Dystopia in Fahrenheit 451 :: Fahrenheit 451 Essays

Dystopia in Fahrenheit 451 Just by reading the first few lines of the opening paragraph of Fahrenheit 451, we get the feeling of a dystopia right away. Firemen burning books, instead of putting out fires that start in homes. Who ever heard of that? <AVOID USINING QUESTIONS, THEY WAEKEN THE PAPER.> This is crazy thinking right off the start, yet Bradbury carries us through as if we are travelers to this time and place. We are the unseen eyes that see the cataclysmic events that turn Guy Montag's life upside down. We watch him rise, then fall, then meet with outsiders like himself. We watch, how fugitives are tracked down using a mechanical dog, and how people love to watch the chase on their "off the wall" television sets. Could this be how Bradbury thinks our society is going to turn into? Maybe not as drastic, but maybe the censorship could happen, couldn't it? <I WAS UNDER THE IMPRSSION THAT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FORMAL PAPER, NOT AN OPINION PAPER.> Ray Bradbury is compared to Arthur C. Clarke as a "poetic science fiction writer" (Watt). This is so, because Bradbury takes a more elegant path to laying out his dystopia. People in his story are so into the now, and pleasure for the moment, that they forget the morals and ethics they came from, because they are clouded by smoke. <EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MWAN BY SMOKE.> Take for instance the wall-sized televisions. This became the populace's way of interacting with others without physically interacting with them. People on FURTURISTIC TELEVISION were your "family", who would keep you company and be your "friend". Still, a place where books were burned and houses were supposedly "fireproof", you have to admit this world is out of whack.<THIS SENTANCE IS SLANG AND MEANS VERY LITTLE.> If we look at Montag's wife for instance, we see how entrenched people have become AND just WANT TO BE happy,t carrying NONE for what happens to the ideas that are in books. I thin k Bradbury is trying to tell us not to rely TOO heavily on technology or it will consume us. In the future we may take books for granted, because they are the essence of free speech, and free ideologies. By HAVING the books burned, people forget, and have nothing to trace back, only leaving what is THE PRESESNT REALITY.

Perceptual Errors

1) Prototypes:- Usually according to the group or profession you belong to, you are assumed to have certain characteristics, whether you have them or not. In our organisation, we have a team manager who has an impression of being unapproachable and unfriendly, only because of his position. Due to this reason none of the employees approach him for help, even though it might hurt productivity. Since a few colleagues and myself have a habit of observing people’s behaviour, we knew all this fear is baseless. We didn’t hesitate in asking him for help and he was very pleasant and found solutions to our problems and made us very comfortable while he was at it. So, in my opinion to reduce this kind of a perceptual error, its advisable to remember principle on similarity. Wherein, its not necessary that people from similar background are similar in nature. We should always see a person as a separate individual. 2) Horn Effect:- According to this effect/error, when a person is found to have an undesirable trait, he is automatically assumed that all his traits must be undesirable, which may or may not be true. To explain with an example, I have a colleague in my office who is precise and sticks to the point when having a conversation with a customer. Once one such matter was escalated considering that he sounded rude to the customer. And though he was cleared after been given some advice, because of that one event he is always considered to be deficient in other necessary traits, where he actually is pretty good. Inspite of his being very disciplined, it was assumed that he was late in his project, when the fact was the opposite! In such a case, I think the person has to make an effort to clear such a generality. Also the appraiser should take into consideration all the facts of the person’s behaviour and progress, rather than assuming that he will be wrong always. 3) Hallo Effect:- This effect is similar to horn effect, the only difference being that here the person is assumed to have all positive traits because of one desired trait. We have just such an example in our team, where one of the executives had scored the best in the first quarter. This led to a general assumption that she is good at all necessary statistics, which was not the case. This employee has a habit of coming later from breaks, of not going by rules and generally escaping slights due to favouritism. This also affects the morale of the people who work hard but their effort is not recognised. But when she was given the responsibility of helping with the KRO’s of the few newer executives, she couldn’t handle it and this led to waste of time and overall poor performance. This could have been avoided if there was unbiasedness and proper checking done related to the statistics of the person rather than assuming she would be good at everything. 4) Primacy Effect:- This is an error in perception when a person tends to base somebody’s judgement depending on the first impression of that person. For instance, in our organisation we have a new team leader join in to handle our team. Now since this guy was a little timid initially and because it was a new rols and place for him, most of the people in the office didn’t take him seriously. To add to it some of his mannerisms were a little girlish, which led to most of the office crowd calling him ‘gay’. Presently, after knowing him more, even if people are not pulling his leg about being gay, he still not given his due respect. Anything that goes beyond his control in terms of disciplinary issues, he is blamed for saying that he doesn’t have a proper hold on his team! I think the best way to reduce such an error in an organisation would be to observe the person in question over a period of time, unbiasedly, and then form an opinion about him. Its not necessary that first impressions are always the last impressions. 5) Recency Effect:- This is an effect where you form an opinion on a person based on what was last observed about him or what was the last thing he spoke which stood out, in a positive or a negative way. In my office, we have a team leader who is highly work-oriented and keeps to himself. I had an impression that he never talks to anyone other than work, which is a good thing, but I always founds it a little too technical or unfeeling. But recently I had to change my opinion. The same person had supported me to get holidays because of my bad health, when I’d not even asked for any support. Though he still is the same, but that last gesture of his changed my entire opinion of him. Ideally, here is a case of both primacy error and then recency error. Though not all effects could be errors, necessarily. The vital thing is we should not judge others based on one single point be it initial impression or latest impression. We need to keep our minds open about the person. 6) Selective Perception:- We tend to perceive things according to our beliefs or interests in this kind of a perceptual error. We may note only that what we like, to suit our own needs. For instance, there is a colleague of mine who never used to talk to me before. But since I’ve started my MBA, she’s been talking and asking me all sort of information about it. It is a topic of her interest. But she wouldn’t talk on any other matter. Here I feel, she perceives selectively, only according to what she wants. In an organisation, it is better for anyone to avoid such an error, because you loose out on lot of potential growth, of self and others. We need to notice and make use of all talents of an employee. 7) Contrast Effect:- We need to be very alert when making decisions that we are not making that decision based on anything observed in contrast to the situation or the person that we are observing. Because such an error could make us go wrong when selecting right people. I can explain this error by mistake that I’d done where I was supposed to monitor the two new members who was supposed to join the team. Now from both these girls one appeared very childish and rather loud as compared to the other one who was a quiet soul and who looked professional and competent. And I formed my opinion that the louder character was not very mature in handling some KRO’s and achieving them consistently. Which later I realised, was a completely wrong opinion of her. She not only was quite disciplined and organised, she was more lively and kept things light when work became too serious. The other girl, was rather in her own world and least motivated. Effect like this when you have two contrasts in front of you could be difficult to detect, but if you observe each person and compare their performance and behaviour to the standard norm, you would be more accurate. 8) Projection Error:- This is a kind of error when you project your attributes and traits or emotions onto others. Here the person maybe completely different from you, but because we may not have noticed that we might assume the other person also to be like us. We have a member in our team who always talks about team bonding and team strength. I too believe that a team is strong and succeeds more often if it works together towards the same goal. I did an error of assuming that this person will also think the same and share the responsibilities and duties of a project equally. All the work was delegated accordingly and everyone was expected to do their bit. But to my surprise that person was all talks and no show! He not only did pass on thatr work to another member of the team, his ways also brought discontent amongnst the members and divided the group further. I realised that I’d thought of him being like me and giving his 100% to whatever he does. But that was not the case sadly. If I would have recognised that earlier I would’ve corrected myself and given him work accordingly.

Nature Vs. Nurture Nature Versus Nurture - 1337 Words

Nature vs. Nurture There are many different ways that behavior can be explained, especially on the terms of nature vs. nurture. Aggression is a behavior that has been extensively analyzed in a complex manner and the causes of it can be explained many different ways. Aggression can be defined as hostile or destructive behavior that can cause injury or destructive outlook especially when caused by frustration. Nature can be defined as aspects of behavior that have been inherited or are genetic, while nurture is all aspects that are influenced by environmental characteristics and experience. Many factors, both biological and environmental, influence and promote aggressive behaviors, such as hormones and neurotransmitters, genetics, family life, past experiences, and hobbies. The concept of â€Å"nature vs. nurture† began with the English polymath, Francis Galton in 1869. When applying the term â€Å"aggression† to the matter, there were two views about its source, the firs t being nature, a psychoanalytic approach. Nature is the belief that genetics determine our behavior. In the case of aggression, many nature-based factors play a role in aggression, of which include certain neurotransmitters, genetics, and gender. Sigmund Freud played a large role in the psychoanalytic approach to aggression. Freud believed that aggression was an innate drive within in a person, and that humans possess two basic drives: Thenatos, or destructive energy (aggression), and Eros, the drive for pleasure. HeShow MoreRelatedNature Vs. Nurture : Nature Versus Nurture Essay1939 Words   |  8 PagesNature versus Nurture You got your dark brown hair from your father and you got your looks from your mother, but where did you get your excitement for sports and your love for all animals? A person’s physical characteristics lean more towards genes and heredity, but our genes are not mentioned as much when behavior is the topic. This is how the nature versus nurture debate first began. Scientists who believe in the nature theory believe that people behave the way they do due to heredity and genesRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Nature Versus Nurture882 Words   |  4 Pagestheir parents. Meaning they think Nature is a big part in their life and why they are who they are. The genes in each cell in us humans determine the different traits that we have, more dominantly on the physical connections like eye color, hair color, ear size, height, and other traits. However, it is still not known whether the more abstract attributes like personality, intelligence, sexual orientation, likes and dislikes are gen e-coded in our DNA. The nurture theory has experiments showing a child’sRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Nature Versus Nurture2710 Words   |  11 PagesAbstract If someone inquires about nature versus nurture, this paper will give not one specific answer but a combination of both answers. Human personality is a combination of environment and a biological characteristic that controls precisely where the individual will end up in the developmental spectrum. The experiences that individuals will develop from throughout stages of development, their childhood and into their adulthood, play a great part in their conscious and unconscious motives. TheRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Nature Versus Nurture1360 Words   |  6 PagesNature vs Nurture Nature versus nurture is a complicated subject to speak about. If one’s abilities or lack of are due to their environment or their genes. For example, a child is behaving negatively in class. Many individuals are quick to jump to the conclusion that â€Å"Oh, that kid’s parents don’t care, or just don’t know how to raise their child.† That could very well be a possibility, but most people never think that maybe they have a hereditary problem, such as ADHD, that was passedRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture : The Debate Of Nature Versus Nurture895 Words   |  4 PagesNature vs. Nurture The debate of nature versus nurture has been an ongoing debate for a long time. When applying this argument to education there is no proven winner. The nature side of the coin believes that a person is born the way that they are. This could include intelligence level or personality traits such as being outgoing or shy. The other side of the argument of nurture believes that the type of upbringing that someone has will play a large role in the way they develop. It is thoughtRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture : Nature Versus Nurture1678 Words   |  7 PagesNature Versus Nurture Personality development expands far past the environment. Environment contribute to most of the personality development when it comes to nature versus nurture. Nature versus nurture is a trait that is typically inherited in the human society. Humans see things good or bad within the environment and mimic it. There are questions that still remain about nature versus nurture and the environment. Research is still ongoing and theories are still being made or developed. ScientistsRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Nature Versus Nurture1602 Words   |  7 Pagesshape their personality? The nature versus nurture debate serves as one of the most ancient issues ever. As of this day in the year 2016, we have come to understand and realize that both nature and nurture do actually play very distinct roles as far as human development. It is still unknown however, whether we are developed specifically due to nature or to nurture. In the novel Frankenstein, the theme of nature versus nurture is q uite apparent. However, due to the nurture aspect in the novel, the creatureRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture : The Nature Versus Nurture1268 Words   |  6 PagesOne of the most popular debates among people is the idea of nature versus nurture. According to psychology.about.com: The nature versus nurture debate is one of the oldest philosophical issues within psychology†¦nature refers to all of the genes and hereditary factors that influence who we are – from our physical appearance to our personality characteristics [while] nurture refers to all the environmental variables that impact who we are, including our early childhood experiences, how we were raisedRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Nature Versus Nurture2536 Words   |  11 PagesWhen one asks the question of nature versus nurture, this paper answers â€Å"both†. Every single being conceived in the image of God is given an upper limit of potential growth, it is a combination of environment and this inborn capacity that determines exactly where the individual will end of on the developmental scale. The experiences as a person develops through childhood and into adulthood play a large role in conscious versus unconscious motives, and also the individuals’ view of themself. NotRea d MoreNature Vs Nurture : Nature Versus Nurture1856 Words   |  8 PagesNature versus nurture has been a continuing debate and is far from being settled. Whether or not our characteristics are determined by the environmental factors that surround us or they were imbedded in our genes is a question many scientists will argue. The challenge concerning the debate is that it is difficult to know if someone is born with traits or whether their environment affected them. It is unethical to take a child out of its natural surroundings to test nature versus nurture, so identical

8th Grade Science Fair Project Ideas

8th grade science fair projects tend to involve the scientific method and designing an experiment and not making models or explaining processes. Youll be expected to present data in the form of tables and graphs. Typed reports and posters are the norm (sorry, no handwritten text). You should do the project yourself, rather than enlist heavy-duty help from a parent or older student. Its appropriate to cite references for any information that isnt common knowledge or that draws on the work of others. 8th Grade Science Fair Project Ideas What paper airplane design flies the farthest? stays aloft the longest?What effect does soap in water have on plants? Is the effect the same at very low soap concentrations as compared with high concentrations?How much plant food is too much?Are dogs (cats/fish/etc.) colorblind? If so, is the lack of color perception compensated by better light/dark vision?What soils best support structures, such as buildings?What types of words do babies learn to speak first?Does air temperature affect how long soap bubbles last? Does relative humidity?Are goldfish water chemicals really necessary or are they an unneeded expense?Can you graft a tomato plant onto a potato plant?Do plants react to the presence of other plants? music? different colored light?What materials glow under black light? Can you use the UV light to find invisible, possibly smelly, stains in your carpet or elsewhere in your house?Will chilling an onion before cutting it keep you from crying?Does catnip repel cockroaches better than DEET?What ratio of vinegar to baking soda produces the best chemical volcano eruption?What type of plastic wrap prevents evaporation the best?What plastic wrap prevents oxidation the best?What percentage of an orange is water?Are night insects attracted to lamps because of heat or light?Can you make Jello using fresh pineapples instead of canned pineapples?Do white candles burn at a different rate than colored candles?Does the presence of detergent in water affect plant growth?Can a saturated solution of sodium chloride still dissolve Epsom salts?Does magnetism affect the growth of plants?How does the shape of an ice cube affect how quickly it melts?Do different brands of popcorn leave different amounts of unpopped kernels?How accurately do egg producers measure eggs?How do differences in surfaces affect the adhesion of tape?If you shake up different kinds or brands of soft drinks (e.g., carbonated), will they all spew the same amount?Are all potato chips equally greasy?Do the same types of mold grow on all types of bread?Does light affect the rate at which foods spoil?Can you use a household water filter to remove flavor or color from other liquids?Does the power of a microwave affect how well it makes popcorn?Do all brands of diapers absorb the same amount of liquid? Does it matter what the liquid is (water as opposed to juice or... um.. urine)?Do all dishwashing detergents produce the same amount of bubbles? Clean the same number of dishes?Is the nutritional content of different brands of a vegetable (e.g., canned peas) the same?How permanent are permanent markers? What solvents (e.g., water, alcohol, vinegar, detergent solution) will remove the ink? Do different brands/types of markers produce the same results?Is laundry detergent as effective if you use less than the recommended amount? More?Do all hairsprays hold equally well? Equally long? Does type of hair affect the results?What effect do additives have on the crystals? You could add food colorin g, flavorings, or other impurities.What steps can you take to maximize crystal size? You can affect vibration, humidity, temperature, rate of evaporation, purity of your growth medium, and time allowed for crystal growth.How do different factors affect seed germination? Factors that you could test include the intensity, duration, or type of light, the temperature, the amount of water, the presence/absence of certain chemicals, or the presence/absence of soil. You can look at the percentage of seeds that germinate or the rate at which seeds germinate.Is a seed affected by its size? Do different size seeds have different germination rates or percentages? Does seed size affect the growth rate or final size of a plant?How does cold storage affect the germination of seeds? Factors you can control include the type of seeds, length of storage, temperature of storage, and other variables, such as light and humidity.What conditions affect the ripening of fruit? Look at ethylene and enclosing a fruit in a sealed bag, temperature, light, or nearness to other pieces or fruit.How are different soils affected by erosion? You can make your own wind or water and evaluate the effects on soil. If you have access to a very cold freezer, you can look at the effects of freeze and thaw cycles.How does the pH of soil relate to the pH of the water around the soil? You can make your own pH paper, test the pH of the soil, add water, then test the pH of the water. Are the two values the same? If not, is there a relationship between them?How close does a plant have to be to a pesticide for it to work? What factors influence the effectiveness of a pesticide (rain? light? wind?)? How much can you dilute a pesticide while retaining its effectiveness? How effective are natural pest deterrents? More Science Fair Project Ideas

Parents and Children Effective Discipline and...

Parents and Children: Effective Discipline and Communication One of the biggest issues for parents to resolve has been the ways in which they discipline their child. Along with these concerns, parents and child psychologists have battled to find a solution to common problems of communication between parents and children. While many styles and methods have been used to address these issues and responsibly raise a child to adulthood, many great debates of parenthood have continued through time. How do effective parents discipline and communicate with their children? Although many specific areas can be explored, in regards to this question, we will narrowly focus on these few: 1. Forms of Discipline 2. Spank or Not to Spank? 3.†¦show more content†¦2). Additionally, regardless of the method used, the manner and reasons for punishment must always be consistently carried out to send one clear message. Without such clarity, a child can be confused between what behavior to avoid and which are the acceptable choices to follow, and consequently, is more likely to repeat the offense in the future. Spank or Not to Spank Perhaps the most heated debate between parents, in reference to discipline, is the decision to spank a child. Each and every state in the U.S. has upheld the right of a parent to use physical means to discipline their children by not creating laws which prohibit the action. This especially sensitive topic is, therefore, not a legal issue, but rather an emotional one between advocates of less aggressive techniques of parenting and those who believe that spanking is necessary. Several child psychologists can be found on both sides of this issue, and so using their words, in this instance, would only be conflicting and counterproductive in this section. Instead, it is sufficient to say that parents will probably disagree on this subject through time and push their positions, as to whether spanking a child is appropriate, effective or even proper. Parent to Parent Communication Successful parents communicate on a substantial basis and will continue to do so often. While discussing matters related to their children, they are good listeners, attentive to the needsShow MoreRelatedQuestions On Children s Story 1246 Words   |  5 Pages Tara Domino-Robinson Children’s Story ECE 313 Collaborating with Parents and Community Instructor: Chandra Farmer February 2, 2015 Children s Story Knowing how to address a variety of situations in the early childhood setting and effectively partnering with parents to do so are important skills for all teachers and caregivers. For this assignment, you will choose one of the following scenarios: a. Shane has a difficult time separating from his mother each morningRead MoreSpecial Needs For Special Education1028 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction/Purpose Fitzgerald, Ryan Fitzgerald (2015) reported that it has been an increase of children identified with special education needs in different countries in Europe. One of the explanation for this influx is the definition of special needs recently changed, which caused more children to fall under that category. Since more children qualify for special education, professionals and parents need training and guidance on meeting the needs of those students. In Ireland, there is a challengeRead MoreThe Spanking Issue: the Ethical Dilemma of Corporal Punishment1526 Words   |  7 Pagesduring their own childhoods. The issue generally focuses on the effect that spanking or other discipline methods will have on children. I will specifically be exploring the question: is it ever appropriate to spank a child? The cases for and against the spanking of young children are many and varied. But the main issue is the level of appropriateness that the act can reach. The well being of the children of today is of the utmost importance to our society. The authority will be passed from the olderRead MoreEssay about Child Development and the Process of Learning1337 Words   |  6 PagesBefore children learn to use language to let their needs and wants be known they first learn to read, understand adult’s behaviour as well as responding through behaviour (Bishop and Baird, 2007). Challenging behaviour contributes to children’s social-emotional development through expressing their feelings and reacting to certain experiences with or without control (Berk, 2006). Early childhood teachers struggle to deal and to help children with challenging behaviour that teachers themselves areRead MoreParenting980 Words   |  4 PagesHarder Than We Thought Parents are often lost when it comes to raising their children to inevitably {hopefully} produce respectable adults. Often parents will emulate the style of discipline they experienced growing up. It is important to know the effects discipline may have emotionally on children. A few techniques that can be utilized in positive parenting are discipline, a child’s growth mentally and physically, and how to be consistent. Discipline is often a touchy subjectRead MoreEffects Of Parent Child Dynamics On Emotional Development1262 Words   |  6 PagesEffects of Parent-Child Dynamics on Emotional Development in Infants Jovana Capric Florida Atlantic University Abstract Misinformation and lack of education often lead parents into uncertainty about how to raise their child to be the best person they can be. When raising children, the connection and relationship that is shared between parents and child are significant. Multiple studies and research proves that different engagements and experiences such as affection, discipline techniquesRead MoreChildren And Parenting Styles Are Authoritarian, Permissive And Authoritative1031 Words   |  5 PagesWe all have had parents or caregivers that raised us in ways in which they thought would make us into good people. Some parent’s were very strick with their children, while some were the complete opposite. However, according to Balswick and Balswick (2014), †Children who grow up without adequate guidance become fertile ground for authoritarian leaders or cults that prey on neglected young people† (p. 113). Also, according to Wilson et al. (2011), maltreated children are in constant sta te of stressRead MoreParenting Styles : Authoritarian, Permissive, Uninvolved, And Authoritative982 Words   |  4 PagesStates, parenting and discipline methods have become controversial in the past fifty years, and the methods for raising children have drastically changed in some households. According to psychologist Diana Baumrind, there are four different parenting styles: authoritarian, permissive, uninvolved, and authoritative. (p. 339) Authoritarian parenting is a strict form of parenting that demands obedience and respect, but offers little support. Children of authoritarian parents often do not have a healthyRead MoreHow Parents Religious Affiliation Affects the Way1565 Words   |  7 PagesParenting is something that is obviously successful or in the worst case, has failed miserably! We found that the parents religious affiliation affects the way they raise their children. The particular theologies theory posits that different religious affiliations put varying efforts into emphasizing family-formation strategies (Pearce 2002: 325). Religious affiliations, inspired parents to be fervent on implanting strong morals, maintaining close relational ties within their family, and encourageRead More Effective Parenting-Early Development, Various Parenting Styles and Di scipline1744 Words   |  7 Pages Parents act as the first teachers in a childs life. Both mothers and fathers can have very unique influences on their children. Mothers and fathers parent differently, however, both maternal and paternal figures are essential in healthy development. Together both parents teach their children many things including how to eat, walk, talk and underlying emotions such as love, trust and happiness. Oppositely parents may also teach their kids, often unknowing of the effects they are causing, distrust

British Colonization to India Free Essays

The first European power to arrive in India was the army of Alexander the Great in 327-326 BC. The satraps he established in the northwest quickly crumbled after he left. Later, commercial trade was carried between Indian states and the Roman Empire by Greco-Roman sailors that reached India by sailing on the Red and Arabian Seas. We will write a custom essay sample on British Colonization to India or any similar topic only for you Order Now ?The Portuguese sailor, Vasco da Gama, was the first European to arrive in India solely by navigating the sea, at the end of the 15th century. Having arrived in Calicut, which by then was one of the major trading ports of the eastern world, he obtained permission by Manavikraman Raja to trade in the city from Saamoothiri Rajah. (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/British_Empire). British empire has been in India since the early 1600’s, when the East India Company started trading and British missionaries first began their efforts. A large number of Christian schools providing English education were set up trough out India by the early 1800’s. The process of producing English-speaking natives in India began with the â€Å"Minute† of 1835, which officially endorsed T. B. Macaulay’s goal of forming â€Å"a class who may be interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern – a class of persons, Indians in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinion, in morals and in intellect† (quoted in Kachru 1983, p. 22). English became the official and academic language of India by the early twentieth century. Direct administration by the British, which began in 1858, effected a political and economic unification of the subcontinent. The rising of the nationalist movement in the 1920’s brought some anti-English sentiment with it — even though the movement itself used English as its medium. Once independence was gained and the English were gone, the perception of English as having an alien power base changed; however, the controversy about English has continued to this day. Kachru notes that â€Å"English now has national and international functions that are both distinct and complementary. English has thus acquired a new power base and a new elitism† (Kachru 1986, p. 12). Only about three percent of India’s population speak English, but they are the individuals who lead India’s economic, industrial, professional, political, and social life. Even though English is primarily a second language for these persons, it is the medium in which a great number of the interactions in the above domains are carried out. Having such important information moving in English conduits is often not appreciated by Indians who do not speak it, but they are relatively powerless to change that. Its inertia is such that it cannot be easily given up. This is particularly true in South India, where English serves as a universal language in the way that Hindi does in the North. Despite being a three percent minority, the English speaking population in India is quite large. With India’s massive population, that three percent puts India among the top four countries in the world with the highest number of English speakers. English confers many advantages to the influential people who speak it — which has allowed it to retain its prominence despite the strong opposition to English which rises periodically. When British rule came to an end in 1947, the subcontinent was partitioned along religious lines into two separate countries—India, with a majority of Hindus, and Pakistan, with a majority of Muslims; the eastern portion of Pakistan later split off to form Bangladesh. Many British institutions stayed in place (such as the parliamentary system of government); English continued to be a widely used lingua franca; and India remained within the Commonwealth. Hindi became the official language (and a number of other local languages achieved official status), while a vibrant English-language intelligentsia thrived. How to cite British Colonization to India, Papers

Strategic Concepts An Assessment of ANZ Bank †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Concepts An Assessment of Strategies of ANZ Bank. Answer: Introduction and Company Brief Strategic concepts or business strategy assists a firm in carrying out its functions and achieving its goals and objectives. A sound business strategy helps a firm in attaining competitive advantage and creating customer value (Henry, 2011). Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Banking Group is one of the largest banks in Australia. It was establishes in 1951 when Bank of Australia merged with Union Bank of Australia (ANZ, 2017). The bank specialises in retail and corporate banking products. The bank has more than 50000 employees worldwide and is also one of the largest banks of New Zealand. ANZ bank has tried to expand globally via acquisition strategies and is one of the leading banks in Asia pacific region(ANZ, 2017). The following analysis will try to elaborate on certain strategic concepts used and applied by ANZ Bank. Methods This analysis tries to understand various strategic concepts pertaining to ANZ bank with the help of secondary information and data. The information has been collected from secondary sources like company websites, books, newspaper articles etc. The analysis also uses deductive techniques to arrive at conclusions relating to application of various concepts (Takhar-Lai, 2014). Deductive technique is used to derive conclusions from existing facts and secondary information is information which is already published in some book, magazine, journal or any other literature source(Takhar-Lai, 2014). Therefore, with the help of existing information conclusions have been made about use of strategic concepts by ANZ bank. Analysis of Business Strategies of ANZ Bank Using Strategic Concepts Analysis of business strategy provides various tools through which a firm can assess its internal and external environment(Stroh, 2014). An assessment of external and internal environment is important for the firm to assess its standing in the industry. A major way through which a firm can assess its environment and its standing in the industry is SWOT analysis and Porters five forces analysis(De Pablo, 2013). The strategies of ANZ bank will be discussed with regards to these two analyses. SWOT Analysis of ANZ Bank Banking sector is an expanding sector in Australia and globally(Collardi, 2012). A SWOT analysis will help in understanding the situation of ANZ bank with respect to the banking industry(Bamford West, 2012). It will help in assessment of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by ANZ bank in the banking sector. SWOT Analysis of ANZ Bank Strengths It is one of the largest banks in Australian and New Zealand and has a respectable presence on the global stage. Diversified product portfolio helps in reducing operational risks. Large market share in Australia, New Zealand and countries in Asia pacific helps in generating more revenue Sound financial position leading to better marketing budget Good brand name Old and reputed company Weaknesses Limited global exposure as compared to many big global giants like HSBC High training cost of employees due to skill orientation of the industry. High cost and expenditure on digital network and IT servers High marketing cost due to heavy competition Opportunities Increasing banking potential all over the globe Increase in income levels and banking habits in emerging market. Governments in emerging markets promoting good and reputed banks Threats Functions in a tough industry which gets affected by global economic fluctuations Banking industry in emerging markets is highly regulated and trust of people in private banks is less Very high competition in both local and global markets Table 1: Source: Made by Author (2017) Adapted from ANZ (2017) Therefore, through a SWOT analysis ANZ can understand how it can proceed further in the industry and the market. It can assess its opportunities and strengths and use these strengths to counter weaknesses and threats. Porters five forces model for ANZ bank It is also important for business organisations to assess relevant specific factor affecting the organisation(Aaker McLoughlin, 2010). This can be done through Porters five forces analysis. This analysis assesses the firm based on five factors which are relevant to the firm(Alkhafaji, 2013). Following is an assessment of porters five force model for ANZ. Rivalry among existing firms- There is very tough competition in the banking industry both locally in Australia and also in global business scenario(Collardi, 2012). There are many big and reputed firms in the industry. Therefore, it is difficult to increase market share. Hence, rivalry among existing firms is high. Threat of new entry: ANZ exists in a heavily licensed industry and in emerging markets the sector is very highly regulated.(Berges Guill, 2014) Additionally, a lot of financial and technical cost and marketing goes into setting up a bank(Collardi, 2012). Therefore, threat of new entry is low. Threat of substitute products: people also like to invest their money in stock exchange and mutual funds; however, the trust of a bank is far greater(Collardi, 2012). Especially in emerging markets. Banks command greater trust than stock markets. Therefore, threat of substitutes is low. Bargaining power of buyers: As the industry is regulated, most banks offer similar services. However, brand name and trust are very important factors which differentiate between banks. Due to brand name the customer is pulled towards a bank and due to regulation he cannot bargain much(Collardi, 2012). Therefore, bargaining power of buyers is moderate to low Bargaining power of suppliers- Banks have suppliers like back end suppliers of logistic goods, infrastructure suppliers, employees who supply labour, IT support suppliers etc.(ANZ, 2017). As banks have trust of customers and ANZ has a good brand name, bargaining power of suppliers is moderate to low. Therefore, through Porters five force mode ANZ can understand its micro level dynamics and evaluate how to proceed considering the above mentioned factors. Other Relevant Information Pertain to ANZ Bank There are various other strategic concepts which affect a firm like ANZ(Eden, 2013). For example, segmentation, targeting and positioning strategies are considered of prime important in the strategic formulation of a firm(Ferrel, 2012). Generic strategies like cost leadership and differentiation also affect a firms market position(Forgang, 2015). Additionally, the type of leadership and financial performance also plays a vital role. Generic Strategies of ANZ Bank Porter has given three generic strategies which determine how a company generates competitive advantage for itself(Salavodu, 2015). These are low cost, differentiation and focus. A firm can perform better than its competitors either by having lower costs or by differentiating itself from the competitors in certain way(Walker, 2015). It can also choose between focus that is, offering its products to a selected segment or choosing an industry wide offering where it offers the products to a large customer base. ANZ bank exists in a service industry where service offered is homogenous(Bateson, 2010). However, the firm tries to create differentiation by offering a wide range of services like investments, deposits and loans(ANZ, 2017). The firm also uses market wide offering and tries to targets a wider market base so that it can increase its market share(ANZ, 2017). The firm has also expanded globally and focuses on efficiency and service quality. ANZ bank is a very old company and has a good brand name(ANZ, 2017). People recognise the firm which inculcates trust. Therefore, its brand equity is also a differentiation factor for the firm. Though differentiation of services based on quality of service delivery and brand name, ANZ bank has been trying to perform better than the competitors. Segmentation Targeting and Positioning Strategies of ANZ bank Segmentation, targeting and positioning are one of the most important concepts of strategicmanagement and marketing strategy(Baines, 2013). Segmentation is a concept of dividing a market into groups on the basis of certain identifiable similar attributes. Segmentation includes identifying groups in the market on certain basis and identifying the characteristics of each group (Armstrong, 2012). A firm can use various types of segmentation like demographic, geographic, psychographic and behavioural segmentation to identify subgroups in the market. ANZ bank uses various types of segmentation strategies for its various products(ANZ, 2017). It uses demographic segmentation based on income while selling its loan and insurance products. The firm also differentiates rates between clients based on individual and corporate clients(ANZ, 2017). It uses geographical segmentation and divides its markets based on country where it is operational(ANZ, 2017). It uses different marketing strategies in each country like New Zealand and other Asian countries. Targeting is deciding on which customer bases or segments to target (Baker, 2012). It involves deeply assessing each segment and its commercial attractiveness. It involves selecting one or more segments after analysis (Ireland Hoskisson, 2011). During targeting a firm decides whether it wants to focus on a small customer groups or a larger customer group(Baines, 2013). It also decides on the resources to be used for the purpose of targeting. The major segments on which ANZ bank focuses are demographic and geographic segmentations.(ANZ, 2017). The firm uses various marketing strategies like advertising, branding and sales promotion to target these segments(ANZ, 2017). The firm targets small, medium and large corporate clients and individual consumers to sell its products. Positioning is the image that is created in the customers mind regarding the brand or a product (Kapferer, 2012). Brand is the name of a product or its design which creates an instant recall in the mind of the customers regarding the product with which the brand name is associated (Ferrell Hartine, 2012). Popular products and companies become brands in themselves because consumer has an instant recall of these brands if any attribute of these brands are mentioned (Boone, 2011). Branding is very crucial for adequate positioning as branding creates a positive image of the product in the customers mind(Aaker, 2012). ANZ is an old and established firm hence; it has become a brand(ANZ, 2017). People associate it with trust and service quality. Therefore, ANZ bank has a positive brand positioning. Firms can use various positioning strategies (Ferrell Hartine, 2012. These include positioning the product based on lower price, product features, better quality, better service delivery or product applications(Alkhafaji, 2013). In other words the firm can position the product in the mind of the customer based on its unique selling point. If the firm offers products at higher quality than the competitor, then that could be its positioning strategy. On the other hand, if the firm offers a product with unique features then it should position the product on this attributes(Kotler, 2012). ANZ bank has positioned itself based on quality of service delivery. It believes in providing quality and fast banking services to its customers(ANZ, 2017). Through its positioning as a renowned brand with quality focus, ANZ caters to its customers both in Australia and worldwide. Therefore, segmentation targeting and positioning are very important strategies which allow a firm to decide on which customer group it wants to cater and the manner in which it wants to cater to it(Armstrong, 2012). ANZ is successful in creating a sound segmentation, targeting and positioning strategy. Financial Performance of ANZ in 2016 Financial performance of a company shows its profit and loss, revenue, net sales and other financial indicators(Butler, 2012). Financial performance shows the superiorly or growth of a firm. Therefore, firms are very couscous of their financial performance(Butler, 2012). The profit of ANZ bank in 2016 was $ 5700 Billion(ANZ, 2016). It has come down by 24 % if compared to profits in 2015(ANZ, 2016). The reason for fall in profit was tough international competition. The firms life insurance product is not doing too well and it may exit from this products(ANZ, 2016). To improve its financial performance the firm needs to analyse the major causes for the fall in profit and formulate strategies to combat them. For example, undertaking a competitor analysis and trying to assess how it can outperform the competitor. Leadership of ANZ bank ANZ bank is a public concern and is listed on both the Australian and New Zealand stock exchange(ANZ, 2016). The company is responsible for its actions to its shareholders. It holds an annual general meeting of the shareholders periodically(ANZ, 2017). There is a board of directors to run the organisation on a daily basis. Board of directors are elected by the shareholders. David Gonski is the chairman of the bank while Shayne Cary Elliott is the CEO(ANZ, 2017). The vision of the leadership is to become a superregional bank and to provide quality service with mass reach to its customers worldwide(ANZ, 2017). For this purpose the bank believes in investing in infrastructure, endowment of employees skills and delivering services with efficiency(ANZ, 2017) .The leadership believes in integrity, accountability collaboration respect and excellence of service quality(ANZ, 2017). The leadership aims to continuously improve service quality so that the firm can win the trust of customers and embark on a growth path. Product Life Cycle of ANZ Banks product Product life cycle is a sequence of stages through which product of a firm passes(Armstrong, 2012). These stages include introduction, growth, maturity and decline. In the introduction stage the branding and the quality level of the product is established. In the growth stage product starts becoming popular and its features and support services get established(Armstrong, 2012). Pricing is maintained and distribution channels are added in this stage. The product sees a growth in sales in the growth stage. In maturity stage the growth rate of sales of the product starts to diminish(Ferrel, 2012). Competition becomes tougher as other firms come up with similar products. In the decline stage the product sales decline. During decline stage, product losses its popularity (Armstrong, 2012). Firm can choose to either divest or harvest the product depending on the further opportunities Most firms try to maintain the product on maturity stage for a longer time(Armstrong, 2012). This is done by lowering prices, adding other features, giving additional services or doing intensive distribution so that the decline stage can be avoided for a longer time. The products of ANZ involve financial services like providing loans and advisory services. Risk management, fund raising and investment along with deposits are some other products(Farquhar, 2010). Most of the products are on maturity stage as there are many competitors and the firm has to do aggressive marketing and offer additional services to maintain the products on the maturity stage(ANZ, 2017). However, the life insurance and wealthmanagement business is seeing loss in profit leading to decline of the product(ANZ, 2016). The firm has now decided to exit from these two product portfolio. Therefore, product life cycles help a firm in understanding the stage on which the product is and consequently it helps in taking adequate strategies pertaining to the stage. Recommendations for further strategies ANZ is an old and reputed firm however; its profits have fallen in the last year. There is always a scope for improvement in all organisations. There are certain things that the firm can do to improve its performance and standing in the market. Following are some recommendations to ANZ which might help in improving its performance. 1 The current era is an era of globalisation. Though ANZ bank is expending and is present in many countries across the globe, it is not really utilizing the opportunities offered by the emerging markets. The firm should be more aggressive in its marketing strategy in the emerging markets. The company is not present in many emerging market countries where it should make its mark. This can be done by using market entry strategies like mergers and acquisition. Merger with local banks will help the bank in winning the trust of the people in the host nation. 2 The firm should try to increase its market share in Australia as well. For this purpose the firm should have aggressive marketing campaign. It can also use engagement of people via social media as a tool. Social media is a very potent and cost effective medium to carry news and information to a large audience. Bank can generate ideas, reviews and feedback via social media to improve its brand recognition and market share in the country. 3 ANZ bank is into financial and banking services which work on trust. The financial services are high involvement products. If the firm wants to expand in global markets, it needs to win the trust of the people. This can be done by improving brand equity. Repeat ads can help in creating brand equity. Customers tend to remember a company if they see its advertisement frequently. Therefore, the firm has to be more visible. Using print, public relations and social media for promotion is also a good method of customer engagement which can help build brand equity and trust which can lead to better sales in the emerging markets. 4 As ANZs profits have declined lately, to stabilise itself it must reduce cost. Cost efficiency can be achieved by closing down non performing branches. ANZ should focus more on urban areas and should not move towards rural markets of the emerging markets as yet. Another way of reducing costs is by educating customers to use the virtual medium to conduct banking transactions. This will help in reducing footfalls into the branches and the bank can cut down on number of employees and other infrastructure with in a branch leading to cost efficiency. 5 Services industry is highly people and technology intensive. If employees are skilled they will be able to conduct the service better. Therefore, ANZ bank should enhance its talent development and training system. The firm trains its employees on work skills but it should also include transferability skills and knowledge endowment into its training schemes and plans. The firm should also give training about impact of global fluctuation on the banking sector. Additionally, it should promote lifelong learning. This will help in continuous supply of knowledge in organisation and help the staff in continuously giving good service. Therefore, above mentioned recommendations can help ANZ in improvement of its strategy and provide it a way to survive in tough competition. References Aaker, D. A., (2012) Building Strong Brands. New York: Simon and Schuste. Aaker, D. A. McLoughlin, D., (2010) Strategic Market Management: Global Perspectiv. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. 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