Ikea in Oman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Ikea in Oman - Essay Example part of the company’s continuous global expansion strategy, IKEA successfully managed to set up a store outlet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia back in 1983 and 1996 respectively (IKEA, 2008c). With the active assistance of International Al Futtain Group – Dubai-based business conglomerate of IKEA, the business is currently planning to open a store outlet within the jurisdiction of the Sultanate of Oman over the next three to four years from now (Business Intelligence Middle East, 2007). In general, Oman is well-known for its fishing and oil industry (Nations Encyclopedia, 2008a; U.S. Department of State, 2008). Since Malaysia is one of the world-class exporters of high quality rattan-made furniture including home dà ©cor items (One2furniure, 2008; Rinaat Cane, 2008), it is best on the part of IKEA to promote the selling of these furniture item throughout the entire market in Oman. With regards to IKEA’s expansion project in Oman, an international marketing plan which includes the international marketing objective(s), a thorough market situational analysis, a marketing strategy, implementation and control will be provided in this study as part of making the introduction of rattan-made furniture items in Oman successful. The corporate objective is to be able to successfully penetrate the company’s target market in Oman by effectively promoting the benefits of using rattan-made furniture over the use of other alternative materials like glass, wood, plastic, and metal. As part of the company’s international marketing objective(s), IKEA should: 1. Effectively promote the importance and benefits of using rattan-made furniture items such as living room sets, dining room sets, bedroom sets, cabinets, and office furniture over the typical wooden, plastic, or metallic home products through the use of appropriate marketing communication techniques (i.e. environmental impact and the excellent craftsmanship in Malaysia); PEST1 framework is often

Social change Assigment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social change Assigment - Essay Example His idea has proven to be a replicable and long lasting means of delivering health related services and goods to Guatemalan and Ecuadorian villages. Using this process, he has encouraged entrepreneurship thus giving villagers the opportunity to develop economically, physically and socially. This model targets individuals in rural areas especially the women who have no other means of generating additional household income. This is through overpowering the traditional method of giving handouts to rural communities as they find means of fending for themselves, and not necessarily waiting for the next donation. So far Greg Van Kirk’s method has successfully sold water filters, energy-efficient light bulbs, wood burning stoves, eyeglasses and seed -growing techniques, in over one thousand villages in the rural areas at affordable prices; improving their health and economic status. Greg Van Kirk’s development is considered a social entrepreneurship because it is a new invention which has achieved large scale sustainable, and systemic social change. This invention has also first focused on social and ecological value creation while optimizing on financial value creation. Another reason for its classification as a social entrepreneurship is that it created innovation by finding a new product, and service, and a unique approach to a social problem. It also emulates the act of devotion to the poor and the weak and also stays on top in business innovation. Social entrepreneurship shares common traits and so do their organizations. Greg Van Kirk like most social entrepreneurs believes that all people have the capacity to contribute meaningfully to economic and social development. He has a driving passion as can be seen through his innovation. The zeal to monitor and measure impact, there are several articles showing researches done to determine the strategy, benefits and new

The Effect of Media Type on the Message of Pakistan and the United Essay

The Effect of Media Type on the Message of Pakistan and the United States - Essay Example The story has seen widespread coverage across both newspaper and television media. This report will examine one television presentation and two newspaper presentations of the story and analyze how these differ in the way that they portray the information, the impressions they give, their focus, and the effect of the medium itself on the content. The television report was aired on CBS news, titled Terrorist cell phones link Pakistan to attacks. The two newspaper treatments were by the New York Times and USA today titled Pakistan’s spy agency is tied to attack on U.S. Embassy, and Admiral accuses Pakistani agency of backing terrorists respectively. Neil Postman was an American critic as well as being an author and media theorist. He produced a number of books, with several concerning the idea of mass communication being used to share ideas, how this has declined and the role that television plays. Finally, the results will be compared to the claims of Neil Postman, who proposed that different media had the potential to shape the news that we see. He argues that the method in which news is communicated can substantially impact what is communicated, and that television news is not an effective method of providing information, as it does not provide a complete or informative picture of what is happening. The results from my comparison agree with this, with the television news producing a more sensationalized picture that left out some key information, while the newspaper reports went in to more detail about the causes and effects of the event. The Television Perspective The CBS broadcast of the story was titled Terrorist cell phones link Pakistan to attacks, however the cell phones were mentioned only at the start of the three minute report. The attack on the US embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan was carried out by a group known as Haqqani, who have ties to the Taliban. While all those involved in the attack were killed, information from their cell phones, includi ng calls made and times, was able to be recovered. This led to the determination by US intelligence that both before and during the attack the cell phones were used to call Pakistani intelligence. This discovery has lead to Mike Mullen claiming that the Haqqani network acts is a ‘veritable arm’ for Pakistani intelligence As a consequence of this link, the US claims that all activities of the Haqqani network, which includes a string of high profile attacks, has been connected to the Pakistani intelligence, with them both protecting and funding the group. They claim that the Haqqani network, which has several thousand fighters, operates from within Pakistan, and is involved in raids that cross into Afghanistan. Furthermore, Pakistan uses the network to sell violence in an effort to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a stable and strong country. The CBS story also has a large focus on a truck bombing attack that occurred a few days prior. The truck was involved in the injur y of more than 70 American soldiers, and was known about prior to entering Afghanistan through an intercepted Haqqani transmission. The commander of US troops in Afghanistan General Allen called the commander of the Pakistani Army, General Kayani, asking him to head off the attack. Kayani promised to make a call, but the truck made

Accused of witchcraft Essay Example for Free

Accused of witchcraft Essay Parris : Why not? Now there are no spirits attacking her, for none in this room is accused of witchcraft. So let her turn herself cold now, let her pretend she is attacked now, let her faint. (He turns to Mary Warren.) Faint!  Act 3, Page 85  This is when the court first has the idea of getting Mary to prove the other girls are frauds by getting her to pretend to faint. She will not because she is afraid of what the girls will do to her. Or cannot, for fear of the court  This is one of the highest points of tension in the whole play because everything and everyone is focused on Mary, relying on her in one way or another to either tell the truth or to lie. But there is so much pressure on Mary that she cant say anything. The pressure builds and builds until Mary cracks then Abigail launches a perfectly timed attack. Just when people are confused about whom to believe Abigail turns on Mary and makes them believe her.  The girls turning on Mary is a dramatically effective part in act three. This is because when the girls turn on Mary you feel sorry for her due to the fact she is torn between telling the truth to the court or joining the girls again to prevent them from accusing her.  Mary Warren, do you witch her? I say to you, do you send your spirit out? Danforth, Act 3, Page 87  When Danforth asks her this question Mary snaps and pushes herself away from Proctor.  Mary Warren, Act 3, page 88  This is when Marys delicate relationship with Proctor breaks down and she will no longer cover for him and put herself at risk from being accused by the rest of the girls.  Abigail : (Looking about the air, clasping her arms about her as though cold): I I know not. A wind, a cold wind, has come. (Her eyes fall on Mary Warren.)  Mary : (Terrified, pleading): Abby!  Mercy : (Shivering): Your Honour, I freeze! Proctor : Theyre pretending!  Hathorne : (Touching Abigails hand): She is cold Your Honour, touch her!  Mercy : (Through chattered teeth ): Mary, Do you send this shadow on me?  Act 3, Page 87  This is when the girls first start to turn on Mary, she is a very fragile person and when they start to turn on her she doesnt know what to do. She was used to pointing the finger of accusation not having it pointed at her and on her own she cant cope. So she betrays the truth and goes back to the safety of the girls and being the accuser not the accused. Mary finally breaks down and accuses Proctor of witchcraft. Fearful for her own life, Mary realizes that the only way to save herself is to accuse Proctor of coercing her into attempting to overthrow the court. In this case the accusation contains some truth: Proctor did force Mary Warren into testifying, yet in this case the purpose is to promote true justice rather than to dispute it.  Elizabeth lying to protect Proctor is a dramatically effective part in act three because there is a lot of tension when Elizabeth is brought into the court. Miller uses dramatic irony when Elizabeth doesnt know that Proctor has confessed to lechery and that they are testing her to see if Proctor was telling the truth. Elizabeth doesnt know that it is Abigail that is being tried and so she lies to protect her husband but in fact by lying she is in the eyes of the court proving that her husband is a liar. Miller uses the frustration of Proctor as his wife is lying but there is no way he can tell her that by trying to protect him she is actually getting him into more trouble Look at me, to your own knowledge, has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery! (In a crisis of indecision she cannot speak.) Answer my question! Is your husband a lecher!  Danforth, Act 3, page 91  You can see by this, that Danforth doesnt give Elizabeth much choice and practically puts the words into her mouth. By saying is your husband a lecher he leaves her no choice but to say no. What kind of woman would call her husband a lecher in front of a court? (There is a knock. He calls to the door.) Hold! (To Abigail.) Turn your back. Turn your back. (To Proctor.) Do likewise. (Both turn their backs- Abigail with indignant slowness) Now let neither of you turn to face goody proctor. No one in this room is to speak one word, or raise a gesture aye or nay. (He turns towards the door, calls.) Enter!  Danforth, Act 3, Page 90  The Audience feel frustrated because all that Elizabeth has to do is tell the truth and Abigails ruthless revenge will be stopped and the truth will be brought to light but there is no way Elizabeth could know this so she does what she thinks is the right thing and tries to protect her husband. In this scene Miller uses dramatic irony very effectively. Danforth makes the trial look fair but in fact gives Elizabeth no choice  but to lie.  Danforth : Answer my question! Is your husband a lecher!  Elizabeth : (Faintly): No, sir.  Danforth : Remove her, Marshal.  Proctor : Elizabeth, tell the truth!  Danforth : She has spoken. Remove her!  Proctor : (crying out): Elizabeth, I have confessed it!  Act 3, Page 91  This point is the dramatic climax of the whole scene because it is the point where Elizabeth finally finds out what she has done, and she is distraught. Hale tries to reason with Danforth when he says, Excellency it is a natural lie to tell this shows that Hale is the voice of reason but for most of the time he is not listened to, like Proctor who spoken sense throughout both are shut out in their ways. To save her husband from accusations of witchcraft, Elizabeth must condemn him for lechery. Miller establishes that Elizabeth is an honest woman who never lies, yet at the moment in which her honesty is most critical she chooses the noble yet practical lie that she believes will defend her husband. As Hale notes, it is a natural lie for Elizabeth Proctor to tell, yet an incredibly ill timed one; Elizabeth Proctor chooses dishonesty at the precise moment that her integrity matters the most. Act 3 of The Crucible is so effective because Arthur Miller uses a wide variety of emotions for his characters and a good variety of action. One minute the scene can be rather quiet with just simple conversation and the next minute it can be very chaotic with characters hurling accusations and abuse at each other. The reason this play is so effective is because Miller uses moments of calm as well as moments of extreme action, if it was just action, action, action all the time the audience would become immune to it and the really important parts wouldnt stick in your mind as much. Act 3 is relevant to the play as a whole because it is the Act where a lot of important things happen and it is the most dramatic, with a lot of tension and anger between different characters. It is what the first two acts have been building up to and you could say it is the climax of the whole play.  When Arthur Miller wrote the play, The Crucible in 1953 the contemporary audience could relate to the play due to the media coverage that was occurring at the time. This era was concerned with the political movement of communism; the McCarthy trials. The contemporary audience saw Millers play as relevant because of the effects of mass hysteria- the destruction of the community in Salem. Miller felt that the play had relevance although he didnt write it for that.  The reason why the crucible is still so widely liked even though the witch trials are long gone is because it demonstrates the terrible effects of mass hysteria and what it can do to normally rational people.  The story reminds its readers of an ugly blemish on human history. It reminds us that man is not perfect, and that we can make mistakes. However, even with these mistakes, we can cleanse ourselves and purify ourselves by making right what is wrong.

Functionalism In Families And Societies

Functionalism In Families And Societies Functionalists view the family as a nuclear family structure, i.e. a mother, father and 1 or 2 children. Murdock surveyed 250 societies from the small hunting tribes to the large industrialised societies. He found that in every society there was some form of a nuclear family, he concluded from this study that the nuclear family was universal. Murdocks definition of a nuclear family is Within the framework of the nuclear family, Murdock identified with four family functions which if were ignored, society would not exist. Sexual, Reproduction, Economic and Education were the four functions. Similar to Murdock, Tallcott Parsons another functionalist had his own views of what functions the nuclear family should contribute to society. He believed that there were two important roles within the family Expressive and Instrumental. The womens role was the Expressive role as she was the one who raised, nurtured and taught the children the norms and values within the home. The mans role was the Instrumental role because he went out to work to provide financial security for his family. Parsons also identified the family as being the primary agent of socialisation and came up with the warm bath theory primary socialisation (norms and values) and stabilisation of adult personalities (support and love for the adults within the family. Criticisms Functionalists view of the family is similar to a fairy tale, because they ignore the family dynamics and in some families the darker side i.e. abuse, neglect and violence through male domination. Marxism A Marxist perspective of the family saw the family as a means of production and cheap labour whereby they are influenced by capitalism in a capitalist society. Marxists identified three main functions which they saw as a way for the family to fulfil for capitalism. Inheritance of Property means that in order for property to be handed down to a legitimate heir, sexual relationships need to be restricted to one person, thus the offspring would be blood related. For this to happen, The monogamous nuclear family developed with the emergence of private property, in particular the private ownership of the forces of production, and the advent of the state, (cited in Haralambos, M. 1985. 340) The second function is the Ideological Functions which families need to fulfil by socialising children with the ideas that there will always be bosses and workers within a capitalist society. The last function looks at the Unit of Consumption whereby families work to produce goods, which are bought by the families to enable them to be fed and clothed, which bring greater profit for the capitalists. Criticisms Marxists ignore the different structures of families which are found in todays society and with this the different roles within the family. Feminism Feministic views of the family are split into 3 groups, similar to that of the key perspectives. Liberal feminists believe that both the male and the females have equal roles within the family when it comes to the household chores and childcare. Marxist feminists view the women as the producer of future workers and womens oppression stems from capitalism and not the family. Radical feminists view of the family structure is one of patriarchal and that men are seen as the enemy. This type of family within society is also seen by feminists as the key institution in its contribution to maintaining social control Criticisms All three branches of feminism view the nuclear family as the most dominant unit within society, as well as believing that all members of the family serve society, performing different functions. Post Modernist A post modernistic view of the family is at the opposite ends of the scale to functionalism. Post modernists believe that in most societies there are diverse and multi-cultural types of families where members within these units are free to make their own life choices as to how, what and where they live, work and socialise within society. Post modernists also believe that everyone is entitled to the same opportunities in education, healthcare and family support as in their view, there are no class divisions (working and ruling classes), in most societies. Zietlin et al summarises this view of the world, The post modern world is shaped by pluralism, democracy, religious freedom, consumerism, mobility and increasing access to news and entertainment, (Zietlin class handout 2009. 92) Criticisms Because of their views of equal opportunities and freedom of speech and choices they ignore the fact that some people can and do make wrong choices with regards to ignoring the norms and values which are passed down the generations which inevitably upsets the social control aspects in some societies. How the roles and relationships of the family have change over time. Sociologists view childhood as Social Construction because they are biologically distinct from adults, (Harris, M. 2008.44) For this reason I will explain the question in two parts. Children The role of the child within a pre-industrial family (pre 1750), was one of equal standing. As soon as the child could walk and talk they were taught the family trade and were expected to carry on the family tradition. After the industrial revolution came the emergence of the industrial family (1800-1900), when children as young as 6 or 7 were sent to work in factories and down coal mines to bring money into the family home, however this brought about higher mortality rates because children werent as strong as adults. The mortality rates went into decline when the modern industrial family emerged (1900-2000), this is because children were starting to be seen as children and not as cheap labour. Experiences of childhood began to emerge for the majority of children within families, however there are still some societies today that still send their children out to work, but this is now not the norm in todays world. Gender roles and relationships During the pre-industrial years both men and women worked together with other family members. However this all changed between 1750 and 1900 when women were expected to stay at home and be responsible for household chores, childcare and producing the future workforce. This type of family structure was very patriarchal the men had the power so they were the dominators in the family. However this started to change when the modern industrial family emerged between 1900 and 2000, as more women were given the opportunity to become educated, this led to more women in the workforce. This led the family to share the household chores and the childcare and sometimes swap roles within the family if the man became unemployed. Diversity of the contemporary family structure What is a family? This question has been raised by many sociologists and the majority of these have all had different opinion. However in answer to this question, a family can be the nuclear or extended type of family, which are 2 or 3 generations living under one roof. This type of family was more common pre-1750 when families worked with and supported each other, and which still does happen in some cultures and societies i.e. Asian families. Other types of family structures which are more common in Britain today are the one parent families, the step families, the divorced families and the gay and lesbian families who have children. Families today are extremely diverse and multi-cultural through social influences from the media, education and global improvements. Conclusion Throughout this assignment I have paid particular attention to the different views of Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism and Post Modernism. I have given an evaluation of each perspective and have briefly described the changes in roles, relationships and structures within families. I have concluded in my evaluation that my opinion of families and households is one that in todays society of choice, freedom, diversity and multi-cultural structures that post modernism is by far the best view and explanation of society today.

Gender Discrimination Still Exists In Todays Era Sociology Essay

Gender Discrimination Still Exists In Todays Era Sociology Essay Women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive. Husbands in Bahrain and Egypt can prevent their wives from traveling outside the country for any reason by filing a complaint at the airport. In Lebanon, abused women cannot file for divorce from their husbands on the basis of violence without the testimony of an eyewitness. The Human rights of women in the Middle East are constantly being ignored by the countries in that region. As a result, the womens political and social issues are not being addressed properly due to the cultural pressure the society demands of them. Hence, sexual discrimination exists in the Arab world. Most of the worlds poor, unhealthy and uneducated are Arab women. They are constantly absent from negotiations regarding peace and security to end conflicts. Thus, Arab women are not given a chance to show their capabilities to shape the Middle Eastern society. Arab womens voice is simply not being heard. Gender discrimination exists when a person or a group of people are treated improperly on the basis of their biological sex. In the Arab society, sexual discrimination exists due to different cultural values and attitudes between men and women. As a result, Arab society is man dominated causing women to hide behind their husbands. According to Tannen (1990), Throughout the evening, one man had been particularly talkative, frequently offering ideas and anecdotes, while his wife sat silently beside him on the couch. Toward the end of the evening, I commented that women frequently complain that their husbands dont talk to them. This man quickly concurred. He gestured toward his wife and said, Shes the talker in our family. The room burst into laughter; the man looked puzzled and hurt. Its true, he explained. When I come home from work I have nothing to say. If she didnt keep the conversation going, wed spend the whole evening in silence.(p.159). Tannen (1990) explained this paradox by s tating In the public setting of a guest lecture, he felt challenged to show his intelligence and display his understanding of the lecture. But at home, where he has nothing to prove and no one to defend against, he is free to remain silent. For his wife, being home means she is free from the worry that something she says might offend someone, or spark disagreement, or appear to be showing off; at home she is free to talk (p.163). This example shows the irony that although Arab men tend to engage more in conversation than women in public situations, they usually talk less at home. This result in, as mentioned earlier, sexual discrimination and a man dominated society in the Middle East. I was never aware that gender discrimination exists in the Arab world until recently. A month ago, I was looking for a job in the concerts being held in Abu Dhabi. I found a job that I was very interested in and matched my requirements perfectly. But to my surprise, I was not hired due to gender discrimination. Although I was eligible enough for that job, I was not hired because I am a woman. Another similar example was when I was working with my NGN 110 group on our ping pong ball sorter project. Because of my gender, the group leader decided to give me the responsibility of writing the final written report instead of working on designing and building the ping pong ball sorter with the rest of the group. Being a woman, I cannot work on constructing our project. However, the biggest example of sexual discrimination that I personally witnessed was when my aunt was pregnant with a girl. When a woman announces that she is pregnant with a boy, family and friends show great excitement and enthusiasm. Arabs act that way only when a woman is pregnant with a boy and not a girl because, in Middle Eastern societies, a son means security. The son will inherit his fathers properties and get a convenient job to help support the family. When a girl is born, however, the reaction is very different. A few women actually cry when they find out that they are expecting a girl because, to Arabs, a daughter is just another expense. Her place belongs at home, not in the world of men. Arab womens identities are formed as soon as their family and society limit their opportunities and declare them to be second place. Extreme bias against Arab women creates discrimination against them that keeps them from living up to their full potential. Personally, I cannot help but feel inferior when everything around me tells me that I am worth less than a man. Middle Eastern societies are affecting Arab women negatively by not giving them a chance to shape the Arab society and show the world their innovative ideas. For instance, although Arab girls perform better at school than boys, they have fewer educational opportunities. According to MacLeod, Lack of education and gender discrimination combine to keep the percentage of employed Arab women at only one-third, the lowest in the world (2006, para.5). Both of these factors contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle that increases the rate of disease and death related to pregnancy and childbirth. Women are not only largely excluded from political participation, but they also face domestic violence such as honor killings. Furthermore, many governmental orders are being enforced to restrict Arab womens liberties. Such as giving women less status than their husbands in divorce papers and requiring their father or husbands permission to travel, work, or borrow money from a bank. Addionally, sexual di scrimination in Arabian societies is especially obvious in the workplace. Since women are equally qualified, if not more, than men, differences in qualification between Arab men and women no longer provide a reasonable explanation for why women earn less than men for the same amount of work. Obviously, sexual discrimination is a significant contributor to the pay gap between Arab men and women. If it was not for gender discrimination, Arab women would probably be earning just as much as or even more than men. Moreover, the employment of Arab women and men in different fields is also a result of sexual discrimination. For example, occupations such as nursing and administrative assisting are usually dominated by women, while fields such as engineering and politics tend to be dominated by men. Gender is a common term meant for both sexes, whereas gender discrimination is a term meant only for women, since women are the only victims of sexual discrimination. Furthermore, gender discrimination is an ongoing problem in every country in the Middle East that we face in our daily lives. Females are nearly fifty percent of the total world population but their presentation in public life and their contribution to the society is extremely low. Recognizing Arab womens rights and believing in their abilities are essential for womens empowerment and development. A Middle Eastern nation, without the participation of both genders cannot achieve evolution. If we eliminate sexual discrimination and merge the two voices together, Arab women will deliver all the potentials, skills, and knowledge to develop the Middle Eastern societies.

National Identity in Julian Barnes England, England Essay -- Julian B

National Identity in Julian Barnes' England, England â€Å"The finest tax-deductible minds were brought in to address the Project’s Co-ordinating Committee. The French intellectual was a slight, neat figure in an English tweed jacket half a size too big for him; with it he wore a pale blue button-down shirt of American cotton, an Italian tie of flamboyant restraint, international charcoal wool trousers, and a pair of tasselled French loafers† (54). Julian Barnes uses his postimperial novel, England, England, to critique what England, under Tony Blair’s administration, is moving towards – a recreated Britain, an all-inclusive nation with no appreciation of its history, except that which has been distorted in order be politically correct or somehow profit the country. Through this quote, it becomes evident that Barnes sees England grasping to be defined, not by its rich past, but by other nations – possible tourists, possible residents that may add diversity and, thus, a shift towards breaking old stereotypes and becoming a modernized nation. When Sir Jack Pitman, England’s scheming tycoon, recruits the best of the best to assist him in creating his theme park of re-created English history, England, England, he calls in a Frenchman to do the job. Barnes juxtaposes this man’s nationality to the idea of the theme park: a Frenchman is assisting in the development of a project whose end entails complete Englishness. Barnes is showing the ridiculousness of Britain looking toward a new national identity but achieving it by becoming a â€Å"melting pot† of nations. Barnes is pointing out that while a nation should embrace all nationalities, it cannot simply erase its history to achieve that. Otherwise, it becomes like... ..., Britain will lose a sense of her past, just as the Frenchman only retains minimal signs of his true nationality. Barnes is using the Frenchman to help show the British that it must be decided where to draw the line. A nation must evolve and adapt but never forget or lay aside its identity as its own nation. Barnes subtly asks the British where that line will be drawn. They must not allow themselves to take things quite as far as the Frenchman. They must still retain heritage, because, after all, where would they be without it? A nation is not a nation without its own culture, its own past, its own people. A trade-off must be made in order for Britain to modernize, and England must find the middle ground. Through his book, England, England, Julian Barnes reminds the British that while searching for a new national identity, they must not become non-national.