Buying Decisions of Consumers

Since the introduction of the first Blackberry Smartphone in 2002, the Smartphone market has tremendously grown from a backdrop of information explosion. Park (2011) claims that the number of people who use Smartphones have tremendously grown to about one in every three adults.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Buying Decisions of Consumers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This increased the demand for Smartphones heralded the expansion of the Smartphone market. Chow and Chen (2012) project the global shipment of Smartphone gadgets to increase to about one billion, by the year 2015. The increased adoption of Smartphones in the mobile phone market has come at an opportune time because feature phones are becoming increasingly obsolete. Feature phones have traditionally dominated the mobile phone market, but because of the increased demand for new applications among mobile phone users (and the sophisticatio n of software engineering), feature phones are slowly phasing out, to give way for the adoption of Smartphones. Since Smartphones have infused new features and technologies that were earlier nonexistent in feature phones, the factors informing its adoption greatly differ with those that affect the adoption of feature phones. Indeed, Smartphones are able to perform even the most sophisticated tasks (normally a reserve for computers), while feature phones were only able to perform basic tasks such as calling and text messaging. Therefore, from the increased adoption of new applications in Smartphones, the gadgets have penetrated a new category of customers, tech-savvy customers. Considering the adoption of Smartphone is a new and emerging trend, it is critical to point out that most research studies investigating the adoption of Smartphones have done so by viewing Smartphones as a specialised tool, such as Smartphones for clinical purposes.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, researchers like Cheong and Park (2005) disagree with this view because they see the adoption of Smartphones, not for specialised purposes but rather, for general purposes. According to Hutt (2009), the purchase of a Smartphone (for any consumer) highlights an information cascade, which also stems from a decision-making pattern, where decisions from people of influence affect consumers’ purchase decisions. For example, before a consumer decides to buy a Smartphone, he considers other buyers’ decisions (creates awareness regarding other buyers’ decisions) and infers a specific message from what is known by previous buyers (Hutt 2009). Ilyas (2006) contends that the decision to buy a Smartphone is normally dependent on the level of satisfaction a customer experiences when the purchase ends. Before consumers make the decision to purchase the product , Ilyas (2006) believes that consumers experience several cognitive processes including â€Å"recognition, search information, evaluation, and ultimately the purchase decision† (p. 4). The provision of feedback regarding the customer’s user experience may follow this process. Varying psychological and market factors normally affect a customer’s buying experience. However, these factors do not always show similar results for different customer groups. Indeed, different consumers have different tastes, preferences, motivations, and lifestyles that affect their decisions to buy a Smartphone. For example, some consumers are always willing to buy Smartphones at a premium, while others are hesitant to do so.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Buying Decisions of Consumers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Similarly, some consumers are always looking out for good quality Smartphones in the m arket, while others do not see this need. Park (2011) believes that most of these consumer dynamics represent varying customer characteristics. â€Å"Brand conscious, price conscious, quality conscious, recreation conscious, innovation conscious, confusion over choice, impulse, and brand† (Chow and Chen 2012, p. 44) further characterise these characteristics. From the complexities and dynamics informing consumers’ buying decisions, the importance of understanding the factors that affect consumers’ buying decisions is very important. Product Features Product features distinguish different products, not only in the Smartphone market, but also in other competitive markets as well (Kupiec and Revell 2001). In the Smartphone market, a product feature denotes a product’s attribute that is capable of satisfying a specific consumer need. This need is satisfied from using the product’s feature. Sexton (2007) posits that today’s rapidly changing marke t has proved that different features bring different levels of satisfaction for every Smartphone user. Indeed, as Chow and Chen (2012) demonstrate, â€Å"in this new era, phones now feature with wireless connectivity, a built-in Web browser, application installation, full programmability, a file management system, multimedia presentation and capture, high-resolution displays, several gigabytes of storage and location and movement sensors† (p. 45). Chow and Chen (2012) say, besides the above features, users also look for the best operating systems and cameras when making their decision to purchase Smartphones.Advertising Looking for critical writing on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this regard, Chow and Chen (2012) say the most popular operating systems for Smartphone users are â€Å"Symbian, RIM Blackberry, Apple iPhone, Windows mobile, Google’s Android, and Linux† (p. 46). Each operating system manifests its uniqueness, based on the different backgrounds they hail from. Oulasvirta and Wahlstrom (2011) add that Smartphone consumers normally select phone attributes that provide them with the specific benefits they are looking for. He also adds that most of these attributes reflect consumer personalities (Oulasvirta and Wahlstrom 2011). Therefore, Smartphone users select phones that mirror their personalities and add value to their lives, depending on how much importance they attach to integration. Wickliffe and Pysarchik (2001) also say consumers use phone attributes to make the distinction between competitive brands and Smartphone brands that marketers impose on them. Marketers similarly acknowledge this distinction and create advertisements that highlight a phone’s attribute to influence a consumer’s ability to substitute a phone’s attribute for another (Puth and Mostert 1999). Comprehensively, product features influence consumer buying decisions. Brand Name In today’s globally competitive market, companies cannot underrate the importance of product differentiation. Indeed, portraying brand superiority adds to a company’s profitability (within several competitive brands). Indeed, researchers have affirmed the importance of brand superiority in improving a product’s value among its customers. Mei and Dean (1999) admit, brands also communicate a product’s knowledge structures that are cognisant of the product’s brand superiority. Brand names therefore improve a product’s value by simply appealing to the consumer’s cognitive perception. Therefore, when a product comes from a respectable brand, consumers automatically attach the same value to the product . Different companies advertise different product attributes in their branding strategy. Some companies package their products to be superior in quality, while others package their products as ‘pocket friendly.’ Some Smartphone manufacturers even package their products as reliable brands that withstand even the toughest environments. Recent years have seen Smartphone companies package their phones as durable items. Consumers have tested such attributes through experiments like dropping a phone on concrete, to see if it cracks. People have broadcast such experiments in social media sites including YouTube (and the likes). Branding helps to package such product attributes (such as durability) to create a perception that such products portray the conveyed message. For example, as portrayed in the above example, a company’s branding strategy may hinge on durability. Therefore, whenever consumers see a given brand, they immediately assume the product is durable. A com pany may similarly brand its products to be reliable and therefore, whenever companies expose consumers to the given product, consumers assume it is reliable (Chow and Chen 2012). Some phone companies have successfully managed to brand their products as such, and are attracting a huge user base. Some technology companies like Apple Incorporated have successfully managed to brand their products as having superior quality and reliability. Apple Incorporated has also successfully managed to market its brand as innovative and therefore, whenever customers purchase Apple iPhones, they expect it to have some ‘innovative attribute’ that other brands do not have. Srinivasan and Till (2002) define the value of brands as brand equity. Dodds and Monroe (1991) add that brand equity plays a big role in brand building. The advantages of successful brand building are obvious to companies because companies have been able to develop sustainable competitive advantages through this proces s. This works when consumers have a successful perception of specific brands in the market. Since the early 2000s, companies have identified their most important assets to be their brand names. Chow and Chen (2012) affirm this observation by saying â€Å"In the recent aggressive competitive marketplace, the most critical success element for companies is the brand name, that were being used in a product, and further stated that the brand names are considered the last source of differentiation for the companies’ products and services† (p. 50). According to Khasawneh and Hasouneh (2010), brand names have a strong impact on consumer’s buying decisions because they affect their product evaluation process, which later informs their buying decisions. Therefore, through branding, Smartphone companies have been able to differentiate their products from the competition. Nonetheless, at this point, it is crucial to say, brand names do not only denote ‘names,’ they could also mean symbols, terms, or designs. Many companies have benefitted from introducing brand extensions. Many companies have adopted this strategy to benefit from brand knowledge. In other words, new products that stem from a successful branding campaign experience a low failure rate and low marketing costs. Comprehensively, consumers are likely to be attracted to successful brand names in the market. In turn, companies gain from brand recognition (in the short-term) and brand loyalty (in the end). Price For a long time, researchers have investigated the effect of price on consumer buying decisions. These researchers later say price plays a big role in the consumer decision-making process because price acts as a monetary value for the trade of goods and services (Chow and Chen 2012). In this regard, Nagle and Holden (2002) claim that price remains a key concern for consumers, before they make any purchase decision (not only within the Smartphone market). The price of a Sma rtphone normally affects the behavioural intentions of consumers. Price also has a close association with a product’s brand because price defines a product’s image. Market researchers have always said that consumers perceive high pricing to mean high product quality, while low pricing denotes low product quality (Chow and Chen 2012). For purposes of conceptual convenience, it is pertinent to understand that pricing models divide into two groups: low priced goods and highly priced goods (Smith and Carsky 1996). As explained in this paper, highly priced Smartphones have a very keen emphasis on the product’s image. Therefore, consumers who purchase such highly branded products also want to enjoy the positive product image that comes with the high pricing. Such consumers are also willing to pay a premium so that they have a premium product of high quality. Ordinarily, such a consumer group is willing to buy a Smartphone (expensively) for its perceived high quality a nd status. When such consumer groups form the biggest part of the market, such a market is price inelastic. Consumers purchase low-priced Smartphone because of their perceived value. Such groups of consumers are more wary of the utility they are going to derive from such purchases than the perceived status they derive from the same. Such purchase decisions therefore centre on utilitarianism (perceived value for the price). Consumers who make purchase decisions using this strategy always look for lowly priced Smartphones or substitute some brands for others because of their perceived value (Chow and Chen 2012). Despite the decision-making clusters adopted by each consumer group described above, Aaker and Keller (1990) still believe that both consumer groups (high-end and low-end) believe that high product prices reflect premium quality, while lowly priced Smartphones reflect inferior quality. These findings reflect similar findings done by Etgar and Malhotra’s (1981). Indeed, Etgar and Malhotra’s (1981) affirmed that consumers would always perceive products with high quality to have a superior quality and low-priced products to have a lower quality. However, this perception may not always be true in the Smartphone market considering there may not be much difference in product features or quality of different bands (from completely different price categories). However, Chow and Chen (2012) admit that if a Smartphone is highly priced and the product quality relatively meets the consumers’ expectations, the consumer may still be willing to pay a premium for the specific product. Chow and Chen (2012) say the proliferation of Smartphone brands in the phone market has further intensified the price perception among Smartphone buyers because it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish one brand from the other. Consumers are therefore using product pricing to distinguish one brand from the other. Most of the cognitive or buying decisions for mulated by the buyers purely stem from perception. From this background, Khasawneh and Hasouneh (2010) claim that it is very crucial for Smartphone companies to stop ignoring the impact of pricing decisions on their products because price has been proven to affect consumer buying behaviour. The importance of pricing decisions on consumer purchasing behaviour manifests in the online shopping phenomenon where consumers are willing to pay a premium (high prices) for the convenience and security offered on online shopping. Chow and Chen (2012) also agree that 90% of customers use price constructs to scrutinise different products from different companies. Customers do so frequently. Comprehensively, price constructs denote a psychological phenomenon that appeals to consumers’ cognitive processes and buying decisions. Comprehensively, this persuasion improves the sales margin. This happens through the exploitation of consumer willingness to pay (especially for high-end products). T herefore, among all the marketing mixes exploited by marketers worldwide, pricing is a very critical tool for appealing to customer willingness to buy products. Comprehensively, in the context of this study, pricing is one factor that determines consumer-buying decisions when purchasing Smartphones. Social Influences Social influences border on the ability of a person to influence the activities of another person. This influence occurs through the ability of a person to influence the attitudes, feelings, and thoughts of others. This may occur either intentionally or unintentionally (through the interaction with other people). The main influences in social interactions come from media sources, friends, and people from other spheres of influence (such as colleagues). Social influences thrive on the perception among customers regarding the perception of other people towards them. This group of customers also thrives on having a sense of belonging to a specific social group or class. A research group in America claims that peer influences are the primary source of influence in social interactions (Chow and Chen 2012). Secondary influences are the media and parents. However, today, the role of the media in defining consumer tastes, fashion, and interests regarding a specific brand is increasingly strong (from the influence of the media and other sources of influence, consumers learn the skills, knowledge and attitudes relevant for consumption). Nelson and McLeod (2005) draw a sharp distinction between conformity, power, and authority, which manifest whenever the influence of social interactions occurs as the main influence for consumer buying behaviour. Mourali and Loroche (2005) say conformity always manifests when consumers make buying decisions so that they meet the expectations of other people. However, power is a way of exerting one’s influence over people to gain control and determine the overall outcome of their interaction. Those who wield this power often perceive authority as a legitimate power. Power and authority are therefore strong influences regarding the way consumers make their purchasing decisions because people derive their actions from the word of other people. This is human nature. For example, among teenagers and other young people, researchers affirm that both males and females seek their fashion advice from friends and other people of influence in their lives. Therefore, depending on the fashion preference of these people, consumers are bound to follow the same fashion preference as their peers. The same pattern occurs during the decision-making process to purchase Smartphones from phone manufacturers. Consumers are then motivated to buy phones that their friends approve and have. A recent research by Mourali and Loroche (2005) showed customers who purchase Smartphones as the greatest consumers of social networking applications (such as Facebook and Twitter) because of the ability of such applications to ease so cial interactions. Consequently, Smartphone users use these applications to stay in touch with their friends and other people of influence in their lives. Through such applications, the influence of peers, friends and colleagues in informing consumer buying decisions remains strong (even though indirectly). Motivated by the willingness of people who have the same school of thought, feelings, and attitudes, Smartphone users are motivated to seek phones that enable them to stay in touch with one another within their circles of influence. Through this sphere of influence, social interactions influence consumer-buying decisions. Hutt (2009) claims that another issue affecting a buyer’s decision to purchase a Smartphone stems from the direct benefits that the customer enjoys from the purchase. This effect is normally realised when the direct benefits to be enjoyed from the purchase stems from the reactions or opinions of other people regarding the purchase. Therefore, unlike the à ¢â‚¬Ëœinformational effect’, the direct benefits effect does not depend on changing one’s information. For example, if a prospective Smartphone buyer intends to make a choice regarding which type of operating software to use, he would potentially consider the user base for every type of software available in the market (Android, windows, and the likes). The size of the user base therefore influences the consumer experience when using such a phone (often, the user experience improves with operating systems that have a wide user base because of an increase in applications). The logic behind the selection of applications that have a wide user base stems from the expansive array of willing users to help a frustrated user through online support (Cheong and Park 2005). Through this logic, it is easier to understand the reasons for the large consumer base that android Smartphones have around the world. It is also easier to understand why it is more economical for Smartphone d evelopers to develop more applications for an expanded audience, rather than a small audience. From the above consumer decision-making frameworks, evidently, many factors affect consumer buying behaviour. Product brand name, price, social interactions, and product features are among the most notable factors influencing the way consumers make the decision to purchase Smartphone. Almost all consumer groups feel motivated by at least one factor (among the above) to make their purchase decision. Depending on the demographics of the consumer group, price, brand name, social interactions, and product features are bound to affect consumer purchase decisions in the Smartphone market. References Aaker, D Keller, K 1990, ‘Consumer evaluations of brand extensions’, Journal of Marketing, vol. 54 no. 1, pp. 27-41. Cheong, J Park, M 2005, ‘Mobile internet acceptance in Korea’, Internet Research, vol. 15 no. 2, pp. 125-140. Chow, M Chen, L 2012, ‘Conceptual Paper : Factors Affecting the Demand of Smartphone among Young Adult’, International journal on Social Science Economics and Art, vol. 2 no. 2, pp. 44-47. Dodds, W Monroe, K 1991, ‘Effects of price, brand and store information on buyers’ product evaluations’, Journal of Marketing Research, vol. 28, pp. 307-19. Etgar, M Malhotra, N 1981, ‘Determinants of price dependency: Personal and perceptual factors’, Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 8 no. 2, pp. 217-222. Hutt, M 2009, Business Marketing Management: B2B, Cengage Learning, London. Ilyas, M 2006, Smartphones: Research Report Intl. Engineering, Consortiu, London. Khasawneh, K Hasouneh A 2010, ‘The effect of familiar brand names on consumer behaviour: A Jordanian Perspective’, International Research Journal of Finance Economics, vol. 43, pp. 44 -56. Kupiec, B Revell, B 2001, ‘Measuring consumer quality judgement’, British Food Journal, vol. 103 no. 1, pp. 1-22. Mei, W Dean, A 1999, ‘Analysing service quality in hospitality industry’, Managing Service Quality, vol. 9 no. 2, pp. 138-143. Mourali, M Loroche, M 2005, ‘Individualistic orientation and consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence’, Journal of services marketing, vol. 19 no. 3, pp. 164-173. Nagle, T Holden, R 2002, The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing: A Guide to Profitable Decision Making, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey. Nelson, M McLeod, L 2005, ‘Adolescents brand consciousness and product placement: Awareness, liking and perceived effects on self and others’, International Journal of Consumer Studies, vol. 25 no. 1, pp. 1-13. Oulasvirta, A Wahlstrom, M 2011, ‘What does it mean to be good at using mobile device? An investigation of three levels of experience and skill’, International Journal of Human- Computer Studies, vol. 69, pp. 155-169. Park, J 2011, Future Information Technology: 6th International Conference on Future Inform ation Technology, Springer, New York. Puth, G Mostert, P 1999, ‘Consumer perceptions of mentioned product and brand attributes in magazine advertising’, Journal of product and brand management, vol. 8 no. 1, pp. 38-49. Sexton, R 2007, Essentials of Economics, South-Western Publishers, London. Smith, M Carsky, M 1996, ‘Grocery Shopping Behaviour: A Comparison of Involved and Uninvolved Consumers’, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, vol. 39 no. 2, pp. 73-80. Srinivasan, S Till, B 2002, ‘Evaluation of search, experience and credence attributes: role of brand name and product trial’, Journal of Product Management, vol. 11 no. 7, pp. 417-431. Wickliffe, V Pysarchik, D 2001, ‘A look at product attributes as enhances of group intergration among US and Korean consumers’, International Journal of Retail Distribution Management, vol. 29 no. 2, pp. 99-108. This critical writing on Buying Decisions of Consumers was written and submitted by user Mat Moth 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.

Free Essays on Violence On Tv

Ever since the invention of television, our society debates the effects of media violence. Many think that it has a negative impact, other believe that it has a great educational and entertainment value. Those who think negatively can say that it develops aggression in children, disturbs people’s minds and spreads violence around the world. However, those statements are incorrect. Violence on television is insignificant to the negative behavior of our society because it is a tool to educate our children, as well as it helps us understand the world around us, but in any ways it can be avoided if you choose to. Television is being blamed for children becoming violent in later life because it is an easy scapegoat. In many families, television has become an electronic baby-sitter; a replacement for quality time with parents. Parents should not let the television raise their children. They should take control of their child’s life and entertainment. Perhaps the most important way to prevent children from being affected by violence on TV is to stop it where it starts. The parents should step in and explain the difference between reality and fiction because the exposure to violence in childhood will not harm. Ghetto children see violence unknown to other children, but it does not influence them because it is so hateful for them. If can teach your child that violence is bad then he would never do anything similar to it, and televised violence will be just one of your tool to accomplish that. Violence on television not only teaches children but the entire world as well. It is harmless to our society because it is the most credible and believable source of information on the reality of the world. Many people will disagree since they only look at the negative aspects. But violence is an important fact of our lives, it is part of the human condition. It also teaches that the world is a cruel and unworthy place and we are the ... Free Essays on Violence On Tv Free Essays on Violence On Tv Ever since the invention of television, our society debates the effects of media violence. Many think that it has a negative impact, other believe that it has a great educational and entertainment value. Those who think negatively can say that it develops aggression in children, disturbs people’s minds and spreads violence around the world. However, those statements are incorrect. Violence on television is insignificant to the negative behavior of our society because it is a tool to educate our children, as well as it helps us understand the world around us, but in any ways it can be avoided if you choose to. Television is being blamed for children becoming violent in later life because it is an easy scapegoat. In many families, television has become an electronic baby-sitter; a replacement for quality time with parents. Parents should not let the television raise their children. They should take control of their child’s life and entertainment. Perhaps the most important way to prevent children from being affected by violence on TV is to stop it where it starts. The parents should step in and explain the difference between reality and fiction because the exposure to violence in childhood will not harm. Ghetto children see violence unknown to other children, but it does not influence them because it is so hateful for them. If can teach your child that violence is bad then he would never do anything similar to it, and televised violence will be just one of your tool to accomplish that. Violence on television not only teaches children but the entire world as well. It is harmless to our society because it is the most credible and believable source of information on the reality of the world. Many people will disagree since they only look at the negative aspects. But violence is an important fact of our lives, it is part of the human condition. It also teaches that the world is a cruel and unworthy place and we are the ...

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The Limits of Freedom Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

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Importance of Informed Consent in Client Decision-making Informed consent is not only a basic right of all clients, but it also helps to protect the clients privacy and can be utilized to empower them to make their own educated decisions about aspects of their own therapy. Ideally, the goal of the practice of informed consent is to provide patients with the most relevant and accurate information regarding their own treatment, so that they can decide for themselves to become involved and willing participants in their own therapy sessions. One of the best methods for instituting informed consent practices is to establish a protocol for enabling clients to make their own educated decisions. It is important to note that the practice of informed consent carries with it a number of legal implications as well, primarily due to the fact that its purpose is to protect the rights and privacy of the client. From a legal standpoint, there are three aspects of informed consent that are of primary concern: the clients capacity for rational decision-making, the clients comprehension or understanding of the information, and the clients voluntariness, which ensures that decisions made by the client are of their own free will. For the therapist, informed consent governs many aspects of administrative duties as well, such as confidentiality, record-keeping and maintenance, and the transfer and disclosure of client files. While these aspects are more clearly defined in terms of what therapists can and cannot do, therapists are also left with the additional task of ensuring that all clients are properly educated and informed about procedures and the legal implications and also that each individual client has the ability to comprehend such information and make decisions regarding their own treatment. It is this aspect of informed consent that often lacks such clearly defined rules and is often a matter of judgment on the part of the therapist. Adequate informed consent is becoming increasingly important for todays mental health professionals, as more and more people are seeking individual or marital counseling as a means of improving aspects of their own lives or relationships. In all aspects of healthcare, the appropriate procedures for obtaining adequate informed consent are still debatable. Because therapists have the unique opportunity to be able to work with clients in order to improve decision-making skills, this process is even more important. The goal is not to steer clients in any one direction or another, but rather provide each client with all of the information in a manner which they understand, be able to answer questions regarding the policies, and enable each client to make their own educated decision about what is best for them and their particular situation. Informed consent for therapists is often more difficult when faced with clients who may be in danger, under psychological distress, or faced with a domestic violence situation. Often, these clients may lack the ability to make rational decisions or may be fearful of participating in their own therapy due to the risk of confidentiality breaches and concern for their own personal safety. In this instance, it is often the therapists responsibility to not only offer additional reassurance regarding confidentiality, but also accurately represent the legal implications of informed consent and if and when records may be disclosed, along with what kind of information can be shared and under what circumstances. In addition, when there is a great deal of psychological distress present, it may be necessary to reiterate policies at a time when clients are more stable, and also take greater measures to enable the clients to adequately make their own decisions. In cases where a client lacks the capacity to make informed decisions on their own, due to age or disability, a parent or guardian may be necessary in order to provide adequate protection of the clients rights and sign legal documents. In terms of comprehension of the information provided, therapists should frequently have question and answer sessions with the client regarding the goals of treatment, client participation, availability of other services, expectations, and any risks involved. Clear communication and guidelines are the best way to ensure that a client adequately understands not only the purpose of treatment but their roles and responsibilities as well. Informed consent procedures for therapy can be seen as more than just legal practices. The continuously evolving methods of ensuring informed consent for clients also further enable and empower clients to educate themselves, take an active role in ensuring their own well-being, and learn to make more choices regarding their own personal care.

Anatomy of an Interview :: Interviewing Job Workforce Essays

According to Professor G.J. of Texas Tech University, "a productive interview is much like a good conversation, questions are asked to elicit more than a yes or no answer" ("Interviewing"). In an interview there are certain criteria to be addressed. This criteria includes, the purpose, the collection of data or evidence, and the concluding thoughts on the subject. The "Interview with the Luddite," between Kevin Kelly and Kirkpatrick Sale demonstrate the basic principles of interviewing. Kevin Kelly is the author of Out of Control: The Rise of Neo-biological Civilization (1994). Kirkpatrick Sale is the author of Rebels Against the Future: The Luddites and Their War on the Industrial Revolution-Lessons for the Computer Age (1995). Their discussion or disagreement on the subject of technology expresses the issues raised on both sides of the topic. Both men divulge their opinions as well as what they view as evidence to support their claims. Analysis of the interview involves the concepts of tone and fallacy. The definition of tone is: "a particular vocal quality that indicates some emotion or feeling, an accent, inflection, or intonation" (Webster's 1984). A fallacy, according to Webster's Dictionary, is: "A statement or argument based on a false or invalid inference." These two subtle parts influence the entire interview. The interaction and inverse relationship between tone and fallacy can sway the direction of an interview. Kelly creates the initial tone of the interview. By asking the first question, he sets the environment for Sale to respond. In the interview between Kelly and Sale, Kelly opens the discussion with the fallacy of loaded language. He asks Sale, "Other than arson and a lot of vandalism, what did the Luddites accomplish in the long run?" (243). The words "arson" and "vandalism" force Sale to be on defense right from the beginning. Sale realizes this and answers Kelly with the fallacy, Post Hoc; inferring that since one event occurs after another, it must be the cause of the second event. He argues that because "technosphere" interferes with the "biosphere" that it must be "destroying the biosphere" (244). These two examples demonstrate how tone of the interview is set. After both men raise their side's flag, they automatically assume that the rest of the interview will be an offense/defense interchange. The purpose of this interview is to raise the issue of technology and address it from both sides of the topic. In simplified terms, Kelly is for technology, while Sale is against technology. Anatomy of an Interview :: Interviewing Job Workforce Essays According to Professor G.J. of Texas Tech University, "a productive interview is much like a good conversation, questions are asked to elicit more than a yes or no answer" ("Interviewing"). In an interview there are certain criteria to be addressed. This criteria includes, the purpose, the collection of data or evidence, and the concluding thoughts on the subject. The "Interview with the Luddite," between Kevin Kelly and Kirkpatrick Sale demonstrate the basic principles of interviewing. Kevin Kelly is the author of Out of Control: The Rise of Neo-biological Civilization (1994). Kirkpatrick Sale is the author of Rebels Against the Future: The Luddites and Their War on the Industrial Revolution-Lessons for the Computer Age (1995). Their discussion or disagreement on the subject of technology expresses the issues raised on both sides of the topic. Both men divulge their opinions as well as what they view as evidence to support their claims. Analysis of the interview involves the concepts of tone and fallacy. The definition of tone is: "a particular vocal quality that indicates some emotion or feeling, an accent, inflection, or intonation" (Webster's 1984). A fallacy, according to Webster's Dictionary, is: "A statement or argument based on a false or invalid inference." These two subtle parts influence the entire interview. The interaction and inverse relationship between tone and fallacy can sway the direction of an interview. Kelly creates the initial tone of the interview. By asking the first question, he sets the environment for Sale to respond. In the interview between Kelly and Sale, Kelly opens the discussion with the fallacy of loaded language. He asks Sale, "Other than arson and a lot of vandalism, what did the Luddites accomplish in the long run?" (243). The words "arson" and "vandalism" force Sale to be on defense right from the beginning. Sale realizes this and answers Kelly with the fallacy, Post Hoc; inferring that since one event occurs after another, it must be the cause of the second event. He argues that because "technosphere" interferes with the "biosphere" that it must be "destroying the biosphere" (244). These two examples demonstrate how tone of the interview is set. After both men raise their side's flag, they automatically assume that the rest of the interview will be an offense/defense interchange. The purpose of this interview is to raise the issue of technology and address it from both sides of the topic. In simplified terms, Kelly is for technology, while Sale is against technology.

Ceremony of marriage in Islam Essay

In Islam, marriages are a very important event most Muslim weddings are arranged, in order for an arranged marriage to take place both the boys/girls side must give consent, with arranged marriages both families make sure that the boy’s/girl’s (and their family’s) reputation and history is accepted in society and that they have no flaws which would bring a bad name on their family all this is checked before the husband/wife enters into their family. A Muslim boy/girl have to choose their partners very carefully as it is an arranged marriage and they are expected to spend their whole life with a stranger they have to get to know them and know all their ways of living and habits etc†¦ before they agree to marry them although sometimes the parents of the girl/boy are very strict and may not allow this to happen they may just decide for their son/daughter to get married to someone without asking their opinion this may be a problem sometimes as the married couple may not get along or there may be other problems, another problem with arranged marriages is that if the parents of the Muslim girl/ boy agree to the marriage without the daughters or/ sons consent then it is like they are deciding the fate if their child without the child having a say in it, but mostly this is not the case and the girl/boy is asked their opinion about the person they are going to marry because Muslims believe that a marriage which is forced is doomed t o failure. In Islam getting married to a member of your family whether its intermediate or distant family is very common. The majority of Muslim marriages are arranged although there are a few love marriages but in the Muslim community love marriages are not really an option and it seen as a very dangerous thing to do sometimes muslims regard being under the influence of love’ as a intoxicating state of mind that could easily cloud judgement. Parents are thought to find good compatible partners for their children and sometimes they do no agree to give consent to love marriages. Muslims are encouraged to have an arranged marriage although sometimes people have a mixed marriage this is allowed as long as it is a Sikh, Indian, or a Christian person. If an Muslim gets married then the wife has to follow the husbands religion and convert the children have to follow their fathers religion but it is preferred to get married to another Muslim because this way their community expands and Islam as a whole expands. When the marriage is decided upon (arranged) before the wedding many other celebrations and ceremony’s have to take place. Such as the engagement where both the girls and boys family gets together and have an engagement ceremony where the bride and groom get together and exchange rings the other event is the Mahr (dowry) The Mahr is the dowry paid by the husband to the wife. It is a sum negotiated by the husband and wife, which she can keep when or if they later get divorced, if the wife wants to get divorced without the consent of her husband she can but only if the mahr is returned. It is against, the sunnah of the prophet to demand high dowries or not give to give a dowry at all or pay the brides father in compensation for his daughters services at home. After this follows the actual Nikah (wedding) the Nikah is a simple affair the ceremony is plain and simple consisting of readings from the Qur’an and vows are exchanged in front of witnesses. There are also a few prayers recited for this happy occasion the imam is present and no religious official is necessary. The bride does not have to be present as long as she sends her ‘wali’ or marriage representative and also two witnesses of agreement to the wedding and she can be at home. The signing of the Nikah (wedding) contract’s can be changed the original date by weeks or even months or years just like with the prophet and his wife Aishah. If the girl is at home they declare three times that she accepts the wedding. Nikah is not considered to be a sacred contract or ‘made in heaven’ but is a binding contract giving the husband and wife both equal rights and responsibilities. Due to the fact that ‘ love’ is not necessarily present at the time a bride can include into the contract certain conditions that would help her if she later wished to have a divorce she could also make it clear that she does not give permission to allow her husband to have a second wife. After the Nikah follows the Walimah this is the actual wedding party the bride may not dress up for the Nikah but she will certainly dress up for the Walimah. The walimah usually consists of the actual wedding feast it can take place within three days of the couple living together. Presents are usually given presents given are usually money. It is a tradition to have huge expensive parties in some societies but this is not religious or part of Islam, the prophet disapproves of lavish especially if it causes problems between the husband and wife.

Nora Should Stay essays

Nora Should Stay essays Ibsen made a very controversial act, by having Nora leave her husband and her family. After first reading the play I thought that what Nora did was the right thing to do. But after thinking about I now realize that wasn't the right thing to do. Yes, Torvald was not the best husband in the world, but Nora should have considered that before she married him. To turn your back on your spouse is one thing, but to turn your back on your children is another. Nora was around in an era were women were looked down upon, not considered equal to men, so it would be hard for her to find a job. If Nora were to leave her Torvald she would have no were to go. Nora was a doll all of her life, first to her father then to Torvald, if she were to leave more then likely she would just become someone else's doll. Torvald was not the best husband in the world, but Nora chose to marry him. Nora never really got a chance to know Torvald. Torvald had his eye on Nora from the beginning. So he help her father and for that Nora was grateful, and thus became Mr. & Mrs. Helmer. It sounds like a very romantic story, but little did Nora know what would be in store for her. Torvald treated Nora like she was his child, I guess that is because he took no part in raising his children the he and Nora had together. If Nora would have taken the time to find out if Torvald was the one for her, then maybe it wouldn't have taken her eight years to realize that she never really loved him. If you are unhappy in your home then you leave your spouse, but you are never to leave your children. Even though Nora never really spent much time with her children she loved them to death. When Nora finally decided to turn her back on Torvald she decided to turn her back on her children as well. It might not have affected the children right away, but eventually it would have. Girls need a women figure to talk to about female things. Not only that but if Nora left and then later on down the ...

Love In Pain

Love In Pain Love Is PainWhen something goes away everything around you doesn't matter anymore. You don't care about anything. Everything around you is black and white. You're sitting in the corner of the dark room, full of memories about him. Memories that make you sad and make you want to cry. You think : "Here came the day that you have expected to come, the day of suffering, of pain and tears had come." And it seems that life ends for you in this very day. He is away and you do not know if he is ever going to come back. You don't know if he is going to look at you with his beautiful brown eyes, to hold you with his strong arms, to kiss you with his juicy lips. You look at one point and ask yourself what are you going to do from now on. Should you go on and fight with life or put an end of everything? You start losing the thread slowly.oh god, you devil . . .Are you suffering as much as I do? I don't know, but I want to see you, to hug you, to hold you in my arms, to feel that you are near me and never let you go. Why does it hurt so much? Every time I think about us, those days when we were together appear in my mind. They might not be so much but they meant something for me! Oh God, how I wish the things between me and him were different. I wish everything was like when we first met. You looked at me and I started to shiver. It was so nice. And now you look at me like a stranger and it's like you want to say: "I can't go on like this, everything is...

Construction contract Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Construction contract - Essay Example 3 contract gives special emphasis to creating a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation between the parties of the contract and this has been added as the first clause of all NEC3 contracts, giving it a legal value. Another major difference between NEC3 and other forms of contract is the ability of NEC3 to warn the parties of contract about possible risks like increase in cost, delay in completion etc making possible the assessments of risks and timely mitigation through mutual consultation. Under the clause 61.3 the contractor is bound to notify the project manager about any compensation event within 8 weeks otherwise the burden of compensation will lie on the contractor, this clause is partly in conflict with prevention principle and can create legal complexities. NEC3 contract ensures risk management during the very beginning of contract through distribution of responsibilities and creating a ‘legally bound’ mutual trust. By creating an atmosphere of trust and cooperation and through proper documentation NEC3 contract removes the communication deficit between parties of the contract which is a very common reason behind the failure of various projects. The JCT05 or the FIDIC cont ract are more detailed as compared to NEC3 however the simplicity offered by NEC3 is the key to better understanding and grasp by all parties of contract and thus ensuring a collaborative, efficient and good management of the

Commerce law in the land of Middle Kingdom Research Paper

Commerce law in the land of Middle Kingdom - Research Paper Example In order to successfully conduct business in China, the IBs must traverse a, at times, thorny path of ethical and social culture challenges. Elements that influence Differences in Social Culture Values, and ethics drive what shape the social culture of given country will be in. Culture is a collection of widely accepted values, ethics, and beliefs held by the group. For example, Chinese culture is very heavily influenced by Confucius beliefs and values of collectivism, group over individualism. Chinese culture takes a very hierarchical structure of social life, cultivation of morality and self-restraint, and the emphasis on hard work and achievement (Fogel, 2010).  With each country, place or group, these elements change which results in a variation or difference in social culture. However as time goes by, whether through external factors or driven by necessities of survival, these values, beliefs and ethics will evolve which will result in a change within the social culture. Busin ess and economic implications of differences in culture and values How business and economics function is different in every place. Differences in culture and values are one of the primary reasons behind this simple fact. What is considered acceptable in one country is not acceptable in another (most stated example, bribes). Economic policies are driven by culture and values while business conduct is governed by cultural norms and common practices found within the group. At times the difference in culture and values can become a barrier to conducting business. International business and trade is similar to dancing a very carefully choreographed dance except that one dance is interpreted different in each country. A failure to adhere to the steps in that dance in a given country could be the difference between a disastrous business venture and a successful entry into an international market. Culture and values drive the principals and influence the manner in which business is conduct ed and economics are established. Social culture’s influence on work place values Social culture will define what is considered acceptable and appropriate at a work place. It will shape the policy at work and define the roll of given individuals and importance of their place amongst the ranks, as well as guidelines for conducting business. Given the hierarchical nature of Chinese culture, the rank of an individual employee plays a very important role within the organization (Fogel, 2010).  Social culture and aspects of social life norms will also influence how business is conducted on the domestic and international stage. The principal of Guanxi – concept of drawing on connections – is an important aspect of Chinese culture. It’s based on the principal of creating a personal network on the basis of favors, associations (belonging to the same trade association or group) and other social connections (same city of origin, close association through years of working together). At times companies have been unable to conduct business with some form of guanxi. Luo (2007, p 7) talks about how cosmetics manufacturer Avon, initially, unable to convince the Chinese government about the viability of its direct marketing method, requested the assistance of Hong Kong’s Bank of East Asia director David Li. Li is known for having a very well known and influential guanxi with ties into the central Chinese government, which he used to assist Avon in establishing a communication link and push through a deal between Avon and