Instability, Ambiguity and Errors in the Communication Process Essay

Subjectivity and duality are linked pitfalls of the communication process. Limitations in the power of expression, constraints imposed by circumstances, social conventions and the desire to keep intentions covert, all contribute to people saying, writing and signaling thoughts and ideas that may be at variance from the whole truth. The effects of such shortcomings are magnified by matching limitations on the part of the individual or the group which is the object of communication. Since context is fluid, communication may cease to be relevant, even when conveyed and received with great clarity and accuracy. Thus the communication process can be no more durable than inevitable changes in perceptions, situations and aims. Mayhew (2002, p 3) has emphasized the essential nature of communication as a means of maintaining dialogue in modern society, and in order to resolve various shades of opinion that evolve on all issues of common concern. The element of instability may not arise from the communication process alone, but may be integral to the environment in which communication takes place (Windahl, Signitzer and Olson, 1992, p219). We cannot always blame communication for the instability in which it is forced to operate). An element of instability is almost inevitable in any communication that is not static. Communication instability can have roots in changing agenda of the encoder, media, noise and the through the intellectual evolution of the decoder as well. The term instability should be seen in communication terms without any necessarily negative connotation. The aspect of instability should also serve to warn encoders that their rivals as well ass noise may undermine their influence at any time. Communicators, for this reason, can never rest! High issue turnover sustain audience interest; excess stability can lead to boredom and even annoyed changes of perception. Errors may arise not just from encoding and decoding, but from noise. Noise may even add to the value and merits of information compared to the original transmission. Noise is an important source of errors in communication, whether perceived as beneficial or harmful (Shannon and Weaver, 1963, p19). Communication free of errors is utopian, and should be accepted in a positive spirit. Sensitivity to feedback and the ability to respond appropriately in terms of speed and modification are meaningful defenses against the inevitable and even at times useful errors that are part of the communication process. Windahl, Signitzer and Olson (1992, p205) also give the ambiguity of communication a utilitarian hue, by referring to the effect of political and other campaigns in the media, that spur people to search for additional information and even to action, based on the questions and curiosity that such ambiguity can arouse. Ambiguity can be used with good effect by skilled communicators. Many advertising campaigns, for example, may fail to meet set marketing objectives, if they present comprehensive and defined information in pedantic manner: intended targets may receive such communication and respond with inaction. Ambiguity can also help to attract attention in a situation full of noise. The onerous task of acquiring effective communication skills can be a thankless one, for its benefits and effects may be muddied by a lack of matching abilities on the part of the intended audience. A productive approach may be to study, mimic and adapt to the communication foibles of the other party, many disadvantages of language and customs as this may imply. Difficulties and obstacles to effective communication do nothing to undermine the importance and the value of related skills, difficult as they are to practice and to use. Communication ability, on the contrary, often becomes the deciding vote between success and failure, between victory and defeat, and between peaceful resolution and destructive violence, in all kind of transactions between individuals and groups. It is a means of intellectual distinction and of influence over the affairs of people at large. Signaling, Signification and the Code Model Signaling serves many important purposes in communication. A signal succinctly conveys a notion that may take many words and a long time to explain in normal language. A signal also bears the stamp of independent certification, thus endorsing a person or a view with the stamp of authentic authority. Finally, signals support obvious communication, supporting the overt message in subtle manner. An educational qualification, a professional or a social association and employment with an illustrious organization, are examples of signals and their benefits. We may presume to think that Mayhew is uncharitable in declaring that signaling is born in the assumption that others may not be honest during the communication process (2002, p 124). It would not be possible for any meaningful dialogue to take place within a reasonable period, if we had to communicate without signals. Signaling is also a valid response to the manner in which human minds function and form opinions. Signaling adds to the retention of communication, and thereby serves to fight competing communication and noise as well. Signification is a more basic aspect of communication than signaling, and one that is free of any implied criticism as we find with Mayhew. Signification relates to meaning. It has a valid base, since professional linguists can decide for us, the label value of each term. This does not mean that signification is elementary of free of controversy. Syntax and poor language ability can easily and commonly results in signification errors. The latter are especially common in verbal communication, especially in hasty situations when people cannot think as quickly and completely as they may be instigated to communicate. Signification capability improves with practice, and the most accomplished of people from all fields other than communication, may use spokespeople and writers to communicate better than their own powers of signification may allow. Artful changes of signification add to the elegance of communication (Silva Rhetoricae, 2002). Tropes and figures of speech are examples of some desirable changes in signification that may be used to enhance the value of communication. Signification is inseparable from the Code Model. Signification gives form and valid substance to the Code. However, all people may not be familiar with the formal dictionary meanings of words, which lead to communication errors in coding and decoding. Communication as a Means of Social Representation and Extension It is critical to the integrity of communication that practitioners distinguish between engaging others in dialogue, and the unethical tendency to exert overpowering influence on others. Differences in language abilities can become tools to impose on passive subjects in a manner that destroys individual freedom, and undermines development. Freire has recognized the power of literacy as a means of social development. Extension is not limited to mere transmission of messages, but maintenance of society over time; it has played key roles in impart and use of modern technologies and in achieving major changes in social behavior (Windahl, Signitzer and Olson 1992, pps 7 and 130). However, there are a number of casual settings in which extension objectives may degrade in to efforts to wield undue influence on the thought processes of others. It is therefore important to restrict extension efforts to facts that have strong foundations in evidence, though many communicators are not bound by such ethics. Mayhew has acknowledged the power of communication as used by people who seek to wield influence over others with whom they have affiliation and ties (2002, p 74). The communication process has the potential to induce desirable social change, but this should be through the path of developing strong conceptual abilities on an egalitarian basis. Social objectives can be undermined when education is either restricted or restrictive, thus giving some individuals superior signification abilities. This can prove to be especially manipulative when individuals with positional and resources strengths arm themselves with communication skills as well. The dangers of abuse of communication skills are as potentially deleterious in extension activities as they are in social representation within closely-knit groups of peers. However, the element of trust is likely to be much higher in an extension context, because of which the manipulation potential is also magnified. Widespread and uniform literacy with the ability for unrestrained critical thought is the only stable and durable way of preventing socially harmful and exploitative use of communication. This is the core value of Freire’s contribution to oppressed people everywhere. Pitfalls of Coding and Decoding The conversion of thoughts in to words and signs, and their translation by an audience, relate to the core and very delicate part of communication. The formation of words and signs to denote thoughts is the process of encoding, whereas the reverse by an audience is called decoding. Many of the processes of semiotics lie outside the conscious realm; they are also limited by the degree of literacy and facility with language. The processes of encoding and decoding are therefore fraught with dangers of errors and manipulation as well. The transport model of communication postulates the existence of a medium to convey thoughts from one individual to another, or between groups. Such a medium may vary in its degree of transparency, and can affect the veracity of decoding encoded messages. Distortion is also possible at the stage of encoding itself. The preferred meanings that we may wish to attach to words and signals are major instruments of errors in signal engineering. Such changes may also be intentional as in situations of propaganda. Judicious and deliberate encoding, as well as reflective and literate decoding, are some essential features for constructive dialogue, free of transport deficiencies. This is somewhat utopian in semiotic terms, and recognized as inevitable distortion, though it may vary widely in degree and differ by way of intent. A full understanding of the processes of encoding, decoding and use of media is crucial for the understanding of many contemporary phenomena in the worlds of social development, political evolution and industrial psychology. Mayhew has recognized its integral role in modern politics (2002, p 249). Accurate encoding and semantic decoding hold the keys to errors that even redundancy cannot substitute (Shannon and Weaver, 1963, pps 26, 71). They are therefore instrumental in effective communication, and in preventing both unintended misunderstandings and intentional noise that may be interjected in the system. Discourse and Miscommunication Sustained communication, as in a discourse, naturally multiplies encoding and decoding errors. Such a process lays the basis for basic and seemingly insurmountable misunderstandings. Edward Said has used the perception of the Orient (or the Middle East, which was his principal concern,) as an example of a misconception being perpetuated by a process of sustained discourse. Distortions that arise from discourse arise principally because individuals and groups have designated sources of information on which they depend, to decode information about entities and subjects of which they have no first-hand experience. Style is not an optional feature of discourse, because ideas cannot be communicated effectively without a degree of ornamentation (Silva Rhetoricae, 2002). Differences in styles used by encoders on the one hand, and styles to which decoders are accustomed on the other, may affect the integrity of the communications process. Mayhew has presented the same concepts as Said in the business light of Advertising, Market Research and Public Relations (2002, p206). Here, style variations may be used intentionally in discourse to affect perceptions and basic decoding processes. The manipulation of public opinion on a variety of matters through structured communication is a significant weapon of both politicians and business people. It is an important industrial application of communication skills. Commentators such as Edward Said have lamented the abuse of communication potential to create misrepresentations and distortions of public perception. Some parties may be excluded from parts of a discourse, which leads to misunderstandings, as they are not privy to the same facts, opinions and other inputs (Windahl, Signitzer and Olson1992, p 149). This is another insidious aspect of the potential for discourse to affect the realization of truth by large numbers of people with no direct access to undistorted facts. Literacy, common facility with language, equal access to transparent media and the ability for critical appraisal of issues, are certain safeguards against misrepresentation and unintentional errors in discourse and other forms of communication. Primary education and literacy for deprived adults are therefore essential tools for those who aim for egalitarianism and justice in the field of communication. Propaganda and more Ethical Forms of Influence Propaganda is marked by a unitary objective to encode and transmit, over-riding noise, feedback and any other form of influence on the transmission process (Windahl, Signitzer and Olson, 1992, p 91). It is a feature of many attempts at the business function of public relations by large organizations. Propaganda sees the decoder as a virtually passive object, who seems to have no rights to their own opinions, much less the universal access to factual information! Propaganda is ineffective in literate circumstances, and can prove to be counter-productive, through loss of trust. Propaganda favors mass media such as television that can deliver quick results and which traditionally discourage or disable feedback mechanisms in the short-term (Windahl, Signitzer and Olson, 1992, p 154). Exhibitions and exchanges are examples of relatively ‘slow’ media that do not lend themselves to propaganda aims. National aims are often touted as justification for propaganda. Though propaganda has some negative decoding in the public mind, it is in essence putting forward an idea with a certain agenda. Mayhew seems to acknowledge the authenticity of using eloquence to reinforce some ideas (2002, p 47). Professionally therefore, propaganda should not be seen as less or different than the related processes of propagation and diffusion, though the latter operates more at the informal and individual level. Much of Edward Said’s problems with the Occidental perception of Palestine could be seen in retrospect, as degrees of propaganda, propagation and diffusion. Rumors stand apart, for they lack the foundations in facts, and they often generate from sources that lack authority. Rumors always remain below the surface, and do not appear in official and open forms of communication. This does not mean that rumors lack potency; rather they can be even more damaging than propaganda in shaping public opinion. The insidious circulation of rumors is especially effective when overt communication transactions are lacking. Diffusion is one of the most professional means available for sanguine communicators ((Windahl, Signitzer and Olson, 1992, p 57). Though it is a slow process, it has the benefit of durability and leads to long-term credibility of the best communicators. Diffusion uses a two-step process as a model and networking. Diffusion can produce revolutionary changes in opinions and habits, albeit in very phased and gradual manner. Diffusion suits those with long-term communication goals. It is a valid counterfoil to the bluster of propaganda. How Trust Fosters Successful Communication There can be no effective communication without degrees of faith and reliance. Decoding errors are more likely if the degree of trust in an encoder is low. Trust may be born in authority, but communication is more durable if the dependence is based on shared values and good experiences. Encoders have therefore to bear in mind that a single reason for loss of trust can very quickly result in a breakdown of communication that has been built over a long period. The most enduring communication campaigns, both in politics and commerce, are born in consistent support of espoused causes. Mayhew has said that even rhetoric is based on trust (2002, p 14). Mayhew is critical of some nuances of trust in communications, as it can be abused by encoders to prevent full discourse and to evade accountability. Social development depends in large measure on the trust that people have in communication from agents of change. This is a major challenge for state media and also for international agencies that wish to make impacts on communities in emerging nations, and in the aftermath of natural disasters and after times of distress. Support for new developments in technology may also be hampered by the lack of trust in the minds of lay public for sources of such information that are viewed as being biased. The aspect of trust presents special challenges in the new field of Internet communication, where the intended audience may have no direct experience with the sources of such information. We may conclude by stressing the invaluable role of trust in communication. As Mayhew has observed, solidarity depends on interdependence rather than uniformity; people will look for alternate encoders if they lose trust in established sources of information (2002, p 16). Windahl, Signitzer and Olson have repeatedly stressed the vital role of trust in various phases of the communication process (1992, pps 55, 62, 88, 103). The Motivating Force of Communication in Social Influence We learn from history that the force of communication is more sustained and influential than the use of force. The latter may produce some transient compliance, but only consistent advocacy can succeed in shaping and changing opinion. This concept applies in equal measures for both individual thought and for group action. The quality of signification in terms of its suitability for the intended audience, the peripheral support of signals and the consistent of transport across all available media, contribute to the motivating power of communication. People are known to undertake the most heroic and other forms of extreme action, under the influence of effective communication. Mayhew draws our attention to how governments use professionals from the world of advertising to try and wield influence over banks of voters (2002, p 7). Communication backed by appropriate media, can steer people towards forceful and aimed action. However, Mayhew warns that the persuasive power of communication can be misleading (2002, p 129). There is the important distinction at this stage, between factual statements, which are neutral, statements of identification that promote solidarity, and thereby appeal to irrational reaches of the decoding mind. Mayhew stresses the creative use of rhetoric to move people to action (2002, 129). The communication process may use inventive sentences with the intention to deceive. The influential power of communication may therefore be devoid of ethical merit. This cannot, unfortunately, detract from its efficacy! The power of communication campaigns to move large groups towards concerted action is a dangerous weapon amongst people who are unable to decode messages accurately, and who cannot reflect critically on the inputs to which they are subject. Such distortions are often more clear in retrospect than during the heat of a campaign. Motivation on issues beyond rational thought, such as related to religion, and on matters for which common people have no way of unbiased validation, as before war, are especially harmful in their immense powers. Contradictory Balances of Deception and Cooperation in Communication Models Communication models trace the flow of interaction between two entities. They serve both to understand the process and to determine strategies. All models must have the three universal components of sender, receiver and medium or channel. Early communication models depicted the process in linear manner from source and encoder to a receiver through a channel and a decoding procedure. Sources of noise were the only sides to this simplistic straight line. We know now that communication involves feedback, and is therefore a complex and non-linear process. The relative roles of deception and cooperation will not change depending upon the chosen model, for the latter is only a conceptual representation of a unitary reality. The game begins with the initiator of a communication. He or she has the discretion to use a valid source, or to pretend to have one. This person must be both skilled and committed to accurate encoding, and should know which channels and how many to use at each point in time. The initiator has also to be sensitive to feedback and to adapt subsequent transactions accordingly. Cooperation lies largely in the domain of the recipient, decoding as best as he or she can, and reflecting critically on inputs, with meaningful feedback and requests for supporting evidence. Mayhew has noted the role of deception in advertising campaigns as a 20th century phenomenon (2002, p 193). The endorsement of cigarettes by celebrities has been cited as the most powerful and terrifying of all deceptions used by the media. Interpersonal cooperation, on the other hand is a way of establishing relevance (2002, p 12). We may conclude that cooperation is a key factor in intimate communication between individuals, whereas deception works most effectively in campaigns conducted through the media. Brevity and Verbosity Feedback often instigates verbosity. Redundancy may be rooted in assumptions about the conceptual and decoding capabilities of an audience, or in excessive enthusiasm in a point of view. Propaganda aims may require repetition beyond the requirements of more neutral and virtuous communication. However, feedback may provide a justifiable reason for verbosity. They is a natural tendency to repeat oneself, as in a selling situation in which the customer appears unconvinced or even distracted. Verbosity also serves to allay anxieties of encoders and communicators. The imperative to succeed as when seeking financial succor or support, for example may bring forth a torrent of words far more voluminous than an audience may desire. Begging is an extreme form of communication in which brevity can be counter-productive! A more serious limitation of brevity is its ability to serve a multiplicity of communication objectives. Professional advertisers would love for their industrial clients to limit the number of points they want to convey; paying clients may be greedy and so involved with their brands, that they require a unitary buying benefit to be presented in as many ways as possible! We may conclude that verbosity is a failing of amateurs; it is shunned by the best communicators, who treasure the transport of concepts with as few signals as possible. However, amplification may be considered as a good reason for a degree of the stylistic vice that is verbosity (Silva Rhetoricae, 2002). Semiotics can reduce the tendency to be verbose, especially between homogenous groups which are accustomed to communicating with each other. The development of trust is also efficacious in keeping communication as brief as possible, without sacrificing completeness. Verbosity can therefore be an indicator of the lack of trust and of wide chasms between the cultural and linguistic preferences of people. This could be a reason for the long-windedness from which bodies such as the General Assembly of the United Nations seem to suffer! A Pragmatic Approach to Semiotics Communication Science, Semiotics and other Cognitive Processes cannot be seen in isolation of each others. Professional communicators and professional enthusiasts of the process have been accused by many commentators of exaggeration to the point of exclusion of necessary attendants (Windahl, Signitzer, Olson, 1992, p 18). Semiotics has always had a major role in communication theory, and modern users of mass media have heaped increasing loads of importance of this branch of insight in to human minds). Semiotics is an exact and an exacting field of endeavor, and its rigors can easily prove irrelevant to some sections of a heterogeneous audience. Focused targeting on sharply defined segments can make better sense of semiotics in communication, but real life often demands that a single transaction of a communications process necessarily reaches out to a diverse audience. The Chairman of a business Corporation has to bear in mind that the public use of semiotics may lead to varying degrees of decoding errors by categories of stakeholders with contradictory goals. Employees, vendors, regulators, investors and competitors will respond to a set of semiotics in different ways. The effect of semiotics on the enemy places an even greater burden on spokespeople of the warring sides and on political leaders of all shades of opinion. Pragmatism must often dominate semiotics in real life, especially when unitary signification is within the reach of diverse decoders, each with their own needs and objectives. Effective communication is rare if the social and cultural nuances of linguistics are discarded in the interests of semiotic perfection. The latter does not have many universal manifestations in any case. Pragmatic perlocution is often the result of a communicative action, though other forms of decoding could be considered as valid (Eco, 1978, p 65). Such pragmatism may be born out of the exigencies of a situation, apart from cultural distinctiveness of decoding. Communicative Action and Perlocution Locution refers to the uttered word, illocution to the intention behind the communication, and perlocution refers to the effect of locution in terms of producing action (Cutting, 2003, p 16). Speech Act theory refers to the relationships between and the sequences of illocution, locution and perlocution. Locution, illocution and perlocution are integral parts of communication. Illocution is the first step, as we cannot have any communicative action shorn of some intention. Locution can reflect illocution only to the extent that the encoder is literate and careful in signaling. Perlocution skills are similar to those of locution, except that they relate to the decoder, rather than to the originator of the communicative action. Communicative action and perlocution are therefore only the signification of the communicative process in codes that are not widely understood! Nevertheless, they serve to display the communication process in analytical light for the professional and for the enthusiast as well. Adianoeta are examples of signification in which signification can have authentic differences in perlocution (Silva Rhetoricae, 2002). Allegory and irony are related techniques of transmitting ideas and of attracting attention and exerting influence over perceptions. However stylistic vices are also inherent in many aspects of communicative action. Most communicative action will suffer from some bias or even error due to illocution on the part of encoders, their locative powers and the perlocution abilities of individual members of a diverse audience. Speech acts are limited by culture (Cutting, 2003, p 21). The use of words and their meanings have major differences across countries, and sometimes between ethnic groups in a single nation. A compliment within the confines of a community may be taken as insulting in another! This is a drawback of the Speech Act theory. Â  Colloquialisms and figures of speech that gradually creep in to everyday language as used by the laity can render the Speech Act irrelevant to some extent. The pedantic meanings of words can vary from common perceptions that evolve over time. Most communities prefer to accord precedence to such conventions over original root meanings. Therefore the use of the Speech Act to analyze real life communication processes may be prone to debilitating errors. Many expressions of feedback also fall outside the purview of the Speech Act, because decoding is at variance from the purist line. Finally, the Speech Act is deficient to analyze precisely communication that includes incomplete sentences. The latter are normal reactions to feedback that communicators receive during the course of discourse and dialogue. Incomplete sentences may also be used to create drama, humor, sarcasm and intimacy. Communicators have to be sensitive to the perlocution results of target audiences, and to adapt their locative techniques accordingly. Some errors may be due to the medium, and it takes long years of experience, with consummate instinct to distinguish between various possible sources of error that lead to unplanned communicative action. Similarly, perlocuters have to be wary of differences between expressed locution, distortions of media and noise and the true illocution of an encoder. Such potential errors are easier to manage over time and with repeated communicative transactions. Concluding Remarks Communication is a complex but universal and essential part of human life as a social species. It is shared by people with many earlier forms of life, but probably most evolved and certainly best understood within the context of our own cognitive abilities. Variations of signification lie at the deepest root of many communication errors. A universal lexicon, as used to some extent in the enunciation of law, serves to improve the accuracy of communication to an extent where independent and binding resolution of differences is possible. Opacity of media and environmental noise are common and highly significant sources of distortions and errors in the communication process. They are often clearer in review mode than during actual operation, whereas hidden aspects of illocution are more difficult to uncover without ambiguity. Linear models of communication are as ineffective as they are archaic. The roles of feedback and noise are essential elements of any template of productive and desirable communication. However the linear force of propaganda can be stunning when used with unbalanced force on groups of people with low literacy levels. Politics, relationships between nations and branding of industrial goods and professional services are the most powerful and remunerative applications of communication theories, though the process is relevant to all interaction between individuals. Communications have been used to subjugate people, imposing pervasive influence over perceptions and opinions of large groups of people with inferior literacy, comprehension and analytical skills. Equal access to quality primary education is therefore a primary weapon of mass empowerment. Communication skills, not just for encoders, but for decoders as well, are potent though non-violent shields against pernicious propaganda by vested interests of the elite. There is a need for more widespread appreciation of the role and nature of communication. The validity of some key theories and the efficacy of painstakingly developed techniques are adversely affected by imbalances between parties in a communication process. Pragmatism often wins the day against the elegance of semiotics and related disciplines. Diffusion based on valid and factual inputs, respectful of feedback, is a certain and virtuous, if slow means to eminent communication. Cultural and linguistic differences between people are the most important obstacles to utopian states of communication; the development, maintenance and reinforcement of mutual trust are amongst the most reliable facilitators of ideal communication between individuals and between groups as well. References Cutting, J 2003, Pragmatiics and Discourse, Routledge (UK) Eco, U 1978, A Theory of Semiotics, p 65, Indiana University Press Mayhew, LH 2002, The New Public: Professional Communication and the Means of Social Influence, Cambridge University Press Windahl, S, Signitzer, B, and Olson JT, 1992, Using Communication Theory, Sage Publications Incorporated Shannon, CE and Weaver, W, 1963, Mathematical Theory of Communication, pps 26, 71, University of Illinois Press Silva Rhetoricae, 2002, retrieved January 2006 from

Canyon Ranch Essay

1. What is the value of customer information to Canyon Ranch? Ans. To Canyon Ranch, customer information is must in order to implement their business model successfully. The value that it gives to the business is that it understands customer’s unique wants and give alternatives that will allow each guest to rach their individual goals. This is essential for Canyon Ranch to reach its mission to â€Å"inspire people to make healthy living, turning hopes and live into the highest enjoyment of life†. By gathering and sharing guests’ information, Canyon Ranch can assimilate it to â€Å"know and understand their customers, provides loyalty, and cross-sell its offerings† all of which are highly critical to the success of Canyon Ranch. The VP of Marketing was quoted saying â€Å"everyone experiences a different Canyon Ranch; we’ll meet you where you are†. If the company doesn’t know ‘where that is’, they will never be able to live up to this motto. Their customers are looking for a Luxury-like experience, not a ‘Marriott’ experience. They want unique, custom opportunities and to miss the details related to each customer could cost Canyon Ranch their reasonable edge. Canyon Ranch has been regarded as the â€Å"gold standard in the industry. To uphold this standard, they must know their client better than they see themselves. This is only likely to gather and adapt quality customer information. 2. As CIO, how would you make the case for customer relationship management (CRM) and business intelligence (BI) systems at Canyon Ranch? Canyon Ranch is the gold standard in destination spas and enjoys impressive rates that are much higher than other destination spas, but there are marks of increasing competition. Day spas are aligning themselves with medical expert and offered facilities in nutrition, homeopathy, physical therapy and general medical practice. Also some hospitals were starting to provide spa treatments and wellness centers with nutritionists. Canyon Ranch is now faced with demands as to how to raise the business while keeping the fundamental characteristics of Canyon Ranch. From an IT position, Canyon Ranch has basic systems for the business to function although they are not very effective. The CLS based system is used to record transactional data  while client preferences, support incident, rapid response etc. used Guestware. is not integrated well with CLS. The program coordinator, who persisted as the contact person for the quest through their stay, did not always have all of the data ahead of ti me. There is no POS software in the restaurant or the salon, hold up the Ranch of a chance to compile and track sales data. Canyon Ranch’s each business unit is committed on improving the level of customer service and personalization. As a CIO I would make central IT infrastructure so that all the figures is shared at every Canyon Ranch branch so that where every a customer goes he is not treated as new if he has visited it before. Create a Point of Sale software that leads to traceable value of purchase. If any customer wants to just buy a product then he can buy it rather than taking whole services. Increase direct marketing and communication to self decision making software that recognizes the pattern of customer visit and reminds him about his upcoming event to celebrate or take service at Canyon Ranch. 3. What impact would you anticipate these systems to have on the Canyon Ranch strategy and capabilities? Ans. The evolution of IT application such as CRM and BI systems will change the business interaction with customers. Canyon Ranch can enhance their historic reliance on word-of-mouth promotion to expand its customer base through social networking. Though Canyon Ranch has property management system that captures some customer data but implementing CRM and BI will make robust system to periodically survey customers, capture sales data and track services. Such integration can increase repeat customer visit, enhance customer personalization and attract new customers. The implantation of BI will allow company to attract profitability of its three segments : Health and Healing, Hotels and Spas. With this intelligence Canyon Ranch will employ cost saving measures, track inventory and monitor resources. Such system will improve capability and enhance productivity. 4. What advice do you have for Canyon Ranch executives? Ans. In the IT area Canyon Ranch still has space to improve. The first thing is to reduce the cost. Canyon Ranch has 2.5:1 staff-to-guest ratio, it also was the advantage in competition. But this will cost too much, Canyon Ranch can use the information technology to decrease the amount of staffs. Some services can be done by the computer like registration or remind services,  sometimes, the guest want their privacy space, at this time the Canyon Ranch should offer guests options to enjoy their private time. In another aspect, the information system can help the staffs to manage the profile of the customers. When the customer checking in the resort, the system will tell the preferences of each customer to the service provider automatically. These data of preferences can also help the Canyon Ranch provides much more projects that fit for customers. For the new customers, it should have a survey system to get the basic preferences. There should have some self-service machines to provide reserve service to the customers, to help them reserve the private spa service by their own. It will decrease the cost of Canyon Ranch and increase the efficiency. It also can attract more customers back to Canyon Ranch again. Another problem in Canyon Ranch is the separating system. The CLS system is the core system that runs the whole company, but the Guestware and POS software cannot connect to the core system. So the plan above cannot be implementing until this applicability problem solved. The good news is the Canyon Ranch owned the source code of CLS system, and it could be customized easily. Canyon Ranch should work with the develop company of CLS to customize the system. So a centralized system should be make that interlinks every branch and segments within it.

Performance Management Essay

1. Summarize the seven (7) components of the framework for coaching and performances management, and identify which ones you require development in and why. The seven components of the frame work for coaching and performance management are the coaching relationship, insight, motivation, capabilities, real-world practice, accountability, and organizational context. The first and most important step in the performance management process is to communicate what is expected. The should also be identifications of any job related learning needs and possible ways to address these needs. There also needs to be a performance review periodically to make sure that job expectations are relevant and appropriate and revise them if needed. Managers are encouraged to do this jointly with their employees which observing and documenting their performance. Throughout the performance management cycle, you should observe your employees’ performance and identify instances of both good and poor performance. Specific events and details are important for employees to clearly understand the impact, results, and consequences of their performance. Thorough documentation will enable you to recognize good performance and help you to correct poor performance. Provide feedback you should provide frequent feedback and coaching to your employees regarding performance throughout the year. This is especially important for the employee who is performing poorly. To be effective, feedback needs to be immediate, specific, and expressed in relation to a particular outcome and expectation. Deal With Performance That Does Not Meet Expectations. You may wish to enlist the support of your manager. He/she can give you the benefit of his or her experience and provide input and support before proceeding. Also, you can use the services of your Human Resources or Labor Relations Components especially if you are contemplating disciplinary action. They will provide the procedural and regulatory guidance as well as assistance in looking at alternatives and providing resources, intervention strategies, and other support.† (Public service commission) 2. Evaluate the validity of each of the reasons provided for failure in performance management. The reasons provided for failure in performance management versus performance appraisal discipline gap, accountability, measurement scarcity or overload, lack of balance and failure to assess impact. â€Å"There are two primary purposes of performance appraisal: evaluative and developmental. The evaluative purpose is intended to inform people of their performance standing. The collected performance data are frequently used to reward high performance and to punish poor performance.† (Smither, 2009) The developmental purpose is intended to identify problems in employees performing the assigned task. The collected performance data are used to provide necessary skill training or professional development. â€Å"The purpose of performance appraisal must be clearly communicated both to raters and rates, because their reactions to the appraisal process are significantly different depending on the intended purpose. Failure to inform about the purpose or misleading information about the purpose may result in inaccurate and biased appraisal reports.† (Cascio, 1998) 3. Identify two (2) of the barriers of success that are evident in preventing successful execution of performance management in a company you know well and recommend a solution to the problems. If you have not worked with or for a company that evaluates employee performance through performance management, imagine what the problems would be based on your knowledge of the company. Be sure to provide your rationale. Future scenarios allow organizations to explore multiple potential futures and generate robust strategies and early warning signs to understand how the future is unfolding. Where a vision articulates a â€Å"preferred future,† future scenarios describe how an organization might achieve its mission in different circumstances or environments. Organizations identify a focal issue or major decision the organization faces and the critical uncertainties in the macro environment, such as social, economic, political, environmental, and technical forces. Scenarios are developed based on combinations of these forces and robust strategies are identified to address multiple futures. Finally, indicators are identified to help understand how the future is affecting the organization’s decisions. In-order to fully understand the rationale past, present, and future analysis would have to be done on different work environments in-order to generally process the full computation of how and HR performance management society would work to stay in constant communication with the employee’s skill set.

EUROPEAN UNION Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

EUROPEAN UNION - Research Paper Example ic debate regarding these two principal issues as well as related subject matter such as the European Union as an institutional system and political entity, the transformation of governance and the three aspects what are mentioned as preconditions for this transformation. Lastly, we endeavor to come up with a very rational assessment and analysis of the topics that we have chosen. The European Union has always been viewed as a positive development for Europe as well as the rest of the world. It has always been at the forefront in terms of governance, economic growth and progress, foreign relations, social development and the legal system. Decision-making is formulated by self-governing, supranational institutions or through the conduct of negotiations between member-nations. Some important institutions of the EU include the  European Commission, the  Council of the European Union, the  European Council, the  Court of Justice of the European Union, and the  European Central Bank. The  European Parliament  is elected every five years by  EU citizens. The White Paper on Governance formulated and adopted by the European Union through its executive body commonly known as the European Commission was aimed at setting up democratic forms of governance in five different levels, namely: European, Global, National, Regional and Local. This White Paper drafted suggestions that hoped to delineate more openly the position of EU institutions in world governance. Among their main concerns were deeper involvement, parameters in regulation and contributions that the Union can make to world governance. Through this document, the Commission looked forward to implement governance reforms under exiting treaties. In a recent development, leaders of the European Union led by EU President Herman Van Rompuy announced the espousal of milestone reforms that would promote economic governance in the 27-nation bloc with more stringent fiscal discipline and closer policy coordination. EU

Marketing and Consumer Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Marketing and Consumer Rights - Essay Example In addition to this, consumer rights are an important imperative in manufacturing businesses nowadays as they are an important tool for enhancement and differentiation of the product offer. The zone of tolerance has been sited as an important concept in both the service management and consumer rights literature, and has been employed to model the relationship between different expectation levels (Zeithaml, Berry, Parasuraman, 1993) and has been used to supply a range, or scale upon which to place a particular outcome. Brands however can mean different things to different consumers. These differences largely stem from the way and manner brands can be perceived or understood. A cursory review of the history of brands informs us that consumers' perceptions of brands have not been static. It has evolved over the years as understanding of the concept deepened. Amber (2000) has defined brand equity as an intangible asset built by marketing, and which exists largely in the heads of stakeholders, especially those of the end consumer. The author further pointed out that if a company got its brand equity right, profits should largely take care of it. The importance of this statement can be understood from the components that make the equity of a brand. These are brand awareness and brand image. A brand that consumers have good knowledge about and can readily recall with favorable associations is an enduring asset to whoever owns it. Furthermore, it would have favorable image and therefore well perceived. Such a brand can be said to have a higher equity or value. It is not too difficult to sell products and services with this brand name tacked on it. Higher volumes of sales at minimal costs transcend into higher profits. Hart (1998) has outlined key principles for creating and building brand names. Some of the strategic considerations she counsels brand name creators to consider borders on (i) whether the new product or service is innovative or not (ii) line extensions are planned for the future and (iii) the nature of protection the brand can afford. It has been stressed that any name chosen should ideally be easy to pronounce, understandable to consumers and also consistent with the cultural values and norms of where it is to be applied. Parasuraman et al. (1988) claims that consumer perceptions of quality of service are a result of evaluating service delivery in relation to pre-consumption expectations known as the "disconfirmation" model. Disconfirmation models are based on the disconfirmation paradigm (Oliver, 1980). Quality is therefore defined as the gap between consumer's expectations and perceptions, and a customer will perceive quality positively only when a service provider meets or exceeds his expectations. Based on this paradigm Parasuraman et al.

Address an economic issue of current interest to WSJ readers Assignment

Address an economic issue of current interest to WSJ readers - Assignment Example This is a considerable drop, when compared the previous year’s estimate of 12%. This has also caused new home building to slow down which directly affects economic growth. Besides, the effect of this drop to the economy, those planning to buy new homes may have a smile as the pressure on home prices is expected to ease up with a notable drop of 1.2% compared to the same period in 2013. After reading the article, I would like to share few ideas that crossed my mind concerning what the editor states about economic growth and the real reasons behind this drop. For a start, I believe there are various reasons that are responsible for this drop and severe weather and rising mortgage is only a fraction of these reasons. As it is a trend, new homes only account for 10% of all home sales; therefore, a drop in sales for home sales does not necessarily mean that homebuyers have slowed down. This means that, despite the severe weather conditions and rising mortgage, new home sales could have gone down after losing potential buyers to older house sales. An article in 2013 by Cho highlighted that Shadow Inventory held by the GSEs and US-HUD largely outnumbered REO. This shows there is a large supply of homes that could come to market and sustain the current demand, leaving little room for new homes. In support of this opinion, another article by Gundlach specifies that the hou sing market is soft and has been significantly slowed down by the aging pool of loans in the foreclosure process. The forecast done by National Association for Business Economics on this year’s housing investment is a valid reason that, despite the severe weather conditions, new home ownership will still experience slow growth perhaps, the rise in mortgage being a more viable reason. Other significant factor in the drop, in new home ownership, is the increasing cost of

Health Studies- Discuss the origins, structure and function of the NHS Essay - 1

Health Studies- Discuss the origins, structure and function of the NHS and discuss the major challenges the NHS will face over the next five years - Essay Example For this reason, it was prudent to form a dependable health provider. In the country, not all people can afford to pay for their health care, and for those who can it is not affordable for emergency cases and treatment for terminal diseases. Therefore, the government had to set up this facility to accommodate the less privileged in society (Wills, Evans & Samuel, 2008). Secondly, the hospitals available could not offer quality services to the needy. Moreover, there was no proper health equipment that could be used to diagnose and treat some ailments such as cancer (Lewis & Blount, 2014). The government intervened by creating the National Health Service with the intention of empowering such health care systems. The facility organisation aims at offering universal health services regardless of an individual’s income (Humphrey & Russell, 2005). The ease of access to health care services was important because the country had just come out of the Second World War and had many Briti sh casualties that needed care. There was need to re-establish health services to deprive war veteran of injuries inflicted on the battlefield. Therefore, the setting of the principles of the National Health Care was opportune for the subjects. Upon its foundation, the countries well-being has increased since then (Tucker et al., 2009). The general specialist was one of the classifications offered to the subjects. In this category, workers who earned a low pay could access the hospital for free. This services was only provided to the worker with a low pay, but their spouses and children were not covered. In other words, the cover only provided health care to the individual worker who earned the least basic salary (Pierloot & Vancoillie, 2008). People with better salaries or retired are required to pay a substantial amount as fee in acquiring the general practitioner’s services. Doctors facility was an alternative administration

How can a creative corner encourage a group of 3-4 year old Essay

How can a creative corner encourage a group of 3-4 year old mathematical development - Essay Example Often, creativity is not a word associated with formal learning of subjects such as mathematics (Hall and Robinson, 2003). However, many researchers and scholars have been exploring the effectiveness of using creativity for mathematical development (Hall and Robinson, 2003). This article tries to explore whether a creative corner can encourage a group of 3.-4 year old children with mathematical development. It attempts to look at some of the creative activities that are used, the benefits and also the role that a practitioner has to play in promoting mathematical development. Young children have a natural ability to create fantasies, ask questions, explore their surroundings and carry out experiments. Therefore, the toddler age is one where the level of creativity is often maximum (Prentice, 2000). According to Prentice (2000), as children get older, the level of creativity reduced and hence, creativity is seen more in children who are in the age group of 3-4, when compared to the children who are in the age group of 5-6. According to Russ, (2003), creativity in young children can be fostered through three main aspects - they include setting up a creative environment, developing creative modules and programs as well as the skill or ability of the instructor in using these aspects. According to Talboys (2004), creativity is something that can extend to all the aspects of learning, including mathematics and not necessarily limited to activities such as art, theater of dancing. From a conventional perspective, children were encouraged to learn only very limited things through creative activities such as role play. Most of the curriculum, especially subjects such as mathematics and social science, were approached only from a formal classroom environment (Russ, 2003). According to Jean Piaget’s theory on mathematical development, the children undergo a staged development, where by between 0-2 years

Review Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Review Paper - Essay Example Based on image representation, the P’Zolo should have been comparable to a submarine sandwich, with a pizza innovation. Upon arrival, the P’Zolo was considerably different than what was advertised. It arrived in a cardboard box, which was saturated with grease to the degree that the drainage was visible on the bottom of the delivery box. Over-cooked until it was dark brown and maintaining several thick slits on the top, which was not advertised in promotional photographs, the product allowed for seepage of interior contents during the consumption process. Having been an aficionado of Pizza Hut for nearly a decade, with a preference for the company’s quality ingredients in its many pizza products, the reviewer was flabbergasted by what arrived in delivery. Upon close examination, the product was approximately between five and six inches long, in a rather misshapen, oblong pizza wrap that looked as though it had been assembled by a half-blind six year old in elementary art class. The P’Zolo maintains zero ability to meet the emotional satisfaction needs of the consumer with its gro ss promotional misrepresentation and should be immediately removed from the Pizza Hut menu for its bland and unfulfilling contents. After taking the first bite of the product, it became perfectly clear that the volume of stuffing inside the product failed to meet promotional expectations. Despite its larger-than-average size compared to competing frozen pizza wraps, the P’Zolo was outperformed by many low-cost competition commonly found in the local grocery store. In the first bite, the runny cheese began pouring down the reviewer’s arm, requiring a significant volume of clean-up during the consumption process. Production problems during the cooking process had caused the water content in the sauce to separate from the corn syrup, providing a complicated and disappointing eating experience. The entire product was consumed in five large mouthfuls, in a mad rush to

Consumer Attitude and Preferences Towards Traditional and Modern Research Paper

Consumer Attitude and Preferences Towards Traditional and Modern Islamic Fashion - Research Paper Example The paper "Consumer Attitude and Preferences Towards Traditional and Modern Islamic Fashion" concerns the Islamic Fashion. The objective of this study is to identify the behaviour, attitude and preferences of Muslim consumer towards traditional and modern Islamic fashion. In order to meet the defined objective of the study, this research attempts to explore the factors, which influence the Islamic women’s fashion from traditional context to modern context. At the same time, the study identifies the trend in the Islamic fashion market. Moreover, study investigates the societal factors as well as legal factors, which can influence the buying decisions of Islamic women in case of dressing and fashion related aspects. According to Hanzaee & Chitsaz (2011), it is identified that Muslim population believe that to ensure ‘Mohammed’s privacy’ and to create a distinction between the public and private life, it is essential to adhere a specific clothing style as arti culated in the Islamic holy book. According to Badawi (n.d.), the Arabic word hijab which signifies head covering or veils is religious attire for Muslim women who they are required to wear according the Islamic beliefs and customs. . Apart from this, through maintaining the clothing style Islamic people can also protect their own honour. Rather, several academic literatures have represented Islamic clothing style as a symbol, which is specifically designed for not to express one's sexual activity or desires. Badawi (n.d.) claimed about Muslim people.

Sociology Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sociology Religion - Essay Example The wedding itself is considered to be a sacrifice to the fire deity, Agni. A wedding ceremony cannot thus be considered complete without the completion of the fire ritual. In the ritual, sacred fire encirclements are made around the bride and the groom to signify unity. This custom is however getting faced out with some of the religions within the Hindu culture. The wedding culminates after a precision of processes that include courtship and the pre-wedding. During courtship, the bride’s parents and the groom’s parents agree on common terms for their son and daughter to begin dating. The dating is however formal and restricted. During this time, the groom’s parents organize visits to the prospective bride’s home and take their son along with them. Such is meant for the bride and the groom to first get acquainted formally. Then, informal meetings between the two can be arranged for them to develop a connection. During this time, it is expected that a lady may have several suitors and date them till the appropriate time to choose a suitor. The same is the case with the man. The prospective groom has to go on several dates to find the compatible partner for there to be a match. The pre-wedding ceremony involves engagement in which two forms of engagement are done. The verbal engagement, known as the vagdana and the written agreement is known as lagna-patra. Wedding arrangements begin immediately the lagna-patra is signed as the wedding is taken seriously and may take several feasting days depending on the wealth of the couple. Typically, the celebrations begin when the bride is taken to her new home but it may be by the time the dowry is paid. In India, the bride pays the dowry unlike most cultures and religions where the groom is expected to pay the dowry. A wedding ceremony is considered holy and thus conducted using the holy language Sanskrit. However, as times change, some wedding rituals have been dropped to accommodate intermarri age of Hindus with other religions in India. During the wedding, two main rituals are conducted. The first is the saptapadi. Saptadi is a Sanskrit word that means ‘seven steps’. Essentially, the couple conducts seven circuits of the holy fire (Agni). The essence of this is that the holy fire is considered a witness to the vows they make. The vows must thus not be broken as it would be considered a sacrilege to do so. The manner in which the circuit ritual is conducted differs from North, South and central India. In the north, the first six circuits are led by the bride with the groom leading the last one. In central India, the bride leads the first three circuits while the groom leads the remaining four circuits. The second ritual is the shanthi muhurtham. This ritual involves decoration of the matrimonial bed. It is expected in Hindu culture that the wedding night is the night of consummation of the marriage. The ritual is performed by the groom’s relatives. The government of India acknowledges intermarriage between various religious sects as legal. Intermarriages involving the Hindu and other cultures or religion is conducted based on such culture and religion. In most Hindu weddings, a sense of pride, purity and heritage is maintained. The bride and the groom must be presented to the ceremony as chaste. This entails not bringing children born out of wedlock to the ceremony. Hindu traditions strongly oppose remarriage and divorce. It is considered that once a couple ties the knot, they are unified forever by the god of fire. The possibility of divorce is thus not admissible. Conclusion Indian weddings are fun to attend as they involve a lot of interesting rituals. The importance of the rituals is often

Globalization of Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries Essay Example for Free

Globalization of Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries Essay Globalization of both the economy and the society has confronted the world over the past decade. A shift of focus and interest from the local market to the international setting has demanded innovation not just in corporate leadership as new information; forms of communication and technology are being offered to be utilized in encouraging and reinforcing interaction among individuals. Fewer trade barriers and unprecedented technological advances have accelerated the pace of globalization. The advances in communication technology make it easier to enter the international market through the efficient marketing and advertising strategies that a number of international business organizations invest in by utilizing the services provided by the Worldwide Web. Electronic data communication (EDC) facilitates the exchange of data at tremendous speeds; it sorts and integrates data with other information available to the recipients (businesses, banks, capital markets) from other sources. Individual countries and trading and currency blocs alike view the fast-moving e-business sector as having a direct impact on the countries’ and blocs’ competitiveness in the global market. Increased market competition identifies continuous adjustment and improvement in the production lines of countries to recognize the participation of smaller business units. The free flow of goods and services, the establishment of functioning trade blocs like the European Union, more favorable regulations for foreign direct investment, and e-commerce are now major features of the global market. The introduction of the new division of international labor calls for evaluation and reorganization of the business operations as well as a reassessment of the current technological practices. The Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries Industry in FRANCE Royle and Towers (2002) note that the Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries industry has now extended throughout the world, expanding in FRANCE and other European countries, bakeshops are often considered as a characteristic of the new global culture. These bakeshops are illustrated as informal, have uniform service to anyone regardless of social status and focuses on giving quick-service to its customers. The industry grew out of a cultural philosophy that greatly values friendliness more than propriety, basically more than traditions of gracious living and democratic consensus over status-based divisions. Firms within the Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries industry fall into the category of a competitive market structure. According to Lipset (1991), the competitiveness of a market refers to the extent to which individual firms have the control or power to influence market prices or the terms on which their products are sold. It must be noted that â€Å"the less power an individual firm has to influence the market in which it sells its products, the more competitive the market is† (Lipset, 1991). In the recent years, the integration of strategic planning and functional marketing has been perhaps the most relevant development in the field of marketing management as marketing managers have all the more realized that tactical marketing decisions must be made within a wider strategic framework. Marketing Mix (4Ps) Product – Products that Cakes and Cookies are offering can be improved and expanded. For example they can add more cakes that suit the taste and needs of their consumers in FRANCE. Cakes and Cookies should not limit their products according to the old time customers in the U. S. Placement – Decisions involving the place/distribution are also crucial in meeting the needs of the target market. There are many factors to consider such as the choice of location where the product will be sold to the consumers, and the various channel distribution required to bring the product in the target market. Elements of distribution channel include the packaging, storage facilities, transportation, and the members of the channel itself. Cakes and Cookies should make their customized packages and boxes for their Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries and this should be appropriate according to the taste of the FRANCE consumers. It is always relevant to choose a channel pattern that is suitable for the target market needs. Price Among other factors considered in pricing are the needs of the market, the costs involved, the effect on margins and the value offered at a minimum for the consumer without the price cut hitting the company image. It is not surprising therefore, that Cakes and Cookies entry price strategy became a model in starting business in the area. Finally, it is interesting to note that in FRANCE have consistently agreed with Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries pricing strategy for many years. This shows that consumers give their loyalty as long as the price is right and fair. Promotions – Today, personal selling, sales promotions, in the forms of souvenirs, and point-of-purchase displays (POP), publicity through non-paid presentation of the product to the target market (feature articles and special news coverage), and public relations (established link with the stakeholders) were utilized by Cakes and Cookies Similarly, TV and radio advertising are important channels to promote Cakes and Cookies Usually, effective television and radio advertising involves a good opening punch line, presentation of the competitor’s product (brand must not be mentioned) and its weakness, testimony of experts or renowned personalities/authorities, and in some cases, use of famous movie actors and actress also helps. Further, the existence of Internet and the continued revolution in the world of Information Technology are certainly positive signs for the blossoming of many new advertising opportunities. For instance, pop-up ads and email ads have started to inva de the Internet. Most advertising firms have also started to exert efforts to make their advertisements appealing to the public (Chow and Holden, 1997). Segment, Target and Positioning of the Product Of all the components of a marketing plan, perhaps the most overlooked but most critical element is the definition of the target market. According to Lovelock and Young (2000), it is a homogenous group of people or organizations that a company wishes to appeal to. There are two basic targets for a product or service: the user and the non-user segments. Thus, there are also two business and marketing decisions that the company must decide upon in light of the basic targets. The first is to cultivate the present market alone while the second is to go after non-users. The former can inspire consumer loyalty which is an important factor in the survival of any business. In the case of Cakes and Cookies, they should categorize their target market into two market segments: (1) the Cakes and Cookies patrons or those who have already tried the product, and (2) the Cakes and Cookies non-consumers. The Cakes and Cookies consumers further classified into (a) males and (b) females in order to differentiate the market appeal and competitiveness of the offered products in terms of sex as well as the specific consumers for specific types of Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries. in order to determine the competitiveness of each product per se. the Cakes and Cookies non- consumers, on the other hand, are further grouped into (a) those who do not eat Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries in general, and (b) those who eat other Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries. These market segmentation schemes according to product use will provide important information regarding the overall competitiveness of Cakes and Cookies products as well as viability and opportunities for encouraging sweeteners non-users to not just try any other average sweeteners but to choose Cakes and Cookies products among others. Moreover, companies now face the challenge of making its target consumers respond accordingly to their marketing efforts and those who understand its consumers’ responses will have a great competitive advantage (Kotler Armstrong, 2001). In this light, Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries should keep in mind the differences that are distinct between and among other bakeshops target market based on different cultural backgrounds which significantly affect the effectiveness of the campaign. The fact is, there may be ideas that will not be applicable across the diverse target market population. Studies on the relationship of consumer behavior and their personal values and cultural orientation as well as their beliefs on certain principles, the dispositions they hold and side they take on political, gender and social problems and issues will be likewise duly accounted. Positioning The changing world has then placed much emphasis on the importance of communication for effective marketing. All types of communication are involved in marketing communications, including literature, training, advertising, mail, telephone, product promotions and other contact relevant to marketing communication. Among the channel members, even follow-up on complaints as well as customer billing may be included within the communication loop. In order to effectively serve the marketing channel, correct timing and accuracy in communications is essential. Moreover, it is important for the company to recognize that all members of the channel have an obligation or important role in maintaining the efficacy of marketing communications. Organizations that capitalize on customers active participation in organizational activities can gain competitive advantage through greater sales volume, enhanced operating efficiencies, positive word-of-mouth publicity, reduced marketing expenses, and enhanced customer loyalty (Lovelock Young, 1979). Channel communications works in a two-way system wherein information transfers to the user and bounces all the way back to the producer (Goldberg McCalley, 1992). In other words, marketing communications works like a feedback system, which allows company producers to relay information to the customers. In response to the provided information, consumers give certain reactions or behaviors. In this light, the electronic transformation of the services offered by Chocolate Lovers, Cakes and Pastries will result to better and more efficient and effective customer service system to the clientele. Moreover, the functionality of the online portal for the marketing and advertising needs of the agency will most possibly result to increase customer reach, satisfaction level and return of investment. Furthermore, if consumers somehow become better customers that is, more knowledgeable, participative, or productive the quality of the service experience will likely be enhanced for the customer and the organization (Bowers, Martin Luker, 1990). Finally, some of the ways that companies acquired cost advantages are by improving process efficiencies, gaining unique access to a large source of lower cost materials, making optimal outsourcing and vertical integration decisions, or avoiding some costs altogether. If competing firms are unable to lower their costs by a similar amount, the firm will be able to sustain a competitive advantage based on cost leadership.

Rhenium Oxide (ReO3) and Highly Applied Pressure

Rhenium Oxide (ReO3) and Highly Applied Pressure Describe the symmetry characteristics of the ReO3 polymorphs and their relationship to applied pressure. Rhenium Oxide also known as ReO3 has been researched and looked into detail widely with the use of highly applied pressure. ReO3 is described as a non distorted structure at surrounding pressure levels. Accurate and precise measurements of the pressure-volume relationship crafted by Batloff showed that the transistion pressure was at a value of 5.0kbar and also presented that volume strain is related to (P-PC)2/3. Differences in volume strain was evidently great when comparing with other materials that went through the same process.The reason for this large difference was due to the buckling of the Re-O-Re bonds while ReO6 continued to be firm and strong. With the assumption that octahedral rotation is always as rigid units,stress on rotations that are small will be directly related to the square of the rotation angle, Ø that leads to Ø2. This in turn would allow the polymorph to transform into various phases. The curvature behaviour which was found by Razavi starts at low temp eratures with pressure level of 3kbar.M3 phonons being triply degenerate allows the surrounding temperature of ReO3 with a ambient pressure to have a Pm-3m symmetry. At this current stage it will undergo a transition to a structure that contains a Im-3 symmetry. When changed to a tetragonal form, it will be P4/mbm at 5.2kbar and cubic Im3 at 7.3kbar at increased levels of pressure. The Im3 structures were formed with the process known as condensation from one, two or three M3 phonons. With this transformation, the cubic structure will go through a rhombohedral phase with the symmetry structure of R-3c. The current R-3c will morph again to a rhombohedral phase. ReO6 being a octahedral undergoes a distortion at high pressure, giving a rotation angle of (P-PC) ÃŽ ² where ÃŽ ²=0.322(5) (ÃŽ ² describes the large critical region where the rotation angle is more than 14Â º) that is valid from pressure levels of 5.0 to 27.4kbar. Pressure measurements are mainly done to identify different h igh pressure formations of the ReO3 and the quantity of these formations. Particularly with the use of the time of flight Laue method, when the pressure formation reaches a value of 15 kbar, the structure deduced as a cubic Im3. Despite, the discovery there was a downturn which was the values tabulated was only at a single pressure point. Therefore the entire formation of the breakdown of the structured could not be figured out. Describe the metrical relationships between the polymorph unit cells and ReO6 octahedral tilting. Use the CIF files to create ATOMS drawings that support your analysis. The malformation of perovskite structures can be acquired with reference from the Pm3m structure by rotating the octahedral about the cubic axes. High tension and stress arrangements can be identified and elaborated with the aid of 23 various rotating arrangements that was discovered by Glazer. Respective symmetry groups for high stress transitions include the P4/mbm and Im3 where both groups are homogenous with the M3 phonon condensation. The element Re is fixed in the 8c position in the Im3 space group with only 2 thermal values whereas the oxygen atoms is found to be at the 24g position with 4 thermal values. With a increased in the loading added to the P4/mbm structure will create a deceasing strain that may deform the structure. P4/mbm being a 7 lattice point structure has a normal way of placing the positions of the elements found in ReO3. The Rhenium element is located in the 2b position while the oxygen atom would be fixated in the 4h and 2a position. In the presence of surro unding atmospheric pressure, the direct dependency of the oxygen atoms is fairly lower in the Im3 group than the one found in the Pm3m.In the Im3 unit cell for the ReO3, rotation was done around the coordinates of (111) for the eight sided compound. Evidently P4/mbm produces a nonzero seven sided pull that creates a positive and negative strain value. This rotation created the process of condensation that affected all three M3 phonons. Deformation in the eight sided ReO6 produces two different Re-O bond distances in the P4/mbm formation while there would only be a single Re-O bond found in the Im3 strucutres.Re-O bonds parallel with the c axis will remain in a pressed state when turned whereas Re-O bond that are normal to the c axis will not be in a pressed position but instead arranged in an order where there are gaps.However both formations include double O-O corners of the octahedron that is used to quantify any errors in ReO6.However the O-O distances found in the Im3 and P4/mbm are varied at a pressure value of 27.40kbar that leads to certain abnormalities but can be ignored as trivial. Explain the distortion of the ReO6 octahedra with pressure and quantify the ReO6 octahedral titlting. The deformation and the distortion of the ReO6 octahedron is usually found in the P4/mbm and Im3 structures. Starting with the P4/mbm, there are two symmetry Re-O bonds which are not equal in nature. With the process known as the powder neutron diffraction , the results obtained shows the in depth structural details of the transformation with the function of pressure and thus this confirms that at least 2 high pressure phases are present. When the ReO6 octahedra are rotated they are observed more with ease through the neutrons than the x rays. The method known as Rietveld method of the structural refinement with the high resolution powder data produces the single-crystal neutron diffraction study and this would allow the pressure dependence of the distortion to be measured with sufficient accuracy to state that the order parameter exponent ÃŽ ² where Ø is proportional to the (P-Pc) ÃŽ ² presents the pressure dependence of the rotation angle. This pressure based on the rotation ang le is illustrated well by the law of power in the formula Ø~(P-Pc) ÃŽ ².Ø against the pressure and the curve is plotted with this reference. The result from the exponent ÃŽ ² was obtained with the linear gradient of the slope of the lnØ against the ln(P-Pc) curve that produces the value of ÃŽ ²=0.322(5). Through the discrepancies Ø is always continuing with the stress value of 5 kbar despite the direction of the rotation axis that would vary from (100) to (111) during the change from P4/mbm to the Im3 phase (5.3kbar). With condensation of one, two or three M3 phonons would increase the phase transition from Pm3m to P4/mbm to I4/mm and lastly to the Im3 that have usually been seen in Nax WO3 during the M3 phonon condensation upon cooling. The parameter for the phase transition would be a three component order with the Ø as the magnitude of the rotation angle surrounding the direction of the rotation aixs. The transformation from Pm3m to any of the groups between the P4 /mbm, I4/mmm and Im3 would be the first order that would produce from the rotation around a axis. Abnormalities in the lattice during the transformation would have been seen in the Nax WO3.

Good and Evil Angel

Good and Evil Angel The play begins with the Chorus informing the audience about the main character, Faustus, a scholar, like Icarus, [whose] waxen wings did mount above his reach (Prologue, 21). In the very first scene of the play, Faustus talks about philosophy, medicine, law, and theology and is hesitant about all. Lastly he chooses to study magic. He rejects theology. He is glutted more with conceit (Scene I, 18) and he prefers black magic to what he preferred before; he asserts: . . . Divinity, adieu! (Scene I, 48), that is, he rejects to be in heaven and reunite with God. The Good and the Evil Angel that appear in several parts of the play are both real and symbolic; they represent Faustus inner conflict. They appear in the most dramatic scenes where Faustus is in conflict. They appear offering advice as Faustus is preparing to sign in blood a contract so as to give his soul to Lucifer. They also appear at the time Faustus is talking to Mephistopheles about repenting. Here, while Good Angel urges Faustus to repent and wish Gods mercy, Evil Angel tells him not to repent. Finally he agrees with Evil Angel. GOOD ANGEL. O Faustus, lay that damned book aside, And gaze not on it, lest it tempt thy soul, And heap Gods heavy wrath upon thy head: Read, read the Scriptures; that is blasphemy. EVIL ANGEL. Go forward, Faustus, in that famous art, Wherein all natures treasury is contained: Be thou on earth as Jove is in the sky, Lord and commander of these elements. [Exeunt] (Scene I, 70-77) GOOD ANGEL. Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art. FAUSTUS. Contrition, prayer, repentance: what of them? GOOD ANGEL. O they are means to bring thee unto heaven. EVIL ANGEL. Rather illusions, fruits of lunacy, That makes men foolish that do trust them most. (Scene V, 15-19) The angels do appear at the same time in the play; and they leave together as well. Interestingly enough, it is always the Good Angel that appears first and it is Evil Angel that speaks the last words. If we think of the angels symbolically, the Good Angels appearing first probably refers to Faustus conscience and Evil Angels last words may symbolize Faustus self-temptation. Valdes and Cornelius magicians will teach Faustus black arts. As Faustus is about to sign in blood a contract so as to give his soul to Lucifer, the Good and Evil Angels enter again. As Faustus signs the contract he asks about hell, however convince himself that hells a fable (Scene V, 126) despite Mephistopheles honest response: FAUSTUS. Was not that Lucifer an angel once? MEPHIST. Yes Faustus, and most dearly loved of God. FAUSTUS. How comes it then that he is prince of devils? MEPHIST. O, by aspiring pride and insolence, For which God threw him from the face of heaven. FAUSTUS. And what are you that live with Lucifer? MEPHIST. Unhappy spirits that fell with Lucifer, Conspired against our God with Lucifer, And are for ever damned with Lucifer. FAUSTUS. Where are you damned? MEPHIST. In hell. FAUSTUS. How comes it then that thou art out of hell? MEPHIST. Why this is hell, nor am I out of it. Thinkst thou that I, who saw the face of God, And tasted the eternal joys of heaven, Am not tormented with ten thousand hells In being deprived of everlasting bliss! O Faustus, leave these frivolous demands, Which strike a terror to my fainting soul. (Scene IV, 64-82) There is the question of choice in the play. Faustus has chosen to sign the contract. He is completely free in his choice since Mephistopheles is quite honest in his attitude. Faustus fault here is to ignore repentance as an alternative. He also misunderstands the concept of hell, thinking that it is just physical torment. Faustus is unaware about the fact that hell is a kind of psychological torment which is in fact a part of his tragedy. In the fifth scene, Faustus asks Mephistopheles who made the world (Scene V, 237). Mephistopheles avoids answering Faustus question and introduces seven deadly sins: Pride, Covetousness, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, Sloth, and Lechery (Scene V, 276). In changing the spectacle to the Seven Deadly Sins, Marlowe has not only opened the way for some moral satire, but he has purposely and ironically presented the pageant as the visible gratification of Faustus. Faustus himself responds with the greatest delight, blasphemously comparing his joy in the procession with Adams joy at the sight of Paradise on the day of his creation. Delight in the Seven Deadly Sins is a far cry from the answer to who made the world, and it is not without point that, after this episode, Faustus makes no more speculative inquiries of any kind. (Cole 1962, 214) As Fermor asserts, the character of Faustus is not that of one man, but of man himself, of Everyman (Fermor 84). In Everyman the tragic flaw pride, wilfulness causes blindness to the nature and destiny of man; . . . hubris destroys the understanding of the nature and limitations of knowledge (Cole 1962, 234). Faustus actions are completely humane. As Cole has suggested, Faustus never causes anyones death (Cole 1995, 124); he causes his own damnation. Dr. Faustus suggests that because human beings are creatures in whom good and evil are tragically intermingled, the process of purification which the magicians described is impossible. The human aspiration to attain a godlike status and to exert benevolent control over history is almost inevitably corrupted by selfish desires for wealth, sensual indulgence, and political power. The refusal to admit this is Faustus fatal error, as is perfectly clear when he reads from Jeromes Bible: If we say that we haue no sinne, / We deceiue our selues (69-70). (Mebane 135) The theme of appearance versus reality is an important one throughout the play. Faustus confuses appearance and reality and wants to go beyond what he sees. By Aristotelian definition, a tragedy is about a hero whose fatal flaw ends himself. Doctor Faustus is a typical Aristotelian tragedy where a man of high importance a scholar out of pride, sells his soul to Devil. The tragic downfall of the hero is when he signs the contract with the devil. There is also catharsis in the Aristotelian sense; the audiences feel pity and fear; pity for Faustus suffering his tragedy, then fear of themselves putting themselves in Faustus place. Faustus can repent before the end of the play but he prefers not to; he misleads himself: FAUSTUS: My hearts so hardned I cannot repent! Scarce can I name salvation, faith, or heaven, But fearful echoes thunders in mine ears, Faustus, thou are damned (Scene V, 192-95) And long ere this I should have slain my self, Had not sweet pleasure conquered deep despair. Have not I made blind Homer sing to me Of Alexanders love, and Oenons death? (Scene V, 195-98). Why should I die then, or basely despair? I am resolved! Faustus shall neer repent. (Scene V, 205- 206) Doctor Faustus represents the attitudes of Renaissance England, it symbolizes the Renaissance individual who wants to go beyond his perception. Marlowe reflects the Renaissance perception of reason that gives human beings the power to discern, as well as the power to choose and finally forms the basis for moral responsibility (Cole 1995, 127). Thus Faustus himself is responsible for his own actions; it is Faustus who causes his own fall. He suffers from personal responsibility of free human choice and the inevitable consequences of his own choice. Primary Source(s) Marlowe, Christopher. Doctor Faustus Norton Anthology of English Literature sixth edition vol. 1. Ed. Abrams, M.H. New York: M.H. Norton Company: 1993. Secondary Sources Cole, Douglas. Christopher Marlowe and the Renaissance of Tragedy. Westport, CT.: 1995. _. Suffering and Evil in the Plays of Christopher Marlowe. Princeton, NJ. Princeton University Press: 1962. Fermor, U.M. Ellis. Christopher Marlowe. London, Methuen: 1927. Mebane, John S. Renaissance Magic and the Return of the Golden Age: The Occult Tradition and Marlowe, Jonson, and Shakespeare. Lincoln, NE., University of Nebraska Press: 1989.

Explore the Stylistic Conventions of Both - Notes from a Small Island - :: English Literature

Explore the Stylistic Conventions of Both - Notes from a Small Island - and - In Patagonia - and account for their different audiences. Bill Bryson and Bruce Chatwin both participate in the ability to Travel write. Travel writing is were one would travel and then list in chronological order what they have experienced. Bill Bryson is able to do this in an entirely different fashion, to Bruce Chatwin. Bill Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951. Bryson settled in England in 1977, and lived for numerous years with his British wife and children in Yorkshire. Bryson then went back to America, but has now returned to England. As well as writing ‘Notes from a small Island’ Bryson has also written ‘down Under’ ‘Notes from a big Country’ ‘A walk in the Woods’ ‘Made in America’ ‘Neither here nor there’ and ‘The lost Continent’.[1] Bruce Chatwin was born in Sheffield in 1940. After attending Marborough School he began work as a Porter at Sotheby’s, which is an auctioneer. Chatwin became one of the youngest directors at Sotheby’s and then Chatwin abandoned his job to explore the world, as his dedication was travel writing. During 1972 and 1975 Chatwin worked for the Sunday Times and quickly announced his departure for in a telegram; ‘Gone to Patagonia for six months’. This journey motivated to write the first of his books which was simply named, In Patagonia. In Patagonia won The Hawthornden Prize and the E.M. Forster award and launched his writing profession. Two of Chatwins films have been made into feature films, The Viceroy Oiudah (retitled Cobra Verde) directed by Werner Herzog and the British film. Bruce Chatwin has also written ‘On the Black Hill’, ‘The Song Lines’ ‘The Viceroy of Ouidah’.[2] Before Bryson’s begins his story, he writes a prologue of his first encounter with Britain and how inviting it was for him. Bryson elaborates on why he returned to England in 1995. Bill Bryson gives an interpretation of his first time in England which was more exclusively Dover in 1973. In the front of Bill Bryson’s book is an image of Britain surrounded by small sketches. Once I had read I became conscious that this map mirrored the style of writing used in the book, light-hearted. Chatwin developed an interest for Patagonia at a young age. Chatwin tells us about his earliest memories of his grandmother, and being at her house; ‘In my grandmother’s dining room was a glass-fronted cabinet†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢[3] Chatwin is talking about his personal experience directly, although he doesn’t begin with his journey in Patagonia. Chatwin is unfolding this tale to his audience in great detail; this story helps the reader

hamlet :: essays research papers

In the story â€Å"Hamlet†, written by William Shakespeare, the main character Hamlet starts to loose his mind, and goes completely crazy. He starts to go crazy shortly after his father’s death, because his mother married his uncle the new king of Denmark. And later in the story his girlfriend leaves because she is forced by her father to leave him for the good of her own and her fathers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When his father was killed no one knew who really killed him, everyone thought that his just died of natural causes. By soon Hamlets father’s ghost started to appear, some of the night watch men saw him and they thought that it would be a good idea to let Hamlet know about it. So later that night Hamlet and the night watch men went out on patrol and that’s when Hamlets dad’s ghost appeared to him. Hamlet followed him into the woods and that’s where he spoke to it. The ghost told him the whole story about how his brother poured poison into his ear and killed him to take over the throne. The ghost asked him to avenge his death. And that’s when Hamlet started to go crazy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hamlet was a bit sadden by his mothers actions, she went off and married her brother in law, which was the Kings brother, only two weeks after his death, and she had already forgotten about her other husband. Hamlet didn’t really know what his mother was thinking when she did this. But after the ghost appeared to him and he knew the truth he thought that his mother might have had something to do with the murder. Soon Hamlet starts to find ways to kill his uncle. One for killing his father, and the other for marrying his mother. Hamlet tries to put get his uncle to confess to the murder by making plays about how his father was killed and then how his mother goes off and marries his brother. He tries to talk to his mother but his mom thinks that he crazy and doesn’t really believe him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Then his girlfriend leaves him because she was forced by her father to do so because he didn’t want his daughter to be with a mad man, and because it was going to make him look bad. So when she does leave him Hamlet gets heart broken and really goes over the edge.

Swot Analysis of Cango

SWOT is an acronym that stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The SWOT analysis will help CanGo understand the opportunities that are available and what threats may affect its operations. Before moving forward CanGo needs to assess the position they currently have in the market place. The use of a SWOT analysis technique will be beneficial at this point and will serve as the baseline to elaborate on a strategic plan for the organization.Be Bold has been observing CanGo’s operations for a couple of months, and have developed the following preliminary SWOT Analysis from these observations:Strength Purchase an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) to help improve the warehouse. An automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) is a great solution for CanGo’s inventory handling.CanGo has experienced exponential growth in their first two years of operation. CanGo has been recognized as one of the fastest growing small business in the Hudson Val ley. Constant interest in research and improving company. As we can see that CanGo is always looking for something new, they are always trying to beat their competitors, they are constantly trying to improve company, and find another way to be successful and gain profit.Weaknesses CanGo, Inc. has no vision or mission statement.Growth opportunities are imminent and the possibility to go public requires a clear vision and mission statement in order to understand their direction on the marketCanGo is lacking in management by objectives (MBO).The aim of MBO is to increase organizational performance by aligning goal and subordinate objectives throughout the organization.CanGo is missing a strategic management plan.A strategic approach will help CanGo build teamwork by developing commitment and trust; will strengthen the leadership team by aligning their goals with those of the CEO; and will move the organization from the current status quo to an organized environment with clear goal sett ing for the short and long term. to develop and maintain a viable fit between their objectives, resources, and opportunitiesNeed for systems analysis and programmer.The marketing department must focus and apply their expertise and support in the areas of market intelligence and strategic business planning.OpportunitiesDeveloping an in-house database that is incorporates into an automated storage and retrieval system ASRS. An automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) is a great resolution for CanGo’s inventory usage.Opportunities also exist in the Asia Pacific region for online sales. Company has to keep an eye on the future opportunities and possible consumers. The region could be their next step ahead to become a continental corporation. Updating the website to incorporate some of the marketing ideas found to be relevant in the recent research analysis project.Threats CanGo needs to expand its operating capacity to continue its’ growth. If they stay the same there won’t be growth, so in order to become more profitable, beneficial, and successful company they need to increase their productivity.Management must develop a strategic management plan. The purpose of the strategic marketing plan is to fit between the organization’s objectives and resources and its changing market opportunities so it is beneficial for the company. CanGo could potentially have employee retention problems. It is the responsibility of the CEO to ensure equal opportunity for all employees, adequate compensation packages, fair performance evaluation processes and career development programs for employees.Lack of capital for necessary growth needs. Lack of money and cost of ASRS system. Company needs to have funds to change or improve warehouse. When expanding into a new market CanGo needs to understand and take into account trends that are in the industry and account for them when doing any sort of planning.

Divine Roles

University of Phoenix Material overlord Roles Across Cultures Matrix Select whizz common divine image that recurs in world mythology. Possible options of divine offices embarrass the following father or flummox divinities, divinities of war, home or hearth divinities, divinities of love, divinities of wisdom, divinities of c ar for or health, divinities of the wind, divinities of agriculture, divinities of the sky, ruler of all the gods, and so on. Identify the role in the claim of your matrix. Select two myths, separately(prenominal) from a varied culture, in which the divine role appears.Identify the immortal names and cultures in columns A and B. Complete the matrix by respondent each of the five questions for both selected divinities.Is the immortal fudge male or female?How does this divinity is the leader and they all rule theiras well as the father so they both interact with or equate to divinities family and some even the world. Just comp unrivallednt of the same roles. The mother of the same sexuality and to divinities ofas the mother she also brace a lot of in all(prenominal) divinity virtuallyly sh are the the reverse gear gender?say so in the leader ship role. same role some may act different but they set about are mother. What are the divinitys attributes, The powers that this divinity has is The powers that this divinity has is such(prenominal) as divine powers or to make punter people by taking apart to make better people by taking apart characteristics?What objects does the in their children life because I in their children life because I divinity possess, such as a weapon or believe if people cost by example believe if people live by example animal, that assist him or her? then there children are most likely then there children are most likely to follow. As a parent sometimes a to follow. As a parent sometimes a weapon can be talking to your weapon can be talking to your children or beating them with a belt. hildren or beating them with a belt. Identify one character from contemporary culture that shares characteristics of each divinity and explain why you chose each character. What real-life ideals does this divine role represent?How getatable are these ideals?Summary Write a 150- to 350-word short essay addressing the following wherefore do so many cultures have divinities in similar roles?