Should The Developed North Increase Aid To The Less Developed South E

Should The Developed North Increase Aid To The Less Developed South? Should The Developed North Increase Aid to the Less Developed South? The question at hand is not whether aid from the developed north should be given at all, but whether or not it should be increased to help ease the suffering of the developing countries in the south. Every country, whether rich or poor, should have compassion for the suffering. However, it is not the duty of the developed north to completely take care of every developing country. In the present, there are serious problems that need to be addressed dealing with how aid is given out: misuse of funds by governments, the corruption it creates, economies it destroys, lack of votes it buys at the United Nations, and finally the question of who has priority. Therefore, until these issues are dealt with in the near future, aid should be kept to a minimum. ? Response to Readings in Taking Sides James P. Grant, in his article favoring the increase of foreign aid to the developing south, notes that poverty in this world is a large problem that has continued to rise for years. It wasn?t until the 1960?s that the mobilization of medical help, better sanitation, clean water, money spent on education, and other measures began to save lives and make the quality of living better for millions. However, he also states that even though aid is being provided, it is still not enough, and leaders like the United States and the European community should take the initiative to donate and assist more each year just like the Japanese have done. The only problem with this statement is that both the European community and the United States are pressed for money. The European countries, especially leaders like Great Britain and Germany, have devoted much of their aid budgets towards helping other countries within their system grow stronger before the European system goes completely into full fo rce. Whereas the United States? budget deficit forces many government agencies, including the Agency for International Development(AID), to lose funding. Furthermore there is no reason to send billions of dollars over seas when northern countries like the United States and Great Britain currently face the highest levels of child poverty that either country has seen in over 25 years. In addition to poverty, other domestic problems such as rape, robberies, and murders in this country still exist. Until domestic issues are solved, any future increase in foreign aid should also be kept to a minimum. The purpose of a nation is to look after its own citizens to insure that they are free from harm, stay healthy, receive public utilities, and become educated. If protecting a nations? people require its country, for example, to send aid to an African country to help prevent the spread of HIV, then foreign aid is acceptable. However, if there is no immediate threat to US security, then aid and foreign involvement should be kept to a minimum. In other words, aid should only be offered when a clear gain for that country can be achieved. There are not enough resources to save the destitute and sick of the world out of compassion alone. Special interest groups such as Peace Corps, private donations, and volunteers serve the purpose of helping others. It is all right for a country to help provide these groups with the necessary resources required to carry out their missions safely; however, it is not the duty of a country to take care of all nations alone. As advocates of the no side, the editors of The Economist firmly believe that the north should not increase aid to the developing south on account of past misuse, unfair distribution of aid among countries, and lack of results. Furthermore, foreign aid does more than just ease the suffering of the impoverished. Health care expenditures account for only 2% of the entire aid budget as a study by the World Bank in 1988 showed. The rest of the 98% goes toward the financing of military campaigns to restore peace and help set up and keep new and existing democracies running, saving the environment, supporting economic development, and lastly to control population

Consumer Decision

Consumer Decision Abstract The present report utilized secondary research and positivist research philosophy to critically evaluate two Consumer Decision-making Process (CDP) models – the Consumer Decision Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior –, with the aim to bring into the limelight the dark spots of the models when applied to the hospitality industry.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Consumer Decision-Making Models in Hospitality Contexts: An Evaluation Critique specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Current literature, though anecdotal in scope and context, has illuminated the fact that many CDP models are vague, inconsistent, and assume an all-encompassing orientation, which constricts their effectiveness and efficacy in explaining post-modernism consumer behavior. Many of these models have been accused of being largely descriptive in nature and ascribing to a ‘phases-based’ school of thought that is no t in sync with today’s consumers and their behavior orientations. Upon analysis and critique of the sampled models, it has been demonstrated that these models may no longer be tenable in explaining behavior as they view consumers in a rather mechanistic approach and constrict behavior to rationalistic approaches, devoid of any interpretation relating to the consumer as a unique individual who desires to sample unique experiences in the hospitality industry. The models are vague in their explanation of why consumers must follow the noted phases, and fail to account for external factors that influence consumer behavior in the hospitality industry, such as globalization, hyperreality, and hedonistic consumption patterns. It is recommended that new paradigms must have the capacity to delineate how consumers find fulfillment through consumption, and how they develop creativity and express their individual capabilities through the consumption of services. Introduction The present p aper is an attempt to account for perceived vagueness, inconsistencies and all-encompassing orientations of consumer decision-making models by evaluating and critiquing two such models, namely the Consumer Decision Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). These models will be evaluated and analyzed within the services context, with particular reference to the hospitality industry.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Despite the broad attention focused on the concept of consumer behavior (Dellaert et al 2012), and in spite of the obvious advantage generated by consumer decision-making models in providing conceptual frames of reference that make it easy to understand different consumer decision processes and marketing paradigms (Erasmus et al 2001), a large portion of these models continue to attract criticism from various quarters due to their perceived vaguenes s, broad generalizations, and an all-encompassing orientation (Lye et al 2005). Consequently, the ability for marketers to predict and understand consumer behavior and decision-making is still at a less than desirable level due to the inconsistencies and variances noted in these models. Consumer Behavior in Hospitality Industry Belch (1998) cited in Schiffman (2000) defines consumer behavior â€Å"†¦as the behavior that consumers display in searching for, purchasing, using, evaluating and disposing of products and services that they expect will satisfy their needs† (p. 2). Modern research on consumer behavior no longer derives interest in viewing the consumer as a rational economic being; rather, marketing studies have introduced a range of factors and variables that act either independently or dependently to influence the consumer consumption patterns beyond the mere self-interested act of purchasing as proposed by rational economic theories (Lovelock Wirtz 2010; Bray n.d.). To this effect, the hospitality industry must focus on the ‘process nature’ of the service production process (Lovelock Wirtz 2010), the unique characteristics of services on offer (Tsiotsou Wirtz 2012), and the impact of these contextual variables on customer behavior (Pachauri 2002). Extant services literature (e.g., Williams 2006; Miljkovic Effertz 2010; Oh 1999) demonstrates that marketers in the hospitality industry are still faced with the problem of adopting or developing new paradigms for evaluating customer behavior and decision making, primarily because most of the players in this sector have an imperfect picture of their customer, while only a few have put in place the capacity and capability to monitor patterns of consumer behavior at a degree of detail essential to maintain a competitive edge. As noted by Bowie Buttle (2004), many hospitality organizations believe that there are adequately close to their clients due to the co-creation of the serv ice experience.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Consumer Decision-Making Models in Hospitality Contexts: An Evaluation Critique specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Consequently, it becomes increasingly important for hospitality organizations to understand the major facets of consumer behavior and decision-making because consumption of services is basically typified as â€Å"process consumption†, where the production process is considered to form a fundamental component of service consumption and is not merely perceived as the outcome of a production process, as is the case in the traditional paradigms associated with the marketing of physical goods (Miljkovic Effertz 2010; Tsiotsou Wirtz 2012 ). Postmodern Consumerism within the Hospitality Industry Today, more than ever, the hospitality industry is increasingly encountering an era that is not guided by any dominant ideological orientation in consumption pat terns, but by pluralism of styles (Williams 2002). This is postmodern consumerism – a trend that is increasingly being reflected in a multiplicity of variables that drive consumer behavior, including advertising and promotions, product and service development, as well as branding (Firal et al 1995). Available literature demonstrates that postmodern consumerism in the hospitality industry is predominantly initiated by shifts in the social-cultural, psychological and technological domains, which generate new options for experiences and self-expression in consumption (Williams 2002). This section purposes to briefly describe some the factors that are associated with the new means of consumption, hence new approaches to consumer behavior Hedonism The increasing awareness of hedonic consumption among contemporary consumers has not only enhanced pleasure seeking behavior as the only intrinsic good but also luxury consumption to fulfill the variant needs of individuals (Williams 200 2). In the hospitality context, the postmodern consumer is embracing the richness of choice, traditions, and styles to sample products and services that will enable them to achieve the intrinsic good.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As a direct consequence, however, it is increasingly becoming difficult for industry players to predict behavior since consumers are guided by the unconventional urge to experiment on new products and experiences (Firal et al 1995; Thomas 1997). Fragmentation of Markets Experiences The absence of a central ideology to guide postmodern consumption patterns gives rise to a multiplicity of norms, values, beliefs and lifestyles that are adhered to by individuals in the quest for unique products and services. To satisfy this rising demand for unique experiences, hospitality organizations are increasingly segmenting or fragmenting their product and service offerings (Firal et al 1995), making it increasingly difficult to objectively evaluate consumer behavior and decision making process. More importantly, the post-modernity orientation is on record for enhancing the production of smaller niche markets in fragmented dispositions, not only making it difficult to successfully evaluate behav ior using the current models but also eating into the profitability of hospitality organizations (Van Raaij 1993). Hyperreality of Products and Services The hospitality industry is abuzz with hyperreal experiences; that is, experiences that passed as real and authentic but they are, in context and scope, light and empty (Van Raaij 1993). Hyperrealism is largely driven by the insatiable appetite of consumers to enjoy disjointed experiences and moments of excitement, leading industry players to simulate some of the experiences and pass them as authentic and value-added events. For example, consumers visiting hospitality organizations such as the Disney World and popular theme hotels are made to believe in the physical surroundings, which are mere simulations in the image of hypes (Firal et al 1995). Globalization Globalization and convergence of technology have assisted to break down geographical barriers that fueled economic nationalism and chauvinism. Consumers are no longer consumi ng products and services based on their ethnic and cultural backgrounds (Van Raaij 1993), though some scholars still maintain consumption patterns are still predetermined by the consumer’s culture, and that globalization has no capacity to standardize consumer behavior (Firal et al 1995; Williams 2002). More importantly, the intangible nature of services within the hospitality industry necessitates comprehensive individualized marketing and customized services for the customer to experience the unique and superior value. In this context, it can be argued that the idea of global hospitality organizations to increasingly standardize and customize their products and service offerings is paradoxical in essence based on the fact that these organizations must deal with cultural variations that to a large extent influence consumer’s mind-sets and buying behaviors (Williams 2002). Brief Overview of Consumer Decision-Making Process Lye et al (2005) posit that consumer decision- making models are extensively employed in consumer behavior studies not only to structure theory and research but also to comprehend the contextual influences that come into play to influence consumer decision making. In a comparative assessment of the consumer decision-making process, Engel et al (1995) cited in Erasmus et al (2001) argue that â€Å"†¦a model is nothing more than a replica of the phenomena it is designed to present†¦It specifies the building blocks (variables) and the ways in which they are interrelated† (p. 83). Drawing upon this description, these authors argue that models should therefore have the capacity to provide conceptual frames of reference that assist individuals to grasp visually what transpires as variables and circumstances interrelate and shift. A number of academics, however, punch holes into the existing models of consumer decision-making process due to a multiplicity of weaknesses (Lovelock Wirtz 2012), which will be illuminated in subsequent sections of this paper, particularly in respect of their incongruent dynamics and operational deficiencies in the hospitality context. A strand of existing literature (e.g., Schiffman 2000; Lovelock Wirtz 2010) demonstrates that most paradigms of consumer decision-making presuppose that the consumer’s consumption decision process consists of precise phases through which the customer passes as they interact with the service. Indeed, a meta-analytic review of marketing literature (e.g., Bowie Buttle 2004; Lovelock Wirtz 2010; Pachauri 2002; Miljkovic Effertz 2010) confirms the most dominant phases a consumer passes through while making purchasing/consumption decisions to include: need identification; information search; appraisal of available alternatives; purchase/consumption decisions, and; post purchase decisions. Other researchers, however, argue that â€Å"†¦the process of consumer decision-making can be viewed as three distinct but interlocking sta ges: the input stage, the process stage and the output stage† (Schiffman 2000, p. 14). But, as acknowledged by Abdallat El-Emam (n.d.), the overreliance of phases in attempting to explain consumer decision making leads to generalizations of consumer behavior as not every consumer may wish to pass through all these stages when making purchasing/consumption decisions. Aim Objectives of the Study Aim To critically analyze and critique the two chosen models of Consumer Decision-making Process, namely the Consumer Decision Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior, with the view to determine the extent of their vagueness, inconsistency, and all-encompassing orientation when applied within the hospitality industry. Objectives The present paper is guided by the following objectives: To critically review extant literature on consumer behavior and decision-making process, particularly with reference to hospitality organizations; To identify, justify and critically analyze the two mod els of Consumer Decision-making Process selected for this study; To determine the extent or level of vagueness, inconsistency, and all-encompassing orientation of the two models as they relate to the hospitality industry; and To provide some alternatives and recommendations that could be used by industry players to better influence consumer behavior and decision making. Methodology Research Philosophy This report heavily relied on the positivist research philosophy and the deductive approach to critically analyze the selected models of Consumer Decision-making Process for vagueness, inconsistencies and typical all-encompassing orientations, with reference to contemporary hospitality industry. Positivism entails â€Å"†¦manipulation of reality with variations in only a single independent variable so as to identify regularities in, and to form relationships between, some of the constituent elements of the social world† (Research Methodology n.d., p. 3-1). Consequently, th e researcher evaluated facts from the more general to more specific using the deductive approach with the aim of drawing logical conclusions about the weaknesses of the discussed models from available literature (Burney 2008). Data Collection Relevant data and information for this study was collected through secondary research; that is, the researcher engaged in collecting information from third-party sources or information that had been previously collected for some other reason. Secondary research fits the demands and expectations of this study as it is not only easier and less costly to undertake, but it guides the researcher to effectively answer the research aim and objectives through the use of already existing materials (Thomas 1997). The research primarily utilized book resources, websites and peer-reviewed articles from a number of subscription databases, including Ebscohost and Emerald, to develop and analyze the relevant themes aimed at providing accurate responses to the research aim and objectives. Research Limitations The researcher was constrained by time and budgetary resources to undertake a comprehensive study that could have brought new insights into the important topic of consumer behavior and decision making process. It is widely believed that a broader engagement with secondary sources and, perhaps, undertaking primary research with hospitality stakeholders, could have resulted in a more comprehensive analysis of the models and more generalizable findings. However, this was not possible due to strict time-lines and budgetary constraints. Additionally the word limit for the study, which was capped at 4000 words, limited the researchers capacity to expansively detail some of the relevant concepts of consumer behavior and decision making, and compare the sampled models of consumer decision making process with other contemporary models to effectively assess the variations in vague conceptualizations and inconsistent content. Analysis Critiqu e Consumer Decision Model The Consumer Decision Model, also referred to as the Engel-Blackwell-Miniard Model, was initially developed in 1968 Engel, Kollat, and Blackwell, in their attempt to propose and explain the variables that come into play in informing consumer behavior and facilitating decision making (Erasmus et al 2001). As noted by Bray (n.d.), â€Å"†¦ the model is structured around a seven point decision process: need recognition followed by a search of information both internally and externally, the evaluation of alternatives, purchase, post purchase reflection and finally, divestment† (p. 15). This model further suggests that consumer decisions are influenced by two foremost aspects: â€Å"†¦firstly stimuli is received and processed by the consumer in conjunction with memories of previous experiences, and secondly, external variable in the form of either environmental influences or individual differences† (Bray n.d., p. 15-16). It is important t o note that the environmental factors acknowledged in the model include cultural orientation, social rank, personal influence, family, and situational context, while individual factors include consumer resource/capability, incentive and participation, level of knowledge, values and attitudes, as well as individual traits and lifestyle. In illuminating the model, it can be argued that entry to the model is through need identification, whereby the consumer actively acknowledges an inconsistency between their present state and some other pleasing choices. The framers of the model assume that the need recognition process is primarily stimulated â€Å"†¦by an interaction between processed stimuli inputs and environmental and individual variables† (Bray n.d., p. 17). After a specific consumption need has been acknowledged the consumer initializes the search for information, both internally through their deeply-held reminiscences of earlier experiences in hospitality organizati ons, and externally (Bowie Buttle 2004). The model presupposes that the intensity of information search is intrinsically reliant on the scope of problem solving, with novel or intricate consumption problems being subjected to far-reaching external information explorations, while simpler challenges may rely entirely on an unsophisticated internal exploration of prior behavior (Baig Khan 2010). Bray (n.d.) notes that information passes through five phases â€Å"†¦of processing before storage and use, namely: exposure, attention, comprehension, acceptance and retention† (p. 17). The model further posit that the consumer actively evaluates alternative consumption choices using the established set of beliefs, attitudes and consumption intentions (Erasmus et al 2001), with the evaluative process being primarily influenced by both environmental influences and individual influences (Bray n.d). Consequently, the model depicts ‘intention’ as the only precursor to co nsumption. While the environmental and individual variables are largely perceived to act on purchase/consumption behavior, Van Tonder (2003) cited in Bray (n.d.) notes that the term ‘situation’ is premeditated as an environmental variable though the factor is also not clearly defined. However, according to this scholar, the term may imply â€Å"†¦such factors as time pressure or financial limitations which could serve to inhibit the consumer from realizing their purchase intentions† (p. 17). The other phases entail the actual consumption of the service, followed by post-consumption assessment which grants feedback functionality to the consumer, especially in terms of undertaking future external explorations and belief/value formation (Bray n.d.; Erasmus et al 2002). When this model is critiqued under the lens of the hospitality industry, it draws its major strength in its potential to evolve ever since the original model was published some four decades ago, to at least encompass some of the variables and challenges facing the contemporary consumer in the hospitality industry (Bowie Buttle 2004). For instance, the model has been able to move away from its mechanistic approach of explaining consumer behavior to encompass modern concepts that influence consumer consumption patterns. Individual variables such as motivation and involvement, as well as environmental variables such as social class, family and situation (Bray n.d.), are better placed to explain how consumers interact with a particular food establishments, and even how such variables may influence return behavior and satisfaction. However, it is clear that many of these variables remain vague due limited theoretical background (Erasmus et al 2001), with a section of scholars arguing that the model is even unable to specify the exact cause and effect that relate to consumer behavior (Lovelock Wirtz 2010), while others note that it is too restrictive to sufficiently accommodate the variety of consumer decision situations in a hospitality environment characterized by shifting consumption patterns and ever increasing competitive pressures (Tsiotsou Wirtz 2012; Oh 1999). Foxal (1990) cited in Bray (n.d.) argues that the Consumer Decision Model avails a clear illustration of the consumption process, making it easy for marketers to internalize its dynamics to influence purchase behavior. The present paper challenges this perspective as consecutive research studies (e.g. Cave 2002; Kotler et al 1999; Bowie Buttle 2004) demonstrate that consumers, particularly in the hospitality industry, often engage in non-conscious behaviors that may not be modeled through a rational decision making paradigm. For example, the consumer may purchase a plate of food in an up market hotel, not because they engaged in pre-purchase evaluation of available alternatives to the hotel but due the fact that the servicescape of the facility blurred their conscious decision-making proce sses. Upon testing the Consumer Decision Model, Rau Samiee (1981) were of the opinion that the model is extraordinary in scope and range, but its factual vigor in explaining and justifying consumer behavior â€Å"†¦has been significantly obscured by the fact that most research efforts so far have only been directed toward specific segments of the model rather than at the model as a whole† (p. 300). In light of these assertions, it can only be argued that this model is not only inherently weak to be of much assistance to the service marketing practitioner but it lacks specificity and thus is difficult, if not impossible, to study and operationalize in hospitality settings. According to Bray (n.d.), the environmental and individual influences of Consumer Decision Model continue to draw â€Å"†¦criticism due to the vagueness of their definition and role within the decision process† (p.). For example, while the model clearly identifies and delineates environment al influences such as social class and family, it fails to explain the role of such influences in affecting behavior, giving room to vague generalizations. In the hospitality industry, it becomes even difficult to follow the direction of the influences as the model suggests since some variables are not diametrically ordered as is the case in the goods industry. Although the model suggests that the consumer has the capacity to decipher some experience attributes before purchasing a product (Erasmus et al 2002), it is increasingly difficult to validate such an assertion in the hospitality industry because most of the experience attributes cannot be evaluated before the actual consumption of the service (Lovelock Wirtz 2010). What’s more, experience attributes and individual motives for consumption in the hospitality industry relates more to issues of emotions and the role of heuristics in determining behavior. However, these issues are not adequately covered in the Consumer De cision Model as it only limits the role of individual motives to the process of need recognition (Erasmus et al 2002; Bray n.d.). Lastly, a widespread concern of the ‘analytic’ approaches such as the Consumer Decision Model regards the unobservable nature and scope of the many variables under consideration (Baig Khan 2010). Consequently, it may still be difficult to ascertain whether this particular model provides a precise representation of consumer behavior during consumption (Bowie Buttle 2004), and whether it has any predictive value in hospitality settings (Williams 2006). Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) The Theory of Planned Behavior (illustrated in Appendix 2) is an offshoot of the Prescriptive Cognitive Models that were first developed in the 1960s by researchers such as Fishbein and Bertram, who sought to primarily focus on beliefs and attitudes as principal determinants of consumer behavior and decision-making (Bowie Buttle 2004). The famous Fishbein model , for example, proposed that the consumer’s â€Å"†¦overall attitude toward an object is derived from his beliefs and feelings about various attributes of the object† (Bray n.d., p. 20). The TPB simply extends this perspective as it seeks to address the perceived overreliance on intentions (from rationalistic models) to predict consumer behavior (Rau Samiee 1981). From the illustration in Appendix 2, it is important to note that â€Å"†¦the construct perceived behavior control is formed by combining the perceived presence of factors that may facilitate or impede the performance of a behavior and the perceived power of each of these factors† (Bray n.d., p. 22). Actual behavioral control, which in normal cases is far challenging to accurately appraise, refers to the degree to which the individual has the expertise, assets, know-how, and other fundamentals required to exhibit a given behavior (Cave 2002). Perceived behavioral control, which functions as a substitute measure of the influence, is assessed and quantified through uniquely designed data collection instruments. The TPB also asserts that consumer behavioral intention is controlled by a forceful range of variables, including the consumer’s attitude and values, their prejudiced norms and beliefs, as well as their perceived behavioral control influences (Thompson et al 2009). As such, it can be argued that actual consumer behavior as explained by the TPB is derived largely from behavioral intention, but is controlled and mediated to some extent by perceived behavioral control mechanisms (Bowie Buttle 2004). The TPB, which has over the years evolved to become the dominant expectancy-value theory (Bray n.d.), has its own strengths and weaknesses when applied within the context of the hospitality industry. For example, it is a well known fact that many consumers form a perception of a particular restaurant or bar based on their beliefs and attitudes rather than intentio n. Consequently, it can be argued that this framework has the capacity to capture a substantial proportion of variance in the consumer’s decision to consume a particular service rather than over relying on the ‘intention attributes’ popularized by rationalistic models. Additionally, the theory not only avails predictive validity for its application in a varied range of hospitality scenarios as a direct consequence of its ability to convey subjective variables that influence the consumer’s consumption patterns (Cave 2002; Reid Bojanic 1988), but it is effective in providing prudential justification of the informational and motivational influences on consumer behavior. Lastly, on strengths, it can be argued that the TPB forms one of the easiest theories to understand and operationalize in hospitality settings. The TPB has been accused of projecting a vague orientation as it relies on the researcher’s ability to precisely recognize and enumerate all p rominent attributes that are considered by the consumer in forming their belief and attitude (Rau Samiee 1981; Neely et al 2010). Such an accurate identification and measurement of prominent consumer attributes is clearly impossible in the hospitality industry as the consumer is influenced by a multiplicity of both conscious and sub-conscious variables in considering what choice of food to order (Kotler et al 1999), or what choice of holiday experience to consider. Consequently, it can be argued that employing such a theory to evaluate consumer decision-making process in the hospitality industry borders on the optimistic. The TPB also relies on the presupposition that the consumer commences comprehensive cognitive processing before making a purchase (Dallaert et al 2012; Macinnis Folkes 2010). This presupposition does not hold much water in the hospitality industry as experience demonstrates that most consumers make spontaneous and emotional decisions in deciding where to go for l unch, or in deciding which hotel facility offers the best services. Consequently, â€Å"†¦the reliance on cognition appears to neglect any influence that could result from emotion, spontaneity, habit or as a result of cravings† (Bray n.d., p.24). It is indeed true that most consumers visiting hotels and restaurants for food and drinks for the behavior not necessarily from attitude evaluation as proposed in the theory, but from an overall affective response that is especially related to the facility, food or drink of choice. Conclusion Recommendations From this evaluation and critique, it is indeed clear that marketing professionals in hospitality organizations can no longer continue to employ insufficient marketing paradigms, such as the Consumer Decision Model and the theory of Planned Behavior, in their attempt to understand consumer behavior and decision making. Rather, they need to refocus their energies on evolving these theories and models to portray consumers as emotional beings, focused on achieving pleasurable experiences, creating identities, and developing a sense of belonging through consumption (Williams 2006). The new paradigms, it is widely believed, must also have the capacity to delineate how consumers find fulfillment through consumption, and how they develop creativity and express their individual capabilities through the consumption of services. Reference List Abdallat, M.M.A El-Emam, H.E n.d., Consumer behavior models in tourism. Web. Baig, E Khan, S 2010. ‘Emotional satisfaction and brand loyalty in hospitality industry’, International Bulletin of Business Administration, vol. 11 no. 7, pp. 62-66. Bowie, D Buttle, F 2004, Hospitality marketing, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford. Bray, J n.d., Consumer behavior theory: Approaches and models, http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/10107/1/Consumer_Behaviour_Theory_-_Approaches_%26_Models.pdf Burney, S.M.A 2008, Inductive deductive research approach, drburney.net/INDUCTIV E%20%20DEDUCTIVE%20RESEARCH%20APPROACH%2006032008.pdf Cave, S 2002, Consumer behavior in a week, Hodder Stoughton, London. Dellaert, Benedict G.C Haubl, G 2012, ‘Searching in search mode: Consumer decision processes in product search with recommendations’, Journal of Marketing Research, vol. 49 no. 2, pp. 277-288. Erasmus, A.C, Boshof, E Roesseau, G.G 2001, ‘Consumer decision-making models within the discipline of consumer science: A critical approach’, Journal of Family Ecology and Consumer Sciences, vol. 29 no. 3, pp. 82-90. Firal, A.F, Dholakia, N Vankatesh, A 1995, ‘Marketing in a postmodern world’, European Journal of Marketing, vol. 29 no. 1, pp. 40-56. Kotler, P, Bown, J Markens, J 1999, Marketing for hospitality and tourism, 2nd Ed, Prentice Hall, London. Lovelock, C Wirtz, J 2010, Services marketing, 7th Ed, Prentice Hall, London. Lye, A, Shao, W, Rundle-Thiele, S Fausnaugh, C 2005, ‘Decision waves: Consumer decisions in t oday’s complex world’, European Journal of Marketing, vol. 39 no. 1, pp. 216-230. Macinnis, D.J Folkes, V.S 2010, ‘The disciplinary status of consumer behavior: A sociology of science perspective on key controversies’, Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 36 no. 6, pp. 899-914. Miljkovic, D Effertz, C 2010, ‘Consumer behavior in food consumption: Reference process approach’, British Food Journal, vol. 112 no. 1, pp. 32-43. Neely, C.R, Min, K.S Kennett-Hensel, P.A 2010, ‘Contingent consumer decision making in the wine industry: The role of hedonic orientation’, Journal of Consumer Marketing, vol. 27 no. 4, pp. 324-335. Oh, H 1999, ‘Service quality, customer satisfaction, and customer value: A holistic perspective’, Hospitality Management, vol. 18 no. 2, pp. 67-82. Pachauri, M 2002, ‘Consumer behavior: A literature review’, The Marketing Review, vol. 2 no. 1, pp. 319-335. Rau, P Samiee, S 1981, ‘Mod els of consumer behavior: The state of the art’, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 9 no. 3, pp. 300-316. Reid, R.D Bojanic, D.C 1988, ‘Hospitality marketing management, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken, NJ. Research Methodology n.d., is.cityu.edu.hk/staff/isrobert/phd/ch3.pdf Schiffman, L.G 2000, Consumer behavior, Pearson Education Australia, Belmont, WA. Thomas, M.J 1997, ‘Consumer market research: Does it have validity/some postmodern thoughts’, Marketing Intelligence Planning, vol. 15 no. 2, pp. 54-59. Thompson, D.V, Hamilton, R.W Petrova, P.K 2009, ‘When mental simulation hinders behavior: The effects of process-oriented thinking on decision difficulty and performance’, Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 36 no. 4, pp. 562-574. Tsiotsou, R.H Wirtz, J 2012, â€Å"Consumer behavior in service context†, In V. Wells G. Foxall (eds), Handbook of Developments in Consumer Behavior, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, Northampton, MA, pp. 147-201. Van Raaij, W.F 1993, ‘Postmodern consumption’, Journal of Economic Psychology, vol. 14 no. 3, pp. 541-563. Williams, A 2002, Understanding the hospitality consumer, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford Williams, A 2006, ‘Tourism and hospitality marketing: Fantasy, feeling and fun’, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 18 no. 6, pp. 482-495. Appendix Appendix 1: Consumer Decision Model Appendix 2: Theory of Planned Behavior

A multi-Sensory Experience as a food critique Essay

A multi-Sensory Experience as a food critique - Essay Example They believe in the dress where one is well covered and they give utmost respect to the ladies and feel that she is the biggest responsibility of a man. They are more family oriented and they have a very close knit family. This is different from American culture. The dress sense of the host and waiters were also very ethnic and â€Å"Pathan† suits. The food served contains lot of spices and different herbs that are being added to get the flavour. Only some of the ingredients were described in their menu but not to a greater length. Their appetizers contains Hummus and meat, fried kibbi, sambusak, grilled cheese, Falafel, labneh, Makanek, Sojak, chicken tender etc. Salads contain Tabouli, House salad (Diced), Tahini house salad, Fatoush, Greek, Ceasar, Garden, Some special salad containing a mix of romain lettuce, cucumber, tomato, bell pepper, onion, mint and parsely with olive oil and lemon served with roasted pita bread. The sald had an option to add Chicken or Gyro. The salads were dressed with creamy garlic (as Arabic food contains lot of garlic paste), house dressing, ceasar and Ranch. Then the Menu also displayed â€Å"Entrees† encompassing beef kabob, Chicken kabob, Kafta kabob, Mixed Grill, Salmon kabob or blackened, Shrimp scampi, Fried Tilapia, Fried shrimp (as Arabic food contains lot of fried preprations), f ried seafood platter, chicken breast, Beef shawarma plate. The ingredients were not mentioned but the prepration showed that they will provide a meal as is is served with pita bread and House salad. Along with all these preparations the sides including spicy potato, yogurt cucumber, pickles, olives and tomato, fried cauliflower, basmati rice were also there. Major Arabic preparations go with rice and hence we also opted for the same. The â€Å"Manakeech† contains Halloum cheese, Ackawi cheese, Zaatar, Makanek, Soujouk and Labneh. These were served with the toppings of olives,

Suarez rebound Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Suarez rebound - Essay Example He is currently, the most prolific hat-tricks scorer in the English Premier League. Prior to joining Liverpool, Suarez was playing for Ajax where he was the captain and League’s top scorer scoring in almost every game he played. Indeed, he is a legend in Ajax having scored his one hundredth Ajax goal in 2011. He joined Liverpool in 2011 on a â‚ ¬23 million transfer fee (Warring web). However, Luis Suarez career has encountered various setbacks that include suspensions and fines for racial discrimination and biting players. Indeed, after biting PSV Eindhovens Otman Bakkal on the shoulder in 2010, he suffered a seven games suspension. He also suffered a 10 games suspension after biting Chelseas Branislov Ivanovic on the arm in 2013 (Warring web). On a different note, Suarez suffered yet another professional blow when he allegedly racially abused Evra and was suspended for 8 games (McClatchy). Seemingly, Luis Suarezs history depict a person with a troubled mind and troubled actions because he always denied these incidents claiming that it is not in his nature to react that way. He claims that such things happen in the field. Notably, biting is an emotional response and hence the need to evaluate Suarez’s mental health (Rumsby and Sutcliffe web). Indeed, Liverpool is already providing support and counseling to Suarez and FIFA is likely to recommend for his me ntal health evaluation in the recent investigations. This will help Suarez to bounce back. As his marketing manager, I have a plan to get public relations going the right direction for this talented and controversial Liverpool and Uruguay striker. Indeed, my main objectives is to change the public’s negative perception on Suarez, present Suarez’s mental troubles, his success, and convince the audience that Suarez will bounce back. This will maintain or increase the value of the player. The target audience for this plan includes the media, Liverpool Football Club, Uruguay

Duke Ellingtons Contribution To American Jazz Film Studies Essay

Duke Ellingtons Contribution To American Jazz Film Studies Essay The famous U.S. jazz musician known as Duke Ellington was born on April 29, 1989 to two musician parents who both played the piano. His legal name at birth was Edward Kennedy Ellington, and the nickname Duke was one he acquired from childhood friends who believed that the way he dressed and the manner in which he carried himself gave him a regal appearance. (Wikipedia, 2013). While he himself eschewed the use of the term jazz to define the kind of music he played, opting instead to refer to it as simply American music, critics have repeatedly identified him as one of the seminal figures in the development of jazz, which is often identified as one of the few authentically U.S.-developed musical forms. (Biography, 2013). Ellington was an African-American and his maternal grandmother was an ex-slave. His own introduction to music in a formal sense occurred when he was seven years old, with him commencing piano lessons. His passion for music was intense, even during his youth and he is recorded as having written his first song, :Soda Fountain Rag, which some called Poodle Dog Rag, in 1914 at a time when he was personally working at a soda fountain at a restaurant known as the Poole Dog Cafe. At the time, his formal music training did not include the reading and writing of music notes on paper. He was to develop those skills later in life. (Wikipedia, 2013). As a young man, in addition to the restaurant job, he worked at the games of the Washington, D.C. Senators baseball team as a peanut vendor. Other recreations included playing pool, and it was there that he encountered many contemporary piano players who provided entertainment there, utilizing a variety of styles, including ragtime. It was only then that he started to entertain the notion that he might himself become a professional musician. Ellington himself described both his early life and his musical career in an autobiography he published in 1973 entitled Music is my Mistress. (Ellington, 1976). By the summer of 1916, he declined to pursue an offered scholarship to study art in Brooklyn, New York at the Pratt Institute, preferring instead to provide musical entertainment in various small venues in and around Washington, D.C. for money, although the amounts earned were relatively meager compared to the success he was to experience later in life. He continued, for a time, to attend commercial art classes at the Armstrong Manual Training School, but abandoned those studies a mere 90 day or so before a scheduled graduation. (Ellington, 1976). It was after that occurred that he summoned up the courage to assemble small groups of musicians to band together to play for dances and other social events, while working on the side as a sign painter to augment his otherwise meager income. His first more permanent formal band was formed in 1917 and was known as The Dukes Serenaders, who were described as Colored Syncopators in an ad he took out in the then relatively new media of the local telephone directory. (Ellington, 1976) Because Washington, D.C. was the capitol of the U.S., Ellington also managed to survive economically in those early years by working as a messenger for the State Department and U.S. Navy. Later, his band would become quite a local hit playing at parties put on by foreign embassies located in the capitol as well as for society dances and balls. While this was an era where there was still much segregation in the U.S., his group did manage to play to both white and African-American audiences, which was unusual at the time. (Wikipedia, 2013). Ellington got married on July 2, 1918 to Edna Thompson, who had attended the same high school as he did, and they had a son, Mercer Kennedy Ellington, himself a musician skilled in the use of both the piano and trumpet, who at times operated as the business manager for his fathers more successful group while also running his own band. (Wikipedia, 2013). Looking back on his career, which only ended with his death on May 24, 1974 from lung cancer and pneumonia, music critics widely agree that his influence helped raise the regard of jazz among other forms of music in the U.S. At the time of his death, despite his advanced age and ill health, he was continuing to actively work as an orchestra leader. He did not exclusively play jazz. however, and at times delved into the areas of classical, popular, gospel and blues music, as well as composing scores for popular motion pictures. As the U.S. recording industry took off, Ellington and his groups recorded music for many companies, while continuing to tour widely and play live. In 1924 alone, Duke Ellington released eight records, indicating the beginning of a very fertile period for him that continued almost unabated until his death. (Wikipedia, 2013). Ellington became a seminal figure in the so-called Harlem Renaissance and gradually expanded the size of his musical group, with it becoming the house band in the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem, New York in 1927. Ellingtons fame grew and he was widely known for playing the bugle at the end of many performances. Radio broadcasts of his music live from the club helped him develop an audience that stretched nationwide and encompassed many people who had never seen him perform live in New York. (Biography, 2013). A song that Duke Ellington recorded with his orchestra and Adelaide Hall in the fall of 927, entitled Creole Love Call became a runaway hit, selling widely through the world, and firmly establishing Ellington and his group as star musicians. (Wikipedia, 2013) Ultimately, Ellington became perhaps best known for expanding the concept of the small jazz band, playing only in tiny nightclubs, to a full big band experience, with his group becoming a full orchestra with him as the leader. The size and scope of the group gave Ellington much more latitude to experiment with new musical pathways and attempt things never tried before. (Wikipedia, 2013). His versatility was shown by the fact that he recorded for numerous recording labels, often at the same time, an unusual thing. He sometimes would create different versions of the same compositions for inclusion on records for the different companies. (Wikipedia, 2013). He obtained even broader popularity after appearing at the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival, where his orchestras performance was met by the audiences passionate acclaim, and went on long as the festival organizers had planned to shut things down. The result was worldwide frenzied publicity, including Duke Ellingtons appearance on the front cover of Time magazine, and Ellingtons best-selling recording of his entire career, Ellington at Newport.(Wikipedia, 2013). One area where he experienced a rare lack of success was his inability to breakthrough in the new medium of television, where jazz was somewhat ignored as a form of music. But both his live performances and his popular recordings continued throughout his life. His musical career spanned the Great Depression, the Second World War, the 1950s, the turbulent 1960s with the explosion of the civil rights movement and the conflict over the Vietnam war, and the Watergate Era of Richard Nixon. Throughout those changing times, Duke Ellingtons commitment to experiment with his music and burst through staid conventions of form and length remained the one constant thing, raising the standard high for other jazz musicians to try to emulate. Critics believe that there are few, if any, figures in the development of American jazz more important and more central than Duke Ellington. (Wikipedia, 2013). Ellingtons root strength was as a skilled jazz pianist, but he is often more remembered for his orchestral arrangements and composing of both jazz and other popular musical pieces. His group for the bulk of his career was known simply as the Duke Ellington Orchestra and it continues to tour the world today under the aegis of his son, who serves as the archivist for his fathers rich legacy. (Wikipedia, 2013). Duke Ellingtons contributions to American music were recognized by no fewer than twelve Grammy awards, starting with his first one in 1959 with three awards for music he composed and performed for Anatomy of a Murder, a major motion picture. He composed and performed music for a number of other motion pictures. Most of these awards, however, were for jazz performances and compositions, with three of the awards given after his death, including the last one in 1999 for the historical jazz album The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition, collecting the recordings he made for the RCA Victor company from 1927-1973. He received a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement award in 1966. (Biography, 2013). Nine of his recordings were also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, starting with Black and Tan Fantasy in 1928 and concluding with Far East Suite in 1967. His 1932 jazz hit It Dont Mean a Thing (If It Aint Got That Swing) was also inducted, was highly popular worldwide, and is still widely played today. He was also given a Special Citation by the Pulitzer Prize Committee after his death, and received a U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. He was also inducted into the French Legion of Honor in 1973. (Wikipedia, 2013).

It’s the Economy, Student! (Reaction Paper)

It’s the Economy, Student! As the saying goes, â€Å"No one touches a dirty pot without getting his/her hand dirty. † This reminds me of this topic. Based on my own view about the article written by the former president and now the representative of Pampanga, Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, she had done many good things in our country such as: Our climate changes each decade because everyday people neglected to do their duties in order to save our dying environment. We, as perfect creation of our God Almighty, promised to take care of His creatures but we fail doing it.We must do everything that we can to protect, flourished our nature or environment and its creation, but because of our personal interest and greediness, we explore in several ways on how to make money without thinking the damage that it would do to our world. Moreover, even if we knew that the damage has been done, thus affecting the balance of nature, still we continue doing ways that would destr oy our environment just to amaze more power and wealth. Congresswoman Gloria M.Arroyo, in her given information, said that she was too concerned during her time in promoting how to save our dying environment and she even mentioned this in her talked to Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC) convention. It is very ironic, while she’s demonstrating her concern to our environment, several mining businesses were allowed to operate during her time such as the ones being mentioned in the news that there was this kind of mining, such as selling the entire mountain in Surigao Del Norte and shipping it to other countries such as China and other neighboring countries.I am just astonished on how perfect she played her game, playing around the circle. Now tell me who’s talking? The mountain that cannot be replaced anymore. And who will be to blame? The calamities, one after another, that we are experiencing this days, are the products of the great master plan of the once greedy pers on. Yes she signed a large laws to codify the environment such as clean water, bio fuel†¦etc. nd yet what was the result of our natural gas, â€Å"THE MALAPAYA DEEP WATER GAS PROJECT IN PALAWAN† still we are spending dollars importing gases †¦tell me who’s talking†¦ She said that she created a program that could fight for the continuously increasing unemployed citizens in the country, jobless citizens, so we can over calm poverty, she managed to compare her program to the program of former president Estrada, who’s presidency lasted only for 2 yrs†¦definitely her program runs through many years, but does it give credit?Tell me who’s talking†¦. Talking about the education †¦ let me say, as I recall it right, she managed to get mad at Department of Education Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, when the latter said to her on national television that the schools in our country need classrooms, teachers, etc. because they can no lo nger accommodate 70 to 100 students per class. Even Amorsolo can’t paint her aura, the news anchor that time fed in the advertisement at once so the viewer will not notice that scene.The report stated that, â€Å"For Filipinos, family is everything and the future of our children is sacred. That is why I invested so much time and effort in rejuvenating our education system. I met with teachers and other educators to get a first-hand look at the improvements that we need to make. I listened to what these fine public servants had to say, and in response to their advice, I increased the country’s total budget for education by nearly four times: from Ps 6. 6 Billion in 2000 to Ps 24. 3 Billion in 2010 when I stepped down.Those funds went into the following critical areas of educational spending: Now thinking how she foreseen those problems ,and eventually the solution to those problems, if she manage to done it right definitely our present president will able to continue h er act for the betterment of our country, that is if only she done it right.. † â€Å"As my father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, used to say that the Presidency of the Philippines is a tough and killing job that demands a sense of sacrifice.At the end of the day, it comes down to plain hard work. A president must work harder than everyone else. And no matter what he thinks he was elected to do — even if that includes running after alleged offenders in the past — he must not neglect the bread and butter issues that preoccupy most of our people most of the time: keeping prices down, creating more jobs, providing basic services, securing the peace, pursuing the high economic growth that is the only way to vault our country into the ranks of developed economies. I must say that if you were given a chance to serve your people, be sure to do your best even if your best is not enough to the people, but in the eyes of God you are serving Him your very best. No turning back, no one will be blamed. -Rosebelle Harlan

The Curriculum

The curriculum is the goal, or outcome that is desired to be achieved through the instruction. For the instruction to be successful, there needs to be a linear set of standards, or objectives that need to be taught and be assessed to achieve the desired goal of the lesson. There are three main types of objectives that need to be addressed when designing a lesson: Program objective, learning objective, and performance objective. Before addressing these three concepts, there is a need to define the goal(s) of stated objectives. Goals Gagne' (1988) states, â€Å"Education goals are statements of the outcomes of education† (p. 41). The goal of instruction is to impart a knew skill, capability or concept in a measurable manner. Goals are the expected result of instruction. In the example assigned to this paper, the goal of the course is to teach instructors how to best utilize technology in the classroom with the use of laptops and iPads. Objectives Whereas goals are the destination of the instruction, objectives are the means of getting there. As stated previously, objectives are a set of standards that are to be met through instruction and assessment. Objectives and Goals 4 Program Objectives Program objectives define what content is to be used in the lesson, the time-line for instruction, and what tools and media will be used to achieve the instructional goal. In our example of iPad and laptop instruction, first the instructor needs to evaluate the class and determine what their skills with computers and iPads are. There may not be a need to cover some of the instruction or there may be a need for some skill building before the planned instruction can start. The instructor also needs to have a time frame, in which the class can reasonably follow, for the lesson progression. Whether it is measured in hours, days, or weeks, the learners need to know how much time they have to learn the skill before assessment is administered. The instructor also needs to have a plan on which operating systems, software and apps will be used in the instruction and instruct teachers how to integrate them into their lessons. In recent years, schools have gone more tech oriented and teachers need instruction on how to incorporate the devices into the learning process. In short, the program objectives are to teach instructors, in a timely fashion, how to: use laptops and iPads for designing lessons, incorporating technology into existing lessons, maintaining and updating devices, and familiarizing instructors with apps and programs so they can better utilize the technology. Learning Objectives Learning objectives come in many terms such as benchmark, standard, and performance indicator. Whichever term is used, the intended purpose of the learning objectives is to define what the student is expected to learn. According to FLDOE.org (2018), â€Å"Learning objectives Objectives and Goals 5 should break down the task and focus on specific cognitive processes†. Learning objectives give structure to the program objectives through defining the specific skills and knowledge to be learned and how the lessons will be sequenced. Stating only that the instructors will learn to and understand how to use an iPad is not an example of a learning objective. Learning objectives are specific knowledge and skills that are targeted for learning. Examples for this would include: selecting and deploying the appropriate applications, managing the steady flow of updates, assigning and submitting assignments electronically, and how to diversify the lessons to accommodate students' learning needs. Sequencing would also be addressed by teaching the lessons in a proper order. It would not be effective to teach how to diversify and accommodate the applications before teaching which applications are appropriate for the lessons. Performance Objectives Performance objectives are exactly what it states: performing learned knowledge and skills through an action. Gagne argues that the â€Å"five-component objective† is the best approach for performance objectives. The five components he lists are: Situation, Learned Capability Verb, Object, Action Verb, and Tools, Constraints or Special Conditions. Situation â€Å"What is the stimulus situation faced by the student?† (Gagne, p. 123). The situation can be defined as the circumstances of the instructional objective. What is being offered? Under what Objectives and Goals 6 condition is the instruction or assessment is being administered? Using our example, the situation is â€Å"using an iPad† or â€Å"using a computer†. Learned Capability Verb (LCV) This component deals with how the situation is applied. Gagne states that there are nine standard verbs that are used: discriminate, identify, classify, demonstrate, generate, adopt, state, execute, and choose. Gagne (1988) states, â€Å"By including one of these verbs in the objective, the intended behavior is more clearly communicated, and the conditions of learning appropriate to that type of learning outcome are more readily applied† (p. 125). For our example, demonstrate, generate, chose, and execute would most likely be the actions used. Object The object is the actual learned item or behavior that the learner is applying with the LCV. It can also be described as the learning objective that the learner will demonstrate. Using our example, how to assign and submit assignments electronically using the laptop and iPad would be the object of the performance objective. Action Verb Gagne (1988) explains, â€Å"The action verb describes how the performance is to be completed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 125). There are many different action verbs that can be used depending on the task. Objectives and Goals 7 Hypothesizing, solving, and typing are considered action verbs. In our example, the learner so far has been instructed to demonstrate how to assign and submit an assignment. Applicable action verbs would be â€Å"upload† or â€Å"download†. Tools, Constraints, or Special Conditions This title is self-explaining. This section deals with the conditions, the limitations and the applicable media of the objective. In our example, iPads and laptops are the tools that are being used in this lesson. A constraint is the time frame that the teachers are limited to for the instruction. From personal experience, most of these types of training exercises and courses are limited to just a few hours, or at most, one day. Outcome The outcome of the five-point approach for our example is, â€Å"Using an iPad or Laptop, the teacher will demonstrate how to assign and submit a lesson electronically by uploading the assignment in the fewest steps possible†. Summary Properly defining goals is the first step to designing an instructional plan. Program objectives are a general outline of what it takes to reach that goal. The learning objectives are the specific skills and knowledge objectives that are used to meet the program objectives. Following the five-step performance objective model, learners should be able to easily understand what learning outcomes they are required to demonstrate at the end of instruction.