ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
What is a Focus Group? A Focus group is a certain number of people chosen to test a particular product, service, strategy, TV show, and other activities or objects intended to release in the nearest future. The primary purpose of any focus group is to make its participants express their opinions as to the product or service they have a chance to use and observe. This kind of research is usually implemented by various businesses that launch an innovative item or establish an entire market (Hennink, 2014). Basing on the focus group references, developers or designers might improve or reconsider the philosophy of what they intend to sell to their clients or the purposive audience. What Advantages Might the Focus Group Method Offer in Contrast to an Individual Qualitative Interview? The implementation of the focus group research method is better than the individual qualitative interview if an organizer of a study wants to have an understanding of how one’s product or service is perceived by a broad audience. This option is unavailable with the interview approach as it is aimed at the personal opinions of separate consumers (Krueger & Casey, 2015). Also, it is better to use focus groups when all the sampling members have common interests regarding a research question or object as they might demonstrate accurate statistics as to the possible demand of the considered item on a particular market. “The facilitator uses “group dynamics principles to focus or guide a group in an exchange of ideas, feelings, and experiences on a specific topic” (Sreejesh, Mohapatra, & Anusree, 2014, p. 34). Another reason for choosing the focus group approach instead of individual questionnaires is its ability to demonstrate the sample’s dynamics. Moreover, a sponsor is likely to arrive at precise conclusions due to the acquired clues and participating in a dialogue. Describe How to Conduct
Executive Summary The paper entails an analysis of the telecommunication industry with regard to cross-border merger and acquisition. An analysis of the political, legal and social environment between the two firms involved is given. The essay also evaluates the various reasons for the increased customer advocacy with regard to merger and acquisitions. Some of the key reasons cited relate to the high probability of unfair market practices and development of a monopoly. Powerful mergers and acquisition may result into the firm being involved itself in unethical business practices. In addition, some of the pitfalls which the customers may experience as a result of merger and acquisition are identified and discussed. Some of these relate to lack of effective customer service and decline in product quality. The essay also identifies, various ethical dilemmas involved in such a merger and acquisition. Finally a conclusion and a number of recommendations on how to deal with such a situation are outlined. Introduction Telecommunication industry has become very competitive in the 21 st century due to the intense investment in research and development. In an effort to develop a high competitive edge, firms in this industry are incorporating the concept of merger and acquisition. Mergers and acquisition also takes place between firms of different countries which is referred to as cross-border mergers. Examples of firms which operate in this industry include Hewlett Packard which is located in the United States and 3-Comm Company which is located in the United Kingdom. The two firms deal with production of telecommunication and information technology products. In effort to attain synergy in its operation, the firms’ management teams have made acquire enters into a merger and acquisition. The UK legislation supports mergers and acquisition by enabling the shareholders to redeem their shares if they do not want to participate in the merger. In both the United States and the United Kingdom, the political environment has been conducive for business operation. For example, there are a number of anticompetitive rules which are aimed at regulating business operation. In their operation, both 3-Comm and Hewlett-Packard companies incorporated anti-trust laws. However, United Kingdom has a relatively high political tension which limits firms from undertaking mergers and acquisition across borders compared to United States. In addition, there is a high probability of United States government blocking conduction of mergers and acquisition between firms within the same industry compared to the UK government. This means that for Hewlett-Packard to acquire a firm which is not located in the domestic market such as 3-Comm, the government is intensely .According to Marsden (2007, para. 3), there is a probability of 23.8% of government intervention in a merger and acquisition in US compared to 1.7% in intervention in the UK. Reasons for increased concern by consumer advocates In an effort to attain its profit maximization objective via formation
Reserve currency is a representative of currency, which institutions and governments hold in significant quantities as a major form of foreign exchange reserve. It also acts as internationally appreciated pricing currency in the global market where products and commodities like gold, silver, and oil are traded. This currency creates an opportunity for various nations to conduct their international trade in an environment that is favorable. This occurs since the reserve currency is globally accepted as the currency for conducting international trade. Therefore, without a reserve currency, global business activities cannot occur effectively due to difficulties experienced in the process of currency exchanges among nations. The US dollar attained the status of reserve currency towards the end of World War II (Eichengreen, & Flandreau, n.d). During this period, there was a stiff competition between the sterling and the dollar on which currency should be regarded as the reserve one. This competition was based on the desire to have an effective financial and interwar economic history so that foreign exchange in the future would effectively occur (Eichengreen, & Flandreau, n.d). Sterling had a leading position as the reserve currency during the interwar era. This took place irrespective of the ability of the United States to take a leading position of the United Kingdom in terms of financial power and commercial activities, and dominate the economy. Nevertheless, the attainment of a commercial and economic imbalance between the competing countries led to the shift of the reserve currency from sterling to dollar. This remarkable shift occurred immediately after World War II (Eichengreen, & Flandreau, n.d). Politics plays a significant role in determining, which currency should be regarded as the reserve one. Actually, financial, commercial, and economic powers may not grant a currency the status of being a reserve one. This illustrates that there is a strong political force, which dictates the power of currency of one country in comparison to another. This is what happened in case of sterling and dollar when competing for the reserve currency position. Several dynamics were experienced as the political systems kept on changing. These dynamics were the following. First, sterling had taken a lead as the reserve currency, and then it was overtaken by dollar as the leading currency over a short period (Eichengreen, & Flandreau, n.d). Despite these dynamics, dollar got a strong backing from the well-established political system of the United States, which
Introduction Natural supports can be defined as personal connections and associations that improve the quality of a person’s life; these primarily include family relationships and friendships and constitute “the first line of supports, followed by informal and community supports” (Duggan & Linehan, 2013, p. 200). Identifying natural supports and recognizing them as sources of assistance can help people improve their everyday lives at home and at work. In my life, the primary natural support is my family. In a general sense, having an understanding family environment, in which concerns can be shared and discussed, and solutions can be suggested, is very helpful. Even the mere awareness that there are people who are close to you, care about you, and will help you with any problems you may face without judging you or demanding anything in return is very comforting and encouraging. Main body In a narrower sense, family support can come in various forms. Duggan and Linehan (2013) argue that a major role of family members as natural supports is that they help individuals achieve personal goals and do so unconditionally, on the basis of personal ties, rather than in exchange for anything (e.g., other types of support for people with disabilities can come from paid caregivers). For me, family support is not limited to home but also extends to my work; I know that my family members want me to succeed and are ready and willing to assist me when I am overwhelmed. A specific form of family-related natural supports is family events. We may not even discuss problems or seek solutions during such meeting (but rather simply celebrate), but the very idea that many people give up their plans to attend these meetings (because they realize how important family is and often put it first) makes me feel like there are always people I can ask for help and receive it. Another type of natural supports is friendship. I have noticed that the company of friends is a very supportive environment regardless of what you are doing together. When I am stressed or frustrated (e.g., from work), I can meet my friends and complain to them, and it makes me feel better, or I can meet them and simply have fun talking about something completely different than my personal problems, and it makes me feel better, too. I think it is important that friends are not only supportive but also can be critical; they will comfort you, but then they will tell you that perhaps you were wrong in a certain situation or you did something unwise and maybe you should fix it. Since those are friends who I know want the best for me, I can easily take criticism from them. Conclusion Not only current friendships are natural supports but also new ones. Duggan and Linehan (2013) stress the importance of making friends in the context of natural supports. I think that friendships can be much harder to maintain than family ties; only extremely dramatic events can make two family members drift apart, while friends are much more easily lost. Making new friends, getting to know each other better, sharing personal stories, and maintaining good relationships despite differ
Organisational knowledge The business world is increasingly becoming competitive with new approaches to businesses being developed in different industries. An organisation attains its corporate objectives by proper management of its human resources and building of orchestrate teams. To nature invention and innovation, an organisation must develop strategies that grow and preserve organisational knowledge(Meinolf, Ariane, John and Ikujiro, 2003). This paper discusses how organisational knowledge contributes to value creation; it will use real life cases to discuss the topic. Value creation and organisational knowledge Knowledge management assists a company have a pool of knowledge of a certain industry; the knowledge is vested in its databases and employees. With past trends in business, it is very easy to predict current trends and future business trends. Current business management strategies and mechanisms are targeted at increasing the value of their business. Business value can be seen from two aspects, the financial value in the form of returns and the value of commodities and goods produced. With a pool of knowledge, a company is able to develop strategies that can lead to effective and competitive business, they will be able to beat their competitors and the result is an increased business income. For example, Toyota Motor Corporation supposed General Motors’ in 2008 to be the world largest motor vehicle supplier because of customer responsive strategies developed after analysing its pool of wisdom and using research and development approaches (Meinolf, Ariane, John and Ikujiro, 2003). Product value is dependent with the target customer; with a pool of knowledge, a company will understand the expectation that its customers have and then aim at developing more customer-oriented products. In the late 1990’s Apple Inc was facing reduced business, the company revival is attributed to tapping of the knowledge of its former founder and manager Steve
Introduction Leisure is an essential part of a person’s time that can include a variety of activities. However, as will be discussed in the following paragraphs, some people in the US prefer to accrue their vacation days or use them by accumulation as much sightseeing as possible, which is not beneficial. It is due to the fact that leisure impacts the development and wellbeing of an individual. This paper aims to examine the three definitions of leisure – quantitative, qualitative, and holistic, as well as provide information regarding personal history and future leisure vistas. Definition of Leisure In general, this notion can be defined as the time during which a person is not engaged in specific activities, although it is essential to understand that leisure does not refer to not doing anything at all. Thus, different perspectives and viewpoints that examine this notion exist. Firstly, the quantitative approach aims to take into account the amount of time one spends on doing various things in his or her free time because “the study of leisure has predominantly been data-driven” (Tapps and Wells 48). However, it should be noted that not all the time that an individual has after work or classes can be dedicated to leisure. Thus, this model helps clearly define the exact number of hours providing a clear and measurable understanding of leisure. Therefore, it can be concluded that the notion implies taking action, for instance, going on vacation or visiting a new city, and the quantitative method helps to identify the exact time that is dedicated to these activities. The quantitative definition of leisure implies a combination of different elements, such as emotions or values. According to Tapps and Wells, the focus is on “understanding the lived leisure experiences” (49). From this perspective, the importance of leisure to a person is in its ability to facilitate positive emotions and help develop as an individual. Qualitative approach values not only the choices one makes regarding specific activities but also the result of them (Sirakaya-Turk et al. 40). It provides an implication for engaging in tasks that would enable enhancement of personal well-being, both physical and mental. According to the holistic approach, the notion defines the selection one makes in regards to his or her free time. Mikalauskas and Kasparienė state that “leisure time is a time in which we can make personal choices” (723). Therefore, what a person does with time they have that is not part of their work or studies is crucial from the holistic viewpoint. This model also implies that leisure is affected by several factors, such as social connections or physical health (Mikalauskas and Kasparienė 723). This model is more inclusive in terms of elements that contribute to proper leisure. Thus, this perspective can be used to investigate the topic in a more in-depth manner. This definition implies that people’s lives can be divided into specific domains and one has to prioritize the attention that each of those requirements. Personal History Although
The economic and political forces that emerged in the last quarter of the 17th century In the last quarter of the 17th century, America started to develop rather fast. They were mainly occupied in farming and planting. The owners of plantations and farms were rather influential initially because they mainly came from the aristocracy. However, a great focus on these spheres observed at that time also made them hold the most of the political power. Having a lot of slaves, they managed to ensure that their colonies produce enough raw materials to maximize the nation’s wealth. It was the main goal of mercantile policies adopted by the developed countries, including America, in the late 17th century. They also dealt with the desire to establish economic supremacy and accumulate money. These ideas were carried out in the framework of the Navigation Laws. Focusing on trade within this legislation, aristocrats kept in touch with their partners from the overseas and applied the discussed legislation on these relations. Realizing the necessity to produce more materials, they started to encroach upon the rights of people. At the same time, economic growth was hindered, and smuggling became common. In this way, the freedom of colonies was affected, and they had to work for national goals. As a result, the adoption of mercantile policies made people speak of their essential rights and caused protests. Heavy taxes and restrictions that were declared at that time made the representatives of the general public dissatisfied as well. With time, this problem became more critical and led to the A
The signing of the Lisbon Treaty on December 13, 2009, transformed the structure of the European Community (EC), which was subsequently renamed the European Union (EU). However, the journey to this historic moment started way back in 1950s, immediately after the Second World War (Wilde, 2012). Having experienced a catastrophic World War that had been ignited by the animosities among neighbouring countries and the desire to secure lasting peace, six European countries came together to form the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). This community was formed under the Paris Treaty in 1951 and it became Europe’s first supranational community. The main objective of ECSC was to enhance peace through political and economic integration (Kaiser et al., 2010). The six countries were Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, France, and Luxembourg. To supplement and reinforce the work of ECSC, two more custom unions, the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom), were formed in 1957 under the Rome Treaty and the Euratom Treaty respectively (Dedman, 2010). The three communities shared membership and some of their institutions until 1967 when EEC took charge of all the institutions. Nonetheless, ECSC and EAEC retained their legal identity and except for ESCS which was dissolved in 2002 due to the expiry of the Paris Treaty, EAEC is still in operation. On the other hand, EEC underwent a metamorphosis as time went by and more European countries joined its membership (Wilde, 2012). It was not until November 1993 that EEC was officially renamed European Community (EC) through the Maastricht Treaty. In addition to acquiring a new name, the community was restructured into three pillars. However, the three pillars of the EC were merged in 2009 when the community was transformed into EU under the Treaty of Lisbon. The EU, as it is known today, is a custom union that has been renamed several times and its mandate has grown and changed over time. But the primary objective of fostering economic and political integration has never changed (Dedman, 2010). The EU has made a lot of progress in ensuring that there is free movement of capital, goods, services, and people across the borders of its members, who currently stand at twenty-seven. Furthermore, the union has managed to create policies that support a unified market, enhanced agricultural and fish production, and improve regional development (Kaiser et al., 2010). Needless to say, the European Union was award
Introduction Groups of people, born in a particular period and sharing main historical events, have been given names to mark them as a generation. The title for each of them is granted based on the cultural values and ethical background experienced by individuals living in the same generation. In this essay, the reasons for the naming of the preceding generations will be examined with the speculation on the future label of the current one. Main body The Silent Generation, or Matures, is a generation of people endured massive cultural changes in the United States, struggling with divisive ethics, concepts, and desires. Members of this generation were born between 1922 and 1945 (Carbary et al. 1). In some cases, it was claimed that Matures were one of the least understood generations from the last century. Perhaps, the prevalent conditions were the determining factors that gave the name to the generation, molding its behavior and individuality. The circumstances, such as harsh and unsatisfying economic pain, namely the Great Depression, shaped the generation. Despite some free-spoken activists, most of the members were quiet, laborious people, focused on their careers and families. However, due to the comparatively small size, children of the Silent Generation could take advantage of the reduced competition. Many of them laid the foundation for technological developments, constructing state-of-the-art novelties. Hence, the Matures are known for their mute response to societal dilemmas and financial hardship. Baby boomers are people born after World War II, getting their name from the increased birth rates. Despite the fact that children were born from 1945 to 1955, the name did not emerge until the end of the generation (Beckett 7). When the world economies could not recover after the war, baby boomers caused the most rapid economic growth, boosting the living standards. They gained from the time of increasing prosperity and raised income levels relative to their antecedents, following a surge in consumerism. Considering the character features, self-sufficiency appears to be the main quality of baby boomers, staying concentrated and focused on the task. Therefore, it can be noted that the label for this generation stands on the ground of its
Introduction Burial practices and respect for the dead have assumed various forms and undergone many transformations over the centuries. The ancient Egyptians built elaborate pyramids, complete with their retinue and treasures in the belief that the dead person would be reborn. The bodies were also embalmed to delay the decaying process so that the soul could return for brief visits. European burial practices have changed from the times of Romans to the time of the reformatory period and the influence of several religions and cultures have shaped the burial practices. This paper examines the development of burial practices in Europe following the collapse of the Roman empire until the reformation. Evolution of the Burial Practices Sider (2007) speaks of how formal funeral practices were started by the Egyptians around 5000 BC. Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death and the reigning Pharaoh spent the better part of his rein in getting an appropriate tomb for himself. Even the rich tradesmen, the various generals, and courtiers made elaborate arrangements. The ancient Greeks and early Romans were philosophical about death and regarded the dead as having departed forever and they buried them in caves or underground tombs after making cursory applications with herbs and medicines. Many Greeks preferred to be cremated as they did not want worms to devour them after they died. The author points out that formal funeral and burial practices began in Rome around 300 AD when ‘Libitinarius’ or funeral directors were appointed to look after the burial arrangements. In keeping with the pomp and luxury of a decaying empire, the burial practices were elaborate affairs and lasted for several days with many guests and professional mourners. To keep the body from putrefying, embalming was introduced and thus began the formal practice of funerary. Habenstein (1955) comments that formal burial practices came in England along with the Romans who invaded Britain in 60 AD. T