Radar Logic in the business excellence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Radar Logic in the business excellence - Essay Example Every organization has a mission, vision and goal. In addition, businesses develop strategies in which they can ultimately achieve these objectives. This is referred to as the business plan. It is essential that businesses develop a means in which they can assess their development with respect to achieving their goals and objectives. The intention of this treatise is to make out whether the organization is indeed running right in terms of direction and pace. The EFQM Business mold operates by providing organizations a yardstick for which they can measure and evaluate their existing position as pertains to excellence (Hakes & Wilkinson, 2007, 76). With this, the organization is granted the opportunity to identify the facets of the organization that is need of additional efforts in order to achieve the overall goal of excellence of the organization. The EFQM emphasizes on the importance of prioritizing the shareholders purposes and ensuring that the original targets of the company are met as stipulated. In conclusion, the EFQM model is a necessary tool for measuring the progress of the organization with respect to its goals. It beneficial as it helps to single out and analyze the different areas of the organization in terms of their performance. This is essential in the identification of the areas that need more attention and effort in order for the organization to achieve the excellence level that is

Applied Linguistics Essay Example for Free

Applied Linguistics Essay Second language learning has always become an important work-field both in schools and other private sectors dealing with language teaching and learning process especially in the time of global integration. It is a complex activity involving a mix of internal factors such as age, aptitude, motivation, personality, or learning strategies†¦and external factors such as socio-economic and cultural background, learning and teaching contexts†¦ All these factors play a very important role in learners? success in acquiring and using a second language. Thus, learners’ second language achievement can be greatly improved when teachers have a better understanding of the learner, of the learning process and of the variables that may help or hinder learner’s language achievement. Because of the limited size of this article, I am going to discuss some of the most important factors affecting learner’s second language achievement: motivation, age, personality, social and cultural factor in order to analyze what stimulates successful language learning and what places obstacles in the learner’ s path to language proficiency. II. DEVELOPMENT II. 1. Some factors affecting learner’s L2 achievement II. 1. 1. Internal factors II. 1. 1. 1. Motivation It is undeniable that motivation is one of the major factors in deciding the learner’s failure or success in second language achievement. Motivation is a kind of desire for learning. It is very difficult to teach a second language in a learning environment if the learner does not have a desire to learn a language. Reece Walker (1997) stress that a less able student who is highly motivated can achieve greater success than the more intelligent student who is not well motivated. In this article, we are concerned with motivation related to foreign language teaching and learning. Wilkins (1972) points out that â€Å"motivation is not a general covert term for possibly distinct concept such as energy, interest and enjoyment, but instead, restricted to the degree of willingness to learn which depends largely on the learner’s needs in learning the language. Psychologists have distinguished two major types of motivation which play an important role in determining how willing the learner is to persevere with the task: instrumental and integrative motivation The first motivation will be discussed is instrumental motivation. It is generally characterized by the desire to obtain something practical or concrete from the study of a second language (Hudson 2000). With instrumental motivation, the purpose of language acquisition is more utilitarian, such as meeting the requirements for school or university graduation, applying for a job, requesting higher pay based on language ability, reading technical material, translation work or achieving higher social status. Instrumental motivation is often characteristic of second language acquisition, where little or no social integration of the learner into a community using the target language takes place. According to Richards (1976) simply learning a language to acquire course credits, or to carry out a limited range of tasks that do not involve the learner in close face – to – face interaction ( for example a person learning enough English to sell souvenirs to tourists does not generally lead to a high degree of accomplishment in learning). However, in recent years, according to Brown (1977), he stated that Indian English is one example of a variety of English which can be acquired very successful for instrumental reasons alone. Another motivation will be taken into consideration is integrative motivation. According to Gardner and Lambert (1959), this kind of motivation means learning a language because the learner wishes to identify himself with or become integrated in the society whose language it is. It has generally been thought that integrative motivation is the more powerful of the two because it implies a desire to integrate with speakers of the target language. Instrumentally oriented students would be expected to acquire the second language only to the point where their instrumented goals were satisfied. It is likely that when the learner merely wanted to be able to buy food and take public transportation he could achieve those goals with a very low level of proficiency in the second language and if the learner had to use the target language in his professional life, his level of learning would be much higher. Learners with integrative motivation view the language as a key to social and cultural enrichment through the opportunities to provide for association with members of a different culture. Then their goal in learning the language is to be able to use the language as a means of  communication and also for acceptance by the people who speak the language. Such motivation often leads to high accomplishment. In settings such as Vietnam, learners who learn English for special purposes have a great deal of instrumental motivation to acquire English in order to be able to be applied for a good job with a high salary. They learn English very fast just because they want to communicate orally, in a very simple English with other speakers of English. In Vietnam, English is a compulsory subjects so almost all of students learn English just to pass the exam. Thus, the type of language learned namely forms as mainly for communicative use will be directly affected by the type of examination students need to pass. As a result, it is likely that learners will not achieve a high standard of English. II. 1. 1. 2. Language aptitude As has been discussed in the previous section, success in mastering a foreign language depends very much on the learner’s motivation. Beside the motivation factor, social psychologists have also found out that whether a student can learn a foreign language very successfully or not also depends on his language aptitude. This section is an attempt to discuss an intrinsic factor influencing foreign language learning that is language aptitude. Aptitude for language learning is usually composed of four different types of abilities: the ability to identify and memorize new sounds, the ability to understand the function of particular words in sentences, the ability to figure out grammatical rules from language samples, the ability to memorize new words. Many tests of language aptitude have proven extremely effective in predicting which learners will be successful in learning. However, considerable controversy remains about whether language aptitude is properly regarded as a unitary concept, an organic property of the brain, or as a complex of factors including motivation and short-term memory. Research has generally shown that language aptitude is quite distinct from general aptitude or intelligence, as measured by various tests, and is itself fairly consistently measurable by different tests. Language aptitude research is often criticized for being irrelevant to the problems of language learners, who must attempt to learn a language regardless of whether they are gifted for the task or not. This claim is reinforced by research findings that aptitude is largely unchangeable. In addition, traditional language aptitude measures such as the Modern Language Aptitude Test strongly favor decontextualized knowledge of the sort used in taking tests, rather than the sort used in conversation. For this reason little research is carried out on aptitude today. However, operators of selective language programs such as the United States Defense Language Institute continue to use language aptitude testing as part of applicant screening. In my opinion, as a teacher of English, aptitude plays an important role in learner’s language achievement. How is it that some people can learn a foreign language quickly while others, given the same opportunity experience utter failure? Does this depend on how language is taught? Partly this is true as when the teacher is equipped with a better language teaching method, his students can learn faster. But partly it is not true as in the same group there always exists fast and slow learners. Another answer to the question is the problem of â€Å"motivation† but not all students with the same motivation can have the same accomplishment. Another possible answer to the question is that some people have language aptitude while others do not. II. 1. 1. 3. Learner’s age The previous section dealt with the learner’s language aptitude, a factor that influences language acquisition a great deal. This section will take into consideration another factor age which has received a number of opinions so far. In the past few decades, the comparisons among child, adolescent and adult learners have been made by many researchers, and the different findings as well as explanations have been reported. Traditionally, research in Critical Period Hypothesis and other variables has derived two major aspects of language learningthe younger = the better and the older = the better. However, recently the scholars in the fields of linguistics, psychology and psycholinguistics have reported their study or experiment results continually, resulting in completely different points of view so the argument for or against the Critical Period Hypothesis has never stopped. The question of how developmental stages interact with individual learning differences is still a question of great debate. Is there an optimal age, a critical period or a sensitive period? How does the age factor affect the development of linguistic abilities? Are adults really inferior to children and even to adolescents? There exists a belief that younger learners have certain advantages over older learners in language learning. According to Ellis in 2008; Larsen-Freeman in 2008; Mayberry Lock in 2003, Robert Dekeyser in 2000, younger children learn L2 easily and quickly in comparison to older children. Larsen-Freeman Long in 2008 also suggest that there is a period of time, between birth and somewhere around the age when a child enters puberty, exists in which the learning a second language can be accomplished more rapidly and easily than times falling outside of this period (i. e. post puberty). This is because children are in the most flexible condition learning a foreign language. This stage might be strongly impressed on their brain, which can stimulate nervous function system, and the further learning can help them to form language habit and competency easi1y. however Researchers also disagree with withdrawing home language support too soon and suggest that although oral communication skills in a second language may be acquired within 2 or 3 years, it may take 4 to 6 years to acquire the level of proficiency needed for understanding the language in its academic uses (Collier, 1989; Cummins, 1981). So children who are taught L2 intensively too early will damage their L1 acquisition. Another belief reported by Johnson and Newport, Dekeyser, Asher and Price, Politzer and Weiss, Olson and Samuel, Lightbown and Spada (2008) that older learners have a higher level of problem solving and metalinguistics abilities than younger learners.. The young learners are considered fluent in communication of the second language and achieve native like accent. Learners after the age of puberty do not acquire native like accent of a second language but have complex learning pattern. Research suggests that children and adults L2 learners pass through different developmental states in second language learning. Learning depends on the cognitive maturity and neurological factors. Adults’ cerebra nerve network has come into being completely, and their thinking habits have become mature in this period. They can deal with complicated language form and contents easily, because their meta-language consciousnesses, common sense and literary knowledge are better than children. In general, age is important but not everything in second language learning. There are some factors related to the age, for example the learning opportunities, the motivation to learn, individual differences, and learning styles, are also important determining variables that affect the rate of second language learning in various developmental stages of the learners. II. 1. 1. 4. Learner’s personality We have mentioned some important factors influencing learner’s second language achievement such as motivation, language aptitude and age. In this section we continues with some specific personality factors in human behavior in relation to second language acquisition. The psychological factors to be discussed here are self-esteem, inhibition, extroversion/ introversion. Self –esteem is the degree of value, a worthiness which an individual ascribes to himself. According to Schuman in 1978 and Brown in 1980, there are three kinds of self- esteem: global, specific and task self – esteem. How is self –esteem related to second language acquisition? Brown (1980) states that specific self- esteem might refer to second language acquisition in general but task- esteem might approximately refer to one’s self-evaluation of a particular aspect of the language process: speaking, writing†¦ A study by Adelaide Heyde (1979) revealed that all three aspects of self-esteem correlated positively with performance in oral production and student with high self –esteem actually performed better in the foreign language. Inhibition sets of defences built to protect the ego, a concept closely related to self-esteem and of course has to be considered by teachers. Language learners, children or adults, make progress by learning from making mistakes but at the same time, making mistakes can be viewed as a threat to one’s ego. As a result, the learner tends to build a certain degree of defence to protect himself. Guiora et al (1972a) produced one of the few studies in inhibition in relation to second language learning, and the experiments have been high-lighted a possibility that the inhibition, the defence which we place between ourselves and others can prevent us from communicating in a foreign language. . Another factor which also needs some examination is extraversion and introversion. Language teachers often assume that the extraverts are better language learner than introverts. In a language class, the teacher tends to prefer to have more students with an outgoing and talkative personality. At an early stage, extroverts seem to speak the language better than the introverts, but this does not mean that the proficiency of a more introverted student will be lower. This depends very much on the goal of learning. It can be argued that the reserved learner may be very quiet but he can be a good language learner in the sense that he is good in aural and reading comprehension even though he cannot speak. Thus, it is not clear then that extraversion or introversion helps or hinders the process of second language acquisition and it is hard to say which is ideal for language learning. II. 1. 2. External factors The previous section examined some aspects of internal factors. This section accounts for some equally important external factors which also affect learner’s second language achievement. As language teachers we are faced with factors such as the social context of learning, the cultural differences between two language involved. The learning environment of the educational context and the teaching method being used. Most of these are largely beyond our control but nevertheless they are important because they can affect, sometimes decide the learner’s internal factors in learning. To improve teaching and stimulate better learning, these factors should be taken into consideration. II. 1. 2. 1.  Social factor The child’s acquisition of his mother tongue is affected by the condition under which it takes place. The same influence is also relevant to learning of a second or foreign language. The classroom itself is a kind of social setting where each student has a role, so his success of learning a foreign language is, to some extent, determined by the teacher- student relationship and the student- student relationship. The teacher’s love for his job is often an encouragement to his students in their learning. According to Cheatain (1976), student is also strongly encouraged to learn the language when his teacher is always hopeful. The student- student relationship is no less important. This instance concerns face- saving. No students likes to let his errors be known to his friends, so correction of errors by the group is helpful when there is non- hostile trusting climate in the classroom. In addition to the classroom features of the learning situation itself, there are factors in the wider social context that influence language learning. Teaching never occurs in a vacuum. Any subject occupies a position in the syllabus in order to meet a need of all part of the school population. Second language or foreign language teaching is not an exception. As the political, economic and historical conditions change, the course objectives are altered. In a great number of countries it so happens that shifting political economic and social conditions often bring about the change in status of a second or foreign language. For example, English was not introduced into the school curriculum in Vietnam until 1971. Nowadays, when Vietnam is a member of WTO, English becomes a compulsory subject as it is an international language of commercial and official communication. Political factors are not the only ones that influence second language learning. Other attitudes towards language learning which are characteristic of the society to which the learner belongs are particularly important to the success of language learners. In Vietnam, the ability of using English fluently is a special qualification for certain favored jobs, but in others like the UK or the USA, learning another language is little more than a hobby. Obviously, all the different attitudes, which actually stem from political, economic or historical causes play an important part in the overall achievement in foreign language learning. II. 1. 2. 2. Cultural factors It is obvious that knowing a second language no longer means merely having acquired some linguistic competence: the ability to construct grammatically correct sentences. It also includes the acquisition of communicative competence: the ability to communicate the second language. To the extent that language is culturally acquired, one can never learn a second language successfully without learning the culture of that language. In the article â€Å"Talking across culture† in 1981, Richards argues that those who are supposed to know a foreign language must have linguistic competence, communicative competence and social competence as well. By social competence, he means that the learner is expected to know how to behave in a speech community of speakers of the target language. In other words, he must be familiar with the culture of the native speakers otherwise, he will be shocked, or fail to understand native speakers even though he is linguistically competent. It can be concluded that anyone decides to learn a certain language properly, culture is something he cannot avoid in the process. In teaching English, we need to be aware of the cultural assumptions that the students already possess. We also need to be aware of the cultural assumptions that surround the use of English. Functions and structures used to be examined for cultural content, it cannot be assumed that they are neutral. II. 2. Language teaching implications. For the reason that motivation plays a very important role in second language achievement, the task of the teacher is to maximize the motivation. Teachers should raise students’ interest in learning English so that they no longer learn English to pass the exam or to fulfill curriculum’s requirement but for the desire to interact and communicate with foreigners†¦ In order to achieve these goals, teachers should vary the activities, tasks and materials, provide students with opportunities for interaction in the target language in and outside the language learning environment through preplanned, and authentic activities. As a result, students will be more interested in learning English. Not many researchers have carried out research about language aptitude because it is something that teachers are powerless to alter. Students vary in terms of aptitude so teachers should categorize them according to their aptitude profiles. For example, one group was identified as having particularly good memory abilities (relative to other abilities), and another group was identified as being high in verbal analytical abilities. It is the duty of teachers to select appropriate teaching approaches and activities based on learners’ aptitude profiles to accommodate their differences in aptitude. If the methodology matches students, they will learn better otherwise it may decrease students’ second language achievement. We all know that different ages have different ways of learning and different ways of achieving language. The differences among the three age groups (children, adolescents and adults) are really existent and the biological L2 learning conditions are unchangeable. Learners of different ages and stages should use different strategies. Thus, the teacher’s duty is different in the three groups and the teaching approaches and strategies should cater for the traits of students. For example, children use strategies unconsciously and their teacher should help them form good learning habits in this period. Some adolescents might be unable to be aware of using learning strategies, and others use too many complex and sophisticated learning strategies in L2 language learning, which might not ensure to achieve high level. Adult learners prefer analytic-style strategies such as comparative and contrastive analysis, generalization rules learning, and dissecting words and phrases. As a result, teachers should manipulate a number of options according to the aim of the teaching and learning, such as different reading materials, the speed of teaching procedures, etc Suitable approach and strategies for each trait of age will help learners achieve language better, compensate the shortcomings and take good advantage of in three groups. As the results listed in the previous part indicate, learners differ in terms of personality. Some students are very reserved, some are self- confident, some are ready to take a risk but others do not. Understanding each student’s personality is extremely important to every teacher not except for teacher of English. When teacher know students’ characteristics, they can use appropriate methods for each of them. For example, most of Vietnamese students are still basically shy and withdrawn. Then teachers should involve a lot of pair and group work instead of using the teacher- students questions and answers. Teachers should use cooperative rather than competitive goals to create a supportive and non-threatening learning atmosphere. Besides, teachers should encourage and support students all the time especially when they are struggling or lacking confidence in certain areas. Good teachers will know how to adapt their methods of teaching to different learners’ personalities to have best results in second language achievement. It cannot be denied that social context has a big influence on situation of second language teaching and learning of each nation. Thus, in order to create a good learning condition for second language learning to flourish is the duty of everyone: parents, authority of school, community, ministry†¦ For example, parents should give children favorable condition to learn second language, school should be concerned about students’ language learning and teaching to make it better, ministry of education should pay more attention to the quality of language teacher, textbooks and facilities necessary for effective second language teaching and learning to happen. Culture is very important in second language learning so the duty of teachers is to raise students’ awareness of cultural differences between countries. When teaching a foreign language such as English, teachers should teach students language competence along with socio- cultural competence. Both teachers and authorities should bear in mind that learning about other cultures does not mean changing one’s own values and world outlook. On the contrary, by comparing some aspects of cultures in different societies, students may better appreciate their own culture and tradition and avoid false stereotypes which may result in either prejudice against other culture or blind belief that other cultures are superior. A successful language learner is a person who not only knows how to make grammatical and meaningful sentences but also knows how to use them in appropriate situations and a good language teacher is a person who knows how to help them do so successfully. III. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the success in second language acquisition depends largely on many factors but some of the most important factors can be mentioned are motivation, language aptitude, learner’s age and personality, social and cultural context. Thus, knowing these factors and how they influences learners’ second language achievement is very crucial to teachers of foreign languages in general and English in particular. Their language can be greatly improved when teachers have a better understanding of the learner, of the learning process and of the variables that may help or hinder learner’s language achievement. IV. REFERENCE Krishna K.  B , â€Å"Age as an Affective Factor in Second Language Acquisition†, Troy Universityn Press. HIDASI, Judit, (2005) â€Å"The Impact of Culture on Second Language Acquisition†, Annals of the International Business School. Hoan, P. K, (1985), â€Å"Psychological and cultural factors related to methodologies to Hanoi foreign languages Teachers’ college student†, Sydney Zhang . J, (2006) Sociocultural Factors in Second Language Acquisition, Sino-US English Teaching, Volume 3, No. 5 (Serial No. 29) Mehmet, N. G, (2001) â€Å"the effects of age and motivation factors on second language acquisition† F? rat University Journal of Social Science. tic

Factors Affecting Research Culture at Universities in Pakistan Essay

Abstract— Research is an integral part of the higher education. Teachers and students spend weeks to find a good topic related to the field of study, data collection and analysis and finally in writing papers. Conducting research and writing papers creates a healthy activity amongst faculty and students which results in knowledge creation and emergence of research culture. Faculty at universities could be divided into two broad categories of teachers and researcher. These categories are good in their preferred field only. The challenges faced by the faculty related to research vary between private and public sectors too. However, this research shows that the leadership, curriculum, people, external environment and research experience are important factors for a research culture at universities. Keywords— research, university, higher education, leadership, faculty and inter-personal collaboration I. INTRODUCTION Research could be described as the first step in knowledge creation, which starts with search, passes through the steps of learning, teaching and ends at knowledge creation. Academia has an important role in the dissemination of knowledge to the wider society through direct and indirect interaction. A product of an individual, group or society of intelligent beings is known as culture, showing that culture is learnt through research. Therefore, the research culture can be defined as the act of knowledge creation, sharing and translated into action [1]. The term research culture is a combination of two words research and culture. The word research means â€Å"a careful or diligent search† or â€Å"the process of collecting information about a particular subject†. On the other hand the word culture could be explained as â€Å"the act ... ...ding for such activities are respected for their work as well as the funding that they attract [9]. Universities have two basic purposes of existence - teaching and research – both of which are public trust, therefore, the universities have to prove worthy of it. Universities in the developing countries are not allowed to perform independently. Furthermore universities lack resources if the government support is withdrawn. Therefore, they need to find necessary resources to be able to survive. This can be done by becoming innovative and accessible to as many as possible [11]; [12]; [13]. While studying the research culture in Caribbean universities, [14], it was mentioned that the research culture is one of the pre-requisites for a country to be able to find solutions to their problems rather than importing and adapting the knowledge created in other countries.

Tobacco :: Health, Diseases, Depression

Although there have been many studies regarding the negative health risks associated with tobacco, there have also been studies regarding its relation to obesity and depression (Leventhal et al., 2010). It discussed the relationships between tobacco use, obesity and depression by carrying out a population based survey of 41,654 adults (Leventhal et al., 2010). The data illustrated that tobacco use is very common in women with major depression and victims of obesity, in comparison with women who are non-smokers, but are still victims of major depression and obesity (Leventhal et al., 2010). The study will explain the effects on tobacco users. Depression is associated with the cause of obesity and vice-versa. Researchers have developed that the link between major depression and obesity is conditional upon a host of moderators which consists of gender, education, ethnicity, age, and genetics. The link between depression and obesity turned out to be common in females then males (Leventhal et al., 2010). Research by Leventhal et al. (2010) supports that major depression and obesity is associated with each other because depressed individuals engage in unhealthy eating behavior; an example of this would be binge eating or higher caloric intake (Leventhal et al., 2010). People who engage themselves in alternative behavior to cope with depressive symptoms may be less susceptible to the effects of depression and obesity. Leventhal et al. (2010) believes that tobacco is one such behavior because smoking is prevalent to people who are victims of depression. The relationship between major depression and obesity may be strong amongst nonsmokers because they are not using tobacco in order to modulate their depressive states. Leventhal et al. (2010) argued that concurrent tobacco use at any level of severity could diminish the major depression association. However, the alternative use of tobacco at any level of habitual degree could offset major obesity relations according to a substitute addiction framework (Leventhal et al., 2010). Within this experiment, certain groups were examined and they consisted of: two candidates of tobacco and included smoking status, and tobacco dependence that dealt with any tobacco used in the past year. They compared both results, and came up with a conclusion for their experiment. The participants for this experiment were respondents in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Most of the participants were civilian, non-institutionalized, and residents of the U.S from ages 18 or older. African Americans and Hispanics were oversampled and each group accounted for approximately 20%.

Discrimination Against Homosexuals in the Military Essay

Since 1993 more than 14,500 service members were fired under the law of †Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell† (sldn. org). In 1950, President Harry S. signed the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which set up the discharge rules for homosexual service members. People wanting to serve their country were being discriminated and discharged because of their sexuality. Then in 1982, Ronald Reagan proposed a defense directive that states â€Å"Homosexuality is incompatible with military service† and people who engaged in homosexual acts or stated that they were homosexual or bisexual were discharged. In 1992, Bill Clinton, as a presidential candidate, promised to lift the ban. Finally in 1993, when Bill Clinton was elected president, he proposed a compromise that he named â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell†. This law issued a defense directive that military applicants should not be able to be asked about their sexual orientation (Washington Post). Homosexuals being discriminated in the military have grabbed the attention of people all around the world. The question on whether or not homosexuals should have the right to serve in the military was a hotly debated topic in politics for the past few years. Even after the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, will our society be ready to accept others? The research started with searching â€Å"Homosexuals in the military†. Then â€Å"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell† and personal stories of gays in the military was found. Unfortunately, no books could be found on this topic, but articles from top newspapers became a valid choice. Documentaries and podcasts were also looked at. Good sources were easy to find because the topic was so controversial in the US, so the news articles came in handy. The repeal of â€Å"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell† was all over US news websites, and news clips from YouTube were found. Last fall, a pentagon study was released that said a majority of the US forces, more than 70%, said that serving with homosexuals would have no negative effect on them. Forces fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan had a different response. 58% of combat marines said that they would prefer not to serve with homosexuals. Since the repeal in late September, the effect has been positive on quite a lot of people. The main people who are opposed to the repeal are the military chaplains. The majority of the 3,000 active chaplains are conservative Christians. A retired chaplain, named Brigadier General Douglas Lee, is one of the 66 retired chaplains that wrote a letter to President Obama, urging him to not go through with the repeal. In a video showing the effects (positive and negative) of the repeal, shows Brigadier General Douglas Lee talking about â€Å"Don’t ask, Don’t Tell†. He says, â€Å"Homosexuality is one of a multitude of sins. Chaplains help people wrestle with the sins that bisect them and their lives. The problem with this repeal is that this particular sin is being legitimized as being normal and okay†. The problem with the non acceptance of the chaplains is that many and most conservative Christians believe that homosexuality, like all of the other sins in the bible, is a lifestyle choice (Pbs. org). According to another Pentagon Study, thirty-five other countries allow homosexuals to serve openly with no negative effect (Sldn.  org). Consider two men, both wanting to serve their country, one is gay and one is straight. They get all of the same test scores, and pass, yet only the straight guy is let in, not because of anything else other than his sexuality. If the same circumstances had happened, instead with a man and a woman, it would be sexist. If one was white and the other was black, it would be racist. All of the victims of these situations would have protection under the law and could sue, except for the homosexual. The homosexual has no legal protection from the government (Library in a book: Gay Rights). The repeal could be the first step to changing this. September 20th 2011, Obama stated, â€Å"As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members. And today, as Commander in Chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service†(UStoday. com). Military bases around the US have been holding sessions for service members to educate them on the repeal of â€Å"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell†. They say, â€Å"You are not expected to change your religious or moral beliefs, however you are obligated to treat all others with dignity and respect† (Pbs. org). It seems as though that our society has been coping positively since the repeal. There are always going to be some people who will not stray from their views, but the percentages are going up and more and more people are willing to except homosexuals serving freely in the US.

Customer Management and Customer Intelligence

Customer Management and Customer Intelligence Introduction Customer Relation Management (CRM) is an important part of any organisation. Managers utilise it to improve sales and profitability. Any organisation that targets to be successful in any field must place the customer central to its operations. Such organisations should make customers their most important assets.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Customer Management and Customer Intelligence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Over the years, many institutions have established the study of customer relations in their curriculum. Managers have also been trained on the most effective ways of employing customer-relation tactics in the course of their operations. Although many industries are coming up at an alarming rate, the fashion and design industry stands out based on the way it has applied CRM to boost its sales through guaranteeing clients quality products. In the fashion and design industry, the custo mer is the most important shareholder. Organisations that are able to understand their customers end up being more successful than others that do not have the same policies (Rigby, Reichheld Schefter 2002; Greenberg 2009). The customer management principle that is applied in any organisation is important because it determines the strength of any brand that the company intends to market and/or sell. The following is an assessment of one of the companies in the luxury fashion industry. The paper discusses the customer management practices that the company has applied. Besides, it gives the necessary changes that the company needs to implement. Company Profile The business selected for assessment is the Christian Louboutin Company brand that operates in Spain. Christian Louboutin Spain is a subsidiary of the main company that is based in Paris. It has stores in many parts of the world. The company specialises in the manufacture of specifically branded shoes. Christian Louboutin is cre dited with the revival of stilettos that were popular among women in the past decades, thus making them part of luxury fashion design today. Products As stated above, Christian Louboutin produces expressly branded and internationally recognised shoes. The red-bottomed shoes act as the trademark for the company. These shoes are popular on the catwalks and other fashion events. The company designs shoes with very high heels since many of its customers prefer the high heels o other types of shoes. In fact, the company has produced heels with a height of more than 120mm with the aim of making women appear decent and more attractive by giving an impression of long legs (Greenberg 2009).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The category of shoes that Christian Louboutin makes is usually won with the evening dresses. The brand is associated with prominent personalities an d models. The company also offers low-heeled shoes, although they are not as common as the high-heeled ones. The shoes are in most occasions fitted with jewel straps to give them the elegant look and feel. The other accessories include patent leather, red soles, and bows. The company is well known for its signature red-bottomed shoes. This design is patented under the United States laws. The company has also ventured into the manufacture and sale of women handbags. In fact, the owners expect to increase the contribution of handbags for the total company revenue to increase. Size and Revenue Christian Louboutin has recorded significant growth in size and revenues since its establishment in 1991 by Christian Louboutin. The growth in sales started in the first year after the start of the business. This period was occasioned by the increased publicity that the original outlet in France got. In the first year after establishment, Christian Louboutin sold approximately 200 women shoes, wh ich were sought by some of the rich and famous women in the area. The company currently sells over 700,000 pairs of shoes in a year. These shoes are sold to the rich and famous as a policy of luxury. The company is reported to make over $300 million annually as revenue where the shoe section contributes 95% of the revenue. The growth in revenue from the sale of shoes is significant in the company. It approximates to around 40% annual growth. The prices for individual shoes vary. However, a single pair of shoe can go for as much as $6,000. Most of the shoes in the store have a price tag of over $4,000. Customers can also get a custom-made brand to suit their tastes, although at a higher price. The company has been considered the leading brand in the fashion industry for a long time. It continues to lead in the luxury fashion shoe design. The company makes sales through the many outlets in the world. However, the bulk of purchases from the outlets are wholesale purchases. More than 80 % of purchases from the company are wholesale (Greenberg 2009). Market The company has a significantly large market. The fashion industry contributes much to the market. Many fashion events that display luxury designs use Christian Louboutin shoes and handbags, which are mainly rented from the company. Many celebrity women are known to purchase the brand, although most of them come from different parts of the world to purchase the products. The company also has international distribution centres in different parts of the world. Most of the markets for the items are in the United States.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Customer Management and Customer Intelligence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The United States forms the largest market for Christian Louboutin, with 52% of sales for the company being in this country. The company also has a presence in almost all continents. The European and Russian bazaars in combination with markets from the Middle East countries contribute to over 30% of the company’s revenue. The Asian market makes up the rest of the proportion of the sales. Some of the personalities that form the market for Christian Louboutin include Angelina Jolie and Nicki Mina. Most of the catwalks in the US and Europe market the products as a way of promoting the company on the local and global front. Operation Country The country in which the organisation in focus is located is Spain, which is known for its appetite for luxurious items such as those offered by Christian Louboutin. The company has the store being located in Madrid, Spain. It is renowned for its luxurious items. The country has a favourable macro-environment for any luxury fashion company. It has many centres that are considered the fashion capitals of the world. Companies that work here also enjoy organisational cultures that are favourable in the production of the luxurious items. Madrid offers a large m arket for the company. Dozens of celebrities visit the city as well as other areas in Spain, thus ensuring a constant supply of customers, and hence the positive performance from the company in the country and the region compared to other subsidiaries elsewhere. The country also has an operating environment that allows companies to operate with autonomy. It has also managed to market itself in the fashion industry (Greenberg 2009). Many fashion companies operate within Spain. The companies have utilised the existing policies on different fields. Customer Management and CRM use Customer management is one of the most basic functions of any organisation. Christian Louboutin has adopted a number of strategies to that effect. In the operations that the company has in Spain, it ensures that the specific needs of each customer are met. This strategy reveals why the company allows customers to specify the designs that they require. It is able to offer different prices for items in relation to the customers’ buying ability. According to Peppers, Rogers, and Dorf (1999), an organisation should adopt a one-to-one marketing strategy, which is the change of behaviour in an organisation to suit the needs of the individual customers. This plan allows the organisation to develop goods and services that are customised to the clients’ needs, including the provision of luxurious services.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The concept of one-to-one marketing is heavily employed in Christian Louboutin. The organisation has dedicated its services to the satisfaction of the customers’ needs. The company made adequate preparations to the one-to-one marketing strategy, which in turn led to its success. Peppers, Rogers, and Dorf (1999) confirm that most companies that have adopted the one-to-one marketing strategy have not succeeded because they took it without prior preparations. The company specialises in the manufacture of products that are described by many professionals as being luxurious and state-of-the-art. However, this outcome is only because the company involves customers in the development and marketing of these products. Some of the customers for the organisation frequently shop at the Spanish outlets because they are renowned for their quality and exceptional designs. The prices of the company are also custom-made, and that only a few individuals can afford some of the luxurious items o n offer. This situation has ensured that some of the categories of products are only available to a particular class of customers, and hence the reason why they are sought by these customers. According to Peppers and Rogers (2011), the price of a product in the fashion industry is important in determining the class of customers that buy these products. In Spain, the company has managed to apply specific forms of marketing. These forms include the use of the internet and social sites. According to Lent and Tour (2009), the use of these forms of marketing is favourable for any fashion company that targets to attract any class of customers. Christian Louboutin has traditionally not used print media in the marketing of its products because of the tradition that has been held for a long period. This situation has further contributed to the segmentation of its market, with only a specific group of customers being targeted in the marketing campaigns. Expected Changes There are many expecte d changes in the market developments in Spain for luxurious items. These changes are occasioned by the changes on the national economic front and the change in demand for the luxurious goods. There are also expected changes in the rules and regulations that govern the industry in Spain. After the global economic crisis, the numbers of people participating in the fashion industry were noted to decrease (Greenberg 2009). Customers also reduced in this industry because the Spanish economy was also affected. The effects of the crisis have constantly disappeared with time. The economy is now performing better in Spain and elsewhere in the world. The expectation is that more customers will be able to afford the products that are provided by the company. Advice for the Company The company needs to invest in more customer-relations management practices, with the management being involved directly in these strategies. The other possible advice for the company is that it should engage its cus tomers more through the internet marketing since the move is likely to improve its performance. Seybold (2001) observes that the internet is an important tool in the delivery of information to customers. It provides a cheap means of helping customers carry out a number of activities. Although the company has not established itself on the print media, largely preferring one-to-one marketing, it should also embrace this form of marketing, as it is likely to grow its customer base (Yastrow 2007). Fournier, Dobscha, and Glen Mick (1998) claim that organisations can create friendly relationships with their customers. However, they assert that the very things that organisations are doing to improve relations with their customers are the ones destroying these relations (Fournier, Dobscha Glen Mick 1998). Christian Louboutin may ensure that it gets to learn the customers before it can engage in creating any form of relationship with them. Fournier, Dobscha, and Glen Mick (1998) observe tha t the organisation can embark on the creation of a healthy relationship that is intimate between it and customers. In any relationship, input is from both sides. Customers can be allowed to provide input for the product development and marketing at the Christian Louboutin Company in Spain. This move is in line with the suggestions that are provided by Fournier, Dobscha, and Glen Mick (1998) in their article. The institution can develop and maintain trust between itself and customers. Many of the customers buying from any particular company do so because they consider the company trustworthy in quality, design, and pricing. This case also applies for Christian Louboutin. According to Fournier, Dobscha and Glen Mick (1998), this company needs to provide privacy emotional support and confidentiality to its customers. Customer behaviour is an important part of marketing in any luxury company, and before development of a product, there should be adequate consultation between the customer and the developers. According to Fournier, Dobscha, and Mick (1998, p. 4), â€Å"For contemporary consumers, product satisfaction is linked inextricably with their satisfaction, and companies must attend to both these dimensions if they expect to win.† Christian Louboutin may participate in assuring customers the satisfaction that they deserve in purchasing their products. Conclusion In conclusion, the luxury fashion industry is very competitive. Organisations that want to survive need to ensure that they apply effective customer-relations management. This report has looked at a company operating in the luxury fashion industry in Spain. It has provided a look at the profile of the company and the operating environment in the industry and the country in general. Christian Louboutin is a fashion company providing the best shoes in the luxury industry, as it is known for producing custom-made shoes for her customers. The company utilises some useful CRM measures. However, it sh ould guarantee customer satisfaction and more use of technology in the production and marketing processes. References Fournier, S, Dobscha, S Mick, D 1998, preventing the premature death of relationship marketing, Harvard Business Review, vol. 76 no. 1, pp. 1-6. Greenberg, P 2009, CRM at the Speed of Light, Social CRM Strategies, Tools, and Techniques for Engaging Your Customers. Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, NY. Lent, R Tour, G 2009, Selling Luxury. Wiley, New York, NY. Peppers, D Rogers, M 2011, Managing Customer Relationships: A Strategic Framework, Wiley, New York, NY. Peppers, D, Rogers M Dorf, B 1999, ‘is your company ready for one-to-one marketing?’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 77 no. 1, pp. 151-160. Rigby, D, Reichheld, F Schefter, P 2002, Avoid the Four Perils of CRM, Harvard Business Review, vol. 80 no. 2, pp. 101-109. Seybold, P 2001, ‘Get inside the Lives of Your Customers’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 86 no. 1, pp. 80-89. Yastr ow, S 2007, We: The Ideal Customer Relationship. Selectbooks, Washington, DC.

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Report on the religious life of planet earth Essay

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Crm Banking Sector Essay Example for Free

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Therefore, banks are developing a continuing long-term business relationship with customers and they are shifting their focus from market share to mind share of customers. The literature review has focused on the importance of CRM in the banking sector and the importance of maintaining profitable relationships with banking customers, which in turn leads to profitability through customer loyalty. Close relationship with customers will require a strong coordination between IT and marketing departments to provide a long-term retention of selected customers. Accordingly, this paper will aim to investigate important attributes which customers value as far as customer relationships in the Indian banking sector is concerned. No doubt, considerable literature on CRM is available worldwide but there is limited research throwing light over the importance of CRM in the Indian banking sector. Therefore, the paper reviews pertinent literature on CRM in the banking sector. Then, the methodology employed to collect and analyse data is outlined. Then the findings are discussed, implications are described and the paper further makes strategic recommendations towards enhancing customer relationships in the Indian banking sector. Directions for future research are also proposed in the arena of customer relationship management and banking sector. 2. The Indian Banking Sector and CRM The economic reforms initiated by the Government of India roughly about a decade ago have changed the landscape of several sectors of the Indian economy [1]. The Indian banking sector is no exception. The economic reforms have also generated new and powerful customers (huge Indian middle class) and new mix of players (public sector units, private banks, and foreign banks). The emerging competition has generated new expectations from the existing and the new customers. The new rules of competition require recognition of the importance of consumers and the necessity to address the needs through innovative products supported by new technology. Perceptions and expectations of the customers have undergone a sea change, with the innovative and modern banking services offered to the customers. This necessitates banks to include a customer-oriented approach whereby they build, maintain and manage longstanding relationships with their profitable customers in order to gain sustainable competitive edge. 3. Conceptual background Over the past two decades, the literature has argued that businesses across all sectors will have to change their approach to marketing, which should now be carried out through relationships, networks, and interactions [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Such a marketing approach is very Volume:01, Number:04, August-2011 www. theinternationaljournal. rg Page 2 different from the more traditional one based on transactions affecting the Four Ps (product, price, place and promotion). 3. 1. CRM in the Banking sector Customer relationship management (CRM) has been as important to the banking industry at the start of the 21st century as it has been to any other industry. Many banks have used CRM tools to acquire more customers and to improve relationships with them. A key aspect in banks embracing technological platforms and delivery systems is the impact this will have on bank-customer relationships. Therefore, in order to achieve banking excellence, meeting customer needs and offering innovative products is not sufficient in itself. The balance between relatively high costs of relationships with customers and the need to maintain profit growth needs to be finely tuned, if marketing is not to revert back to a transactional paradigm [8]. Likewise, increased customer expectations have created a competitive climate whereby the quality of the relationship between the customer and the institution has taken a greater significance [9, 10]. The development of effective customer relationships is widely advocated as a key element of marketing strategies in the service sector (Ennew, 1996). Therefore a binding and long-term customer relationship seems to be necessary for many banks to react to the changed conditions and to guarantee the continuity. For many customers, a strong banking relationship is as vital as any other business relationship they maintain. This gives CRM-driven banks an advantage in that customers want the benefits of a solid relationship. Common benefits for customers of banks using CRM include wider access with branch locations, Internet and ATMs; access to service and support; discount credit rates and enhanced savings; and other customization opportunities. Attracting new customers should be viewed only as an intermediate step in the marketing process. Developing close relationships with these customers and turning them into loyal ones are equal aspects of marketing. Thus relationship marketing ought to be perceived as attracting, maintaining, and in multi service organizations, enhancing customer relationships [12, 13, 14, 15]. Another important facet of CRM is customer selectivity. As several research studies have shown not all customers are equally profitable for an individual company [16]. 3. 2. Role of Service Providers in the Banking Sector Although CRM has become widely recognized as an important business approach, there is no universally accepted definition of CRM. Swift defined CRM as an ‘enterprise approach to understanding and influencing customer behaviour through meaningful communications in order to improve customer acquisition, customer retention, customer loyalty, and customer profitability’ [17]. Kincaid viewed CRM as ‘the strategic use of information, processes, technology, and people to manage the customer’s relationship with your company (Marketing, Sales, Services, and Support) across the whole customer life cycle’ [18]. Parvatiyar and Sheth defined CRM as ‘a comprehensive strategy and process of acquiring, retaining, and partnering with selective customers to create superior value for the company and the customer [19]. 3. 3. Customer Loyalty, Customer Retention and Customer Relationships Customer satisfaction and loyalty are some key elements of business success and profitability. The more satisfied the customer, the more loyal the customer and the more Volume:01, Number:04, August-2011 www. theinternationaljournal. org Page 3 durable the relationship. And the longer this lasts, the more profit the company stands to make and the higher the market share. Getting existing customers to provide referrals should be one of the effective ways to add new business [20]. A referral from a customer can often open the gates and allow a salesperson access to previously unreachable prospects. Huntley found that when the quality of relationship is high, customers are more willing to recommend the sellers offerings to colleagues and they purchase more from the seller [21]. Maintaining high-quality relationships with customers appears to increase their willingness to provide referrals [22]. Customer satisfaction and loyalty are highly correlated [23], but they form two distinct constructs [24]. Customer satisfaction with a bank relationship is a good basis for loyalty [25, 26], although it does not guarantee it, because even satisfied customers switch banks [27]. One important reason for switching is pricing [28, 29]. Hence, banks have launched customer loyalty programmes that provide economic incentives. Although the effectiveness of loyalty programmes has been questioned [30, 31, 32], research has shown that they have a significant, positive impact on customer retention and share of customer purchases [33, 34]. In a similar vein, Reinartz and Kumar suggest that customers can be grouped according to share-of-wallet and profitable lifetime duration, and that each customer group should be targeted with a specific strategy [35]. By adopting such a customer focused strategy, organisations can maximise the lifetime value of each customer by anticipating needs and offering timely solutions [36]. Likewise, according to Hartfeil, ‘Products are not profitable; customers are, and we analysed our customer base, segment by segment, we found that each required a different strategy to maximize its profitability to the bank [37]. For instance, every customer (both business and personal) is assigned to a banker at National Australia Bank Ltd whereby bankers are required to actively manage their portfolios according to volume of business, interest margin spread, fee income, profitability, customer retention, and the acquisition of new customers [38]. While ample literature is available on generic CRM today, hardly any information is forthcoming on the gains from CRM initiatives in the Indian banking sector. There is scarce literature on how the customers respond to the CRM measures adopted by the banks. This research has attempted to study the customer perceptions pertaining to the CRM initiatives adopted by the banks in India. Thus it helps to investigate the front-end effectives of CRM strategies in the banking sector. 4. Research Methodology This is a descriptive study using primary data collected through an experience survey. The data collection instrument used was a 3-part structured questionnaire using a 5-point Likert Scale. Part-1 was pertaining to the relationship building aspect of CRM and it had 19 questions which were framed using the relevant variables identified from literature review. Part-2 focused specifically on the interaction with the customer service representatives. Part-3 was concerned with customer perceptions on complaint handling and his/her behavioural intentions. Necessary demographic details were also collected to serve as categorizing variables. Prior to data collection, a pilot test was conducted to ensure comprehensiveness, clarity and reliability of the questionnaire. The pretesting of the questionnaire was done among 10 customers randomly, resulting in some minor modifications of the wordings of some survey Volume:01, Number:04, August-2011 www. theinternationaljournal. rg Page 4 items. The method used to administer the questionnaire was through a personal interview so as to obtain more accurate, reliable and valid information and to make the respondents at ease by maintaining a social rapport with them. The target population to be sampled was the individual customers of the Indian banking sector. Owing to the need for a relatively large sample size while at the same time keeping the research costs down, the sample size of this study amounted to 150 customers and the quota sampling technique was adopted based on the net profit and market share figure as shown in Table-1 below.

Ancient Civilizations The City Of Pompeii

Ancient Civilizations The City Of Pompeii The city of Pompeii is historically famous for one reason: it was destroyed completely by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. While during the time of the Roman Empire, it had been a prosperous city, in no way was it as famous as it is now. It is shown that Pompeii as an archaeological site is the longest continually excavated site in the world'. The excavation of Pompeii has both immortalized Roman life, while destroying what was preserved by the ash of Mount Vesuvius. Pompeii allows us to look into Roman life and architecture like never before, but the site as a whole is also in danger. In 79 AD the eruption began on August 24. The Pompeians did not feel the need to evacuate, and did not feel threatened at all. The city was covered in ash and pumice, burying them. They citys name eventually faded from maps and its prosperity forgotten. It was not viewed as an archeological site until the 19th century when Giuseppe Fiorelli began excavating the site. Now the site is in danger of being destroyed due to the elements and lack of preservation. Pompeii is a spectacular site for one major reason: the lava, ash and pumice encased the entire city and solidified, preserving it for over 1000 years. Though a great archaeological find, it now suffers. The threat of destruction has always accompanied Pompeii. In the first archaeological stages, when Fiorelli was excavating, the site was poorly guarded and was looted frequently. Charles III removed artifacts to embellish his own home. Others attempted to preserve frescoes and paintings by covering them in varnish. The lack of proper preservation first came to the public eye when the Schola Armaturarum collapsed due to water damage in 2010. The Armaturarum was a gladiator training arena and a very popular building in Pompeii. After the collapse, the obvious need for attendance on the site was noted. Walls had begun to collapse, and the vegetation was overgrown. The areas in need of restoration are the areas that the public and tourists do not see. As Ray Laurence notes, Even for thos e scholars interested in art and architecture, Pompeii presents problems. In those areas away from the most visited parts of the site, vegetation often obscures the object of study. This can cause areas of the site to be neglected and not examined. The general deterioration of the archaeological remains should not be underestimated. The site is very large, over 44 hectares of land, but has a reduced staff. They cannot keep up with the size of the site, or prevent rain from damaging the artifacts. Though the damage has caught the eye of UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) and received funding for restoration of the site, it had lost some important parts of Pompeii. While Pompeii offers the public and scientists a view into the past, its study also is destroying the preserved ruins. In archaeology, they often must damage something in order to study it. As Gary Devore of Stamford University says in James Owens article: Since archaeology is destruction, we destroy bits of Pompeii as we go along. At Pompeii, the large sites that were excavated were also damaged by the constant work being done. In Pompeii, many of the people who had lived there were frozen in time by the volcanic debris. To get a full idea of how these people had died, a plaster molding was used. Ian Andrews states: Archaeologists working on the ruins of Pompeii have discovered an ingenious way of reconstructing some of their finds. When lava from the eruption of AD 79 cooled, it solidified around all the objects which had been unable to escape. Over the centuries, many of these objects decayed, leaving hollows in the solid lava. Archaeologists refill these with liquid plaster; liquid plaster is allowed to set and the lava can then be chipped away leaving an accurate cast of whatever was trapped by the lava flow nearly two thousand years ago. This process is helpful with the study of the site; it also is destroying the naturally solidified encasing of the object. Once they chip away the lava, that figure is eliminated forever, leaving a plaster fill instead. The original case is now gone; yet another piece of history we must destroy to discover answers. The final threat that Pompeii is faced with, along with the surrounding area, is another eruption from Mount Vesuvius. Scientists studying the volcano believe that another eruption could destroy even more than it did in 79 AD. Such an important site should be restored and under constant attention. Pompeiis impact on our society is slightly larger than the average person knows. The discovery of Pompeii offers something that no other site can offer. It gives us an idea of Roman everyday life. Pompeians died in a state of panic, but that does not change the fact that every object in the entire city is found where the owner last left it before trying to escape the clutches of Mount Vesuvius. This is a spectacular way to study Roman lifestyle, and to discover things no one had known. It is said by Judith Harris that: Until Pompeii, no one knew how the ancient Romans actually lived. What archaeologists now look at in Pompeii is details within homes to see how families actually functioned. Before the discovery of Pompeii, it was thought that slaves would not have liked to be seen by the home owners and guests. This was proven incorrect when they discovered that some commonly used items of slaves were found in the main room. When looking at ancient Roman medical relations, Pompeii has shown that medical tools have been found in households, so rather than summoning a doctor they would do some medical procedures by themselves. Many of the villas in Pompeii belonged to the rich emperors and senators. They were holiday homes that they would visit throughout the year. This is most of what tourists see. Owens found that much research has centered on public buildings and breathtaking villas that portray the artistic and opulent lifestyle enjoyed by the citys wealthy elite, but now, they have begun to look at the other 98 percent of Pompeii that teach us about their everyday lives. In this part of Pompeii jobs were in trade, education, agriculture, accounting, and industry. A major part of Pompeiis prosperity is due to the proximity of the sea and the bustling ports. Puteoli and the Bay of Naples brought in extreme revenue and unlike Pompeii and Herculaneum were able to recover after the eruption of Vesuvius. The artwork of Pompeii included frescoes. Frescoes allowed people to express themselves and also show what the ancient Pompeians would have lo oked like. There was graffiti in Pompeii. This graffiti was usually written in a public place and voiced cheery or somber messages. The study of such a bustling and enriched city is a reflection of Rome in its Golden Age. Peter Kesteven reflected, The citizens of Pompeii have their strengths and their weaknesses, just as we have. The Romans said that the life of a Roman town was the life of the empire in miniature. In studying Pompeii we can see the unity and method that led to success but perhaps we can see something also of the weakness that eventually led to the decline of the empire. Pompeii reflects the empire as a whole; it also immortalizes the life of the citizens of Rome. Pompeii not only shows us the lifestyle of Romans in ancient times, but it also influenced art, architecture and literature after its excavation began in 1748. Its excavation also began to influence archaeological advancements. It influenced wealthy folks across Europe because of the dawn of classicism. Elite Europeans would tour the Italian peninsula in search of art and artifacts to decorate their homes. Pompeii was specifically targeted because of the gems and riches found there, as well as the tragic tale behind its destruction. Many aristocratic European homes included an Etruscan room; the design was based off of Pompeian architecture and art. Pompeiis architecture was influenced by many cultures. Greek Doric columns, Etruscan bronze pottery and Roman temples were all found in Pompeii. Some of the buildings in Pompeii include temples to worship Venus (the citys god), an amphitheatre, theatre, baths, sport centres, shops and workshops as well as block houses and villas. The arch itecture is unique: Only in Pompeii is it possible to trace the history of Italian and Roman domestic architecture for at least four centuries. Pompeii influenced literature because after the birth of classicism, works like The Last Days in Pompeii written by Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton became popular amongst Europeans. Therefore Pompeiis destruction was unfortunate, but its rediscovery became a part of culture still prevalent today. Shelley Hales summarizes the events of Pompeii accurately by stating: The eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE was a most paradoxical event. The cataclysm both destroyed and preserved the relatively insignificant town of Pompeii and transformed its fortunes: as its remains began to be excavated in the mid-eighteenth century, this town assumed centre- stage as a powerful and evocative portal through which one might at least attempt a closer communion with the ancient past. Archaeologist are doing their best to restore what previous damage had been done in the form of excavations, the threat of another eruption exists, and all the while Pompeii continues to be frozen in time immortalized by the very thing that destroyed it. Works Cited/ Updated Bibliography Owens, James. Ancient Roman Life Preserved at Pompeii National Geographic. Science and Space Facts, Science and Space, Human Body, Health, Earth, Human Disease National Geographic. http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/pompeii/ (accessed November 29, 2012). Valsecchi, Maria Cristina. Pompeii Is Crumbling-Can It Be Saved?. Daily Nature and Science News and Headlines | National Geographic News . http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/travelnews/2011/11/111107-pompeii-italy-science-travel-collapse-eu/ (accessed January 10, 2013). Pompeii Information. CyArk. http://archive.cyark.org/pompeii-info (accessed January 10, 2013). Laurence, Ray. Roman Pompeii: space and society. London: Routledge, 1994 University of Leicestor. Everyday Life In Pompeii Revealed. Science Daily: News Articles in Science, Health, Environment Technology. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070424091412.htm (accessed January 15, 2013). Harris, Judith. Pompeii awakened a story of rediscovery. London: I.B. Tauris, 2007. Andrews, Ian, Peter Kesteven, and Reginald Piggott. Pompeii. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 1980. Stewart, Doug. Resurrecting Pompeii | History Archaeology | Smithsonian Magazine. History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian Magazine. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/pompeii.html?c=ypage=5 (accessed January 19, 2013). Hales, Shelley. Pompeii in the Public Imagination from its Rediscovery to Today. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011.