Finance and Growth Strategies -MBA- Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Finance and Growth Strategies -MBA- - Essay Example In a market where there is faultless information and perfect sureness, company share valuation would create not so many hassles, however, in the real world, assessment and projection issues connive to make the valuation process easier said than done. One recommendation is the employment of earnings approaches that take advantage of a firm’s net after-tax earnings at a suitable rate of return. In utilising an earnings-based method, at least three elements need to be established. The evaluator has to make an educated guess as to the amount and timing of future receipts and a suitable discount rate. An option to the employment of net after-tax earnings is to base the analysis on earnings before interest and taxes (Feldman 2005; Pratt, Reilly and Schweits 2000; Pratt 1986). This procedure is fashionable and well accepted among leverage buyout groups and investors because it permits them to reach a value that defuse differences in financial structure. Essentially, substantial debate enfolds the choice of the discount rate used to get the most out of earnings or cash flows. This price stands for both the time value of money and the â€Å"risk† involved in cash flows. As it is, the capital asset pricing model is a universally employed method. Nonetheless, speculative issues linked to the postulations of the appropriate market proxy, risk-free rate, and sample period have led valuation experts to reflect on different ways to work out an appropriate discount rate. Substitutes can include the application of historical market risk premiums and the employment of indices available from government or private sources (Koeplin, Sarin and Shapiro 2000, pp. 94-101; Brealey and Myers 1991; Weiss 1987). Several valuation schemes acknowledge the fact that when purchasing a business enterprise, a buyer is actually making a speculative venture today hoping for

New Product Launch Marketing Plan Essay Example for Free

New Product Launch Marketing Plan Essay Audi LED headlights Audi is a top of the line luxury car manufacturing company who plans to achieve goals and provide consumers with one of kind products. Audi has decided to create a new LED head light with spot detection capabilities to assist with consumer safety while driving in the city, as well as down country roads. Audi has assessed the need for their new product and has found that the new LED headlights with spot detection would be great for the consumer as well as the company sales. Through past research by Audis team we have found that several accidents within the United stated States occurred due to poor head lights or blinding head lights. Though Audis current venture is geared towards consumer’s with families who travel at least 100 miles a week, their game plan is to incorporate this light into all vehicles. We will address the areas of target population, product position against the competitions, as well as each stage of the product life cycle and our expansion of product offerings. Audi focuses on people (Idea Connection, 2014). This new innovation of LED head lights will do just that; focus on people. Audi will utilize the family and let them be the guide behind the quality and performance of this new offering (Idea Connection, 2014). Target market profile At Audi, we came up with this new headlight technology that is designed to make night driving safer. The target market for our product is composed of couples with children under the age of 15. Among these families, the focus will be on those who drive SUVs’, Minivans and Sedans. The target audience will be based around those parents who drive their kids to extracurricular activities like piano lessons or soccer, and who live either deep in the  country or outside of the city. One submarket will be those who live within the city and like to travel outside the city. These headlights are best suited for people who drive over 100 miles a day. In terms of income, we will target individuals with a college degree who make more than one hundred thousand dollars per year. Our product will also aim at corporations who offer company vehicle for their senior executives. Key buying behaviors Three factors influence consumers buying behaviors, those factors are cultural, social and personal (Kotler Keller, 2012). In terms of culture, individuals during the course of their life will be influenced by family, friends, neighbors, and others. Our consumers are individuals whose family members are accustomed to luxury cars, preferably Audis’. Cultural factors influencing buying behavior in terms of culture are also social classes. Our consumers will be individuals belonging to the upper class of society. For these individuals owning a luxury car with the latest technology is a statement. On the social level of consumers buying behaviors, our target market will be influenced by factors such as reference groups, family, and social roles and statuses (Kotler Keller, 2012). Our consumers will be influenced by family members, for instance a mother will most likely want her children to ride safely in a minivan, or SUV. A businessman will buy an Audi sedan because it is a luxury car and it tell others what social class he belongs to. Our target consumers are influenced by membership groups. One example is an individual who buys a luxury car to blend in with others in hos social circle who also own luxury cars. â€Å"Personal characteristics that influence a buyer’s decision include age and stage in the life cycle, occupation and economic circumstances, personality and self- concept, and lifestyle and values.† (Kotler Keller, 2012, p.155). Our consumers will be men and women, 30 years old or older. The target customers are also educated and very thoughtful as they carefully weigh the benefits of purchasing such a product (Rao, 2014). We believe that as mothers and wives, our consumers will be focused on safety. There have been a lot of plane crashes lately, because of that more and more people decide to drive instead of fly. Corporations will be concerned with profit. Corporations will see great benefit in Audi as it relates to the new LED head lights. The thought of safety will both save the company money, attract eager and loyal employees,  as well as give a strong impression on both competitors and new clients. Decision motivators for consumer/organizational target markets The primary decision motivators for buying the new headlights on the Audi car are the enhanced safety features of the product. Since the primary feature of the new headlights leads to secure driving, it will appeal to almost all consumers. On the other hand, the organizational target markets will entail the demographics of the urban areas. Geographic target markets will target the individuals who live in the urban areas that have developed infrastructures (Novak, De Leeuw MacEvoy, 2011). Product life-cycle (PLC) LED headlights continue to develop short and long-term strategies in the product life-cycle. The first of four stages is the introduction into the market; customer-value hierarchy is vital during the introduction stage, which identifies the core benefit of the product and creates a detailed description of the basic product. The augmented product value stage must surpass the customer yearning for safety and technology. In addition, marketers will incorporate future potential product growth. The product design can be incorporated into any Audi vehicle during the manufacturing process. The LED headlight will be an upgrade option, and pricing will be slightly higher than Audis without the LED headlight. A strong customer-value hierarchy strategy will enhance product promotion, and the place to launch the LED headlight will be a joint effort with Audi Automotive. During the initial growth phase, pricing will remain slightly higher than Audis without the LED headlight. Based on the lesson learned during the introduction of the LED headlight, the customer-value hierarchy strategy will adjust to meet customer expectations. Product promotion will continue to expand into new markets. The maturity phase begins when the LED headlight implementation reaches market equilibrium; pricing will remain the same during this phase. If the product continues to exceed customer-value hierarchy strategy, the product promotion will continue with the addition of customer and law enforcement reviews. Research and development continues to improve the LED headlight technology. The decline phase begins when market followers enter the market; pricing will then be slightly reduced in an attempt to slow the rate of decline. Product promotion will then be redirected to the new and improved LED headlight. Promotions and places to  launch the new product will be nationwide rather than regional launches during the introduction phase. Product mix A Product Mix is referred to as â€Å"the complete range of products produced by a company.† (http://businesscasestudies.co.u). That being said, Audi plans to unleash its new LED headlights in all of its product lines, which will appeal to the varying types of drivers who have a plethora of different needs and wants in a luxury vehicle. Audi produces a multitude of options for consumers to choose from. These products include 13 sedan options that range from $29,900 to $137,900, six SUV/Crossover/Wagon options that span from $32,500-$51,900, six Coupe options ranging from $40,000-$115,900, and seven Convertible options that span from $35,600-$129,400. (http://www.audiusa.com). With 32 available products that can be altered to match the driver’s particular style, the LED headlight is poised to grant the ultimate driving experience. â€Å"Audi revolutionized vehicle lighting with the first full-LED headlamps in 2008.† (http://www.audileds.com). Audi responded to the automobile industry’s need to change how vehicle headlights affect road conditions for all drivers. Audi continues to enhance its LED design, which is sure to darken its competitors’ vision of the future of automobile driving experience and further differentiating itself by not only enhancing driving conditions, but will be made available in a variety of options. â€Å"Only one square millimeter in size and offered on every vehicle in the lineup, LEDs have opened up an array of styling opportunities for Audi designers.† (http://www.audileds.com). Audi adds that â€Å"these little marvels can be combined to create infinite shapes and arrangements, giving each vehicle a look that’s distinct yet unmistakably Audi.† (http://www.audileds.com). Positioning statement â€Å"For you that spend hours behind the wheel, Audi is one in its luxury class that provides not just the looks of a high end vehicle but the safest lighting for safe traveling. Unlike traditional vehicles Audi provides a combination of class, luxury, and the safest selection to keep you and loved ones safe†. Audi is not only committed to provide its consumers with top  notch service but it has also taken measures to separate itself from the competition. Audi is improving all of its vehicles by providing â€Å"LED lighting† on all its vehicles as part of its standard package. Audi’s positioning statement carries words such as â€Å"luxury, safe, traveling, family† which will always come to mind for those searching for a vehicle to purchase. Audi’s statement is targeting families, those that travel a lot, those that enjoy the luxury of a vehicle but at the same time want to keep themselves and loved ones safe. The consumers spoke and Audi listened. Their position statement is meaningful, important, and convincing to its customers, not just to the company. The Audi brand will deliver on this promise and continue to earn the trust and respect from consumers. References Anonymous. Staying ahead by meeting changing consumer needs. Business Case Studies: A Heinz case study. Retrieved August 2, 2014 from http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/heinz /staying-ahead-by-meeting-changing-consumer-needs/the-product-mix.html#axzz39FCRkOTR Defeat Darkness. LED technology:The vision of LED;View the LED experience. Retrieved August 2, 2014 from http://www.audileds.com/ Idea connection (2014). Audi looks to the future of car production. http://www.ideaconnection.com/open-innovation-success/Audi-Looks-to-the-Future-of-Car-Production-00392.html Retrieved August 1, 2014 Kotler, P., Keller, K. (2012). Marketing Management (14th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Models. Retrieved August 2, 2014 from http://www.audiusa.com/models# Novak, T. P., DeLeeuw, J., MacEvoy, B. (2011). Richness curves for evaluating market segmentation. Department of Statistics, UCLA.

molecular structure :: essays research papers

Molecular Structure Lab Objective: For this experiment we took two different molecule and virtually dissected them finding everything about them including: bond length, bond angles, the charge on each atom, the non bonded distances between atoms and the energy difference between the highest and lowest molecular orbital. Procedure: The procedure is to use HyperChem Lite to get the information needed from each molecule. But explained in full on page 16 and 17 in the lab manual. Data: The following data was found about CH4 (methane). †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The bond length from Carbon to all four Hydrogen atom was the same measurement that came to be about 1.113Ã… †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Not only are the lengths between all the Hydrogen atoms to the Carbon atoms the same so are the angles between the hydrogen atoms, all coming out to be about 109.47 °. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The non-bonded distances between all the parts of the molecule are 1.818Ã…. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The charge on the Carbon atom is -.143 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All of the hydrogen atoms have the same charge being .036 The following data was collected by HyperChem Lite for C2H5OH (ethanol). †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All the distances between bonded Carbon and Hydrogen atoms were 1.115Ã…. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The distance of the bonded oxygen (3) to hydrogen (9) was .942Ã…. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The distance between bonded Carbon (1) to Oxygen (3) was 1.40Ã…. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bond angle 5,1,4 was 109.8 ° †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bond angle 3,1,2 was 108.9 ° †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bond angle 6,2,8 was 107.9 ° †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The smallest non-bonded distance was between atoms 9 (hydrogen) and 6 (hydrogen) it was 4.067Ã…. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The largest distance between two atoms was from 6 to 8 1.802Ã…. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The charge on the Carbon atoms were: Carbon 1=.466, and Carbon 2=-.076 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hydrogen charges were as follows: Hydrogen’s 4,5=-.004, 6=.021, 7,8=.020, and the charge of hydrogen 9=.447 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  And lastly the charge on the oxygen atom was -.891 Calculations: Formulas used in the lab†¦ E = hv = hc/ 1 ev = 1.6022E-19 Joules E is the energy difference between the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO and LUMO). h = Plank’s constant = 6.63E-34 Js c = speed of light = 3.00E8 m/s formal charge = number of valence electrons – (# of unshared electrons + # of bonds) Volume of an ellipsoid is V = /6 (a + 1Ã…)(b+1Ã…)(c+1Ã…) = xÃ…3 A,b,and c are the skeletal lengths of the molecule. CH4 E = (-15.51ev)-(-24.49ev) = 8.98ev = 1.44E-18 J  = hc/E = (6.63E-34 Js)(3.00E8 m/s)/(1.44E-18 J) = 1.38E-7 m = 138nm The wavelength of CH4 is 138nm and this resides in the ultra-violet spectrum and is not visible to the naked eye. Formal charge of Carbon = 4-(0+4) = 0 Formal Charge of Hydrogen’s = 1-(0+1) = 0

Global Outsourcing of American Products and Services Essay -- Globaliz

Global Outsourcing of American Products and Services   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Global outsourcing of American products and services is a trend that is becoming increasingly popular with large corporations. For the same services provided in the United States, corporations are finding quality work in other countries for a fraction of the cost. The country currently at the forefront of this trend is India. This paper will discuss companies that outsource business to foreign countries and also why they are chose to. The ethical implications to both countries in these situations will also be discussed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many corporations are experiencing significant cost savings by outsourcing work to developing countries across the globe. Some advantages of global outsourcing are: technically skilled, inexpensive labor; multi-lingual workforce; potential 24/7 global tech support; global prestige; local market access advantages; lower duties and tariffs; low cost delivery; and after sales service. (http://www.wsa1.org) â€Å"Developing nations†¦benefit by providing local viable careers for their educated populations, attracting foreign investments in their infrastructure, and a general increase in the standard of living.† (http://cseserv.engr.scu.edu) These advantages make a strong case for outsourcing, but there are many disadvantages that are being discounted or overlooked.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some disadvantages noted by corporations are: political risk; loss of quality control over manufacturing, brand, and support; misrepresentation of the company; IPR concerns; brand management; channel conflict (gray market, territory); stricter labor laws; bribery and kickback pressure; and productivity. (http://www.wsa1.org) There is also the possibility of a negative impact to the American job market. Issues surrounding this impact to our job market are not frequently mentioned during discussions about whether or not to send business overseas. Finally, there are many ethical questions and dilemmas involved with these decisions. These ethical dilemmas affect individuals in America as well as those in the overseas countries. In spite of these disadvantages, many major corporations have decided to outsource to foreign countries, indicating that the advantages are worth the risk.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Several corporations have already experience... ...e Web. Call Center India (November 19, 2003); More U.S. Jobs, especially in Call Centers, headed for India, http://callcenterinindia.blogspot.com/ Retrieved on November 25, 2003 from the World Wide Web. Ranjit Shastri (October 6, 2003); An Overview of India’s Call Center Industry, http://www.tmcnet.com/tmcnet/articles/2003/100603rs.htm Retrieved on November 25, 2003 from the World Wide Web. Ronil Hira (October 20, 2003); Testimony to the Committee on Small Business, http://www.ieeeusa.org/forum/POLICY/2003/102003.html Retrieved on November 25, 2003 from the World Wide Web. Nicholson & Sahay (November, 2001); Some political and cultural issues in the globilisation of software development: case experience from Britain and India, http://les1.man.ac.uk/accounting/Staff/Academic/B_Nicholson/I&Opapernicholson_sahay.pdf Retrieved on November 25, 2003 from the World Wide Web. CIO.com (June 5, 2003); Global Outsourcing and L-1 Visas, http://comment.cio.com/ Retrieved on November 25, 2003 from the World Wide Web. Walter Williams (2003); Minimum Wage Tip-Off, http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20031114-081940-9148r.htm Retrieved on November 25, 2003 from the World Wide Web.

Ban Zhao and Lessons for Women Essay

_Nu-jie,_ translated as _Lessons for Women,_ by Ban Zhao is a famous Chinese literacy work about women, her virtues and her roles. Ban Zhao was the first known female Chinese historian and poet. She was a renowned scholar under the Han dynasty and also a major contributor to the creation of one of the best-known history book ever written called _Han Shu,_ which is translated to _Book of Han. The Han dynasty is considered the most important time in the grand history of China. Many scholars have regarded the Han dynasty’s reign as the â€Å"Golden Age of Chinese history† but not only that, the Chinese empire under the Han dynasty rose to the forefront of the world along side with the Romans, Parthians and Khushans as the four great societies in ancient time. It was a time of transitioning in China as there were constant developments in many  social and cultural departments such as literature, science, art and industry. The Han dynasty also followed the ideals of Confucianism, which were reflected through politics as the government not only appointed talented men but also already capable men who were determined to improve. Confucianism quickly became the official ideology of the great nation. The Han dynasty’s reign also marked the transformation of China’s literacy and intellectual history. Confucianism had already had a big impact on the Chinese culture and on the lives of the Chinese as well. Its’ principles also benefited the intellectuals under the Han’s reign. The ancient Chinese had invented paper and also learned to how devise the lunar calendar. Literature and philosophies also reached new heights as education was being developed which was made possible by the evolution of a common language. It was also during this time that Ban Zhao’s father, Ban Biao, started his work on the book _Han Shu_ as he was determined to record the history of this time period. Ban Zhao was born in 45 C.E. and she was a daughter in an elite family, who had connections to the imperial court, under the Han dynasty. She was educated and often tutored by her own mother. By the mere age of 14, Ban Zhao had married Cao Shou who was also from her town of birth. However, Cao Shou’s death in later years left Ban Zhao with the responsibilities of raising children on her own. She then devoted her life to literacy which led to the formation of the tradition of historical writings in China. Ban Zhao left her hometown for the capital with her mother and her brother, Ban Gu, as he became the designated historian and editor of _Han Shu_. Many scholars believe that Ban Zhao had already assisted her brother and contributed her efforts to the work of _Han Shu_ at that time. Due to the devotion in her own work and the Chinese tradition, Ban Zhao never remarried. However, that led to the significant rise in her career as a historian and a writer when her most famous work , _Lessons for Women_, symbolized her effort of applying the principles of Confucianism to the lives of women. _Lessons for Women_ was originally Ban Zhao’s teachings for her daughters on  how to be a proper women. She intended the book to serve not only as lessons but also as a guideline for her daughters. She wanted them to manage themselves accordingly and behave the way a proper woman would. Be that as it may, the book identified itself with a much larger audience as it later became the referenced instruction manual for women who were striving for the ideals of Confucianism and who were to be a wife. _Lessons for Women_ emphasized the importance of the women way of life. â€Å"Let a woman modestly yield to others; let her respect others; let her put others first, her last†¦ Let a woman retire late to bed, but rise early to duties; let her not dread tasks by day or by night†¦ Let a woman be correct in manner and upright in character in order to serve her husband; let her love not gossip and silly laughter; let her cleanse and purify and arrange in order the wine and the food for the offerings to the ancestors.† (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E.). _Lessons for Women_ also talked about the qualities of a proper woman, the qualifications of becoming one and advised women on their conducts in the home of the husband or the husband’s family. According to Ban Zhao, â€Å"a woman ought to have four qualifications: 1. Womanly virtue; 2. Womanly words; 3. Womanly bearing, and 4. Womanly work.† (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E.). Ban Zhao also emphasized the importance of the roles husband and wife in the family. She said that the way of husband and wife is â€Å"intimately connected with Yin and Yang† (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E.) . She then explained that if either of the roles were to prove unworthy of one another, â€Å"then the proper relationship between men and women and the natural order of things are neglected and destroyed.† (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E.) Because of Ban Zhao’s strong beliefs in Confucianism and its principles, she often talked about how women must try to improve themselves, especially intellectually. Ban Zhao encouraged the principle of wanting to educate oneself as she urged that women should improve themselves through education. She indicated that literacy was important for both the wife and the husband in order to accomplish their roles in the family effectively. The book also put emphasis on the importance of women behaving as submissive which symbolized  the social roles of women in a Confucian society. Confucius himself said little about women which reflected the limited importance of women in ancient Chinese culture and society. But it was Confucianism’s principles that proved to be one of the driving forces that led to the belief that women could get educated, and eventually better themselves. As stated prevously, Ban Zhao originally intended _Lessons of Women_ as lessons for her daughters. Because of that, the book focused on how young women should behave before, during and after marriage. Ban Zhao talked about how young girls should keep her virtues, follow the customs and respect the values in order to become a proper woman. She further expanded her definition of the way women should live their lives. When Ban Zhao mentioned, â€Å"Let a woman modestly yield to others†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E.), she also added that if a woman was to follow all those morals, she may humble herself before others. Right after that, â€Å"Let a woman retire late to bed, but rise early to duties†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E.) talked about how a woman would become industrious if she follows all these practices. And finally, â€Å"Let a woman be correct in manner and upright in character†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E.) explained the principles of ancestral worshiping. Ban Zhao then demanded equality in education; she said that if a relationship in marriage is to exist in harmony, the relationship between wife and husband should be proper and they should know their places so they can function effectively. In order to achieve this, Ban Zhao was asking questions about why women were not getting the same education that the men were able to, â€Å"Yet only to teach men and not teach women – is that not ignoring the essential relation between them?†¦ Only why should it not be that girls’ education as well as boys’†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E. ). Ban Zhao then added further explanations about her defined women qualifications. For womanly virtue, a woman has to â€Å"guard her chastity carefully†¦ and to model each act on the best usage† (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E.). According to Ban Zhao, a woman does not have to have brilliant and exceptional compared to others to achieve womanly virtue, it is about the ways a woman takes care herself and how she conducts her actions that symbolize her virtues. For womanly words, a woman has to â€Å"choose her words  with care; to avoid vulgar language†¦ and nor to wear others with much conversation† (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E.). Ban Zhao thought that a woman does not have to engage in conversations all the time, should not use vulgar language and must choose an appropriate response to represent herself. For womanly bearing, a woman has to â€Å"†¦keep clothes and ornaments fresh and clean; and to keep the person free from disgraceful filth.† (Ban Zhao, c a. 80-106 C.E.). Ban Zhao was saying that a woman does not have to be pretty nor does not need a perfect face to present herself, it is about the ways how she keeps her clothes appropriate in terms of appearance and how she takes care herself to achieve womanly bearing. Finally, womanly work means â€Å"whole-hearted devotion†¦, to love not gossip or silly laughter; in cleanliness and order to prepare for the serving guests†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E.). Ban Zhao said that to achieve womanly work, a woman does not need to be skillfully better than everyone else but to learn her responsibilities and do them effectively. These four qualifications are what would make a proper woman, according to Ban Zhao. However being a woman, proper or not, did not hold a high regards in the culture of ancient China. The primary aspect of a woman’s life in ancient China was to be a wife and continue the bloodline of the husband. They were viewed as â€Å"objects† which its purpose is to produce offspring, and in such a patriarchal culture male offspring was always preferred. A woman was expected to stick by her husband and conduct her actions in manners that would be deemed as appropriate by her husband or his family. Anything else would cause disharmony and thus brought embarrassment to not only herself but also to both families as well. Ban Zhao urged women to get an education so they can serve their families, especially their husband, more efficiently and in a better manner overall. According to Ban Zhao, â€Å"Let a woman not act contrary to the wishes and the opinions of parents-in-law about right and wrong; let her not dispute with them what is straight and what is crooked. Such docility†¦called obedience.† (Ban Zhao, ca. 80-106 C.E.). _Lesson for Women_ served as a guideline for women to learn the proper ways of being a woman in order to better themselves and their status in the  social rankings. It, however, also emphasized the importance of women knowing their roles and duties in the family well and because of that, family must always be their priority which they must always give implicit obedience to. If they were to follow Ban Zhao’s idealized practices, they would not bring embarrassment nor disgrace to the families. This book presented practices that were idealized by an educated ancient Chinese woman. Despite the correct descriptions of the situation many women faced during ancient China, _Lessons for Women_ did not mention the fact that not many women had the opportunities to earn an education like Ban Zhao had and their chances in life were very limited compared to Ban Zhao. Most of the women were not born in a privileged or prestigious family like Ban Zhao’s and the Confucian culture, practiced by the Han dynasty, forced women into the little and limited roles. According to the book, Ban Zhao wanted women to educate and better themselves for both their social ranking and their family matters. However, Ban Zhao also acknowledged their culture at the time and often urged women to be submissive to both the husband and his family. She also noted that the opinions of the women and what they thought was right or wrong may differ from their husband’s but they must sacrifice their personal opinions and not cause disharmony. After analyzing the book, I have learned that there were certain ways that women could have improved themselves intellectually speaking but because of their culture, it did not improve their social rankings nor had any great influence on the society at the time. It also made me realize that women have had to come a long way to become respectable in the society. The book also emphasized the patriarchal society that ancient China and one can see the lasting impact it has had on the culture of China even to today’s day and age. China have always favored its sons more than its daughters and it has been this way since the ancient time of the Han dynasty. It was not until 2013 when the son-preferred tradition began to gradually decline as the great gender imbalance in China started to balance out. One of the reason that the younger generations have attributed to the decline in the â€Å"gender-cide† is the opportunities at higher level education. As Ban Zhao had stated in _Lessons for Women,_ education is an important, if not the most important, factor for women to improve themselves. _Lessons for Women_  served as a great guideline for women who wanted to be a proper woman and eventually improve themselves as human beings. Ban Zhao talked about what a young girl needed to do and how she should behave to be considered as a woman. However, it should also be mentioned that Ban Zhao was born in a prestigious family during the Han dynasty and whose ties were connected with high ranking officials. Her family was wealthy enough to afford her an education which was a luxury that not many Chinese could have afforded at the time, let alone the Chinese women. Be that as it may, _Lessons for Women_ served its intended purpose and more as many women initiated the first steps of i mproving their statuses in both their household and their society. References Lee, Yuen T. (n.d.). Ban Zhao: Scholar of Han Dynasty China. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://worldhistoryconnected.press.illinois.edu/9.1/lee.html Hasall, P. (Ed.). (n.d.). Ban Zhao: Lessons for a Woman. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/banzhao.html Nancy Lee Swann, trans., Pan Chao: Foremost Women Scholar of China (New York: Century, 1932), 82-90. Strayer, R. (2013). Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources (2nd ed.). Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s. Larson, C. (2014, July 31). In China, More Girls Are on the Way. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-31/chinas-girl-births-ratio-improves-as-coun try-gets-more-educated

Raising Children in Two Different Cultures Essay Example

Raising Children in Two Different Cultures Essay Example Raising Children in Two Different Cultures Essay Raising Children in Two Different Cultures Essay Within Indian cultures, parents take the time they have to raise their children and this tend to have greater impact on their children’s lives in today’s world. American parents are more lenient when it comes to raising their children and result of this leads to the children becoming involve in some deviant behavior at times. While in the Indian culture the raising of children involves much bond and discipline, in the American culture, bonding and discipline has little impact of the raising of children. In Indian cultures, the importance of family bonding, as well as values, help the child to grow up in a way that they can respect what they have. Indian families live in close villages or in extended families so there is the ability to bond with cousins, grandparents and other family members. Children who bond with extended family members will always have that extra loving so they will not feel neglected. In Indian cultures, the arrangement of marriages is done for their children; this happens so that parents can have control over what is happening in their children’s life. They learn to have a sense of appreciation and the desire to waste is less. They do not have a huge variety of clothing so they are learned to make adequate usage of what they own. Within Indian cultures, parents use a form of authoritarian discipline in the raising of their children. Indian parents provide strict rules and regulations for their children. These children are not asked to do something, for example, their chores, they are told what they are suppose to do around the house. Indian children are not given the opportunity to make their own decisions. Indian parents decide what occupation their children will have and also where there will go to further their education. Indian children has little freedom of action or movement. These children usually have to go to temple when their parents tell them to and they do not display any form of dissatisfaction. When they are given the opportunity to be with friends they make the best out of it and they make sure they follow the correct instructions from their parents and they make sure they do not deviate. On the other hand, in American cultures family bonding as well as values are ot strongly used to assist in the raising of children. Extended families are not in close proximity to the children so a child cannot build that family bond. This occurs because America is so big so a child seldom sees extended family. American parents are not always intimately aware that they children are in relationships. As a result, parents become unaware so children sometimes end up with unwanted pregnancie s or in a domestic relationship. American children have the advantage of having much food and clothing and are unaware that the under privileged has so little. Being that clothing and food is not as expensive as other parents of the world, American children would place their parents under financial pressures in order to get what they want, for example, a pair of Nike Airmax shoes to wear to the mall when they already have three other pairs that can be given to the less fortunate but instead they through them away. In American cultures, parents use a form of permissive disciplinary techniques which employ little or no discipline. American parents are more lenient in providing rules and regulations. They often leave their children with chores to do and end up coming back to do the same chores which they leaved for their children to do. Also, these American children have the opportunity to make their own decisions. They can decide what they what profession they want to go into and decide which school they would go to further their education. However, they consult their parents and they get their opinion but all the decisions on exactly what they do are freely done by them. Parents in America allow their children to go out with friends where they can have some free time. These parents believe that children should not spend all their time in the home so they allow them to go to the movies, mall or any other places where young people go. Unlike American cultures where parents are not aware of some of the occurrences in their children’s life’s, Indian cultures usually take the time to raise their children in a more religious manner, also their children have good discipline which they need to be successful in today’s society. American parents should adapt the Indian parents techniques to assist with the raising of their children so they children would have the correct form of discipline.

An Effective Policy to Deter Fighting in School

An Effective Policy to Deter Fighting in School An issue that many school administrators face on a constant basis is fighting in school. Fighting has become a dangerous epidemic in many schools across the country.   Students often engage in this barbaric practice to prove toughness rather than attempting to settle a dispute peacefully.   A fight will draw a quick audience, who without considering the potential ramifications see it as entertainment.   Anytime rumors of a fight emerge you can bet that a large crowd will follow suit.   The audience often becomes the driving force behind a fight when one or both of the parties involved are reluctant. The following policy is designed to prevent and discourage students from getting into a physical altercation. The consequences are direct and severe so that any student thinks about their actions before choosing to fight.   No policy will eliminate every fight. As a school administrator, you must take every precaution to ensure that you make students hesitate before taking that dangerous step. Fighting Fighting is unacceptable for any reason at Any Where Public Schools and will not be tolerated. A fight is defined as a physical altercation occurring between two or more students. The physical nature of a fight could include but is not limited to hitting, punching, slapping, poking, grabbing, pulling, tripping, kicking, and pinching. Any student who engages in such actions as defined above will be issued a citation for disorderly conduct by a local police officer and could be taken to jail. Any Where Public Schools will recommend that battery charges be filed against such individuals and that the student answer to the Any Where County Juvenile Court System. In addition, that student will be suspended indefinitely from all school related activities, for ten days. It will be left up to the administrator’s discretion as to whether an individual’s participation in a fight will be considered self-defense. If the administrator deems the actions as self-defense, then a lesser punishment will be issued to that participant. Fighting - Recording a Fight The act of recording/videoing a fight between other students is not permitted. If a student is caught recording a fight with their cell phones, then the following disciplinary procedures will be followed: The phone will be confiscated until the end of the current school year at which time it will be returned to the student’s parents upon their request. The video will be deleted from the cell phone. The person responsible for recording the fight will be suspended out-of-school for three days. In addition, anyone who is caught forwarding the video to other students/persons will be: Suspended for an additional three days. Finally, any student who posts the video on YouTube, Facebook, or any other social networking page, will be suspended for the remainder to the current school year.