How to Prepare a Marketing Audit to Shape Your Marketing Strategy

How to Prepare a Marketing Audit to Shape Your Marketing Strategy Much of the success of any business is riding on its marketing strategy. It may have abundant resources, with a management team composed of brilliant and innovative minds, and teams of hardworking employees diligently and passionately performing their tasks. However, the business will never be able to grow, and succeed in achieving its organizational goals if it does not have a marketing strategy in place.The growth of a business is closely linked to how its image is developed and presented to the market, and how it is able to establish a presence in that market. To accomplish that, there is a need to work on creating and increasing its brand awareness, which inevitably leads to increased profitability and accelerated growth.In the process, this will also widen the reach of the business organization and aid in strengthening the bonds established between the business and its clients or customers.The million dollar question is: what goes into the development of a marketing strategy? Bu sinesses devote a lot of time and resources in crafting a strategy that will help propel the organization toward its goals. Several factors are considered, and more than one or two processes are undergone. One of these activities or processes is a marketing audit. © Shutterstock.com | ESB ProfessionalIn this guide, we explore 1) what is a marketing audit, 2) the importance of marketing audits, 3) the different components and types of marketing audits, and 4) how to perform a marketing audit.WHAT IS A MARKETING AUDIT?In author Bruce Clark’s words, a marketing audit is “a comprehensive, systematic, independent and periodic examination of a company’s or a business unit’s marketing” and it is “designed to evaluate marketing assets and activities in the context of marketing conditions, and use the resulting analysis to aid the firm in planning.” The planning that is referred to in that statement points to the marketing strategy, which will be documented in detail in a marketing plan.Through a marketing audit, data on the internal and external environment of a business is gathered and analyzed in a structured and systematic manner, and the results thereof are used to aid the formulation of a marketing strategy. In other words, a busin ess cannot come up with a marketing strategy unless it has performed a marketing audit.The marketing audit may be performed by members of the organization, aided by members of the marketing team, or management may go with the option of getting help from external marketing auditors or consultants. Since it is considered to be a prerequisite of a marketing plan, marketing audit is to be performed at the beginning, before the planning process starts.However, it does not stop there. Marketing audit is actually conducted frequently and almost regularly, which means that it is also being performed alongside the implementation of the plans.IMPORTANCE OF A MARKETING AUDITAside from the obvious, which is the formulation of a marketing strategy, a marketing audit benefits a business in more ways than one.A marketing audit provides management an in-depth look and evaluation at the marketing of a business, paying particular attention at how its marketing activities are planned, implemented and managed.A marketing audit pinpoints the marketing efforts and practices that are working perfectly, those that are not, and those that need more work. This leads to the identification of marketing weaknesses and strengths of the company, as well as its marketing threats and opportunities. In fact, throughout the course of the audit, management may discover inefficiencies that it never knew existed.A marketing audit’s systematic and structured approach makes the whole process of developing a marketing strategy easier. You don’t know where to start when making a marketing plan? Refer to the findings and recommendations of the marketing audit.A marketing audit enables the company to make corrections, or catch errors or mistakes before they can cause serious damage. A marketing activity is being implemented poorly? Then the company can apply the necessary changes and adjustments.Ultimately, performance of a marketing audit is in aid of the greater function of top management, which i s decision-making, specifically on matters regarding marketing. Any major decisions that will be made with respect to the company’s marketing activities will be based on the results of the audit. COMPONENTS AND TYPES OF MARKETING AUDITMarketing audit covers a very broad area, with the auditors required to look into. There are seven identified types of marketing audit, and they fall under three components or audit key headings: the external environment, the internal environment, and the current marketing strategy of the company.External EnvironmentMacro-environment audit, which takes a look at the external factors that affect the marketing performance of the company.Demographic factors, where you will take into account the demography of the consumers in the market, such as their age, gender, employment status, and others.Economic factors, which includes assessment of taxation policies and a look at the prevailing economic indicators, such as interest rates and inflation levels.Cult ural factors, which may also affect the marketing performance of the company, and they include the religions and beliefs of consumers, the lifestyle that they practice and how consumerism figures in that lifestyle.Environmental factors, which may include technologies and systems that are used and in place, and have a significant impact on marketing in general. Examples are the evolution of internet, the adoption of mobile technologies, and the development of new marketing and information systems.Political factors, which often have a tendency to affect the economy and overall environment of the markets, are also considered. Issues such as property laws, tariff regulations, and other labor legislation must be looked into. Political unrest and lack of stability in leadership in government are also taken into account.Task environment audit, which focuses on the factors that are outside the company, but are still closely associated with its marketing activities and operations.We take int o account the size and other unique features of the markets and the industry that the company belongs to. Here, some of the things that are considered are the nature of segmentation, targeting and positioning, and whether the company adheres to it.The customers have great power over the success of a company’s marketing, so it’s just right to include them in the audit. This involves probing into the needs of the customers and how they seek to satisfy these needs, their consumer behavior and what influences their purchasing decisions. It is also important to find out how they perceive the company’s brand, and gauge the level of loyalty that they have to it.The audit goes beyond mere identification of the competitors, or determining their number or concentration in the market. When assessing the competitive landscape, the areas looked into also include the level of growth and profitability of the competitors, their strengths and weaknesses, and their marketing strategies.Distribu tors and Retailers. How is your relationship with distributors, retailers, and other third parties managed, and what is the extent of the impact of that relationship on the company’s marketing. This is simply one of the questions that must be answered during the audit.Internal EnvironmentMarketing organization audit, where the staff or the labor force of the company is evaluated on their performance, with respect to their positions and functions, and the place they occupy in the organizational structure.Marketing function audit, which will review the core competencies of the company. It will have to review the company’s product, pricing policies, choice of distribution channels, means of marketing communication, and the role of the sales force. For example, with respect to the product, the audit will focus on identifying how it compares to the competition. It will also look into the price points of the product, and how they are compared to the price points of competitors.Marketi ng systems audit, or the audit of the marketing systems currently in use by the company. Examples are a Marketing Information System, Marketing Control System, and even a New Product Development System in many cases.Current Marketing StrategyMarketing strategy audit, which will revisit the company’s mission and vision, its marketing goals and objectives, and the marketing strategies that are formulated with a view to improve the company’s overall marketing. One of the main questions that must be answered after the audit is whether the current strategies adopted and being implemented by the company in its marketing are proper and appropriate, with respect to the resources of the company.Marketing productivity audit, where the auditors will evaluate the effectiveness of the marketing activities that have been â€" or are being â€" performed or carried out. The most common benchmarks used are cost-effectiveness and profitability.CHARACTERISTICS OF A MARKETING AUDITIn the performance of a marketing audit, it is imperative to keep the following characteristics in mind.The audit must be comprehensive, encompassing all the marketing issues that the company is dealing with.The audit must be systematic, following a sequence of steps in collecting and analyzing data on the company’s external and internal marketing environment and the marketing activities currently being implemented. The results of the analysis will eventually lead to the crafting of an action plan aimed at improving the markets and the company’s position in it.The audit must be independent, in the sense that the auditors are able to demonstrate an acceptable level of independence from the marketing department. This is to ensure their objectivity and impartiality which, in turn, will command the trust of top management.The audit must be conducted on a periodic basis, making it a regular business activity, instead of a stop-gap measure to deal with a crisis or troubleshoot a problem only when it ar ises.PERFORMING THE MARKETING AUDIT PROCESSThere are no fixed guidelines when it comes to the performance of a marketing audit. After all, companies are not all the same. They have different structures, and they have different goals and priorities, which means they are likely to have different reasons for conducting a marketing audit. However, the general approach in the performance of one is largely the same.There are three phases or stages in the marketing audit process, and they are:Phase 1: Pre-Audit1. Determine the key persons who will conduct the audit.The company has two options: i. Self-auditManagement forms a marketing audit team, composed of employees of the organization. They could assign the head of Marketing to evaluate his own department, evaluating the effectiveness of the marketing activities it implemented, and identifying the department’s strengths and weaknesses.If management is afraid that this will violate the principle of independence and will have issues on objectivity, the marketing audit team may be staffed with employees from another unit performing related activities or function, or he may also direct the executive with higher authority over the activity or department being audited to perform the marketing audit.In some cases, the company forms its own task-force audit team, which is composed of executives or members of senior management. Large corporations even set up an independent auditing unit or office, which will be tasked exclusively to perform marketing audits for the company. ii. Outside auditThis is simple and straightforward enough: the company hires the services of an outside auditor to perform the marketing audit. It could be an individual private practitioner, or an agency specializing in marketing audits.Between the two, outside audit is seen as the more reliable, since it guarantees more objectivity and independence on the part of the auditors, thus ensuring a more effective audit.When choosing people to perform mar keting audit, picking the audit team members randomly is not a good idea. Each of the auditors must possess the required knowledge and experience in order to perform the marketing audit effectively. They should also be able to demonstrate objectivity, in order to avoid biases and pre-judgment from affecting the reliability of the results of the audit.A point person, or the person who will oversee the marketing audit must be identified. Thus, it is important that the person who will be chosen to lead the marketing audit team have the necessary know-how and experience in the conduct of an audit.2. Determine the timing of performance of audit.Set the timetable for the audit: When will it start? How often will it be performed?For marketing audit to be effective, it must be conducted regularly or periodically, not just at the beginning of the preparation of a marketing strategy. Take into account the volatile nature of the market. This is bound to have an effect on the marketing strategi es. The company has to tweak its plan from time to time in order to make sure it is updated and relevant. That means that there is a need to perform periodic checks or evaluations, taking into account the changes applied or implemented.3. Establish the scope and objectives of the audit.There is a need to lay out the scope and objectives of the audit, in order for the members of the audit team to be guided accordingly.The objectives have to be clear as to be understood by everyone, especially those who are going to be involved in the audit. The objective will be your starting point, since it will be your reference when identifying the next set of steps in the audit process.It is also crucial to identify all the stakeholders that are going to be involved in the audit â€" whether directly or indirectly.4. Determine and establish the methodology to be used.The process that will be followed by the marketing audit team in the performance must be identified and established. This also inclu des the methods, techniques, and tools that will be used, particularly in data collection and data analysis.Phase 2: Audit properDepending on the methodology established prior, the main body of the audit process may include varying numbers of steps and sub steps. However, the main steps may be summarized into three:1. Data gathering and collectionThis is deemed to be the most tedious and time-consuming part of the entire audit process. It can also be quite an expensive endeavor.Research is, quite possibly, the most popular and tried-and-tested method of gathering data. Research sources include published data and other standardized sources of marketing data. Industry publications, for example, are a fount of information.Historical internal records of the company are also considered as primary sources of information, which is why they are subjected for review during a marketing audit. Examples are business documents and marketing records such as the business plan, marketing plan, trai ning plans, marketing budget and the organizational structure along with job descriptions. If the marketing department has systems and processes in place, these may also be used to collect data.Surveys or questionnaires are often floated to chosen respondents. In several cases, the marketing audit team may also be required to conduct interviews to get more data. It is also common to see members of the audit team going on-site for firsthand observations and walk-throughs of the marketing processes.Data collected will pertain to the three main components: the external environment, the internal environment, and the existing or current marketing strategy of the company.They will then be organized for analysis.2. Data analysisThis is the core of the audit process, where the audit team will build a complete picture of the marketing program, or the strategies used by the company, through subjecting the data collected to analysis.In brief, some of the tools used in data analysis are:SWOT (S trengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysisThis audit tool is used for analysis of data on the three components. The strengths and weaknesses are geared towards the inter environment and the marketing strategy of the company, while the opportunities and threats pertain to the external environment.Five Forces AnalysisThis tool developed by Porter is used for analysis of the external environment, particularly the competitive environment of the company. Its points of focus are the five forces:Competition in the industry: This takes a look at the competition. How many competitors do you have? How do their offerings compare to yours?Threat of entry of new players in the industry: Is the industry or market the company belongs to vulnerable to the entry of new product or service providers? How vulnerable is it?Customer power: What are the chances that your customers will decide to buy from the competition? What would motivate them to do so?Supplier power: Look at the relationshi p of the company with its suppliers.What are the problems often encountered in your dealings?Threat of substitute products: Is there a chance that the customers may find other products or services that will substitute what you currently offer?PEST AnalysisPEST stands for Political, Environmental, Socio-cultural and Technological analysis, which means it focuses on the macro-environment or the external factors. Examples of issues that the audit will include in its analysis are:Stability of the political environmentEconomic policy of the governmentExtent of influence of government policies and laws on business and tax regulationPrevailing interest and exchange ratesInflation levelsMarket perception of foreign products and servicesEffect of religion, language and gender issues on consumerismImpact of technologies in marketing, distribution and consumerismAnalysis should provide insight into the following:The performance of the marketing program of the company;The marketing team’s ski lls, knowledge and competencies, and their individual and collective performance;The alignment of the objectives of marketing to that of the goals of the organization; andThe execution and communication of the marketing programs.3. Preparation of recommendationsThe final output of the audit process is documented in what is commonly known as a “marketing audit report”. The main concern of the recipients or beneficiaries of the audit, which is often the management and the marketing team, is the Recommendations section. The recommendations will be based on the results of the analysis of information.When making recommendations, present them in a prioritized list, for easier comprehension by management and other stakeholders.Phase 3: Post-AuditThe Marketing Audit Report must be presented to management, who will use it for decision-making on its marketing strategies. There are instances when the report will also be disseminated to other departments in the company, especially if they a re indirectly involved in the marketing activities and their functions will have an impact on the company’s marketing efforts.It is to be noted that the recommendations are not going to be accepted blindly or easily by management. It is likely that they will still undergo lengthy discussions until all parties are satisfied and comfortable enough to make major marketing strategy decisions.CONCLUSIONIt has often been said that marketing is the lifeblood of any business or organization. Therefore, to keep the organization alive, there is a need to keep the blood healthy and flowing. The regular conduct of a marketing audit is one way to make sure of that.

Obesity Has Established Itself - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 855 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/03/22 Category Health Essay Level High school Tags: Obesity Essay Obesity in America Essay Did you like this example? Obesity has established itself as one of the fastest growing diseases in the nation and continues to make a substantial impact on the general population today. The sheer number of individuals who can be classified as obese in the U.S. has made obesity synonymous with the identity of an American. Dietitians and Psychologists have argued over the various causes as to why the number of Obesity is rising so much in American people. However undeniably, the fast food industry and its alluring advertisements is a major cause of Obesity in America. Obesity is a condition in which the body accumulates an abnormally large amount of adipose tissue, or fat (DeAngelo et al.). The concept of what qualifies an individual to be obese has been skewed by the media. Shows, such as My 600-lb Life and The Biggest Loser, portray individuals who are exceptionally obese as a standard example of an obese individual. Obesity is identified using the Body Mass Index (BMI), the measurement of a person using weight in relation to height. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to be considered obese an individual must have a BMI of 30 or over. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Obesity Has Established Itself" essay for you Create order That means that an individual with a height of 59 and weight of 203 lbs. or more is considered obese. Thus, proving that obesity is much more feasible for individuals in America than one many think. About 38 percent of American adults were obese in 2013 and 2014, up from 35 percent in 2011 and 2012 (Tavernise). Food has always been a key signifier of what a culture may value. The preparation, ingredients, and customs that revolve around food are all fundamental in the examination of any group of people. As a result, what people choose to eat can reveal where their priorities lie and what sort of lifestyle they have. Quintessential examples of fast food, such as hamburgers, hotdogs, french-fries, and friend chicken, have become associated as standard American foods. The fast food industrys popularity continues to grow and plays a pivotal role in the development of American identity. Over the past decade the industry has grown rapidly into a multibillion-dollar business. According to the International Business Times, in 2012, the total revenue generated by the fast food industry totaled $195.19 billion (International Business Times). Fast food is loved for its convenience, affordable prices, and taste. Before the industry came to be, people were restricted in how they could satisfy their hunger because of the length of time required to cook and prepare a meal. People now have more convenient options because of the availability of fast food. The fast food industry has provided ways for people to shorten the time required to make and consume meals while being especially ideal for those in automobiles. This emphasis on speed fits perfectly into contemporary American life. The major drawback of fast food is its nutritional value. Fast foods tend t o be highly processed, full of added sugars, salt, saturated fats, or trans fats. For perspective, based on the McDonalds website the nutrition value of a Big Mac with large fries and a large Coke contains 1,330 calories, 52 g of fat, 1,360mg of sodium. The U.S. dietary guidelines generally recommend individuals consume no more than 2,000 calories, 65 grams of fat, and 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day (Americas Best Worst Fast Food). Based off this, that means from one meal from McDonalds an individual is getting 66.5% of the daily caloric intake, 80% of the daily fat intake, and 59.1% of the daily sodium intake. If the individual decides to eat a fast food restaurant more than once a day, they will more than likely surpass their dietary guidelines. It is much easier to over eat in America A crucial component to the escalation of the fast food industry is advertising. The constant exposure to advertisements has compelled millions of Americans to love fast food using various tactics such as, key words, repetition, claims, association, bandwagon, and promotions. Who wouldnt want a delicious and delectable cheeseburger for the low price of $1 at your local McDonalds. Additionally, advertisements made by fast food promote an image of happiness with friends and families spending time together. People believe, or want to believe, that they will be happy when they purchase the food because the actors appear content. There are no overweight people in fast food ads; actors are in shape and smiling. Obesity was bound to become a part of Americas identity. Americas cultural values, efficiency, capitalism, etc., with the creation of fast food was a recipe for success. Americans fell in love with the concept and how they could alleviate another nuisance from their daily lives, the stress of cooking. The promise of a cheap and quick meal was too good, and nobody wanted to question it. However, as of recent years Americans are becoming more health and nutrition conscious, but only after 38% of the population has been classified as obese. Fast food is not the only cause of obesity, other factors such as, lack of physical activity, nutrition education, medical history, mental illnesses, and much more are also responsible. Nevertheless, fast food and its advertising are rooted to the cause of Americas identity as obese.

Colombian Independence Day July 20, 1810

On July 20, 1810, Colombian patriots stirred the population of Bogotà ¡ into street protests against Spanish rule. The Viceroy, under pressure, was forced to agree to allow for a limited independence which later became permanent. Today, July 20 is celebrated in Colombia as Independence Day. An Unhappy Population The were numerous reasons for independence. The emperor Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain in 1808, imprisoned King Ferdinand VII, and put his brother Joseph Bonaparte on the Spanish throne, infuriating most of Spanish America. In 1809, New Granada politician Camilo Torres Tenorio wrote his famous Memorial de Agravios (â€Å"Remembrance of Offenses†) about repeated Spanish slights against Creoles—native-born descendants of early French, Spanish, and Portuguese settlers—who often could not hold high offices and whose trade was restricted. His sentiments were echoed by many. By 1810, the people of New Granada (now Colombia) were unhappy with Spanish rule. Pressure for Colombian Independence By July of 1810, the city of Bogota was a holdout for Spanish rule in the region. To the south, leading citizens of Quito had attempted to wrest control of their government from Spain in August of 1809: this revolt had been put down and the leaders were thrown in a dungeon. To the east, Caracas had declared provisional independence on April 19. Even within New Granada, there was pressure: the important seaside city of Cartagena had declared independence in May and other small towns and regions had followed suit. All eyes turned to Bogota, the seat of the Viceroy. Conspiracies and Flower Vases Bogota’s patriots had a plan. On the morning of the 20th, they would ask well-known Spanish merchant Joaquà ­n Gonzalez Llorente to borrow a flower vase with which to adorn a table for a celebration in honor of Antonio Villavicencio, a well-known patriot sympathizer. It was assumed that Llorente, who had a reputation for irascibility, would refuse. His refusal would be the excuse to provoke a riot and force the Viceroy to hand power over to the Creoles. Meanwhile, Joaquà ­n Camacho would go to the Viceregal palace and request an open council: the rebel leaders knew that this, too, would be refused. Camacho proceeded to the home of Viceroy Antonio Josà © Amar y Borbà ³n, where the petition for an open town meeting regarding independence was predictably denied. Meanwhile, Luà ­s Rubio went to ask Llorente for the flower vase. By some accounts, he refused rudely, and by others, he declined politely, forcing the patriots to go to plan B, which was to antagonize him into saying something rude. Either Llorente obliged them or they made it up: it didn’t matter. Patriots ran through the streets of Bogota, claiming that both Amar y Borbà ³n and Llorente had been rude. The population, already on edge, was easy to incite. Riot in Bogota The people of Bogota took to the streets to protest Spanish arrogance. The intervention of Bogota Mayor Josà © Miguel Pey was necessary to save the skin of the unfortunate Llorente, who was attacked by a mob. Guided by patriots like Josà © Marà ­a Carbonell, the lower classes of Bogota made their way to the main square, where they loudly demanded an open town meeting to determine the future of the city and New Granada. Once the people were sufficiently stirred up, Carbonell then took some men and surrounded the local cavalry and infantry barracks, where the soldiers did not dare attack the unruly mob. Meanwhile, patriot leaders returned to Viceroy Amar y Borbà ³n and tried to get him to consent to a peaceful solution: If he agreed to hold a town meeting to elect a local governing council, they would see to it that he would be part of the council. When Amar y Borbà ³n hesitated, Josà © Acevedo y Gà ³mez made an impassioned speech to the angry crowd, directing them to the Royal Audience, where the Viceroy was meeting with the Creoles. With a mob at his doorstep, Amar y Borbà ³n had no choice but to sign the act which permitted a local ruling council and eventually independence. Legacy of the July 20 Conspiracy Bogotà ¡, like Quito and Caracas, formed a local ruling council which supposedly would rule until such time as Ferdinand VII was restored to power. In reality, it was the sort of measure that cannot be undone, and as such was the first official step on Colombias path to freedom which would culminate in 1819 with the Battle of Boyacà ¡ and Simà ³n Bolà ­vars triumphant entry into Bogotà ¡. Viceroy Amar y Borbà ³n was allowed to sit on the council for a while before being arrested. Even his wife was arrested, mostly to appease the wives of Creole leaders who detested her. Many of the patriots involved in the conspiracy, such as Carbonell, Camacho, and Torres, went on to become important leaders of Colombia over the next few years. Although Bogotà ¡ had followed Cartagena and other cities in rebellion against Spain, they did not unite. The next few years would be marked by such civil strife between the independent regions and cities that the era would become known as the Patria Boba which roughly translates as Idiot Nation or Foolish Fatherland. It wasnt until Colombians began fighting the Spanish instead of one another that New Granada would continue on its path to freedom. Colombians are very patriotic and enjoy celebrating their Independence Day with feasts, traditional food, parades, and parties. Sources Bushnell, David. The Making of Modern Colombia: A Nation in Spite of Itself. University of California Press, 1993.Harvey, Robert. Liberators: Latin Americas Struggle for Independence Woodstock: The Overlook Press, 2000.Lynch, John. The Spanish American Revolutions 1808-1826 New York: W. W. Norton Company, 1986.Santos Molano, Enrique. Colombia dà ­a a dà ­a: una cronologà ­a de 15,000 aà ±os. Bogota: Planeta, 2009.Scheina, Robert L. Latin Americas Wars, Volume 1: The Age of the Caudillo 1791-1899 Washington, D.C.: Brasseys Inc., 2003.

Plato Defends Rationalism Free Essays

Plato Defends Rationalism Plato was a highly educated Athenian Philosopher. He lived from 428-348 B. C. We will write a custom essay sample on Plato Defends Rationalism or any similar topic only for you Order Now Plato spent the early portion of his life as a disciple to Socrates, which undoubtedly helped shape his philosophical theories. One topic that he explored was epistemology. Epistemology is the area of philosophy that deals with questions concerning knowledge, and that considers various theories of knowledge (Lawhead 52). Plato had extremely distinct rationalistic viewpoints. Rationalism is the claim that reason, or intellect, is the primary source of our fundamental knowledge about reality (55). By examining Plato’s philosophical position on the three basic epistemological questions, as well as analyzing his ability to justify the three anchor points of rationalism, it is clear to see that Plato was successful in defending rationalism. There are three basic questions that are the basis for determining the difference between each of the epistemological viewpoints. The first of these is: Is knowledge possible? In order to understand exactly what is being asked here, it is important to consider the agreed definition of knowledge as being a â€Å"true justified belief† (53). Plato believed that yes, it is possible to have knowledge. He claimed that as long as one has the ability to recognize something as false, they are capable of having knowledge. The second question is: Does reason provide us with knowledge of the world independently of experience? Plato would also answer yes to this question as well. Many objected to this, believing that knowledge was a result of sense experience rather than reason. Plato examined this theory (empiricism); he argued that, because the physical world is subject to change, there can be no real truth in knowledge that is based solely on one’s senses. He then used the examples Justice, Goodness, and Equality to justify his argument that there are some things that we cannot come to know through experience alone, thus casting doubt on the empiricist theory. Plato expands on the teachings of Socrates, and acknowledges the concept that we already have ideas or principles that are contained in our mind prior to experience, called innate ideas (73). The third and final question is: Does our knowledge represent reality as it really is? To this question, he would answer yes. Plato’s distinction between innate ideas and sense experience bring us to understand his true sense of reality. Our innate ideas are the foundation from which we are able to possess rational knowledge. Rational knowledge, as Plato explains, gives us the ability to differentiate between invariable â€Å"Forms† (Universals) and the ever changing characteristics that are recognized through sense experiences. Plato believes that knowledge of Universals provide us with knowledge of the fundamental features of reality, which are nonphysical, eternal, and unchanging (81). The three anchor points of Rationalism expand on the question discussed above, Does reason provide us with knowledge of the world independently of experience? The first anchor point is: Reason is the primary or most superior source of knowledge about reality (72). Plato proves this point to be true by determining that it is through unchanging, Universal knowledge, that we come to find reality. The second anchor point is: Sense experience is an unreliable and inadequate route to knowledge (73). Plato questions the reliability and adequacy of sense experience, due to the fact that there are things that we are simply unable to experience in the physical world. If knowledge comes strictly from experience, and we are unable to experience some things, how is it that we come to find such knowledge? Plato also argues that sense experiences are subject to individual interpretation, and are ever changing. Knowledge cannot be based on inconstant perception. The final anchor point of rationalism is: The fundamental truths about the world can be known a priori (independently of, or prior to, experience): They are either innate or self-evident to our minds (73). Plato believed that knowledge was contained in our soul from preexistence, and was independent of human experiences. He came to the conclusion that it is from these innate ideas that we are able to recognize reality. Plato’s view on epistemology is extremely consistent with that of rationalism. He was able to successfully justify his beliefs, not only by proving his theory, but also by disproving alternative theories. Plato recognized the fact that knowledge is possible. He believed that the ability to identify something as false can only come from knowing truth. This was the first step in his philosophical journey. In his quest to determine the source, and explore the characteristics of knowledge, he made several valid arguments. Plato’s strongest argument was that we cannot base our knowledge directly on experience, because there are circumstances in which our senses do not provide us with reliable truths. Not only did this make it apparent that experience is not concrete enough to act as a basis for knowledge, thus disproving the imperialistic theory, but it also helped justify his theory of Universals. Plato was able to prove that reason, by way of innate ideas, leads us to knowledge, as it was defined above, a true justified belief. This rational knowledge, in turn, leads us to the knowledge of reality. Plato spent much of his life studying philosophy, and the concept of knowledge. After finding fault in other epistemological theories, he was led to develop a philosophy of his own. Plato’s approach toward epistemology was considerably different from that of other philosophers in his day. His rationalistic viewpoints were extremely influential. He brought light to the concept of Universals, which had a great impact on the work of philosophers after him. Plato was able to explain knowledge from all aspects, which set him apart from others. Plato was not only able to conclude that knowledge is possible, he was also able to explain how knowledge is obtained. By examining Plato’s philosophical position on the three basic epistemological questions, as well as analyzing his ability to justify the three anchor points of rationalism, it is clear to see that Plato was successful in defending rationalism. Works Cited Lawhead, William F. The Philosophical Journey: An Interactive Approach. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. 52-81. Print How to cite Plato Defends Rationalism, Papers

Poem comparison-Half Caste Essay Example

Poem comparison-Half Caste Paper This also shows the subtlety of women compared to men, as the word fragrance is a far more delicate word than chains, this shows the different way men and women can fight. Men use force, and women have subtle ways. Also, in half Caste we are more given an image of using half of you because of the prejudice, where as in I am not that Woman it is more a feel that they are attempting to stop her completely and she is fighting that. That fact could also explain why I am not that Woman comes across as the stronger poem. In Half Caste you are given the idea that, although the person is restricted, they are still able to do things, whereas in I am not that Woman there is more an idea that the people doing the discriminating are trying to completely control her. In both of the poems we are made to feel that the person being discriminated against is the one in the right, with the majority of people (meaning the ones doing the discriminating) being the ones in the wrong. In I am not that Woman this is done by referring to the woman as a fragrance. The people who are normal are mentioned though chains and walls of stones. We will write a custom essay sample on Poem comparison-Half Caste specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Poem comparison-Half Caste specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Poem comparison-Half Caste specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer These things are associated with bad and unpleasant things, where as a fragrance is linked to good and sweet things. This emphasizes the idea that the people doing the discriminating are in the wrong, as they are described as chains and walls of stones with the person being discriminated against compared to innocent things such as fragrance and light. Also, we are given an impression of the woman being almost angel or god like, with mentions of I can walk on water and my chastity, my motherhood, my loyalty. The latter seems to be like the Virgin Mary, and the former is like Jesus. In Half Caste this idea is not communicated as directly, although there is still a feel that the mixed race person is good, and is simply confused as to why the other bad people do not accept him. There is certainly no evidence of the person doing anything wrong. The poems are both descriptive and written in free verse. They have no rhythm or rhyme scheme and are simply written in the same way you would speak. I am not Woman seems to have slightly more structure, especially as capital letters are used and in Half Caste they are not, which I believe is to add the idea that the person is unsure of himself. This in turn adds to the idea of I am not that Woman being a stronger poem, as capital letters are used to emphasise and embolden things, as well as obvious proper uses. In Half Caste even the proper uses are dropped to show that at no point is the person brave enough to draw attention to anything regarding himself. Both of the poems are written by foreign people, with John Agard who wrote Half Caste coming from Guyana and Kishwar Naheed, the author of I am not that Woman from Asia. Both of the poems are written from the same viewpoint, which is that of the person who is being discriminated against. In my opinion, this makes the poems much more closely linked, because it is easy to compare the feeling of two people going through similar things. If they were written from different viewpoints, it would make them quite the opposite of each other, as essentially they would be about different things. One would be about doing the discriminating and the other would be about how the discriminating causes you to suffer. The poems consider the same aspect of the theme, although the person it is about deals with it differently. The mood in Half Caste starts of with a very questioning air, which is sustained throughout, although it gets slightly more demanding and almost mysterious, saying come back tomorrow wid de whole of yu eye an de whole of yu ear an de whole of yu mind. and I will tell yu de other half my story. The mood in I am not that Woman is much more aggressive and commanding, and stays this way throughout the whole poem, saying things such as remember me and the frequent use of the assertive I am not. These words are all written in an imperative form which creates the strong feeling in the poem that is quite different to the sort of vague questioning style of Half Caste There is a lot of imagery in I am not that Woman, most linked either to contrasting right and wrong ideas, and religious concepts. This creates a poem that is easy to identify with, as it is using examples that are everyday things, such as stone walls and fragrance. Half Caste uses very little imagery, with much more emphasis on repetition to get the point of unfair discrimination across. It repeats explain yuself time and time again, and so the idea that the person is confused as to what the whites mean, becomes very firmly embedded in the readers mind. In my view, these poems are quite strongly linked, despite the differences in the way the message is communicated. They deal with very similar matters (both are about being prejudiced against somebody), but the most obvious difference between the two is that in I am not that Woman the person is fighting it, and in Half Caste it is being accepted, or at least only questioned and not fought. In some ways, this connects the poems as a pair, as they show the two different ways that prejudice can be dealt with, while both still showing how unfair and unnecessary it is. However, this does not make them different, but connects them more powerfully, as they are excellent examples of the different ways the same situation can be dealt with. I believe that the poems set out to create the two different aspects of dealing with discrimination that they very successfully achieve. Half Caste maintains its slightly apologetic and almost ironic view on things the whole way through where I am not that Woman manages to stay strong and powerful for the entirety. Both of the poems persuade the reader to support the same viewpoint that it is writing from, which is that the person being discriminated against is the one having a hard time of things and that is it unjust. Both of the poems manage to move the reader to really sympathise with the unfairness the subjects of the poems are experiencing. Overall, I prefer the poem Half Caste as I feel that it is written with more genuine feeling than I am not that Woman. I like the way that it is entirely written in lower case as I think it is a very simple way of getting a point across. I also like the constant idea of half as I find it very meaningful. The ideas around people not listening to him properly also strike a chord. It is a more subtle poem as it makes less use of the obvious imagery that I am not that Woman uses. I find this makes it a rewarding poem to read as you need to understand the deeper meaning more to fully grasp the aim of it. All in all I like the almost apologetic air that Half Caste has more than the powerful side of I am not that Woman. Despite my personal preference, these poems are both extremely well written and thought out, and the ideas and morals behind them come across very strongly.   Rebecca Britton Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE John Agard: Half-Caste section.

Dubai Aluminum Opening a Branch in Saudi Arabia

Dubai Aluminum Opening a Branch in Saudi Arabia Opening a project in Saudi Arabia is not a difficult thing as far as the terms and conditions for foreign investors in the market is concerned. After joining the World Trade Organization, Saudi Arabia’s business regime became open to accommodate the foreign investors. The government also legitimized the merging of investors to form business cartels that would enable them acquire up to 51% of the market shares (Leroux 23)Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Dubai Aluminum: Opening a Branch in Saudi Arabia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Before Dubai could think of opening its branch in this market, a lot of research had to be carried out on the various macro and micro economies prevailing in the market. Some of the external factors that would have a significant impact on their business included: political interferences-despite the series of wars in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has in the recent past enjoyed poli tical stability and hence could provide adequate security to its investors. There are other political considerations that investors should keep in mind like the tax rates levied on goods and services, trade barriers, quotas, ownership rights and expropriations. These factors if favourable, may encourage more investors and vice versa. Another factor is economic stability in the country- which is slowly stabilizing from the increase in international prices of oil hence good for the investors. Technological factors- the country has embraced technology in all its sectors and this has greatly boosted their market economy hence attracting investors. The micro environment on the other hand, emanates from within the organization and its up to the managers to deal with them to ensure success of the company. These internal forces relay majorly on the organizational structure and its way of handling critical issues. Some of the differences in the market economy between Dubal and Saudi Arabia i nclude: Dubal is a world class business organization that has been recognized by the United Arab Emirates as one of the most successful companies with a reliable market (Usawa 11). It is known for its political and economic stability as it has recorded very low levels of crime while Saudi Arabia’s economy is unstable due to the many external factors that include: wars, oil disputes and political interferences. The country has huge debts that are yet to be paid off hence dragging behind its economy. Dubal has got proficient workers and makes use of sophisticated technology to produce quality goods and services as opposed to Arabia where they mostly deploy cheap manual labour and the technology they use does no produce quality services. Dubal has a very wide trade network that has attracted many investors as compared to Arabia whose trade network is limited to a few investors.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your f irst paper with 15% OFF Learn More Despite the differences, both economies are open to foreign investors and are geared towards upgrading their systems, infrastructures and communication channels so as to maximize their output and increase their productivity. Some of the major challenges that Dubal may have to face when opening up a branch in Arabia include: trade restrictions that may limit its level of investment in the country, a slow growth rate in the economy, inadequate skilled labour , economic and politic instability and also cultural differences. On the other hand, they can easily outshine other firms due to their proficiency and high technology and hence be in total control of the market. Leroux, Marcel. Factors Influencing the Market Economy. New York: Springer, 2005. Print. Usawa, Shinto. Economic Growth and Stabilization. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2003. Print.

How to Write a Great Community Service Essay

How to Write a Great Community Service Essay SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you applying to a college or a scholarship that requires a community service essay?Do you know how to write an essay that will impress readers and clearly show the impact your work had on yourself and others? Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for writing a great community service essay that will help you stand out and be memorable. What Is a Community Service Essay? Why Do You Need One? A community service essay is an essay that describes the volunteer work you did and the impact it had on you and your community.Community service essays can vary widely depending on specific requirements listed in the application, but, in general, they describe the work you did, why you found the work important, and how it benefited people around you. Community service essays are typically needed for two reasons: 1. To Apply to College Some colleges require students to write community service essays as part of their application or to be eligible for certain scholarships. You may also choose to highlight your community service work in your personal statement. 2. To Apply for Scholarships Some scholarships are specifically awarded to students with exceptional community service experiences, and many use community service essays to help choose scholarship recipients. Green Mountain College offers one of the most famous of these scholarships. Their "Make a Difference Scholarship" offers full tuition, room, and board to students who have demonstrated a significant, positive impact through their community service Getting Started With Your Essay In the following sections, I'll go over each step of how to plan and write your essay. I'll also include sample excerpts for you to look throughso you can get a better idea of what readers are looking for when they review your essay. Step 1: Know the Essay Requirements Before your start writing a single word, you should be familiar with the essay prompt.Each college or scholarship will have different requirements for their essay, so make sure you read these carefully and understand them. Specific things to pay attention to include: Length requirement Application deadline The main purpose or focus of the essay If the essay should follow a specific structure Below are three real community service essay prompts. Read through them and notice how much they varyin terms of length, detail, and what information the writer should include. From the AXA Achievement Scholarship: "Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words." From the Laura W. Bush Traveling Scholarship: "Essay (up to 500 words, double spaced) explaining your interest in being considered for the award and how your proposed project reflects or is related to both UNESCO’s mandate and U.S. interests in promoting peace by sharing advances in education, science, culture, and communications." From the LULAC National Scholarship Fund: "Please type or print an essay of 300 words (maximum) on how your academic studies will contribute to your personal professional goals. In addition, please discuss any community service or extracurricular activities you have been involved in that relate to your goals." Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas Even after you understand what the essay should be about, it can still be difficult to begin writing. Answer the following questions to help brainstorm essay ideas. You may be able to incorporate your answers into your essay. What community service activity that you’ve participated in has meant the most to you? What is your favorite memory from performing community service? Why did you decide to begin community service? What made you decide to volunteer where you did? How has your community service changed you? How has your community service helped others? How has your community service affected your plans for the future? You don’t need to answer all the questions, but if you find you have a lot of ideas for one of two of them, those may be things you want to include in your essay. Writing Your Essay How you structure your essay will depend on the requirements of the scholarship or school you are applying to. You may give an overview of all the work you did as a volunteer, or highlight a particularly memorable experience. You may focus on your personal growth or how your community benefited. Regardless of the specific structure requested, follow the guidelines below to make sure your community service essay is memorable and clearly shows the impact of your work. Samples of mediocre and excellent essays are included below to give you a better ideaof how you should draft your own essay. Step 1: Hook Your Reader In You want the person reading your essay to be interested, so your first sentence should hook them in and entice them to read more.A good way to do this is to start in the middle of the action. Your first sentence could describe you helping build a house, releasing a rescued animal back to the wild, watching a student you tutored read a book on their own, or something else that quickly gets the reader interested.This will help set your essay apart and make it more memorable. Compare these two opening sentences: "I have volunteered at the Wishbone Pet Shelter for three years." "The moment I saw the starving, mud-splattered puppy brought into the shelter with its tail between its legs, I knew I'd do whatever I could to save it." The first sentence is a very general, bland statement. The majority of community service essays probably begin a lot like it, but it gives the reader little information and does nothing to draw them in. On the other hand, the second sentence begins immediately with action and helps persuade the reader to keep reading so they can learn what happened to the dog. Step 2: Discuss the Work You Did Once you’ve hooked your reader in with your first sentence, tell them about your community service experiences.State where you work, when you began working, how much time you’ve spent there, and what your main duties include.This will help the reader quickly put the rest of the essay in context and understand the basics of your community service work. Not including basic details about your community service could leave your reader confused. Step 3: Include Specific Details It’s the details of your community service that make your experience unique and memorable, so go into the specifics of what you did.For example, don’t just say you volunteered at a nursing home; talk about reading Mrs. Johnson her favorite book, watching Mr. Scott win at bingo, and seeing the residents play games with their grandchildren at the family day you organized.Try to include specific activities, moments, and people in your essay.Having details like these let the readers really understand what work you did and how it differs from other volunteer experiences. Compare these two passages: "For my volunteer work, I tutored children at a local elementary school. I helped them improve their math skills and become more confident students." "As a volunteer at York Elementary School, I worked one-on-one with second and third graders who struggled with their math skills, particularly addition, subtraction, and fractions. As part of my work, I would create practice problems and quizzes and try to connect math to the students' interests. One of my favorite memories was when Sara, a student I had been working with for several weeks, told me that she enjoyed the math problems I had created about a girl buying and selling horses so much that she asked to help me create math problems for other students." The first passage only gives basic information about the work done by the volunteer; there is very little detail included, and no evidence is given to support her claims. How did she help students improve their math skills? How did she know they were becoming more confident? The second passage is much more detailed. It recounts a specific story and explains more fully what kind of work the volunteer did, as well as a specific instance of a student becoming more confident with her math skills. Providing more detail in your essay helps support your claimsas well as make your essay more memorable and unique. Step 4: Show Your Personality It would be very hard to get a scholarship or place at a school if none of your readers felt like they knew much about you after finishing your essay, so make sure that your essay shows your personality.The way to do this is to state your personal strengths, then provide examples to support your claims.Take some time to think about which parts of your personality you would like your essay to highlight, then write about specific examples to show this. Examples: If you want to show that you’re a motivated leader, describe a time when you organized an event or supervised other volunteers. If you want to show your teamwork skills, write about a time you helped a group of people work together better. If you want to show that you’re a compassionate animal lover, write about taking care of neglected shelter animals and helping each of them find homes. Step 5: State What You Accomplished After you have described your community service and given specific examples of your work, you want to begin to wrap your essay up by stating your accomplishments.What was the impact of your community service? Did you build a house for a family to move into? Help students improve their reading skills? Clean up a local park?Make sure the impact of your work is clear; don’t be worried about bragging here. If you can include specific numbers, that will also strengthen your essay.Saying â€Å"I delivered meals to 24 home-bound senior citizens† is a stronger example than just saying â€Å"I delivered meals to lots of senior citizens." Also be sure to explain why your work matters. Why is what you did important?Did it provide more parks for kids to play in? Help students get better grades? Give people medical care who would otherwise not have gotten it?This is an important part of your essay, so make sure to go into enough detail that your readers will know exactly what you accomplished and how it helped your community. Compare these two passages: "My biggest accomplishment during my community service was helping to organize a family event at the retirement home. The children and grandchildren of many residents attended, and they all enjoyed playing games and watching movies together." "The community service accomplishment that I'm most proud of is the work I did to help organize the First Annual Family Fun Day at the retirement home. My job was to design and organize fun activities that senior citizens and their younger relatives could enjoy. The event lasted eight hours and included ten different games, two performances, and a movie screening with popcorn. Almost 200 residents and family members attended throughout the day. This event was important because it provided an opportunity for senior citizens to connect with their family members in a way they aren't often able to. It also made the retirement home seem more fun and enjoyable to children, and we have seen an increase in the number of kids coming to visit their grandparents since the event." The second passage is stronger for a variety of reasons. First, it goes into much more detail about the work the volunteer did. The first passage only states that she helped "organize a family event." That really doesn't tell readers much about her work or what her responsibilities were. The second passage is much clearer; her job was to "design and organize fun activities." The second passage also explains the event in more depth. A family day can be many things; remember that your readers are likely not familiar with what you're talking about, so details help them get a clearer picture. Lastly, the second passage makes the importance of the event clear: it helped residents connect with younger family members, and it helped retirement homes seem less intimidating to children, so now some residents see their grand kids more often. Step 6: Discuss What You Learned One of the final things toinclude in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you.You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill. You can also talk about how you changed personally. Are you more patient now? More understanding of others? Do you have a better idea of the type of career you want?Go into depth about this, but be honest. Don’t say your community service changed your life if it didn’t because trite statements won’t impress readers. In order to support your statements, provide more examples. If you say you’re more patient now, how do you know this? Do you get less frustrated while playing with your younger siblings? Are you more willing to help group partners who are struggling with their part of the work? You’ve probably noticed by now that including specific examples and details is one of the best ways to create a strong and believable essay. Compare these two passages: "As a result of my community service, I learned a lot about building houses and became a more mature person." "As a result of my community service, I gained hands-on experience in construction. I learned how to read blueprints, use a hammer and nails, and begin constructing the foundation of a two-bedroom house. Working on the house could be challenging at times, but it taught me to appreciate the value of hard work and be more willing to pitch in when I see someone needs help. My dad has just started building a shed in our backyard, and I offered to help him with it because I know from my community service how much work it is. I also appreciate my own house more, and I know how lucky I am to have a roof over my head." The second passage is more impressive and memorablebecause it describes the skills the writer learned in more detailand recounts a specific story that supports her claim that her community service changed her and made her more helpful. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Step 7: Finish Strong Just asyou started your essay in a way that would grab readers’ attention, you want to finish your essay on a strong note as well.A good way to end your essay is to state again the impact your work had on you, your community, or both.Reiterate how you changed as a result of your community service, why you found the work important, or how it helped others. Compare these two concluding statements: "In conclusion, I learned a lot from my community service at my local museum, and I hope to keep volunteering and learning more about history." "To conclude, volunteering at my city's American History Museum has been a great experience. By leading tours and participating in special events, I became better at public speaking and am now more comfortable starting conversations with people. In return, I was able to get more community members interested in history and our local museum. My interest in history has deepened, and I look forward to studying the subject in college and hopefully continuing my volunteer work at my university's own museum." The second passage takes each point made in the first passage and expands upon it. In a few sentences, the second passage is able to clearly convey what work the volunteer did, how she changed, and how her volunteer work benefited her community. She also ends her essay discussing her future and how she'd like to continue her community service, which is a good way to wrap things up because it shows your readers that you are committed to community service for the long-term. What's Next? Are you applying to a community service scholarship or thinking about it? We have a complete list of all the community service scholarships available to help get your search started! Do you need a community service letter as well? We have a step-by-stepguide that will tell you how to get a great reference letter from your community service supervisor. Thinking about doing community service abroad? Before you sign up, read our guide on some of the hazards of international volunteer trips and how to know if it's the right choice for you. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: