Research method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research method - Essay Example INTRODUCTION TO PROBLEM OUTLINE Sportswear retailing is a diverse and fairly fragmented market. Even though at a slower rate, sports retailing chains are showing a steady growth over the years. Retailers are looking for introducing new formats in business along with increasing the number of stores. Independent sports retailers like Sports Direct have established their place in the market and managed to gain major share in the markets. The research focuses on analysis of customer satisfaction in sports retailing concentrating on Sportsdirect.com in Liverpool One. Companies are in a situation where it is no longer enough to satisfy the customers, they need to delight customers. The simple way to measure customer satisfaction is by taking surveys. A successful survey begins with a good questionnaire, and a good questionnaire is built from the customer’s point of view (Horovitz, 1990). 2. AIM & OBJECTIVES The aim and objectives of this research are to: Measure the customer satisfa ction in sports retailing, focusing on Sportsdirect.com in Liverpool One. To find out about satisfied and dissatisfied customers and based on this, put forward suggestions for the improvement and to better serve customers and retain them. To make generalisations about the customer satisfaction in sports retailing sector. ... sports goods retailing industries as customer satisfaction is at the root of customer retention and in effectively raising the bar on the firm’s future profitability. 3. ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND Sports Direct International Plc was established in 1982. It is now UK’s number one sports retailer with annual turnover exceeding well over ?1 billion. (Sports Direct Annual Report, 2008). They acquired a lot of companies during their race to success and have around 375 stores in UK and around 60 global stores. They focus on growing UK retail business by continue to drive efficiencies and delivering outstanding value to customers (Sports Direct Website, 2011). Moreover, a significant percentage of Sportdirect.com customers are online clients and manage to get the cushion of market leadership by differentiating themselves from rival firms who manufacture and sell sports goods using the discount-based competition market strategy. 4. LITERATURE REVIEW In the current business world , customer care has a major influence on a company’s long term profitability. Cook (2000) categorises clients as the premise of business and as the element that keeps business alive. The knowledge, attitudes, educational background, and cultural and social environment of an individual have got a major role in moulding his perspectives (Antonides & Raaij, 1998). A well-educated and well-informed customer of the present era has had a clear understanding of standards he expects and this makes it more complicated. As a result, there is considerable attention being taken into account of maintaining relationship between the service providers and customers (Barnes, 1997; Reinartz & Kumar, 2002; Coulter & Coulter, 2002). The bygone twenty years has seen the growing up of relationship marketing as the

Global Supply Chain Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Global Supply Chain Management - Assignment Example It is therefore, of importance that all parties, that are inclusive in the supply chain, play their role to the best of their ability in ensuring that the consumer says safe. This ensures that all products that run across supply chains bypass safety and security measures instituted by the members of the supply chain (Nuttall 2013, p. 221). However, like it is in most cases, it is never done to the expectations of society. As such, the final product that reaches the final consumers is, more often than not, in a deplorable state in terms of safety with regard to human consumption. This is best exemplified by the case of horsemeat being passed off as healthy meat ready for human consumption. Such cases call for the restructuring of the pre-existing programs for safety assurance to be revised. The dire nature of the situation makes it an ivy issue to deal with. As such, this paper seeks to explicate on the problems charactering the current supply chain system, to provide solutions to the se problems as well as investigate on how supermarkets should prepare on the breakdown of the supply chains. It is undisputed that the horsemeat scandal has had adverse effects on the economy of the United Kingdom. One of these effects is the ruining of the reputations of otherwise stand-up companies and corporations. Most of these firms have been on record for having worked hard in order to realize the levels of success that characterizes their business models. Given the much effort invested by such companies, it might not be order for all of this to occur due to causes such as the inadequacy of the supply chain. The economic impact of this horse meat scandal has also resulted following a reduction in sales. It is probable that after such a scandal in a food commodity industry, the levels of sales are reduced. In certain cases, the level of drop can be catastrophic. Therefore, meat supply chain has its associated challenges worth analyzing and doing so would help outline past mista kes for correction purposes. This will fashion an enabling environment for the complete overhaul of the current policies governing this supply system. A number of well-known brands dealing with meat products have been adversely affected by this horse eat scandal. This is done with the hope that the consumer patterns of shopping have not been altered to the detriment of this industry. It is highly probable that consumers have already decided on purchasing less of processed meat, less of meals with ready meat and a significant number are contemplating the option of indulging vegetarian products. It can be argued that the scandal has provided vital lessons to the government, retailers and most of the entire food standard agency (De Haan, Groot, Loo and Ypenburg 2003, p. 82). The chain of responsibility is however long, and each party must be ready to accept liability accruing from the scandal. It is not surprising that the overall majority of customers cite the government as to blame. It is imperative to note that food fraud has been in existence since time immemorial. Human kind has been adulterated foodstuffs to suit their own selfish ambitions to the detriment of the health of the unsuspecting public. Laws instituted to curb against this vice have not deterred these crimes. A cause of the continuing food frauds might be attributed to the ongoing economic slump. The rise of the process of food commodities is

Engaging Strategy Essay Example for Free

Engaging Strategy Essay Introduction This paper will focus on constructing a strategy to engage and build rapport with a particular client on the provided vignette. The task is to navigate through obstacles that may arise that are unique to his characteristics including lack of information and limited research. To overcome these barriers of building rapport, the clinician must identify the client’s strengths and struggles as well as research scholarly literature on the client’s characteristics that are significantly different than the clinician’s to engage with and benefit the client’s session. Major Obstacles The major obstacles engaging with this particular client is the apparent lack of research on approaching a gay client with cultural competency, especially individuals who are intersected with other minority groups, in this case being Jewish as well as an older adult. According to Eubank-Carter, Curckell, and Goldfried (2005), as of 2003, only 54% of LGB-related articles have been based on empirical research and even less research addressing LGB people of color at a mere 12%. The lack of research on the client’s identity as a gay male poses as an obstacle as the clinician is a straight female, forming a barrier into building rapport on the basis of showing empathy and being relatable. According to Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney, Strom-Gottfried, and Larsen (2013), building rapport with a client enables clients to gain trust in the helpful intent and goodwill of the social worker† and further emphasizes, â€Å"cultural factors and language  differences compound potential barr iers to rapport even further (pg. 47). The multiple cultural differences between the clinician and client acts as a barrier to building rapport as well as connecting the client with connection to resources to fulfill his request. Adding to the lack of research on the client’s sexual orientation, he also identifies as a Jewish American, which may be a sensitive topic in building rapport, because it is unknown if he identifies ethnically, religiously, both or none. According to Faulkner Hecht (2010), for Jewish-American LGBTQ individuals, a significant issue that has been identified relates to the disclosure of their intersectional identity being a â€Å"twin threats of negative attitudes toward LGBTQ individuals and anti-Semitism† in which negative stigma towards LGBTQ identity was reinforced in Judaism, leaving those identifying as gay to conceal their sexual orientation and emphasizing their Jewish identity to avoid threats (Introduction section, pg. 830). This poses the delicate question of where the clien t has a support system, as upon first impression, it will appear blurred. Finally regarding the supervisor’s concern of the client being in an Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) relationship with his partner, the lack of research on same-sex couples, specifically males, issues that may become an obstacle include the clinician subconsciously viewing the issue through a heterocentric lens. Not only is research lacking on LGBTQ in general, especially with IPV, there is lack of training on how to approach cliental for clinicians who were brought up in a heterocentric majority society. This is not surprising as out of a study of 108 clinical and counseling graduate students, the majority stated they felt unprepared to work with LGBTQ clients (Eubank-Carter et al 2005, pg. 2) (check citation). Although resources are available for LGBTQ clients to be self sufficient, because of these issues mentioned above, they are limited. Countertransference With this client, I struggled with countertransference in terms of past experience and projective identification. This is not my first encounter with an older, gay client applying for low-income housing and the past client sadly faced discrimination by those running and living in the facilities. I am also aware although 22 states have passed laws prohibiting  discrimination against sexual orientation in private or public housing, those who hold authority in these areas can refuse services to LGBTQ clients without legal reasoning (Hillman 2014, pg. 272). The past client faced this situation and this knowledge could affect my ability to not give an attitude that Joseph will automatically face the same result, thus affecting my ability to develop a proper relationship as clinician and client. Although this is a secondary concern to suspicion of IPV that takes priority, it is still relevant as it maybe revisited later, thus creating another obstacle to building rapport. Scholarly Liter ature Eubanks-Carter, Burckell Goldfried’s article (2005) worked as a general guidebook for the clinician. It emphasized, â€Å"Our LGB clients are not only gay, lesbian and bisexual men and women; they are members of families, professions, and communities. Our goal is to affirm not only their sexual orientation, but their entire identity† (Eubanks-Carter et al, 2005, pg. 9). This was a reminder to learn to be culturally competent towards the client for more than just his sexual orientation, but as a whole with his other intersectional identities. Hillmans’ article (2014) covered the perspective of working with the client through the lens that he is gay and an older adult in his 70s. One important concept is point out that he grew up in an era where homosexuality in American was highly discriminated. According to Hillman (2014), the 1950s were a time when President Eisenhower issued 1953’s Executive Order #10450 ordering â€Å"homosexuals to be fired from government jobs† and McCarthy in 1954 included homosexuals in the group of â€Å"subversive elements†, (Historical and Cohort Effects, pg. 270). The client may still have negative feelings regarding homophobia from the past, thus it is imperative for the clinician to remain vigilant of her attitude and countertransference. Seelau Seelau’s article (2005) gave insight as to why the client, if involved in an IPV relationship, maybe reluctant to report. According to research, â€Å"police are reportedly less likely to intervene in domestic violence cases that involve gay or lesbian couples, perhaps due to sexual prejudice (i.e., homophobia) or gender role-stereotypes that women cannot be  abusers and men cannot be abused (Seelau et al, 2005, pg. 364). It is important for the clinician to keep note of this fact as the client may have distrust for law enforcement, thus keeping the abuse a secret.

Nicomachean Ethics Essay Example for Free

Nicomachean Ethics Essay Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote the Nicomachean Ethics, portraying the significance of studying the realms of ethics and political science. In his work, Aristotle focuses on the theme of how human beings can attain the chief human good—happiness—at which everything aims. Aristotle argues that ethics, the study of moral character, and political science, the branch of knowledge and analysis of political activity and behavior, must be closely studied together in order to fully grasp the meaning of and obtain the good way of life. Aristotle believes that there is only one goal, one ultimate end for every individual—that is eudaimonia, translated as happiness, not as a feeling but happiness as the highest human good or a life full of activity. He claims that a person should live a way of life distinct from the lives of animals, where they only live for the sake of living or pleasure. 1 As human beings, people should use their power of speech to communicate and make rational decisions within a polity, striving to live their lives up to their full potential and to their full capacity for a happy life. 2 The life of politics, the via activa, is thus the key to the chief good or the best life for humans; however, the life of action must be of certain type of quality, in accordance with reason, since different actions may lead to the good or the bad life. In other words, a person’s actions must be in line with arete, with virtue or excellence. 3 Possessing virtue is having the ability to realize the good things, and doing them at the right time and the right way to get things done. Virtues can result to two different ways: a good or bad life. For example, President Lincoln versus Adolph Hitler—both of these men possess the virtue of wisdom, although they have used them disparately, one ending a Civil War in peace and the other manipulating others to killing millions of innocent people. To make it to the good end, Aristotle claims that we must practice virtue by, giving it a certain type of character or ethical quality to our actions. 4 Although human cannot acquire virtue by nature alone, nature allows and gives us the capacity to acquire virtue by learning and through exercising them in our lives. 5 By constantly acting with virtue, we cultivate habituation and ultimately we do not need to be self-controlled to do what is just. Instead, we become accustomed to do what is right willingly and naturally. Activities of good ethics or good moral character are virtues. And so, to best learn and exercise these virtues is by incorporating political science in connection to ethics. Aristotle asserts that the science of politics, the highest master of science combined with many other sciences, must be very well studied, for it is where moral laws are examined and its end, including the ends of other sciences associated with political science, will be the chief human good of all society. 6 Therefore, Aristotle presents the idea that the state must play an important role to aim and shape a society of good citizens, incorporating what the good life is: the life of virtue. 7 The state must look after its citizens morally, creating a type of society that will allow people to have a political life together; consequently, this political life will give them the opportunity and the ability to realize their wide range of capacities and their ideal life. Without the state, humans will not be able to experience the good life, the life of action. They are not self-sufficient enough to work alone, for they need others to be self-sufficient and happy. 8 Having a community will give every individual a chance to experience the struggle within the polity, in which he or she can exercise his or her many virtues, whether it be the ability to be courageous in the face of danger, the ability to make better judgements, or the ability to resist pain in the midst of hard criticism. Consequently, they build up their ethos or character, cultivating them to eventually living a happy life. The life of struggle, of politics, is the life where humans can have the chance to develop their full capacities, abilities, and strengths to overcome many hardships and difficulties. 9 Having a strong state does not achieve full satisfaction; hence, the state must know what eudaimonia is in order to direct and guide its citizens. It is necessary for the state to study and establish what is just and what is ethics. In this way, the state could inculcate what is moral through laws and education. Acquiring the chief good starts at home. Aristotle argues that a good state support an educational system, for a society that promotes morality is the best way of cultivating habituation in young children. 10 Having this strong educational system in the state will successfully encourage parents of each household to train their young children in good principles, abiding by the set of moral laws established in the community; as a result, they will naturally apply their good habits in their daily lives and ultimately gain the perfect virtuous life. Connecting the study of ethics and political science together can bring the whole society into a healthy life of virtue. Ethics is the key in which politics can utilize and produce a good society. By knowing what is righteous and what is ethics, the state can make the ultimate life of happiness possible for its citizens. Political science plays the role of establishing and enforcing good and moral character through an effective system that can guide and habituate every part and class of society. Ultimately, having access to a superfluous life of activity in a way that is in line with reason will let individuals life life to the fullest, of virtue and of happiness.

Quality Management Plan Example

Quality Management Plan Example Quality is an experience of the customer. Product quality awareness comes from your design specifications and the manufacture standards achieved for the product. Service quality perception comes from your service process design and the customer contact impressions (Quality,n.d). As all we know that quality is very important part in every business. Personally I think quality matter not quantity. If we talk about the quality of a clothes in clothing store. Thats very important because without quality product we cant interact the customer or we cant expand our business in future. If in clothing store we provide quality product to our customer which is little bit high in price. Customer can easily spend money on quality product. In New Zealand there are mainly two seasons winter and summer. Summer is for short time period and winter for long time period. So we will provide wool clothes for winter and cotton cloths for summer to fulfil the needs of the customer. In winter season we will provide jacket, wool caps wool cloths and so many things in different varieties. Quality management The main principle of quality management is to ensure the business will meet or exceed owners needs and expectations. In our business we want to create a good relationship with our customer. For that we will manage that entire thing which can affect our business like bad customer deal that can affect our business. Next, we will also careful about the quality of the product that is most important for our business. We will careful for our stock when we purchase from India. Quality must be viewed on an equal level with scope, schedule and budget. In quality we can also say that when we build our clothing store we will use good quality of interior to decorate our store. Decoration of the store is also equal important like good quality of product.we will also use good quality of furniture in our store to interact more customer. (Quality management,n.d). To maintain quality in product you should careful about some important things which are given below: Customer feedback: In clothing store business owner should regular feedback from the customer so they can know about the quality of the product. We will also take customer feedback to better our customer service. Keeping change in variety: In today era fashion is keep changing so clothing store should always update with new variety of stock so they can fulfil the needs of the customer. In our clothing store we will purchase of stock according to customer choice. Customer satisfaction: customer satisfaction is very important in business if we want to grow up in market. For customer satisfaction we will provide variety of product to our customer. We will also provide good customer service to our customer. Project quality assurance: In plan Quality we say that we have to make the plan for our business and quality of the business. For this plan we have to know about what kind of product customer want. I will also try to find in winter season or summer season we can purchase good quality of product. In winter season we will purchase good quality of wool cloth which can protect the people from the winter and for summer season we will stock a cotton cloth so customer can buy that clothes.(quality management for project,n.d). Provide good quality of customer service: If we are talk about quality good quality of customer service is very important. If we have good quality of product and varieties of product. But our customer service is not good. Then we cant develop our business. For good quality of customer service we should deal with customer properly and take care about the needs of the customer. Quality plan The main principle of quality management is that the product the fulfil the needs of the customer and which give some profit to the owner. For good relationship with customer we have to provide good quality of the customer service. To meet this requirement we will give training to our staff and other business partner. Moreover, provide good quality of product is very important for the customer to meet this requirement we make a plan in which we will contact with different dealer in India which dealer meet our requirement in good quality of product. We will purchase clothes from that dealer. Further, in quality plan we will stock good quality of product in different verities so customer can buy what they want according to their taste. Sometime product are good in look but not good in quality but we have to stock in our store because some customer like that product (Quality plan,n.d). Quality control and its goal: The goal of quality control is to improve the product that meet the requirement and quality of type product. Quality control also includes that the project performs in its efforts to manage scope, budget and schedule. Business owner should change product or service according to demand of the customer. Rework is the action taken to bring the rejected product or service into compliance with the requirements, quality specifications or stakeholder expectations. Rework is very expensive thats why business should do quality planning and quality assurance to avoid the need for rework. Rework and all the costs may be in big amount but it is refundable by the donor and the organization may end up covering those costs. Business man should set their management very carefully that produce the outputs and the decisions that were taken that lead to the faults and errors. Changes are taken place to the Change Control methods of the project. (Quality plan,n.d) Projrct quality assurance. (n.d.). Retrieved Feb 27, 2017, from ww.project-management-skills.com: http://www.project-management-skills.com/project-quality-management.html Quality. (n.d.). Retrieved Feb 27, 2017, from www.lifetime-reliability.com: http://www.lifetime-reliability.com/cms/free-articles/work-quality-assurance/what-is-quality/ Quality management. (n.d.). Retrieved Feb 27, 2017, from www.pm4dev.com: file:///C:/Users/OEM/Downloads/PM4DEV_Project_Quality_Management.pdf Quality plan. (n.d.). Retrieved Feb 27, 2017, from www.project-management-skills.com: file:///C:/Users/OEM/Downloads/PM4DEV_Project_Quality_Management.pdf

Death: Friend Or Foe? :: essays research papers

It is just a fact we all must die! Some of us are afraid of the uncertainty that death brings. Therefore, it is regarded as an enemy, a tragedy, and the unavoidable downside of life. Others live day by day knowing that death will come, but they have no fear. They are not in a hurry to meet him, but are making preparations for the encounter. Myself, now that I am old, will be looking forward to the place that I will be going to spend my eternity. I am an eternal being you know. I have heard it is a place I can happily anticipate. I?fm glad because I am very old and feeble. I am ninety-five years old and it is time, death has crept in on me. I have never welcomed an unannounced stranger especially at night. This was our first encounter, yet I knew he was a friend. I was just getting ready for bed when it happened. Now, I have to remind you that I did not know that it was time to die. I just lay down and that was the last time I would ever hear my children?fs voice, or see the sun rise or set. But you see I have lived a full life and I am looking forward to going to the place that I have wanted to be all my adult life. I have to say I did not know about it when I was a child. It would have saved me a lot of excess worry if I had. But I did all that I knew how to do while I lived here on earth. My life on earth seems like such a short time when I?fm about to experience eternity. Somewhere in the still of the night, my being, my very soul seemed to just float about my house. I am calling my body my house because I am leaving it behind. I left it right there still, cold, and lifeless. When I opened up my eyes I stood in front of a gate. This was no ordinary gate; it was made of pearl, one huge pearl, and the likes of which no man has ever seen. It opened as if by magic, but actually I was invited to come in. The light of this city was so bright and pure that it seemed to bring with it a flood of peace.

IQ and the Controversy Concerning Human Intelligence :: Biology Essays Research Papers

IQ and the Controversy Concerning Human Intelligence Human intelligence is an eel-like subject: slippery, difficult to grasp, and almost impossible to get straight [3]. Many scientist and psychologist have made numerous attempts to come up with an explanation for the development of human intelligence. For many years, there has been much controversy over what intelligence is and whether it is hereditary or nurtured by the environment. Webster's dictionary defines intelligence as "the ability to acquire and apply knowledge; which includes a sensing an environment and reaching conclusions about the state of that environment [7]. In this paper I am going to examine the factors, which make up ones intelligence. I will be investigating whether or not intelligence is fostered by genetic heritance or nurtured by ones environment. "There can be of course no serious doubt that differences in environment experiences do contribute to variation in IQ [5]. The environment is made of circumstances, objects, and conditions by which a human, animal, plant or object are surrounded in science. It has been argued that the environment in a child's developing years could in fact be a factor that will determine this IQ. In a study of adoptive and biologically related familys psychologist Scarr and Weinberg recognized that with children between 16 and 22 years of age, environment was more powerful in influencing IQ level in the young child, than the young adult. Scarr and Weinberg reasoned that "environment exerts a greater influence on children, who have little choice; as they age, diversity age, diversity and availability of choices expands, and if these choices are at least partially determined by genetic factors, the influence of environment is there by diminished. Heritability is a term from the population of genetics. It refers to"the capability of being passed from one generation to the next [1]. Intelligence has for centuries been considered as fixed trait. A number of investigators have taken an approach that intelligence is highly heritable, transmitted through genes [3]. Kinship studies have shown that the habitability of IQ is significantly less than 1.0, and recent attempts to model kinship correlation especially in children have agreed that IQ is influenced both by the child's parent and the environment. Other factors such as parental affection, birth order, gender differences, and experiences outside the family, accidents, and illnesses may account for IQ. Writer of Hereditary Genius, Francis Galton developed a theory know as the "genius theory.