Customer Relationship Marketing Essays - Marketing, Business

Customer Relationship Marketing Literature Review The Evolving Sales and Marketing Landscape Marketing and business development professionals are confronting a rapidly different and changing business landscape. The traditional business model that was once the standard is now being transformed due to technology drivers that make advanced marketing and sales capabilities possible. The business model of yesterday supported mass marketing, mass production, and standardized cookie-cutter products and services. Enterprises will have fall behind the competition if they continue to rely and operate on this substandard model. Today, companies are re-engineering their operations and investing in enhanced IT infrastructures, which enable them to provide customized, personalized, information-rich products and services. The new objective for marketers and business developers involves understanding the needs of their clients and the markets that they serve. This new focus on providing customer value is redefining business processes. Professionals, who understand and anticipate this shift, are positioning themselves ahead of the competition. The Impact of Technology Enabled Business Processes There is no denying the effect that technology has had on the way we conduct business. In recent years, technology has begun to play a significantly larger role in all aspects of business, including sales and marketing. Business processes must be re-engineered to incorporate a pro-active strategy for using information and IT to build a competitive advantage over other organizations. In many instances, the functionality provided by sales and marketing technology only automates current processes. Therefore, it is imperative that processes are clearly defined and well proven. Automating a poorly understood or followed process usually results in failure. Technology must be used as an enabler to support an already sound sales and marketing strategy. Beyond automating sales and marketing capabilities, technology is now designed to provide professionals with a wealth of information about their company's clients and the markets that they serve. Companies are now able to collect data about their customers that when analyzed and utilized properly, can result in a competitive advantage. Online shopping is a prime example. If a customer makes a purchase, then the transaction is completed and revenue is generated. However, if a sales transaction is not made, the company still collects the shopper's behavioral data and stores it in a marketing database. The company then has the opportunity to segment and analyze this data in order to learn more about that particular customer shopping habits. An analysis can then be performed to determine why this person did not make a purchase as well as what can be done differently to persuade this person to buy their product. The company can now position the four Ps of marketing: product, price, promotion, and place to better serve this customer. This process the company has taken unlitmately succeeds in developing a relationship with the customer. The company now knows more about what the customers preferences are and how to offer them. Consequently, the customer has a vested interest in the relationship as well, and is more likely to conduct business with that company in the future. The Shift to Relationship Marketing Though many of today's marketing practices have evolved due to increasing technology, the marketing environment still centers around the four Ps of marketing described above. However, in order to remain competitive, companies must create a unique set of those four Ps which appeal to each individual customer and sets them apart from their competitors. Target marketing is no longer an efficient use of marketing efforts because a great deal of

Rhetorical Analysis of Equiano, Olaudah The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African

Rhetorical Analysis of Equiano, Olaudah The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African Olaudah Equiano’s production, â€Å"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.† formed part of the publication of Classic and Contemporary Readings publication that was done in 1789. In this autobiographical production, Equiano is very categorical in his mission to basically to convince his readers of the existence of slave trade in the 17th century including the predicament and lifestyle of most of the slaves. Equiano has done well to bring out his life’s ordeal in a manner that makes all readers of this autobiography believe that the slaves faced a difficult lifestyles and subjects of their masters in all ways.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetorical Analysis of Equiano, Olaudah The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is the challenges and hardships that Equiano went through in the hands of his slave masters that prompted him to share the ordeals of his life with his readers. With the audience targeted mainly being the American and British masters, Equiano has established ethos in this narrative by the use of several strategies which include, quotations or citations, contrast, comparison, exemplification, narration, process analysis, cause and effect analysis, and argumentation. In order to capture the attention of his audience towards the subject matter, Equiano has used intriguing narrations which outline his experiences as a slave bought from Africa. This can be seen in the introduction when he brings of vivid accounts of the African lifestyle and the cause of the black skin seen amongst the Africans. In this account, Equiano narrates about the customs, food, religious practices, and clothing of the Nigerian Africans before the beginning of slave period. This account of narration at the beginning of volume 1 of his autobiography is sign ificant since it gives the readers an opportunity to understand the lifestyles of the Africans before the slave trade. The readers automatically are made to know that the author is trying to convince them that the Africans had peaceful lives before the invasion of the slave masters from Europe and America. Equiano is making passing a bold message to the readers at this point that both American and European slave owners infringed into the human rights to the Africans by distorting their productive lifestyles. This is significant since it gives the readers a basis of judgment of author’s work making them be attentive to the use of evidence and other materials to prove his point. In order to win the trust of the readers fully, Equiano has used extensive descriptions to the African culture of the Nigerians. Contrast is another device that Equiano has used to enhance credibility and effectiveness of his autobiography. It is important to note that the author has used contrast exten sively throughout the article. Comparison has mainly been used to show the differences that exist between the Africans and the Jews as well as the brutality of slavery in the beginning of volume 1 of the narration.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This can be seen as Equiano states that â€Å"Let the polished and haughty European recollect that his ancestors were once, like the Africans, uncivilized, and even barbarous. Did Nature make them inferior to their sons? And should they too have been made slaves? Every rational mind answers, No, (Equiano 43). This comparison is significant in terms of helping the readers to understand the credibility of the African customs as well as the brutality that the slavery brought to Africans. As a matter of fact, Equiano’s intention and this point of the narration is to negate the intentions of the European and American slave owners. In addition, the author is making a statement of equality within the mankind species. Equiano is alerting the readers that all human beings were once primitive and had uncivilized culture and so none should discriminate against another. Process Analysis is another very useful device that Equiano has used in the autobiography. The author has engaged into instances of explaining various stages that characterized his life. Equiano has vividly staged his life’s process in categories to indicate how he maneuvered his ways to freedom. This is shown when he describes the process of his capture and being bought as a slave by Henry Pascal who was his first master. He also describes the process of his education, learning of Christianity and experiences with Europeans during the time he worked for his first owner. This is demonstrated when he says that I ceased to feel those apprehensions and alarms which had taken such strong possession of me when I first came among the E uropeans, (Equiano 111). The author goes ahead to give a description of how he was betrayed by his first master by being sold out to another master- James Doran and his complains about the situation. This is demonstrated when he says that could not sell me to him, nor to anyone else.  .  . I have served him.  .  Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ many years, and he has taken all my wages and prize-money.  .  . I have been baptized; and by the laws of the land no man has a right to sell me, (Equiano 176-177). Equiano has used this device to win over the trust of his readers and improve the effectiveness of this autobiography. Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. London: Modern Library Pbk, 2004. Print.

Research paper in Information technology articals Essay

Research paper in Information technology articals - Essay Example nder research reports about the new version of Microsoft’s sleek and strong server operating system which is enhanced in options by virtualization, networking and security. This is a product which the IT sector cannot resist to use and seems to have a competitive edge over the Linux. The new version of operating system overrides the complaint about Microsoft Window Server resource foot print in terms of memory, CPU and disk space in its 2003 version. However, the new version has accommodated more requirements from the perspective of fulfilling physical server. Windows Server 2008 comes with a 64 bit server operating system that is equipped with a smaller average resource footprint than Windows Vista. Windows Server 2008 Datacenter is built to function with speed from the sleek Server Core which is a light weight virtualized guest operating system. Windows Server 2008 is all set to replace the Windows Server 2003 in all IT outlets due to its independent virtual servers that is efficient in both features and footprint over a wide range of choice. Options to use email, database, robust edge services and collaboration are embedded in the form of add-ons. However, these options can be set in the host level by providing the option of virtualized guest allocating applications and services that use the OS components. In short, one set of SQL Server or Exchange Server extends service for other options like never before. The article goes on to explain the viability of combining Window Server 2008 with an eight core, two socket AMD Barcelona reference server that yields impressive results that applaud the hardware architecture of the Windows OS. The article reveals that Windows Server 2008 is constructed for virtualization. All the stock keeping units (SKU’s) till the Datacenter are equipped to meet buffet scalability. A user can find the detailed features of the server with more accuracy than one could view in Windows Server 2003 like feature to run the OS, where to

Compare the ways philosophers, Machiavelli and Hobbes, DESCRIBE OR Essay

Compare the ways philosophers, Machiavelli and Hobbes, DESCRIBE OR JUSTIFY POLITICS-AS-VIOLENCE - Essay Example With freedom man considers politics as his highest responsibility for his society stressing the significance of moral values and standards. With a variety of activities afforded by a new found freedom under shifting historical conditions, man starts behaving in morally questionable and dazzling explosion of human vice. Stressfully, political philosophy has provided answers to these behaviors as an approach to correct erring human behavior. However such means does not effect a certain change in a short period of time. Recognizing the increasing scope, intensity and sophistication of vices and crimes brought about by globalization, politics has approached violence as an aggressive means to attain a certain stature and the fastest solution to achieve political power and agenda that tends specifically recruit others to form a stronger criminal group. Government systems have learned to adapt to the controversial theories of Hobbes and Machiavelli who propagate violence to justify the swif t solutions to the critical problems faced by a society. Such theories have a purposeful goal to control errant behavior; however veiled attempts to use such for one’s own political gain and selfish reassurance for maintenance of power would leave the society and the common populace struggling under a stringent dictatorial rule. Both Hobbes and Machiavelli have equated politics seemingly dependent on violence-based solutions to any socio-political situation encountered. Man and society’s struggle for survival, maneuvering for position and fighting over spoils (Lerner, 1950:11) has produced certain livid situations that call for the action of the one in power. In Machiavelli’s The Prince, proposes that stability was paramount and the government or ruler could achieve such balance should be tyrannical. Intensely singing praises to a character of power is depicted to his well-emphasized Prince. Machiavelli astoundingly adhered

Green Acres Seed Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Green Acres Seed Company - Assignment Example Being advanced in technology, Green Acres Seed Company has to provide awareness to the farmers so that their seeds can be known by many. Through marketing of Green Acres seed using the modern technology of marketing, the company retargets those who visit the website thus keeping the products top of their mind. The company uses test messaging to convince the farmers about the seed company explaining the different varieties of seeds available with their prices. Green Acres Company like other companies has market segmentation for instance the company adopted performance segment which shows the characteristics of the farmers who are concerned with how corn seeds yields in the farm. Potential performance segment consist of farmers who have favorable attitudes towards the company and they do rely on the information given by the company. Dual purpose segment are those farmers who grow both grain and silage and they use both varieties and the last segment is price segment which consists of t hose farmers who purchase low priced varieties for silage and grain corn. Green Acres do target the four segments in the market so that competition can be reduced. Green Acres Seed Company has different prices. For example, seed corn price ranges at $90 per unit from $75 per unit to $125 per unit. The prices keeps on changing from better performing varieties to poorer performing or discounted varieties.            One of the recommendations that I would like the company to take into considerations is to make sure that advertising of the company is done appropriately due to competition. For example the Pioneer company which made a sales of $80 million per year (Thomas, 1997). Other competitive companies are Novartis and Dekahlb which had more than 13 percent compared with Green Acres which had 11 percent. Due to the sales of Green Acres Company being low year after year, I recommended that the company spends more on adverting to make sure that the company expands its share of the market for silage corn seed. If Green Acres will advertise corn seed, then it will benefit from market share that will be high. Another recommendation that I would like to be considered is to make sure that more outlets are available in different regions especially in the developing countries.

Problem of Rising Higher Education Costs

Problem of Rising Higher Education Costs Today, the problem of rising costs of higher education evokes heat debate among the public and policy-makers. In actuality, the high costs of higher education become an unsurpassable barrier for many students living in poverty-stricken neighborhoods and belonging to low-income families. In this respect, specialists (Breneman Finney, 1997) argue that students should have an opportunity to carry on their education in college depending on their academic skills and potential rather than on their financial position, social status, or other factors, such as cultural background or race. First of all, specialists argue that the public funding is ineffective (Cabrera, Norn, Castaneda, 1992). The state and federal funds are used ineffectively, whereas the quality of the public education remains extremely low, especially compared to private education. As a result students graduating from public schools have fewer opportunities to enter and succeed in college compared to students graduating from private schools. Furthermore, costs of higher education are unaffordable for many students (Heller, 1997). Today, costs of college education keep growing and students cannot afford paying for their college education, whereas educating children becomes an unaffordable burden for many families. As a result social gaps widens that leads to the exclusion of students from low-income families belonging to lower classes from the college education (McDonough, 1997). In fact, the costs of college education becomes the barrier preventing students from low-income families from entering. In addition, many specialists argue that racial gaps also widen depriving minority students of the possibility to obtain the college education (Freeman, 1997). In this regard, African Americans and other minority students are in a disadvantageous position. In spite of existing programs for minority students as well as for low-income students, they are ineffective and social and racial gaps persist. In this regard, the high costs of tuition is one of the major factors that put students in an unequal position and prevent them from equal access to college education (Kaltenbaugh, John, Starkey, 1999). In such a way, many students need the assistance from the part of the state and federal agencies to afford college education. Finally, cultural differences also affect the availability of college education along with the high costs of college education (McDonough, 1998). Some students are not prepared to pay high costs for college education, even if they can afford it, because of their cultural traditions. However, cultural differences are probably the least significant compared to the high costs of college education and tuition. In addition, the high costs of living increase the costs of college education. In such a situation, a considerable part of students from low-income families is just left aside of college education. Proposal for Position Obviously, the lack of access to college education for students from low-income families and from minorities is dangerous for the further development of the US society. Widening gaps between students and the lack of access to college education will lead to social and racial conflicts in the US society. In such a situation, the government should develop effective state and federal aid programs which can provide all students with equal opportunities to access the college education and to obtain their higher education to realize their full potential. On the other hand, the main problem is the effective use of public funds. In this respect, the community control can be an effective measure that provides students in need with better opportunities to obtain college education. In fact, local community members know better than state or federal authorities which students need aid and local communities should have an opportunity to use public funds to aid students in need. Therefore, public fu nds should be redistributed at the local level to provide students in need with essential financial aid to continue their education and to enter colleges. Jessica Willbanks Annotated Bibliography Professor Grower English 112 20 March 2011 Breneman, D., Finney, J. (1997). The changing landscape: Higher education finance in the 1990s. In P. M. Callan J. E. Finney (Eds.), Public and private financing of higher education. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press. The authors focus on funding of the higher education. The authors distinguish private and public sources of funding stressing that the public funding is not always effective and deprives many students of the possibility to obtain higher education. Cabrera, A. F. (1994). Logistic regression analysis in higher education: An applied perspective. In J. C. Smart (Ed.), Higher education: Handbook of theory and research, 10, New York: Agathon. The author explores the development of the higher education and its future prospects. The author arrives to the conclusion that education will shift to higher costs and wider use of information technologies. Cabrera, A. F., Norn, A., Castaneda, M. B. (1992). The role of finances in the persistence process: A structural model. Research in Higher Education, 33, 57 1-593. The authors reveal existing models of funding of college education, uncovering persisting gaps between low-income students and students from upper-classes. The existing structure of the college education and its funding is ineffective and widens gaps between students. Cabrera, A. F., Nora, A., Castaneda, M. B. (1993). College persistence: Structural equations modeling test of an integrated model of student retention. Journal of Higher Education, 64, 123-139. The authors attempt to elaborate an efficient model of the assessment of effectiveness of funding college education and costs of college education. Freeman, K. (1997). Increasing African Americans participation in higher education. Journal of Higher Education, 68, 523-550. The author focuses on the problem of the lack of access of African American students to college education. The author defines ways which can increase the share of African American students in college education and open college education for minorities. Grubb, W. N. (1996). Working in the middle. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. The author discusses the development of the modern higher education and education system at large. The author identifies numerous problems, among which high costs of higher education are among the most serious problems that put students in unequal position. Heller, D. E. (1997). Student price response in higher education: An update to Leslie and Brinkman. Journal of Higher Education, 68, 624-659. The author draws the audiences attention to growing costs of higher education and forecasts that costs of college education will grow even more. In addition, the author discusses negative effects of high costs of college education. Hossler, D., Schmitt, J. (1995). The Indiana postsecondary-encouragement experiment. In E. P. St. John (Ed.), Rethinking tuition and student aid strategies. New Directions in Higher Education, 89, 27-39, San Francisco: Jossey Bass, The authors explore efforts of the Indiana authorities to encourage college education. They evaluate critically state aid to needy students and suggest using Indiana experience in other states. Kaltenbaugh, L. S., St. John, E. P., Starkey, J. B. (1999). What difference does tuition make? An analysis of ethnic differences in persistence. Journal of Student Financial Aid, 29 (2), 21-31. The authors of the article raise the problem of high costs of tuition, which becomes an unsurpassable barrier for many students on their way to college education. McDonough, P. M. (1997). Choosing colleges: How social class and schools structure opportunity. Albany: SUNY Press. The author explores the problem of the impact of social class of students on their education opportunities. The author stresses that students from low-income families have little opportunities to obtain higher education. McDonough, P. M. (1998). Structuring college opportunities: A cross-case analysis or organizational cultures, climates, and habiti. In C. A. Torres T. R. Mitchell (Eds.), Sociology of education: Emerging perspectives, 181-210, Albany: SUNY Press. The author studies the impact of the cultural background on students performance in college revealing differences between different cultural groups. Paulsen, M.B. P. J. Edward. (2002). Social Class and College Costs: Examining the Financial Nexus between College Choice and Persistence. Journal of Higher Education, 73(2), 189-197. The authors reveal the wide gap between students belonging to different social classes. The authors argue that social class is an important factor preventing students from or admitting to higher education.

The Effect of Family Violence on Youth Violence :: Expository Cause Effect Essays

The Effect of Family Violence on Youth Violence    Everyday, a child witnesses an act of violence. Not on television but in their own home. "Family and home are not havens in which a child finds nurturing and safety, but rather a battleground where fear, anxiety, confusion, anger, and disruption are significant threads in the tapestry of home life," Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. Children of family violence are often abusers or victims of abuse themselves. Family violence is a cycle that is very hard to stop. A home is supposed to be a safe place where children learn how to love and relate to others. If they are constantly seeing violence in their parent's relationship, then they assume that a normal relationship is also filled with violence. Often, children do not understand why the violence occurs and may be afraid to share their emotions because of fear. They may associate love and pain together, because this is witnessed in their home. This could lead to psychological problems and confusion about relationshi ps. Children who witness family violence tend to have behavioral, interpersonal, and emotional problems. Some of the behavioral problems children of family violence suffer from are aggression, withdrawal, and frustration. Children of family violence are often more violent than other children (Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing). Some stress management techniques that children learn are bursts of anger. Violence is learned as an efficient way to solve problems. They often model their parent's conflict resolution techniques. These children are often withdrawn and internalize their emotions. Most of these children are isolated from their peers. Frequent change of residence could be a cause of children's isolation from peers (Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing). Children of family violence are often frustrated because they can not deal with their problems. Often, their education is disrupted by family violence and they start having problems concentrating at school and with truancy. Most are underachievers as a result of low self-esteem which leads to low pa rticipation in class or other school activities (Children's Services Plan). Children of family violence also have many interpersonal problems. They usually assume the victim role. Weak and unhealthy relationships are frequent in adults that grew up in violent homes. Children of family violence have trouble forming intimate relationships and have problems understanding others emotions. (Berry 105). "Each year, millions of children witness their mothers being emotionally abused, physically battered, even sexually assaulted by their fathers or other men in the home" (Berry 104). The Effect of Family Violence on Youth Violence :: Expository Cause Effect Essays The Effect of Family Violence on Youth Violence    Everyday, a child witnesses an act of violence. Not on television but in their own home. "Family and home are not havens in which a child finds nurturing and safety, but rather a battleground where fear, anxiety, confusion, anger, and disruption are significant threads in the tapestry of home life," Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. Children of family violence are often abusers or victims of abuse themselves. Family violence is a cycle that is very hard to stop. A home is supposed to be a safe place where children learn how to love and relate to others. If they are constantly seeing violence in their parent's relationship, then they assume that a normal relationship is also filled with violence. Often, children do not understand why the violence occurs and may be afraid to share their emotions because of fear. They may associate love and pain together, because this is witnessed in their home. This could lead to psychological problems and confusion about relationshi ps. Children who witness family violence tend to have behavioral, interpersonal, and emotional problems. Some of the behavioral problems children of family violence suffer from are aggression, withdrawal, and frustration. Children of family violence are often more violent than other children (Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing). Some stress management techniques that children learn are bursts of anger. Violence is learned as an efficient way to solve problems. They often model their parent's conflict resolution techniques. These children are often withdrawn and internalize their emotions. Most of these children are isolated from their peers. Frequent change of residence could be a cause of children's isolation from peers (Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing). Children of family violence are often frustrated because they can not deal with their problems. Often, their education is disrupted by family violence and they start having problems concentrating at school and with truancy. Most are underachievers as a result of low self-esteem which leads to low pa rticipation in class or other school activities (Children's Services Plan). Children of family violence also have many interpersonal problems. They usually assume the victim role. Weak and unhealthy relationships are frequent in adults that grew up in violent homes. Children of family violence have trouble forming intimate relationships and have problems understanding others emotions. (Berry 105). "Each year, millions of children witness their mothers being emotionally abused, physically battered, even sexually assaulted by their fathers or other men in the home" (Berry 104).

Explanation and Context Review Communication

University of Phoenix Material Communication Theories and Context Review Communication can be understood by examining the context in which communication takes place and by reviewing some of the theories that govern how communication works within each context. Part A – Communication Contexts Directions: Define each communication context. A. Intrapersonal: Face-to-face communication between people B. Interpersonal: Communication with oneself C. Group: Communication with a group of people D. Organizational: Communication within and among large, extended environments E. Public: Communication to a large group of listeners F.Mass: Communication to a very large audience through mediated forms G. Intercultural: Communication between and among members of different cultural backgrounds Part B – Communication Contexts and Their Related Theories Directions: Place the appropriate letter of each context above next to its related theory. Then write a brief explanation of each theory. Theories 1. _A__ Cognitive Dissonance – Explains the tendency for individuals to seek consistency among their cognitions, such as beliefs and opinions. When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors (dissonance), something must change to eliminate the dissonance.In the case of a discrepancy between attitudes and behavior, it is most likely that the attitude will change to accommodate the behavior. 2. _G___ Face-Negotiation Theory – Explains how different cultures manage conflict and communication. The theory explains that the root of conflict is based on identity management on individual and cultural levels. 3. __B__ Groupthink – Explains how individuals may withhold their opposing opinions to promote cohesiveness. Individuals may also withhold their opposing opinions because they fear rejection by the group. 4. _B__ Communication Privacy Management – Explains the process that people use to manage the relationship between concealing and rev ealing private information 5. __D__ Organizational Information Theory – Explains how organizations make sense of the information that is essential for their existence 6. __F__ Spiral of Silence – Explains why people tend to remain silent when they think their views are in the minority 7. __E__ Rhetoric/Dramatism/Narrative Paradigm – Explains that people are essentially storytellers who make decisions on the basis of good reasons. History, biography, culture, and character determine what we consider good reasons.

Venomous Sea Snake Facts (Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae)

Venomous Sea Snake Facts (Hydrophiinae and Laticaudinae) Sea snakes include 60 species of marine snakes from the cobra family (Elapidae). These reptiles fall into two groups: true sea snakes (subfamily Hydrophiinae) and sea kraits (subfamily Laticaudinae). The true sea snakes are most closely related to Australian cobras, while kraits are related to Asian cobras. Like their terrestrial relatives, sea snakes are highly venomous. Unlike terrestrial cobras, most sea snakes are not aggressive (with exceptions), have small fangs, and avoid delivering venom when they bite. While similar to cobras in many respects, sea snakes are fascinating, unique creatures, perfectly adapted to life in the sea. Fast Facts: Venomous Sea Snake Scientific Name: Subfamilies Hydrophiinae and LaticaudinaeCommon Names: Sea snake, coral reef snakeBasic Animal Group: ReptileSize: 3-5 feetWeight: 1.7-2.9 poundsLifespan: Estimated 10 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Coastal Indian and Pacific OceanPopulation: UnknownConservation Status: Most species are Least Concern Description Yellow-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis platurus), illustrating the body shape of a true sea snake. Nastasic / Getty Images Aside from analyzing its DNA, the best way to identify a sea snake is by its tail. The two types of sea snakes have very different appearances because they have evolved to live different aquatic lives. The true sea snakes have flattened, ribbon-like bodies, with oarlike tails. Their nostrils are on top of their snouts, making it easier for them to breathe when they surface. They have small body scales and may lack belly scales entirely. True sea snake adults range from 1 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 5 feet) in length, although a length of 3 meters is possible. These snakes crawl awkwardly on land and may become aggressive, although they cannot coil to strike. You can find both true sea snakes and kraits in the sea, but only sea kraits crawl efficiently on land. A sea krait has a flattened tail, but it has a cylindrical body, lateral nostrils, and enlarged belly scales like a terrestrial snake. A typical krait color pattern is black alternating with bands of white, blue, or gray. Sea kraits are somewhat shorter than true sea snakes. An average adult krait is about 1 meter in length, although some specimens reach 1.5 meters. Habitat and Distribution Sea snakes are found throughout the coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. They do not occur in the Red Sea, Atlantic Ocean, or Caribbean Sea. Most sea snakes live in shallow water less than 30 meters (100 feet) deep because they need to surface to breathe, yet must seek their prey near the sea floor. However, the yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus) may be found in the open ocean. The so-called California sea snake is Pelamis platurus. Pelamis, like other sea snakes, cannot live in cool water. Below a certain temperature, the snake is unable to digest food. Snakes may be found washed up on shores in the temperature zone, typically driven by storms. However, they call the tropics and subtropics their home.   The so-called California sea snake is actually the yellow-bellied sea snake. Auscape / UIG / Getty Images Diet and Behavior The true sea snakes are predators that eat small fish, fish eggs, and young octopuses. True sea snakes may be active during the day or at night. Sea kraits are nocturnal feeders that prefer to feed on eels, supplementing their diet with crabs, squid, and fish. While they have not been observed feeding on land, kraits return to it to digest prey. Some sea snakes host the sea snake barnacle (Platylepas ophiophila), which hitches a ride to catch food. Sea snakes (kraits) may also host parasitic ticks. Sea snakes are preyed upon by eels, sharks, large fish, sea eagles, and crocodiles. Should you find yourself stranded at sea, you can eat sea snakes (just avoid getting bitten). You can tell this is a krait because it has nostrils on either side of its snout. Todd Winner/Stocktrek Images / Getty Images Like other snakes, sea snakes need to breathe air. While kraits surface for air regularly, true sea snakes can remain submerged for around 8 hours. These snakes can breathe through their skin, absorbing up to 33 percent of needed oxygen and expelling up to 90 percent of waste carbon dioxide. The left lung of a true sea snake is enlarged, running much of its body length. The lung affects the animals buoyancy and buys it time underwater. The nostrils of a true sea snake close when the animal is underwater. While they live in the oceans, sea snakes cannot extract fresh water from the saline sea. Kraits may drink water from land or the sea surface. True sea snakes must wait for rain so they may drink the relatively fresh water floating on the seas surface. Sea snakes can die of thirst. Reproduction and Offspring Olive sea snake two days old, Reef HQ Aquarium, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Auscape / UIG / Getty Images The true sea snakes may be oviparous (lay eggs) or ovoviviparous (live birth from fertilized eggs held within the females body). The mating behavior of the reptiles is unknown, but it may be linked to the occasional schooling of large numbers of snakes. The average clutch size is 3 to 4 young, but as many as 34 young may be born. Snakes born in the water may be nearly as large as adults. The genus Laticauda is the only oviparous group of true sea snakes. These snakes lay their eggs on land. All sea kraits mate on land and lay their eggs (oviparous) in rock crevices and caves on shore. A female krait may deposit from 1 to 10 eggs before returning to the water. Sea Snake Senses Olive sea snake, Hydrophiidae, Pacific ocean, Papua New Guinea. Reinhard Dirscherl / Getty Images Like other snakes, sea snakes flick their tongues to gain chemical and thermal information about their environment. Sea snake tongues are shorter than those of regular snakes because its easier to taste molecules in water than in air. Sea snakes ingest salt with prey, so the animal has special sublingual glands under its tongue that allow it to remove excess salt from its blood and expel it with a tongue flick. Scientists dont know much about sea snake vision, but it appears to play a limited role in catching prey and selecting mates. Sea snakes have special mechanoreceptors that help them sense vibration and movement. Some snakes respond to pheromones to identify mates. At least one sea snake, the olive sea snake (Aipysurus laevis), has photoreceptors in its tail that allow it to sense light. Sea snakes may be able to detect electromagnetic fields and pressure, but the cells responsible for these senses have yet to be identified. Sea Snake Venom Sea snakes bear close observation, but may bite if threatened. Joe Dovala / Getty Images Most sea snakes are highly venomous. Some are even more venomous than cobras! The venom is a deadly mixture of neurotoxins and myotoxins. However, humans rarely get bitten, and when they do, the snakes rarely deliver venom. Even when envenomation (venom injection) does occur, the bite may be painless and initially produce no symptoms. Its common for some of the snakes small teeth to remain in the wound. Symptoms of sea snake poisoning occur within 30 minutes to several hours. They include headache, stiffness, and muscle pain throughout the body. Thirst, sweating, vomiting, and a thick-feeling tongue may result. Rhadomyolisis (muscle degradation) and paralysis ensue. Death occurs if the muscles involved in swallowing and respiration are affected. Because bites are so rare, antivenin is next to impossible to obtain. In Australia, a specific sea snake antivenin exists, plus the antivenin for the Ausatralian tiger snake may be used as a substitute. Elsewhere, youre pretty much out of luck. The snakes are not aggressive unless they or their nest are threatened, but its best to leave them alone. The same caution should be applied to snakes washed up on beaches. Snakes may play dead as a defense mechanism. Even a dead or decapitated snake may bite via reflex. Conservation Status Habitat destruction and over-fishing are threats to sea snake survival. Hal Beral / Getty Images Sea snakes, as a whole, are not endangered. However, there are some species on the IUCN Red List. Laticauda crockeri is vulnerable, Aipysurus fuscus is endangered, and Aipysurus foliosquama (leaf-scaled sea snake) and Aipysurus apraefrontalis (short-nose sea snake) are critically endangered. Sea snakes are difficult to keep in captivity, due to their specialized diets and habitat requirements. They need to be housed in rounded tanks to avoid damaging themselves on corners. Some need to be able to exit the water. Pelamis platurus accepts goldfish as food and can survive captivity. Animals That Resemble Sea Snakes Garden eels look a bit like snakes. Mark Newman / Getty Images There are several animals that resemble sea snakes. Some are relatively harmless, while others are venomous and more aggressive than their aquatic cousins. Eels are often mistaken for sea snakes because they live in the water,  have a serpentine appearance, and breathe air. Some species of eels can give a nasty bite. A few are poisonous. Some species can deliver an electric shock. The sea snakes cousin is the cobra. Cobras are excellent swimmers that can deliver a deadly bite. While they are most often found swimming in freshwater, they are at ease in coastal saltwater, too. Other snakes, both on land and water, may be confused with sea snakes. While the true sea snakes may be recognized by their flattened bodies and oar-shaped tails, the only visible trait distinguishing sea kraits from other snakes is a somewhat flattened tail. Sources Coborn, John.  The Atlas of Snakes of the World. New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications, inc. 1991.Cogger, Hal.  Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sydney, NSW: Reed New Holland. p.  722, 2000.Motani, Ryosuke. The Evolution of Marine Reptiles.  Evo Edu Outreach.  2: 224–235, May, 2009.Mehrtens J M. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp., 1987

Paralinguistic Cues in Computer

Paralinguistic Cues in Computer Abstract Computer based communication is an integral communication modality within the social, educational and professional environments. However, when using text-based CMC, it is common for people to form prejudice impressions about the personality traits of another individual.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Paralinguistic Cues in Computer-Mediated Communications in Personality Traits specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This experiment investigated the effect of the presence or absence of paralinguistic cues in computer-mediated communications on personality traits. The findings suggest that the impressions formed about a personality trait of an individual rely on the presence or absence of paralinguistic cues during interaction. Introduction Computer based communication has become more popular and vary greatly with the ways in which individuals communicate within social, educational and professional environments. Th e differences not only lie in the surrounding environment, but also in the method of communication (Storms, Grottum Lycke, 2007). Communication entails both verbal and non-verbal aspects. While verbal communication involves exchange of words between individuals, non-verbal communication takes in different forms (Walther, Deandrea Tong, 2010). Computer-mediated communications (CMC) refers to the communicative transaction involving the use of computers and communicative networks. The scope of computer mediated communications cuts across sociopsychological elements, particularly the topic on online interactions and their relations to everyday life, and to the application of paralinguistic aspects like emoticons (Storms, Grottum Lycke, 2007).Advertising Looking for report on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Paralinguistic cues play a significant role in human speech communication. A lot of studies have been carried out in attempts to elucidate how the use of paralinguistic features such as body language, facial expression and posture affect the level of communication (Amant, 2007). It is common for human beings to form prejudices about others even before speaking to them when socializing on a face-to-face basis. These preconceptions are often based on paralinguistic cues like gestures and appearance (Epley Kruger, 2005). However, in the computer-mediated communications, these impressions would only be formed based on text message interactions. According to DeLamater and Myers (2007), the accuracy of communication is greatly enhanced by the use of multiple cues, as opposed to a single communication channel. Computer-mediated communication features such as lack of social context cues often make this form of communication less personal (Holland, 2008). There is need to gain more insight on how the presence or absence of paralinguistic cues affects the expectations or preconceptions that people form of each other in CMC interactions. Various theories have been proposed in attempts to explain the role of paralinguistic cues in influence the stereotypes and expectancies over computer-mediated communication. Some of these theories include the social context cues theory and the social information processing theory.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Paralinguistic Cues in Computer-Mediated Communications in Personality Traits specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The social context cues theory proposes that the absence of paralinguistic cues in CMC makes it highly ambiguous (Epley Kruger, 2005). As a result, people depend on their personal stereotypes to make preconceptions about the other person’s character. CMC, thus, allows the persistence of expectancies or stereotypes due to the absence of paralinguistic cues ordinarily the question then (Holland, 2008). A highly standardized experiment was perfor med by Epley and Kruger (2005) to investigate impressions on different communication channels and the resultant stereotypes and expectancies. The researchers performed three experiments, whereby they moderated the participant’s anticipations regarding the interviewee. The interviews were done either on phone or e-mail. Phone communication was found to confer features reminiscent of face-to-face interaction, even though the conversations relied on simple, preset questions and rapid responses. In contrast, communication through e-mail conferred no actual interactions between the parties, though the answers the interviewees gave were similar to those from phone communication. The results indicated that the preformed notions about the interviewee persisted more over e-mail than over the phone (Epley Kruger, 2005). Conversely, the social information processing theory suggests that potential deficiencies of CMC are indemnified by the use of text based non-verbal cues like ‘L aughing Out Loud’ (LOL) and ‘mhhh’. The usage of emoticons in CMC provides an emotional setting to users (Walther D’Addario, 2001).Advertising Looking for report on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More CMC users can, thus, express socios of the responses from a target were â€Å"DEFINITELY at the beach. †¦..: D, LOL†¦..sure thing:), yep. Just be warned†¦dun dunduuuuuun! Extraversion ratings were on a scale of 1-7, depending on the responses of the participants. The responses to the questions had seven options to choose from. To measure the personality, the extraversion scale was utilized whereby individuals with introvert personality would have a score of 20 to 80 while those having an extrovert personality would have a score range of between 80 and 140. Procedure The sample was divided into three groups A, B, and C who observed a CMC interaction. Group A was the paralinguistic cues group with 120 men and 342 women (M=20.7 years, SD=5.3). Group B was the plain text group with 125 men and 308 women (M=21.2 years, SD=5.4). Group C was the control group with 131 men and 329 women (M=20.9 years, SD=5.1). The total sample had 1355 participants (M=20.9, SD=5.23). Conveni ence sampling was adopted as this study was part of the course requirement. Initially, the participants were naà ¯ve regarding the true nature of the study. However, they were debriefed and instructed online as to the intent and procedure. The participants were directed to observe a past CMC activity. A profile stimulating the expectation in participants that the target individual was introverted was designed. Participants looked at this profile, and then observed the target individual communicating with an uncontrolled third party. Participants were then divided into two groups. One group looked at the basic text interaction while the other looked at a realistic paralinguistic communication with many cues hinting that the target was an extrovert. The text used for the interactions was made from a real paralinguistic interaction from which all cues were removed to produce a basic text interaction. Therefore, the conversations had identical contents apart from the paralinguistic int roduced. The major aim was to establish if paralinguistic information in CMC provided enough evidence to clear the preformed ideas that the target was an introvert. Design The study used an independent measure design. There were two levels of independent variable conditions used. These were the group with the basic text interaction and the group with the paralinguistic interaction. The dependent variable was the extroversion rating. Results The participants were asked questions, which they were to respond to from the given options such as strongly disagree, disagree, somewhat disagree, neither agree nor disagree, somewhat agree, agree, and strongly agree. From the 20 questions posed to the participants, responses were measured on an extraversion scale of 1-7, with the highest possible personality score being 140 and the lowest being 20. The higher the score, the more the extraverted rating an individual was given. It was predicted that presence or absence of paralinguistic cues woul d not influence the extroversion ratings when considering the social cues theory. In relation to the social information processing theory, it was also predicted that the presence or absence of paralinguistic cues would influence extroversion ratings. Group A, which had participants observing a CMC interaction for paralinguistic cues, rated the targets as extrovert (M=91.74, SD=37.42) while group B, with participants observing plain text interaction, rated the targets as introvert (M=79.84, SD=29.08). Group C, which was the control, indicated that the targets were introverts (M=72.16, SD=29.08). Discussion The results indicate that the presence of paralinguistic cues in computer-mediated communication can influence the impressions formed about the personality traits of an individual. In group A, the participants rated the target as highly extrovert in spite of the fact that the targets were presented as introverts. The findings further advance the social information processing theory which emphasizes more on the style of communication as an important aspect of impression formation. Use of non-verbal, text based cues such as emoticons, ellipses and hyphens can help in deciphering the personality trait of a person in a CMC interaction (Hancock Dunham, 2001; Walther, Deandrea Tong, 2010). In group B, most participants used their preformed concepts to rate the target as being introvert. This is because plain texts may often undermine the impressions about the personality traits as a result of the inadequate information it relays. These results, therefore, support the social cues theory proposition that absence of social cues in a computer-mediated communication environment increases ambiguity, hence people use their stereotypes to form preconceptions about personality traits. The findings are in agreement with the arguments by Epley and Krugler (2005) that absence of nonverbal cues hinders people from discerning another person’s characters. Conclusion The data from group C, the control, rated the targets as introverts. Given that this data falls between the data for groups A and B, then group C suggests that the profile was successful in measuring the objectives of the study. It can, therefore, be concluded that the presence or absence of paralinguistic cues in computer-mediated communication can influence the impressions about the personality traits of a person. The impressions formed depend on the communication style. References Amant, K. (2007). Linguistic and cultural online communication issues in the global age. Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. DeLamater, J. D., Myers, D. J. (2007). Social psychology, 6th edn. Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education. Epley, N., Kruger, J. (2005). What you type isn’t what they read: The perseverance of stereotypes and expectancies over email. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 41, 414-422. Hancock, J. T., Dunham, P. J. (2001). Impression formation in computer-mediated c ommunication revisited: An analysis of the breadth and intensity of impressions. Communication Research, 28, 325-347. Holland, S. (2008). Remote relationships in a small world. New York, NY: Peter Lang. Storms, H. I., Grottum, P. P., Lycke, K. H. (2007). Content and processes in problem-based learning: A comparison of computer-mediated and face-to-face communication. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 23(3), 271-282. Walther, J. B., D’Addario, K. P. (2001). The impacts of emoticons on message interpretation in computer-mediated communication. Social Science Computer Review, 19, 324-347. Walther, J. B., Deandrea, D. C., Tong, S. T. (2010). Computer-mediated communication versus vocal communication and the attenuation of pre-interaction impressions. Media Psychology, 13, 364-386.

Beer in France Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Beer in France - Essay Example Denmark leads the continent with the highest number of alcohol users at 93% followed by Sweden and Netherlands at 90 and 88% respectively. On the other hand, the alcohol consumers were in Portugal at 58% with Italy and Hungary at 60% and 64% respectively, a trend that has remained intact since 2006 (Conibear, 32). Therefore, as the statistics above indicate, France is a moderate alcohol consumer, making it necessary for any marketers to understand beer or alcohol consumption trends in the country before implementing any marketing strategy. France portrays interesting dynamics with regard to beer and alcohol consumption at large. According to Conibear (34), there has been a drastic culture change in France, Italy and Spain about beer and alcohol consumption since the 1980s. Reports on beer consumption in France indicate an interesting trend with the average number of beer consumers decreasing significantly since the 1990s. For instance, Conibear (35) reports of a decline in the number of alcohol consumers above 15 years since the 1980s. The French beer consumption per capita in 1980 was 20, declining to 15.4 in 1990 and 14 by the year 2000 (Conibear 34). Age too is an influential factor with regard to beer intake across France. While 68% of persons above 50 years preferred wine, 29% of consumers between 14 and 29 years preferred beer, while port had more preference among women consumers (Conibear, 35). France is an average beer producer in Europe compared to other European countries. According to a beer statistics report, France produced 14,731,000 hectoliters of beer in 2009, 16,290,000 hectoliters and 15,910,000 hectoliters of beer in 2010 and 2011 respectively (Brewers of Europe, 4). The above figures indicate an average level production compared to Germany, which had over 95,000,000 hectoliters of beer in the three consecutive years. These data affirm that

Marketing Channels and Logistics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Channels and Logistics - Case Study Example Apart from being technologically uperior to the exiting American car in the egment and on par with the Japanee verion, it wa deigned to offer the amenitie and tyling of an expenive car at a lower price. The built-in value propoition would be value a perceived by it buyer. The timing of aturn' launch alo gave it a fillip, a the economy wa coming out of a receion, when 'value' wa conidered to be everything by the American conumer and the need for an all-American car to be pitted againt foreign make, epecially the Japanee wa widely felt. (Barabba, 2004, 55-109) aturn laid the mot tre on cutomer atifaction. They focued on the cutomer a an individual and their relationhip with their car. The retailer were aked to let the cutomer pend time alone with their car. They made ure that their franchiee were excluive aturn dealer and the howroom were built to pecification provided by the company. Thi enabled the cutomer enjoy the "experience" of buying a car and trike an immediate rapport with the dealer. Their pot-ale ervice experience wa alo a key factor. They developed a feeling of "family" between owner, dealer, and the company. (Barabba, 2004, 55-109) ince the early 1980', General Motor' ale hare in the U.. ... A part of their partnerhip approach GM drew the entire company together - management, worker, dealer and union- and created a 'college' tyle, flat working environment forming the Group of 99 which wa reponible for developing the manufacturing proce and the product of the aturn Corporation. Thi approach gave the labor union a better ay at aturn than they had previouly at General Motor. Thi tructure, rather the lack of it helped build a unique brand identity becaue all the key player became engineer of the brand and thi involvement and enthuiam wa tranferred to the cutomer. (Barabba, 2004, 55-109) The GM Company made ue of the new partnerhip agreement to reet union guideline and reduce the price of the final product, a the additional labor cot were not tranferred to the conumer a with the old guideline. The aturn worker' profit haring wa tied to performance of the aturn Company only. Thi increaed the ownerhip and ene of belonging greatly. Initially GM ued an organizational tructure with independent department. Each department worked independently and toed the idea 'over the wall' to the next department. Thi lowed down the entire proce and extended the time needed to develop new product. tringent time contraint for aturn meant that uch a tructure would be diatrou. (Barabba, 2004, 55-109) To over come thi, concurrent engineering wa ued in the development of aturn. Thi involved multifunctional team which meant there wa greater undertanding of the problem and alo problem olving wa fater. A upply chain i a network of facilitie and ditribution option that perform the function of procurement of material, tranformation of thee material into intermediate and finihed product, and the ditribution of thee finihed product to cutomer. upply chain exit