book Review

What Is the What by Dave Eggers Book Review What Is the What is an astonishing, eye-opening, and heartbreaking book that defies classification. Once you’ve read it, the story of Valentino Achak Deng refuses to leave your mind. Even if you’re not familiar with the Lost Boys and their struggles to escape from war-torn Sudan, you’ll be drawn into this pseudo-autobiography. What Is the What tells a devastating story but never plays for sympathy. Instead, the hope, complexity, and tragedy of the situation take center stage. Valentino’s story stands alone as powerful and worth reading and Eggers’ superb writing compellingly brings Valentino’s voice and story to life. The novel is a successful portrayal of  a large-scale  tragedy through one man’s story though it does include graphic depictions of suffering and death. Synopsis Valentino Achak Deng was just a boy when Sudan’s civil war found its way to his village. Forced to flee, he walks for months to Ethiopia and later Kenya with hundreds of other boys. Resettled in the US, Valentino struggles to adjust to the mixed blessings of his new life. Book Review What Is the What is drawn from the real-life story of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. The title comes from a local story about the reward of choosing what’s known over what’s unknown. As they flee the destruction around them, though, the Lost Boys are constantly forced to choose the unknown future of refugee camps and life in America. What Is the What describes the interminable walking, the militia and bombs, starvation and disease, and lions and crocodiles that kill countless young boys as they attempt to find refuge in Ethiopia and Kenya. The obstacles of their journey are so astonishing and heartbreaking that you - and they - often wonder how they can go on. Eventually, many of the Lost Boys gain entry to the United States, and they form a vibrant community displaced across the country but constantly in touch by cell phone. Valentino ends up in Atlanta, adjusting to the fact that America offers its own evils and injustices. His past and present are masterfully interwoven through Valentino’s habit of mentally recounting his story to the different people he meets. Reading Valentino’s horrifying story can make the mere act of reading a book feel frivolous. The power of literature, though, is to bring remote stories to life. Eggers is famous for his book,  A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. That title could easily apply to What Is the What. Book Discussion Group Questions If youve chosen this book for your discussion group, here are some sample questions. Why do you think Valentino/Dominic/Achak had so many names?Why do you think Valentino directs his story towards Michael, Julian, and the clients of the gym?Which one of Valentino’s friends did you like or remember the most?Did you know the plight of the Lost Boys before you read this book? Did it change what you thought about the situation?What details impacted you the most?

Definition and Examples of Questions in English

Definition and Examples of Questions in English In grammar, a question is a type of sentence expressed in a form that requires (or appears to require) an answer. Also known as an interrogative sentence, a question is generally distinguished from a sentence that makes a statement, delivers a command, or expresses an exclamation. In terms of syntax, a question is usually characterized by inversion of the subject and the first verb in the verb phrase, beginning with an interrogative pronoun or ending with a tag question. Linguists commonly recognize three main types of questions: Yes-No Questions, Wh- Questions, and Alternative Questions. Examples and Observations This is a question that no one particularly wants to hear, but, where did they put his head?(Xander in Teachers Pet. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 1997)I know this is a silly question before I ask it, but can you Americans speak any other language besides English?​  (Diane Kruger as Bridget von Hammersmark in Inglourious Basterds, 2009)Question is, what did camouflaged robot mercenaries want with you? And how did you get inside the TARDIS?​  (The Doctor in The Runaway Bride. Doctor Who, 2005) Structuring Questions To form a polar question (one expecting yes/no as an answer), the first auxiliary verb, which bears a tense inflection, is moved to the front of the clause. Corresponding to John was eating the halva we get Was John eating the halva? There must be at least one verb in the auxiliary for question formationif the VP contains none of have, be or a modal then do must be included to take the tense inflection; thus, corresponding to the statement John ate the halva, we get the question, Did John eat the halva?   A wh- question (expecting a phrase or clause as answer) involves the same fronting, and in addition a wh- word (who, whom, whose, what, which, how, why, where or when), which refers to the same constituent of the main clause, must precede the preposed auxiliary word. Compare John was hitting Mary with Who was hitting Mary?  Mary arrived yesterday with When did Mary arrive? and John ate the halva with What did John eat? If the constituent being questioned had a preposition associated with it, then this may either be moved to initial position, before the wh- word, or it can be left in its underlying position in the clause. Thus, corresponding to He owes his success to hard work we can have either What does he owe his success to? or To what does he owe his success?(R.M.W. Dixon, A New Approach to English Grammar, on Semantic Principles. Oxford University Press, 1991) Examples of Question Types [In the following joke, the attorneys initial wh- ​question is followed by two yes-no questions and a final alternative question.]A woman went to an attorney to ask about a divorce.What grounds do you have, madam?About six acres.No, I dont think you quite understand. Let me rephrase the question. Do you have a grudge?No, just a parking space.lll try again. Does your husband beat you up?No, l always get up at least an hour before he does.The attorney could see he was fighting a losing battle. Madam, do you want a divorce or not?Im not the one who wants a divorce, she said. My husband does. He claims we dont communicate.(adapted from The Mammoth Book of Humor, by Geoff Tibballs. Carroll Graf, 2000) Intonation in Questions American English typically has rising intonation across the utterance for what are called yes-no questions (She bought a new car?) and falling intonation for information-seeking questions (also called wh- questions) (What does she want to buy?), although there is much variation in these patterns in both American and British dialects.​  (Kristin Denham and Anne Lobeck, Linguistics for Everyone. Wadsworth, 2010) Why Ads Use Questions Questions, like commands, imply a direct address to the readerthey require someone to answer. Thats why they are often used on magazine covers, like these from one issue of Cosmopolitan: At long last love. Are you sure its the real thing?THE CONDOM. Whats in it for you?Hired or fired? How to leave your job in style. We take them as requiring a response, like a ringing phone. There is another more subtle effect questions can havethey can contain presuppositions that are almost impossible to discard if one interprets the text.​  (Greg Myers, Words in Ads. Routledge, 1994) Questions as Technologies in Disguise Questions, then, are like computers or television or stethoscopes or lie detectors, in that they are mechanisms that give direction to our thoughts, generate new ideas, venerate old ones, expose facts or hide them.​  (Neil Postman, Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. Alfred A. Knopf, 1992)

International Trade Debate Part II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International Trade Debate Part II - Essay Example 1. While lower-end production jobs have been lost to 3rd world countries, increased use of automation and component-based manufacturing have resulted in an increase of high-paying manufacturing jobs in the US. 4. This increases the employability of Americans, opening up opportunities not just within the US, but overseas too. More Native Americans have migrated out of US in the past 20 years than ever before in history. 1. What is called as outsourcing and off shoring is nothing but one way of implementing balance of trade. The US has more bargaining ability than any other country in the global economy, and any loss of jobs to outside of US would have been offset by a host of other commercial and economic benefits, which are not always visible. 2. Migrants bring high-end skills and specialization to the American economy thereby helping it to maintain its sovereign status. A typical example is the Information Technology industry which employs thousands of migrants, but the largest consumer of which is American industry, which has moved up the value chain, through more automation. 4. Stronger 3rd world economies directly results in lesser migration of low-skilled workers from other countries, and hence less crime, lower unemployment rates and less Government spending on social security. In the long run, Globalization and International Trade benefits all

Consumer law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Consumer law - Essay Example One of the problems, which will be analyzed using General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR) 2005 for guaranteed safety of a product bought will do with Kingsley purchasing a luxury coffee machine for Miriam’s mother from Home Appliances Limited (HAL). There is also the case of Kingsley, engaging the services of Ben to provide a specified kind of wallpaper for his room, which had been advertised on television. Under the Sale of Goods Act, 1979, a buyer is entitled and has the right to receiving exactly what he or she prefers from a seller2 but it turns out that this is not what happened to Kingsley. In the last case, which talks about Consumer Protection Act, Kingsley had gone to purchase a dog, which was advertised to be a pedigree dog. The dog was also said to be a very friendly dog that would make a wonder companion of the family as a family pet. However, two months after buying the dog, it turns out that the dog is not a pedigree but a crossbreed; turning out to be a very d angerous dog. LUXURY COFFEE MACHINE As part of consumer law and practice and by statutes in the General Product Safety Regulations, 2005, consumers are given maximum protection from defective products, such that the mere fact that a consumer shows that a product was faulty and thus caused damage should be enough to guarantee a substantiated claim3. Before, consumers had to prove negligence by the manufacturers of the products before their claims could be substantiated4. In relation to the case of the purchased made by Kingsley, it would be noted that the safety of the product purchase was not fully guaranteed because it caused both damage and harm. The product became damaged in the course of its usage, whiles the user of the product suffered physical harm. Clearly, the level of damage caused is only possible in electrical appliances that have faults because of the level of hotness that was recorded5. In Abouzaid v. Mothercare (UK) Ltd., 2001, claimant’s mother purchased a Cos ytoes sleeping bag, which was designed to be attached to a child’s pushchair with elastic straps but whiles fixing the product with his mother, one of the elastic straps slipped and lashed back, causing permanent eye damage to the user. Though the claim of damages in negligence was overruled by the court, it was held that Mothercare Ltd was still liable under the Consumer Protection Act strict liability provision because defect in the product is always a major consideration over the level of care exercised by the consumer and in the case of defect in the product, exercise of care may not necessarily protect the manufacturer from ensuring that there are no defects with their products6. Based on the case law available and the binding legislation, a number of considerations will be made when giving advice for the case of Kingsley and Miriam. In the first place, the fact that the product purchased is electrical equipment means that the case comes under the range of goods covered by safety regulations. Secondly, safety regulations are binding on both new and second hand products and so the product is also covered in this case. Specifically, the fact that the luxury coffee machine caused damage and harm by becoming excessively hot means that the product was not well insulated7. Meanwhile, under both the General Product Safety Regulations (2005) and Consumer Protection Act, 1987, it is required that electrical equipm

Impact of Globalization on the Employment Market

Impact of Globalization on the Employment Market 1. Explore briefly the major contemporary debates about globalization and the impact of globalization on employment markets and practices. There are several recurring issues related to the contemporary debate on globalization. One of this issues is the competitive pressure globalization is exerting on the European Unions industrial sector. In this sector the topic most debated on is the effect on welfare systems and national economics. Global shareholders and competitors exert increasing pressure on industrial corporations while on the other hand policy makers major concern is on producers (taxpayers and job-providers) who are outsourcing work overseas or closing domestic production sites. This is what has made policy makers and companies to have a mutual interest where each seeks to ensure there is company competitiveness in global competition context. There are also debates on social demands with policy makers advocating for environmental protection since globalization has contributed a great deal to global warming and environmental depletion. Under globalization, debates assert that social, economic and political fac tors have changed the position of many nations. Some regions are said to be more globalized than others and cultures are being spread across the world with the speed of communication being affected. There are different effects of globalization that most countries are not happy with especially nation-states having a diluted power required to coordinate economic and social policies. There are global organizations and events that have been affecting the role of individual states. Globalization pessimists claim that it is a practice that is eroding working conditions and wages for workers for both emerging and advanced economies. Globalization has affected the quality and quantity of employment for example in the automotive industry. For the past ten years, the quantity of employment has remained less constant. For example, there was an addition of only 103,000 workers for the period between 1993 and 1996. At this period, there was an erosion of job quality major as a result of work shi ft from workers to suppliers and pay in this case is lower. Potential for downsizing is also higher since in most countries, vehicle manufacturing is shifting to new locations. Globalization has lead to an increase in the number of low quality jobs that have minimal advancement options. There is growth of insecure causal employment. Recent technological advancement in the global industry has affected employment patterns. For example, women mostly work in insecure and undercapitalized production sectors and these are areas with inadequate access of services, land, production inputs and credit. 2. Appraise processes by which your organization identifies their goals and values touching on how it interacts with any three (3) of its stakeholders. Rolls -Royce employees are one of the major stakeholders as it is the case in every organization. This is hinged on the fact employees are a very vital part of every company because they are the means through which it attains its objectives. In this regard, every business must endear to make sure that it has the right team of employees capable of steering it to the held of business success. Renowned successful companies are known to have effective and equally efficient human capital policies which are partly responsible for their success. Human resource department is the faculty charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the organization has the right team of employees in reference to skills, number and other aspects pertinent to good performance. Organizations should also continually ensure that its employees are appreciated in various ways to motivate them. They should be made to feel part of the organization to make them work hard not just for their own financial objectives but also for the success of the organization. In crafting its goals, an organization should consider the employees and how the goals crafted augur with those of the employees. This means that a relevant framework of gathering information on the relationship between the organization goals and those of the employees should be employed. Different organizations have different methods of achieving this end depending on the existing policies. For a company of Rolls-Royce stature, its important to ensure that they deliver excellent products to its customers who are also one of the major Rolls- Royce stakeholders. However, this will not be possible if there is no cooperation with the employees or where employees are not involved or made to understand their importance in helping achieve this goal. To lobby for this support Rolls -Royce strives to recruit and retain the best individuals by fostering an all inclusive work environment. This environment is also very conducive for enhancing capab ility, flexibility, and involvement and performance improvement. The prime process used to create understanding between the two parties (Rolls-Royce and its employees) is consultations. The company has created a Global Council which is charged with the responsibility of enhancing employees engagement and consultations. Employees representatives are chosen (40) and meets with the council twice per year (Rolls-Royce, 2009, p. 52). There are also regular meeting involving an executive committee of 8 delegates who are elected with the sole objective of supporting constant dialogue and consultations which are timely between the meetings of the council. General meetings which are delivered face to face to the company employees in the globe ensures that they have an excellent understanding of the companys key objectives and the contribution each individual employee should make. Another goal of Rolls- Royce which is also a goal for every organization operating in the market place is to be a socially responsible business. Businesses must be socially responsible to ensure acceptability in the communities where they are operating. This also reinforces their future expansion efforts. General public is a vital stakeholder because the success of the business is partially determined by its image. On the other hand, what a business does in reference to the public or the surrounding community mars or builds its image. A company may have fantastic products but they may never attain marketing success if the general public is not contented with its image. In Rolls- Royce, corporate responsibility is a basic part of its business strategy. Its an integral part of its operations which is not conducted as a self contained activity or separately (Rolls-Royce, 2009, p. 42). This aspect of conducting business has contributed significantly to the overall success of the company. The company strives to carry out its business operations in a responsible and ethical manner which in turn helps it build a competitive advantage. The competitive advantage is brought about by the ability to attract and keep the best individuals, to maintain excellent working relationships with suppliers, customers and governments and build goodwill as well as supporting the diverse communities. The process used in achieving is adhering to the Global Code of Business Ethics (Rolls-Royce, 2009, p. 46). This structures the stakeholders relationships in various parts of the world and has greatly reinforced its ability to create a good reputation. Its corporate responsibility goal is concentrated on four areas, these are business ethics, employees, health, safety and environment and the society. This brings two main stakeholders together (employees and society). 3. Explore the business external and contextual environment, technological developments and their potential impact month strategic business environment of the organization Through its corporate responsibility functions, Rolls-Royce has managed to foster excellent external and contextual (social) environments. This has enabled it to create mutual business benefits, reduce environ metal impacts on the operations of the business, encourage high ethical behavior standards and support human rights. One of the players in the external and social environment of Royce is its suppliers. Through its quality system, the company has ensured that they (suppliers) have maintained a rigorous performance standard. It also employs Suppliers Advanced Business Relationship (SABRs) which uses a supplier code of conduct (Rolls-Royce, 2009, p. 56). This code of conduct is further complemented by the companys purchasing code of conduct with the objective of ensuring that employees and suppliers adhere to the same standards. Royce aims at integrating sustainable procurement into its sourcing decision course. This has greatly helped it build a good external and contextual envir onment. The other factor in the external and social environment which Royce has paid close attention to is in environmental issues. In this regard, it has always ensured that its carbon emissions are declared publicly and voluntarily. This is done by taking the data for analyses by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). It has also gone a step further by encouraging its suppliers to follow its example of declaring their carbon emissions. The initiative (carbon emission declaration) has been very successful since it was initiated. It goes a long war in creating a favorable external and social environment especially at this age when there is a great emphasis on cleaner and greener environment. Royce has also joined hands wit its suppliers to eradicate waste. This has been coupled with recycling of metals to minimize the waste output. It has also taken some measures to help its suppliers follow the same course. Its customers have also been drawn into the initiative by asking them to take their time expired engine parts to the company for recycling. Royce has also ensured adherence to local sourcing policies in order to support disadvantaged and small businesses (Rolls-Royce, 2009, p. 56). Another important factor in the external environment which Royce had continually sought to address is community investment. The company has always strived to support the local communities through community investment. This has been achieved through sponsorship contributions, gifts in kind, employee time and cash. For example in 2009 Royce contributed a total of 6.7 million Euros across the above named areas. The main focus in sponsorship and donation is mainly on causes which are mainly related to engineering, educational and scientific objectives as well as other social objectives linked to Royces business and position in the larger community. A total of 2.3 million Euros in charitable donations was made. One such donation was to a homeless people and benevolent funds. Royce also seeks to work closely with institutions and the government to underpin the numerous career opportunities available in the earth and science field. It has also instituted a flagship education program which s eeks to recognize innovative and excellent teaching of science in the United Kingdom (Rolls-Royce, 2009, p. 57). From another social perspective, the company also extends employees time to the welfare of the community. This is provided by allowing them to participate in community projects and other team building affairs with some societal benefits. Royce has also developed a scheme via which employees are allowed to make some donations to their preferred charities. These donations are tax free and are deducted from the employees salary voluntarily. Technological development poses as a threat to many companies especially those unable to keep pace with the current rate of technological advancements. One of the care characteristics of Royce is technological superiority where it seeks to gain a competitive advantage via constantly investing in technology. This is very significant in the light of future growth considering that competition is building up daily. An operational capacity nee ds to be increased and this is catered for by ensuring that it continually remains innovative and alert to technological changes in the outside environment. This kind of involvement in the community has played a very pivotal role in shaping the companys external and contextual environment. Its dedication to adhering to the regulations set by the government has provided it with ample time to work towards its set objectives. The involvement has built its image among the local communities enhancing acceptability. This is important in facilitating its expansion objectives as well as sourcing initiatives. For example focusing on local sourcing goes a long way in ensuring that the company thrives with no conflicts with small and disadvantaged companies. This enables it to focus on major issues pertinent to the company instead of being involved in issues like legal struggles brought about by unfair overtures aimed at these small companies. Investing in the community has greatly impacts crucial areas which act as a locus of the companys success. Some of these areas are employees recruitment and retention particularly by investing in the skills t he company needs, employees engagement by fostering loyalty, motivation and pride in the organization, personal and professional skills development including leadership, teamwork ethical behavior and adaptability and lastly reputation through encouraging mutually beneficial and proactive relationships in the local communities within which Royce operates. 4. Apply and assess SWOT, PEST and PESTEL tools and change management to differentiate the organizations development and their potential impact on the strategic business environment After carrying out a SWOT analysis of Rolls-Royce, one is able to understand why its such a force to reckon with in the industry. The following analysis provides information on Rolls-Royces strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. One of the strengths possessed by this company is the strong entry barriers which bars new entrants into the industry. This has consequently reduced competition which has allowed the company to focus on its growth and expansion objectives unperturbed by any impeding new competition. The other strength is its focused RD (Market Research.com, 2009, p. 1). This has enabled to keep pace with the advancing technology to make sure that its products do not become obsolete. It also has a great degree of operational efficiency which has greatly boosted its ability to operate profitably. Its presence in the market also poses as a strong hold considering its market share. The other strength is its supply chain which is very well established. This has provided it with the ability to distribute its products to the end consumers very effectively thus increasing customer satisfaction and reducing costs. It also enjoys the advantage of skilled workforce which has enabled it achieve its present day success. The other strength is its long term growth and high demand of its products which has always increased sales. Long term growth strategy has provided it with the financial stability for future growth. Among the weaknesses are high leverage and decline in net profit margin. One of the opportunities available for Rolls-Royce is environmental pressure which is continually gaining momentum on the global fronts. Seeking to be on the fore front to lobbying for a cleaner environment will go a long way in improving its image. Maintain a healthy backlog is also another opportunity capable of improving its stand in the market. It also possesses the potential to improve its supply chain to further facilitate its distribution efforts. Notably, a key opp ortunity at the disposal of Rolls-Royce is the emerging market especially the current increment in spending on defense and the US aerospace industry which is projected to grow highly into the future. The difference between organizations today and in future is determined by its ability to capture the emerging market. Rolls-Royce has a great opportunity of addressing the needs of the emerging markets to enable it stay ahead of competition and facilitate growth efforts. Rolls-Royce can also aggressively invest to enlarge its scope and potential. It has also made an agreement with Dell computers which is a potentially promising market opportunity. There is also the rise in the demand for energy obtained from renewable sources which is a promising opportunity for Rolls- Royce. One of the threats facing Rolls- Royce is substitutes for the renewable energy sources. In the event of this threat, the company is bound to lose it strength as stated in the strengths section above. There is also the competitive pressure and the declining economic indicators. PEST/PESTEL Analysis Rolls-Royce is affected by numerous political forces in United Kingdom which in one way or the other may reduce its ability to exploit its full potential. One of such forces is European Union harmonization laws like employment and euro. This definitely limits its ability to execute its recruitment and retention policies based on the organization requirements (Wiseall, Kelly Kelly, 2001, p. 2). It has adherence to the set guidelines. There has also been a greater emphasis on education, mobility and training. One of the economic forces facing Rolls-Royce is globalization as discussed in the first section. There is also a reduction in manpower and productivity. Strategic partnerships are very prevalent today as well as revenue and risk sharing partnership. The number of suppliers is reducing who are also joining hands together. There is also frequent organizational change. Among the social factors the environmental issues, multi-skilling, ageing population and multicultural work enviro nment. Technical factors include knowledge management and e-, growth and application of computing power, common and standardization methods, integration as well as knowledge re-use and internet and internets. Environmental factors are increasingly gaining references in the business circles as climatic changes become more rampant. This has put many companies under pressure on the same scale. Royce has not been excluded either as such forces has demanded for more environmental friendly products like environmental friendly engines. Legal factors have also affected Royce especially on local sourcing and recruitment issues. Legislation of laws which requires the company to exercise its business in a given predetermined way forces it to revise its policies and growth objectives. It has to strive to make sure that these objectives are achieved within the context of the stipulated laws. The above detailed analysis directly impacts the way Royce conducts is business. It has to use its strengths to overcome is weaknesses and its opportunities to subdue its threats. Rolls-Royce also has to consider all the forces highlighted in the PERST and PESTEL to ensure that its operations are successful. The ability to relate a company with its external environment is a key ingredient of success. Failure to do that is the beginning of failure which culminates with a business exiting from the market. 5. How the organization apply new technologies and their impact on people and process. Critically analyze the impact on the business strategy of the external business environment Rolls-Royce has reported a shift on technological advancement by launching tunnel thruster in a bid to capture greater market share for competitive reasons. This new brand will see the firm target and entrench marine market niche by introducing an advanced level of rim drive as form of integrated system that combines hydrodynamic, mechanical and electrical component for efficiency purposes. There two greatest impact that the new technology will have on the firms capacity to meet the dynamic technological needs as well as the perceived divesture capacity in the changing technological world. First, the firm will record an increase in market share and subsequent increase in electronic and mechanical components sales volumes. Its worth noting that the technology comes at time when the need for business unit expansion is evident in Rolls-Royce Plc. As such the firm moves in by including viral features aimed at providing advantages to various consumers. As confirmed by Gunnar Johnsen the firms RT project manager, the numbers of trials subjected to the new invent guarantees consumers good quality product not only in Sweden but across cultures. Secondly, consumers being key external stakeholders will greatly appreciate the introduction of efficient fuel vessels aimed at reducing running costs associated with their work, and possibly increase their profit margins. For example, with the introduction of Olympics UT 712L, consumers have repeatedly identified with the product as one of the modernized DP2-dynamic positioning as well as efficient equipment/system that has considerably made work at the dock safer. As drawn from fiscal 2009, the firm has considered an improvement on civil nuclear business segment by establishing a modernized firm in UK to center on testing as well as assembling nuclear components for various nuclear power stations. Additionally, the new technological advancement will see the firm advance in the supply of assorted digital instrumentation as well as control systems. With the new shift in technology more operational procedures at engineering level will advance in meeting civil aerospace business requirements. 6. Look into the current and likely future demographic trends in the UK and internationally. Also explore the causes of key social and ethical management trends in the UK. According to the UK social institutions and policies are based on the supposition of a nuclear family with a male who is the breadwinner. Marriage is viewed as a contract between the two parties (male and female) and roles are divided between the two principals (Finch, n.d, p. 1). However, women are deemed to be more dependent on their husbands as well as the marriage institution for their economic sustainability. It is also viewed as a circle within which sex, love and childbearing occur. However, this has all changed in the last century spurred by the emergence of contraceptives, equal opportunities liberation, broadening of white collar jobs, rise in individualism and the availability of jobs for the subsistence earners. Women have now assumed a moirà © instrumental role in the society especially in education and labor market. Gender equity in these areas has greatly improved as women continue pushing for their rights. Besides the changing role of women in the society in UK, the population has also increased (Finch, n.d, p. 2). This has been complemented by changes in family composition with an increase in the number of ethnic minority groups. According to the current demographic trends marriage is continually losing its importance where its role as n economic essential for women is waning. This is because they now able to work away from home thus gaining independence. This has reduced the number of marriages occurring in the UK. Particularly, first marriages are rare to in the current and economic and social environment characterized by independence. Divorces are also on the rise which has been attributed to privatization and individualization of marriages (Finch, n.d, p. 2). Separations have also increased in the last decade. There has also been a decline in remarriages as people now prefer to seek their happiness elsewhere outside the marriage institution. However, a notable demographic trend in UK is the low birth rate. Its believed that the current fer tility rate is incapable of replacing the population for the next 30 years (National Statistics, 2005, p. 1). Its imperative to note that the birth rate surpasses the death even the fertility rates are low. This is an echo of the international scenario where population is increasing exponentially especially in the third world countries. Into the future, there is a projected increase in the number of household. This will result from an increase in population in the next ten years being projected to clock 65 million. The number of immigrants is also set to increase while emigrating and retiring Britons are also set to decline in the future. Marriages are bound to decrease as women gain economic liberation more and more. The changes in the social and ethical management trends in the UK has been prompted by changes in issues like globalization, changes in competitive environment, demographic trends, regulation, social trends and government policies. These changes have created a very tur bulent environment and volatile. In this regard, they have been forced to come up with measure and strategy to ensure their survival. 7. Evaluate the evaluation of regulation of business activity and discuss enterprises corporate governance concept Regulation of business activity is an ancient exercise which has been practiced for years. It is done to ensure that business activities are carried out in the right way. Its importance increased with the onset of industrialization as the scope of business activities enlarged. Industrialization led to emergence of big business and small businesses alike. Ensuring that every business had a fair playing ground was important. This was ensured by making social reforms and laws which regulated how business activities should be conducted. Being a form of government involvement, it continued to increase as complex business activities emerged and as cross trade affairs increased. Along the way enroute to the current level of government regulation, the general public and the business have been forced to lobby for reduced business activity regulation at times. This is in cases where the government has tightened the regulations too much. Massive changes in the economies which characterized the 21st century prompted the government to play a more vibrant role in overseeing business activities. This is the period when numerous business scandals rocked the corporate world. They had devastating impacts on the larger economy and that is why the government had and has to continually intervene. Today, business activity regulation is equally effective and that is why the todays business environment stable and promising. Rolls- Royce has a strong reference to corporate governance. This is the contextual framework through which it is managed, directed and controlled in the best interests of all involved stakeholders. It has a combined code on corporate governance which lays down the standards of good practice (Rolls-Royce, 2009, p. 66). These issues relate to remuneration, board composition, accountability and audit as well as relations with stakeholders. The company board is comprised of a chairman who is non executive, CEO, 4 executive directors and 7 non-executive directors. The non executive directors are independent of the companys management and are appointed by the board. The Group Executive runs the company within the strategy which is determined by the board. There are also principal board committees which includes nomination, remuneration and audit committees.