Birth Order and Aggressive Behavior Essay Example for Free

Birth Order and Aggressive Behavior Essay ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to determine if birth order correlates to a demonstration of aggressiveness in kindergarten aged children. It is hypothesized that middle born children will demonstrate the most aggressive tendencies, last born children would experience less than the first born, and only children would have the least when compared to all other birth orders. This quasi-experimental methodology will involve a field study of children from the ten kindergarten classes at the Seoul American Elementary School (SAES). Teachers will be asked to complete the Child Behavior Scale (CBS) inventory on each child, used to measure six behavior categories related to aggression. Each CBS inventory will include birth data for the student whose behavior was observed. The findings are expected to show a correlation between birth order and a tendency toward aggression. INTRODUCTION Everyone who is born into a family arrives relative to other children who have already been born or will be at some point in the future or perhaps as an only child. Birth order does not permanently mark each child such as race or gender, but it can impact on the way a person responds to the environment. There have been a number of studies done on the relationship of birth order to personality, intelligence, anxiety and other characteristics with the belief that each child born into a family is treated differently based on their birth order, family interaction and subsequent challenges. Some birth order theorists believe that a childs position in the family greatly influences their personality characteristics which directly affect their behavior both inside and outside of the home (Morales). Not every theorist has the same view and there are those that believe a psychological birth order has more impact than the physical birth order on the development of personality characteristics (Campbell, White Stewart, 1991). In his book, Born to Rebel, Frank Sulloway describes how birth order influences our lives in many different ways from achievement to rebellion and from conformity to creativity (The Edge, 1998). While firstborns and laterborns are not much different in overall levels of creativity, the differences in how that creativity is exercised is very different. Firstborns are more likely to win the Nobel Prize by intellectual achievement within the system while the younger siblings will be more inclined to accept radical innovations in science and social though. His findings showed that revolutionaries and those who supported them were disproportionately likely to be later-borns (Sulloway, 1999). While not every social scientist agreed with Sulloways research (Harris, 1995; e.g., Falbo, 1997 ), others conducted follow-up studies that confirmed the original findings (Zweigenhaft Ammon, 2000), and Freese, Powell Steelman discovered measures in addition to birth order to help explain reasons for various behaviors (1999). This study hopes to build on previous research to determine whether a correlation exists between birth order and a childs tendency to demonstrate aggressiveness. METHOD Coordination with the Seoul American Elementary School (SAES), a Department of Defense Dependent School located on Yongsan Army Base, Yongsan, Seoul, Korea, will be done to get permission for the study. Permission from the school and the parents of the children selected will be obtained prior to the start of this study. PARTICIPANTS This study will be conducted in the classroom during normal school hours for all students attending the ten full day Kindergarten classes at SAES during a specified 30 day period of the school year. There will be approximately 360 students for this study with an equal number of girls and boys, with 45% of the class comprised of Asian-Americans, 20% African-Americans, 15%Â  Latin-Americans and the remainder Caucasians. APPARATUS/MATERIALS Teachers will be provided the Child Behavior Scale (CBS) inventory as a means to assess aggressive, prosocial, and withdrawn behaviors of children ages 5-6 years of age. The CBS contains 59 items for which the teacher must respond using a 3-point response scale (1=doesnt apply, 2=applies sometimes, 3=certainly applies) (Ladd Profilet, 1996). The CBS measures six categories of behavior as follows: aggressiveness with peers, prosocial behavior with peers, exclusion by peers, asocial behavior with peers, hyperactive-distractible behavior, and anxious-fearful behavior. Copies of the CBS inventory and permission for its use will be obtained from its author, Dr. Gary Ladd, at Arizona State University (an email request has been sent copy of email attached). PROCEDURE Teachers from the 10 Kindergarten classes will observe their students for a specified 30 days during the school year, completing the CBS inventory for each student during that time. The teacher will indicate the birth order of the child on the completed inventory which will then be turned in to the SAES front office to be picked up by the study group. RESULTS The expected results will validate the hypothesis that middle born children will tend to demonstrate more aggressive behavior than either first born, last born or only children. Tables are expected to be used for this study and will include a listing of the CBS subscale items related to firstborn, middleborn, lastborn and onlyborn, further identified by girl and boy. An example follows: DISCUSSION Apart from the effects of birth order, there is little information about the ways in which the nonshared environment influences human development, mainly because psychologists have not been successful in developing direct measures of this environment. The challenge for future researchers lies in devising ways to test competing hypotheses that bear on the nature and influence of this elusive environment. Peer groups are an important aspect of this type of environmental influence, but so is the family environment and life experiences as well (Sulloway, 98). REFERENCES Campbell, L., White, J., Stewart, A. (1991). The relationship of psychological birth order to actual birth order. Individual Psychology, 47: 380-391. Falbo, T. (1997). To rebel or not to rebel? Is this the birth order question? Contemporary Psychology, 42: 938-939. Freese, J., Powell, B., Steelman, L.C., (1999). Rebel without a cause or effect: birth order and social attitudes. American Sociological Review, 64: 207-231. Harris, Judith Rich. (1995). Where is the childs environment? A group socialization theory of development. Psychological Review, 102: 458-89. How is Personality Formed? A Talk with Frank J. Sulloway (1998). The Edge Foundation, Inc., Third Culture. Accessed on 13 Feb 2004 at: www.edge.org/3rd_culture/sulloway . Ladd, G. Profilet, S. (1996). The child behavior scale: A teacher-report measure of young childrens aggressive, withdrawn, and prosocial behaviors. Development Psychololgy, 32 (6), 1008-1024. Morales, C. (1994). Birth Order Theory: A Case for Cooperative Learning. Journal of Instructional Psychology 21: 246-250. Rubin, R. Hubbard, J. (2003). Childrens verbalizations and cheating behavior during game playing: the role of sociometric status, aggression, and gender. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 31: 65-78. Solo, R., MacLin, M., (2002). Experimental Psychology. Boston: Allyn Bacon. Sulloway, F. (1999). Birth Order in Runco, M. Pritzker, eds., Encyclopedia of Creativity, 1:189-202. Zweigenhaft, R., Ammon, J., (2000). Birth Order and Civil Disobedience: A Test of Sulloways Born to Rebel Hypothesis. Journal of Social Psychology, 140: 624-628.

One Malaysia Concept Among Malaysian Media Essay

One Malaysia Concept Among Malaysian Media Essay Malaysia is a renown country that is located in the southern parts of Asia, Malaysia consists of thirteen states and three federal territories which in general forms up a total land mass of 329,847 square kilometers, the country also boost of a population of 28.25 million people this is according to the 2010 census. one unique thing about Malaysia is the separation of the country into two separate regions by the South China Sea but the same country with its capital city base situated at Kuala Lumpur and the base for the federal government situated at Putrajaya this indicating that both the different regions of the country are politically and economically represented to reduce the cases of one part wanting to break from the main country due to lack of political or economical misrepresentation, therefore the two separate regions are known as the Peninsular Malaysian and the Malaysian Borneo in other words they are respectively known as the West and East Malaysia. The country is bordered by other Asian countries that are very influential in the world political and economic fields some of these countries include Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam and Philippines (Kaufman, 2008). The country is currently going through a lot of challenges at the moment this challenges range from matters of governance and nationalism. The divided ideas of the Malaysian nationals is threatening the peace of the country as the Malaysians are saying that there country is invaded with lots of foreigners who have taken the all the major administrative, economical and political roles of the country and are running the country thus leaving out the true Malaysian out of the normal running of there own country this has resulted to animosity of the countryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s citizens, therefore the media has to perform its duty in order to create a clear relationship between the countries citizens and the foreigners living in the country (Toumi, 2010). Malaysia has one of the most intriguing history as compared any other country in the world, that can be dated back to the to the 16th century when the country was ruled by a king who was in -charged of the entire Malay kingdom but in the 18th century the British conquered the country and they eventually became a British colony, the country later got its unification from the British in the year 1946 this was when the eastern and western regions and other countries like Sabah and Singapore were unified, it later became a federation in 1948 and archived its independence in 9 years later that is in the year 1957 (WTEC Hyper-Librarian, 1997). Its union with Singapore wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t a long one this is because Singapore walked out of the union and later became an independent country this was some years after the country got its independent. The country also boasts of being a country that is full of tourist attraction sites, this is because it has traditional and natural resources, that attract tourists who visits the country annually just to se these spectacular natural features the country has, the country also is expanding its horizons by venturing in other productive matters such as commerce, science and medical inventions that provides the country with supplementary income to ensure that the country can easily sustain it population without asking for aids from donors (WTEC Hyper-Librarian, 1997). Roles of the media in bringing an understanding of Malaysia amongst the Malaysians Before undertaking the assignment of identifying the roles that the media plays and its contributions in improving the understanding of the Malaysians in Malaysia we have to first of all define and know what the media is and its roles/ importance amongst us (Kaufman, 2008). In general according to a lay mans understanding the word media refers to various means of communication this implies that the media is a platform that provides different people and individuals with the opportunity to communicate and exchange ideas amongst themselves in efforts aimed at improving there current form of life to a more improved one (Daily Express, 2003). This communication is passed on through various channels that include the Television, Radio, and Newspaper, other forms of media include the internet, brochures, advertisements on billboards amongst other sources of information that tend to appeal or influence an individual to take in a given action into action (Nadchatram, 2007). Therefore media simply is the device that creates a smooth platform for the creation and consumption of messages from one person/ point to the other freely. Roles of the media The media just like any other organ in that has a public influence / contact has an important role in the society that it relates to and in this section I am going to take a look on the important roles that the media play in the society and they include the following. The first role of the media is to educate its audience; this role is actually efficient because the people and the media are closely related to each other and interact frequently (Ahmad, 2005). The media interacts closely with the masses without any interference occurring between them therefore the media will use this time to educated the masses on the recommended issues thus ensuring the people a well informed when they about what is expected of them or how to handle themselves in a given situation (Center For Democracy And Governance, 1999). This interaction will ensure that the public are well trained and educated on the ways they are supposed to handle themselves in a given kind of situation. The other role of the media is to inform its audiences, this is were the media informs its audience / readers and viewers what is going on in there surrounding, the media will use its influence to tell or show there respective audience what they are supposed to be aware of or what is going on in there surroundings, this is slightly different from the previous role of informing the audience as therefore in this case the media will be updating the people on what is going on while educating will be introducing them to new ideas aimed at improving there lives and improve there living conditions (TechTerms.com, 2006). Surveillance is another role of the media; this is where the media monitors and provides its audiences, viewers and readers with information pertaining to development of pressing issues. This is exclusively seen when the media monitoring the behaviours activities and any other important information that is involving people involved indulging in inappropriate behaviors that may have negative impacts on the public (TechTerms.com, 2006). In surveillance role is where the media will investigate on allegations that are indicted on graft and other illegal cases people, non governmental / governmental organizations are the most monitored by the media thus providing the audience with the ways that the organizations and individuals are affecting the ways in which an individual operates, at the same time the media checks on the ways in which a decease or disaster is affecting individuals and at the same time updating them on the level and of containing the disease or disaster in a community (T oumi, 2010). The other role of the media is correlation, this is where the media will relate what is going on ion one point of the world with what is happening in the other point of the world, this is when the media highlights some of the intriguing matters that are hitting the headlines internationally, this will be in the field of science invention politics, economics, social or abnormal situations (Ahmad, 2005). This will be made clear to the viewers as there will be in a position to know what the other parts are experiencing and implement some of these things in order to improve there living condition (Daily Express, 2003). The media also plays the marketing role this is when the individual or a company will be in position of airing his product in order to sell the product, thus the individual will be in a position to use the media in order to alert and/ or inform the people that there is a new product in the market (Foulger, 2003). This will make the respective customers be in a position to know the products and purchase them a role that is being used by the media houses to sustain themselves as the products they are advertising raise some income for the media organizations. Ways the media can improve relationship in Malaysia In the previous section I have noted the roles of the media and there significance to the people who interact with the media, therefore in this section of paper I am going to see the role that the media plays for a better understanding of the Malaysian idea this is by evaluating on the ways the media can use its powers to ensure that the Malaysians live in togetherness without misunderstanding each other. The media is supposed to provide the Malaysian citizens with the kind of information the will enable that each of the Malaysian individuals will practice the act of acceptance and respect amongst other factors that will ensure that the dermas and wishes of the prime minister Dato Najib Tun Razak are fulfilled this according to his speech that he delivered during the day that he was taking over the office of the leading the nation, he wanted the to see a1-Malaysia (Zainala, 2010). This is when he gave the media the opportunity to be the center stage of realizing that the dream of one Malaysia is experienced. As I had mentioned earlier the media plays an important in any community this is because the communities are in close contact with the community and the majority of the Malaysian population (Nadchatram, 2007). The media can helping the healing process of the country this is because the country is highly affected with cases of ethnicity that are the key reasons that are destroying the close relationship that should be experienced amongst the Malaysian citizens (Ahmad, 2005). In this case the media is supposed to play a great role in uniting the country the is in the verge of disintegrating as a result of the ethnicity in our country Malaysia and I highly believe that the media can come up with a method that can with a peaceful Malaysian society as a result of constant information regarding the importance of a 1Malaysia. I am a well trained journalist and the only tool that I will use to unite my country Malaysia from disintegration in the future and this is through the media, which according to me is the only way that I can save my country from the threat of disintegration as a result of political and ethical differences. The media will have a positive impact if used properly in the Malaysia in order to quell the raising differences that are being experienced in the country, so in order for the media to realize positive impacts on the current existing differences that is currently being experienced in the country is when the media is used to Persuade the public (Zainala, 2010). When the media persuades the public this will ultimately contribute to an improved attitude of the Malaysian a citizens who will listen to the views that are being explained by the media and this will automatically ensure that the citizens of Malaysia change there reasoning and then unite to format country of national unity (Center For Democracy And Governance, 1999). In persuading my audience I will send massages that will basically be preaching for peace and at the same time persuading the Malaysian citizens to top indulging in practices s that marginalizes other Malaysians thus classifying them in different classes yet they come from the same country, the media will manage in unifying them by telling them (Listeners/ audience ) that some practices such as intermarriage are the best for the country this is because the people from different places and cultures will be able to unite and form a family thus strengthening the people living in the country and in the end resulting to the unity of a one Malaysia (Center For Democracy And Governance, 1999). I would use the media to see an ethnic free Malaysia this is when I would use it as an instruments that I have in to ensure that a 1 Malaysian nation is realized, this is when the media houses in the country put a lot of there concentration in highlighting the issues that are related to seeing a 1 Malaysia nations (Daily Express, 2003). This can only be achieved when the media concentrated on reporting on issues that discouraging the uses of some encroached Malaysian cultures that deprive the country the realization of a new nation, this will to some point transform the ideological thinking of the individuals as the media will ensure that it provides the viewers, readers, and listeners with documentaries that will aim at telling them the impotence of unity (Foulger, 2003). This will to some extent reduce the cases of discrimination amongst the Malaysian citizens, in this case the ramparts information that swill be used by the media in discouraging ethnicity in Malaysia will definitely result to the unity of the Malaysia citizens this is because the media will have painted a clear picture to them thus ensuring that they will reform as the media has shown them the importance of the unity of 1 Malaysia thus the citizens will opt to be together and forget about there ethnic background thus ensuring that the country becomes one without any ethnic differences (Nadchatram, 2007). The government should also use or work hand in hand with the media in order for the achievement of the 1 Malaysia, in this case the government should invite the media to provide a critism and monitoring of its daily activities this will especially help the citizens to become more enlightened on the plans and activities of the government, I highly believe that if this is implemented a new Malaysia will be realized (Ahmad, 2005). This is because the Malaysian people will be informed with the media on the daily activities the government and this will bring some trust into the citizens who will feel that the government works hand in hand with them and this will automatically result to one nation that has the same political views that will ensure that the individuals in the country feel connected to the government of the country. The media should also show good images and news to the Malaysian citizens and the international countries, this will to some extent ensure that the people living in Malaysia to value piece in there country this is where the country citizens will see that they need to uphold peace in there country and them will have achieved in quelling there ethnic behaviours therefore making them to resort to be peaceful thus making them peaceful and more unethical (Zainala, 2010). This will be realized when the media indulges in public relations that will contribute to the government and the people that are living in Malaysia with this being implemented the Malaysians will feel more peaceful with each other and in the end they will be able to live freely in the regions without conflicts.

The Complementarity of Scientific and Religious Modes of Understanding

Scientific and religious approaches to comprehending reality are deeply complementary. I do not use the word ‘deeply’ for emphasis alone: the qualities that science and religion hold in common are anything but obvious. Viewed on the surface, science and religion often appear to be at odds. Details and dogmas frequently conflict, and misperceptions originating on either side can lead to rejection of the unfamiliar system. At the lofty level of philosophical abstraction, a satisfying reconciliation of science and religion will likely always remain elusive. At the level of personal experience, however, incorporating scientific and religious modes of understanding is not only possible, it is profoundly enriching. The impulses, methods, and themes that define both science and religion are strikingly similar. Curiosity and an insatiable desire to make sense of the world are qualities that are innate to human life; unsurprisingly, these impulses are the driving force behind bot h scientific and religious explorations. The means that facilitate such explorations are fundamentally alike as well: both science and religion are system-driven, with an emphasis on unflagging action in the pursuit of greater understanding. Finally, both scientific and religious modes of understanding inexorably return to a common set of recurrent themes, emphasizing the creativity, dynamism, and unity of the world we perceive. Curiosity is instinctive in humans. We are born knowing nothing but impatient to know all: where did we come from? Why are we here? How are we to live? Such questions represent more than a simple probing for objective "facts": they are attempts to derive meaning and order from the observed world. Responses to these questions often take t... ...we live in. Â   Isaiah 40: 3-8 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." The voice said, "Cry out!" And he said, "What shall I cry?" "All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it, Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower faces, But the word of our God stands forever."

Plath’s Daddy Essay: Clusters of Images -- Plath Daddy Essays

Clusters of Images in Daddy Imagery in literature provides the writer with an instrument for establishing a viewpoint or perspective. The author can use an unlimited amount of symbols, similes, and metaphors that produce an atmosphere for the reader to visualize the story effectively. In the poem "Daddy," written by Sylvia Plath, the author utilizes numerous clusters of images to represent the fury and wrath of a crazed woman haunted by her father's frightening and domineering disposition. Plath uses this imagery to depict the emotional chaos controlling fathers inflict on their offspring. One of the most prominent groups of images Plath uses to show the turmoil and fear the narrator feels for her father is comparing him with Nazi Germany, the devil's hoofs, and a vampire. Evil, mean-spirited images flourish within "Daddy." The speaker characterizes her father as a Nazi. Phrases like, "With your Luftwaffe" (l. 42), "your neat moustache and your Aryan eye" (l. 43), and "Panzer-man, panzer-man" (l. 45) fill the poem with images of Deuts...

TMA from WOU

Corporate Finance (BBF304) TMA 1 (25%) Total Marks: 100% 1. Given the following weighted market value of stocks in your portfolio and their expected rate of return, E(Ri), answer the following questions. (30 marks) Stock Weighted Market Value (%) E(Ri) Gamuda 14 – 0. 05 Public Bank 37 0. 12 Petronas 24 0. 14 SapuraCrest 10 0. 08 Celcom 15 0. 06 (a) W hat is the expected rate of return for your common stock portfolio? (6 marks) (b) Critically discuss why most investors hold diversified portfolio. (4 marks) (c) What is correlation, and explain why it is important in portfolio theory? (5 marks) (d) The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) contends that some risks are diversifiable, but others are not. Critically discuss what is the relevant risk variable considered in the CAPM? In your discussion, provide ONE (1) example for the relevant risk. (10 marks) 2. What is the concept of Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH)? Compare and contrast between three forms of Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) – weak, semi-strong, and strong forms. (10 marks) . Critically discuss TWO (2) evidence supporting and TWO (2) evidence against the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH). (10 mark) 4. There are three probable economic outcomes in the evaluation of stock A and B for the second half of 2012. Based on the following information, answer all the questions. (25 marks) State of Economy Boom Normal Recession Probability of State of Economy 20% 50% 30% Returns on stock A Returns on stock B 8% 5% 2% 20% 12% -10% (a) What is the expected rate of return for stock A and B, respectively? 9 marks) (b) W hat is the standard deviation for stock A and B, respectively? (9 marks) (c) Assuming that stock A and stock B have beta of 0. 8 and 1. 6, respectively. The expected return of the market is 8% and the risk-free rate is 5%. W hat is the required return for stock A and B using Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) method? (4 marks) (d) Based on your calculated answer in part (a) and (c) above, which stock should you invest in? Justify your answer. (4 marks) e) Assume that you want to create a portfolio by investing in these two stocks; 50 percent in stock A and 50 percent in stock B. What is your expected return on this portfolio? (4 marks) 5. Compare and contrast Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) and Fama and French Three Factor Model (TFM). (13 marks) 6. In Malaysia, Cagamas is currently the sole issuer of mo rtgage -backed securities. Critically discuss THREE (3) contributing roles of Cagamas in the financial sector associated with property market in Malaysia. (12 marks)

Homeplus †Marketing Essay

Background of Homeplus â€Å"Homeplus† was initially owned by Samsung Corporation[1] in 1994. During the Asian financial crisis in 1997, Samsung was affect by the crisis and tried to strive its business in the retail industry. It eventually collaborated with Tesco, a major British retailer in 1999[2]. The joint venture benefited both Samsung and Tesco. Samsung was saved from bankruptcy, in the same time, Tesco was able to enter the tough local retail business because of the partnership with Samsung[3]. Tesco took over 94.68% shares of the company in 2011[4]. Vision – Great Stone Face Homeplus’s vision is to be recognized as the most admired company in South Korea[4][5][6][8]. The company concerns with two major value creation, which are the market and social value. â€Å"Face of Growth† is based upon the market value creation. It involves in stimulating value for customers by clearly understanding customers’ needs, in turn, providing these value to them, which benefits the company in terms of market value maximization[4][6][8]. Referring to customers’ satisfaction, Homeplus emphasizes on reliable shopping value. According to figure 3, there are several factors that the company must consider i.e. low price, wide range, high quality and great services or products. Figure 3 Homeplus – Great Stone Face[6] Figure 3 Homeplus – Great Stone Face[6] â€Å"Face of Contribution† reflects the relationship between Homeplus and its stakeholders. It refers to the social value creation. That is, the company gives importance to its stakeholders and understands their expected value[4][6][8]. Figure 4 Stakeholder Viewpoint[5] Figure 4 Stakeholder Viewpoint[5] According to figure 4, it can be seen that Homeplus is the leading company among its competitors measured by the involvement with its stakeholders especially the local community. The integration of these two faces gives the â€Å"Great Stone Face†, which is Homeplus’s vision of two values creation must be achieved in order to sustain its business long – term. The sustainable growth, together with social contribution is the key driven to gain higher market value and becoming the most admired and respected company in the world[6]. Mission – Artience House Homeplus created its own management structure called ‘Artience House’. The house’s structure logically explained the correlations between each of the elements being applied in its management framework. Figure 5 Homeplus Vision House[5] Core Purpose – Foundation To found a basis of house, Homeplus regards to ‘create increasing value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty’ as its core purpose explaining the reason why it exist. Values – Pilling To make the foundation firm, Homeplus focuses on ‘values’ in its business execution, which are ‘No one tries harder for customers’ and ‘treat people how we would like to be treated’. 4 Generations Development of New Concept Stores Homeplus has continuously developed its hypermarket concept as shown in the following figure. Figure 6 Homeplus 4 Generations of New Concept Stores[6] Homeplus has developed its store concepts up to the 4th Generation. The following explanation of each generation will be described in details as follows. 1st Generation Homeplus (Samsung and Tesco) entered the retail industry in 1999[2][4]. The 1st generation’s concept was known as â€Å"One Stop Shopping Service†. The company focused on offering low price products to customers. Like other retailers, Homeplus experienced many threats such as high competitiveness and the warehouse – like style discount stores did not really attract customers etc. 2nd Generation A year later, the â€Å"Value Store† concept was introduced in the 2nd development phase in 2000[6][7]. The â€Å"Value Store† was created based upon the customer oriented Korean style[6]. It comprised with â€Å"One Stop Shopping Service† and â€Å"One Stop Living Service†, offering optimal shopping services and other service facilities in a clean environment. â€Å"One Stop Living Service† delivers new floor layouts. The first floor is equipped with food courts, children’s playrooms and other service facilities where the second and third floors are the supermarket and products display[4][6][7]. 3rd Generation The 3rd generation was first introduced in Jamsil 2007[6][7]. Homeplus added â€Å"Emotional Store† to the 2nd generation, offering art and culture to customers. Moreover, the â€Å"Emotional Store† adopts four concepts of Art – being, Well – being, Touching and High Technology to the store[4][6][7]. In other words, it combines art with science, so called â€Å"artience† environment to customers. This include art galleries and function rooms located on the fourth floor expansion of the hypermarket[1][6]. Hence, the â€Å"Emotional Store† concept consisted of â€Å"One Stop Shopping Service†, â€Å"One Stop Living Service† and â€Å"One Stop Touching Service†. 4th Generation Homeplus recently introduced a new concept for the 4th generation in 2011[6][7]. This radical shift differed from other development phases where it combined the services both online and offline shopping and created a new innovative shopping concept. The â€Å"Smart Virtual Store† concept was developed and it became the first virtual shopping concept in the world[1][8]. The â€Å"Smart Virtual Store† provides a new way of shopping in subway stations. It aims to persuade customers to shop â€Å"Anywhere, Anytime and Anyplace† regardless time and space[6][7]. The concept was created inversely to traditional stores by bringing the stores to customers rather than waiting for them to visit the stores[6][7]. Homeplus launched applications that smart phones or tablets can recognize products’ barcodes by interfacing information embedded in the online store[6][7]. Homeplus installed â€Å"shelves†, displaying more than 500 products featured with QR codes are pictures plastered on the subway station’s glass walls, which could be scanned, purchased through smart phones applications[1]. The products consists of 3 categories and 11 subdivisions i.e. Daily Takeouts, Tesco Direct Souring, most frequently selected items known as Best 100 and Happy Range consisting of infant cares etc[6][7]. Moreover, purchased goods deliveries can be arranged and arrive in minutes or hours. This concept also pleasure commuters that are waiting for their train. The first virtual store is located in Sellong subway station, which is one of the busiest stations in South Korea’s capital city, Seoul. Later on, the installment took place at Seomyeon, Busan and expanded to Kwanghwamoon bus station in Seoul[6][7]. It is believed that the virtual shopping is one of Homeplus’s creative innovations that helps expanding the online sales rather than investing on new stores that requires huge amount of capital. The expansion of the smart virtual store is expected to be locating at busy pedestrian areas, offices, parks as well as universities and college campuses etc[6][7][9]. The figure below is a â€Å"Smart Virtual Store† in Sellong subway station. Figure 7 Homeplus Smart Virtual Store in Sellong Subway Station Figure 7 Homeplus Smart Virtual Store in Sellong Subway Station Leading Innovation and Development Leading IT Systems Due to Tesco’s leading role of Information Technology, Homeplus employed some of Tesco’s current technologies to its operation. Examples of effective analytical systems deployed by Homeplus are Product Management System (PMS) and Radio Frequency Identification Pilot Project (RFID)[6][7]. Self-Checkout System Homeplus runs the first self-checkout system in Korea. This system is currently being operated at 58 stores and provides customers with more convenient and reliable shopping environment[6]. It can not only reduce waiting time, but also enable customers to arrange their goods by themselves. By using this system, customers can keep private of the goods they purchased, and avoid making their credit card data to be disclosed. Automatic Queuing System In Yeongdeungpo store and Jamsil store, Homeplus introduced the automatic customer queuing system to optimize their customer’s shopping experience. Instead of lining up in front of the cashiers, customers are automatically queued with queue numbers. It has maximized the efficiency of both customers and cashiers. With this system being utilized in retail market, the operation of check out has become more flexible[6]. New systems and the customers’ parliament Homeplus decided to adopt the lotus system for retailing, which had achieved the global standard and was flexible enough to manage a rapid expansion [21]. Meanwhile, in terms of Development of alternative technologies [10], Homeplus introduced a self-checkout system and a smart card system, which can automatically count products in a shopping cart. Automatic queue counting technology is another introduced method, which is aiming to eliminate waiting in checkout lines. Also, the self-order and self-pay system has also been introduced to apply in their food courts. Additionally, Homeplus has its own philosophy that all of its stores are the customers’ parliament and places great importance on seven types of customer surveys conducted 200 times annually [17]. PMS (Product Management System) Homeplus initially set up the Product Management System (PMS) in 2004[6][7]. The PMS is an Oracle developed system, which is used to analyze and predict demand, stock ordering and promotion tools. The system is considerably accurate in terms of profitability management. Moreover, the data storage can be stored more than two years. The PMS helps supporting functions that in weak areas of existing domestic systems such as researching on demand analysis and stock inventories etc. The objectives of PMS is to reduce operating costs in all areas from product ordering, merchandise management, price inventory planning to increasing productivity[6]. Radio Frequency Identification Pilot Project (RFID) Occurring in the same year as the PMS, Homeplus adopted the Korean government’s Radio Frequency Indentification Pilot Project (RFID)[6][7]. The RFID is an innovative technology that enables product tracking utilizing embedded semiconductor chips. The product tracking process can be applied across the entire cycle since the production stage to ware – house phase and distribution process. Additionally, Homeplus was the first company in South Korea that developed RFID card to monitor customers’ buying characteristics[6][7]. The data can be collected via electronic tags that are embedded in shopping trolleys. The collected information helps the company to improve product displays to be more convenient for customers. The â€Å"Smart Pallet† was Homeplus’s 1st RFID pilot project that tracks pallets movement in and out among three suppliers; distribution centres, stores and KPP[6]. The development of the 2nd pilot project enhanced the revision of business model creation and operation of individual product. Leading Innovation in Distribution In 2003, Homeplus established its very own distribution service centre called â€Å"Mokcheon Distribution Service Centre†. Two years later, the company built the â€Å"Haman Fresh Food Distribution Service Centre†, which is currently the biggest agricultural and fishery products distribution in Asia[6]. The distribution centres are built to support the rapidly increase in sales due to the opening of new hypermarkets. The following figure indicates Mokcheon and Haman distribution service centres’ capacities. Figure 8 Mokcheon and Haman Distribution Service Centres’ Capacities[6] Suppliers – Shared Growth & Fair Trade For balancing the two wings of itself and suppliers, Homeplus found the ‘Shared Growth Division’ to implement the shared growth policies on six areas (Fair trade, Funding, Cooperation and Technology Support, Export Support, Education Support, Management Support)by collected opinions and comments from suppliers, and to build up sustainable partnership with suppliers. To specific, Homeplus strive to provide the fair trade and free competition with customers and suppliers; and it operates the Vendor financing system to gain more funding support; for the sake of efficiency of distribution, Homeplus supplies cooperative measures and technical support for suppliers and Develop PB products with suppliers and help excellent SMEs expand into overseas markets; Due to The learning ability of one enterprise which decides their future, Homeplus built up an academy, it give staff an opportunity to pursue lifelong education. To improve product competitiveness, Homeplus contributes to strengthen quality control system of suppliers by cooperating with external and internal experts[6][7]. Customer Value * We understand customers and do our best to satisfy them. Generally, customers always play a significant role in a successful company. Sometimes, the opinions of customers might impact the operation direction of a firm. Consequently, customer value can be used as a catalyst in creating a new advanced strategy in an organization. As the second generation store of Homeplus, they built a new construct named â€Å"Value Store† which was focusing on the convenient living conditions. Home Plus provided one stop living service and one stop shopping service, especially the one stop shopping service included cosy shopping, full range of goods, lower price, better quality and extensive customer service. The top managers of Home Plus trained their stuff to understand customers, satisfy the requirements of customers first and act the responsibilities of the company [6]. Figure 10 Community Centre Store Concept[5] Homeplus also does several kinds of customer surveys to hear customer ideas, in order to serve them better. They built a customer plan including several elements which are low price, wide range of product, high quality and great service. Each of the elements contained several items to examine the emotional data from the responders. The data have closely related to the transformational leadership which could decision the strategy of the company to covert the learning organization to innovative company[6].

Of Mice and Men and Oliver Twist Essay

Of mice and men written by John Steinbeck is set in 1930 during the economic depression caused by the stock market crash of 1929. Unlike Oliver Twist, Of mice and men is set in USA, near the Salinas River, in the hot and beautiful state of California. On the other hand, Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist is set in the powerful and the majestic city of London, over-ruled with darkness and murky pollution brought about by what was the industrial revolution in 1870, when the novel was set. The Industrial revolution really puts the whole evil and darkness of London into a shadow which adds to the sinister acts that unveil themselves as the novel progresses. The two main characters of of mice and men are two migrant agricultural labourers, George Milton and Lennie Smalls. George, ‘Small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp strong features. Every part of him †¦ defined : small, strong hands, slender arms and a thin bony face.’ The second part of an unlikely relationship between these two friends is Lennie, who is a ‘large man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders.’ George is Lennies’ guardian, because of his ‘mental immaturity’ he is totally reliant on Georges leadership and commanding power, over of which he follows. In my opinion, without George, Lennie would either be dead or locked up in jail, as a result of him doing stupid acts. It is ironic that Lennies’ surname is Small, because of his huge size, ‘Bear’ like as the author describes. In the time of which of mice and men is set, there is lots of tension. Social classes, women, people who suffer from racism all suffer at the same expense during this period. Crooks is the only black man In this novel, and it is through him that we can see the position of blacks in America. Crooks, is crippled because he got kicked by a horse, he has his own little room, away from the rest of the ‘hands’. The other hands openly refer to Crooks as ‘Nigger’, this example directly amplifies the life and times of the Black Americans at this time. Women are also represented through Curleys’ wife. Curleys’ wife is one quarter of an unhappy marriage. The other three quarters of the marriage is Curley, the bosses sun, who has full power of his wife and tells her what to do constantly. Steinbeck deliberately doesn’t give Curleys’ wife a name, this representing the insignificance and illustrates ownership over women at this time. Curleys’ Wife doesn’t really love Curley, and didn’t really marry him because of love. She married him to prove a point to her mother, who destroyed the relationship she did have with the one she did love. She admitted, that marrying him was a Way Out. Curley’s wife is an ambitious, flirtatious, good looking, young women, who the ranch hands try to ignore and avoid. She is trapped in loneliness, in Curleys’ wrath, she is where she isn’t loved, and her only alternative is to make the most out of what she has got. ‘Ain’t I got a right to talk to nobody? Whatta they think I am, anyways? You’re a nice guy. I don’t know why I can’t talk to you – I ain’t doin’ no harm to you.’ Previous to the murder, in the barn. There, in my opinion, is a hierarchy at the ranch, and at the bottom lies Curleys’ wife and Crooks, two characters treated insignificantly and are discriminated due to their social classes, a women and a black. In California, the setting for this novel, the atmosphere and the surroundings is very harsh and tough for the workers. The attitude and behaviour of the workers in the novel reflect this well. For the workers, there was no cash benefit for the workers, so If they lose their job then they have to do without and mainly starve. The law, I learned is enforced well, but strangely enough, without any force as we never see any police during the novel. California is described extremely well, it is very interestingly described too, this appeals to the reader and gives the novel a very bright and happy start. The first few pages focus on the setting and commentate on all the happenings that go on, this builds a sense of reality. Steinbeck was born and raised in California, near Salinas, so he had an advantage when attempting to describe it as he can relate to it very well. Oliver Twist is almost exactly the opposite in comparison. It is a very dark novel. London at this time set the scene for the monstrosities that happened and the events that took place. You could almost guess what was to expect when reading the first few pages of Oliver Twist, but to do the same with Of mice and men would be completely different. Of Mice and Men starts on a high, very bright and colourful, but it changes contrasts and horrible happenings crowd the last few chapters of the novel. The two main characters in Oliver Twist are Oliver and Fagin. Oliver is a young orphan, brought into the then cruel world by an unknown mother. Fagin, is an ‘Un-human’ man, whose features are aged and ugly. He is a ring leader of a gang of thieves that rob the city of London of valuable possessions, such as money, watches and gold. The Artful Dodger is Fagins’ keen apprentice, willing to learn, who knows all the tricks of the trade, a master of theft and scams. Bill Sikes, Fagins’ second man, is a ruthless cut throat man, whose large size and aggressive attributes add to the murder later on in the novel. The two murderers, Lennie and Sikes have many similarities. Firstly Sikes and Lennie are two large and intimidating men, who’s leader is considerably smaller than them. Secondly, they both receive orders and are followers to their two leaders. Although Sikes doesn’t receive commands off Fagin to an extent where he cannot survive without him, like Lennie, one part of the story he does. This is the main event that leads up to the murder of Nancy. In the early hours of the morning, when all the human and civilised world is asleep, London is awake. Fagin is awake in his chair. Waiting. Sikes enters with the loot that he has stolen from peoples houses. Fagin starts to talk about Nancy, Sikes’ girlfriend. He goes on and explains that Nancy could be a leak and could tell on them to the police. Fagin, knowing that Sikes has the mordacity and the capability of murder, begins to perform reverse psychology. He knows that if he pulls the right strings that Sikes could do anything for him. Sikes quite easily falls into Fagins’ mastermind trap, as if he had been brainwashed or hypnotised, he is now going to commit Fagins’ murder for him. Sikes goes to where Nancy is sleeping and severely shouts and screams at her. This traumatises her, to the extent where she doesn’t know what is going on. This makes Nancy vulnerable, and this is where Sikes commits his brutal and sick attack on her. We can tell, just by reading these several lines of the story, the evil and cunningness of Sikes. He continuously beats Nancy to death with a wooden stick. Leaning up top the murder of Curleys’ wife, which was by far not as hellacious and as horrific as this, Lennie was minding his own business and was in the barn, calmly stroking one of Slims pups. Not knowing his own strength Lennie accidentally killed the pup. Lennie began to become sad and at the same time, angry. He repeatedly thought about George not letting him tend the rabbits, at the home of which the whole is dream is based around. â€Å"An’ he’ll say : â€Å"Now just for that you ain’t gunna tend no rabbits.† Lennie put the pup in the straw, and began to talk to himself, moaning the death of the pup. Curleys wife enters and begins to flirt with Lennie, who confesses to her liking for stroking nice things. She invites him to stroke her long soft hair, but as the stroking becomes harder, she panics; the harder he strokes the more she panics and then Lennie accidentally breaks her neck. He half-buries the body in the hay and runs off to the brush. As you can tell, both the two murders are of a totally different nature. In of mice and men, the murder was unexpected, and didn’t really fit into the surrounding story, On the other hand, In Oliver Twist, a murder was almost inevitable. Sikes’ was a premeditated murder, as he had thought it out and planned the whereabouts etc. Lennies was out of the blue, an accident neither him or anyone else could of prevented. The setting of the two murders, also are totally different. The murder of Curleys wife was in the barn, in the sunny and hot state of California. The murder of Nancy was in the grimy claustrophobic city of London. The descriptions in the stories of the murders, are again totally opposite. In Oliver Twist, Dickens almost runs a post-mortem on the body, and describes Sikes’ moves in detail after the murderer. In of mice and men, however, Steinbeck runs a bleak vague synopsis on the happenings.