Consumption and Customers in the Automobile Industry

Consumption and Customers in the Automobile Industry Yu Dai â€Å"I don’t need it but I want it, why shouldn’t I have it?† In the documentary No Impact Man, the heroine Michelle questioned her husband Colin who had proposed the environmental protection project. The question, simple while indeed stated with logical precision, involves significant issues. From the economic perspective, this situation is described as hovering between personal motivations and consumer values when making economic decisions. Personal motivations have been considered a driving force of consumption, whereas consumer values express motivational concerns according to the theory of basic human values (Schwartz, S. H., Bilsky, W.). In the end of the movie, Michelle cycled through Manhattan with her baby girl. She once could not understand why some people did not drive in New York City, but then she became one of them. It is customary to consider that â€Å"finding balance regard to values† implies compromise, in which personal desires are usu ally first sacrificed, as it did in the case of Michelle who gave up her car. Nevertheless, I argue that values can be useful in expediting technological progress and giving us guidance for consuming smarter rather than simply sacrificing motivations. The formation of consumer values cannot be divorced from the consumption behavior itself. The idea of consumption has a long history, even before the emergence of money, back to the barter system period. Consumerism in the contemporary sense, which was considered as the early immature consumer value, originated in late nineteenth century when the accomplishment of the Second Industrial Revolution further encouraged the economic development. People’s spending habits changed greatly during the past several centuries. Most economic developments in the last century have been achieved at the cost of environment, and after entering the new century, many attempts were made to change the situation. Automobile industry as one of the most representative examples shows the possibility that moral standard, as part of the consumer value, can stimulate the market to develop new technology through its influence on consumer demand and behaviors. Modern cars were invented based on the working steam-powered vehicle during the Industrial Revolution, and have become prevalent since the mass production of affordable cars by Ford Motor Company in early 1900s. The popularization of cars had made life more convenient, but meanwhile, plenty of problems arose owing to a lack of environmental consciousness in the early period. Along with the improvement of the consumer values, vehicle pollution has been a global concern with the coming of the twenty-first century. Although the inhabitants of the earth were fully aware of the importance of the environmental protection, it was still unrealistic to force them to give up owning cars in order to minimize the gas emissions and the use of petroleum resources. Therefore, there was an urgent demand for new types of cars which can be more ecofriendly. In the first decade of the new century, the design and manufacture of electric vehicles by Elon Musk is a milestone in the automobile history. Tesla Motors, the company with its incredible fully electric luxury sedan hit the wealthy who pursued fresh excitement and were willing to take responsibility for protecting the environment. The attractions of this fancy motorcar lie not only in its amazing acceleration or safety performance, but also in the use of clean energy to effectively avoid the emission of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. As Tesla Roadster was introduced as a better substitute of traditional cars to the market and consumers were naturally willing to replace the old one for the reduction of gas emission and the better protection of the environment, other companies saw the great opportunity as well and launched their new products one after another. Such positive consumer-driven cycle made energy-efficient and environmental-friendly automobiles a new trend of this cen tury. Different from what had happen to other markets, consumers didn’t simply cease their consumption in automobile to ease their concerns. Instead, they stimulate the market to update the products supplied by showing great demand for new types of cars out of concern for the environment, behind which is great influence from the consumer values. It finally offers them more choices, and thus they do not need to give up their motivations. The high price of Tesla Roadster may not be affordable to everyone, but other participants also showed their great efforts to make consumption both eco-friendly and satisfying. For those who already have cars, it seems impractical to buy a new one but reasonable to replace with another kind of fuel. Consumers highly demanded some improvements made in petroleum industry in order to reduce their guilty of polluting the environment. In this situation, the appearance of hybrid gasoline is well-founded. This new fuel reduces the pollution by adding ethanol into gasoline, which remains water after the combustion. With government support and the increasing demand, the production and use of ethanol fuel boomed in the past few years. And for those who want to buy new cars with budget constraint, the promotion of highly-efficiency and clean-fuel vehicles drop the price dramatically, and provide them with many choices as well. Consumer values often succeed in giving us suggestions about what we really need and demand for right things, in which bring such innovations that allow us to avoid struggling between conscience and desire. Besides automobile industry, there are many other businesses in which consumer values successfully make progress of technology to drive industrial development. In pharmaceutical industry, it has been a long history to use rare animals in medicine. The controversy of whether bear bile should be used as medicine has never stopped. Bear bile has been used as ingredients for its high medicinal value for thousands of years. However, the methods of bile extraction were very cruel which caused untold suffering to bears. Consumers expected the development of new drug which has the same effect but without hurting animals. Under this circumstance, after half-century study and experiment in medical circle, an artificially synthetic analogue of bear bile eventually were sold on the market and used widespread. It was another success that values guidance played its role rightly to promote the upgrade and update of commodities to conform customers’ demand. And there are numerous successful e xamples in every all walks of life. During the formation of consumer value in the past few centuries, a question has been frequently asked was in what way and how it guides our consumption behaviors. I would like to point out that consumer value as an invisible ideology often makes indirectly effect on buying habits. It exerts an imperceptible influence on consumer demand, and eventually promotes the market to supply better products with advanced technologies which allowed consumers easily to make right decisions.

Staffing Essay -- essays research papers

All About Staffing I. Nature of Staffing Staffing is an organization-wide function, comparable to other functions such as marketing, focused on solving problems and adding value with a company's human, social, and intellectual capital. Staffing includes attracting and hiring talented people, as well as developing, appraising, and rewarding them through performance management and training programs. Staffing has a heavy legal emphasis, since employment and labor laws significantly impact both employee and employer rights and responsibilities. Staffing is the process of recruiting, selecting and training of personnel. It means putting the right men on the right jobs. All business organizations should focus their attention and be concerned about the effectiveness and efficiency of their employees specially their managers. The function of staffing has to do with manning an organization structure so that it can completely operate in the present and in the future. II. Recruitment Recruitment is the process of encouraging, inducing or influencing applicants to apply for a certain vacant position. Whenever there are vacancies, it is necessary to find a person to fill those vacancies. Some organizations do not wait until the vacancy arises, but they anticipate such vacancies and new openings in the short and long run and thus plan for future needs. Steps in Recruitment 1. Study the different jobs in the company and writing the job description and specification. 2. Requisition for new employee. 3. Recruiting qualified applicants. 4. Reception of applicants. 5. Application form. 6. Testing. 7. Checking the applicant’s work experiences, school records and personal references. 8. Interview. 9. Matching the applicant with the job. 10. Final selection by immediate supervisor or department head. 11. Physical and medical examination. 12. Hiring. III. Training Training is the systematic development of the attitude/knowledge/behavior patterns for the adequate performance of a given job or task. All employees on a new job undergo a learning process whether or not formal training exists. Learning to perform or be more efficient in performing a job is made easier for employees where there are formal training. For the growth of the individual and the organization, these activities are carried out continuously in many organizations. The quality of this initial training ca... ...on to another without increasing his duties, responsibilities or pay. B. Promotion It refers to the shifting of an employee to a new position to which both his status and responsibilities are increased. 1. Horizontal Promotion – an advancement in pay that does not involve a move into a anew job classification. 2. Vertical Promotion – an advancement that moves an employee into a job with a higher rank or classification. C. Separation Separation from employment of the company may either be temporary or permanent, voluntary or involuntary. 1. Lay-off is temporary and involuntary, usually traceable to a negative business condition. 2. A discharge is a permanent separation of an employee, at the will of the employer, a person may be discharged if he is not competent in his job even after an honest effort has been made. 3. Resignation is the voluntary and permanent separation of an employee due to low morale, low salary, etc. 4. Retirement can either be voluntary or involuntary. It is voluntary if an employee retires upon reaching the number of years of services in the company as provided for by its policies. It is involuntary if one retires upon reaching the retirement age of 65.

Colon Cancer Treatment and Prevention

As representatives of the citizens of New York State, we have a responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to the highest quality health care possible. As a State Senator. I have worked aggressively to fight for increased funding for cancer education and prevention, and to improve and expand health care coverage and treatment, including legislation we are working hard to approve — the Women†s Health and Wellness Act — which would expand treatment and prevention services and insurance coverage for breast cancer and other illnesses facing women in particular. Colon cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer deaths, followed only by lung cancer. This year, 130,200 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer. Nearly half, 56,300, will die from it. Focusing on expanding treatment and coverage for colon cancer is of critical importance in our continued efforts to provide greater access to preventative health care for all citizens. Because early detection is the key in fighting colon cancer and many other illnesses, it is critically important that we continue to educate people on how they can help to prevent colon cancer – by getting a colon cancer screenings like colonoscopies. Many people are apprehensive about the test itself, which is why we must continue to advocate for quality education and prevention services. One tremendous resource we have here in our region, right here in Rochester, is the University of Rochester†s Institute of Biomedical Sciences where scientists work diligently everyday to help find more effective ways to fight cancer. As the senior member of the Rochester State Legislative Delegation, I worked with my colleagues and Governor Pataki to secure $7 million in State assistance for the Institute and will continue to fight to support these important and life-saving endeavors. Certainly I support providing our health care consumers with greater access to prevention services and more expansive insurance coverage for colon cancer treatments and would encourage everyone interested in this issue to contact their State representatives to share their views and concerns.

All about Pygmy Goats essays

All about Pygmy Goats essays When most people think of pygmy goats they might not think of them as I do. They are fun, intelligent, animals, and they make wonderful pets. Pygmy goats have often been confused with Nigerian Dwarf goats, and Pygora goats. These breeds of goats may have some pigmy in them but they are bred different and have different goat breeds in them. There is so much to learn about pygmy goats, I will talk about several things including; how old a Pygmy should be before being bred, how expensive a Pygmy goats is to keep as a pet, what type of housing you may need, and how to feed them properly. Those are just some of the things that I will talk about. The Pygmy Goat was originally called the African Dwarf Goat. The Pygmy Goat first came from a former French Area off the West Coast of Africa. Heinz Ruhe brought the Pygmy Goat to the United States in 1959. By the 1970's interest in the Pygmy Goat began to grow to the point that registries for the Pygmy Goats were established to define breed type. In 1975 the incorporated National Pygmy Goat Association was formed. The Pygmy goat is a domesticated animal. They stand about 16-23 inches high, and weigh between 50-55 pounds. Pygmy goats are sometimes called African Pygmys, because that was where they were first seen. Pygmy goats were first seen in the United States in the 1950s in the zoos. They can also provide milk and meat, milk more common then meat in the United States. They use goat meat in Arabic countries, and over seas. Goat meat in the U.S. is not very popular, but there are some people out there that do eat it, or raise them for meat. Female goats are called does; males are called bucks; and young goats are called kids. Goats have the reputation for their odor, but generally only the males have an odor. The reason males have an odor is because they have scent glands as well as smaller scent glands in other places of there bodys. Pygmy goats are often kept as...

Free Essays on Hamlets Loneliness

Hamlet’s Loneliness Shakespeare’s work â€Å"Hamlet† focuses on several general themes that run throughout literature. The least obvious theme is loneliness. In Hamlet most of the suffering and loneliness Hamlet endures is brought with the secrets and betrayals he is forced to keep. In the story there are many instances where Hamlet is left lone with nobody to talk with about his pain and how it upsets him. This along with the betrayals of his former best friends torments young Hamlet throughout the play. These factors not only torment the young man but lead to his untimely demise as well. Hamlet learns rather quickly who is loyal to him and whom not to trust. The very first line he speaks gives away the feelings he has towards his uncle â€Å"A little more than kin, and less than kind." (I; ii; 65). He already distraught with the loss of his father but the addition of his cold, cruel uncle marrying Hamlet’s beloved mother is too much for the Dane to endure. His mother is another whom Hamlet feels betrayed him as well as her former husband by casting aside all love she felt for him and marrying his brother only a few months after his death. " Mother, you have my father much offended." (III; iv; 11) " A bloody deed-almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother. (III; iv; 29-30). Hamlet’s emotions suffered another casualty with the loss of the love his life Ophelia. Hamlet distances himself away from her as part of his crazed disposition â€Å"plan†. By insulting her and convincing Ophelia that he never loved her he further offends his soul. . "I loved you not" (III; i; 117) "Get thee to a nunnery†¦Marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them" (III; i; 135-137). The final blow for Ophelia’s heart comes when Hamlet kills Polonius by mistaking him for Claudius. These actions lead Ophelia with no one to talk with and she takes her own life. The loss of his love d... Free Essays on Hamlet's Loneliness Free Essays on Hamlet's Loneliness Hamlet’s Loneliness Shakespeare’s work â€Å"Hamlet† focuses on several general themes that run throughout literature. The least obvious theme is loneliness. In Hamlet most of the suffering and loneliness Hamlet endures is brought with the secrets and betrayals he is forced to keep. In the story there are many instances where Hamlet is left lone with nobody to talk with about his pain and how it upsets him. This along with the betrayals of his former best friends torments young Hamlet throughout the play. These factors not only torment the young man but lead to his untimely demise as well. Hamlet learns rather quickly who is loyal to him and whom not to trust. The very first line he speaks gives away the feelings he has towards his uncle â€Å"A little more than kin, and less than kind." (I; ii; 65). He already distraught with the loss of his father but the addition of his cold, cruel uncle marrying Hamlet’s beloved mother is too much for the Dane to endure. His mother is another whom Hamlet feels betrayed him as well as her former husband by casting aside all love she felt for him and marrying his brother only a few months after his death. " Mother, you have my father much offended." (III; iv; 11) " A bloody deed-almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother. (III; iv; 29-30). Hamlet’s emotions suffered another casualty with the loss of the love his life Ophelia. Hamlet distances himself away from her as part of his crazed disposition â€Å"plan†. By insulting her and convincing Ophelia that he never loved her he further offends his soul. . "I loved you not" (III; i; 117) "Get thee to a nunnery†¦Marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them" (III; i; 135-137). The final blow for Ophelia’s heart comes when Hamlet kills Polonius by mistaking him for Claudius. These actions lead Ophelia with no one to talk with and she takes her own life. The loss of his love d...

Capital Structure of Public Limited Companies Dissertation

Capital Structure of Public Limited Companies - Dissertation Example Table of Content Chapter 1: Introduction 5 Motivation 5 Aims and Objectives 5 Significance of the study 6 Research Questions 7 Research method and data 8 Research Structure 8 Chapter 2: Literature review 9 Global Financial Market 9 History 9 Evaluation of UK capital market 12 Causes of current financial crisis 13 Capital market 15 Source of finance 15 Current capital structure of FTSE 100 companies 16 Advantages and disadvantages of high leverage 19 Theories of capital market structure 20 Chapter 3: Methodology and data analysis 26 36 Chapter 4: Research Findings 36 Impact of Capital Structure on Agency Costs 36 Impact of recent global financial crisis on the capital structure of UK companies 37 Chapter 5: Conclusion 39 Reference 42 Bibliography 47 Financial times. European debt crisis shakes markets again. May 23, 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.kyivpost.com/content/business/european-debt-crisis-shakes-markets-again-105100.html 48 Chapter 1: Introduction Motivation Capital structur e of firms is developed based on many internal and external factors which have substantial influence on it. Financial Crisis or Liquidity Crisis in 2007 in global financial market has had a major impact on the firms’ financial status across the world. ... Financial crisis leads to dr4amatiacally decrease in stock price of the firms. So, equity structure of the firms also changed during this recession period. Capital structure is the major part of overall financial structure and policies of firms. Companies develop financial structure and policies based on major external financial condition of the market where they operate business. Though there is many empirical studies and research on capital structures but it hard to assess the impact of financial crisis on it. Therefore, it this study, capital structure theories and empirical studies are analysed to assess the extent of impact of financial crisis on capital structure and reason for the impact. Aims and Objectives The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the capital structure of firms in the UK before the global economic crisis in the years around 2007 and after the financial crisis in the years 2011 or 2012. In order to achieve the above mentioned aim of the study, the following objectives have been considered: Review theories on capital structure in order to determine how it might change during a period of prolonged recession and liquidity crisis. Compare and contrast the capital structure of public UK companies in 2007 and in 2011/2012.Evaluate the extent to which any changes in capital structure are due to the ongoing global crisis. Aim of this paper is a detailed evaluation of the capital structure of firms in United Kingdom. Capital structure of the firms in before financial crisis will be compared with current revised capital structures of the firms. For this purpose, reasons for financial crisis need to be analysed along with history of it to assess its impact in earlier. Theoretically aim of the paper is to

Primary causes behind the start of the Cold War Essay

Primary causes behind the start of the Cold War - Essay Example Cold War is recognized as an era of extreme tension and hostility between Soviet Union and the United States of America. The War had its origins at the end of Second World War and ended in the early decade of 1990s. The fear of nuclear escalation did not allow the two economies to indulge into an active war therefore; this war is known as Cold War. This war is different from the other wars because it was not an active war and it was fought through propagandas, military clashes, economic clashes and diplomatic bargaining. Most of the world economies came under the impact of Cold War including the neutral economies, newly independent economies and others. Various factors contributed to intensify the conflicts between the two nations however, a few of them appeared as the primary causes of Cold War. The aim of this essay is to discuss the primary causes of Cold War. In general, there are three views about â€Å"who was to blame for the Cold War? (Johndclare)† The Traditional view is supported by western writers who blame Soviet Russia for the Cold War and they argue that Stalin was seeking to establish a Soviet empire. The Revisionist view is supported by western writers who blame America for the Cold War. They argue that Truman could not understand the impact of Second World War on Russia. Third view is the Post-Revisionists view which considers the hatred of both nations as the primary cause of Cold War. ... The historians have disagreements over the exact date of Cold War however; most of the historians agree that this war started when the President of the United States, Truman announced an anti-communist policy. The Second World War has its significance in the discussion of Cold War because the war started immediately after the Second World War. The ideological, political and economic differences between the United States and Soviet Union were not much prominent before the World War II however; mutual suspicions and distrust intensified the differences between the two nations and came on screen after the World War II. These differences and the factors intensifying these differences became the primary causes of Cold War. The defeat of Nazi Germany became the collapse of old Europe and appeared as a common victory of American and Soviet soldiers who celebrated the victory together in Germany in 1945. However, the conflicts between Soviet Union and the United States increased when it came to make a decision about the occupied Germany and the composition of a new Polish government. These conflicts intensified when the two nations failed to agree on a common plan relevant to the control of atomic energy and Soviets started communizing the lands under their occupation which threatened the United States on the division of Europe. The United States could see the spread of Communist State in the Western Europe whereas; the Soviet Union was threatened by American nuclear power and control. Fuller argues that the fear of democratic west about the Soviet Union was the primary cause of Cold War. If at one end, Soviet Union had a fear of western invasions of her new satellites, then at the other end, the western states were seeing the spread of Marxism.