Gift-Giving and Exchange as an Important Element in Japanese Society Essay

Gift-Giving and Exchange as an Important Element in Japanese Society - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the research that along with the Confucian values, wrote Ilchman, Katz, and Queens, in particular, the value of humaneness, such obligation extend outwards to teachers, relatives, close neighbors and business associates. Japanese companies, for instance, allocate funds for equitable compensation to employees for ceremonial events or kankonsosai. Such importance given to the exchange of gifts allows the act to pervade in Japanese ceremonies and customs that is why it reveals a wealth of information in regard to Japanese rituals. There are four classifications of occasions or instances when gift-giving is required among the Japanese: life-cycle ceremonies, gift-giving occasions regulated by the calendar, emergencies that cause sudden deprivations and special events that call for prompt gift-giving. These occasions are diverse and are consistently well defined, and most importantly for this study, associated with particular rituals. They also entail Japanese p rinciples that are the basis of rituals and ceremonies. These include the concepts of obligation, duty, reciprocity, among others. Gift-giving is a prominent element in life-cycle ceremonies or â€Å"rite of passage† events and therefore provide a wealth of insights on the rituals that define these stages and the growth phases between them. As it is, people are preoccupied with gift-giving in birth, marriage, and death of people as well as in education, wedding anniversary, etc. In so many instances, gift-giving becomes a means of exchange –a kind of exchange that articulates obligation. For instance, during a wedding, there is normally a table outside of the hall where the wedding takes place. Young people sat behind this table and they are tasked to collect the money contained in envelopes given by arriving guests. What is interesting, perhaps for most foreigners, is that the amount contained in the envelope is strictly recorded along with the name of its giver.

All for Love Essay Example for Free

All for Love Essay A parent-child relationship involves a lot of complexities. Basically, parents are responsible to provide for their children’s needs, whether material or immaterial. They are expected to perform duties to their children in spite of personal issues they have to deal with. Conversely, for children, there is the constant struggle to win their parents’ approval. These complexities in the parent-child relationship are illustrated in Sherman Alexie‘s, â€Å"Because My Father Always Said He was the Only Indian who Saw Jimi Hendrix Played ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock† and D. H. Lawrence’s â€Å"The Rocking Horse Winner. † Analyses of the characters’ traits and motives provide a better understanding of how these complexities affect the relationship between parents and children. In addition, plot analyses help draw out a possible solution to the conflict. Told in the first person, â€Å"Because My Father Always Said He was the Only Indian who Saw Jimi Hendrix Played ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Woostock† is a short story that talks about a father-son relationship. The son named Victor, serves as the narrator, who gives a picture of his father’s relationship with him and his mother by revealing his father’s character—his racial ideologies, hobbies, and behavior. In his revelation, the narrator gives a lighthearted view of the conflict zeroing on his father’s irresponsible behavior. Citing his father’s claim that he was the only Indian who watched Jimi Hendrix play the national anthem, the son establishes his father’s uniqueness and at the same time, his hippie attitude. Likewise, his father’s appearance to famous magazines as he knocks down an officer in defense of his political ideologies, illustrates the father’s aggressive and violent nature. Moreover, the accident the father suffers from while riding a motorcycle demonstrates his adventurousness. In sum, these descriptions show signs of the father’s irresponsible behavior, the wrong decisions he makes throughout his life. Particularly, the claim he makes regarding the concert of Jimi Hendrix demonstrates the tendency of the father to create and amuse himself with lies. Moreover, as Victor implies, his father is preoccupied with his own ambition and adventures, and he covers up his shortcomings by telling stories, and attributing his life-long search for meaning to his cultural origins. The father reasons out that his being an Indian affects him to behave the way he does. He uses his cultural origin to justify his weaknesses as a father, his obsession for music, and his erratic behavior. Parenting proves to be a difficult task for the father, mainly because of his confinement to his own affairs, his irresponsible nature. His attempt to establish individuality makes him unable to perform his obligations to his family. His acts of merrymaking with his friends and continuous search for adventures show his unpreparedness and incapability to fulfill his role as a husband and father. The difficulty of becoming a good parent is likewise tackled in D. H. Lawrence’s story. However, unlike the personal issues that the father deals with in Alexie’s story, the conflict is associated with the mother’s materialist disposition. Due to the extravagant life she is used to, the mother always feels the need of the family to produce more money. Even the house is personified as someone who whispers, â€Å"There should be more money. † Hence, the mother is always preoccupied with the thought of finding money, or as she tells her son, to being â€Å"lucky. † The excessive materialism of the mother causes her to feel indifferent towards her children. The narrator states that deep inside, â€Å"she knew that at the centre of her heart was a hard little place that could not feel love, no, not for anybody. † This indifference is what Marx (111) refers to as â€Å"alienation† in his â€Å"Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844. † In simple terms, Marx implies that as people’s material needs grow, the need to produce money and to work becomes greater. In this process, workers or proletarians such as the mother soon lose control of their lives and their selves, just as they lose control of their work. Although the mother in the story is not characterized as a usual worker, her materialist needs make her a victim of the materialistic society in which she belongs. Considering this, the alienation she experiences is one that dehumanizes her, and disables her to establish emotional connection with her children. Considering the mother’s attitude of living beyond their means, the story closely mirrors Veblen’s (â€Å"The Theory of the Leisure Class†) view of the consumerist world. As the author claims, the consumerist equate personal happiness with consumption and the purchase of material things. In his â€Å"Theory of the Leisure Class,† the author discusses that people waste money and resources in order to display a higher status than others. In the story, the family â€Å"lived in a pleasant house, with a garden, and they had discreet servants. † Although they cannot afford such luxury, the parents maintain a high standard of living in order to feel superior to their neighbors. Acknowledging the need to produce more money, the mother works â€Å"secretly† in town, designing dresses for women. Even this effort of the mother reflects her consumerist attitude. As Veblen views, for the consumerist, the woman’s role is limited to that of a housewife, as this would show off a mans success. In the story, the wife works secretly in order to pretend that the family has enough means support their needs. As Veblen proposes, by not allowing the wives to take outside professions, a man could show off his economic status, although in the story, these are all a facade invented by the mother. Like the father in Alexie’s story, whose individuality seems to come first before all aspects in the world, the mother possesses a selfish attitude, which considers everything alright as long as her material needs are met. This submission to material things illustrates nothing but her selfishness. According to Stebbins (82-83) â€Å"the person who has the least interest in continuing the relationship normally possesses the greater power and is most liable to resort to exploitative behavior. † In the two stories, we see the parents as those who are less interested to continue their relationship with their children. In â€Å"The Rocking-Horse Winner,† the selfishness of the mother is best reflected in her request to withdraw the full amount that Paul secretly endows her. Although the mother uses the money to provide better education to her children, these are all due to her pride, her ambition to be regarded as superior to their neighbors. Moreover, her disinterest to find out whoever bequeaths her the big sum proves her ingratitude and materialist disposition. Furthermore, her insensitivity to her son’s condition, the fact that the three collaborators, the son, the uncle, and the servant are able to continue their deals without the knowledge of the family, provides a more lucid proof of the selfish nature of the mother. As the story relates, the selfish behavior of the mother drives the son to eagerly and desperately please her. Snodgrass (191) offers Freudian analyses of Paul’s character, claiming that the son’s effort to win his mother’s affection is Oedipal in nature. However, one may note that there is no established feud between Paul and his father. In fact, not much is said about the father; therefore, this claim cannot be fully established. Nevertheless, through the selfishness of the mother, one may see why the son becomes obsessed in the betting game. Ultimately, it is the mother’s materialistic ambition that drives the son to engage in the betting habit. It is also that, which leads him later to lose his senses. It can be noted that during their conversation, when Paul inquires about luck, the mother points out, Its what causes you to have money. If youre lucky you have money. Thats why its better to be born lucky than rich. If youre rich, you may lose your money. But if youre lucky, you will always get more money. This statement makes the son realize the importance of money and luck. As the mother equates luck with having money, the son struggles to find luck in order to please his mother. As the narrator reveals, the children in the house feel the indifference in the look of their mother. Thus, Paul, imbued by a son’s inherent desire to gain approval and be loved, forces himself to be lucky. More than the competition that some critics establish between the father and the son, it is the son’s emotional needs that move him to create something to please the mother. The same need for affection and approval motivates Victor. As he illustrates the sacrifices he and his mother bear just to please his father, one gets the notion of a one-way relationship where the father is at most on the advantage. The attention Victor gives his father justifies this notion. Specifically, his effort to listen and learn his father’s music, the acquired love for Jimi Hendrix, and the mere belief that his father was the only Indian who watched Hendrix’s performance of the â€Å"Star-Spangled Banner† attest to the son’s struggle to win his father’s affection, and to keep the bond between them. The problem of winning their parents’ affection is very visible in the two stories. Although this issue may look petty for some, it is revealed to be a serious issue in the two stories, especially â€Å"The Rocking-Horse Winner. † As the story shows, this conflict is what makes Paul go insane, rocking his toy horse unceasingly until it gives him the idea of who will win the race. At first, one can imagine that the habit of the son may just be a simple game he plays, but at the end, as the mother witnesses his son rocks his toy horse like a madman in the middle of the night, one can sense the psychological damage that results from the child’s longing for his mother’s love. The behavior and illness that the son shows at the end demonstrate the psychological damage he undergoes. Particularly, as the races draw near, the child develops some anxiety to come up with a forecast of who will win the race. As he already loses in the first two races, his anxiety grows worse, realizing that he has only one chance left to win during the season. As such, the simple anxiety then grows worse into a General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), affecting his whole system, making him unable to sleep and eat, gain consciousness, or in other words, continue with his normal life. In addition to GAD, psychologists may also agree that Paul develops psychological gambling. According to Franklin (Psychology Information Online), psychological gambling is an â€Å"impulse control problem which consists in persistent maladaptive gambling that creates serious life problems for the individual. † It is different from recreational gambling in that it affects seriously the way one lives, suggesting failure to function normally as an individual. As the story portrays, Paul seemingly lose his senses as he rocks his toy horse in the middle of the night. He also shows abnormal behavior as he repeats, â€Å"Malabar,† the name of the horse that will win the final race.

Consumer Behavior: Multi Level Marketing

Consumer Behavior: Multi Level Marketing Consumer is considered as the core element which decides the exiting of a business firm. They are the ones who buy and use products and services (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English). Understanding consumer behaviors, consumer buying process and factors affect consumer buying behavior which may bring number of benefits is one of the most important tasks confronting every competing business. That is why companies spend such a lot of money in understanding behaviors of their consumers. This study aims to identify perceptions and key factors affecting to consumer behavior towards multi-level marketing companies and their products so that marketers can adapt and improve their marketing campaigns and marketing strategies to more effectively reach the consumer. PROBLEM STATEMENT Direct selling business has a history of dozens of years in the world and nearly ten years of operation in Vietnam market and more than four years from the issuance of Law on Competition (2004) and Decree 110 on Multi-level Marketing Management, it is still very difficult for distributors of multi-level marketing companies to sell products or to invite people to collaborate with them as an independent business owner of the company because of negative perceptions of consumers on direct selling companies and their products. This makes things to be very difficult for doing this kind of business in Vietnam. In addition, together with the entrance of many new comers into Vietnam market in recent years, the competition in the industry becomes not as harsh as ever before. Being recognized as born in the late 1800s when traveling salesmen created trained sales organizations with hundred of salesmen to sell various products in America, direct selling is considered as a dynamic and vibrant industry offering employment to more than 62 million independent sales representatives. According to data from World Foundation of Direct Selling Association (WFDSA), worldwide retail sales by its members accounted for more than US$114 billion in 2007. Although direct selling industry has a long history and obtained very good results with a great potential of growth, as consideration of many experts, it is not easy for direct selling companies to enter a new market and gain the good perception of local consumers. In Vietnam, direct selling appeared ten years ago (in 2000) but there still are very negative perceptions of consumers on this kind of business and its products. This makes things seem to be very difficult for doing this kind of business in Vietnam. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: Primarily, this study aims to take a general picture of perceptions of consumer towards multi-level marketing companies and their products in relation to the factors that effect consumers buying decision. The main problem is to find out what the most important factors consumers have in mind when buying or not buying products and/or agreeing or refusing to become a distributor of a multi-level marketing company. Specifically, the research objectives include the followings: To define the current situation of multi-level marketing business in Vietnam; To identify factors that have influence on the consumer behavior towards multi-level marketing business in Vietnam; To describe the behaviors of consumers in HCMC and Mekong Delta toward multi-level marketing; To recommend solutions for increasing good perceptions of consumer for marketer working in multi-level marketing enterprises. THE SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF RESEARCH STUDY: The research just focuses on studying the literature of the consumer behavior, and the survey is conducted only in Ho Chi Minh City the economic hub of the South, and some rural areas in Mekong Delta region such as: Tien Giang, Can Tho and Ca Mau provinces which represent rural areas in the South of the country. Consumer behaviors of such regions may not represent the general behaviors of consumers nationwide. Due to the lack of official data of multi-level marketing industry and difficulty of getting the confidential internal business data from multi-level marketing companies, the data used in this research may not be sufficient enough. Besides, due of the limitation of time and money, the survey shall be carried out only with small sample size. THE POSITION OF THE RESEARCH COMPARED TO THE AVAILABLE KNOWLEDGE AND FORMER WORKS Multi-level marketing or direct selling is till a very young industry in Vietnam. There is no former research or survey on this business so far. There are so many vague understandings about the industry in the perceptions of Vietnamese consumers. Hence, it is expected that this research will contribute a very first premise for further study for a general picture of multi-level marketing industry in Vietnam market. THE RELEVANCE OF THE RESEARCH: The author of this report is now working as Mekong Delta Regional Sales Supervisor in Amway Vietnam Company Limited, a worlds leading multi-level marketing company. Therefore, it is feasible for me to carry the survey, collect data and have enough information for making analysis. THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This is a combination of quantitative and qualitative research approaches, the research will access all potential sources and means to collect data and information such as: collection and synthesis of secondary data, questionnaire design and pilot survey to ensure the maximum clarity and effectiveness of the questions, face-to-face interviews using questionnaire, online survey using questionnaire and meeting with some experts or stakeholders of multi-level marketing companies. CHAPTER I: LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1 Definition of consumer behavior: Consumer behavior is The study of individuals, groups, or organizations and the processes they use to select, secure, use, and dispose of products, services, experiences, or ideas to satisfy needs and the impacts that these processes have on the consumer and society. The action a person takes in purchasing and using products and services, including the mental and social processes that precede and follow these actions. The behavioral sciences help answer questions such as: why people choose one product or brand over another; how they make these choices, and how companies use this knowledge to provide value to consumers. Belch and Belch define consumer behavior as the process and activities people engage in when searching for, selecting, purchasing, using, evaluating, and disposing of products and services so as to satisfy their needs and desires. 1.2 Consumer behavior and marketing mix: 1.3 Types of consumer decisions: 1.3.1 Habitual decision making: Habitual decision making involves no decision as such. Habitual decisions occur when there is very low involvement with the purchase and result in repeat purchasing behavior. A completely habitual decision does not even include consideration of the do-not-purchase alternative. Noticing that the product or service is needed will cause the consumer to purchase some of the same one in the next visit to such product or service supplier. The consumer will not even consider the possibilities of not replacing the product or service or purchasing another brand. 1.3.2 Limited decision making: Limited decision making covers the middle ground between habitual decision making and extended decision making. In its simplest form, limited decision making is very similar to habitual decision making. No other alternative may be considered, except, possibly, a very limited examination of a do-not-buy option. Limited decision making also occurs in response to some emotional or environmental needs. Consumers may also evaluate a purchase in terms of the actual or anticipated behavior of others. 1.3.3 Extended decision making: Extended decision making is the response to a very high level of purchase involvement. An extensive internal and external information search is followed by a complex evaluation of multiple alternatives. After the purchase, uncertainty about its correctness is likely and a thorough evaluation of the purchase will take place. Relatively few consumer decisions reach this extreme level of complexity. However, products such as cars, houses and personal computers are frequently purchased as a result of extended decision making. 1.4 Consumer purchase decision process: The purchase decision process is the stages a buyer passes through in making choices about which products and services to buy which includes five stages which are: problem recognition, information search, alternative evaluation, purchase decision and post-purchase behavior. Post-purchase behavior: Value in consumption or use Purchase decision: Buying value Evaluation of alternatives: Assessing value Information search: Seeking value Problem recognition: Perceiving a need 1.4.1 Problem recognition: The consumer decision process begins with the recognition that a problem exits. The recognition of a problem is the result of a discrepancy between a desired state and an actual state which is sufficient to arouse and activate the decision process. Without recognition of a problem, there is no need for a consumer decision. If the consumer resolves the problem by recalling one satisfactory solution and purchasing that product or service without an evaluation, this is termed habitual decision making. Many consumer purchases, particularly of frequently purchased items, such as detergents, soft drink and petrol, are of this nature. Other problems may be resolved by recalling several potential solutions and choosing from among them, perhaps using some additional information, such as current prices. A great many consumer purchases are the results of such limited decision making. Problems that require thorough information searches, both internal and external, the evaluation of several alternatives along several dimensions, and considerable post-purchase evaluation, result in extended decision making. 1.4.2 Information search: Once the problem has been recognized, an information search is undertaken to isolate an effective solution. The information search may be extensive, very brief or somewhere between. 1.4.3 Evaluation of alternatives: After the information has been gathered, which allows the consumer to determine and compare the relevant and feasible alternatives, the decision can be made. 1.4.4 Purchase decision : 1.4.5 Post-purchase behavior: Post-purchase behavior is a process occurs after purchase or acquisition: use, evaluation, disposal and repurchase behavior. These reflect the satisfaction of the consumers relating to the usage of such product and/or service. Consumer satisfaction is influenced by product performance, the purchasing process and consumer expectations. 1.5 Major factors influencing buying behavior: 1.5.1 Internal influences: Perception: Perception is critical to the decision process and is also an internal phenomenon that is highly influenced by the internal influences. Perception is also influenced by external factors such as variety of groups, situations and marketing efforts. Learning and memory: The result of learning is memory and memory also has an influence on the learning process. There are two kinds of memory which are short-term and long-term ones which relate memory to brand image and product positioning. Motives, personality and emotion: Motives are the forces that initiate and direct consumer behavior. Motives may be either physiologically or psychologically based. In developed countries, most consumer behavior is guided by psychological motives. While motives direct behavior towards objectives, personality relates to characteristic patterns of behavior: personality is generally considered to reflect a consistent pattern of responses to a variety of situations, although the role played by the situation itself must also be recognized. Emotions are the feelings or affective responses to situations, products, advertisements and so forth. They affect information processing and preferences, and are becoming of increasing interest to marketers. Attitudes: Attitudes are formed out of the interrelationship between personal experience and lifestyle and the factors that help shape lifestyles. Attitudes are composed of three components which are cognitive, affective and behavioral. 1.5.2 External influences: Demographics and lifestyles The household Reference group Social status Culture Values 1.6 Attitude: 1.6.1 The three components of attitude: Beliefs: cognitive component of consumer attitude Affect: emotive component of consumer attitude Intention: behavioral intention component of consumer attitude Beliefs: Cognitive component of Consumer Attitude A consumer belief is a psychological association between a product, brand, outlet, action, etc. and an attribute or feature (and associated benefits) of such: Beliefs are cognitive (based on knowledge, experience, perception, etc.) The stronger the association of features or attributes (and association benefits) with the products, brand, outlet, action, etc., the stronger the consumers belief Brand equity is a measure of the strength of the association in the marketplace. Strategies to change consumer beliefs: Positioning by: product attributes, consumer benefits, intangible attributes, price, application, brand user, celebrity recognition, brand personality, product category, association with competitors country or geographic area, etc. 1.6.2 The Fishbein models: Affective responses to a brand consist of: The strength or weakness of a consumers beliefs about the brand and its attributes; The consumers evaluation of or feelings toward those attributes. Where: A = Attitude towards a brand Bi = Belief that the brand possesses attribute i Ei = Evaluation or desirability of attribute i I = Attribute 1,2, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, m The Fishbein Model Belief-important Model Theory of Reasoned Action Theory of Trying Theory of Planned Behavior CHAPTER II: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 2.1 Methods of studying consumer behavior: Qualitative research is a method of inquiry appropriated in many different academic disciplines, traditionally in the social sciences, but also in market research and further contexts. Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior. The qualitative method investigates the why and how of decision making, not just what, when, where. Hence, smaller but focused samples are more often needed, rather than large samples. 2.2 Sources of information: 2.2.1 Internal information: 2.2.2 External information: Two problems the commonly arise with secondary data are they do not completely fit the problem and they are not totally accurate. 2.3 Data collection: 2.2.1 Primary data: 2.2.2 Secondary data: 2.4 Data analysis: CHAPTER III: INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT SELLING BUSINESS Definition of direct selling: The concept of direct selling is based upon person-to-person relationships. The seller goes to the consumer rather than the consumer go to a shop. In todays fast changing society, where more people work and shopping patterns have altered, this type of shopping not only provides consumers with accessibility to a wide range of products but is also convenient. 2.2 Benefits of direct selling: 2.2.1 Benefits from distributor edge: Direct selling offers opportunity for individuals who want to earn an income and build a business of their own. It offers an alternative to traditional employment for those who desire a flexible income earning opportunity to supplement their household income, or whose responsibilities or circumstances do not allow for regular part-time or full time employment. The cost for an individual to start an independent direct selling business is typically very low. This means it provides benefits for investors to avoid a significant risk of loss. This also means anyone can do it. Opportunities are offered to any ones who desire, particularly to those cannot or harshly compete for a job opportunity. There are no required levels of education, experience, financial resources or physical condition in direct selling. People of all ages and from all backgrounds have succeeded in direct selling. Usually, a modestly priced sales kit is all that is required for one to get started, and there is little or no required inventory or other cash commitments to begin. Direct selling can provide to distributors a good way to meet and socialize with people. For those who want to achieve a success based on the level of their efforts, direct selling is a good way. Set your own goals and determine yourself how to reach them since earning is in proportion to your own efforts. The level of success you can achieve is limited only by your willingness to work hard. Moreover, distributors can receive training and support from other distributors who works with them, and from the company they counter. 2.2.2 Benefits from consumer edge: Consumers benefit from direct selling because of the convenience and service it provides, including personal demonstration and explanation of products, home delivery, and generous satisfaction guarantees and serves consumers with a convenient source of quality products. 2.2.3 Benefits from enterprise edge: Direct selling provides a channel of distribution for companies with innovative or distinctive products not readily available in traditional retail stores, or who cannot afford to compete with the enormous advertising and promotion costs associated with gaining space on retail shelves. Direct selling enhances the retail distribution infrastructure of the economy. 2.3 Types of direct sellings compensation plan: 2.3.1 Single-level compensation plan: Single level compensation plan means a representative/distributor is compensated based solely on ones own product sales. 2.3.2 Multi-level compensation plan: In a multilevel compensation plan, distributors are compensated based not only on ones own product sales, but on the product sales of ones down-line. Multilevel marketing is an important component of the Direct Selling industry. It is also referred to as network marketing, structure marketing or multilevel direct selling, and has proven over many years to be a highly successful and effective method of compensating direct sellers for the marketing and distribution of products and services directly to consumers. Differences between multilevel marketing and pyramid scheme: 2.4.1 Multilevel Marketing model: Multilevel marketing is a popular way of retailing in which consumer products are sold, not in stores by sales clerks, but by independent businessmen and women (called distributors), usually in customers homes. As a distributor you can set your own hours and earn money by selling consumer products supplied by an established company. In a multilevel structure you can also build and manage your own sales-force by recruiting, motivating, supplying and training others to sell those products. Your compensation then includes a percentage of the sales of your entire sales group as well as earnings on your own sales to retail customers. This opportunity has made multilevel marketing an attractive way of starting a business with comparatively little money. And the most important statement should be emphasized is that multilevel marketing is a legitimate income opportunity for everybody. Anyone can do it. 2.4.2 Pyramid scheme: Pyramid schemes are illegal scams in which large numbers of people at the bottom of the pyramid pay money to a few people at the top. Each new participant pays for the chance to advance to the top and profit from payments of others who might join later. For example, to join, you might have to pay anywhere from a small investment to thousands of dollars. In this example, $1,000 buys a position in one of the boxes on the bottom level. $500 of your money goes to the person in the box directly above you, and the other $500 goes to the person at the top of the pyramid, the promoter. If all the boxes on the chart fill up with participants, the promoter will collect $16,000, and you and the others on the bottom level will each be $1,000 poorer. When the promoter has been paid off, his box is removed and the second level becomes the top or payoff level. Only then do the two people on the second level begin to profit. To pay off these two, 32 empty boxes are added at the bottom, and the search for new participants continues. Each time a level rises to the top, a new level must be added to the bottom, each one twice as large as the one before. If enough new participants join, you and the other 15 players in your level may make it to the top. However, in order for you to collect your payoffs, 512 people would have to be recruited, half of them losing $1,000 each. Of course, the pyramid may collapse long before you reach the top. In order for everyone in a pyramid scheme to profit, there would have to be a never-ending supply of new participants. In reality, however, the supply of participants is limited, and each new level of participants has less chance of recruiting others and a greater chance of losing money. A closer inspection of a pyramid schemes so called products typically reveals that they have no real market value. This is because the products are often gimmicks such as certificates, spurious training programs or magazine subscriptions, illusory discounts, or over-priced and under-performing miracle treatments and the like. Recruits are often obliged to invest in large quantities of these products with no realistic prospect of marketing them to actual consumers (or returning them for credit). Their investments, however, generate substantial income for the promoter who enticed them into the scheme. 2.4.2 Differences between lawful multi-level marketing model and illegal pyramid schemes: The following factors differentiate illegal pyramids from lawful direct selling businesses: Legitimate direct selling companies offer a genuine business opportunity based on the sale of quality products to consumers. They routinely offer consumers satisfaction guarantees or cancellation rights so that the consumer may return the product for replacement or refund if the consumer is dissatisfied. Pyramids schemes have no such commercially viable product sales base. Legitimate direct selling companies strongly discourage overstocking of inventory and provide participants leaving the plan with an opportunity to return any unused, salable merchandise to the company for a refund of not less than 90% of the salespersons net cost. In contrast, pyramid schemes often encourage or require large stocks of non-refundable inventory and disappointed scheme participants are then left with stock which they can neither sell nor return. Legitimate direct selling opportunities may be taken up with minimal start-up costs and little or no inventory investment. Even modest entry fees may be refundable if the new direct seller decides not to pursue the opportunity. Conversely, pyramid selling schemes often require high entry fees and/or substantial investment in inventory, and neither are refundable. This is because pyramid operators make their money from new recruits to their schemes. The sales and marketing plans of credible direct selling companies are based on the progressive recognition and reward of direct sellers for the development of a customer base for consumption of the companys products. The development and stability of a direct sellers business is dependent on satisfied consumers and fairly remunerated direct selling network members. Pyramid schemes, on the other hand, offer get-rich-quick schemes to induce participants to buy ground-floor or leadership positions. In pyramid selling schemes there is no viable, long-term business opportunity. Unfortunately, some potentially fraudulent schemes will claim to offer a multilevel marketing opportunity, but in fact are simply recruiting schemes in which people must make substantial investments in order to participate. CHAPTER IV: OVERVIEW OF DIRECT SELLING INDUSTRY IN VIETNAM 4.1 Overview of Vietnam direct selling market: 4.1.1 History: 4.2.2 Market size: 4.1.2 Market growth: 4.1.3 SWOT analysis: 4.2 Players of direct selling: 4.3 Distribution channel of direct selling: 4.4 Legal framework for direct selling: 4.5 Leading enterprises: 4.6 What managers thought about perspectives of direct selling in Vietnam? In 2008 the retail industry in Vietnam saw very strong expansion in terms of outlets in both grocery and on-grocery channels. Huge investment by local retailers was poured into the market in order to capitalise on available good locations before Vietnam fully opens its retail industry to foreign investors in 2009. Penetration from foreign retailers was also more fierce compared with 2007. International investors such as Wellcome Supermarket, Best Denki and Lotte Mart, among others, all obtained the requisite license. Local retailers prepared for the foreign invasion by providing better service, improving product quality and implementing more marketing activities and cooperation between local brands. Non-store retailing remained a niche of the overall retail industry. The main product category remained cosmetics and toiletries. Non-store retailing was not yet strong enough to influence manufacturers or other retail formatsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Non-store retailing still needs to educate consumers and increase consumer awareness. (Euromonitor Retailing Vietnam 2009) CHAPTER V: SURVEY RESULTS CONSUMER BEHAVIOR OF CONSUMERS IN HO CHI MINH CITY AND MEKONG DELTA 5.1 Overview of respondents: 5.2 Descriptive analysis: CHAPTER VI: KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Key findings and recommendations: CONCLUSIONS:

The Color Purple vs. The Joy Luck Club Essay -- essays research papers

The Color Purple is a biased, unbalanced view into the life of black women during the early to mid-nineteen hundreds. While it is obvious that a woman who in her own right is racist, chauvinist, and ignorant to the way that the world really works wrote the novel, it has been requested that the class write a paper on the story. Whilst this writer does not agree with this novel or anything that Alice Walker thinks or feels, obligingly this paper is been written. The Color Purple and the Joy Luck Club had many similarities, the most notably the presence of weak, ill bred, and quite frankly embarrassing male characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The most obvious example of one of these unfortunate male characters is of course Albert from the Color Purple. Throughout the novel, Albert is portrayed as an abusive agitator whose main concerns are money, sex, and making sure things are in their â€Å"place†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Dear God, Harpo ast his daddy why he beat me. Mr. ________ say, Cause she my wife.† (Walker, 23) Only the most ignorant of men, even if they believed this would make that reply, fueling the fire that this author feels to have Alice Walker burned at the stake. Especially considering that Alice herself admitted that she does not think fondly of the male race. Albert, throughout the book, is in no way portrayed as a good man until the very end when his whole world comes crumbling down because Celie finally stood up for herself and left with Shug. This writer feels that this is indirectly saying that men are weak and can not function in life without a â€Å"strong Woman† to guide them. I will add personally that a woman does not make a man, actions and attitude make a man. That being said, Albert is not a good man, but he realizes this and changes his ways towards the end of the story which I feel deserves him a great deal of respect.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Having slandered Alice Walker like that, this writer cannot overlook the fact that Amy Tan’s novel The Joy Luck Club does not convey a flattering view on men. While all of her male characters are minors ones at best, each one conveys a different distinct shortcoming. Harold, Lena’s husband, is completely oblivious to his wife’s feelings making him self-centered. After viewing the list of expenses on the refrigerator Lena’s mother and her had a discus... ... he had indeed been cheating on her. This fact only came out when he called her after the divorce asking for the house to start a new family. This revelation is not a proud day for men, fictional character or not.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the end, the fact that men like all of these actually exists, cannot be disputed. However, focusing on the shortcomings of someone always puts them in a negative light. This writer could easily produce a novel featuring women who do much of the same thing or perhaps I could bash a certain religion, race, or how about talking trash about homosexuals? I do not do this because it gets us nowhere and in reality, it is wrong, everyone has shortcomings. Focusing on the positive of out civilization is the way to go. I feel that the chauvinism displayed by both of these authors is a detriment to the novelists who manage to take unbiased views on the world. While both of these novels are widely shared and respected throughout the literary world, perhaps it is time to stop looking so deep into books to analyze how the theme of colonialism affected Nettie on page two-twelve and look at the facts that are in bold face. The Color Purple vs. The Joy Luck Club Essay -- essays research papers The Color Purple is a biased, unbalanced view into the life of black women during the early to mid-nineteen hundreds. While it is obvious that a woman who in her own right is racist, chauvinist, and ignorant to the way that the world really works wrote the novel, it has been requested that the class write a paper on the story. Whilst this writer does not agree with this novel or anything that Alice Walker thinks or feels, obligingly this paper is been written. The Color Purple and the Joy Luck Club had many similarities, the most notably the presence of weak, ill bred, and quite frankly embarrassing male characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The most obvious example of one of these unfortunate male characters is of course Albert from the Color Purple. Throughout the novel, Albert is portrayed as an abusive agitator whose main concerns are money, sex, and making sure things are in their â€Å"place†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Dear God, Harpo ast his daddy why he beat me. Mr. ________ say, Cause she my wife.† (Walker, 23) Only the most ignorant of men, even if they believed this would make that reply, fueling the fire that this author feels to have Alice Walker burned at the stake. Especially considering that Alice herself admitted that she does not think fondly of the male race. Albert, throughout the book, is in no way portrayed as a good man until the very end when his whole world comes crumbling down because Celie finally stood up for herself and left with Shug. This writer feels that this is indirectly saying that men are weak and can not function in life without a â€Å"strong Woman† to guide them. I will add personally that a woman does not make a man, actions and attitude make a man. That being said, Albert is not a good man, but he realizes this and changes his ways towards the end of the story which I feel deserves him a great deal of respect.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Having slandered Alice Walker like that, this writer cannot overlook the fact that Amy Tan’s novel The Joy Luck Club does not convey a flattering view on men. While all of her male characters are minors ones at best, each one conveys a different distinct shortcoming. Harold, Lena’s husband, is completely oblivious to his wife’s feelings making him self-centered. After viewing the list of expenses on the refrigerator Lena’s mother and her had a discus... ... he had indeed been cheating on her. This fact only came out when he called her after the divorce asking for the house to start a new family. This revelation is not a proud day for men, fictional character or not.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the end, the fact that men like all of these actually exists, cannot be disputed. However, focusing on the shortcomings of someone always puts them in a negative light. This writer could easily produce a novel featuring women who do much of the same thing or perhaps I could bash a certain religion, race, or how about talking trash about homosexuals? I do not do this because it gets us nowhere and in reality, it is wrong, everyone has shortcomings. Focusing on the positive of out civilization is the way to go. I feel that the chauvinism displayed by both of these authors is a detriment to the novelists who manage to take unbiased views on the world. While both of these novels are widely shared and respected throughout the literary world, perhaps it is time to stop looking so deep into books to analyze how the theme of colonialism affected Nettie on page two-twelve and look at the facts that are in bold face.

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CURRICULUM VITAE GURPREET BANHAL E-mail: [email  protected] co. in H. NO. 665/19 Contact No. 01874-4694621 R. R COLONY GALI NO. 4 (M) : +91 8109192849 GURDASPUR (PUNJAB) CAREER OBJECTIVE: Seeking a position to utilize my skills and abilities in the Industry to achieve success and honors’ in my profession. WORKING EXPERIENCE: – JAMNA AUTO INDUSTRIES LTD. GWALIOR FROM (01AUG 2009 TO TILL DATE. ) EON INFOTECH LTD. CHANDIGARH FROM (24 MARCH 2008 TO 31JULY2009. ) Advance Diploma CADD ENGINEERING. From cdac mohali (CHANDIGARH). 2% (1 AUGUST2007 TO 31JANUARY 2008) ANAND NISHIKAWA CO. LTD (06 NOV2006 TO 31 JULY 2007) JAMNA AUTO INDUSTRIES LIMITED MALANPUR GWALIOR DESIGNATION:- ENGINEER(PRODUCT DESIGN) An ISO: 9002 & QS-9000 Certified Company in Design Collaboration with NHK Springs Ltd. , Japan Involved in Designing & Manufacturing of Automobile springs. JAI has tied up with Ridewell_Corporation of USA to manufacture Air Suspension, Bogie Suspension and Lift Axles in India. R idewell has more than 42 patents for various suspension products and is considered a leader in this field. Our Clients:-Indian clients; Export clients:- Tata Motors,Volvo asia Ashok Leyland, Nissan diesel(UD TRUCK) Maruti Suzuki, John-R (USA) Mahindra & Mahindra, AUTOMANN (USA) AMW, Navistar international truck corp. (USA) Eicher Motors, GAFFAR ,JORDAN Swaraj Mazda, etc. Hendrickson (USA), etc. Key Responsibilities: ? PRODUCT DESIGN OF PARABOLIC/CONVENTIONAL SPRINGS AT UNLADEN LOAD, RATED LOAD IN CATIAV5R19 ?PRODUCT COSTING, PRODUCT DESIGN, FEASIBILITY, COMPONENT COSTING, CUT WEIGHT COSTING OF STEEL USED. ? LOAD RATE CALCULATION, FATIGUE TESTING OF SPRING, RELIABILITY ENGINEERING , Durability / Fatigue / Life estimation . Design of test rigs and development of test plans . ? Analyzing the technical requirements and specifications for recommending design modifications of Assy. And components based on client requirements. ? Preparation of technical documentation, describing the specif ications/usage of products like, APQP, FMEA CONTROL PLAN, Feasibility report, ECN, , PFC ,TOOL DRAWING,GUAGES DRAWING,FIXTURE DRAWING etc. INVOLVE IN PPAP TRAILS, TOOL & DIE TRAILS, 5S maintaining ,REVERSE ENGINEERING OF parabolic spring/leaf spring. FIXTURE DESIGN,PLANT LAYOUT OF SHOP FLOOR, ? Designing through 3-D CAD model , Detailing / GD&T. ? Preparation of engineering drawings, PRODUCT DRAWING, ASSEMBLY DRAWING through AutoCAD2007, CATIAV5R19. ? Participating in project review meetings for tracking project progress & planning, etc. ? Identifying modification & their root causes to review product improvement. ? Preparing the Process drawing, component drawing TOOLING DESIGN IN CATIAV5R19. Adequate Knowledge of different SAP module, Creating BOM, Routing. ? FATIGUE TESTING OF LEAF SPRING/PARABOLIC SPRING ON SERVO ACTUATOR as per DVP. Project Handled: VA/VALUE ENGINEERING OF Parabolic Leaf Spring for INDIAN Clients TATA, ASHOK LEYLAND. – JOB PROFILE IN EON INFOTECH LIMITED MOHALI. (March24,2008 to31 july2009) ? Making 2D and 3d models , generating different views of drawings ? Product design & development of new component. ? Making assembly of chassis, exploded view. ? Prototype development, making bom, component development. ? Installation of ctu project handled. Follow up with vendors for new product design. ? PRODUCT COSTING OF CHASIS. CUT WT. CALCULATION ? Sheet metal component design for various pcb holding. ? JOB PROFILE IN ANCO :-(NOV 2006 TO 31JULY2007) ? â€Å"ANAND NISHIKAWA CO. LTD. †LALRU, CHANDIGARH (PUNJAB) in engineering department. The plant at this location deals with the production of ‘Rubber Seals’, DOOR RUBBER, WIND SHEILD, TRIM being used for automobile industry & having TS16949 certification. There my job responsibilities were : ? PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OF PVC TRIM, DOOR TRIM . ? Die trials and rectification of Dies and keeping process data records. Responsible for daily work management. ? Responsible for contro l of process as per specifications/control plans and work instructions. ? To maintain work discipline and ensure harmony within the department by building team to obtain optimum results. ? To strive and achieve lower production cost. ? Deployment & full utilization of manpower in production. ? Handling shop floor activities and implementing effective techniques to bring efficiency in operations to improve quality standards & achieve maximum cost savings CADD SKILLS ? AutoCAD: – 2D, 3D Part Modeling, Dimensioning and Layout. Mechanical Designer: – 2D, 3D Part Modeling, Dimensioning and Layout. ? Autodesk Inventor: – 2D, 3D Part Modeling, Dimensioning and Layout. ? Pro-e3. 0 :- Sketch, part & assembly design, interactive & generative drafting ? CatiaV5R19 :- Part Design, Surface, Assembling Design, Generative Drafting, sheet metal design. EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION: Advance Diploma in CAD ENGINEERING. From cdac mohali (CHANDIGARH). BTECH IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F ROM B. C. E. T GURDASPUR SENIOR SECONDARY(NON-MEDICAL) FROM KVT GURDASPUR (CBSE BOARD) HIGHER SECONDARY FROM KVT GURDASPUR (CBSE BOARD)Eon InfoTech Limited is a technology company headquartered in the Northern Indian city of Chandigarh. Founded in 1997 by a team of first-generation entrepreneurs, it is today a 75-plus (and growing) tech team dedicated to providing cutting-edge Embedded, Networking and Information Technology Solutions to its clients. We specialize in delivering World Class Embedded software-based and VLSI design solutions. To this end, Eon owns a number of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) Role: Design Engineer Project Details handled in eon infotech limited. Project:Kavach Software’s used:Auto-cad,Duration: Completed Client: Indian Navy, GCF Team Size 3 Description: Kavach is a soft Kill antimissile system. In this project I design the †¢ Auxiliary console. †¢ Launcher interface unit. †¢ Power supply and communication unit. †¢ 19 inchesà ¢â‚¬â„¢ rack for full fitment of systems. Project:Gemini Software’s used:CATIAV5R19 Duration: 3 months Client: Indian Army Team Size 3 Description: Gemini is a counter RCIED system that is used to predestinate the RCIED’s. The equipment is mounted in 2. 5T vehicles.Project:ESS HOUSING Software’s used:AutoCAD, CATIAV5R19 Duration: 1 months Client: TBRL CHANDIGARH Team Size 2 Description: Ess an embeded security system is used as a communication module in agni 3. Project:VOYAGER BOX Software’s used:AutoCAD Duration: 2 months Client: CTU CHANDIGARH Team Size 1 Description: VOYAGER IS AN GPS/GPRS/GSM ENABLED BOX FOR THE BUS TRACKING SYSTEM. ACHIEVEMENTS & EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: ? Participate in youth parliament & project during school time. Participated in college & school level debates, GDs & various other competition. ? Stood first in Inter college Folk dance competition INDUSTRIAL TRAINING: †¢ Two months training in Northern Railways Mechanical Workshop AMRITSAR. †¢ Six month industrial training in BHUSHAN STEELS LTD. CHANDIGARH †¢ Project undertaken during training (To check the rejection against the total number of tubes manufactured) . ? Retrofitting and performance analysis of household refrigerator with CARE-30 AS refrigerant PERSONAL PROFILE: Name : Gurpreet Banhal .Father's Name : Sh. B. R banhal. Mother's Name : Smt. Amarjeet Kaur. Nationality : Indian. Date of Birth : 27th, august 1985. Hobbies : GYM, Playing cricket, listening music, net surfing etc. Languages Known : English, Hindi & Punjabi. passport no. : g0702016 Place : GWALIOR ( Gurpreet Banhal ).

Free Essays on Barbara Ehrenreich

Book Critique I’ve never read one of Barbara Ehrenreich’s books but I might have to check one of them out after reading Nickeled and Dimed. I admired the argument, actually enjoyed reading for a change, and also learned a lot from every page. When I finished the book, I looked at it as what I only can call loathing. Writing up for the rich the results of an upper class essayist’s anthropological mission to see how the other half live is worthwhile. It is part of the task of affiliating the comfortable, which needs to be carried out much more strongly if we are ever to have a better society. The point of Ehrenreich’s rapiers of intellect, art, and wit are ever more prevalent when she points out that even so-called â€Å"unskilled† work- is demanding and challenging: the memory skills required of a waitress, the physical labor of a house cleaner with a vacuum on her back, and the patience of a wal-mart â€Å"zoner† hanging up the same blouse for the nin th time can push human capacities close to their limits- and for the truly lousy pay. I feel that the focus or purpose of her writings were to remind her readers that every job is worth doing well, and that people who do it well deserve respect: â€Å"†¦when I wake up at 4 A.M. in my own cold sweat, I am thinking of the table where I screwed up the order and one of the kids didn’t get his kiddie meal until the rest of the family had moved on to their Key lime pies.† That is something that her readers need to hear more often. So maybe the next time their (the readers) order isn’t perfect they’ll show a little patience and understanding, with their waiter or waitress. Mrs. Ehrenreich often found it a struggle to make ends meet even though she was working two jobs, seven days a week. Something is terribly wrong with this picture. A white, middle aged, capable woman with dependable transportation can’t support herself working two jobs. Even she admits that she... Free Essays on Barbara Ehrenreich Free Essays on Barbara Ehrenreich Book Critique I’ve never read one of Barbara Ehrenreich’s books but I might have to check one of them out after reading Nickeled and Dimed. I admired the argument, actually enjoyed reading for a change, and also learned a lot from every page. When I finished the book, I looked at it as what I only can call loathing. Writing up for the rich the results of an upper class essayist’s anthropological mission to see how the other half live is worthwhile. It is part of the task of affiliating the comfortable, which needs to be carried out much more strongly if we are ever to have a better society. The point of Ehrenreich’s rapiers of intellect, art, and wit are ever more prevalent when she points out that even so-called â€Å"unskilled† work- is demanding and challenging: the memory skills required of a waitress, the physical labor of a house cleaner with a vacuum on her back, and the patience of a wal-mart â€Å"zoner† hanging up the same blouse for the nin th time can push human capacities close to their limits- and for the truly lousy pay. I feel that the focus or purpose of her writings were to remind her readers that every job is worth doing well, and that people who do it well deserve respect: â€Å"†¦when I wake up at 4 A.M. in my own cold sweat, I am thinking of the table where I screwed up the order and one of the kids didn’t get his kiddie meal until the rest of the family had moved on to their Key lime pies.† That is something that her readers need to hear more often. So maybe the next time their (the readers) order isn’t perfect they’ll show a little patience and understanding, with their waiter or waitress. Mrs. Ehrenreich often found it a struggle to make ends meet even though she was working two jobs, seven days a week. Something is terribly wrong with this picture. A white, middle aged, capable woman with dependable transportation can’t support herself working two jobs. Even she admits that she...