Cyberbullying An Act Of Aggressive Act - 1466 Words

Bullying can be define as an act of aggressive act that is intentional, Taking force upon someone who cannot defend themselves from an individual or group. Cyberbullying is nearly the same thing as bullying but is done online, using electronic devices such as phones, emails, and social networks. Cyberbullying can happen in many different ways , through phone calls, text messages, blogs, pictures and more. The availability of internet makes it easier for bullying to take place in the long run this can cause numerous problems. The effects of bullying can cause suicides, depression and isolation. Daily around the world kids are getting bullied . Frightened and unable to say what is going on to anyone. There has been novels , movies and†¦show more content†¦Cyberbullying happen 24/7 on phones , laptops , tablets and many other technology things that young people use today. Cyberbullying takes away your privacy, sharing it with others. Four in ten teens have experienced online bullying; girls are twice as likely to be victims and criminals of cyberbullying (Phillips). Girls are more likely to engage in social sabotage of other people (Phillips). Girls have the mindset of trying to be better than others and are willing to do anything to advance them. Boys are more likely to bully girls and other males who are not as confident (Phillips). Boys whether bullying these type of people so things would not happen to them. Cyberbullying is mostly done by 15 and 16 year olds (Phillips). This is age group when teens uses technology heavily. The more people post on social sites and the more they share their information the easier it may be to get attacked by a cyberbully. Cyberbullying is real and often more frightening than face to face bullying (Phillips). Similar to stalking victims can often feel helpless and isolate and ashamed, and not willing to share with friends or parents about what is going on (Shpantzer). The groups feared that they will be restricted from electronic devices if they told parents or that they might overreact (Phillips). This should not keep anybody from telling someone how someone is treating them. Studies have indicated that the number of youth

Religion-Effect of Dispossession on Aboriginals Free Essays

Religion Discuss the connection between the dreaming and the land rights movement. Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the dreaming. The dreaming is a complex concept of fundamental importance to Aboriginal culture, embracing the creative era long past of the ancestral beings as well as the present and the future. We will write a custom essay sample on Religion-Effect of Dispossession on Aboriginals or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Dreaming’s importance to the aboriginal people is emphasised through it providing for the obligations and responsibility of the aboriginal people, and furthermore accounting for their past, present, and future. The dispossession of land of the aboriginal people has led to various problems, including psychological and social issues experienced by communities and individuals, who in the past, have been forcibly removed from their land, their ‘home’. The Land Rights Movement is a movement targeted at recognising the issue of dispossession and progressing towards a. Thus Land Rights Movement, a movement based on the claims by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to repossession and compensation for white use of their lands and sacred sites, became the resolution. The motivation of this movement was ultimately base upon Aboriginal peoples reliance on a sense of spirituality connected to the land. As the movement strengthened, so too did the awareness of the effect of the dispossession, leading to an increase in the movement itself, and also enforcing the Aboriginal people’s sense of spirituality. Essentially, it becomes evident that the importance of the Dreaming was ultimately the reason for, and motivation behind the Land Rights movement. Thus it is needless to say that the Dreaming is fundamental to the Lands Rights Movement. Analyse the importance of the Dreaming for the land rights movement Land rights are of critical importance in relation to Aboriginal spirituality, because the Dreaming is inextricably connected with the land. Therefore the dispossession of Aboriginal native land is also the dispossession of Aboriginal spirituality. The link between the Dreaming, land and afterlife holds significance spiritual importance to the Aboriginal peoples as the land is the resting place for all aboriginal beings. Furthermore each Aboriginal community is connected with the land through their spiritual totems. Specific areas of Aboriginal communities’ have important spiritual meaning for those particular groups of aboriginal people-these are known as sacred sites. What’s caratagoried in ever aboriginal sacred site is the connection to the Dreaming and aboriginal mythology. There are special responsibilities attached to sacred sites such as important ceremonies like weddings and it could be a place of death for an aboriginal elder. The identity of an Aboriginal person is inextricably linked to the land and hence the land is like a mother for the people. How to cite Religion-Effect of Dispossession on Aboriginals, Essay examples

Business Analysis Project Operation

Question: Discuss about the Business Analysis Project Operation. Answer: Introduction In order to execute the business operation in a strategic way, a Business Analysis Plan (BAP) is highly required (Simon-Moya and Revuelto-Taboada, 2016). The prime benefits of the business analysis plan are to offer a clear business analysis approach and an opportunity to the project manager. According to the opinion of Venables (2007), a proper BAP helps to increase the business credibility, so that the business analyst could make more accurate estimates for the project. The current study attempts to evaluate the business analysis plan for the automobile company Volkswagen. While conducting the study financial analysis, strategic analysis of the firm has been analysed by the research associate. Furthermore, a strategic recommendation provided in the study indicates that Volkswagen needs some modification to rectify the strategic errors in the competitive market. Purpose The purpose of the study is to analyse the business plan of Volkswagen with the competitors like BMW and the Merchedez Benz. The analysis of the business plan is highly required to lead the success of the business operation for preserving a sustainable market position. Case context of analysis As per the report of the Automobile sector, the automobile industry is continuously developing in nowadays. The robust growth of the automobile technologies influences the companies to uphold the new technological advancement in the product and business plan. Thus, Venkatesh (2013) stated that the automakers are continuously trying to enable the potential ability as per the product trends. The idea of the autonomous vehicles is too futuristic to represent new developments and enormous opportunities to the global automotive market (Hilman and Mohamed, 2011). Thus, the present situation of the auto industry has inspired the scholars to select the automobile industry in the currents study context. Adding to this, the issues of Volkswagen and the deprived market condition of the firm has influenced the researcher to elect the specific firm. Besides that, it has been speculated that BMW and the Mercedes Benz have a competitive market position across the world. Hence, these two companies h ave chosen for conducting the comparative analysis. Moreover, the growing trend of the automobile industry is the prime reason to select the specific case context for the critical and comparative analysis. Key issues The strategic management issue is considered one of the key issues for the brand Volkswagen. The emission of the air pollutants was happening globally, which indicates a critical strategic issue occurring from the managements end. In the words of Mansouri (2016), the pollutants also involved smog-inducing Nitrogen Oxides, which contributes major respiratory problems and even premature deaths. The lack of strategic alignment has disrupted the innovation of Volkswagen, and the firm failed to manage the climate risk along with the social equity into the overall corporate strategy. Thus, the lack of proper regulation, financial controllability, adequate audit, a disintegration of balance score card and lack of reliance on good governance can be considered the major issues of the brand Volkswagen. Ration related to the chosen companies According to the given case study, it has been observed that Volkswagen has currently faced a crucial situation regarding earning revenue, due to the carbon emission issue with the models. This is one of the major points to select the company to understand the fundamental reason of key issues and the proper mitigation action. Considering the view of Eapen and Annamalai (2014), the leading companies BMW and Mercedez-Benz is creating more new models to attain the concentration of the middle-class customers. This factor has made the situation more exciting as BMW and Mercedes-Benz are luxury car makers for the upper level of customers. Thus, these two car companies have chosen for analysing the individual business plan in the current study context. Key issues: Financial analysis Revenue analysis and forecast Volkswagen Group Malaysia is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, established on 16th February 2006. The headquarters is situated at Wisma in Kuala Lumpur, supported by a 150 strong workforce. According to Millipore (2007), Volkswagen AG is one of the largest car manufacturers in the world, selling 9million (Approximate) vehicles worldwide. The brand includes passenger cars, like Audi, Bentley, Porsche, Bugatti and Ducati to name a few. Volkswagen also caters to the low-end customers with flexible price cars and offers other financial services. The revenue of Volkswagen has increased in the year 2015 by a margin of 5%. The increase in revenue is partly due to globalisation and catering to both high-end and low-end customers. The following table can further elaborate the increase in revenue: Volkswagen revenue table Particulars 2015 2014 Change Absolute Relative Sale of vehicle 139990 134627 5363 4% Sale of genuine parts 14625 13642 983 7% Used vehicles and third party product 11106 10090 1016 10% Engine, power trains and parts deliveries 8763 10021 -1258 -13% Power engineering 3769 3728 41 1% Sale of Motorcycles 564 458 106 23% Leasing business 20085 16384 3701 23% Interest and similar income 6755 6375 380 6% Other sales revenue 7635 7133 502 7% Total revenue 213292 202458 10834 5% Graphically the growth of revenue is shown in Table 1: Table 1: Volkswagen revenue table (Source: www.forbes.com, 2016) Revenue of BMW: BMW Malaysia is a joint venture between BMW AG and Sime Darby Berhad. BMW covers a significant portion of Malaysian automobile market. The dealership network comprises 31 outlets in various cities in Malaysia. The revenue of BMW has increased considerably in the year 2015 by a margin of 15% that is 10% more than Volkswagen (Volkswagen growth in revenue 5% in FY 2015). To put BMW in a better financial state and ensures a firm market share (Nepram et al. 2011). The revenue growth of BMW can be shown graphically in table 2: Figure 1: Revenue of BMW (Source: www.bmw.in, 2016) Revenue of Mercedes Benz: Mercedes-Benz is a global automobile manufacturer. Mercedes-Benz is a division of the German company Daimler AG. Benz is known for its luxury vehicles, buses and trucks. The revenue growth of Mercedes-Benz is vigorous and stable, matching that of BMWs. Edwards (2012). States that the growth of income of Benz exceeds Volkswagens revenue growth by 10%. The above statement can be explained further in Table 3: Figure 2: Revenue of Mercedes Benz (Source: www.mercedes-benz.co.in, 2016) Market share growth The Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA) monitors the sales data and market share for all automobile company within its authorised range. Vehicles are ranked according to their sales in units, and the portion of the market it occupies. Volkswagen Volkswagen is currently ranked at 12th position with 6,405 unit's sales. The market share of Volkswagen is currently behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which are at 11th and 10th place respectively, according to the number of units sold by the companies. Volkswagen currently occupies 1% of the total market share in Malaysia. BMW BMW is ranked presently at 11th position with 7,515 unit's sales. The market share of BMW is low compared to Mercedes-Benz, which is at 10th position, with the highest number of units sold compared to Volkswagen and BMW. BMW currently occupies 1.1% of total market share in Malaysia. Mercedes Benz Mercedes-Benz is ranked at 10th place with 11,034 units sales. Benz occupies the highest percentage of market share in Malaysia, with 1.7% market share. The market share is due to high goodwill, aggressive marketing, and customer satisfaction. The market share of Volkswagen is in the lowest position compared to BMW and Mercedes-Benz, owing to increased competition, changing customer preferences, etc. Profit margins The main objective of an organisation is to earn a profit. The viability and sustainability of a company depend on its ability to earn a profit. To earn shareholders interest, the company's financial statement must show a promise of growth, profitability and stability. Kim et al. (2010) state that, according to the appendix given below, Volkswagen has suffered a major loss in the FY 2015 by a margin of 109%. The main reason for suffering such a loss can be attributed majorly to the increase of operating expense, which are, false interpretation of foreign currency hedging derivatives that has adversely impacted the profitability of Volkswagen. A loss arising from foreign exchange activities is another major cause that has impacted Volkswagen negatively. Termination of agreements has impacted the profitability table adversely, and earning loss on disposal of noncurrent assets is another major factor for suffering a loss in the FY 2015. The above explanation can be graphically represented below as: Figure 3: Profit Margin Volkswagen (Source: www.forbes.com, 2016) The loss from operating expenses can be explained in details in Table 2. Volkswagen Loss from operating expense Particulars 2015 2014 Change Absolute Relative Valuation allowances on receivables and other assets 1674 1150 524 46% Loss from foreign currency hedging activities 5083 1003 4080 407% Foreign exchange loss 3260 1972 1288 65% Expense from cost allocation 695 566 129 23% Expense from termination of agreement 502 193 309 160% Losses on disposal of noncurrent asset 106 105 1 1% Misc. and other expense 8853 2004 6849 342% Total Profit or Loss 20173 6993 13180 188% Table 2: Volkswagen Loss from operating expense Profit Margin of BMW: The profit margin of BMW has increased 6% in FY 2015, since last year, which is good, compared to Volkswagen, which suffered a loss, by a margin of 109% (FY 2015). This is a result of better administrative and operating activities. The profit margin can be graphically represented in the table below: Figure 4: Profit Margin of BMW (Source: www.bmw.in, 2016) Profit of Mercedes Benz: Mercedes-Benz is one of the leading automobile companies in the global market. Benz has a profit margin of 25% in the FY 2015. This is majorly due to low operating expenses (52%) and increased interest income (17%). Volkswagen is in a weak position compared to Mercedes-Benz, simply because in the FY 2015, Volkswagen earned a loss of 16095million, compared to Mercedes Benz that earned a profit of 2571million in the same year. The profit margin of Mercedes Benz can be graphically represented in table below: Figure 5: Profit of Mercedes Benz (Source: www.mercedes-benz.co.in, 2016) Price earnings ratios PE ratio of the firm in 2015 is negative. It shows pessimistic view about the firm. However, the PE remains positive in the previous years. The appendix below shows the PE ratio for last five years. Debt level (gearing ratio) Volkswagen is heavily dependent on loans. BMW and Mercedes-Benz also have debt burden in their overall capital structure. However, Volkswagen is not able to manage the finance cost burden as the firm suffers a loss in FY2015. Cash and any other ratio that are specific to industry ) Current Ratio for Volkswagen AG for 2014 and 2015 is computed to be 1.00 and 0.98 respectively. This shows that the firm's liquidity position is at par with standard industry margin. On the other hand, the same for BMW stands at an average of 0.95 in 2014 and 2015. However, Daimler group enjoys superiority in this segment as the same is approximately 1.17 in last two years. Key issue: Strategic analysis Market and competitor analysis (Porters five forces) Competitive Rivalry: In the Malaysian automotive market, the competitive rivalry is moderate for the brand Volkswagen (De Munck and Ferreras, 2013). In the words of Fitzpatrick et al. (2015), the automotive sector has a greater competitive rivalry in the affordable family car domain. It has been identified that affordable cars have the most significant potential to capture target customers in the Malaysian market. At the same time, for the brand BMW and Mercedes-Benz, the competitive rivalry is same as each other. The government intervention to launch proficient hybrid vehicle is also increasing competitive rivalry for all three brands Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Threat of New Entrant: The new entrant has a higher risk in the Malaysian premium automotive sector (Grundy, 2006). The current recession in the economy is creating troubles on firms like Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz to attain lesser sales volume as compared to the project sales value. On the other hand, the market condition of Volkswagen is crucial due to the ethical and operational issues met by the firm (Mansouri, 2016). At the same time, the threat of new entrant has been found lesser for both the competitors, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, due to the innovative product offerings at a competitive pricing strategy. Threat of Substitutes: The threat of the substitutes is high for Volkswagen in the Malaysian automotive market. The product innovativeness and additional features are getting improved by the competitors. The profit before tax of Volkswagen has been found negative due to the lack of synergy between the invested money and the overall revenue earned in the individual financial year. In this context, Kirstein (2010) stated that the threat of substitute is comparatively lesser for the brand Mercedes-Benz and BMW, due to the introduction of innovative car models in a cheap pricing strategy. Buyer Power: The buyer power is greater for the brand Volkswagen in the Malaysian market. The brand recognition has become weak in the name due to its sustainability issues. On the contrary, Mohan (2012) stated that due to the introduction of C-Class car along with other cheap model cars have enabled BMW reducing the power of the Malaysian buyers towards the brand. Also, Mansouri (2016) also stated that Mercedes-Benz has also increased the revenue up to 15% in the Malaysian luxury car market. Thus, it can be said that the buyer power in the luxury car segment is lesser for the Mercedes-Benz and BMW, as compared to the brand Volkswagen. Supplier Power: The supplier power is greater in the Malaysian luxury car market for the brand Volkswagen. As the current brand value of Volkswagen is comparatively lesser than other rivals, the supplier imposes greater power to the brand. On the contrary, Fitzpatrick et al. (2015) stated that since the name recognition of Mercedes Benz and BMW is higher in the Malaysian automotive market. Thus, the power of the suppliers of those brands will also be lesser. Therefore, the overall competitive analysis indicates that the market growth of Volkswagen could be at a crucial position in the Malaysian luxury automotive market. Operations and organisations (Balance-score card) Financial perspective: Parameters Current scenario Measures Initiatives Operating Expenses The operating expense of Volkwagen is (188%) (Mays, 2015). However, the expense margin of BMW is (6%) and Merchedez Benz is (52%). Volkswagen is targeting to make reduction the operating expenses ratio in the next financial quarter (Jullien and Pardi, 2013). The management of the firm has increased the selection criteria of the recruitment process to improve the employee efficacy. Revenue Growth In the FY 2014, the brand has experienced a market share of 22% (Parente and Geleilate, 2015). In 2015, the revenue margin has dropped up to 5%. However, the revenue margin of both BMW and Merchedez Benz are 15%. Volkswagen is trying to increase the revenue margin by 6% in 2017. The management of the brand has increased the product measures and the reduced the price margin to convince the major segments of the Malaysian market. Customer perspectives: Parameters Current scenario Measures Initiatives Product dimensions Volkswagen has introduced various product dimensions like The New Jetta, The Cross Touram, The Sharan, etc. According to Jullien and Pardi (2013), the Malaysian customers projected better response towards the car models of the competitors. More research and development actions are undertaken to understand the accurate customer criteria regarding the premium car segments. Customer relationship The enterprise has managed to maintain a significant relationship with the customers. The customer retention ratio of Volkswagen is 47% and 57% is for Mercedes-Benz (www.4wheelsnews.com, 2016). Improving the production process to limit the CO2 emission. BMW is improving its CRM (Customer Relationship Measures). Internal Business Process: Parameters Current scenario Measures Initiatives Productivity The Volkswagen has experienced a sudden drop in the profit margin by 1.8% of sales within the first three months of 2014 (www.forbes.com, 2015). The management wants the enterprise to have a 6% profit margin, which is almost double than its 2013 profit margin of 2.9%. The revenue of BMW and Mercedes-Benz is 15%. All the brands have introduced the lean operational process in the production process. Manufacturing Distinction The manufacturing process includes the steps like, body shop, paint shop and assembly room. Reducing the production based errors. Similarly, a control measure is places in each of the work stations to review the manufacturing process step by step. Employee learning and growth: Parameters Current scenario Measures Initiatives Training and development The management includes various vocational training sessions to its employees. BMW is presently training an approximate figure of twenty thousand young employees in all the vocational training. Volkswagen includes an advancement program for the women employees. Hiring professing trainer. Improving the innovativeness through RD The brand has managed to introduce a diversified range of new products within an affordable price margin. In 2016, Volkswagen has introduced two car models, Polo GTi and Volkswagen Tiguan, which has received a huge customer response (www.volkswagen-poznan.pl, 2016). The management has increased the investment on the RD team. The similar approach is taken by BMW and Mercedes-Benz Limitations of Financials models and conventional analysis Limitation of financial models The limitation in analysing financial performance is that the financial analysis is based on historical data. The data is not current; that is the future performance of an organisation cannot be stated for sure, it can only be assumed. One of the major limitations of financial statement is that it is based on assumptions. Limitation of conventional analysis The conventional models are highly controversial by nature (Avlonitis and Indounas, 2007). The attributes evaluated in the methods might not be applicable for all the brand types. Therefore, an exclusive belief on the model might result to an unauthentic conclusion. The industry scenario of each of the firms are different, therefore, the entrepreneurs require understanding the acute framework that mitigate with the brand criteria. Conclusion The firm suffers from loss. Its market capitalisation through huge, loan burden does not allow the firm to manage much of its current assets. The overall outlook in the long run through looks positive, initial and current outlook of the company in 2015 does not seem to be much more investor friendly. The overall market competitiveness analysis shows that the market reputation of Volkswagen is lesser compared to the rivals like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The competitive rivalry, buyer power and the supplier power all three factors are higher for the brand Volkswagen. Thus, the strategic alignment needs to be revised to improve the current market potential of the brand Volkswagen. However, the sustainability issue of the Volkswagen might get resolved in the future in accordance with the improvement of itsstrategic management process. Recommendations Out of the calculation mentioned above and analysis, it is inferred that Volkswagen AG though suffers a loss in the current year, however, its viability in future in strong. Sustainability is not an issue for this automobile giant. Though, a few key performance indicators show a negative trend, however, the future outlook remains bright. However, investors are encouraged to buy the shares of the Volkswagen as the market price as comparatively low as of now. Since the price fluctuates heavily, investors who are interested in short-term prospect, should not go for the shares of the firm. Growth is not an issue in the long run and hence long-term outlook remain solid and strong enough for the firm. Training and Development Programme The goal of the Volkswagen group is to identify and elevate the performance measures in the globally competitive market. Thus, the firm needs to develop the leadership competence, personnel management and the international development programme. It has been speculated that the vocational and professional training programme provided by the management of the firm would help to boost up the employee performance (Hanifah and Mohamed, 2011). In this regards Venkatesh (2013) also added that advancement of women employee would help the firm to increase the revenue margin as the company has less focus in the segment women creativity. As per the report of the different scholars, the particular advancement of female talent is one of the integral elements for the personnel development programme. According to the opinion of Simon-Moya and Revuelto-Taboada (2016), the advancement women training and development programme would help the Volkswagen group to systemise the overall operation. The voice modulation factor of women, which is highly attractive rather than the men segment would also be helpful for the firm to convince the customers. Adding to this, it has been observed that the revenue of the competitors of Volkswagen such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz is 15% respectively in the current financial year. On the other hand, Volkswagen has earned only 5% profit margin, which is very low compared to the rival groups (www.volkswagen.co.in, 2016). Thus, the firm needs some potential strategic planning to increase the revenue margin. Hence, women advancement training programme would be a significant contribution to creating a dedicated team effort for the betterment of the company. Reference: 2015, B.A. (2015) Home. Available at: https://www.bmw.in/en/index.html?bmw=sea_in_BMWBrand_Google_sngclid=CjwKEAjw3Nq9BRCw8OD6s4eI5HASJABsfCIaSNKS1GAq1CDdQP_JiQH4UsXx2IopZmkuk3W0fMaxixoCun3w_wcB (Accessed: 19 August 2016). Avlonitis, G.J. and Indounas, K.A. (2007) An empirical examination of the pricing policies and their antecedents in the services sector,European Journal of Marketing, 41(7/8), pp. 740764. Car production(no date) Available at: https://www.volkswagen-poznan.pl/en/car-production (Accessed: 19 August 2016). Christian, A. (2016)VW brand plans $6.8 billion savings and productivity boost to improve margin. Available at: https://www.4wheelsnews.com/auto/vw-brand-plans-6-8-billion-savings-and-productivity-boost-to-improve-margin-32261.html (Accessed: 19 August 2016). De Munck, J. and Ferreras, I. (2013) Restructuring processes and capability for voice: Case study of Volkswagen, Brussels, International Journal of Manpower, 34(4), pp. 397412. Eapen, M. and Annamalai, S. (2014) A study on job satisfaction among employees in an automobile sales and service company, Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 7(1), p. 15. Edwards, S. (2012). Revenue management: Maximising revenue in hospitality operations. Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, 12(1), 9495. Fitzpatrick, B.D., Nguyen, Q.Q.A. and Cayan, Z. (2015) An upgrade to competitive corporate analysis: Creation of A personal finance platform to strengthen porters Five competitive forces model in utilizing, Journal of Business Economics Research (JBER), 13(1), p. 54. Grundy, T. (2006) Rethinking and reinventing Michael Porters five forces model, Strategic Change, 15(5), pp. 213229. Hanifah, M.Z.M. and Mohamed, Z.A. (2011) Value configuration through value chain for competitive advantage, J. for Global Business Advancement, 4(4), p. 368. Hilman, H. and Mohamed, Z.A. (2011) Building new competitive advantage through match between specific types of strategic flexibility and sourcing strategy, J. for Global Business Advancement, 4(4), p. 356. Jullien, B. and Pardi, T. (2013) Structuring new automotive industries, restructuring old automotive industries and the new geopolitics of the global automotive sector,International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 13(2), p. 96. Jullien, B. and Pardi, T. (2013) Structuring new automotive industries, restructuring old automotive industries and the new geopolitics of the global automotive sector,International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 13(2), p. 96. Kim, H. S., Brorsen, B. W., Anderson, K. B. (2010). Profit margin hedging. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 92(3), 638653. Kirstein, R. (2010) Volkswagen vs. Porsche: A power-index analysis, International Journal of Corporate Governance, 2(1), p. 1. Mansouri, N. (2016) A case study of Volkswagen unethical practice in diesel emission test, International Journal of Science and Engineering Applications, 5(4), pp. 211216. Mays, K. (2015) New products [New Products],IEEE Microwave Magazine, 16(8), pp. 102108. Mercedes (no date) Welcome to the official website of Mercedes Benz India. Explore the information on the range of vehicles. Available at: https://www.mercedes-benz.co.in/content/india/mpc/mpc_india_website/enng/home_mpc/passengercars.html (Accessed: 19 August 2016). Mohan, A.V. (2012) Internal and external resources for enhancing innovation capabilities an exploratory study based on cases from the Malaysian automobile sector, Asian Journal of Technology Innovation, 20(sup1), pp. 2947. Nepram, D. (2011). State-level value added tax and its revenue implications in India: A panel data analysis. Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, 5(2), 245265. Parente, R.C. and Geleilate, J.M.G. (2015) Developing new products in the automotive industry: Exploring the interplay between process clockspeed and supply chain integration,Industrial and Corporate Change, 25(3), pp. 507521. Simon-Moya, V. and Revuelto-Taboada, L. (2016) Revising the predictive capability of business plan quality for new firm survival using qualitative comparative analysis, Journal of Business Research, 69(4), pp. 13511356. Speculations, G. (2015)Volkswagen earnings review: Revenues and profits are up, but core performance remains weak. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2015/08/03/volkswagen-earnings-review-revenues-and-profits-are-up-but-core-performance-remains-weak/#2617d55b7a4a (Accessed: 19 August 2016). Strong revenue growth for Millipore (2007). Membrane Technology, 2007(4), 2. Venables, M. (2007) On a roll [automobile industry], Manufacturing Engineer, 86(2), pp. 1819. Venkatesh, R. (2013) Contemporary marketing or temporary marketing? An analysis of present day relationship marketing of Indian organizations, Indian Journal of Marketing, 43(1), p. 31. Volkswagen Ameo - test drive | Volkswagen India (2016) Available at: https://www.volkswagen.co.in/en/models/ameo0/ameo-offer.html?tc=sem-ameo-july16-ameo-ind-google-search textadskw=paidutm_term=101_aamkwid=s|pcrid|98835854433|pkw|volkswagen|pmt|e|pdv|c| (Accessed: 19 August 2016).

Interreligious Dialogue free essay sample

Dialogue with respect to theological pluralism Statistics show that most of the world’s population is affiliated with some type of religion, with Christianity and Islam encompassing slightly over 50% of the population. Though interreligious dialogue is beneficial in gaining a better understanding of another’s religion, is it possible to hold one’s religion as being the absolute truth while engaging in an open interreligious dialogue with another religion? Many spiritual people will tend to be theological exclusivists, because a lot of the religions are divided and differ in many ways from one another, but they must accept the values and beliefs of other people if they are to remain truly faithful to the conviction of their traditions. Interreligious dialogue in a broad sense is being in communication with someone of a different religion to increase the understanding of one’s own religion or tradition as well as others. Since half of the world’s population is either Christian or Muslim, we will take a look into the differences these religions shares. We will write a custom essay sample on Interreligious Dialogue or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One of the main issues is developed in Klostermaiers book, In the Paradise of Krishna. It exemplifies some of the differences religions tend to hold, such as the discussion between Muslims and Christians on where the role of Jesus stands in Senestant 2 connection to God. Muslims agree that Jesus was an important figure and served a purpose as a great teacher of righteousness, but fail to see his true connection with God the Father. They claim that he is only a prophet sent by God but not equal to God. The position Klostermaier takes on Jesus, or ‘Son of Man’, is that he is the movement towards God in every being. He is what ultimately allows for us to have a relationship with God. The Son of Man only makes use of two basic distinctions: My Father on the one side everything else on the other. He doesn’t judge people based off of other people’s judgment or the rules set by man, rather he judges people based on their relation to the Father. Klostermaier also wants us to recognize that Christ is not an ‘avatara’. There were many people before Jesus’ time who were sent on this earth to save God’s people from particular calamities that were caused by mankind. Those people were very important because they were chosen by God to do his will. Noah’s obedience to God’s command to salvage humanity by building an arc to withstand the flood or Moses standing up to the Pharaoh and allowing his people to be set free are just a few instances of God’s sons who assisted in salvation. Saying Jesus is the ‘Only Son of God’ is putting a limitation on the abilities of God and not recognizing his full power. It also confuses the Muslim sect because of their belief that God sent many people throughout history who were a source of deliverance from any disaster that was occurring at the time. They are referred to as prophets therefore Jesus must also be a prophet and nothing more. Instead, he wants us to look at Christ as the movement to God Senestant 3 that will grant us ultimate salvation. He is the deciding factor that will determine whether we will enjoy eternity in the promise land or feel the wrath of God as we torment in hell. A second main issue in the book is dialoguing on a daily basis with familiar and unfamiliar religions. Before dialoguing with other people, it’s crucial to have a great understanding on your own religion. It’s very important to study and learn what your beliefs are founded upon, although it’s very time consuming and doesn’t aid in spiritual progress. While it is good to study and familiarize yourself with the religion you are currently practicing, it is also beneficial to converse with others about your religion as well. People tend to only see what’s on the surface because they are uneducated and misguided on certain areas and fail in attempting to delve deeper to find the true meaning of things. As you enter into dialogue with someone of an opposing religion, you must be very open-minded and unbiased to allow each other to learn things that aren’t obvious at first glance. It allows for a different perspective of who you think you are and helps you identify if you’re living and acting according to your beliefs. It’s also important to have inner dialogue with yourself. Meditating and reflecting on the impact our religion have in our lives and in our hearts. Is the essence of Hinduism and Christianity or any other religion we profess just words coming out of our mouths or does it directly impact our lives and allows us to live in peace and unity? These are the questions we must ask ourselves in helping to determine if we’re living in fallacy and wasting our time, or if we’re in accordance to Senestant 4 our beliefs. A starving old Brahmin talked about four kinds of people praying: â€Å"some pray that God should preserve their wealth, others that God should give them wealth. Those who asked for heavens were better; but those who neither had nor wanted riches and did not ask for heaven, but only wished to serve God for his own sake, they were the best. †(Klostermaier 95) Those people who only wished to serve God know of his magnificence and splendor and being connected to that will enhance their spirituality and respect for man and not traditions. This allows anyone from any religion to become like brothers and sisters. â€Å"If we insisted on our theologies – you as a Christian, I as a Hindu – we should be fighting each other. We have found one another because we probed more deeply, towards spirituality. †(Klostermaier 99) A third issue in the book is the idea of three persons in one God. Many established religions view God as being absolute and indescribable because of how minute we are compared to God. Other religions are able to grasp the physical nature of God and give him attributes and qualities which can only be possible if this God was visible. However, Christians hold the position that God is both of these things and can go between each form when necessary. This is seen by God revealing himself through his son Jesus Christ. Through him we’re able to become attached and have understanding of where our beliefs lie. When other religions look at Christianity, they view it as a religion without any real philosophy and that â€Å"it has taken its teachings from everywhere and justifies them by claiming to possess the only true revelation, to Senestant 5 dispense the only salvation† (Klostermaier 29). Therefore they see it as being immature when relating to religion. They even go as far as saying they’re uneducated on their religion therefore they can’t hold intelligent conversations and go in depth on the various issues that involve religion. I found this to be very true because as a Christian myself, I attempted to discuss religion with one of my atheist friends. After a few minutes went by, I realized I didn’t know as much as I thought. It led me to examining what I believed in and why. Towards the end of the conversation, I grew more respect for people who weren’t adapted to a particular religion and understood there’s a lot that can be learned from them. It showed me the unimportance of the different sects of religion and only claiming to a religion without close examination of it will lead to immaturity and idiocy. As a Sikh professor in Klostermaier’s book says, â€Å"Religion cannot be proved by logic – religion is inner experience. †(Klostermaier 31) This inner experience is affirmed through meditation as well as the various acts of people around you whom you have no association with. When looking at theological exclusivism versus pluralism, it is confusing as to whether they are relevant in deciding whether to converse with people of different religions. Looking only at theological exclusivism, it is the theological position that holds to the finality of the Christian faith in Christ. The finality of Christ means that there is no salvation outside the Christian faith. By definition, exclusivism seems to be self-contradictory. It contains the fact that Senestant 6 human beings are limited in the amount of knowledge they have and are unable to understand the infinite(God) to its fullness. However, followers of this concept are not restricted in believing that they are the only people that have the ability to be connected to God. They look at people of other religions as being infidels, not actually having a religious belief. They also claim to be the ones most devoted to God, when in all actuality; they are just followers of religious doctrine, created by man. Though the Bible was created by man, it was said to be created through spiritual guidance of the Most High. Every religious person who looks at the Bible sees it as being full of truth, which by nature is exclusivist. So everyone who follows the rules and guidelines the Bible have set in place is partially exclusivist. Since the Bible is considered as be exclusivist, it is only right to dwell on some of teachings it talks about. It talks about a God, who is full of mercy and compassion, one who loves all of his children and continues to love them through all the sins they have committed and continue to commit. It is a God that loved us so much that, â€Å"he gave his one and only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. † (Stoughton 897) A God of this nature does not sound like a God that will only come to save those who believe in Christ. Although that was his only ‘begotten son’, they are many people who do not have the opportunity to believe in such a religion. This can be caused by the way the person was rought up, or where the person was brought up, in which case Christianity was not the religion of choice. They are also instances of when someone dies prematurely and does not Senestant 7 have the opportunity to have a true relationship with Christ Jesus. These people shouldn’t be and are not exempt from the sanctifying grace of God. Th is is a God who created all of mankind in his image and likeness, so that everyone will have the ability to be saved. â€Å"God must be seen at the center of religions / The pluralistic contention is that all religions are fundamentally the same though superficially different. (Hick 42) The pluralist believes that the world religions are true and equally valid in their communication of the truth about God, the world, and salvation. This is also backed by the Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs and Religions, which says that other religions possess â€Å"validity and truth in their own right / These religions are understood as different cultural reflections or expressions of the same divine reality and as such constitute legitimate ways to God† (Larousse 437). This seems to make the most logical sense because we are not sole-bearers of the truth. We were only created to praise and give worship to the Almighty. Since this is true, we will all have our own understanding and interpretations about who God is, what our place is in this world and why we were created, and the steps in receiving salvation. At the core of our beliefs we hold the same truths, but slightly differ in minor details. Some examples are the day in which we should attend mass or how often we should pray. Yes these things are important and are what gives meaning to our life, but God only requires us to recognize who he is and the impact he has in our lives. By whatsoever way men worship Me, even so do I accept them; for, in all ways, O Partha, men walk in My path. † Senestant 8 (Bhagavad-Gita 4. 11) God is evident in all religions that have him in its center. As long as his followers stay true to the doctrine their religion provides, God will have favor on them. Many of the religions out there share these commonalities so they should be treated with equa lity when evaluating their doctrine with respect to God. In the sense of interreligious dialogue, the idea of being a theological exclusivist is irrelevant. It does not bring anything meaningful to the table when people of two different religions come together. Rather it would just be hurtful banter between the opposing religions and nothing worthwhile will be accomplished. Since by definition, an exclusivist can only view their religion and belief as being the only one which holds the absolute truth, to deviate from this by indulging in conversations that can potential alter that belief is dangerous and when placed in a position like that, mockery will be imminent. The only way the strengthen interreligious dialogue is through a pluralist outlook. They both go hand in hand, in that a pluralist will be very open to dialogue. This will increase their knowledge of not only the other person’s religion but also one’s own, since they both stem from the same root. Senestant 9 Works Cited 1)Goring, Rosemary, Frank Whaling, John Marshall, and David Brogan. Larousse Dictionary of Beliefs and Religions. Edinburgh: Larousse, 1994. Print. 2)Lopresti, Matthew. INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE AND RELIGIOUS PLURALISM: A Philosophical Critique of Pope Benedict XVI and the Fall of Religious Absolutism (Matthew LoPresti) Academia. edu. Hawaii Pacific University Academia. du. Hawaii Pacific University. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. . 3)Marbaniang, Domenic. Theology Of Religions: Pluralism, Inclusivism, Exclusivism  « Earthpages. org. Earthpages. org. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. . 4)Bhagavadgita. Lewiston, N. Y. [u. a. : Edwin Mellen Pr. , 2010. Print. 5)Klostermaier, Klaus, and Antonia Fonseca. In the Paradise of Krishna: Hindu and Christian Seekers. Ph iladelphia: Westminster, 1969. Print. 6)Hick, John. God and the Universe of Faiths : Essays in the Philosophy of Religion. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1988. Print. 7)NIV Bible. London: Hodder Stoughton, 1997. Print.

Understanding Social Exchange Theory

Understanding Social Exchange Theory Social exchange theory is a model for interpreting society as a series of interactions between people that are based on estimates of rewards and punishments. According to this view, our interactions are determined by the rewards or punishments that we expect to receive from others, which we evaluate using a  cost-benefit analysis  model (whether consciously or subconsciously). Overview Central to the social exchange theory is the idea that an interaction that elicits approval from another person is more likely to be repeated than an interaction that elicits disapproval. We can thus predict whether a particular interaction will be repeated by calculating the degree of reward (approval) or punishment (disapproval) resulting from the interaction. If the reward for an interaction exceeds the punishment, then the interaction is likely to occur or continue. According to this theory, the formula for predicting the behavior of any individual in any situation is: Behavior (profits) Rewards of interaction – costs of interaction. Rewards can come in many forms: social recognition, money, gifts, and even subtle everyday gestures like a smile, nod, or pat on the back. Punishments also come in many forms, from extremes like public humiliation, beating, or execution, to subtle gestures like a raised eyebrow or a frown. While social exchange theory is found in economics and psychology, it was first developed by the sociologist George Homans, who wrote about it in an essay titled Social Behavior as Exchange. Later, sociologists Peter Blau and Richard Emerson further developed the theory. Example A simple example of social exchange theory can be seen in the interaction of asking someone out on a date. If the person says yes, you have gained a reward and are likely to repeat the interaction by asking that person out again, or by asking someone else out. On the other hand, if you ask someone out on a date and they reply, â€Å"No way!† then you have received a punishment that will probably cause you to shy away from repeating this type of interaction with the same person in the future. Basic Assumptions of Social Exchange Theory People who are involved in the interaction are rationally seeking to maximize their profits.Most gratification among humans comes from others.People have access to information about social, economic, and psychological aspects of their interactions that allow them to consider the alternative, more profitable situations relative to their present situation.People are goal oriented in a freely competitive system.The exchange operates within cultural norms.Social credit is preferred over social indebtedness.The more deprived the individual feels in terms of an act, the more the person will assign a value to it.People are rational and calculate the best possible means to compete in rewarding situations. The same is true of punishment avoidance situations. Critiques Many critique this theory for presuming that people always make rational decisions, and point out that this theoretical model fails to capture the power that emotions play in our daily lives and in our interactions with others. This theory also undercuts the power of social structures and forces, which unconsciously shape our perception of the world and our experiences within it, and play a strong role in shaping our interactions with others.

What You Need to Know About the Crusades

What You Need to Know About the Crusades The medieval Crusade was a holy war. For a conflict to be officially considered a Crusade, it had to be sanctioned by the pope and conducted against groups seen as enemies of Christendom. Initially, only those expeditions to the Holy Land (Jerusalem and associated territory) were considered Crusades. More recently, historians have also recognized campaigns against heretics, pagans, and Muslims in Europe as Crusades. How the Crusades Began For centuries, Jerusalem had been governed by Muslims, but they tolerated Christian pilgrims because they helped the economy. Then, in the 1070s, Turks (who were also Muslim) conquered these holy lands and mistreated Christians before realizing how useful their goodwill (and money) could be. The Turks also threatened the Byzantine Empire. Emperor Alexius asked the pope for assistance, and Urban II, seeing a way to harness the violent energy of Christian knights, made a speech calling for them to take back Jerusalem. Thousands responded, resulting in the First Crusade. When the Crusades Began and Ended Urban II made his speech calling for Crusade at the Council of Clermont in November, 1095. This is seen as the start of the Crusades. However, the reconquista of Spain, an important precursor to crusading activity, had been going on for centuries. Traditionally, the fall of Acre in 1291 marks the end of the Crusades, but some historians extend them to 1798, when Napoleon expelled the Knights Hospitaller from Malta. Crusader Motivations There were as many different reasons for crusading as there were crusaders, but the single most common reason was piety. To crusade was to go on pilgrimage, a holy journey of personal salvation. Whether that also meant giving up virtually everything and willingly facing death for God, bending to peer or family pressure, indulging bloodlust without guilt, or seeking adventure or gold or personal glory depended entirely on who was doing the crusading. Who Went on Crusade People from all walks of life, from peasants and laborers to kings and queens, answered the call. Women were encouraged to give money and stay out of the way, but some went on crusade anyway. When nobles crusaded, they often brought huge retinues, whose members may not necessarily have wanted to go along. At one time, scholars theorized that younger sons more frequently went crusading in search of estates of their own; however, crusading was an expensive business, and recent research indicates it was lords and elder sons who were more likely to crusade. The Number of Crusades Historians have numbered eight expeditions to the Holy Land, though some lump the 7th and 8th together for a total of seven crusades. However, there was a steady stream of armies from Europe to the Holy Land, so it is nearly impossible to distinguish separate campaigns. In addition, some crusades have been named, including the Albigensian Crusade, the Baltic (or Northern) Crusades, the Peoples Crusade, and the Reconquista. Crusader Territory Upon the success of the First Crusade, the Europeans set up a king of Jerusalem and established what is known as the Crusader States. Also called outremer (French for across the sea), the Kingdom of Jerusalem controlled Antioch and Edessa, and it was divided into two territories since these places were so far-flung. When ambitious Venetian merchants convinced warriors of the Fourth Crusade to capture Constantinople in 1204, the resulting government was referred to as the Latin Empire, to distinguish it from the Greek, or Byzantine, empire they had claimed. Crusading Orders Two important military orders were established in the early 12th century: the Knights Hospitaller and the Knights Templar. Both were monastic orders whose members took vows of chastity and poverty, yet they were also militarily trained. Their primary purpose was to protect and aid pilgrims to the Holy Land. Both orders did very well financially, particularly the Templars, who were notoriously arrested and disbanded by Philip IV of France in 1307. The Hospitallers outlasted the Crusades and continue, in a much-altered form, to this day. Other orders were established later, including the Teutonic Knights. Impact of the Crusades Some historians particularly Crusades scholars consider the Crusades the single most important series of events in the Middle Ages. The significant changes in the structure of European society that took place in the 12th and 13th centuries were long considered the direct result of Europes participation in the Crusades. This view no longer holds as strongly as it once did. Historians have recognized many other contributing factors in this complex time. Yet there is no doubt the Crusades contributed greatly to changes in Europe. The effort of raising armies and providing supplies for Crusaders stimulated the economy; trade benefited, as well, especially once the Crusader States were established. Interaction between the East and West affected European culture in areas of art and architecture, literature, mathematics, science and education. And Urbans vision of directing the energies of warring knights outward succeeded in reducing war within Europe. Having a common foe and common objective, even for those who didnt participate in the Crusade, fostered a view of Christendom as a united entity.   This has been a very basic introduction to the Crusades. For a better understanding of this extremely complex and greatly-misunderstood topic, please explore our Crusades Resources or read one of the Crusades Books recommended by your Guide.

Theme Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Theme - Essay Example The theme applicable to her story is the importance of developing a strong sense of one's own identity and personal strength, despite challenges and difficulties in life. The essay aims to proffer justifications for the theme of developing a strong sense of identity to enable Ying-ying to regain the life she had, not only for her personal benefit, but more so for her daughter, Lena. Ying-ying’s story through the Moon Lady presented her vivid remembrance of the particularly special day when she was merely four years old and her nursemaid prepared her for the Moon Festival. The depiction of her character was so accurate in portraying a strong sense of fiery identity, always curious, on top of things and wanting to get her way. Despite being told to stay put or to observe traditional norms, Ying-ying defied everything as she narrated running after dragonflies, climbing to the rickshaw with her mother (instead of her amah), running through the length of their boat, watching a bird catch fishes, and falling into the water to be lost during the height of the Moon Festival. With all the commotions, the experience of being lost coincided with the metamorphic loss of her personal identity and strength as the fear that enveloped her during the experience transformed her life to silence and as she failed to relay her wish to the Moon Lady: to be found.