Monday, December 30, 2019

Individual Motivation Has Been Defined As The Processes

Individual motivation has been defined as the processes that account for individual’s intensity, direction, and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal. Group motivation is built on the same principles but consists of two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who come together to achieve goals. In formal groups the behavior team members usually engage in are determined and guided toward organizational goals. Informal groups in organizations meet the need for social contact and these types of interactions among individuals, through informal, can deeply affect behavior and performance. Groups can be either formal or informal; both can affect employees’ behavior and performance. There has always been a debate about†¦show more content†¦Esteem are made up of internal and external elements such as morale, determination, accomplishment, rank, recognition, and attention. Self-actualization is an individual’s drive to become what we can beco me. These needs are very important when it comes to individual or group motivation because if they are not met a person will most likely will not be as motived as someone that as fulfilled these needs and recognizes them. An individual or groups motivation can also depend on their mood. A person’s mood can affect their work performance, creativity, problem solving, and decision making skills. â€Å"All moods can affect judgment, perception, and physical and emotional well-being. Long-term exposure to negative moods or stressful environments can lead to illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and ulcers. The decision-making effects of any kind of bad mood can hinder a person s job performance and lead to poor decisions that affect the company. In contrast, a positive mood can enhance creativity and problem solving. However, positive moods can also create false optimism and negatively influence decision making.† If people are in a bad mood when trying to collaborate the group or individual may not be able to perform to their full expectations. When organizations are dealing with situations such as this one it may become difficult if even possible to reach the goal or task that is at hand. Organizations can also help withShow MoreRelatedMotivation Concepts1537 Words   |  7 Pagesexploration are motivational drivers. Motivation can be defined as the arousal, direction and persistence of behavior. (Franken, 1994) Motivation is an internal state or condition that activates behavior giving direction towards ones desire or want. The motivational drive is a basic or instinctive need associated in the effort of behavior directed towards a goal-oriented cause. Curiosity is central to motivation for exploratory behavior. Curiosity has been referred as a passion for learningRead MoreThe Importance of Understanding Individual Personality in Counseling897 Words   |  4 PagesCounseling Each one of us has a vastly different personality that has been morphed from a combination of our experiences and our cognitive processes. In turn, this personality helps define not only who we are, but how we behave. From a counseling perspective, understanding an individuals personality is crucial because it helps guide the therapeutic process into a more definitive and effective manner, correlating the sessions in tune with the mind of the individual seeking guidance. PersonalityRead More3prm Cipd1561 Words   |  7 Pagesimprovement of business processes and of individuals’ skills, behaviour and contribution. It is a repetitive process that is continually reviewed and is both strategic and integrated. It is about broad issues and long-term goals and integrated by linking various aspects of the business, people management, individuals and teams to delivering successful results in organisations. It does this by improving performance and developing the capabilities of teams and individuals. The two main purposes ofRead MoreVrooms Model of Expectancy Theory1180 Words   |  5 PagesVroom’s Model of Expectancy Theory Expectancy Theory is a mental form of motivation. It is based how employee makes their decisions and why they are motivated to perform the task. It identifies the motivational force behind the decision (Van Eerde Thierry, 1996). Motivation is predetermined before an employee will complete an assignment (Kopp, 2014). The components that contribute an employee’s motivation are a positive link between their effort and performance; the performance leads toRead MoreLiterature Review: Expectancy Theory1132 Words   |  5 Pages5 Literature review Introduction The expectancy theory of motivation has become an increasingly popular model for predicting work performance and job preference. The empirical tests of this model have typically employed correlation analysis to test the strength of the relationship between a measure of motivational force and the subjects work performance ratings of their preferences for specific jobs. This research has been systematically examined in recent reviews of expectancy theory literatureRead MoreStudent Motivation : Students Motivation991 Words   |  4 PagesSTUDENT MOTIVATION IN COLLEGE Motivation is defined as the acts or psychological processes that arouse and direct people’s goal-directed behavior (Kinicki Williams, 2012) and that drives them to the expenditure of effort to accomplish results (DuBrin, 2008, cited in Williams Williams, 2011); seen that way, motivation is inherent to the human being and of complete necessity in order to realize any endeavor. It’s pertinent to cite H. W. Beecher who said: â€Å"God made man to go by motives, and he willRead MoreA Broundaryless Organization Are Organizations That Are1709 Words   |  7 PagesA broundaryless organization are organizations that are not defined or limited by horizontal, vertical, or external boundaries imposed by a predetermined structure (Griffin). Boundaryless organizations also have a strong emphasis on teams. Officer Jack Welch the Chief Executive of General Electronics’ came up with the term of a boundaryless organization. This report would help Gerd Finger company Newskool Grooves understand how to make the company competitive and successful as a boundaryless organizationRead MoreIntroduction To Motivation Theory And Its Influence On Marketing Essay1331 Words   |  6 PagesBrief introduction to motivation theory and its influence on marketing INTRODUCTION Marketing occupies a very important part in the development of the company. â€Å"Marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create an exchange and satisfy individual and organizational objectives.†( American Marketing Association 2004) But how marketers know why consumers do what they do and what product they need? Having aRead MoreThe Theories Of The Theory Of Learning Essay1520 Words   |  7 Pagesawareness of that knowledge. Metacognitive regulation is the procedural knowledge used to regulate cognitive processes and consists of four components, according to Brown (1987): planning, monitoring, evaluating, and revising. These components are not dependent on domain-specific and structural knowledge. (Wineburg, 2001) Metacognitive monitoring uses two different types of cognitive processes, one associated with accurate monitoring judgements, and one that is associated with error in monitoring judgementRead MoreOperations Management Paper1329 Words   |  6 PagesField of Management NAME Amberton University Operations Management MGT5203.E1 Teacher June 13, 2011 MGT5203 Assignment 1 - Contributions to the Field of Management What is operations management? Operations management is the management of processes that create goods and/or services which is the core to any business. (Stevenson, 2012) Operations involves leading within several operational duties such as: service design, process selection, selection and management of technology, design of work

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Essay on Could Reconstruction Have Been More Successful

History Term Paper Jack Conway Mr. Hilgendorf February 25, 2013 Word Count: 3234 Reconstruction: Rebuilding America The United States was founded on the belief that every man has â€Å"certain inalienable Rights.† Not until ninety years later, however, when slavery was abolished did the United States actually offer these â€Å"Rights† to all of its citizens. The 19th century was turbulent time of stress and change for America. One of the most controversial dilemmas was the issue of slavery. Slavery was conceived by many to be morally wrong, and it undermined America’s most valued beliefs. Despite this inconsistency, slavery was still widely supported and permitted out of economic necessity in the South. Slavery divided the†¦show more content†¦Clearly the North and federal government still held most of the power over the South. The most recalcitrant Confederate states underwent radical reconstruction enforced by a military regime. After Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew Johnson, his Vice President, replaced him. Johnson1, a southerner, shared Lincoln’s ideas on leniency when it came to reconstructing the South. He wanted minimal demands. At first Radical Republicans were unwilling to spread national power and felt that in order to properly reconstruct the South they had to maintain their authority. However, the centralization of power did not last long as violence grew in southern states and as the desire to preserve the federal system’s pre-war balance weighed heavily on the minds of leading Republicans. Republican Senator James W. Grimes once said in a letter, â€Å"We are gradually surrendering all rights of the states,† illustrating that the Union intended to transfer power back to the southern states. Despite the turmoil caused during Reconstruction, there were some substantial accomplishments. The Thirteenth Amendment was the first of the â€Å"Reconstruction Amendments.† This Amendment made slavery illegal in every part of the United States. The next was the Fourteenth Amendment that made Blacks citizens and prohibited any state from interfering with the â€Å"inalienableShow MoreRelatedR econstruction Of The Civil War872 Words   |  4 PagesAfter the Civil War, which lasted from 1861-1865, there were three different approaches to southern reconstruction. The Lincoln Plan, as outlined by Abraham Lincoln before his death, would: (1) improve the economic and political status of blacks (2) allow southern states to re-enter the Union after 10% of whites had taken oaths of loyalty (3) grant blanket pardons to Confederate veterans after individual pleas to the president, and (4) not allow a loss of property except slaves. At the time, Lincoln’sRead Moreâ€Å"I Want To Cushion The Shock Of A Total Revolution Of Labor†¦I1317 Words   |  6 Pagesrelation to each other,† said Abraham Lincoln in regards to what his goals were for Reconstruction. After the Civil War ended, Reconstruction was presented as a way to unify the country once again and have all Americans live together in equality and unity. In theory, achieving successful Reconstruction seemed ea sy to implement and an idea that every American would be in support of; however, actually executing Reconstruction plans proved to be difficult and welcomed many criticizers of all of the plansRead MoreReconstruction After Civil War Essay1503 Words   |  7 PagesReconstruction Reconstruction was a period of time between 1865 and 1877, which was very complex and controversial. It refers to the actual rebuilding of the south physically, economically and politically from the damage of the Civil War. It was an effort to rebuild southern states and also to restore the Union. During this time period, the federal government passed a series of laws, acts and amendments to bring change. Many of these amendments guaranteed the equal rights to African-AmericansRead MoreRecostruction Era and African American Integration1333 Words   |  5 Pagesnot weaken the United States; it merely exposed the flaws in government and where it could be made stronger henceforth. Often, many forget that the Civil War affected the fate of nearly four million Americans, or slaves, as they were then labeled. The leaders of the Reconstruction were tasked with piecing a nation back together while keeping the idea of justice in mind. The Reconstruction had a somewhat successful beginning but unfortunately its potential in integrating freedmen into Southern societyRead MoreThe Shaping Of Our Country1092 Words   |  5 Pagesto 1876 Mr. William Stowe 28 November 2014 The shaping of our country has been impacted by several different factors, each contributing to it in their own way. Four of the major pivot points that occurred consists of: Jeffersonian democracy, Jacksonian democracy, Civil War/Reconstruction, Revolution/Constitution. However one of them happened to be the most impacting which was the Civil War and Reconstruction. The American Civil War occurred during 1861 to 1865, lasting only five years. America’sRead MoreThe Reconstruction Era Was A Success1490 Words   |  6 PagesThe Reconstruction Era was a Success Shortly after the Civil War ended in 1867, President Abraham Lincoln’s new objective was to unify the union and the confederate states into what was formerly known as the United States of America. This time period is known as the Reconstruction Era, starting with the surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House in 1865 and ending with the implementation of the Compromise of 1877. The Reconstruction Era was a time period full of political, economicRead MoreU.s. Congressional Reconstruction Era844 Words   |  4 PagesThe Reconstruction Era In 1865, the city was devastated because of the crisis that left the civil war. Therefore, political, economic and social issues needed to be resolved to improve and reconstruct the Nation. It was the period in which the State and local governments in the South were restored, and the Southern states were unified to the rest of the States. This essay emphasizes the differences between congressional and presidential reconstruction. Also, it highlights the achievements and successRead MoreReconstruction And The Rights Of Former Slaves. In The998 Words   |  4 PagesReconstruction and the Rights of Former Slaves In the 1860s the United States was a nation that had been ripped apart by the Civil War and left in torn pieces. The war left many white southerners stripped of their slaves, land, and in destroyed towns with little to eat. The only people worse off than the white southerners at this point in history were the black southerners who had nothing to their names but the freedom they had recently been granted which left them penniless and searching for aRead MoreReconstruction647 Words   |  3 PagesRadical Reconstruction was not radical enough. After studying the events of the late 19th century, defend whether or not you agree with this position. What are the long-term implications? * * From what I have learned from this class already this week is that the Radical Reconstruction was not as radical as it should have been. If President Lincoln would have lived longer after the Civil War the Reconstruction of the south Might have been handled better due to the fact that Lincoln could haveRead MoreDebate over if the Reconstruction Era was Failure Essay1222 Words   |  5 PagesAmendment which highlighted that the a citizen’s right to vote should not be denied, thus achieving one of the aims of Reconstruction. As a result of those southern states that rejoined the Union, African Americans were legally classed as American citizens, allowing them access to rights that they were previously limited to. For example, in the eyes of the law, ex slaves could, in theory, leave their masters and set up a new home elsewhere. This, however, would be an impossible task considering

Saturday, December 14, 2019

China Compare to Australia Free Essays

Abstract Consumer behaviour is important for any marketer. Cross cultural analysis provides crucial information as to what can be successful exported to international markets. In relation segmentation in China Australians need understand culture, subculture and cross-cultural affiliation. We will write a custom essay sample on China Compare to Australia or any similar topic only for you Order Now Another important factor when considering marketing opportunities is Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. It is ever present that there are economic and cultural differences within China. Due to increased globalization and increased Westernisation of China cultures are beginning to blend. Understanding these two theories is imperative for exporters trying to expand into the diverse and complex Chinese market. Introduction: Cross-Cultural Analysis The Australia -China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) is offering the opportunities for Australian exporters to a gain more sustainable competitive advantages in the second largest economy in the world. Chinese domestic economic growth, liberalisation, and recent membership to the World Trade Organisation have given opportunities for Australian exporters and firms to expand in China (ACCI, 2004). Therefore, cross – cultural analysis has become an important tool for Australian marketers in analysing to what extent consumers of the two different nations differ. As a result, marketers will be able to study and understand in-depth the foreign market which to whom they will market their products to, since cultural acknowledgement will have a significant impact to every aspects of marketing particularly in segmenting the market and understanding the consumers’ behaviors. People from different countries have different culture that shaped their characteristics and behaviors in their purchasing activity. Chinese Culture vs. Australian Culture (Segmentation: Culture, subculture and cross-cultural affiliation) Consumer behaviour is the most essential aspect of marketing, which outlines what consumers’ need, and what influences their buying behaviour. Therefore, it is vital to discuss the cultural, social, personal and physiological characteristic of the Chinese consumers in order for Australian marketers to understand Chinese consumer behaviours in order to successfully penetrate into the Chinese market. There are several ifferent studies conducted by experts which accentuate that the immature Chinese market’s behaviour is similar to Australian culture who are price and brand sensitive, and are now constantly moving towards mature market, who view the well known foreign brands with superior quality and service as leverage to their social status (Yi-You, 2004). This movement is the result of the Chinese culture that underpins the importance of social status and a robust ec onomy that boosts consumer confidence in spending (Giele, 2009). For instance, the sales figure for luxury cars in China has surprisingly increased within 2005-2010. According to the customs figures China has imported more than 100,000 luxury cars in recent years, approximately valued at $4. 84 billion (China Business, 2006). This example underlines the growing Chinese economy that significantly affected by consumers’ spending bahaviour. It is obvious that Australia is similar in a sense where we live in a culture that underpins importance of social status; however this does not mean Australians will go out and buy a luxury car for the sake of promoting their economical situation. Australian consumers tend to use a cost-benefit analysis, that is, will the benefits of the vehicle outweigh its price, if yes sales will tend to increase, if no sales will drop (Reh, 2009). Therefore while there is a small similarity in demographic segment opportunities (socio-economical status), the buyer behaviour decision still differs. Luxury Cars Thus, it is crucial for Australian marketers to choose the best entry and pricing strategies to gain the potential market’s loyalty and trust. In relation to the car industry, Australian subsidiaries such as Holden and Ford can penetrate the market with their high end vehicles the Calais, Caprice, Senator and Mondeo and ultimately make Chinese consumers aware of the quality and luxury that such brands underpin (Financial Times, 2009). In doing so exporters need to set themselves aside from competitors including Mercedes, BMW, AUDI and even neighbouring brand Lexus and show consumers the unique opportunity of investing in an Australian Luxury Vehicle. Chinese Superstition Furthermore, distinct Chinese culture is also playing an important role in shaping consumer’s behaviour. Chinese people believe in â€Å"Feng Shui†, it is the strongest cultural impact on consumers in the decision-making process. This Differs from Australian culture who has a different perspective on such superstitious belief, in most cases Australian consumers would mock a marketing strategy with such a belief. Thus where the buying decisions of the Chinese is dependent on this cultural principle, the Australian consumers care more about product quality, price, perceived benefits and service of the product, as opposed to what the product represents (Giele, 2009). Chinese believe that Feng Shui will bring them luck and peace. Therefore, Chinese consumers will consult â€Å"Feng Shui† experts before making the purchasing decision. For example, Chinese people interpreted number four (? pinyin si) as bad luck since it is nearly homophonous to the word â€Å"death† (? pinyin si). Therefore people in China do not like anything that involving number four (Lubin, 2010). In saying this when marketing Australian exporters should market in relation to positive Feng Shui beliefs in China. For example when marketing Australian wine which is rapidly increasing in popularity in the Chinese market, a marketer should avoid any aged wine with the number four. That is for example Shiraz from 2004, 1994, 1984. This has been reflected in the dramatic fall in sales, during 2004, and marketers were bewildered as to why it occurred (Lubin, 2010). Marketers should in fact promote wine from years that have the number eight included, as this is a symbol of prosperity and happiness. In saying this in the year 2008 Australian wine exporters could not keep up with demand from Chinese consumers, an increase in 32% from the previous year (Winefacts, 2009). Thus in order for Australians to penetrate the market they should do so harmoniously with the Feng Shui principle in order to succeed. Exporting alcoholic beverage to the Chinese Segment Culture is one of the most important factors and basic causes that influence consumer behaviour. It involves the attitudes, beliefs and knowledge which determine consumer’s buyer behaviour (Schiffman et al. 2008). For example, when there are a small number of consumers, it is easy for them to try and feel product variations and quality then the producer must meet the expectation. If these expectations are not met, consumers would never repurchase that product. However, if there are a large number of consumers, a brand name must be established in order to reach new consumers, and it will develop with continued purchase by the consumer. In this process, marketer must adjust the product depending on different segmentations like culture. Take beer for instance, when a new brand of beer is introduced into a beer drinking country like Australia, fresh beer is always kept chilled, and Consumers do not want to order beer without being cool. It also needs to be kept away from the sunlight to maintain its taste, which is different from Chinese. In China, beer does not need to be kept in freezer and always exposed to the sunlight. Moreover, there is a difference of beer taste between Australian consumers and Chinese consumers. If the company exports the Australian beer directly to China, Chinese consumers will not accept it because Australian beer tastes too strong for the Chinese consumer (Mona Chung , 2007). Similarly, Chinese white spirit cannot fit Australian consumers because it is too hot for them. Nowadays, China’s taste for wine provides a great market opportunity to Western Australia. Chinese consumers are growing interest for nice Australia wine. Agriculture and Food Minister, Mr. Redman said â€Å"Premium wine industry is gaining the attention of consumers in China, but to date there has not been a Chinese language book with information on WA wineries for this market†. Because Chinese consumers are getting thirst for Australia wine, Redman had launched a book in mandarin in Shanghai about Australian wine which includes 100 local top wineries in order to satisfy Chinese consumer expectation. Australia is one of top suppliers of wine to China. The wine exported annually to China has increased by 20% over the past 2 years (Josette Dunn, 2010). Redman predicts that the number of wine imported to China would grow to 1. 26 billion in 2013. Also , according to the research , total Australian wine exports to China grew 37% annually from 1999-2000 to 2004-2005 and increased at a rate of 84% annually from 2004-2005 to 2009-2010 . Moreover , wine intelligence shows the market in China which import wine could grow to between 70 and 80 million cases by 2025 (2010). In saying this, it is obvious that when segmenting to the Chinese market, marketers must take into account the diverse cultural beliefs of Chinese consumers, but also take into account the close similarities between buyer behaviours of the two nations. Hierarchy of needs Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (appendix 1) has been cited in numerous texts both in psychology and marketing. In the marketing context the hierarchy is useful in interpreting how different products and services satisfy different needs. The hierarchy is based on intuitive notion that certain needs must satisfied, at least partially, before reaching the next level. The most basic need of the hierarchy is physiological, examples are food, water and breathing. The next level is safety and security needs which covers shelter, protection and stability. These first two levels are necessary for human survival. The next three levels consist of psychological needs. These respectively are:- social needs such as affection, belonging and friendship; ego needs which includes prestige, status and self-respect and final self-actualisation which is the idea of self fulfilment or finding meaning with one’s life. Differences between culture China is generally considered a Collectivist culture. Collectivism is based on unity of the group, where people are encouraged to conform to society and do what is best for the community as a whole (Britannica, 2010). This means individuals are more easily persuaded by friends and family as there is a strong desire to fit in. Contrastingly, Australian and other Western Cultures are seen individualist societies where more emphasis is placed on each person being unique. This is why marketing is focused on making individuals stand out rather than blend in with the rest of the crowd (see appendix 2 3 for examples). In the Chinese commercial (appendix 2) it can be seen that collective culture and history still plays a major role in Chinese culture. The ad clearly targets the social need as Pepsi is seen to be drunk by the group and the new student must crush the can to be accepted into this culture. This allows him to become part of the dynasty and conform to the norm. This is juxtaposed to American commercial (appendix 3) where the individual is the focus of ad. It appeals to the ego and self actualisation needs as by drinking Pepsi you can achieve your ambition and be separated from the rest of the crowd. Thus the distinct marketing differences between the Collective Chinese culture and individualistic Australian culture can be seen. China is the world’s fastest growing economy and as such there has been a huge influx of Multi-national corporations. This has started to have an influence on China’s urban areas as they are becoming individualistic due to Western products. The change can also be attributed to the one child policy. This has made the new generation of Chinese far more self-centred and have become more indulgent in themselves as costs to run a family have lowered dramatically. This has allowed this generation far greater influence over their families decision making (Mari, 2008). Though Australia is seen as a uniform society where there is little poverty and relatively small gap between rich and poor in China however there is very distinct divide between urban and rural populations. The annual per capita income of urban Chinese was roughly three times as high as their rural counterparts and the Engel coefficient was 37% for urban and 46% for rural (Mari, 2008). Even more demonstrative is that Chinese urban and rural consumer spend only 3. and 2. 13% of their total income respectively on entertainment. This is compared to Australia where our total GDP per capita is $38,911 (World economic outlook database, 2010) and the average household spends a $150 a week on both groceries and entertainment. This equates to 22% of GDP per capita. It is obvious Australian culture focuses on high levels rather than the lower need on the hierarchy (ABS, 2006). The effect of Culture on the Hierarchy The differences in purchasing behaviour for urban and rural Chinese can be explained by Maslow’s needs hierarchy. People living in rural China live in a far more traditional society (Collective) and their consumption of goods is used to satisfy the social need to give a sense of belonging. Though the majority of their earnings is to satisfy their physiological, safety and security needs. The bicycle is an example of the social differences of culture in China. The bicycle is the main mode of transport as cars are still too expensive to afford for rural commuters. The bicycle is fulfilling their safety and security need as it allows people to get to work and thus provide for their family. Contrastingly, bicycles and bike riding in Australia is seen as a subculture mainly for leisure. Consumers who purchase bikes are doing so for their ego and self actualisation needs as they are simultaneously helping to lower pollution and increasing their physical appearance (At, 2006) Chinese; moving up Maslow’s Hierarchy Due to the cultural differences, there are high demands in luxurious branded items such as Louis Vuitton. This demand has increased due to higher incomes which has led consumers to access the higher levels of Maslow’s hierarchy. Chinese people are now purchasing luxury items for the prestige and social status which is associated with the high end brand. Loius Vuittton introduced itself into China as must have brand in order to conform to popular culture (Bloomberg Businessweek, 2007) Therefore, marketers of this brand have successfully expanded into this emerging market as it is evident that Chinese consumers tend to buy the same brand as others which is represented in their buying culture (Yau, 2007). However, Australians are less concerned about conforming to society so once a brand becomes popular consumers tend to try and create a new fashion trend. When Loius Vuitton markets to Australia it has constantly change its products as to not become a ‘fad’ or lose interest allowing customers to remain brand loyal. Australian Exporting opportunities It appears there are opportunities for Australians to export into China. As more and more urban areas are becoming Westernised more international companies are trying to gain entrance into the Chinese market. Hence as China’s economy continues to grow so will the income of its population giving them more discretion on purchases as they move up Maslow’s needs hierarchy. To effectively market to these consumers at present an Australian exporter would use direct marketing and word of mouth to make use of Collectivist culture of China. Exporting education is the most worthwhile export. Marketers can accentuate the self actualisation and ego needs of the Chinese people and show them that by attending an Australian University they are likely to have a better education, giving them more employment opportunities, ultimately a better way of life thus satisfying these higher level needs. Moreover, Australian exporters can highlight to Chinese businesses the growing importance of speaking English, which they can gain under an Australian education. This will give them a far greater ability to expand outside of Asia. To make this easier Australian Universities can situate a campus within China in order to grant easier access to Australian education. This maintains the social needs of Chinese students but could fulfil their ego and self actualisation by learning English from a prestigious institution. Recently the world expo in Beijing gave Australian exporters a chance to promote Australian education and give a good insight into the benefits of studying in Australia (Xiuyun, 2009). Conclusion It is evident there exists great potential for Australians to expand in the Chinese market but in order to do this they must understand socio-cultural segmentation and why different segments embody different needs on Maslow’s hierarchy. It is also important to understand the similarities between the two nations as China is becoming more Westernised, therefore insight into Western and Chinese culture is collectively important. References At, M. 2006, Bicycle culture, Copenhagenize. com, viewed at 26th August 2010 http://www. copenhagenize. com/. Australian Bureau Statistics, 2010, Perspectives on Regional Australia, Australian Government view at 25th August 2010, http://www. abs. gov. au/AUSSTATS/abs@. nsf/mf/1380. 0. 55. 003#HOUSEHOLD%20EXPENDITURE%20ON%20TOTAL%20GO. Australian Chambers of Commerce And Industry, 2004, Australia-China Free Trade Agreement, ACCI, Viewed 25th August 2010 http://www. acci. asn. u/text_files/issues_papers/Trade/AustraliaChina%20FTA%20_September%202004_. pdf. Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation 2009, Winefacts, Australian Government, viewed 27 August 2010 http://www. wineaustralia. com/australia/Portals/2/pdf/General%20factsheet. pdf. Reh, JF 2009, Cost-Benefit Analysis, About. com, viewed 27 August 2010, http://management. about. com/cs/money/a/CostBenefit. htm. Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation , Did you know? -China , Issue 31, 6 August 2010 , viewed 27th August 2010 http://www. ineaustralia. com/australia/Default. aspx? tabid=5068. Bloomberg Businessweek 2007, Louis Vuitton’s Life of Luxury, Bloomberg, viewed August 23rd 2010 ;http://www. businessweek. com/magazine/content/07_32/b4045419. htm;. Chan RYK 2001, ‘Determinants of Chinese consumers’ green purchase behaviour’, Psychology and Marketing, vol. 18, issue 4, pp 389 – 413 Chung M. , Smith W. 2007, The Importance Of Overcoming Cultural Barriers In Establishing Brand Names: An Australian Company In China, Innovative Marketing, Volume 3, Issue 2. China Business, 2006, Luxury Car Sales Booming in China, Asia Times online, viewed 25 August 2010 ;http://www. atimes. com/atimes/China_Business/HK28Cb02. html;. Dunn J. , June 28 , 2010 . China’s taste for WA wine translates to market opportunity ,viewed 27th August 2010 , ;http://www. ausfoodnews. com. au/2010/06/28/chinas-taste-for-wa-wine-translates-to-market-opportunity. html;. Encyclopedia Britannica 2010, Collectivism, Encyclopedia Britannica, viewed at 25th August 2010 ;http://www. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/125584/collectivism;. Financial Times 2009, Shopping Habits of China’s Suddenly Wealthy, Save the Elephants, viewed 25 August 2010 ;http://www. savetheelephants. org/news-reader/items/shopping-habits-of-chinas-suddenly-wealthy. html;. Gatfield, T ; Youseff, M 2001, ‘A critical examination of and Reflection on the Chinese Family Business Unit and the Chinese Business Clan’, Family Business Review, vol. 14, issue 2, pp 153 – 158 Giele, F 2009, Chinese Consumer Behaviour: An Introduction, Frans Giele, viewed 25 August 2010 ;http://fransgiele. be/freematerial/2009chineseconsumerbehaviour. pdf;. Lubin, G 2010, A Short guide to the Buying Habits of Chinese Noveau-Riche, Business Insider, Viewed 25 August 2010 ;http://www. businessinsider. com/a-short-guide-to-the-buying-habits-of-chinese-nouveau-riche-2010-7;. Mari, A. 2008, Understanding Chinese rural consumers, Course of International Management, viewed 25th August 2010 ;http://www. scribd. com/doc/10863701/Understanding-Chinese-Rural-Consumers-Implications-for-marketers-by-Alex-Mari;. Sun, L 2007, ‘Understanding Self-gift Consumer Behaviour (SGCB) in China: How culture influences SGCB’, MA in Marketing thesis, Weinshall, TD 1993, Societal culture and management, de Gruyter-Studienbuch, Germany World Economic Outlook Database 2010, GDP Per Capita, International Monetary Fund, viewed on 25th August 2010. ;http://www. imf. org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/01/weodata/weorept. aspx? pr. x. html;. Xiuyun, S. 2009, Education to China, Austrade, viewed August 23rd 2010 ;http://www. austrade. gov. au/Education-to-China/default. aspx;. Yi-You, L 2010, Brand Effect on Consumer Behaviour in China, Southern How to cite China Compare to Australia, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Catalase Study of Catalase Enzyme in Methylotrophic Yeasts

Question: Describe about catalase? Answer: Catalase is said to be a common enzyme which is found almost in all living organisms that are exposed to oxygen. For example: animals, fruits or vegetables. Catalase catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water. Catalase has four iron groups, which allow catalase to act with hydrogen peroxide. Each and every enzyme has their own optimum pH, which is the most favorable condition for them to work. Enzymes speed up the reaction rate (catalysis) or slower the reaction rate (catalysis) at a particular pH. Thus the laboratory result shows that the most favorable pH for catalase is pH 7 (Toone and Nord, 2011). The results have few practical applications in biological systems, real life and in industries. Catalase is used for quality control and analysis. For example: catalase is used in textile industry, also to check and control milk quality and also used in cosmetic industry, like: for dace mask. Other applications include production of baked goods and beverages. T he genetically modified bacterial and fungal cultures (Aspergilla) can produce catalase that is used in food manufacturing industries (Koleva et al., 2008). The quantity of catalase inside the cells of microorganisms depends upon the medium applied to culture cells and the cell growth condition. Catalase alone or with glucose oxidase is used as preserving system. It is used to preserve egg products and mayonnaise, for example: dried egg or milk and cheese preparation. Catalase prevents the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide inside human system and thus stops the process of graying hair. References Koleva, D., Petrova, V., Hristozova, T. and Kujumdzieva, A. (2008). Study of Catalase Enzyme in Methylotrophic Yeasts.Biotechnology Biotechnological Equipment, 22(2), pp.762-768. Toone, E. and Nord, F. (2011).Advances in enzymology. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Work Stress Costly

Work Stress Costly ?Work Stress is Costly and Creates High Employee Turnover? Summer 2001 Introduction Stress at work has become a serious health and economic burden in the U.S. Today?s workers are concerned about losing their job to downsizing, layoffs, mergers, and bankruptcies that have become common in the U.S. in recent years. Workers now have to work harder and are doing unfamiliar tasks. Adding to the pressures are new bosses, changing technology, electric surveillance equipment and a changing work force. Organizational managers are interested in maintaining a lower level of job stress for good reasons: high levels of stress can result in low productivity, increased absenteeism and turnover (Carrell, Elbert, Hatfield, 2000). Balancing a heavy workload with family responsibilities often results in high stress levels, poor coping, and insufficient time and energy for interacting with the important people in our lives (Farren 1999).Job Market The unemployment rate is the lowest in 30 years, 4.5%Eng lish: John Howard, director of the National Ins...or less, since April 1998. The unemployment rate is projected to continue to be low through the next 10 years. People are changing jobs in record numbers; a fact that is refueling the highest turnover rate in 20 years. The typical American worker holds nearly 9 different jobs before the age of 32. It is estimated that women will be 47.5% of the work force by 2008, up from 1998 levels of 46.3%. Men in the work force will decrease from 53.7% in 1998 to 52.5% by the year 2008 (BLS 2001).Information about Stress The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for conducting research on psychological aspects of occupational safety and health, including stress at work. NIOSH defines job stress as ?Harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities,

Thursday, November 21, 2019

I do not have any idea Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

I do not have any idea - Research Paper Example It is therefore not surprising to equate â€Å"public interest† in planning to the (neo) Marxist model, which can be better understood from a theoretical rather than practical approach. This is so since the interest of the public or the greater majority of the people could be so broad to encompass issues like human rights and justice (Roche, 2003). Logically, the driving force in this kind of planning is a class struggle (Schoenwandt, 2008). To put class struggle into practice as the driving force is to ask for the enactment of laws that would favour the general public, particularly the underprivileged (Schoenwandt, 2008). This could mean that more social programs for the less fortunate people, who are presumed to greater in number than the rich. In a democratic society, planners should get the cause of legislators, who could be sympathetic with advocating the right of the poor to achieve a significant leverage on the realization of plans. Practitioners of this kind of planning should have grass roots support. Public interest planners should therefore focus on advocating the rights of the disadvantaged, translating the interest of the latter into ways that would empower them through all possible means and processes available to them under their own systems of

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Human resource Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Human resource - Assignment Example This need is more significant than ever, as Human Resource Development is a process for budding and setting free human expertise progress with the rationale of improving performance. This performance can be improved through organizational development and personnel training and development and profession development. Arguably, in this rapidly changing business environment, organizations have increasingly implemented the organizational strategies to address these changes in the external environment by integrating functional Human resource management strategies. This paper delineates the activities involved in strategic Human Resources Development in reference to Fly Airline Dubai. Training and Developmental Activities In reference to Wilson (1999), Human Resource training and Development is concerned with undertaking identification of the training requirements, planning and designing training, implementing and evaluating training activities (p. 34). Fly Airline Dubai’s Human res ource department carries out activities designed to teach and advance company personnel, address performance challenges and assist in preparing the employees for high management positions and roles. Debatably, Fly Airline Dubai offers lithe alternatives which include coaching, job rotation experiences and mentoring. i. Needs assessment and Analysis activity Leigh et al (2000) emphasizes on the significance of assessing and analyzing needs in human resource development and training (p.89). Assessment of the needs in human resource development and training is a corner stone in identifying Human Resource Development interventions required for effective efforts. Fly Airline Dubai assess the requirements of the organization, the individual worker proficiencies, understanding and attitudes, and the functional obligations and department requirements. ii. Planning and Design Activity Just like Delahaye (2000, p. 24)) suggests, Fly Airline Dubai identifies the learning stratagems to be emplo yed, the training results and the individuals who experience the training. Alzabani (2002) asserts that after the needs analysis is complete and clear objectives set, Human Resource Development professionals consequently plan in choosing the suitable training provider in order to organize internal proficiency (p. 124-125). Fly Airline Dubai outsources for external training providers who provide training to its staff members. Developing lesson plans and choosing the effective techniques of training as described by Desimone et al (2002, p. 37) is an imperative aspect of Fly Airline Dubai’s Human resource development. In reference to Nadler and Nadler (1994), the lesson plans serve as an essential pointer for the trainer during the delivery of the training substance (p. 87). iii. Implementation Activity Fly Airline Dubai’s Human Resource Development and training considers several questions in its training. First, the department considers â€Å"when the employees will be provided with the training?† Secondly, it considers â€Å"who will receive the training?† Thirdly, it considers where the training will take place and who will conduct the training and the techniques to be used by the trainer. Arguably, these reviews by Fly Airline assist it on the implementation of the Human Resource Developments and Training program within the company. iv. Evaluation Activity Evaluation is a significant activity in training and

Monday, November 18, 2019

Lack of Motivation and Leadership Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Lack of Motivation and Leadership Issues - Essay Example A number of solutions have been proposed such as the introduction of the motivational program, transformation in leadership, facilitating teamwork etc. However, among that introduction of incentive scheme and adoption of democratic leadership style have been recommended. Finally, the implementation process has been emphasized. The case entails the owner of Giovanni’s Pizzeria, Riccardo Lombardi. The owner was extremely worried despite the fact that his business was doing extremely well. However, his primary concern was regarding the fact that whether the success will continue or it will diminish as a number of competitors are entering the market. The franchise was purchased by Riccardo 10 years ago from the American Giovanni’s Pizzeria. Since then it has been able to establish 40 stores around the markets of Australia. It has its headquarters in Glen Waverley, Victoria. The franchise is segmented into six areas. The operations of each and every area are looked upon by a state manager. Furthermore, all the stores are administered by a store a manager along with two assistant managers. The company has different policies for hiring employees. However, they do not consider education as the only indication factor for getting a job in the stores. Most of the employees who work on the store have tertiary education and of age 24 to 27. They get selected on the basis of their abilities to perform the job. There are issues within the company for not providing any formal training. However, it is a secondary issue. The case further details that the company’s Ballarat store of Victoria was facing a number of issues such as increasing percentage of unsold and damaged goods, malpractices of the employees, high employee turnover due to stringent policies and also dissatisfaction among the employees due to autocratic leadership style. In order to reduce the impact of the problems on the day to day operations of the operations of the outlet, the  store manager Marcello imposed a set of guidelines.  

Friday, November 15, 2019

Comparing Current Economic Crisis And Great Depression Economics Essay

Comparing Current Economic Crisis And Great Depression Economics Essay Comparing current economic crisis and Great Depression. The current U.S economic crisis that begun August 2007 has plunged the country into a very dangerous phase in the U.S economic performance (Hilsenrath and Paletta, 4). The great decline in stock market which reduced spending and wealth among people resembles to the great economic depression (Katz, 10). The Great Depression was an economic recession that eroded stock market wealth and eventually spilled to other sectors of the economy (Hilsenrath and Paletta, 4). During the Great Depression, it has been recorded that Dow-gold ratio reduced substantially to a lower of 47 percent, most similar to the 42 percent experienced in the current crisis. The enraging crisis also foresaw crippling of most financial institutions due to bad loans and many banks had to freeze lending from 1929. There has been similar experience in the current crisis as the credit markets are on verge of collapsing. In 2008, sum credit in financial institutions has reduced by more than 250 percent while bad debt level has gone below 350 percent market (Waggoner, 1). The two crisis have shown similarities when comparing the trends in real estate. Like in the 1929 Great Depression, there has been a great overvaluation of the real estate. Problems in real estate have been the main factors contributing to the current crisis (Delong, 2). Under the global monetary system, dollar is converted with gold which means all the over currencies are only converted to gold or the Pound. However, this has become completely different since the dollar which is converted to gold has not been able to meet monetary conditions for conversion to gold standard which has destabilized world monetary system (Petrov, 2). Government response to the crisis is similar. In the current crisis, the United States government has signed a multibillion economic stimulus package totaling to $700 billion. This was a similar strategy which was taken in the Great Depression but in both economic crises, the economic stimulus package has not lived to its expectations (Stewart, 2). It is still acceptable to say that the current economic crisis resembles the great economic depression of 1929 because the high rates of unemployment that was witnessed during the depression has also affected the United State economy where many people have remained jobless and retrenchment rates have been at its peak. The current rate of unemployment stands at 6.1 percent which is even below the 1992 rate which was 7.8 percent. Similarly those still employed are under fear of loosing there jobs people anytime if efforts towards recovery does not succeed (Waggoner, 3). It is said that unemployment rate hit 10 % for the past two years. Research shows that the job crisis in America reached a point where both the underemployed and unemployed stopped searching for jobs and the rate of those looking for full time job but they could only get part time job reached 17.4 %. The rates of job crisis in America is said to be the highest figures in the world and continuity of such trends in Americ a will certainly change the new generation and the life course (peck, 2). The economic crisis in America forced president Franklin D. Roosevelt and the congress of the time to create FDIC with an aim of providing the federal state guarantee of deposits so the inception of FDIC in America granted people with certain amount of money guarantee of their money and those who deposited their finance with FDIC were very certain that their money was safe even if bank failure occurs (FDIC, 1). How U.S economic crisis is different from the great depression What need to be reflected first is that the 1929 occurrences were termed as a depression while the current situation in America is a recession. Scholars have said that the current economic crisis in United States is unlikely to culminate into the 1929 great economic depression. Some of the notable differences between the two include the following: During the economic depression the dollar was devalued relative to gold. Currently, there is absence of gold standard that serves as a restriction to the amount of money supply that can be expanded since the gold standard was abolished in 1971 thereby making the restriction of the dollar being tied to gold standards a nightmare in today world (Krugman, 3). During Great Depression, America economy was not ridden by bad debts as it is today. Currently, U.S economy has introduced credit cards that never existed in 1929. Similarly national debt and deficits in money available for spending was significantly lower than it is today where Americas debt is largely owned by foreigners who may easily devalue the dollar through selling dollar reserves and treasury bonds a decision that may lead to an international war. Although the economic crisis has caused pain in America economy for instance collapse in financial market, overvaluation of real estate, fall in energy prices, collapse of industrial centers and existence of recession in many sectors of the economy there are hopes that some cities will recover much better than before the occurrence of financial crisis since there are almost fifteen areas in the economy that are still expanding such as oil and natural resources (Florida, 4). Similarities between japans crisis of 1990s and the U.S Economic crisis The financial market stress that hit American economy resembles Japanese market crisis after 1997. Its recorded that various banking institutions and securities greatly affected financial markets thereby leading to increased crisis in the banking system of the two countries. Likewise asset market was greatly hit with no indications of bottoming out which is similar to American real estate market. It is also indicated that great losses were noted in the financial market where cases of bad loans were prevalent and this is said to have held the recovery of Japan economy (IMF, 1). In both economies, the economic crisis led to decline in consumers consumption habits since prices for goods were unaffordable thereby making consumers to minimize their spending potential with a view that in the near future prices will fall due to decline in demand. The period between 1980, Japanese monetary authorities flooded markets with liquidity so as to enhance the business to cope up with the rising value of Japanese yen. The excessive flow of money in the economy by 1990s led to immediate increase in the market value of equities and land since many investors directed their finances in real estate business (Posen, 6). Differences between japans crisis of 1990s and the U.S Economic crisis. Although the crisis in America and Japan were spearheaded by weak regulation and easy credit, policy makers argue that Japanese crisis looked larger than the American one because Japanese crisis stretched and affected the asset prices which were believed to be three to four times bigger than the American (Peck, 2). The banking crisis in the two economies shows that the American crisis was quite uncharacteristic since it shows household profligacy whereas the Japanese banking crisis comprised borrowing of finances by firms. In Japan for instance the sum bank losses on bad debts was almost 20% of the gross domestic product between 1993 to 2005 (Dick, 2008). Trends shows that policy response to the crisis in America were quicker and this made America move into the second of and manageable fiscal stimulus package. The U.S took quicker steps to revive the banks through the use of public funds within one year while Japan took eight years to recapitalize its banking systems (Mikitini, 2000). The lesson learnt from Japanese economic crisis is that the buying habits of consumers changes negatively when the rate of inflation is very high thus consumption rate of consumers decreases because they anticipate that prices of the products and services will fall in the near future where the will be able to buy at low prices and make some savings (Delong, 8).. It can be said that current governments came up with a number of policies to counter the effects of economic crisis for instance in America the federal reserve system kept the interest rates very low and expanded supply of money in the economy. Similarly many governments adopted the policy of reducing payments on housing loans. The strategy by federal government to inject more money into banking system in 2004 to 2006 helped increase the targeted federal money to more than the normal rate of 5% which reduced demand for houses thus fall in prices for houses hence solving the bubbles in the real estate management. Federal government also began bailing companies and banks that were collapsing such as GM, AIG and Chrysler and this helped to stimulate recovery of many banks and companies (Gene, 3). Work Cited Cavallo, Eduardo. Dealing with the crisis: Lessons from America. Retrieved Marc 6, 2010 from http://www.voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/3358, 2009. Florida, Richard. How the Crash Will Reshape America. Retrieved March 6, 20106 from http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/03/how-the-crash-will-reshape-america/7293/, 2008. Hilsenrath, Jon S., and Paletta, Damian. Worst crisis since 1930s with no end yet in sight. Retrieved March 6, 20106 from http: //online.wsj.com/article/SB122169431617549947.html. 2008. Stewart, Heather. International monetary fund says U.S crisis is largest financial shock since Great Depression. Retrieved March 6, 20106 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/09/useconomy.subprimecrisis, 2008. Waggoner, John. Is todays economic crisis another Great Depression? Retrieved March 6, 20106 from http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-11-03-economy-depression-recession_N.htm, 2008. Peck, Don. How a new jobless era will transform America? Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/03/how-a-new-jobless-era-will-transform-america/7919/, 2009. International monetary fund. Japans policy response to its financial crisis: parallel with the U.S Today. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://www.imf.org/external/np/speeches/2009/031909.htm, 2009. Dick, K. Nanto. U.S financial crisis: Lessons from Japan. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/110816.pdf, 2008 Shirakawa, Masaaki. Way out of economic and financial crisis. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/110816.pdf,2009. Mikitani, Ryoichi. Japans financial crisis and its parallel to America experience. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://bookstore.piie.com/book-store/319.html, 2000. Tabuchi, Hiroko. Japans stationery decade cautionery tales for U.S. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/business/economy/13yen.html, 2009. Katz, Richard. Todays Americas financial crisis is not like Tokyos lost decade. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from ttp://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/64823/richard-katz/the-japan-fallacy. Bank of Japan. Way out of economic and financial crisis: Lessons and policy actions. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://www.boj.or.jp/en/type/press/koen07/ko0904c.htm, 2009. Posen, S. Adam and Mikitani, Ryoichi. Japans financial crisis and its parallel to U.S experience. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://www.amazon.com/Financial-Parallels-Experience-Institute-International/dp/088132289X, 2009. Federal deposit Insurance Corporation. Why FDIC was created in U.S. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://www.fdic.gov/about/learn/learning/why/index.html,2004. Krugman, Paul. Monetary policy. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/samuelson-friedman-and-monetary-policy/, 2009. Foreign policy. Top 100 global thinkers. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/11/30/the_fp_top_100_global_thinkers, 2009. Delong, J. Bradford. The great crash and the great slump. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://econ161.berkeley.edu/TCEH/Slouch_Crash14.htm, 1997. Beland, Daniel, and Francois vergniolle. Fighting big government. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=LSyGk7VKC9CmgGkxbNp0mSm7LpLnv8K1tJY3jtmkhvJJGYsQ22pX!-1504265975!1494505646?docId=5006720711, 2005. Smiley, Gene. Great depression and current economic crisis. Retrieved March 6, 2010 from http://www.institute.sk/article.php?3100, 2009.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Importance of Brackets in Virginia Woolfs To The Lighthouse Essay

Importance of Brackets in To The Lighthouse [Here Mr. Carmichael, who was reading Virgil, blew out his candle. It was midnight.] [Mr. Ramsay, stumbling along a passage one dark morning, stretched his arms out, but Mrs. Ramsay having died rather suddenly the night before, his arms, though stretched out, remained empty.] [Prue Ramsay died that summer in some illness connected with childbirth, which was indeed a tragedy, people said, everything, they said, had promised so well.] [A shell exploded. Twenty or thirty young men were blown up in France, among them Andrew Ramsay, whose death, mercifully, was instantaneous.] [Mr. Carmichael brought out a volume of poems that spring, which had an unexpected success. The war, people said, had revived their interest in poetry.] Â   The text from To The Lighthouse, quoted above, is the sum total of all bracketed asides that appear in the novel's second section, "Time Passes." The compelling question is, why were brackets chosen to emphasize this particular information, and how do the bracketed sections fit in with the rest of the section? Â   Obviously, one purpose of the brackets is to convey personal information about the family in the midst of a narrative dedicated to the empty summer house. Death of a family member occurs in three out of the five sets. This is an effective plot device to fast-forward time and to age the surviving characters. But Woolf's text is not heavily burdened with plot devices, generally. Her prose is whittled to its bare essence. So the brackets must mean more than self-conscious literary trickery. Â   The first and fifth bracket sets are like bookends, both about Mr. Carmichael. In the first, the information about him blo... ...e powerful when read in the midst of the rest of the text, the story of a dying family, a deteriorating house, a falling away of the light from the lighthouse. They also remind the reader that life and death exist beyond places of sentimental houses. The brackets themselves add an emphasis beyond what is possible with a parentheses. Are they as strong as a voice-over would be in a movie? I don't think so. Rather, I imagine them as dialogue, spoken in the voices of children, neighbors, and documents, background noise that add to the overall effect but are only a tiny portion of the text that surrounds them. Â   Works Cited and Consulted Latham, Jacqueline, ed. Critics on Virginia Woolf. Florida: University of Miami Press, 1970. Woolf, Virginia. To the Lighthouse. Introduction by D.M. Hoare, Ph.D. London: J.M. Dent and Sons Ltd., 1960 Â   Â