Friday, August 23, 2019

Land law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Land law - Essay Example He also explained that in 1995 he bought a twenty-year lease of the flat from the then owner. The owner later sold the house to Anjum in 2002. Ned produced a document signed by him and by the previous owners, setting out the terms of the lease. The document is dated 1 June 1995. Mishal and Rick do not have a copy of the document and cannot recall if the signatures were witnessed. Ned also explained that they had had an agreement with Anjum that if Ned gives Anjum ?15,000 he will have procured the option of purchasing the house for ?300,000 at any time between 1 December 2013 and 30 November 2014. He had a document duly signed by Anjum and him for that effect and was dated 1 December 2012. Mishal and Rick do not have a copy of this agreement. Anjum sold Ned the option because she needed the cash. Ned has saved enough to purchase the property and now wants to purchase it. 1. Mishal and Rick are entitled to evict Ned Mishal and Rick have a proprietary interest in the property that they have purchased from Anjum. Their interest is registrable in accordance with s.27 of the Land Registration Act 2002. Mishal and Rick registered the property shortly after completion. This section demands that any transfer of a freehold, whether by value, gift or death, be registered. If such a disposition is not registered then it does not operate at law (Feinman, 2010). Since the land title was absolute title, it was clear that had there been any other interest in the land, and house, it would have been registered with the registrar of land. An absolute title means that there is nothing dubious about the title. Ned bought a lease for 20 years from 1995. Since the lease period is above seven years, Ned should have registered this interest, but he did not since the absolute title did not have a record of another interest against it. The Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act1989 clearly states in section 2 that for a contract of sale or other disposition of an interest in land to be valid all the terms must have been made in writing and all terms incorporated in one document, or where contracts are exchanged, in each. Therefore, the documents that Ned produced, purporting to have entered into contracts with the two previous owners does not hold under the law because they are not in the same legal document which should contain all the material terms. This point was made in Keay v Morris Homes (West Midlands) Limited [2012] EWCA Civ 900 where a document purporting to be a contract that complies with the provisions of s.2 of LPMPA 1989 but did not include all the expressly agreed terms was not considered as a contract at all. In the ruling, the judge mentioned the Grossman Point by referring to the Grossman case. In this case, Mr. Hooper bought a property in his sole name. Miss Grossman had beneficial interest in the property. After 10 years their relationship deteriorated and they parted ways with signing of a document of informal agreement transferring th e property to Miss Grossman. The document expressly provided that now Miss Grossman will take charge and responsibility of repaying the mortgage secured against it. After she contended it was held that the document was void as a contract as it did not comply with s.2 which directs that the all the express terms be included. The need to clearly state in writing the all the express terms is also evident in North Eastern Properties Limited v Coleman Limited and another [2010] EWCA Civ 277 and First

Examine from an economic perspective Scotlands position in Europe in Essay

Examine from an economic perspective Scotlands position in Europe in relation to the recent Scottish independence referendum. Based upon your analysis which way should we have voted - Essay Example To begin with, the Scotland’s referendum vote in 2014 was a historic turning point for the entire Britain and Europe as a whole. Many political leaders and other influential leaders stood up to oppose the independence of Scotland, pointing out the negative impacts that this could cause to the European economy (Castells 2014, p. 23). For instance, this response was motivated by many leaders due to the fear that separation of Scotland from Europe would worsen the economic predicaments not only in Europe but also drag the entire United Kingdom. Amid predicted that a Yes Vote to Scotland’s independence would result in a decrease in the pound’s value to 15 percent, which is approximately 17 billion pounds of UK shares (Tindal, McCollum & Bell 2014, p. 89). Bonds as well as other financial assets were already sold by investors, thus negatively affecting the European economy at large (Furby 2012, p. 67). For instance, the Times revealed that the fear of Scotland’ s independence resulted in sell-off of many British investments. One of the impacts of independence referendum is all about oil production. U.K is the leading producer of oil in Europe and most of its oil comes from areas that Scotland’s independence claimed. The independence of Scotland from this perspective would cause a lot of harm to the economy of Europe. United Kingdom is likely to grab a share of the current oil production and reserves. This will result in Scotland remaining with oil that is worth  £1.5 trillion. Secondly, massive financial industry of Scotland seems ready to collapse if voters could prefer a Yes vote. The biggest banking and insurance companies such as RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) had decided to move their headquarters, including other departments of their operations to England if the voters of Scotland had chosen independence. The financial sector offers employment to approximately 100,000

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The End of Western Roman Empire Essay Example for Free

The End of Western Roman Empire Essay The Roman Empire, perhaps the strongest, most evolved and most consistently fascinating empire has been the subject of historical research and discourse than any other empires that the history of the world has seen. Its birth and its rise was a complex process involving a multitude of factors that came together to create a super-power the world had never seen; its decline – more complex still. It is difficult for historians and researchers to pin down the exact chief reason of its decline and highlight the one major cause that led to the downfall of the giant. From foreign invasions to incompetent emperors, from internal strife to crippled economy – all have been cited time and time again as the real culprits. The views are vast and varied and invariably historically supported by facts from the annals of history. However, the causes of Roman decline still remain debatable. Wickham (184) and Goffart (1981) have grappled with the issue of Roman decline in their own separate ways. While the former has recounted the changing economy of the Empire as a chief cause among many, the latter has listed foreign invasions as a major culprit. Wickham, in his article ‘The Other Transition: From the Ancient World to Feudalism’ has delineated the slow but sure changes in the economic fabric of the Roman society as it neared its downfall and the impact these changes had on the social, political, national and ideological front. The Roman Empire’s shift from an empire that thrived on taxes, to an empire that became dependent on the feudal system of governance for its sustenance, is the prime focus. Wickham has analyzed the underlying economic currents that shaped the Roman governance, and ultimately the Roman society, and concentrated solely on the economic process of change and its implications. The mode of production of the Roman Empire was perhaps one of the most important aspects in its economy and its shift from the slave traditions to serfdom and tenancy had deep ramifications. The writer has referred to a valid point once raised by Bloch who discussed how the number of slaves in the Roman Empire did undeniably increase during the great wars of the fifth to sixth centuries A. D but the increase in the number of slaves did not necessarily lead towards increased number of slave plantations. These slaves were primarily forced to participate in wars instead and the view that growing slavery in fifth and sixth century must naturally point towards a strengthening of the slavery structure is essentially flawed. In the early stages of development, Rome had become an exploitative state by nature where the government wealth came to be collected from tributes and taxes from cities, neighbouring states and the general public. This gradually developed into what Wickham calls ‘a wholesale taxation network’ coupled with slave plantations. By the end of the third century however, slave plantations had disappeared and the agrarian production depended more on tenants and the feudal mode of production. However, the Roman Empire, with its mind-boggling vastness, still depended on taxes for its support rather than land rents or serfdom. ‘The dominant source of surplus extraction in the late empire was not rent, but tax. ’ Taxation commanded the economy and was the economic foundation for the Roman State. By the fifth century however, things began to take a slow but decisive turn. The landed gentry, and even the general public for that matter, came under increased pressure as heavy taxes were imposed to not just take care of wartime expenses resulting from skirmishes with the Barbarians, but also to fill the pockets of the urban governments. The private land owners realized that the Roman patronage was too expensive as armies, bound to offer protection against the Barbarians, began to lose ground and military expenses bloated. Peasants too began to adopt rent-paying to powerful land-owners as opposed to paying taxes directly to the State. Wickham writes, ‘Benefits from the state had never justified the weight of taxes in the eyes of peasants, and nor did they any longer for landlords. ’ Hence, both the peasantry and the aristocrats sought refuge in a system that saved them from the back-breaking weight of taxes. When the aristocracy lost interest in the state and developed their own preoccupations, maintaining a feudal system on their lands, the state suffered enormously and when not supported by the peasantry – a group equally wary of taxation systems, the Roman Empire felt the reverberations. Walter Goffart (1981), on the other hand, focuses on an entirely different aspect of Roman decline in his work ‘Rome, Constantinople, and the Barbarians. ’ He admits, and sufficiently cites respected historians to strengthen his case, that the rise of Christianity and the Barbarians had undeniable, deep impact on the last few centuries of the great Rome and elects to focus on only one aspect out of the two. In Goffart’s opinion, the Barbarians put Rome in a complex quandary, yet it was the Romans who shaped the relationship and dictated the terms on which the mutual encounters were formulated. For Goffart, it is crucial to understand the dynamics of the Roman-Barbarian relationship by viewing it from the Roman side of the border. It is important to keep in mind, points Goffart, that the Barbarians were never ill-equipped to handle the Roman Empire and had continuously and with single-minded determination inflicted heavy damages to the vastly superior Roman army, yet it was the Roman Empire itself that gave them numerous openings to inflict losses. Gaining advantages from the internal strife and the preoccupation of the Emperors with politics and inner problems, the Barbarians shrewdly targeted an army that though well-equipped and colossal, was still insufficient to safeguard the vast borders. In addition, the mounting expenses of the armies made emperors reluctant to unleash brutal force on the war-mongering Barbarians as they realized that the tax-payers might be unable or unwilling to pay for wars on the frontier. In addition, as internal strife and rebellion increased, Barbarians were promptly employed by either the Emperor or the usurper to fight the wars on their behalf as Goffart comments, ‘Political competitors invariably occupied a higher place on the agenda than alien enemies; barbarians were the natural allies of emperors and usurpers alike in their fratricidal struggles for power. ’ Interestingly Goffart claims that the ability of the barbarians to assert themselves ‘hinged far less upon their strength and wishes than upon the response that the Roman government could make to them in the short and long run. ’ Even though addressing the causes of the fall of the Roman Empire is a common concern for both historians, it is the approach taken by them that differs. Where on the one hand Wickham believes that the shift in the economic setup of the Roman Empire from revenue-based governance to feudal form of governance brought about major changes and somehow contributed to the decline, Goffart, on the other hand insists that the long winding, never ceasing strife with the barbarians chipped away at the roots of the powerful empire. Admittedly, both agree that the causes delineated by them individually are not the sole ones but chief reasons among countless others. Both writers insist that the decline of the great empire was a slow process and was brought about gradually rather than suddenly. For them, destruction of an empire as vast as the Roman Empire could not have possibly been a sudden incident brought about by calamities or foreign aggression. Both have laid stress on the importance of social, cultural, geopolitical and economic changes brought about by changing internal or external realities to be the real culprit. For the historians, the system of governance and the mindsets of the ruling elite had a lot to do with the decline and waning of glory. For instance, discounting the importance of increasingly aggressive neighbours, internal strife, palace conspiracies or agrarian instability as sole causes, the writers hold that the last nail was hammered down by the supreme powers and their critically strategic mistakes, as in the words of Goffart, ‘The critical element, however, was neither Gothic strength nor deficient Roman means; it was a scale of imperial priorities in which the repose of the many had an absolute preference over the safety of a few. ’ Where on the one hand, both the historians have relied on famous classical historians such as Polybius, Cassius Dio, Herodian, Tacitus etc. , they have on the other hand cited extensively respected contemporary scholarship on the Roman history. Historians such as Piganoil, Haverfield, Haller and Dannenbauer, Hindess and Hirst, Perry Anderson and Finley etc. all are generously cited to support the theses. It is interesting to note that the reasoning employed by both historians is uniquely independent as they have drawn their own conclusions and at times chosen to take entirely differing views from previously accepted notions. For instance, Goffart claims that the common perception that the barbarians migrated towards the Mediterranean as a means of escaping the unfriendly Baltic regions is a flawed perception based solely on misguided views and shaky historical claims. The writer has also stressed on the need for objective analysis and has expressed open approbation of Sulpicius Severus, a much less noted historian, over the more widely respected Polybius, as a more dependent source. Both writers have shed light on issues hitherto neglected and taken a decidedly different stand on issues. Negating the widely held belief that the barbarians were in a way responsible for Roman downfall, Goffart insisted and proved by means of historical evidence that it was in fact the weakness and procrastination of the Emperors, who chose to first give precedence to warring with usurpers and rebels and employed the same barbarians in their internal strife instead of taking a stronger stand and not settling with cutting off portions of the territory in lieu of shaky peace. It was not the barbarian aggression, as is widely believed, that the Romans could not stand but their own errors that weakened them. Accounting the shift from the tax system to the feudal system, Wickham has demonstrated a fresher insight into the long-held and cemented perceptions regarding the economic realities of Rome between the third till the sixth century. Pointing out how the peasants began to avoid state taxes and sought refuge in the feudal system, Wickham has demonstrated the break that happened between the state and the aristocracy, as they now adopted the feudal system as undoubtedly profitable for them. References Goffart, W 1981, ‘Rome, Constantinople, and the Barbarians Author,’ The American Historical Review Vol. 86, No. 2, pp. 275-306. Wickham, C 1984, ‘The Other Transition: From the Ancient World to Feudalism Author,’ Past and Present, No. 103, pp. 3-36.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Effectiveness Of Kinesio Taping Method Health And Social Care Essay

Effectiveness Of Kinesio Taping Method Health And Social Care Essay Kinesio taping was invented in the 1970s in Japan by Dr. Kenso Kase. Dr. Kase was intrigued with kinesiology and conservative ways of treating traumatized soft tissue. Through his new tape and technique development, Dr. Kase accomplished his goal:  to have patients experience immediate improvement after one visit (21). Through ongoing work in 1984 Dr. Kase was able to establish the Japanese National Kinesio Taping Association and started using the method for the first time with the Japanese National Volleyball Association in 1988 Olympics. Moreover, it was formally used for the first time in the US with the National Athletic Trainers Association. Physical therapists professionals started using it in 1997. Dr. Kase finally took approval from Medicare billing code for taping in 2001 (21). Now kinesio taping is most commonly used in sports treatment centers, also physical therapists use it for muscular pain, joint pain and related ailments because it is effective treatment for muscle and joint dysfunction (21). Kinesio taping, created by Kenzo Kase, is a specialized thin, elastic tape that can be stretched up to 120% ~ 140% of its original length making it quite elastic compared with the conventional taping (12). According to the Japanese National Kinesio Taping Association, the Kinesio Taping Method is defined as one that enhances the bodys natural healing process and provides support through the muscles (21). Kinesio tape has a physiological mechanism and is effective on soft tissue, muscle, and joint. Mechanism of kinesio tape method KT%20on%20skin.jpg The kinesio tape method has a good effect on the human body and most importantly it influences the musculoskeletal system, which makes this method very beneficial for physical therapists. There are many effects for this method. The three main principles that kinesio tape depends on are space, movement and cooling (21). Inflamed muscles are painful and swollen which causes a lack in space. The kinesio taping technique is applied to produce space but also leads to the prospect of improved movement without affecting circulation. This space and movement then allows for cooling of the affected muscles, and in certain cases cryotherapy is used with the tape (21). Another good reason to use this taping is that it acts as a pain relieving agent and, focuses on balancing muscles and enhances the function of the muscle smoothly up to an efficient level. The kinesio tape has physiological mechanisms that give the therapeutic benefits of reducing musculoskeletal disorders. These physiological me chanisms are: Aligns fascia tissue in its desired place. Reducing pressure over the lymphatic channels giving a path for the elimination of exudates. Providing a positional stimulus to the skin. Lifting the skin over areas of inflammation, edema, and pain. Increasing stimulation of the mechanoreceptors to either stimulate or limit movement. The key feature that allows athletes to continue their training and sporting activity with kinesio taping is that it gives muscle support without affecting circulation or range of motion. Now to apply kinesio tape therapists must pre-assess the athlete. (8) Pre-applied Kinesio taping method training and practice are requiring appropriate assessment. Assessing and evaluation the patients condition and looking at both the symptoms, is the only way to provide successful treatment because each individual patients condition is different (10, 21). There are certain screening tools that should be used to evaluate the patient, such as manual muscle testing, range of motion testing, gait assessment, and any other orthopedic special tests that the practitioner may deem necessary (10,21). This clinical assessment dictates the specifics of the Kinesio Taping Method application and other possible treatments or modalities (10).There are different applications to apply kinesio tape after pre- applied examination. Kensio Tape application The specifics of the Kinesio Taping Method application and other possible treatments depend on the condition of the athlete and patient. The mechanism of kinesio taping method utilizes only I strips or modifications in the shape of an X, Y or extra or new specialized shapes that conform to muscles insertions and origins, or calibrating the direction and quantity of stretch placed on the tape at time of application (21).The application of kinesio taping has hundreds of ways. This ways has the capability to re-educate the neuromuscular system, reduce pain and inflammation, provide support for joint, prevent injury or related injury and encourage good circulation and healing. The applications adapt to sit of injuries (21).sports0_gifts_tape_11_20.jpg One article that illustrates the effectiveness kinesio tape effect on forearm extensors on collegiate tennis: This study shows the effectiveness of kinesio tape on musculatur of the forearm extensors on collegiate tennis athletes. The study takes fourteen participants (8 female and 6 male) who exhibit a 40% to 50% chance of being diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis at some point in their occupation, to determine if kinesio tape used in healthy collegiate tennis athletes is effective at decreasing fatigue by maintaining strength of the forearm extensors, which are frequently related with lateral epicondylitis. The outcomes of this study show that Kinesio Tape, when applied to healthy colligate tennis players, helps to sustain the strength of the forearm extensors. (11) Kinesio taping techniques of collegiate tennis: on this study, The kinesio tape group received the application for lateral epicondylitis of the elbow using black 2 inch (5 cm) Kinesio Tape. The subjects forearm was prepared for Kinesio Tape application with alcohol pads. The Kinesio taping Y strip was applied from insertion to origin, to reduce muscle function in acutely over-used muscles, with paper-off tension, which refers to application of the tape directly to the skin from the paper backing. The Kinesio Y strip is made from a single strip of tape with a cut down from middle to produce 2 equal size strips. This application decreases the strain placed on the over-used muscle by assisting with muscle contraction. The base of the Y strip was placed near the region of the radial styloid process with no added tension 0% and rubbed in place to activate glue adhesion. The position of elbow slight flexion with the wrist in neutral was located. (11) Example of applied kinesio tape Kinesio taping application for shoulder impingement syndrome: From Clinical therapeutic applications book by Dr. Kenso Kase, the kinesio taping method were applied (10). The increased space is believed to reduce pressure by lifting the skin. By using the lymphatic correction technique, Kinesio tape decreases the pressure beneath the Kinesio tape strip that acts as channels to direct the exudates to the next-door lymph duct. This technique also works to maintain the scapulothoracic stability by the mechanical correction with applied the kinesio taping to three muscles supraspinatus, deltoideus, and teres minor. Kinsio tape was started with the supraspinatus muscle which generally provides scapular stability and placed the bottom of the strip 3 cm under the greater tubersity of the humerus with no tension with some friction to activate the glue. Next, the patient adducted the shoulder with lateral neck flexion to the opposite side. The remainder of the strip was applied the length of the spinous process of the scapula with some of tension as 15-2 5% of the full stretch application which is100% with some friction to activate the glue. Then, the new piece of taping was applied to the deltoideus muscle. The base of the Y-shaped strip was located 3 cm under the deltoid tuberosity of the humerus with tension o% with some friction to activate the glue. Both anterior and posterior tails were applied with new pieces of taping light 15-25% tension with some friction to activate the glue. The anterior and posterior tails were positioned along the external borders of the anterior and posterior deltoid muscle with no tension0% with some friction to activate the glue. The new piece of taping was performed on the teres minor muscle. The -I- shape type strip was located on the lower facet of the greater tuberosity of the humerus without any tension 0% with some friction to activate glue. Lastly, the patient should abducted arm and the shoulder should be in horizontal flexion with internal rotation and then placed the remainder of the strip along the axillary border of the scapula with radiance 15-25% tension with some friction to activate glue.(9,10) Conclusion kinesio tape, which is specialized tape that is thin, elastic and can be stretched up to 120% ~140% of its original length, making it quite elastic, is one of the effective items used for treatment or prevention of injury for athletes and patients. The following conditions: proprioception in pediatrics (15), patients with acute patellar dislocation (17), stroke (16),different injury in ankle like ankle sprain (18), shoulder pain (7), shoulder impingement syndrome (9), breast cancer related lymphedema (14), care of an infant with gastroesophageal reflux (19),and trunk dysfunction (20), the kinesio tape Deals with it. The Kinesio tape method plays an important role that is affected physiological mechanisms on the site of injure. These physiological mechanisms have a therapeutic benefit to improve muscular skeleton disorder and focus on space, movement and cooling. The specifics of the Kinesio Taping Method application and other possible treatments depended on the condition or the resul t of pre applied, which is a full assessment of patient condition and athlete condition. The application of kinesio taping has hundreds of ways which I strips or modifications in the shape of an X, Y or or extra can be used, and has the capability to re-educate the neuromuscular system, reduce pain and inflammation, provide support for joint, prevent injury or related injury and encourage good circulation and healing. Addition with the paper contains a photo display of the overview for kinesio taping method and practical demonstration for neck painà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦10349365-example-of-kinesio-tape-for-neck-pain.jpg

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Application of the marketing mix

Application of the marketing mix INTRODUCTION The marketing mix is among the most widely accepted marketing concepts in the world of business (McCarthy 1960; Bartels 1983; Shapiro 1985). However, over the years the marketing mix has come under intense scrutiny from both academics of the marketing discipline and practitioners alike. This feeling was captured by Constantinides when he stated: Few topics of the commercial theory have so intensively inspired as well as divided the marketing academia as the 4Ps Marketing Mix framework (Constantinides, 2006: p.407) This essay aims to critically assess the relevance of the marketing mix for the current marketing approaches. To accomplish this, an overview of the marketing mix is given. This is followed by an exploration of some of the contemporary approaches to marketing which will lead to a consideration of the arguments in support of the marketing mix and the criticisms against it. Finally, in the light of the arguments and criticisms the relevance of the marketing mix for contemporary approaches to marketing will be appraised. OVERVIEW OF THE MARKETING MIX The marketing mix can be defined as the controllable and tactical marketing tools that the firm combines to achieve the desired response in its target market. It comprises all the measures the firm can employ to stimulate the demand for its goods and/or services (Kotler and Armstrong, 2008). The ultimate goal of any firm is to create a product or service that will be perceived as unique in the eyes of prospective consumers so that they will prefer it to other competing brands. In creating this unique selling proposition (USP), the marketers can blend four basic ingredients in a number of different ways to obtain different results. These four ingredients are usually referred to as the 4Ps and comprise- product, price, place (distribution) and promotion (Baker, 2007). Costantinides (2006) and Gronroos (1994) trace the origin of the marketing mix to the 1960s when Neil Borden identified twelve controllable marketing components that would yield profit if properly managed. Borden considered the marketing mix to be a concise, realistic and vivid expression of the admixture of the marketing ingredients, techniques and processes chosen by a marketing manager to create a marketing plan (Banting and Ross, 1973; Waterschoot and Van den Bulte, 1992). It was later reduced to four factors by Jerome McCarthy (McCarthy, 1964 cited in Constantinides, 2006) and this simplified version became the most widely accepted definition of the marketing mix (Judd, 2002). The 4Ps marketing mix commanded utmost respect in the minds of both marketing scholars and practitioners for decades that in the words of Gronroos (1994) and Kent (1986) it was considered heresy to challenge its position as the basic foundation of all marketing thinking. This belief strongly reinforces the dominance of the marketing mix during this period and suggests that there was a need for a theory that could be applied for the solution of most marketing management issues. According to Harker and Egan (2006) certain economic conditions contributed to the perceived superiority of the marketing mix paradigm. Harker and Egan (2006) opine that a key feature of the United States domestic market after the Second World War was homogeneity of products which resulted in increased demand for standardised consumer products and the rise of the USA as the dominant marketing culture. The demand, notwithstanding, there was need to ensure that consumption matched output (Packard, 1957 cited in Harker and Egan, 2006). Thus, a formal and reliable marketing approach was required to provide this fit (OMalley and Patterson, 1998). The popularity and dominance of the marketing mix paradigm was further enhanced by its simplicity and ease of communication (Waterschoot and Van den Bulte 1992; Constantinides, 2006; Harker and Egan, 2006). From the above submission, it can be argued that the marketing mix paradigm was borne out of necessity- a necessity for a simple, realistic and reliable framework that could be applied for the solution of general and specific marketing problems that arose in that era. Considering the under-developed marketing structure and knowledge gap that existed at that time, the formulation of the 4Ps marketing mix paradigm could not have come at a better time. Thus, it goes without saying that the relevance of its application to the transactional marketing approach- the primary approach to marketing in the 20th century-is indubitable. However, due to the shortcomings of the transactional approach to marketing, there was the need for a paradigm shift from a product-oriented approach to one that focused on the customer. Thus, the academia and marketing practitioners began to question the efficacy of the marketing mix framework as the answer to all marketing problems. The 4Ps were considered too narrow to adequately address the many aspects of marketing management and laid excessive emphasis on the product and processes with little or no thought for the customer. The increased sophistication of customers and the dynamic nature of the business environment meant that organisations had to adapt regularly to the changes that occur in the environment or risk losing market share with the consequence of possible liquidation. This situation led to the emergence of several modern marketing approaches that shifted attention from the product to the customer thereby ushering in the era of market orientation. Some of the contemporary approaches to marketing that emerged as a response to the continuous evolution of the business environment include Relationship marketing, Interaction marketing and Network marketing (Constantinides, 2006; Coviello et al, 1997; Gronroos, 1997). These modern approaches demanded a re-thinking of the marketing process in order to achieve effective and efficient implementation. Based on this need for a re-definition of the marketing process, it was inevitable that the marketing mix paradigm would come up for debate with regards to the relevance of its application to the aforementioned marketing approaches. Relationship marketing involves the development and maintenance of mutually satisfying exchange relations with customers and other parties at a profit, so that the objectives of all the parties are realised (Gronroos, 1994; Baker, 2007, Coviello et al, 1997). The implication of this viewpoint is that every organisation must cooperate with other parties within its business environment and beyond in order to achieve its ultimate aim. The 21st century market is replete with opportunities and challenges that were relatively unknown in the 20th century. To harness the opportunities and overcome the challenges effectively and efficiently entails building up a long-term relationship with the customers and all other stakeholders that directly or indirectly influence an organisations operations. This situation suggests that certain changes would have to occur in the organisations overall business processes, especially the marketing processes, to ensure a seamless implementation of relationshi p marketing. Gronroos (1994), Gummesson (1994, 1997) and Goldsmith (1999) argue that firms practising a transactional marketing approach stand to benefit most from a traditional marketing mix approach because of the absence of personal interactions with their customers and emphasis on mass markets. However, the marketing mix tends to be restrictive for a relation-oriented firm. The most significant customer interactions from a marketing success perspective are outside the scope of the marketing mix and marketing specialists. The customer decides whether to maintain business relations with a firm based on the effect of his/her contacts with the people, technology, and operations and other non-marketing functions. This position is supported by Ailawadi et al (2001) who doubt the impact of promotion and advertising as marketing tools for customer retention. This proposition suggests that the customers interactions with any firm transcends the marketing functions and includes all indirect transaction s with the non-marketing functions within the firm. Relationship marketing advocates the inclusion of all the functional units in any organisation towards creating value for the customer. The effective and efficient implementation of this customer-oriented approach requires that certain critical changes occur within the organisation. These requisite changes will cut across the whole organisation, but will focus more on the marketing functions because of the direct and frequent interactions with the customers. The change in the marketing functions will lead to a complete shift or modifications in the methods tools adopted by the organisation in creating value for the customer. This, invariably, would necessitate a review of the organisations marketing mix. Such reviews have surfaced in Kotlers redefinition of the 4Ps to the 4Cs namely, customer solution, customer cost, convenience and communication (Kotler et al., 1999 cited in Kruger et al., 2003 and Ashcroft and Hoey 1999). This re definition suggests a shift from the era of product-orientation to customer-orientation which is the essence of relationship marketing. However, it also suggests that the marketing mix is still relevant but there is need for some modification to suit the dynamic marketing environment. Judd (2002) proposes an expansion of the 4Ps marketing mix by including the employees of any organisation as the fifth P. This viewpoint is supported by the fact that the employees are an integral part of any organisation. They are the point of contact between the organisation and its customers. However, like Kotlers 4Cs, this proposed expansion of the 4Ps to 5Ps also points to the relevance of the marketing mix, but with some modification to suit appropriate markets. This argument is supported by Groonroos (1994) when he opines that relationships do not operate in isolation. Relationships function in combination with the other marketing tools already in operation within a given organisation in order t o successfully create value for both the customer and the organisation. The application of the traditional marketing mix elements of product, price, promotion and place would be necessary at some point in the interactions between the customer and the organisation. This standpoint implies that, notwithstanding the criticisms of the traditional marketing mix paradigm, its elements still contribute in one way or the other in the effective implementation of the relationship marketing approach. Criticism of the marketing mix has also arisen in the area of social marketing. Murphy et al., (1978) argue that the implementation of certain marketing strategies is unethical especially in the area of packaging, promotion, price and distribution channels. This argument tends to suggest that the marketing mix is responsible for the unethical practices that may occur during implementation. However, responsibility for the implementation of the marketing mix is within the purview of the marketing and non-marketing functional units within the organisation. They are responsible for any unethical practices that may occur in the course of implementing the marketing strategies and not the marketing mix. Also, the marketing mix has been applied by social marketing in the public health sector. Montoya et al, (2005), Pirani and Reizes (2005) and Grier and Bryant (2005) agree that the application of the marketing mix is essential in the role of social marketing in public health. The elements are combined in different ways to bring about the desired change in the target market. Attempts have been made to incorporate the marketing mix theory into other non-marketing sectors. Lees-Marshment (2001) suggests that political parties have adopted a marketing-orientation with significant electoral success. Lloyd (2003) suggests the application of the marketing mix to the political arena by recommending the development of a political marketing mix that comprises five components namely, services offering, representation, accommodation, investment and outcome. The implication of the aforementioned suggestions is that the marketing mix can contribute enormously to the smooth operation of political parties in particular, and the government in general. CONCLUSION Though the marketing mix has been criticised as being too narrow and product-oriented, it is still relevant in contemporary marketing approaches. As has been discussed above, there is need for some modifications in the mix portfolio. Redefinition of the marketing mix does not reduce its relevance; it only serves to shift its focus to the modern trends in the market place. Also, the relevance of the marketing mix is reinforced by its application to non-marketing sectors such as politics and the public health sector. This shift suggests that with the right modifications, the marketing mix can be applied in any area of human endeavour. REFERENCES Ailawadi, K. L., Lehmann, D.R. and Neslin, S.A. (2001), Market response to a major policy change in the marketing mix: learning from Procter Gambles value pricing strategy. Journal of Marketing, Vol.65, No.1, pp.44-61. Ashcroft, L. and Hoey, C. (2001), PR, marketing and the Internet: implications for information professionals. Library Management, Vol.22, No. 1/2, pp.68-74. Banting, P.M. and Ross, E.M. (1973), The marketing mix: a Canadian perspective. Journal of Marketing Science, Vol.1, No.1, pp.1-11. Bartels, R. (1983), The development of marketing thought. Ohio: Grid Publishing. Constantinides, E. (2006), The marketing mix revisited: towards the 21st century marketing. Journal of Marketing Management, Vol.22, pp.407-438. Coviello, N.E., Brodie, R.J. and Munro, H.J. (1997), Understanding contemporary marketing: development of a classification scheme. Journal of Marketing Management, Vol.13, No.6, pp.501-522. Goldsmith, R. (1999), The personalised marketplace: beyond the 4Ps. Marketing Intelligence and Planning, pp.178-185. Grier, S. and Bryant C.A. (2005), Social marketing in public health. Annual Review Public Health, Vol.26, pp.319-339. Gronroos, C. (1994). From marketing mix to relationship marketing: towards a paradigm shift in marketing. Management Decision, Vol.32, N0.2, pp.4-20. Gronroos, C. (1997). From marketing mix to relationship marketing: towards a paradigm shift in marketing. Management Decision, Vol.35, No.4, pp.322-339. Gummesson, E. (1994). Making relationship marketing operational. International Journal of Service Industry Management, Vol.5, No.5, pp.5-20. Gummesson, J. (1997). Relationship marketing as a paradigm shift: some conclusions from the 30R approach. Management Decision, Vol.35, No.4, pp.267-272. Harker, M. and Egan J. (2006), The past, present and future of relationship marketing. Journal of Marketing Management, Vol.22, pp.215-242. Judd, V. (2002). Achieving a customer orientation using people-power, the 5th P. European Journal of Marketing, Vol.37, No. 10, pp.1301-1313. Kent, R.A. (1986). Faith in the 4Ps: an alternative. Journal of Marketing Management, Vol.2, No.2, pp.145-154. Kotler, P., Armstrong, G., Saunders, J. and Wong V. (1999), Principles of marketing. London: Prentice Hall. Kotler, P. and Armstrong G. (2008), Principles of marketing. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. Kruger, C.C., Lu, N. and Swatman, P.M.C. (2003), Success factors for online music marketing- e-transformation: from the four Ps to the four Cs, pp. 1-16. Lees-Marshment, J. (2001), The marriage of politics and marketing. political studies, Vol.49, 692-713. Lloyd, J. (2003), Square peg, round hole? Can marketing-based concepts such as the product and the marketing mix have a useful role in the political arena?. pp. 1-24. McCarthy, E. (1960), Basic marketing: A managerial approach. Illinois: Irwin. Montoya, J. A., Kent, C. K., Rotblatt, H., Mccright, J., Kerndt, P. R., and Klausner, J. D. (2005), Social marketing campaign significantly associated with increases in syphilis testing among gay and bisexual men in San Francisco. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Vol.32, No.7, pp.395-399. Murphy, P. E., Laczniak, G. R. and Lusch, R. F. (1978). Ethical guidelines for business and social marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Sciences, Vol.6, No.3, pp.195-205. O Malley, L. and Patterson, M. (1998). Vanishing point: the mix management paradigm re-viewed. Journal of Marketing Management, Vol.14, pp.829-851. Pirani, S. and Reizes, T. (2005). The turning point social marketing national excellence collaboration: integrating social marketing into routine public health practice. Journal of Public Health Management, Vol.11, No.2, pp.131-138. Shapiro, B. (1985). Rejuvenating the marketing mix. Havard Business Review, pp. 28-34. Van Waterschoot, W. and Van den Bulte, C. (1992). The 4P classification of the marketing mix revisited. Journal of Marketing, Vol.56, No.4, pp.83-93.

Monday, August 19, 2019

A Literary Analysis of Robert Cormiers The Chocolate War Essay

A Literary Analysis of Robert Cormier's "The Chocolate War" The Chocolate War is a story which takes place in New England in the 1970's. Most of the events happen in a Catholic school. Since this school was exclusively for boys, they were constantly trying to prove their power over each other. The story is told in third person omniscient. The story's mood is suspenseful. With each page turn one wonders if Jerry will take or refuse his chocolates. The protagonist of this story is Jerry Renault and the antagonist in Archie Costello. Jerry is a very quiet fifteen year old boy. He is also the quarterback for the Trinity High junior varsity football team. He is a very troubled individual due to his mother's death. He appears to be angry toward the whole world. Jerry is very ordinary and wants more change in his life instead of the same old thing. Archie Costello is 17 year old boy who is a member of the high school's very prestigious club called The Vigils. Archie is the "assignment giver". He gives assignments to the younger class men to do very mischievous things; for example, loosening all screws on desk chairs and chalkboards so that they will fall apart when students and teachers touch them. Archie is very clever and conniving. Many other characters contribute to the excitement of this story. Obie, another member of The Vigils, is Archie's sidekick. He helps Archie carry out all of his assignments. Obie has hostile feelings towards Archie because Archie gets all the glory while Obie does all the hard work. Obie is very soft spoken; he will not speak out against Archie about his anger. Brother Leon is the assistant headmaster of Trinity High School. He is very evil and... ... his groin but tries to defend himself. This is against the rules. After this a "free for all" begins. The lights are turned off by Brother Jacques, who is trying to stop all the madness. The story ends as Jerry is lying almost unconscious in his friend Goober's arms. Archie is taking pleasure in the whole scene, and Brother Leon is standing alone, watching this whole production as the ambulance draws near. The theme of The Chocolate War would have to be, being a nonconformist can make you an outcast by most people, and it can sometimes even bring harm to you. But if you are being a nonconformist with good reason, then you have to be willing to take the abuse. In Jerry's case it almost got him killed, and he still could not understand everyone's cruelty; but he knew that what he was doing was right in his heart.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Economics, Winning Bolivias Drug War :: essays research papers

Economics is Winning Bolivia’s Drug War   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A 1998 article from the New York Times reported that Bolivia was winning its war against drugs as a result of two factors that influence the market for coca, which is used to make cocaine. First, Bolivian soldiers raided a number of coca plantations and destroyed the crops. Second, Colombians began growing more of their own coca and, as a result, now buy less from Bolivia than in the past. I am proposing that the basic principles of supply and demand are what helped to solve the drug problem. The following paragraphs will support my argument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Figure 1 shows the supply and demand curves before and after the changes occurred in Bolivia. As you can see, after the coca plantations were raided, the supply of cocaine was cut short, thus shifting the supply curve to the left. Also, because Colombians began growing their own coca, demand decreased for the cocaine from Bolivia, shifting the demand curve to the left also. To sum up, supply decreased from S to S1, because of the raids, and demand decreased from D to D1 because Colombians began to grow their own coca and didn’t need to rely as much on Bolivia. The diagram clearly shows that the quantity sold at P* decreased from Q* to Q** due to these two changes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to the article in the New York Times, the Bolivian government hopes these changes in the coca market will motivate coca growers to switch to a substitute crop such as pineapple. This is a possibility if the price of coca falls. If the price of coca falls, supply will also decrease because it won’t be as profitable to farm coca as it was before. The falling price would then trigger farmers to switch to another crop such as pineapple.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Bolivian government, hoping to eliminate the cocaine problem, indirectly turned to economics for a solution. That solution is a simple tale of cutting supply in a way that leads to a decrease in demand. That decrease came because Colombians couldn’t get the supply they wanted at the price they wanted to pay so they grew their own and helped eliminate coca growth within Bolivia. They can further solve the problem by perhaps raising the price paid for other crops so farmers will switch from growing coca to growing something else for a bigger profit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although farms in other South American countries grow acres and acres of coca plants, the raw material from which cocaine is made, today, Columbia is the leading Economics, Winning Bolivias Drug War :: essays research papers Economics is Winning Bolivia’s Drug War   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A 1998 article from the New York Times reported that Bolivia was winning its war against drugs as a result of two factors that influence the market for coca, which is used to make cocaine. First, Bolivian soldiers raided a number of coca plantations and destroyed the crops. Second, Colombians began growing more of their own coca and, as a result, now buy less from Bolivia than in the past. I am proposing that the basic principles of supply and demand are what helped to solve the drug problem. The following paragraphs will support my argument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Figure 1 shows the supply and demand curves before and after the changes occurred in Bolivia. As you can see, after the coca plantations were raided, the supply of cocaine was cut short, thus shifting the supply curve to the left. Also, because Colombians began growing their own coca, demand decreased for the cocaine from Bolivia, shifting the demand curve to the left also. To sum up, supply decreased from S to S1, because of the raids, and demand decreased from D to D1 because Colombians began to grow their own coca and didn’t need to rely as much on Bolivia. The diagram clearly shows that the quantity sold at P* decreased from Q* to Q** due to these two changes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to the article in the New York Times, the Bolivian government hopes these changes in the coca market will motivate coca growers to switch to a substitute crop such as pineapple. This is a possibility if the price of coca falls. If the price of coca falls, supply will also decrease because it won’t be as profitable to farm coca as it was before. The falling price would then trigger farmers to switch to another crop such as pineapple.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Bolivian government, hoping to eliminate the cocaine problem, indirectly turned to economics for a solution. That solution is a simple tale of cutting supply in a way that leads to a decrease in demand. That decrease came because Colombians couldn’t get the supply they wanted at the price they wanted to pay so they grew their own and helped eliminate coca growth within Bolivia. They can further solve the problem by perhaps raising the price paid for other crops so farmers will switch from growing coca to growing something else for a bigger profit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although farms in other South American countries grow acres and acres of coca plants, the raw material from which cocaine is made, today, Columbia is the leading