ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Research is essential for all the spheres of people’s life where decisions need to be made. When it comes to public administration, research is vital for the development of effective policies and interventions as well as their evaluation (Johnson, 2015). Various research firms offer a variety of services that can be helpful for public administrators. It is possible to consider the services offered by two research firms (Amplitude Research and Euromonitor) to understand in what ways such firms can be helpful. This paper explores the ways these research firms can help governmental organizations as well as internal research in the public administration sphere. It is noteworthy that the research firms in question offer a similar range of services with some peculiarities. Both companies provide services associated with market research. As for the differences, Euromonitor has a more substantial platform for conducting global research as compared to Amplitude Research. Euromonitor implements online research and has a highly-trained staff that carries out surveys across the globe (“Euromonitor International,” 2017). Although Amplitude Research also has certain tools to carry out international research, the company’s capacity is confined to the implementation of online surveys with no field research (“Amplitude Research,” 2017). At the same time, Amplitude Research offers research software that can enable companies to implement online surveys and manage data (“Amplitude Research,” 2017). Euromonitor focuses on the implementation of research rather than the development and distribution of the corresponding software. Apart from market research, the companies also carry out surveys associated with such industries as transportation, telecommunication, as well as the public sector (including education and health care). Again, Euromonitor implements surveys on different scales (city, state, country) with the focus on the macro-level (country) (“Euromonitor,” 2017). Euromonitor also covers a wider range of areas as compared to Amplitude Research as the former carries out surveys in such spheres as education, health, defense, trade unions, veterinary services (“Euromonitor,” 2017). It is noteworthy that unlike Euromonitor, Amplitude Research provides assistance in conducting research (for instance, helps to develop questionnaires) (“Amplitude Research,” 2017). The advantages of using these research firms are manifold and quite numerous. First, the research is likely to be implemented within a short period as professional teams, and all the necessary resources are readily available (McNabb, 2015). Apart from that, the two firms offer a wide range of services and types of research that differ in terms of res
Even though some people state that racial or ethnical discrimination and prejudice are issues of the past, there is still double standard in the US society. Ethnic minorities have to face various issues related to prejudice or discrimination. It is possible to consider the concepts of discrimination and prejudice from different theoretical perspectives. In the first place, these concepts can be considered in term of the conflict theory. According to the conflict theory, people struggle for resources and the society develops in terms of this struggle. Thus, European Americans tend to think that ethnic minorities can take certain jobs away. This prejudice exists in the society especially when it comes to Asian Americans. There is a prejudice that Asian immigrants come and occupy posts which could be taken by Americans (Cheng & Yang 290). At the same time, minorities tend to stress that whites control all spheres of the US society. People of color argue that whites have taken all major positions in the society and such concepts as ‘double-standard’ and ‘glass ceiling’ are common for minorities. Such events as the case of Rodney King prove that the conflict exists (Blauner 272). Notably, some people who find themselves in uncertain position (e.g. experience financial constraints) tend to share discriminative practices. However, those who are well-off are not afraid of competition and strive for discrimination-free society. As far as psychological perspective, prejudice can be explained by the theory of stereotyping. Thus, people tend to stereotype. This is a psychological peculiarity of the human being. If an individual sees several (or even one) German who likes beer very much, he/she develops a stereotype concerning Germans’ attitude towards this beverage. Likewise, there are various examples of prejudice. African-Americans are often thought to work as low-paid employees or even to be gangsters. Philippine females are often believed to work as maids. At present, young people are taught to be free from stereotypes though people are still vulnerable. It is also possible to see discrimination and prejudice from symbolic interactionist perspective. According to this theory, minority groups cannot see themselves as a part of a larger group if they are not seen as similar by the majority group. Admittedly, ethnicity is what makes people different in terms of their skin color, mindsets, traditions, etc. (Blauner 279). Different groups of people remain somewhat hostile to others, as this is a part of the human perception. Others are seen as different and hostile. Discrimination as well as prejudice can be regarded as a type of self-defense when the majority group tries to defend itself from the influ
Introduction Choosing a profession is a challenging task for every individual. The sphere of occupation should not only allow people to effectively apply their knowledge and practical skills but also correspond in terms of individual goals and aspirations. I can say that the profession of a counselor precisely reflects my endeavors and personal qualities. I chose this Master’s program to broaden my knowledge in this field and contribute to the well-being of families and individuals. In this paper, I will describe my career decision, aspirations, and post-graduate plans in detail. Career Choice I am often asked about what influenced my decision to choose this particular mental health profession compared to other occupations within social work and psychology. My devotion to this specialization is explained by its essential role in the modern world. According to Hodges (2020), both counselors and non-specialists find it difficult to describe the difference between counseling and other related professions. The author explains that the focus on counseling rather than treatment is what makes this field distinct and unique (Hodges, 2020). It is possible to add that nowadays, people are especially vulnerable to stress, depression, and other mental conditions. The fast pace of living and the development of modern technologies made people more separated from each other, which resulted in significant difficulties in seeking psychological support. Understanding the growing demand for high-quality counseling, I decided to contribute to the psychological well-being of society. Another reason, which influenced my career choice, is related to my personal qualities. I can say that I have always been a person for whom helping others and giving advice to people seeking help is of great significance. Even before I became involved in professional counseling, I felt responsible for assisting others in their emotional struggle. Being an empathetic person with the ability to observe and evaluate, I can provide psychological support to people and help them understand and change different facets of their personalities. I believe that a wide range of opportunities in the sphere of counseling would help me apply my interpersonal skills in the most effective way. Goals and Aspirations My short-term goals related to my career are connected with receiving a Master’s education and acquiring fundamental skills and competencies in counseling. According to Hodges (2020), an interest in a specific area is not enough to provide professional service, and theoretical knowledge and practical skills are needed to become more competent. Therefore, my primary goal is to focus on individual and group psychology and study the theories of diagnosing and psychological assessment. In the long-term perspective, I would like to become a licensed professional counselor. Individual counseling is one of
Introduction Ethical marketing is an area of ethics that deals with the morals that are associated with marketing. Ethics can highly influence the decisions that people make in any situation being principles of ethical conduct. In a certain setting, people are required to behave in some particular way. In addition, they need to respond to a number of situations. Consumer behavior can be influenced by ethics in marketing (Schlegelmilch, 1997). A business is expected to behave in some peciliar way while marketing its goods or services. A business organization should always try to do better than its competitors so as to maintain its customers, and at the same time, attract new ones. Marketing is essential in helping the organization gain a competitive advantage over its competitors. It is imperative that a business should be ethical when marketing its products. It should observe ethical principals when developing and manufacturing the products (Diacon and Ennew, 1996). This way, the organization can be able to satisfy its customers. Recently, there has been much focus on ethics. Consumers are loyal to organizations, which adhere to ethical principles rather than just provision of services or production of goods. They know which product is suitable for them and which one is not. As a result, many organizations are now turning to corporate social responsibility so as to build their image. This article looks at a case study of Cadbury when the company has decided to substitute cocoa butter with palm oil in its production of chocolate. The purpose of this step is to cut the cost of production since the company has found itself in a rough situation which is not promising for their future performance. Overview of the case The case study in question clearly shows how a customer can influence the performance of a company based on its ethical and unethical activities. Consumer behaviour theories can be used in understanding how the public responds to a company’s unethical activity. Cadbury decided to use palm oil in the chocolate production instead of cocoa butter beacuse of reducing its cost of production. The move caused a public outcry from international environmental groups as well as from local organizations. It gave the company negative publicity because the use of palm oil posed a threat to the extinction of Orangutan forest. The forest acts as a habitat to palm oil plantations in New Zealand. Conservationists stood against the move by Cadbury which led to the company reversing its palm oil policy within a period of three months. The case illustrates how strong the consumer can be in influencing the performance of a company that engages in unethical or ethical behavior based on the buyer behaviour theories. Relevant supporting evidence A lot of customers in the market prefer brands that are socially and environmentally responsible and friendly. There
The line graph presents the evolution of marketing activities ranging from production orientation to consumer and market orientation. It is apparent that what graph represents reflects the theory of marketing orientations. The only type of orientation that is missing from the visual is the societal marketing concept. Societal marketing concerns itself not only with the company’s interests and customers’ wants but also with society’s ends that need to be satisfied in the long haul. The concept makes a part of corporate social responsibility that states that after a certain point, companies should shift focus from pursuing higher profits to giving back to the community (Demirag, 2018). Societal marketing orientation helps a company recognize its role in providing members of society with value and where possible, addressing social ills and environmental concerns. An example of societal marketing is Chipotle – a US-based Mexican-style restaurant chain that supports local farming businesses and provides the customer with healthy, organic food. There is a great deal of debate as to which marketing orientations are relevant and which are falling off both in theory and practice. It seems that consumer and market orientation will not lose its relevance anytime soon. The global market is characterized by fierce competition winning which requires understanding customers’ needs and wants. Businesses grow more customer-oriented than ever since customers are spoilt for choice and enjoy low switching costs. Recent statistics show that up to 81% of customers are doing pre-research before even considering a product or a service (Ellet, 2018). They prefer to compare and contrast alternatives as well as check a company’s background before making a decision. For this reason, businesses gain a competitive advantage by building a reputation for being caring, responsive, and responsible and seeking to understand their customers.
The period of the Umayyad dynasty is often considered a controversial one as its rulers had both positive and negative impacts on the Arabic state and its development. In general, the Umayyads were dedicated to the cause of Islam and played a crucial role in its successful transition from a local Arabian religion to world civilization. Historical documents and literary sources prove that the Umayyads transformed the caliphate from a religiously oriented state to a dynastic state. Still, The expansion of Islam remains one of the critical elements and turning points in world history. The Umayyads made a great contribution to the territorial expansion of the Arabic state. The great expansion of Islam was always associated with the growing number of Islamic adherents and the expansion of Arabs that necessarily led to the expansion of Islamic religion in the Asian world. The truth however is that Islamic expansion did not necessarily lead to conversion to the Islamic faith. The concept of Islamic expansion is surrounded by numerous myths and historical misconceptions, and what was traditionally regarded as the rise of the new Islamic culture, in reality, was the expansion of the Islamic empire which did not deprive new Islamic states of religious freedom. In terms of Byzantium, Islamic expansion posed a serious competitive challenge to Byzantium; moreover, Islamic faith-inspired Arab peoples to conquer and siege the lands that had previously belonged to Byzantium. Nevertheless, Arab-Islamic conquests did not weaken, but on the contrary, strengthened the political and social order in new lands. In this context, it would be appropriate to suggest that Islamic contests have tested ability to withstand political and military oppression, and where Arab peoples sought to prove their religious and political superiority, the state used the benefits of its political stability as the means of restructuring and improving its social organization and economic prosperity (Kennedy 83; “Latter to Walid II”). At this point of his literary revelations, “Letter of Walid II” actually sheds the light on one of the most serious issues in the history of the state. Given the richness of its geographical territories, and the attractiveness of the lands that historically belonged to the Umayyad caliphate, it is not surprising that the Arab opponents were seeking the means to expand their Islamic presence by conquering a part of new land. Certainly, the changes in the political and economic worldv
Successful project: The LogicaCMG Company instant energy project The LogicaCMG is a UK based international company that is involved in designing, researching, and producing of gas meters for prepayment (Dalcher & Brodie, 2007). The company undertook an instant energy project that used new technologies. This project was meant to respond to the energy market need. The project was devised to meet the European energy standards. The project was also aimed at designing and producing ‘Smart Meters’ to replace the domestic consumer ‘Token Meters’. The ‘Smart Meter’ was expected to allow consumer monetary top-ups, using mobile phones. At the same time, it was targeted to the under-developed countries that lack pre-paid infrastructure for energy payment. The causes of success of the project Since the project was to be carried out in a complex IT environment, the LogicaCMG had to devise and analyze the project risk factors (risk management). The LogicaCMG also acknowledged that the energy industry is complex, and hence saw the need for the project to address the needs of clients and industries (Dalcher & Brodie, 2007). The LogicaCMG also researched on risks surrounding the economic, legal, and, technological environments. Communication management is required in projects to ensure that they are accomplished successfully (Kerzner & Learning, 2013). It provides critical information, and ideas to different people, in order to enhance the success of projects. The LogicaCMG enhanced internal communication using different methods. This ensured that all team members were passionate about the project. In addition, it built trust among team members, encouraging them that the project would be completed to the highest standards. The LogicaCMG project team ensured that the organization and the project environment supported the project. The project team enhanced a long period to nurture the project. This guaranteed that once the meters were presented in the market, they would yield good returns. In addition, the organization’s technical experience and knowledge were also integrated in the project. For instance, the project manager had extensive working experience and knowledge of the energy industry. Legal factors such as patents and licenses were also evaluated during the project process. The LogicaCMG applied the patent in designing and producing pre-paid meters. This ensured that there was no legal confrontation during the implementation of the project. It also reduced the threat of new entrants. Furthermore, the project team considered the economic factors surrounding the project’s development process. This was meant to help them do away with the uncertainties of the project. The LogicaCMG ensured that the meters captured the effects of demand. This was achieved through customer satisfaction. The project had to produce a meter that would be used by a cont
Abstract Globalization and technological advancement in the recent years has turned the contemporary business environment to a global village, with firms having to compete internationally. This is the case in coffee industry where large companies like Starbucks have to position themselves strategically in order to remain relevant and competitive in the industry. The magnitude customer base and number of outlets or stores make Starbucks an important player in the coffeehouse market worldwide. This paper will begin by discussing the impact of mission and stakeholders in success of the company followed by an evaluation of the five forces of competition. The paper will also conduct a SWOT analysis of Starbucks as well as discuss various strategies, the communication plan, and corporate governance mechanisms applicable in the company. Lastly, the paper will discuss effectiveness of leadership and corporate citizenship in the company. Introduction Starbucks is a US company specializing in coffeehouses, with its headquarters situated in Seattle, Washington D.C. The chain has been in operation since 1971, having been established by three entrepreneurs as a small coffee shop that later expanded its portfolio to restaurants and coffee bars. Over the years, the coffeehouse chain has grown tremendously, especially after listing in stock exchange in 1992; currently, Starbucks owns over 20,000 coffeehouses in over 60 countries worldwide. This growth has been facilitated by its strong mission and vision statements, effective corporate governance and dedicated support from stakeholders (Garthwaite, Busse, & Brown, 2012). Impact of Mission Statement and Stakeholders on Success of Starbucks The mission of Starbucks is “to inspire and nature the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time” (Starbucks, 2013). This mission statement also acts as the vision of the company and it has been very instrumental in the success of the company. The performance of the company has also enhanced key components of the mission that focus on coffee, partners, customers, stores, neighborhood, and shareholders. Primarily, Starbucks focuses on offering high quality coffee to its customers in addition to embracing diversity in all its operations. In addition, Starbucks designs its stores in such a way that they create an atmosphere that is very accommodating to both customers and employees, who are specifically referred to as partners. Moreover, the company is dedicated to empowering the community through positive contribution as it conducts its operation. This is in addition to ensuring that its operations are tailor-made to maximize benefits to shareholders. For every organization to succeed, it must always take into consideration the interests of all its stakeholders and ensure it operates towards satisfying those interests. Starbucks has various stakeholders including shareholders, suppliers, customers, partners/employees, franchisees, and governments among others. Shareholders play a big role in the success of St