Structural-Functionalism and Conflict Theory

Theories in sociology provide us with different perspectives with which to view our social world. A perspective is simply a way of looking at the world. A theory is a set of interrelated propositions or principles designed to answer a question or explain a particular phenomenon; it provides us with a perspective. Sociological theories help us to explain and predict the social world in which we live. Sociology includes three major theoretical perspectives: the structural-functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionist perspective. Each perspective offers a variety of explanations about the causes of and possible solutions for social problems (Rubington & Weinberg, 1995). Structural-Functionalist Perspective The structural-functionalist perspective is largely based on the works of Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, and Robert Merton. According to structural-functionalist, society is a system of interconnected parts that work together in harmony to maintain a state of balance and social equilibrium for the whole. For example, each of the social institutions contributes important functions for society: family provides a context for reproducing, nurturing, and socializing children; education offers a way to transmit society's skills, knowledge, and culture to its youth; politics provides a means of governing members of society; economics provides for the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services; and religion provides moral guidance and an outlet for worship of a higher power. The structural-functionalist perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of society by focusing on how each part influences and is influenced by other parts. For example, the increase in single-parent and dual-earner families has contributed to the number of children who are failing in school because parents have become less available to supervise their children's homework. Due to changes in technology, colleges are offering more technical programs, and many adults are returning to school to learn new skills that are required in the workplace. The increasing number of women in the workforce has contributed to the formation of policies against sexual harassment and job discrimination. Consideration In viewing society as a set of interrelated parts, structural-functionalists also note that proposed solutions to a social problem may cause additional social problems. For example, racial imbalance in public schools led to forced integration, which in turn generated violence and increased hostility between the races. The use of plea bargaining was adopted as a means of dealing with overcrowded court dockets but resulted in â€Å"the revolving door of justice. Urban renewal projects often displaced residents and broke up community cohesion. Structural-functionalist use the terms â€Å"functional† and â€Å"dysfunctional† to describe the effects of social elements on society. Elements of society are functional if they contribute to social stability and dysfunctional if they disrupt social stability. Some aspects of society may be both functional and dysfunctional for society. For example, crime is dysfunctional in that it is associated with physical violence, loss of property, and fear. But, according to Durkheim and other functionalists, crime is also functional for society because it leads to heightened awareness of shared moral bonds and increased social cohesion. Sociologists have identified two types of functions: manifest and latent (Merton, 1968). Manifest functions are consequences that are intended and commonly recognized. Latent functions are consequences that are unintended and often hidden. For example, the manifest function of education is to transmit knowledge and skills to society's youth. ut public elementary schools also serve as baby-sitters for employed parents, and college offer a place for young adults to meet potential mates. The baby-sitting and mate selection functions are not the intended or commonly recognized functions of education–hence, they are latent functions. Structural-Functionalist Theories of Social Problems Two dominant theories of social problems grew out of the structural-functionalist perspective: social pathology and s ocial disorganization. Social Pathology According to the social pathology model, social problems result from some â€Å"sickness† in society. Just as the human body becomes ill when our systems, organs, and cells do not function normally, society becomes â€Å"ill† when its parts (i. e. , elements of the structure and culture) no longer perform properly. For example, problems such as crime, violence, poverty, and juvenile delinquency are often attributed to the breakdown of the family institution, the decline of the religious institution, and inadequacies in our economic, educational, and political institutions. Social â€Å"illness† also results when members of a society are not adequately socialized to adopt its norms and values. Persons who do not value honesty, for example, are prone to dishonesties of all sorts. Early theorists attributed the failure in socialization to â€Å"sick† people who could not be socialized. Later theorists recognized that failure in the socialization process stemmed from â€Å"sick† social conditions, not â€Å"sick† people. To prevent or solve social problems, members of society must receive proper socialization and moral education, which may be accomplished in the family, schools, churches, workplace, and/or through the media. Social Disorganization According to the social disorganization view of social problems, rapid social change disrupts the norms in a society. When norms become weak or are in conflict with each other, society is in a state of anomie or normlessness. Hence, people may steal, physically abuse their spouse or children, abuse drugs, rape or engage in other deviant behavior because the norms regarding their behaviors are weak or conflicting. According to this view, the solution to social problem lies in slowing the pace of social change and strengthening social norms. For example, although the use of alcohol by teenagers is considered a violation of a social norm in our society, this norm is weak. The media portray young people drinking alcohol, teenagers teach each other to drink alcohol and buy fake identification cards (IDs) to purchase alcohol, and parents model drinking behavior by having a few drinks after work or at a social event. Solutions to teenage drinking may involve strengthening norms against it through public education, restricting media depictions of youth and alcohol, imposing stronger sanctions against the use of fake IDs to purchase alcohol, and educating parents to model moderate and responsible drinking behavior. Conflict Perspective Whereas the structural-functionalist perspective views society as comprising different parts working together, the conflict perspective views society as comprising different groups and interests competing for power and resources. The conflict perspective explains various aspects of our social world by looking at which groups have power and benefit from a particular social arrangement. The origins of the conflict perspective can be traced to the classic works of Karl Marx. Marx suggested that all societies go through stages of economic development. As societies evolve from agricultural to industrial, concern over meeting survival needs is replaced by concern over making profit, the hallmark of a capitalist system. Industrialization leads to the development of two classes of people: the bourgeoisie, or the owners of the means of production (e. g. , factories, farms, businesses), and the proletariat, or the worker who earn wages. The division of society into two broad classes of people–the â€Å"haves† and the â€Å"have-nots†Ã¢â‚¬â€œis beneficial to the owners of the means of production. The workers, who may earn only subsistence wages, are denied access to the many resources available to the wealthy owners. According to Marx, the bourgeoisie use their power to control the institutions of society to their advantage. For example, Marx suggested that religion serves as an â€Å"opiate of the masses† in that it soothes the distress and suffering associated with the working-class lifestyle and focuses workers' attention on spirituality, God, and the afterlife rather than on such worldly concerns as living conditions. In essence, religion diverts the workers so that they concentrate on being rewarded in heaven for living a moral life rather than on questioning exploitation. Conflict Theories of Social Problems There are two general types of conflict theories of social problems: Marxist and non-Marxist. Marxist theories focus on social conflict that results from economic inequalities; non-Marxist theories focus on social conflict that results form competing values and interests among social groups. [Note: Non-Marxist theories are also referred to as neo-Marxist theories–â€Å"non† and â€Å"neo† are interchangeable. ] Marxist Conflict Theories According to contemporary Marxist theorists, social problems result from class inequality inherent in a capitalistic system. A system of â€Å"haves† and â€Å"have-nots† may be beneficial to the â€Å"haves† but often translate into poverty for the â€Å"have-nots. Many social problems, including physical and mental illness, low educational achievement, and crime are linked to poverty. In addition to creating an impoverished class of people, capitalism also encourages â€Å"corporate violence. † Corporate violence may be defined as actual harm and/or risk of harm inflicted on consumers, worker s, and the general public as a result of decisions by corporate executives or manages. Corporate violence may also result from corporate negligence, the quest for profits at any cost, and willful violation of health, safety, and environmental laws (Hills, 1987). Our profit-motivated economy encourages individuals who are otherwise good, kind, and law-abiding to knowingly participate in the manufacturing and marketing of defective brakes on American jets, fuel tanks on automobiles, and contraceptive devices (intrauterine devices [IUDs]). The profit motive has also caused individuals to sell defective medical devices, toxic pesticides, and contaminated foods to developing countries. Blumberg (1989) suggests that â€Å"in an economic system based exclusively on motives of self-interests and profit, such behavior is inevitable† (p. 06). Marxist conflict theories also focus on the problem of alienation, or powerlessness and meaninglessness in people's lives. In industrialized societies, workers often have little power or control over their jobs, which fosters a sense of powerlessness in their lives. The specialized nature of work requires workers to perform limited and repetitive tasks; as a result, the workers may come to feels that their lives are meaningless. Alienation is bred not only in the workplace, but also in the classroom. Students have little power over their education and often find the curriculum is not meaningful to their lives. Like poverty, alienation is linked to other social problems, such as low educational achievement, violence, and suicide. Marxist explanations of social problems imply that the solution lies in eliminating inequality among classes of people by creating a classless society. The nature of work must also change to avoid alienation. Finally, stronger controls must be applied to corporations to ensure that corporate decisions and practices are based on safety rather than profit considerations. Non-Marxist Conflict Theories Non-Marxist conflict theorists such as Ralf Dahrendorf are concerned with conflict that arise when groups have opposing values and interests. For example, antiabortion activists value the life of unborn embryos and fetuses; prochoice activists value the right of women to control their own body and reproductive decisions. These different value positions reflect different subjective interpretations of what constitutes a social problem. For antiabortionists, the availability of abortion is the social problem; for prochoice advocates, restrictions on abortion are the social problem. Sometimes the social problem is not the conflict itself, but rather the way that conflict is expressed. Even most prolife advocates agree that shooting doctors who perform abortions and blowing up abortion clinics constitute unnecessary violence and lack of respect for life. Value conflicts may occur between diverse categories of people, including nonwhites versus whites, heterosexuals versus homosexuals, young versus old, Democrats versus Republicans, and environmentalists versus industrialists. Solutions to the problems that are generated by competing values may involve ensuring that conflicting groups understand each other's views, resolving differences through negotiation or mediation, or agreeing to disagree. Ideally, solutions should be win-win; both conflicting groups are satisfied with the solution. However, outcomes of value conflicts are often influenced by power; the group with the most power may use its position to influence the outcome of value conflicts. For example, when Congress could not get all states to voluntarily increase the legal drinking age to 21, it threatened to withdraw federal highway funds from those that would not comply. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Both the structural-functionalist and the conflict perspectives are concerned with how broad aspects of society, such as institutions and large groups, influence the social world. This level of sociological analysis is called macro sociology: It looks at the â€Å"big picture† of society and suggests how social problems are affected at the institutional level. Micro sociology, another level of sociological analysis, is concerned with the social psychological dynamics of individuals interacting in small groups. Symbolic interactionism reflects the micro sociological perspective and was largely influenced by the work of early sociologists and philosophers such as Max Weber, Georg Simmel, Charles Horton Cooley, George Herbert Mead, William Isaac Thomas, Erving Goffman, and Howard Becker. Symbolic interactionism emphasizes that human behavior is influenced by definitions and meanings that are created and maintained through symbolic interactions with others. Sociologist William Isaac Thomas ([1931] 1966) emphasized the importance of definitions and meanings in social behavior and its consequences. He suggested that humans respond to their definition of a situation rather than to the objective situation itself. Hence, Thomas noted that situations we define as real become real in their consequences. Symbolic interactionism also suggests that our identity or sense or self is shaped by social interaction. we develop our self-concept by observing how others interact with us and label us. By observing how others view us, we see a reflection of ourselves that Cooley calls the â€Å"looking glass self. Lastly, the symbolic interaction perspective has important implications for how social scientist conduct research. The German sociologist Max Weber (1864-1920) argued that in order to understand the individual and group behavior, social scientists must see the world from the eyes of that individual or group. Weber called this approach Verstehen, which in German means â€Å"empathy. † Verstehen implies that in conducting research, social scientists must try to understand others' view of reality and the subjective aspects of their experiences, including their symbols, values, attitudes, and beliefs. Symbolic Interactionist Theories of Social Problems A basic premise of symbolic interactionist theories of social problems is that a condition must be defined or recognized as a social problem in order for it to be a social problem. Based on this premise, Herbert Blumer (1971) suggested that social problems develop in stages. First, social problems pass through the stage of â€Å"societal recognition†Ã¢â‚¬â€œthe process by which a social problem, for example, drunk driving, is â€Å"born. † Second, â€Å"social legitimation† takes place when the social problem achieves recognition by the larger community, including the media, schools, and churches. As the visibility of traffic fatalities associated with alcohol increased, so the the legitimation of drunk driving as a social problem. The next stage in the development of a social problem involves â€Å"mobilization for action,† which occurs when individuals and groups, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, become concerned about how to respond to the social condition. This mobilization leads to the â€Å"development and implementation of an official plan† for dealing with the problem, involving, for example, highway checkpoints, lower legal blood-alcohol levels, and tougher drunk driving regulations. Blumer's stage development view of social problems is helpful in tracing the development of social problems. For example, although sexual harassment and date rape have occurred throughout this century, these issues did not begin to receive recognition as social problems until the 1970s. Social legitimation of these problems was achieved when high schools, colleges, churches, employers, and the media recognized their existence. Organized social groups mobilized to develop and implement plans to deal with these problems. For example, groups successfully lobbied for the enactment of laws against sexual harassment and the enforcement of sanctions against violators of these laws. Groups mobilized to provide educational seminars on date rate for high school and college students and to offer support services to victims of date rape. Some disagree with the symbolic interactionist view that social problems exist only if they are recognized. According to this view, individuals who were victims of date rape in the 1960s may be considered victims of a problem, even though date rape was not recognized at that time as a social problem. Labeling theory, a major symbolic interactionist theory of social problems, suggests that a social condition or group is viewed as problematic if it is labeled as such. According to labeling theory, resolving social problems sometimes involves changing the meanings and definitions that are attributed to people and situations. For example, as long as teenagers define drinking alcohol as â€Å"cool† and â€Å"fun,† they will continue to abuse alcohol.

Globalisation and Religion Essay

Secularisation theory has argued that modernisation has undermined religion. The importance of science and technology on economic development and rational worldview on which they depend on are seen as destroying the belief in supernatural. However religion can contribute to development, but most recently sociologists have examined what role religion may play in development in today’s globalising world. This can be seen in India. Globalisation has brought rapid economic growth and has seen India become a more important player in the world political stage. It has brought prosperity to some, notably the Indian middle class. Nanda shows that 85% of India is Hindu and this is where globalisation has taken place. Globalisation has created a huge and prosperous, scientifically educated middle class working in IT, pharmaceuticals, etc. These are who secularisation theorists say will be the first to abandon religion. However Nanda sees a vast majority of this class continue to believe in the supernatural. A study of developing societies in 2007 shows that Indians are more religious and only 5% claim their religion has declined in the past five years. It also found that urban areas are more religious that rural areas. Nanda goes as far to say that it is becoming fashionable to be seen as religious. She examines what motivates this. Nanda rejects poverty and existential insecurity as a reason for their belief because they are not poor. She also rejects the idea that their religiosity is a defence mechanism to modernisation and westernisation. She argues that their religiosity is to do with their ambivalence to their new found wealth. This has helped to see the relationship between globalisation and religion, as Nanda points out that globalisation has increased the religiosity in India. She also examines the role of Hinduism in legitimating a triumphalist version of Indian nationalism. From a survey it found that 93% of Indians believe they have a superior culture to others. Nanda notes that the Indians’ success in the global market have attributed to Hindu values. These are constantly promoted by media and politicians. Ultra nationalism, worshiping Hindu gods and India itself has become a civil religion. In recent years the East Asia tiger economies such as Korea and Singapore are now becoming industrialised. Also China has become a major global power. Sociologists argue that this success is because of religion acting similar to Calvinism. Redding sees their post Confucian values as encouraging, similar to the protestant work ethic. Similarly Berger argues that Pentecostalism in Latin America acts as a functional equivalent to Weber’s protestant ethic. He says that they embrace the work ethic and lifestyle of Calvinists aspect of life which in result its members continue to prosper. However Berger underlines Weber’s point that religious ideas alone are not enough to produce economic development. He says that natural resources are also needed. For example while Protestantism has grown in northern Brazil, the religion lacks resources and remains backwards. By contrast, the south, which is developing rapidly, has both a work ethic derived from Pentecostalism and the necessary resources. Christianity has also become globalised. Lehmann says that it has done this by accompanying globalisations, imposed my indigenous population and in the past 100 years it has spread because of its popular following. The symbols and imagery from local cultures attributes to their success. They attack cults and perform exorcism, and accept and validate beliefs. This has contributed to the relationship between globalisation and religion as it shows that religion has helped countries to develop and using the idea of protestant ethic in Latin America gives a valid explanation as to why they have grown. A further link between globalisation and religion is explained through fundamentalism. Fundamentalism has a response to globalisation and related trends. Giddens’ describes fundamentalists as traditionalists. He sees that this is a relatively new term and sees its growth, as a production of and reaction to globalisation. He claims that it has undermined traditional norms and values. They say that religion offers certainty to a now uncertain world due to the choice which people have. A contrasting view to this however is Beckford. He criticises fundamentalists for ignoring other important developments, including how globalisations also affects non fundamentalist religions such as Catholicism. Giddens’ groups all types of fundamentalism together, ignoring any differences between them. Jeff Haynes argues that we should not focus narrowly on the idea that Islamic fundamentalism is a reaction against globalisation. For example in the Middle East, conflicts caused by the failure of local elites to deliver on their promises to improve the standard of living are often the fuel that drives fundamentalism. This evidence argues that globalisation has undermined traditional religious beliefs. Religion has also created a cultural defence whereby religion serves to unite communities against external threat. In this situation religion has a special significance for its followers because it symbolises the group or societies collective identity. There are two examples of this from the late 20th century and those are Poland and Iran. It has created war and terror such as the war in Iraq. Therefore the effect of globalisation on religion is a ‘clash of civilisations.’ Huntingtons’ view is that religious defences are creating a new set of hostile ‘us and them’ situation as there is an increase in competition against cavitations for economic and military power. An example of this is the 9/11. Although there are some critics such as Jackson who believe it is a western ideology that stereotypes nations. Also Armstrong argues hostility towards the west does not stem from fundamentalist Islam but to western foreign policy in the Middle East. This shows that’s due to globalisation is has increased religiosity but has created friction between countries. This has had a negative effect in the world. Overall globalisation has brought rapid economic growth and has seen India become a more important player on the world political stage. It has also increased Indians religiosity which is shown in Nandas’ argument which she also says this relationship is because of the optimism about the opportunities globalisations will bring and the result of the ambivalence to their new found wealth. But also like Huntington says, both religion and globalisation has created a ‘clash of civilisations’ and created both war and terror. In conclusion this relationship between globalisations in religion is good as it has helped countries such as India in the economy and has increased their religiosity. However it could also be argued that it has created friction between religions and in result has had a negative impact on the world.

Text Analyse Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Text Analyse - Assignment Example The teacher should point out the sentences that were missing subject and verbs in addition to the wrong use of modals. In order for Jessica to practice models in her conversation she would need to listen to her conversation and write down the sentences that were pointed out by her counterpart or her instructor. She would note her mistakes then verbally speak out the corrected sentences a number of times as to practice the correct use of these sentences. The use of the future form is incorrect as it should not be used because of the presence of the adverb of frequency "always." Present simple tense was used in the same sentence with future tense concerning the same event. Jessica needs to get instruction in the use of future and present tenses. This must be followed by practical exercise of the use of both tense which can be accomplished by distinguishing between future and present tenses in the form of questions. Practical exercises should consist of different verbs put in different tenses in the middle of various sentences. She must be able to distinguish between when she should use the future tense and when she must not. Jessica needs to learn about the different hypothetical forms that are used in English. She must learn the correct grammatical and formation of "if" and "when" conditional sentences. She must also practice the use of these hypothetical forms as to naturally start to include in her conversations and thus better convey her ideas. To teach Jessica, she must theoretically be familiar with the correct hypothetical forms and she must practice their use. Theoretically she must be introduced to the correct grammatical use of hypothetical forms and then introduced to a number of examples with correct hypothetical forms. She later must practice to speak out and loudly talk using sentences with hypothetical forms as to familiarize her self and improve her conversation skills.

Plagiarism Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Plagiarism - Article Example In the article â€Å"A Debate About Plagiarism as The Times Investigates a Case† Margaret Sullivan sheds light on the issue of plagiarism and the way it is being widely spread nowadays. She provides a vivid example, pointing on the story of The Times reporter, Carol Vogel, who had written a short passage about arts, which is almost similar to the one in Wikipedia (Sullivan, 2014). She is ashamed that modern reporters may simply copy and paste, and that would be enough for the journalists seemingly. Sullivan also shows the example of Ben Johnson, editor in BuzzFeed, who was fired due to plagiarism. Sullivan shares that â€Å"At least one prominent writer doesn’t think what happened at BuzzFeed is such a big deal,† (Sullivan, 2014). Gene Weingarten form Washington Post stresses that plagiarism is a theft. I agree that a person has to write own ‘stuff,’ as Sullivan named it, otherwise it is compulsory to provide links and references. There is an intelle ctual property, thus, withdrawing it is a theft. Everyone who writes has to be capable of combining, mixing and synthesizing of information taken from different sources. In case nothing new is brought up, what is the deal? Such writing has no value. Even though there are things to be shared, own prism of the writer has to be present anyway. I cannot say that using information provided by others is bad; I suppose it is useful as there were many bright thoughts by the thinkers of the past and present. Anyway, it is essential to refer to an actual author of the idea.

Financial and marketing analysis Research Paper

Financial and marketing analysis - Research Paper Example Apart from financial analysis, the study also highlights the information pertaining to different sections of the real estate market in Russia. It is worth mentioning that the whole study gives emphasis on JLL operating in Russia. In Russia, JLL plays an important role in drawing investment from real estate investors. It is one of the major places in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, in which JLL has developed lucrative business. The company has offered huge space for office purposes and has covered 323,000 square meters of space. It has also delivered about 11 office buildings to Russians. There are three types of real estate investment in Russia: commercial, residential and industrial. All the three mentioned sectors are crucial for the company as it drives revenue. The company has encountered increasing revenue and profit trend over the years from 2004 to 2013. However, there were a series of challenges for the company, which made significant changes in its financials following changes in earning per share. The challenges were exchange rate volatility, slow down of the Russian economy and most importantly uncertainty in Ukraine, which affected the confidence of investors in real estate marke t. The investor confidence decreased with the decrease in investment patterns in the first two quarters of 2014. In February 2014, the armed forces of Russia began to take over Crimean Peninsula that is situated in Ukraine. Till date the conflict continued as a result there are huge changes in the financial markets in Russia. It caused turbulence in the financial markets and fell drastically due to instability. After the event the real estate market in Russia is also affected. However, after the financial shock in 2008 to 2009, the country’s real estate market was recovering excellently but the sudden conflict made the situation worse for the real estate companies in Russia (The Economic Newspaper Limited, 2014). The

Environmental Management and Quality System Essay

Environmental Management and Quality System - Essay Example In addition, it is a formal approach to managing the aspects of an organization’s activities, products, and services that have or could have an impact on the environment (Sheldon & Yoxon, 2002). According to Muchemu (2008), a quality management system is the organization’s structures, processes, procedures, and resources needed to implement quality management. The international and national standards are used to form the foundation for effective quality management systems (Schlickman, 2003). Hallmark is the largest greeting card company in the world owned by a family since it was started more than a century ago. It has an ISO9001 and ISO14001 certified system and other certified systems like BRC, SMETA/SEDEX Ethical, and FSC. In addition, it has other non-certified systems like ISO18001, PEFC, and ISO26000. Having this certified systems means that it is dedicated to management review, legal compliance, continual improvement, internal communications, traceability, concer ns/ incidents and training. This organization has environmental objectives that build to a strategic plan for each area of operations business. It also has personal objectives via appraisal process and independent verification of achievements. The Hallmark’s approach to implementation of environmental management system is by identifying key performance indicators, improvising a mean of measuring those performance indicators and designing a way of improving those performance indicators. One of the key performance indicators that the company has chosen in its approach to implementing environmental management system is to reduce water consumption by a further 5% by the end of this year, based on a 2009 baseline. The company measures this performance indicator using the monthly water usage figures provided for each site by the Yorkshire water company. In the company implementation approach, it aims to improve this key performance indicator by increasing awareness about water cons umption and the costs it brings to the company among all its employees. Moreover, the company is introducing an initiative on reducing water usage. This will be working with cross-functional teams to ensure a reduction for resources that the company uses in its processes. Another key performance indicator that Hallmark decided to use in its approach to implementing an environmental management system is ensuring a reduction in its carbon footprint by a further 2% by the end of this year compared to a 2008 baseline. In this approach, the company uses the annual reporting on energy consumption, LPG consumption and diesel consumption to measure this key performance indicator. To achieve various improvements on this performance indicator Hallmark has designed an energy management team that consists of cross-functional members. This team has been holding several meetings to discuss possible energy reduction initiatives that require being introduced. Moreover, the company has also designed staffs awareness program to educate its staffs on maximum energy utilization and effective energy saving techniques. To continue working towards recycling 95% of all solid wastes by the end of this year is another key perform

U01d1 The American Legal System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

U01d1 The American Legal System - Essay Example The main basis of the common laws is based on the decisions that have been made in previous cases. During a hearing the judges make the decision on a case based on previous cases and previous decisions. It is also essential to understand that if a particular case has not been found in the common law, then the decision made by the judge on a case will become the law. Statutory laws on the other hand are the laws that are made by the government of the specific country. Here the governments play a major role in the law determination and they are also responsible for the development of punishments as well. These laws are made to basically meet the needs of the citizens, or to help in the formalization of the existing laws or even to resolve cases that are outstanding and need the government interference (Hillestad, 2004). Considering the health care systems, it is essential to note that the government has taken over the ‘driver’s seat’ for several organization and the hospitals that are run by the government now hold a monopoly in the markets. Here the local hospitals are given the rights to allow or not the starting up of other newer hospitals in the area (Schneller, Smeltzer, & Burns, 2006). Hospitals are given the right to prohibit any new competition in the markets and this in simpler words means that the local hospital tend to gain a monopolistic power in the industry. This is very similar to providing a company the legal rights to create higher levels of barriers to entry in the markets so that the new competition is completely eliminated. The laws those are present in the market at present are to a great extent the root cause for the several liabilities that have cropped up in the past. To ensure that the health care is improved and the issue of the health care is reduced, the governments needs to allow the health care organizations to be privatized instead of taking on the entire markets and also the level of laws and regulations need to be

Online Booking for Cinema Tickets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Online Booking for Cinema Tickets - Essay Example He will then be able to choose the number of tickets he wants to purchase and the type of ticket he needs. After he makes his choices, he will be asked to submit his email address for confirmation purposes, and to receive his payment details. Before he enters his payment details, he can cancel the booking process or make changes to his selection. Either he is asked for his credit card details or switch card issue number for payment mode. (www.gulfcinema.com/home.php) The biggest cinema chain in the United Kingdom, Odeon (www.odeon.co.uk), is a prime example of those which allow on-line booking for tickets. Although the review on its website design is critical (www.computing.co.uk, 2006), there is still plenty of content here that are useful to customers. Everything is explained simply and clearly, and the site is secure. Online booking allows the customer personalized booking, wherein he can make changes with his choices without having to deal with an irate and exhausted operator. Usually, he would also receive regular email updates from the cinema where he buys his tickets. Online booking also allows the customer to avoid long queues. Internet is so easy to use that a click of the mouse will take the customer to his desired website. Besides, internet has many extras to offer compared to the telephone line system.

Comparison between August Wilson and Langston Hughes Essay

Comparison between August Wilson and Langston Hughes - Essay Example One of his most anthologized poems, The Negro speaks of Rivers has been acclaimed for his passionate acceptance of his race and his reclaiming of black origins. Before Hughes wrote, many African-American artists avoided portraying lower-class black life because they believed such images fed racist stereotypes and attitudes. Hughes was of the opinion that authentic portraits of actual people would counter negative caricatures of African Americans more effectively and so wrote about, and for the common man. Hughes claimed that ninety percent of his work attempted "to explain and illuminate the Negro condition in America." Hughes portrays the nobility of common people and the vitality of his African American culture in Thank You, M'am. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, whose name ironically recognizes both the slavery codes of the founders of the United States and the dignity of the common person, gives spiritual and physical gifts to the young Roger. Finally, she gives him the greate st gift of all: the right to direct his own life. In the mid-1980's, African American drama began de-emphasizing the revolutionary aspects of the political platform, searching instead for a strong dramatic voice to tell the story of African American assimilation into mainstream American ideals. ... Wilson's plays offer the whites a new perspective into the lives of black Americans. In "Fences they see a garbageman, a person they really don't look at, although they may see a garbageman every day. By looking at Troy's life, white people find out that the content of this black garbageman's life is very similar to their own, that he is affected by the same things-love, honor, beauty, betrayal, duty. Recognizing that these things are as much a part of his life as of theirs can be revolutionary and can affect how they think about and deal with black people in their lives." This is indeed a very radical and a multidimensional portrayal of the African Americans and not merely a walled perception of the blacks. Wilson's dramatic writing, unlike his public pronouncements, is never strident, never overtly political. Even Langston Hughes depicted black families and social setups in Soul Gone Home and Mother and Child without indirectly referring to any political ideology or an apparent soc ial protest. In Southern Gentlemen and Negroes Hughes not only indicted southern injustice but reprimanded African Americans for their inertness. Therefore, it becomes imperative that one reassess Hughes's works in a new light, so as to find a niche in changing times. The tendency to dismiss Hughes as a quintessential Harlem Renaissance poet must be avoided. The main focus of Wilson's work is to look at black culture as it undergoes change and grows in evolving historical contexts. In The Piano Lesson, the piano must be read as a metonym, if not for race itself, then for the racialized plight of African Americans within the context of their history of struggle and survival in the United States. Like race, the piano is at once

Kfcs Explosive Growth in China Essay Example for Free

Kfcs Explosive Growth in China Essay Kentucky fried Chicken (KFC) has achieved another milestone in delivery. The explosive growth in Asian region most particularly in their current trends in China that KFC fried chicken, burger and fries is gaining its way to superstardom. In China, Yum! Brands is opening a KFC store every day. But this is not the KFC you know in America. A recent case study written by professor David Bell and Agribusiness Program director Mary Shelman reveals how the chicken giant adapted its famous fast-food formula for the local market. Key concepts include: In China, KFCs strategy was to be part of the local community, not be seen as a foreign presence. (Su, 2011) China division chairman and CEO Sam Su combined the best ideas from the US fast-food model and adapted them to serve the needs of the Chinese consumer. Only a small number of menu items would be familiar to Western visitors—the Chinese KFC offerings include fried dough sticks, egg tarts, and foods tailored to the tastes of specific regions within the country. To counter concerns about fast food and obesity, Su offered a healthier menu and supports exercise and youth events. The traditional strategy is the involvement of their culture has largely influence the family ties to consider their food. According to Bell (2011) one key issue the case examines is how to implement the rollout of a fast-food chain involving so many stores across such a vast—and regionally different—country.† (Stravish, 2011) When their customers walked into their restaurant they see Chinese customer service. Chinese food and Chinese employees welcome customers and that’s why it becomes easy for them to initiate interaction. Sus strategy was that KFC would not be seen as a foreign presence but as part of the local community â€Å"There is no room for ego,† (Su, 2011) China doesnt have the same culture of individualism that is present in the United States. (Su, 2011) Along with being smart, driven and great entrepreneur, Su hired the right people. For Su, this meant employees who read and spoke the language, who understood the restaurant business and Chinese consumer, and also experience on doing business in the Western way. Trained labor is a very valuable asset even in a land of 1.3 billion-plus people. (Stravish, 2011) The large conflicting crowd should have one idea about the taste and preference as much as possible they have outperformed the number one fast food chain, which is McDonald. Sam Su also consider diversification of food items so that they can cater to a wider customer range especially those  people who are healthy conscious about their body, they offer fat free food and vegetables menu to their customers that attract and re-invent even more heterogeneous customer demand. The wide variety of choices can help the customers to make healthy options and balance diet, their strategy also involve presenting their choices. They have also practice sponsorship and promotion about healthy living in 2010 that has become another successful endeavor on their part that various exercises has been promoted inside the stores and customers are free to join, they have gathered at least 260,000 customer participants in 438 key cities. Their promotion has been very successful that makes their store even more popular. (Starvish, 2011) KFC and China has become a Yum Republic. It is certain that globalization not only helps KFC profits, but it’s international, which benefits China and the consumers. Additionally some of their popular food sisters company includes Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver and AW All American Food. I believe globalization happens to be great for the country and the overall market economy because it promotes prosperity to participating countries. All that we need to do is educate people on multiculturalism and diversity within the work place, as well as the sensitivity of culture within participating countries. Opportunity costs, trade terms, balance trades, comparative advantages, changes in consumption and production, and how much cheaper it is to purchase than to produce are some benefits to globalization. The greater interdependence that globalization is causing means an increasingly freer flow of goods, services, money, people, and idea across national borders. (WildWild, 6th ed, pg 6) Su has done a great job on hiring employees that know the language, understand the business and Chinese customers, and also having experience on doing business the Western way. Because of technological changes, continuous development and research, the market economy remains to be dynamic. Reference: Starvish. (2011). KFCs Explosive Growth in China. HBS Cases. Retrieved from http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6704.html WildWild. International business: the challenges of globalization/ John J. Wild, Kenneth L. Wild- 6th ed.

Goal Setting Theory in the Workplace

Goal Setting Theory in the Workplace Goal setting theory has become one of the most popular theories in organizational physiology (Goal Setting Theory 2006). It has been around since the early 1800s for the purpose of achievement (Goal Setting Theory has Become One of the Most Popular Theories in Organizational Physiology n.d.). However, Edwin A. Locke further examined goal setting theory in the mid-1960s for over 30 years and came out with some researches on his on regarding the impact that goals have on individual as well as on the companies that practice it (Goal Setting Theory has Become One of the Most Popular Theories in Organizational Physiology n.d.). Goal setting is basically a set of skills that involves in using goals in a particular ways to achieve variety of results (Goal Setting 1996). As goal setting theory has received a lot of feedback on its effectiveness application, the purpose of this essay is to critically examine the effective application of goal setting theory towards individual as well as toward the companies who practice it. Employee motivation is a crucial task for upper level management team. In order for  Ã‚   employees to value-add their company, they must be first, highly motivated and proactive too. In a number of researches, it is to believe that by implementing goal setting theory in a company can lead to the increase of motivation of an employee. Goal setting can be a very powerful way to motivate people (Lockes Goal Setting Theory 2000) and according to Burton, Weinberg and Yukelson (1998), in order to increase motivation in a company, goal setting can be the technique recommended. This is because it is believed that by implementing goal setting in a company can shape a persons behavior to be more motivated in achieving goals (Locke and Latham 1990). When employees are assigned by their upper level management team in achieving certain goals or targets, they will be motivated to achieve them because this is the time that they can prove themselves to the company that they can be relied upon. Un der the Lockes Goal Setting Theory, Locke believed that there are 5 principles of goal setting and in order to be motivated, goals must be taken into consideration the degree of clarity, challenge, commitment, feedback and task complexity (Lockes Goal Setting Theory 2000). Goal setting theory claimed to be one of the most powerful ways to motivate people because the value of goal setting is so well recognized that the entire management systems have goal setting basics incorporated into them (Santhosh 2008). As a matter of facts, goal setting theory has been generally accepted to be the most valid and useful motivation theory regardless of what type of industry it is currently doing (Santhosh 2008). However, although goal setting theory is believed to be a very powerful tool to motivate employees, it is claimed that by setting up goals, the reason for goal must be given to the employees in order for them to be motivated (London, Edward and John 2004). This is because only when employee knows why and what the reason behind achieving those goals, than the chances of accomplishing that particular goal is high. Latham, Erez and Locke (1988) further explained that goals that are assigned without any prior explanation will lead to lower performances. Although there are many ways like performing essential works only, spending smarter and more uninterrupted time on tasks and using good project management skills to increase productivity, setting up appropriate goals are important in increasing companys productivity (Dawn, 2004). Likewise, un-appropriate goals are detrimental to companys productivity. Thus, in determining appropriate goals for a company is very important and by doing so, company must firstly determine what type of goals employees are called to achieve and then, monitor them from time to time without fail. Besides that, when a company determines her most important goals for their employees, the employees themselves will not be reluctant to develop specific skills in order to attain those goals set by the company (Borchardt 2009). This will result in better performances especially in terms of productivity.   Goal setting theory seems to play a major role in making things work. However, according to Latham and Saari (1979), setting specific and challenging goals by individuals themselves will result in higher quality performances than by just urging the employees to performing their best. This is because when employees set their own goals in achieving a particular task, the quality of that particular task will be much better than a task which is given by their upper level management team themselves. When employees set their own targets towards their jobs, they feel fully responsible in and out in accomplishing them including providing the best quality of works. In short, employees need to be goal setters themselves in order to perform better. Thus in this case, in conjunction with the companys goals, missions and visions, employees should be given a chance to set their own goals and achieve them in their own ways in line with companys guidelines. A research done by Latham and Saari (1979) claims that individual with goals has more impact towards their jobs rather than individuals in the non-assigned condition. By practicing goal setting, individuals could increase the chances for a task that need to be done a success (Goldberg 2009). This is because when the goals are clearly stated and are very specific, individuals or employees will get to focus on what they are supposed to do in order to achieve and will find solutions or ways to make it happen. To make this happen, US Fed News Service, Including US State News (September 19, 2009) reported that firstly, goals must be attainable. A goal can be set as high as the sky but if it could not be attained, it will only demoralize oneself. Secondly, goals must be written down (Goldberg 2009). The purpose of this is to make sure that those who are involved are aware of what they are supposed to achieve. Besides that, by writing down the target goals can help in making those who are involved to remember what to achieve and how to achieve them and monitor them from time to time. Thirdly, goals must be specific and clear (Sawyer 2010). This is crucia l and if they are not, people who are involved could be confused and might get a total different outcome. Lastly, after setting up goals, the persons involved in making it a success must make sure that they are motivated to make it a success (Goldberg 2009). If goals have been set but the persons involved are not willing to accomplish them, then the very purpose of having them in the first place will be futile. A person can set his personal goal at any level he wants but to fulfill or to accomplish those goals set is very hard to determine. S.M.A.R.T. goal setting method is not foreign to people who are used to set goals in their personal life. According to goal setting expert Eade (2008), whether it is for personal or for business use, the most effective goals is to be S.M.A.R.T which represents, specific, measureable, attainable, realistic and tangible with a target date. For example, taking the difference between these two goals i.e. 1) Reduce unnecessary expenses; or 2) Reduce personal desire of online shopping to RM200 by May 1, 2010. Considering both perceptions, the second goal sets a more specific target and with it, a persons mind will now be more focused and monitor the total amount of money spent during online shopping. Goal setting theory can boost up a persons confidence and self-esteem with every goal that they have achieved (Oechsli 1991). Whenever a person is pursuing a particular task, with the direction from goal setting theory can make that particular person become more focused and hence, they will tend to be more committed to do their goals and further, accomplishing it. As mentioned, goals that are specific are easier to accomplish (Eade 2008). This is because with goal setting theory, there will be guidelines of what to achieve from time to time and what are the steps they should acquire in order to move forward. With these back-up guides, people can be more confident in carrying out their tasks in which case will not only benefit the employees themselves but will also benefit the company in terms of productivity. According to Oechsli (1991), with peoples confident and high self-esteem, the job performance will improve and their attitudes will change for better which will lead to increase of productivity. According to Then (2008), setting up goals either for the company or for personal use can enable a person to accomplish their task in a timely and organized manner. This is because through goal setting theory, a person can organize his time to accomplish a particular task and whenever a person sets his personal goal in managing a particular task, he will divide his time and build strategies in making his goals a success. Taking student as an example, if a student sets his target to complete his assignment by the next day at 5pm, in order to meet that time frame, this particular student will put away everything that could stop him to complete his obligation as a student and strive to meet the time set as committed. Sometimes, we humans feel stressed-out because we are not achieving what are important to us and by goal setting theory, it can be one of the best ways to relief or lessen our stress level (Scott 2009). Humans tend or love to have a lot going on in their daily life but due to time constraints, most of their plans are being disrupted. Each person can have up to 10 or even more obligations a day and without goal setting theory, life can be in chaotic situation due to limited time at the end.   However, when a person knows precisely what he wanted to achieve in a day, he will know where he has to focus his efforts (Reduce Stress with Personal Goal Setting 2010). Thus it is important that a person should know what he wanted to achieve and to plan how and when to achieve them. In this case, a person should manage his time properly and organize everything he wanted to do in an orderly manner so that he could manage his task without affecting other plans. Moreover, by practicing goal sett ing theory in our personal life can always make sure that we are on track no matter what may occur which will make our life much more easier to manage (Then 2008).   In conclusion, it is generally agreed that goal setting theory is an effective theoretical framework in where it can best predict and boost up individual or employees work motivation as well as to better manage their time. However, in order to make it work, every individual must have a clear and specific as well as attainable goal. Without this, even how high a goal is set and it is not specific, that particular goal could be futile. Besides that, in order to make it happen, a person must show full commitment towards that particular task that he needs to achieve in certain time frame. In short, individuals that are involved play important role in making things happen. As mentioned, goal setting theory can lessen a persons stress and will lead to more organized ways of completing certain tasks and through goal setting theory can motivate a person as well as it can change a persons behavior. However, consistency is also important in making it a success nonetheless. In my own personal opinion, I personally feel that goal setting theory is a very important tool in making things work. Besides just making life less complicated and more objective, it actually helps in shaping our life in a more purposeful way.

Acanthaster planci on the Great Barrier Reef Essay examples -- Crown o

Acanthaster planci on the Great Barrier Reef The organism Acanthaster planci, commonly known as the crown of thorns starfish, has a drastic effect on the health of coral reefs all over the world, including the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. This poisonous echinoderm feeds upon the coral, and although this should be a healthy and natural part of the ecosystem, the population explosions of the starfish have caused devastation in many portions of the Great Barrier Reef. Reef sections take anywhere from ten to fifteen years to recover, and some never recover completely with the same species distribution. The starfish outbreaks seem to travel southward down the reef with the two primary outbreaks reported in the last 40 years both beginning around Green Island and ending between Cairns and Townsville. The cause of these outbreaks is still unknown. They may be natural phenomena occurring throughout history, or they may be caused by human influences. The most effective control method currently is the injecting of sodium bisulfate in to the starfish which kills the organism in a matter of days. However, this method is costly and is not a permanent solution to the problem. The Cooperative Research Centre for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and the Australia Institute of Marine Science Research are conducting various research projects looking for environmentally sound and economically practical methods of controlling Acanthaster planci populations. Introduction Acanthaster planci, commonly known as the crown-of-thorns starfish, is an echinoderm that has attracted much attention and has been the focus of much research over the past few decades. Although the starfish has interesting physic... ...vestigations: Form, Function, Diversity, and Process Sixth Edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Head, M.J., Henderson,R.A., Jull, A.J., and Walbran, P.D. 1989. Evidence from sediments of long-term Acanthaster planci predation on corals of the Great Barrier Reef. Science 245: 847-50. Keats, Derek W. 2001. Introduction to Coralline Algae. . Accessed March 2003. Moran, Peter. 1988 and 1997. Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Questions and Answers. Australian Institute of Marine Science. . Accessed March 2003. Reichelt, R. E. 1990. Dispersal and control models of Acanthaster planci populations on the Great Barrier Reef. In Lecture Notes in Biomathematics: Acanthaster and the Coral Reef, ed. R. H. Bradbury, pp. 6-16. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.

Obesity and the American Disabilities Act :: Obesity and the ADA of 1990

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) bans discrimination based on disability. It provides individuals with disabilities civil rights protections like those provided to individuals on the basis of race, sex, national origin and religion (Mathias, 2003). The ADA defines â€Å"disability† as a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities and will not consider obese individuals as disabled unless the weight limits a major life activity. Federal courts have ruled that morbid obesity falls under the category of medical conditions which limit one or more life activities (Garcia, n.d). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 established basic federal laws on employment discrimination. It does not identify weight as a protected characteristic, and as a result, does not provide protection for obese individuals who have been discriminated against by potential or current employers. Obesity is now being called an epidemic affecting millions of individuals in the United States. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has taken the position that morbid obesity, even if voluntary, can be a protected disability under the ADA. Obesity-related health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension are considered disabilities based on the ADA. The article on obesity in the workplace tells the story of Joseph O’Connor. Mr. O’Connor sued McDonald’s for discriminating against him in violation of the ADA. He alleged that McDonald’s refused to hire him as a cook because of his obesity. Mr. O’Connor claimed his obesity was a disability and McDonald’s discriminated against him because of this disability. McDonald’s sought to dismiss the case, stating Mr. O’Connor was not disabled within the meaning of the ADA. The federal court, however, refused to dismiss the lawsuit. The court held that Oâ€℠¢Connor must be given the chance to prove that he is protected under the law (Garcia, n.d.). The challenge in dealing with the controversy, of discrimination and disability, surrounding obesity must involve the legal and medical communities.

Qualities of Ratan Tata Essay

PERSONAL POWER —-Krishna Kumar, in an internal interview published on the group’s website in March, had also praised Ratan Tata for his contributions to not only the group, but the business and industry as a whole and called him a ‘born leader’. Visionary—Good Communicator–A visionary leader has good communication skills. She knows how to verbalize her dreams and goals and can explain them to his team. For the leader, communication isn’t just one-sided. In addition to sharing her vision for the future, a visionary leader is also an active listener. As more people â€Å"catch the vision,† leaders listen to their ideas and thoughts, incorporating them into the larger goal. Visionaries involve others in reaching their milestones and help the team members meet their personal goals.Charismatic Leader–Visionary leaders also have charisma. Merriam-Webster defines charisma as a â€Å"personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty.† Not everyone is born with this â€Å"personal magic,† but they can learn and cultivate it. Charisma is a natural attraction that draws people to the leader and the leader’s enthusiasm.Chief Organizer–Visionary leaders also are chief organizers. While many leaders have administrators that manage the processes, the leader often sets up the organization by establishing key departments or functions. As the organizer-in-chief, the visionary directs, develops and conducts meetings until reliable help is found. During the initial organization, a leader will take the time build a solid foundation through establishing boards, councils or a company hierarchy. Strategic Planner–Visionary leaders are strategic planners. Like a chess player, these leaders plan ahead to make the best business moves. Strategic planning involves creating an action plan with a particular strategy in mind. The leader’s vision defines what the organization will look like in the future and how it will function. His strategies are designed to take him toward his ultimate vision. COURAGEOUS Risk-taker–Visionary leaders, like Washington, are notable risk-takers. These leaders are willing to gamble on something they believe in, but the gamble is often a measured one. Visionaries are creative people that take the initiative with the appropriate action. Visionaries take intelligent risks that capitalize on prime conditions. This kind of leader starts small by taking measured steps than later bigger risks.INSPIRING Passionate—-He was the chairman of the group from 1991-2012. He stepped down as the  chairman on 28 December 2012 and now holds the position of Chairman Emeritus of the group which is an honorary and advisory position. He will continue as the chairman of the groups charitable trusts.Even at this age he is able to work for his company showing loyality, respectiv eness and passion towards his work which is definetly an inspiration for young leaders. There are three characteristics that I have noticed among leaders that make them conscious, responsible and effective leaders — Tata demonstrates all the three.One: Leader has a bigger, higher purpose for you and your organization that expresses responsiveness to community. While some organizations do create the higher purpose, they do not operationalise that. In the absence of translating the higher purpose into actions, these statements become static and meaningless, limited to websites and decorating boardrooms. Individuals and organizations that have imbibed their higher purpose experience more meaning in their life and fulfillment. An organisation that has a well-articulated and an operationalised higher purpose would create sustainable business success, employee loyalty, satisfaction and a sense of pride. Tata group is an ideal example of all that. CREATIVE Two: Leader uses creative rather than reactive tendencies to get results. Some people achieve it using reactive com petencies and tendencies like controlling, manipulating, pleasing and complying. While some others achieve similar or better results using creative tendencies like relating, self awareness, purposeful actions, and authenticity. If an organisation is only interested in driving financial results, they might be doing this by using reactive competencies. Results can be achieved using multiple motivational drivers. Someone who is extremely insecure and controlling will use those tendencies to drive results. Tata used more creative competencies to lead the organization. INNOVATIVE IMAGINATIVE EXPERIMENTAL INITIATES CHANGE— His imagination ability inovated lots of ideas which were on the side of company’s growth which were both experimented and executed with a positive result creating a change in the history of reputation of company by building a base of company’s growth Three: Leaders operate from higher order values. Robert Kegan, a professor at Harvard Graduate School, proposed the need for leaders to scale their abilities to the higher orders so that they can solve complex problems and create personal transformation. Richard Barret, author and expert on values, talks about seven levels of consciousness. While  survival, selfish wealth creation, power, greed, status and being liked can be considered as lower order values, self actualisation, service, trust, honesty and Integrity can be considered as higher end-values. Ratan Tata was a ‘terrific combination’ of the four necessary leadership characteristics — character, commitment, competence and courage. ï‚ · Leaders inspire others because they are inspired themselves. They are excited about the possibility of creating an exciting future for themselves. They get up every morning and they see every effort they make as part of a great plan to accomplish something wonderful with their lives.ï‚ · Leaders are optimistic. They see opportunities in everything that happens, positive or negative. They look for the good in every situation and in every person. They seek the valuable lessons contained in every problem or setback. They never experience â€Å"failures;† instead, they write them off as â€Å"learn ing experiences.†Ã¯â€š · Leaders have a sense of meaning and purpose in each area of their lives. They have clear, written goals and plans they work on every day. Leaders are clear about where they are going and what they will have to do to get there. Their behavior is purposeful and goal-directed. As a result, they accomplish five and ten times as much as the average person who operates from day to day with little concern about the future.ï‚ · Leaders accept personal responsibility. Leaders never complain, never explain. Instead of making excuses, they make progress. Whenever they have a set-back or difficulty, they repeat to themselves, â€Å"I am responsible! I am responsible! I am responsible!†Ã¯â€š · Leaders see themselves as victors over circumstances rather than victims of circumstances. They don’t criticize or blame others when something goes wrong. Instead, they focus on the solution.ï‚ · Leaders are action-oriented. They are constantly in motion. They try something, and then som ething else, and then something else again. They never give up.ï‚ · Leaders have integrity. They tell the truth at all times. They live in truth with themselves, and they live in truth with others.

Market research about Porsch Essay

Porsche Market Research Report RMIT University | Market Research | Sem C 2012 3 I. Executive Summary Currently, a number of people in Vietnam can afford luxury brand name cars such as Audi and BMW. Despite the fact that car outlay in Vietnam are three-times higher than its original price, demand seems not have any deduction. The research objective of this research is tounderstand about the Vietnamese target segment of Cayenne Porsche, their buying motives and usage, which require both the qualitative and quantitative information. The three research objectives we follow including: Customer’s? perceptions? create? a? relation? between? their? needs? and? the? cars, some factors customers consider before purchasing a car including? the? image? of? car? related? to? customer’s? image? of? success,? their? characteristics? and? the? current? trend? in? the? market and the occasions customers can use the car affect and the way they take care of it can affect their buying decision. Thus we used the combination of the online focus group discussion, the experiment survey, the secondary data analysis and the depth interview in order to get the needed information. Firstly, some introductory information and backgroundof Porsche Company are presented. Then the secondary research and literature review which include the Industry overview as well as Company overview, the Sale and market and the Customer trend would provide the greater understanding interrelated components about the auto market. Next, the Qualitative research is taken place with the use of Online Focus Group Discussion (getting the responses from luxury car’s? users? on? the? website? Otofun),? the? Secondary? Data analysis and In-depth? interview? which? together? give? the? group? a?greater? understanding? about? the? luxury? car’s? target? market,? their? purchase decisions and usage. Besides that, the Quantitative research is activated with the conduction of the experiment survey, dealing? with? the? statistic? in? order? to? generalize? our? findings? and? understand? more? about? the? luxury? car? brands’? consumer? trend and experiences. After collecting data, the group works with the SPSS software to transfer the information found from the survey and interview and then? export? chart,? graph? and? data? tables? in? order? to? get? the? result? (the? output)? and?interpret? them.? Finally,? the? group’s? members will appraise data collected and formulate the conclusion for the information researched and evaluated in each stage of the research, in order to answer the research questions as well as provide short-term and long-term recommendations for the Cayenne product line to get the competitive advantage in the market. Porsche Market Research Report RMIT University | Market Research | Sem C 2012 4 II. Introduction and background Over the last 60 years, the Porsche Holding Salzburg is the largest and most successful specialty automaker business company in Europe. Today, Porsche’s roster is quite wide-ranging and now even contains a luxury sport car, the Cayenne. Porsche Cayenne was elected? by? MotorTrend? to? be? the? â€Å"SUV? of? 2011†.? Absorbed? by? latest? Porsche’s? design,? Cayenne? attracts? attentions? by? the? look? of Safety, Elegance and Gentlemen. According to AutoVina, experts said that Cayenne, with high class, appropriate internal forces and latest? engine? V6,? is? a? SUV? that? best? suit? with? Vietnam’s? transportation? circumstances,? while? still? serve? the? needs? of? class? clients. The research study is conducted to find more opportunity in Vietnamese luxury car market, specifically understanding deeply Vietnamese customer as the key to ensure further growth in Vietnam. III. Secondary research and literature review 1. Industry Overview Vietnam is considered as one the countries that has the fastest developing economy. Since 1986, Viet Nam moved from planning economy to free trade and this policy brought the fastest development in Vietnam economy, ranking in the Asia area. In 2007, Vietnam had also joined the World Trade Organization and this milestone opened the new era for Vietnam economy and trade. Since then, many importers appeared and put a step onto the automobile market which was just in the initial stage. Despite the high rate of trade deficit, decreasing purchasing power and rocketing inflation, the luxury car sales has still risen. Besides, limiting the loan rate and increasing interest policy from Central Bank would not actually influence the Vietnam luxury automobile market. According to Mr. Laurent Genet, the CEO of Automotive Asia – official? Audi? importer? in? Vietnam:? â€Å"Our? target? customers? are? the? ones? who? do? not? have? financial? concerns†.? For? them,? a? car? is? the? reputation,? social? position? and? investment. †? Following this sustainable tendency, many luxury automobile importers are extremely optimistic about this fresh but potential market. 2. Sales & Market Developing economy, increasing population and improving standard of living are main factors which help rocketing Vietnam Car sales in? recent? years.? According? to? the? latest? report? of? the? Vietnam? Automobile? Manufacturers’? Association? (VAMA),? sales? in? September/ 2012 increased by 9%, reaching 7660 vehicles nationally. However, the majority of businesses, forecast that by the end of the year, the market will only consume less than 95,000 vehicles. At the same time, VAMA statistics has just announced that in the first nine months, sales were down 38% compared to the same period last year. One of the biggest recognizable reasons is due to the? government’s? contradictory? policies,? which? is? rises? in? fees? and? taxes? policies.? According to VietnamNet, at least nine types of taxes and fees have been imposed on car owners which narrows the automobile sales. Do Huu Hao, Chair of the Vietnam Automobile Engineering? Association,? former? Deputy? of? Industry? has? recently? stated? that? â€Å"If? Vietnam? does? not? make? a? breakthrough? in? its? policies,? its? automobile? industry? will? never? be? able? to? develop†. Porsche Market Research Report RMIT University | Market Research | Sem C 2012 5 3. Customer Trend Referring? to? â€Å"Personal? Finance? Monitor†? of? Nielsen in 2011, Hanoi people adore luxury product such as sport car or mobile phone†¦? and? easily? got? attracted? by? them.? They? willing? to? pay? high? price? for? lavish? products? and? believed? that? purchasing? and? consuming them are economic investment. As studied in the International Marketing Review written by Lien Le Monkhouse, Bradley R.? Barnes,? Ute? Stephan,? (2012),? Hanoi? people? can? be? reflected? as? the? kind? of? person? who? highly? appraise? â€Å"saving? face†,? and? consequently? have? high? insights? of? the? â€Å"extended? self-component†? as? well? as? â€Å"the? conspicuousness? dimension†? of? luxury.? Dissimilarly, the Saigonese only bought things when needed. They think high-class? goods? are? for? boasters,? and? they’d? just? spend? on? necessary instead of boasting purposes. Accordingly, Vietnamese consumers? are? aware? of? the? financial? crisis? yet? it’s? easier? for? high- end name brands to attract northern clients; and for southern clients, enterprises should differentiate business strategies and products to meet all demands. Nowadays, a numberofpeople in Vietnam can afford luxurybrand name cars such as Lexus and BMW. Despite the fact that car outlay in Vietnam are three-times higher than its original price, demand seems not have any deduction. In? their? journal? â€Å"Business? Strategy? Series†? (2009),? the? authors stated? that,? for? Trends,? â€Å"there are differences in trends these days. People want safety, fast, sexy, but economical cars†.? Therefore,? â€Å"Efficiency†? becomes? one? of? the? newest? major? trends. The second run-up? is? â€Å"to? personalize? your? style†.? For? example,? men?who love speed and sport conventionally dream about a top-gun car at least once in their life. The third run-up? is? â€Å"Safety†,? and? â€Å"making? cars? more? safety†? is? a? permanent? trend? (like? Lexus’s? pre-collision). Last but? not? least? is? â€Å"Entertainment†,? because? everybody would be so pleased as they have a bottle of wine chilled in the mobile refrigerator inside their luxury car. IV. Problem statement Marketing problem Research Question Research Objectives Hypothesis What Vietnamese market segment should be targeted? (Target segments) Will customers choose the Cayenne? How do the answers to above questions differ depending on demographic group (age, income), psychological (social class, lifestyle and spending on household) and behavioral (benefits and usage rate)? Who are the best prospects? To measure purchase intentions, their lifestyle and perception in order to find out is there a relation between their needs and the car HO: Having Luxury cars is independent from monthly income over 36 millions. H1: Having luxury cars is associated with monthly income over 36 million VND. HO: The people with high social class do not feel the luxury car fulfills the need to enjoy life. H1: The people with high social class feel the luxury car fulfills the need to enjoy life and make the enjoyable life more completed. Porsche Market Research Report RMIT University | Market Research | Sem C 2012 6 How and Why do they purchase a luxury car? (Buying motives) How the performances of Porsche Cayanne affect people? Which factors will customers consider most when choosing a type of car except the budget (the interest or family benefits)? What extent do customers think a luxury car is a status symbol for successful Vietnamese people? What can be the channels they get information? What can be the proper time in their life they consider to buy a luxury car? Will the opinions of their friends/colleagues affect them? To measure the purchase intentions. Understand what factors affect the purchase decision, the reasons and time a customer will buy a car. Also to determine how and what a customer consider before making the purchase. Ho: Different age groups have the same opinion about the statement that? â€Å"luxury? cars? create? good? impressions? on? others† H1: Different age groups have different opinions about the statement that? â€Å"luxury? cars? create? good? impressions? on? others† Ho: On? average,? people? do? not? agree? with? the? statement? that? â€Å"Luxury car is a symbol for successful of most Vietnamese customer. † H1: On average? people? agree? with? the? statement? that? â€Å"Luxury car is a symbol? for? successful? of? most? Vietnamese? customer†? Ho: Customers still buy a luxury car irrelevant with the characteristics with which they describe themselves. H1: Customers do not buy a luxury car irrelevant with the characteristics with which they describe themselves Ho: It is not important to have my car the newest car in the market that few people owns it. H1: It is important to have my car the newest car in the market that few people owns it Ho: Family? members’? opinions? do? not? affect? the? decision? making? of? choosing a car H1: Family? members’? opinions? affect? the? decision? making? of? choosing? a car How do customers use a luxury car? (Usage) What can be the perceived benefits they like when using the car in terms of speed, upgraded safe systems? In what kind of occasion they prefer having a luxury car (business and travelling? ) To determine customers’? lifestyle and usage. Understand the ways customers use the car about. Measure Ho: Consumers do not think that it is important to upgrade the new technical developments. H1: Consumers think that it is important to upgrade the new technical developments. Ho: The job requirement is not the purpose for buying the car (mean 0. 05). Therefore, it can be concluded that it do not reject H0. On the other words, having luxury cars is independent from monthly income over 36 million. Explanations. Porsche Market Research Report RMIT University | Market Research | Sem C 2012 12 It can be explained that the desire to own a car can be affected by many other factors, such as whether it is relevant to the customers’? characteristics or fit with job requirement (referred to the next objective) therefore even people who have high income still do not choose a luxury car. In addition, there is a noticeable problem here, which is about the respondent error since the income is a sensitive question so some of them have the tendency to choose a higher range than the actual income or vice versa. Question 2: How do the people with high social class feel the luxury car fulfills the need to enjoy life? Ho: The people with high social class do not feel the luxury car fulfills the need to enjoy life. H1: The people with high social class feel the luxury car fulfills the need to enjoy life and make the enjoyable life more completed. Results The bar chart indicates that the group of people with high social class also mostly disagrees with that idea, counting for more than 12. 5% even though the amount of people who agree also counts a certainly high rate which is around 8%. Based on the Car-fulfill-life. Crosstabulation, most of the high social class respondents agree that luxury car could not help fulfill their need to enjoy the life. This difference is not statistically significant according to the chi square test (test statistics = 1,771, degree of freedom= 1, p-value=0,183 >0,05). Therefore, we do not reject H0. It can be said that the people with high social class do not feel the luxury car fulfills the need to enjoy life. Explanations From the data collected, the car purchased is compatible with the owner’s? living? standard.? From? the? bar? chart? in? Q1,? successful? businessman with high monthly income above 36 million tends to own a luxury car brand. However, on the other hand, a luxury car somehow does not really take high position in their perception of life fulfillment. This can be explained that the Vietnammese high-class? people’s? perception? is? quite? different? to? the? general? materialism? tendency among Vietnam society. According to ThanhnienOnline article, the real global billionaires do not really stick with materialism containing luxury car, house†¦.. as common thinking of many Vietnamese people. To those people, car is only a mean of transportation, not a demonstration of their richness and success. This tendency also affects a part of VietNam high-class people and gradually forms a different perception among those successful and wealthy people. Recommendations As what have been proved, there is a gradual changing in Vietnam high-class customers which may put luxury car sales at risk. Taking this in consideration, Porsche should launch campaigns focusing on different aspects of luxury car image such as quality, durability, Porsche Market Research Report RMIT University | Market Research | Sem C 2012 13 service and loyal customer incentives. A luxury car does not only bring a high-class outlook and position but also provides the best quality and many other beneficial incentives. Porsche must demonstrate that it deeply understands this insight, that it knows the car is not just a vehicle, it sticks with successful moments in their career and with happy moments with their families. By recognizing and conducting? strategic? plans? on? time,? Porsche? may? affect? targeted? customer’s? perception? and? change? their? behaviour? in? more? positive ways. Research Objective 2: Some factors customers consider before purchasing a car including the image of car related to their image of success, their characteristics and the current trend in the market. Question 1: How customers evaluate Porsche compared to other three competitors (BMW, Audi & Mercedes Benz)? Results To clarify, the study has been conducted through the use of ranking Porsche, presented by the red line in the graph and other brands, including BMW, Audi and Mercedes, presented by the blue line, for each of 9 attributes, namely performance, safety, luxury brand image,? driver’s? image,? prestige,? elegance,? desire? of? the? updated? edition? of? car? model? (desirable),? uniqueness? of? car? accessories and level of equipment. The value in the graph has been calculated to the mean for each attribute. Overall,? the? graph? figures? out? Porsche? is? believed? that? the? car? can? be? raised? the? car? driver’s? social? status? which? is? representative of luxury? brand? image,? driver’s? image,? prestige? and? elegance.? To? illustrate,? the? attribute, gaining the highest mean is the image of the driver with the mean around 4. 8, compared to other brands with the mean around 4. Thus, there is a significant gap between Porsche 3. 6 3. 8 4 4. 2 4. 4 4. 6 4. 8 Other luxury brands Porsche Porsche Market Research Report RMIT University | Market Research | Sem C 2012 14 and one of the other car brands, which is 0. 8. Moreover, in the comparison of prestige, there is a magnificent gap between these car brands which is 0. 2. This is because the red line gains around 4. 4, while the blue one is approximately 4. 6. However, in the comparison of desirable, Porsche is underestimated with the mean near 4. 1, whereas, the other one is approximately 4. 6. This can be explained that there is not much updated version of Porsche Cayenne in recent years. Besides that, most Vietnamese customers are a bit interested in SUV market, not quite much as other foreign market. This can be proven that not much Cayenne models are available in Vietnam much, for example, Cayenne S, Cayenne S Diesel and even Cayenne Turbo S. Explanations: In the social image comparison, all the participants of OFGD agree that current Cayenne models raise the image of the driver.? This? also? supported? for? the? question? no.? 2? that? different? age? groups? have? same? opinion? about? the? statement? â€Å"luxury? cars make good? impressions? on? others†. The graph shows there is no much difference between Porsche and the other brands towards performance, safety, uniqueness of car accessories and level of equipment. This can be explained that the cars chosen for the comparison are premium cars. Based on both OFGD and in-depth interviews, most of the participants acknowledge that premium cars have to meet the certain requirements about safety, performance, its uniqueness of the accessories and the high level of equipment. Recommendations: It is recommended that press releases for the updated version of Cayenne should be widely introduced to be launched. This is because this is the opportunity that can enhance the brand awareness of Porsche, especially Cayenne model. Question 2: Do the customers in different age groups similarly care about the impression they have from other people while driving a luxury car? Ho:? Different? age? groups? have? the? same? opinion? about? the? statement? that? â€Å"luxury? cars? create? good? impressions? on? others† H1:? Different? age? groups? have? different? opinions? about? the? statement? that? â€Å"luxury? cars? create? good? impressions? on? others† Results Firstly, based on the graph, the age groups that have been surveyed includes under 24, 24-under 34, 34-44, 44-under 54, 54-under 64, and 64 and above.

Economical Effect of Michael Jordan

I had originally planned to write a paper on Michael Jordan's economical effect on today's sports in America. I had even researched and written two pages before I stopped and realized that I would like to instead discuss Michael Jordan's life and mystical career. Over the last twenty years Michael Jordan has captivated and awed me with his brilliant success both on and off the basketball court. I have wanted for some time to write about him and try to rationalize his seemingly unbelievable life and this paper has given me a chance. The legend began in 1981 with seventeen seconds left on the clock and seventeen feet between Michael and the basket. It was a shot any coach drawing up a play for a talented player for the final shot would die for. He knocked it in and North Carolina had its first National championship. Even though North Carolina had the best college player in the country in James Worthy and other great stars in Sam Perkins and Matt Doherty, it was the scrawny freshman who had come on the scene that year to become the first Carolina freshman to ever start that took the biggest shot in the program's history. It was Michael Jordan who was the man that night and he was determined either consciously or unconsciously to never let anyone question who the man is again. Michael went on to become two-time national college player of the year and in 1999, was voted the greatest college basketball player ever. (CNN/Sports Illustrated) After his junior year, having accomplished everything possible for a college player, Michael decided to turn professional. (He later completed his degree taking summer school courses) But first he would go on to dominated the 1984 Olympics and lead the United States to the gold medal. It could be left up to Spanish Olympian Fernando Martin to sum up the Michael Jordan phenomenon, circa 1984. â€Å"Michael Jordan? † he asked. â€Å"Jump, jump, jump. Very quick. Very fast. Very, very good. Jump, jump, jump. † No NBA scouting report could have been more pertinent. By the time Michael detonated on the league in 1984, he had sprouted from a precocious and exciting young talent into a full-fledged human event. As his rookie season marched on, Jordan upstaged proven giants like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Dr. J. and already was becoming the first player to transcend team affiliation on the road. Fan's didn't come out to see their hometown heroes beat the Bulls; they bought tickets to watch Michael Jordan fly. In his rookie year Michael averaged an astonishing 28. 2 points per game (third overall) and was selected to the all-star game. He also led the team to the playoffs for the first time in four years. A feat he would continue to ensure every year of his career. It was in his second year that Jordan's bitter relationship with Bulls general manager Jerry Krause and owner Jerry Reinsdorf began. Michael had broken his foot three games into the season and had spent the next months rehabilitating in order to come back as soon as possible. When he was finally healthy to play the Bulls record was 24-43. Michael believed that the team could still make the playoffs and was excited for the challenge. Krause and Reinsdorf had other ideas. They wanted to keep Michael from playing so that they could keep losing and secure a place in the draft lottery. To someone as competitive as Michael Jordan, this idea was simply sinful. It meant that the people who employed him were not as committed to winning as he was, that they accepted the idea of defeat as he did not, and that they were wiling to bag the current season and any chance at the playoffs in order to improve their roster for the future. Even on a bad team with marginal players like the early Bulls, the remarkable thing about Michael Jordan was that he never accepted the idea of defeat. He believed that as long as he played, the Bulls could make the playoffs, and that if he got there, he could carry them on to victory. Management finally did let him play and the Bulls did make the playoffs where they faced the best team in the league, the Boston Celtics. It was the stage that Michael lived for and he took full advantage. Although the Bulls were swept by the eventual champions, Michael's fame and notoriety had a quantum increase after the series. No one was really prepared for what happened. In the first game Michael came out blistering and scored forty-nine points. A great performance against the top defensive team in the league, but not extraordinary. In the second game Michael performed at a playoff level that no one had witnessed before. The CBS sports broadcast seemed more like a personal highlight reel than an actual game. By the end of the double overtime war, he'd hit for 63 points, the most points ever scored in playoff history. Celtic Danny Ainge later said, â€Å"We knew when we had gone into the game that he was very good, but none of us knew yet that he was going to be the best player who ever laced up sneakers, but we were in the process of learning it, and that afternoon was a good beginning. Perhaps Larry Bird, the MVP of the league at the time, put it best, â€Å"That was god disguised as Michael Jordan. † In his rookie year Michael already had become one of the top product endorser in the league. He had signed a then unheard of contract with Nike that paid him $250,000 a year for five years with an annuity, incentives, and royalties on all Nike basketball related items. Michael had originally wanted to sign with Addidas even if they offered him less money than Nike, but Nike threw in the kicker. They offered to name a shoe after him. The first Air Jordan shoe was a high-top black and red shoe. Three games into the season, the NBA did Michael and Nike a huge favor. The league banned the shoe because it didn't conform to the rest of the Bulls uniform. Michael continued to wear the shoe and the league subsequently fined him $5,000 a game. Nike didn't blink. They paid every penny and Michael continued to wear the shoe. It would have cost millions of dollars to come up with a promotion that produced as much publicity as the league's ban did. The first commercial showed Jordan's head, and the camera slowly moved down his body to his feet. When the camera hit the shoes a big â€Å"X† was stamped on the screen and the announcer said, â€Å"Banned†. After that sales went crazy. But it was Michael's third year when his remarkable qualities where able to be portrayed through the television. Nike had hired a little known film producer named Spike Lee to direct Michael in commercials. The commercials that they make together were able to show Michael's innate charm and wit, and his obvious confidence. He knew who he was and liked who he was. There was nothing threatening about him. He was judgmental- you had to win his respect, and he was clearly shrewd about how he was used- but there was an innate coolness and elegance about him. If this was not yet expressed in anything he said, it was self evident in the smile, in the deft facial gestures, in the ability to roll his eyebrows at just the right moment. He was good looking, he was likable, he had that luminescent smile, and he was the greatest basketball player in the world. The Nike commercials were so good, that they fed on themselves and inspired other companies such as McDonald's, Coke, Hanes, Gatorade, Wilson, and Ballpark Franks among many others to do comparable commercials. And so it was that a true American icon was born. Michael continued for the next three years to grow in both his basketball achievements and his fame. Michael won every single individual basketball award possible and was already considered one of the best players in the history of the game. And outside of basketball the public became more and more fond of him. But in his mind and the mind of many others, Michael was missing something. A championship. For years Michael had carried a seemingly inferior team to the brink, only to succumb to either the great Celtic teams of the early 80's, or the great Pistons, led by Isaah Thomas, in the late 80's. But in 1991 the basketball world could no longer contain Michael Jordan's destiny. After the first championship against the Lakers and Magic Johnson, Michael's fame again skyrocketed. He went from being the most famous athlete in America to being the most famous person in America. By the time Michael had claimed his third championship in a row, his notoriety transcended not only sports but American culture. He was unquestionably the most well known human on the planet. More famous in many distant parts of the globe than the President of The United States. American journalists and diplomats on assignment to the most rural parts of Asia and Africa were often stunned when they visited small villages to find young children wearing tattered replicas of Michael Jordan's Bulls jersey. Michael Jordan's life from 1980 to 1993 was that of a storybook. The success that he achieved in that short time frame quit possibly is unparallel in American history. But at the same time it seemed possible by a very unique and gifted individual. However, the events that occurred in Michael Jordan's life from 1994-1999, in my and many others opinion, at times do not seem possible and in fact almost immortal. You could almost get a sense watching him over the years that you were not in fact witnessing a real story, but one made of fiction. As if all the major media sources in the world got together and decided to concoct this seemingly unbelievable human that never seems to fail. To put the success that Michael Jordan achieved in the last six years in the proper perspective would significantly increase the length of this paper so I would like to instead let some well known others describe Michael Jordan. Harry Edwards, a sociologist at the University of California, talks about Jordan representing the highest level of human achievement, on the order of Gandhi, Einstein, or Michelangelo. If, he added, he were in charge of introducing an alien being â€Å"to the epitome of human potential, creativity, perseverance, and spirit, I would introduce that alien life to Michael Jordan. Doug Collins, once spoke of Jordan belonging to that rarest category of people who are so far above the norm, men like Einstein and Edison, that they were identifiable geniuses. Jordan's talented teammate B. J. Armstrong, frustrated in his early years with the Bulls by his failure to rise to Jordan's level and apparent expectations, had gone to the library and checked out a series of books on geniuses to see if there was anything he might learn about how to deal with Jordan. He's god's child,† teammate Wes Matthews said in Jordan's first year. And there were a number of players more talented than Matthews who agreed. â€Å"Jesus in Nikes,† in the words of Jayson Williams of the Nets. After Jordan led the Bulls to their second title, Larry bird said that there had never been an athlete like Jordan. I think author Scott Turow says it best, â€Å"Michael Jordan plays basketball better than anyone else in the world does anything else. â€Å"