Ibn Jubayr and Islam in the West Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ibn Jubayr and Islam in the West - Assignment Example Menocal (2002) takes note of that he accordingly needed to show the significance of Islam in his offer to charm more individuals into it and rescue the circumstance (p. 54-61). Over his movements, Jubayr focuses at the practices which were being rehearsed at this point they were not satisfactory in the Muslim lessons. For instance, while discussing the Palemo Muslims, he takes note of that they have instructors in their Madrasas yet a similar rehearsed as traders. He censured the demonstration. It is critical to take note of that Jubayr censures most Christian practices and characters. As per Bush-Joseph (2012), for example he depicts King Baldwin IV and his mom as pig and sow individually because of their activities in keeping up Jerusalem and Acre under Christian control (p. 43). In any case, he shows strict resistance while depicting King William whom he says is commendable for his simply direct (p. 44). This shows his judgment of some Christian viewpoints isn't one-sided as he is quick to note when there is anything to be recognized about a similar gathering. Seeing his work, he has fundamentally tended to the noteworthy of the Muslim religion in the west during his movements and communication with the

Critical Response to Lackoff and Johnson’s Metaphors Essay Example for Free

Basic Response to Lackoff and Johnson’s Metaphors Essay The allegory is key to human idea. Unmistakably this is the guideline proposition introduced in Metaphors We Live By (1980). In fact, the proposition is contained plainly inside the title of the content. However, maybe the most striking point about the contention introduced by these two etymologists is communicated in the possibility that language is an incredible weapon of power by which individuals live and through which they connect. â€Å"Argument is war† is one explanation that communicates this thought unmistakably and is upheld by the different instances of pugnacious discourse that utilization action words related either with physical victory and overwhelming, or with the direct inverse, pulverization and overwhelmed shortcoming. One of the most convincing parts of the contention in Metaphors (1980) is the idea that individuals subliminally coordinate wonderful creative mind and expound talk into their discourse, in spite of the frequently unremarkable ordinary errands about which their musings and activities rotate. The job of language, at that point, is profoundly addressed. The basic issue is the means by which we, people, identify with the world and one another. The contention from Lackoff and Johnson might be that we conceptualize our lives and in this manner we identify with our general surroundings in a calculated manner. There is, be that as it may, a troublesome in this way endeavoring to break down our utilization of language utilizing language. All things considered, definitions and elements of words, the very focal point of semantics, all assume a basic job in the logical procedure of the human brain. It’s something like the etymological form of the chicken and the egg. Which started things out, ideas or language? When we state that time is cash and use articulations like, â€Å"you’re squandering my time†, might it be able to be that the idea that time is cash risen as a genuine useful thought and in this manner formed into an applied idea? Similarly as the case of the â€Å"apple-juice-chair†, an obviously silly stage as a rule, can have a suitable importance in a given setting, it appears to be conceivable that allegorical ideas, for example, â€Å"time is money† and â€Å"argument is war†, prompting the augmentation of the representation in language, for example, â€Å"you’re squandering my time†, could basically have gotten their logical pertinence after some time.

Economic and Political Development (EPD) concentration 101 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Economic and Political Development (EPD) concentration 101 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog The Economic and Political Development (EPD) concentration attracts diverse students from around the world who are committed to fighting inequality between and within countries, eradicating poverty and its causes, and promoting inclusive growth and human development by expanding people’s civil and political as well as economic and social rights and freedoms. To take on these global challenges, EPD curriculum equips students with a variety of skills in policy analysis, program planning, monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy. Through an interdisciplinary package of courses, workshop projects, and practical internships, students acquire both a broader understanding of the processes of economic, political and social change in the developing world as well as a more focused competence in specific fields such as microfinance, small business and social enterprise development, corporate social responsibility, gender and development, education policy, public health, sustainable development , post-conflict reconstruction and governance. One of the most exciting opportunities within the EPD concentration is the Workshop in Development Practice, through which students gain practical experience by engaging in on-going cutting-edge development projects, often involving country fieldwork. Working in teams with a faculty supervisor, students assist a variety of clients on a wide array of assignments in international development. Students take a multidisciplinary approach to their work and learn extensively from each other as well as from the hands-on tasks of the workshop itself. A list of past workshop projects can be viewed at the following link: http://new.sipa.columbia.edu/academics/capstone-workshops/epd#top_info. The EPD concentration is dedicated to enhancing students’ overall experience at SIPA. We sponsor a number of events throughout each academic year. This includes social events, such as the annual EPD retreat, happy hours, cultural trips around the city or off-campus parties; brown bag talks and evening lectures with practitioners and academics; and career events such as internship and alumni panels. We regularly collaborate with other concentrations, student groups and regional institutes to address the wide array of interests among our EPD students. EPD graduates are uniquely prepared for careers in international development. They seek leadership positions in the nonprofit, public and private sectors and pursue opportunities in development consulting, microfinance, small business and social enterprise development, corporate social responsibility, gender and development, education policy, public health, sustainable development, post-conflict reconstruction, governance and/or capacity development. EPD works very closely with SIPA’s Office of Career Services to provide a comprehensive support to our students. A sample of employers who hired EPD graduates is available here http://new.sipa.columbia.edu/careers/employment-statistics/career-paths-by-concentration.

The Enola Gay And The Gay - 837 Words

44.5 seconds, that was the time it took for the bomb named â€Å"Little Boy† to be released from the American B-29 Super fortress, the Enola Gay, and strike its target in downtown Hiroshima. Despite the brevity of that moment, the events surrounding the decision to use the atomic bomb and the aftermath of that decision remain hotly contested 70 years later. Those few seconds changed human history forever, and it certainly deserves to remembered, yet establishing a place to honor a moment that used a terrible weapon to bring an end to a terrible conflict has proven to be rife with controversy. Often time’s historical analysis of the Enola Gay and the events that made her famous are focused on the decision to use the bomb followed by the immediate devastation that was left in its wake. While these components are certainly important, any exhibit dedicated to the Enola Gay should also reflect on the implications â€Å"the bomb† had on global politics and military decision making, many precedents that stand even to this day. The Enola Gay exhibit should be separated into three elements, each covering a different time period surrounding the atomic bomb. The first element covers the events prior to August 6th, 1945, when the United States government was still deliberating on whether to use the atomic bomb. While it may seem obvious to some, it is important to note that the Enola Gay is an American plane and the decision to use the bomb was made exclusively from the AmericanShow MoreRelatedThe Enola Gay1506 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the biggest controversies of the 20th century was caused by one little plane, the Enola Gay. The Enola Gay was a B-29 Superfortress bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. August 6, 1945 was a historic day. Lives were lost and it was the start of the very end of World War ll. The use of this very destructive weapon could be seen as inhumane, but it was a decision that had to be made. Americans and peo ple from other countries today have their own opinion of our war ending tactic.Read MoreThe Conflict Over The Enola Gay Exhibit1415 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing told. This conflict has shown itself recently in the dispute over the Enola Gay exhibit in Washington D.C. Opposing sides clashed as proposed plans for the aircraft and its display brought about judgment from each character involved, as many people had a different way they wanted the story of this aircraft to be told. A detailed analysis of the debate of heritage versus history is applied to the case of the Enola Gay and its representation in a museum setting is shown here. This analysis revealsRead MoreThe Enola Gay Exhibit At The National Air And Space Museum1552 Words   |  7 PagesOriginally intended to be displayed in the 1990’s to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Enola Gay exhibit was dismantled piece by piece until it became an unrecognizable shadow of what used to be a museum e xhibit. The controversy surrounding the Enola Gay exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) has helped to revive a spirited debate between professional, scholarly historians and amateur historians who are likely to have some first hand experience with significantRead MoreHiroshima, By Robert Lewis, Co Pilot Of Enola Gay1473 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Just how many Japs did we kill? I honestly have the feeling or groping for words to explain this or I might say my God, what have we done?† written by Captain Robert Lewis, co-pilot of Enola Gay over Hiroshima, Japan, presently after 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945. The too-large gust of wind, and the looming mushroom cloud rising over the blackened city were all vaguely mentioned in his captain’s log. A small sketch of the first ever nuclear warfare attack can be found hastily scribbled on the backRead MoreAn Exhibit Of The National Air And Space Museum1258 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1993, a plan to build an exhibit of the Enola Gay in the National Air and Space Museum received immense amounts of criticism from military historians, journalists, and veterans, as they felt that it didn’t correctly portray the Japanese and those in the American armed forces during the war. The book’s authors offer theories ranging from historical context, how Japan’s role in the war was interpreted, the American people’s discomfort regarding Truman’s order to drop the bomb, the mood of AmericansRead MoreB-29: The Airplane that Changed the World1366 Words   |  6 Pagesequipped with large Fowler-type flaps (â€Å"Enola Gay†). Many new designs were equipped on the Superfortress because the U.S. military requested very specific things from the aircraft manufacturers (â€Å"Enola Gay†). The old designs on the planes did not allow the bombers to meet the requirements of the military so Boeing was the first to answer the military’s call, and when the military sa w Boeing’s design they requested that the airplane be built immediately (â€Å"Enola Gay†). The plane was very rough in the beginningRead MoreDropping the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima1081 Words   |  5 PagesB-29 Super fortress bomber named the Enola Gay was one of fifteen bombers specifically designed to deliver atomic weapons. The â€Å"Silver plate† modifications that included special hydraulic bay doors, larger engines, modified props, deletion of the gun turrets, and armor plates (Museum, 2011). All modifications aimed toward a sucsefull delivery of the bomb. The Enola Gay was hand selected off the line for this mission. With Its commission to the fleet, Enola Gay preformed a test mission in preparationRead MoreTruman s Decision On The Dropping Of The Atomic Bomb996 Words   |  4 Pagesthat surrendering was absolutely dishonorable to the Emperor and the country and most soldiers would prefer to take their own lives rather than surrender to the enemy (Cor rell Enola Gay). The Japanese were prepared to take as much casualties as possible with an estimation of commitment of 2.3 million troops (Correll Enola Gay). Yes the atomic bomb would kill thousands of civilians but these civilians may have been trained to commit suicide runs against the allies if an invasion was put through (FussellRead MoreWorld War One Of The Worst Wars Of All Time2226 Words   |  9 Pages Enola Gay The Enola Gay was just an Average B-29. The reason it’s so amazing is because it was the first atomic bomb used in warfare on Nagasaki. The Enola Gay was a hero, a savior clad in metal and machinery. Although it killed thousands in Nagasaki, it was essential to end the brutal war. Although outclassed by later bombers, it is still a well-known warcraft among war fanatics and plane collectors. Here is all you need to know about the Enola Gay. Read MoreTaking a Look at Dropping the H-Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki921 Words   |  4 Pagesunforgettable day On August 6, 1945, Japan went through an event that would never be forgotten. American scientists and soldiers got aboard the Enola Gay to drop the first atomic bomb in wartime history, Little Boy. It was dropped at 8:15 a.m. After falling for over 44 seconds the bomb was triggered about 1,900 feet over the center of the city. The pilots in the Enola Gay watched as columns of smoke rose up fast and harsh fires sprung up. The burst temperature was estimated to reach over a million degrees

Implications Of The Obesity Epidemic On Military Service...

Implications of the Obesity Epidemic on Military Service Members and Their Families The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact of the obesity epidemic on the military community and to help develop a conceptual framework that will assist in a future literature review. This paper will identify the prevalence of obesity in the military community. In addition, this paper will discuss the implications of the obesity epidemic on the military community as well as the current steps being taken to help decrease the growing incidence of overweight and obesity among the military community. Recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the obesity epidemic in the United States is at an all-time high. It is estimated that 38 percent of American adults are obese and nearly 21 percent of adolescents are obese (NCHS, 2016). A number of reports and studies have indicated that the obesity epidemic is increasingly affecting military service members and their families. According to Tanofsky-Kraff et al. (2013), â€Å"approximately, 70% of adult M HS [Military Health System] beneficiaries (80% of men, 60% of women) and 72% of veterans are overweight or obese†. Furthermore, it is estimated that 54% of active duty men and 34% of active duty women are overweight, and 12% of active duty personnel are obese (Spieker et al., 2015). These prevalence rates represent all active duty service members from all branches of the Armed Forces. Despite the military’s strictShow MoreRelatedObesity in America Essay5140 Words   |  21 Pages5 Assignment- Obesity in America GEN499: General Education Capstone Instructor: Mark Bowles Final Paper: Obesity in America Obesity in America is real and profoundly alarming when you look at the major impact it has on our communities. Major health concerns like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure cases are at an all time high. Specifically, the disparity between low-income urban inner cities in regards to obesity as compared toRead MoreThe Responsibilities Of An American Citizen2045 Words   |  9 PagesItaly and In Italy after two centuries in 2001 compulsory military service disappeared. Instead, the Italian Senate approved the establishment of professional military service where people choose to enlist and are paid for their services, similar to the US military. As in Italy and in America I see similarity on this argument. Today the key responsibilities of an American citizen is paying taxes and voting, some critics feel is not enough service for the country. The United States of America has beenRead MoreThe Walt Disney Company11417 Words   |  46 Pagesentertainment industry. Di sney categorizes its operations into four key divisions: Studio Entertainment, Parks and Resorts, Consumer Products and Media Networks. Each division under The Walt Disney Company’s umbrella provides distinct products and services and caters to diverse market segments. All divisions, however, are united in their creative and imaginative efforts to â€Å"reach hundreds of millions of people worldwide and provide them with incredible entertainment experiences† (The Walt Disney CompanyRead MoreOverseas Students Are Healthier Than The General Population3097 Words   |  13 PagesAustralia. The survey was carried out by the means of a questionnaire consisting 10 questions amongst 50 students. The majority of respondents were Chinese. The results of these findings are the patterns of smoking, level of exercises and prevalence of obesity among the overseas students. At the end all data was analyzed and changed into percentage. The report’s findings revealed that ove rseas students smoked more than general population whereas general population were less likely to exercise and more likelyRead MoreInternet Addiction: Government Policy or Personal Responsibility?4485 Words   |  18 Pagessilent disease. The implications of disease are seen with stories of individuals losing their jobs due to not being able to walk away from video games, constantly checking one’s Facebook page, acting out violently when a parent tells a child no more, increased level of stress or creating second lives online when they are becoming derelicts in their â€Å"real† lives. The stories are abundant, yet as Americans, we shrug it off. The â€Å"American dream,† difficult to define, yet the implications are astoundingRead MoreImpact of Cultural and Social Factors on Health3509 Words   |  15 Pagesnow also suffering from non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, hypertensive heart diseases, etc. The onset of these diseases, occurring primarily in the urban regions, are signified by high and rising rates of overweight, central obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Such trends also exist in rural populations but are lower in magnitude. Each of the Communicable and Non Communicable diseases which are predominant in South Asia has been shaped by the social structures ofRead MoreScope of Demography8788 Words   |  36 Pagescount or estimate population numbers go back millennia. State strength was dependent on population numbers, especially those males of military age, and a good government was one under which numbers increased because of the suppression of violence and success in averting famine. There have long been attempts to place a figure on the number of deaths during severe epidemics. Censuses and the recording of deaths were carried out in some of the citystates of Renaissance Italy. Birth rates were treated asRead MoreComputer and Internet in Education13526 Words   |  55 Pagessocial development. Initial research suggests, for example, that access to computers increases the total amount of time children spend in front of a television or computer screen at the expense of other activities, thereby putting them at risk for obesity. At the same time, cognitive research suggests that playing computer games can be an important building block to computer literacy because it enhances children’s ability to read and visualize images in three-dimensional space and track multiple imagesRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesYork San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services: Ashley Santora Acquisitions Editor: Brian Mickelson Editorial Project Manager: Sarah Holle Editorial Assistant: Ashlee Bradbury VP Director of Marketing: Patrice Lumumba Jones Senior Marketing Manager: Nikki Ayana Jones Senior Managing Editor: JudyRead MorePrimary Sector of Economy17717 Words   |  71 Pagesdirect use of natural resources. This includes agriculture, forestry and fishing, mining, and extraction of oil and gas. This is contrasted with the secondary sector, producing manufactures and other processed goods, and the tertiary sector, producing services. The primary sector is usually most important in less developed countries, and typically less important in industrial countries. The manufacturing industries that aggregate, pack, package, purify or process the raw materials close to the primary

Mexican immigration Free Essays

Mexican immigration has been considered as a distinct event that occupies a place in the history of United States immigration.   There are currently millions of Mexican Americans in the U.S. We will write a custom essay sample on Mexican immigration or any similar topic only for you Order Now , occupying almost all regions of the country.   Their immigration started in the 20th century and the influx of Mexicans is still continuing to date.   The culture of Mexico and its US immigrants is complex, representing a combination of Spanish, Mexican and other indigenous tribal traditions and beliefs. The significant migration of Mexicans to the US has influenced the judiciary and public systems of the US.   In addition, legislative rulings regarding immigration have been constantly changing since the 20th century, mostly due to the Mexican migration.   Interestingly, the US society has also experience variations in reception of these migrant individuals, ranging from a warm welcome to a cold feeling for unsolicited migrants.   In return, the Mexican immigrants have learned to adapt to an ever-changing treatment in the US and have become skilled at defending themselves from US citizens that show prejudice towards them. Today, a huge portion of the US population is composed of Mexican immigrants.   Their numbers in the US have made them prominent social and cultural group, influencing the employment of the Spanish language in most of the public services and commercial products.   The Mexican food has been around the US for hundreds of years now, with its meals being a staple even to non-Mexican US citizens. The growth of the Latino population in the United States has resulted in the significant observation of social and economic risk factors that are associated with health.   Mexican-Americans or the Latino population comprise the largest group of immigrants in the United States.   Studies have revealed that the concept of having Mexican origins was an independent risk factor that influences conditions of being uninsured.   Even though the word â€Å"Latino† is an acceptable descriptor for this specific population, other groups categorized this ethnic group as â€Å"Hispanic.†Ã‚   Several studies have attempted to describe and evaluate the socio-demographic features of Mexican-Americans, including the health conditions and healthcare needs of this specific population (NIH, 2006). The Mexican-American population is considered an immigrant population, hence it should also be noted that it takes time for this population to totally settle down in the United States (Schmidley, 2001).   Studies show that first-generation Mexican American families experienced a more difficult living condition than subsequent generation.   These include family income level, educational attainment and language.   It has been generally observed that approximately 65% of the first-generation Mexican-Americans lived in poverty, and 75% of the heads of Mexican-American household possessed less than 9th grade education.   It is also interesting to know that less that 10% of the Mexican-American households had a good command of English. First-generation Mexican American children had the highest rate of being uninsured (64.2%), which was significantly higher than the percentage reported for Hispanics as a whole. Significant differences persisted for the second- and third generation groups. In fact, each generational group of Mexican American children was more likely to be uninsured than either non-Hispanic white children or black children. It is also interesting to note that, among first-generation Mexican American children, there were almost equal proportions of children with private and public health insurance. This is not surprising, because 70% of the heads of household were employed.   A significantly greater proportion of first-generation children could be insured if their parents worked for employers who provided health insurance. Even when insurance is offered, however, many employed Hispanics in poor and low-income households decline coverage because of lack of affordability. Previous reports that immigrant children as a whole are less likely to have health insurance, less likely to have a usual source of care, and less likely to have had a doctor’s visit in the past year were limited in that they did not differentiate Hispanic subgroups or generations.   First-generation Mexican American children had much worse health care access than previously described for Hispanic children as a whole. Previous studies show that majority of Hispanic children had a usual source of care.   With regard to immigrant children, 51% of all foreign-born children (including Latino, white, black, and Asian children) in working-poor families were uninsured and that 65% had a usual source of care, suggesting that first-generation Mexican American children may also fare worse than immigrant children considered as a whole. Even when first-generation Mexican American children were insured, they had the lowest likelihood of having a regular source of care or a specific provider. First-generation Mexican American children also demonstrated the lowest levels of utilization of health care services, as assessed by visits to a physician, use of prescription medications, and screening for hearing and vision problems (Holl et al., 1995; Weinick and Krauss, 2000).   Poor health care access is a known predictor of poor health care utilization; however, the data also suggest that the first-generation group might have had decreased needs.   For example, fewer reported earaches/infections in the first-generation group and lower levels of treatment for ear infections were consistent with fewer visits to a physician for earache/infection. First-generation Mexican American children also had lower rates of reported cold or flu, pneumonia, and ear infections, which were consistent with lower rates of prescription medication use.   Better health outcomes in recent immigrant populations form the basis of what has been described as the â€Å"epidemiologic paradox† (Trevino et al., 1991).   Despite the presence of demographic and socioeconomic risk factors, foreign-born Mexican American women have low birth weight infant birth rates and infant mortality rates similar to those of white women. It has not been confirmed that any advantage at birth persists into early childhood, and study results are conflicting.   Mexican American mothers report low rates of asthma, coordination problems, psychologic and behavioral problems, speech problems, and mental retardation among their children, suggesting that immigrant children may fare better with regard to specific illnesses. A substantially higher number of first-generation Mexican American households reported Spanish as the primary language spoken and also had lower levels of health care access and utilization, compared with the other groups (Kurzon, 2000).   Hispanic parents identify language problems, long waits at the physician’s office, lack of health insurance, difficulty paying medical bills, and difficulty arranging transportation as the greatest barriers to care (Halfon et al., 1997). However, several may not bring their children in for care if the medical staff does not understand Hispanic culture.   This is an important realization that points to systemic factors, as opposed to individual patient factors, as causes of racial/ethnic disparities in health care. The cultural shortcomings of clinical staff, including lack of Spanish language proficiency, lack of knowledge of Hispanic culture, and lack of Hispanic staff members, cannot be underestimated.   Additional research is required to identify the specific barriers to health care access and utilization for specific population subgroups, the benefits of a culturally competent and language-friendly clinical environment, and the costs of creating and maintaining such an environment. Indeed, culture, cultural perspective, and/or cultural differences may account for a portion of the difference attributed to generational status (Jackson and Heroux, 1999). One of the most studied measures of acculturation, namely, language, reflected the first-generation Mexican American households, with most being primarily Spanish-speaking. Although the definitions of acculturation varied, past studies that used language preference as a measure of acculturation showed increased use of preventive services and decreased perceived barriers to care for Hispanics who spoke English. A substantially higher number of first-generation Mexican American households reported Spanish as the primary language spoken and also had lower levels of health care access and utilization, compared with the other groups.   The language and culture of the medical office may have disproportionate effects on utilization of health care for first-generation immigrants (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4389/is_200410/ai_n15294610). Hispanic parents identify language problems, long waits at the physician’s office, lack of health insurance, difficulty paying medical bills, and difficulty arranging transportation as the greatest barriers to care. However, many may not bring their children in for care if the medical staff does not understand Hispanic culture.   This is an important realization that points to systemic factors, as opposed to individual patient factors, as causes of racial/ethnic disparities in health care. T he cultural shortcomings of clinical staff, including lack of Spanish language proficiency, lack of knowledge of Hispanic culture, and lack of Hispanic staff members, cannot be underestimated.   Additional research is required to identify the specific barriers to health care access and utilization for specific population subgroups, the benefits of a culturally competent and language-friendly clinical environment, and the costs of creating and maintaining such an environment. First-generation Mexican American children also demonstrated the lowest levels of utilization of health care services, as assessed by visits to a physician, use of prescription medications, and screening for hearing and vision problems. Poor health care access is a known predictor of poor health care utilization.   The first-generation group might have had decreased needs.   For example, fewer reported earaches/infections in the first-generation group and lower levels of treatment for ear infections were consistent with fewer visits to a physician for earache/infection. First-generation Mexican American children also had lower rates of reported cold or flu, pneumonia, and ear infections, which were consistent with lower rates of prescription medication use.   Better health outcomes in recent immigrant populations form the basis of what has been described as the â€Å"epidemiologic paradox.† Previous studies of perinatal outcomes showed that, despite the presence of demographic and socioeconomic risk factors, foreign-born Mexican American women have low birth weight infant birth rates and infant mortality rates similar to those of white women. It has not been confirmed that any advantage at birth persists into early childhood, and study results are conflicting.   Previous studies suggested that Mexican American mothers report low rates of asthma, coordination problems, psychologic and behavioral problems, speech problems, and mental retardation among their children, suggesting that immigrant children may fare better with regard to specific illnesses. The generational status alone may account for lower developmental scores among Mexican American children.   Lower rates of specific illnesses among first-generation Mexican American children seem to support the epidemiologic paradox, suggesting that first-generation Mexican American children had decreased health care needs with respect to the conditions reported. This might have translated into decreased utilization of health services for this group.   The theory that Mexican American children become less healthy as they become more acculturated has now been assessed and reviewed.   Subsequent generations reported higher prevalence of the illnesses tested, adding to evidence in the literature that Hispanic immigrant children have health outcomes and indicators that worsen with greater acculturation and each successive generation (NIH, 2007). References Halfon N, Wood DL, Valdez RB, Pereyra M and Duan N (1997): Medicaid enrollment and health services access by Latino children in inner-city Los Angeles. JAMA 277:636–641 Holl JL, Szilagyi PG, Rodewald LE, Byrd RS and Weitzman ML (1995): Profile of uninsured children in the United States. Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med.   149:398–406 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4389/is_200410/ai_n15294610 Jackson M and Heroux J (1999):   Program to address sociocultural barriers to health care in Hispanic communities.   National Program Report.   Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/19/d5/46.pdf Kurzon VP (2000):   Mexican-American culture and antepartum management.   Grad. Res. Nursing.   Retrieved from http://www.graduateresearch.com/kurzon.htm. National Institutes of Health (2007):   Health disparities.   Bethesda: NIH. National Institutes of Health (2007):   U.S.-born Hispanics may have poorer health than immigrants.   Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_52026.html Schmidley AD (2000): Profile of the Foreign-Born Population in the United States.   Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. US Census Bureau Current Population Reports, series. p23-206. Trevino FM, Moyer ME, Valdez RB, Stroup-Benham CA (1991): Health insurance coverage and utilization of health services by Mexican Americans, mainland Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans. JAMA   265:233–237. Weinick RM, Krauss NA. Racial/ethnic differences in children’s access to care. Am. J. Public Health. 90:1771–1774.          How to cite Mexican immigration, Essay examples

Some Poets Attitudes To Love Essay Example For Students

Some Poets Attitudes To Love Essay A love poem is a piece of poetry that describes a positive emotion for one from another. Love poems can come in many different forms. There are free verse love poems, where poets use no particular rhyming scheme or rules, but they let their poetry flow. You can also find many ballads about love. In Elizabethan times, often, sonnets were written to lovers or about them. These are fourteen-lined, short verses that often portray emotion very well. Love poems often use metaphors to describe emotion because love is such a strong emotion that it cant be described physically to another. Christina Rossetti was a Victorian poet who often wrote about love. In her poem Amen, it is hard to tell what she is writing about. It could be love or even life. At the start of each verse, she makes a definite statement and then questions it. She starts with It is over. What is over? This implies that she is unsure of herself or is not quite sure what is happening with her life or relationship. The poem acts out her thought process. To start with, she seems sure that It is over. Lets assume that she is describing a relationship. She has a chance to think and decides that she doesnt know what is over. This could imply that she doesnt know which part of the relationship is over or why. She could be questioning it because although it may be over to him, it is far from over with her she is still very much in love with him. Her questioning of her statement could mean that she doesnt agree with it; deep down she feels differently. Then, as if in confirmation of this, she denies that the statement is true. Rossetti uses nature to describe how the relationship was built and why it still exists. She says Harvest days we toiled to sow for: now the sheaves are gathered newly. By this, I think she means that hard work has been put into the relationship to make it work and so it is not failing, but a small crop still exists and is still growing. A harvest is used to describe the relationship (or the life) of Rossetti. A harvest usually symbolizes life, comfort, food and mirth. A good harvest is a positive thing. In the next verse, again, she still seems very unsure of the way things are going in her life. Another one of her thought processes is used to begin the second verse. She states, It is finished. But then goes on to ask, What is finished? very unsure. However, in this verse, she decides to agree with her statement that yes, much has finished. She says, Lives are finished; time diminished; was the fallow field left unsown? By this, I think she is trying to say that, although the actual relationship or her life hasnt ended, much has. I think that she is trying to say that whilst trying to make relationships work or perhaps trying to fulfill an ambition, she had been wasting time because now, her chances may be lost, after all that work! In this verse, she seems to be asking herself whether or not the whole thing wasnt just a waste of time. In the third verse, she states, It suffices and she seems to be a lot more positive about love. She says, spring shall bloom where now the ice is. She believes that everything will be all right in the end, even if it seems like a waste of time at the moment. Again, she uses nature to describe the love and/or happiness she will feel. Spring is a season where new life is born, blossoms flower and all the snow melts, like a new start. I think this is what she sees will happen a new start. Instead of cold, hard ice there will be joy and new life. She is hopeful. Poetry Analysis of "Common Grounds" EssayIn the second verse, Walsh describes another type of relationship that she will not enter into. She uses religious words to help her to put across the fact that she doesnt want to be over-praised or seen as being perfect. Instead, she would like a realistic relationship with a partner that is sincere, and doesnt make her feel uncomfortable. She says, I am no doll to dress and sit for feeble worship. Walsh knows that she isnt perfect, and she knows that she never will be she would like a man to accept that and still love her. In verse three, Walsh says, than gratify your clamorous desire. His clamorous desire is to have sex. Walsh refuses also to enter into a relationship based around sex. She says that she will not willingly enter into a relationship that is just for him. In the last verse, Walsh describes the type of relationship she will enter into willingly. She needs trust, loyalty, a friendship and comradeship; she wants the relationship to be equal and realistic. Walsh says, Together we may know the purity and height of passion, and of joy and sorrow. By this, she means that she would like a soul mate that she can share all her experiences with, the good and the bad. She then goes on to explain how she will feel if this man did come along, she would become totally engulfed with her love for him. She would feel secure in the relationship because she would trust him to give back the love she gave. She describes the potential love between them as something that would be the most perfect thing ever. She says hand holding hand until we reach the very heart of God. By this, I think that Walsh means that they will happily spend their lives together until they die and reach heaven. It could also mean that they spend their lives together until their love cannot become more perfect and takes its place with God. This poem has no real rhyming scheme so I find it more passionate and flowing than those by Rossetti. I think Walshs attitude to love is different to Rossettis. Both see it as a wonderful thing but I feel that Rossetti doesnt decide whom she loves, but lets herself love anyone. I dont think Rossetti is practical enough to think abut how the relationship will be long-term; she is passionate and gets caught up in the moment. Walsh, however, thinks about relationships far into the future and is brave enough to say no. I think, out of the two, Walshs love has to be the truest, because she doesnt assume that everything will be perfect just because there is love. She realizes that things arent always to plan so she plans in advance. Of the two poems, I enjoyed Christina Walshs poem more.

Impact of globalization on manufacturing in the U.S Essay Example

Impact of globalization on manufacturing in the U.S Essay Globalization owes its origin to at least the late 1980s. During this period, new nations were entering into manufacturing, which was in some logic the weakest connection in the U.S. series of science, development, manufacturing, and sale of goods and services. However, for some nations such as Japan, lower wages firstly made it possible to exploit this relative U.S. weakness. Nevertheless, Japan swiftly developed other diverse advantages articulated on improved manufacturing methods (Benjamin Perry, 2003).Impact on labor marketGlobalization stimulates extensively differing views and projections, varying from rosy portrayal of a supple, worldwide borderless labor market to awful situations of severe polarization between labor market winners as well as losers. First, let us examine globalization impact on careers (labor) and its subsequent consequences on manufacturing. With reduced trade barriers, new international market crop up as well as advanced information and communication tec hnologies, the job market was tremendously affected. Globalization has had an astonishing effect on working-class citizens in the United States, chiefly through the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs brought about by outsourcing, with limited benefits to society (Benjamin Perry, 2003).The key motivation for the outsourcing of jobs was to cut the extremely high labor costs that are thought to diminish revenue. Employers are reluctant to hire workers due to high cost of employee benefits, competitive wages, and skyrocketing health-care premiums hence they consider outsourcing the work to be cheap (Bardhan Kroll, 2003). In essence, it is more economical for an American firm to hire a computer programmer in India who would be eager to perform the work for about one-fifth the pay of an American employee with a degree, whose starting salary would be about $50,000-$70,000 (Benjamin Perry, 2003). This leads Americans to be more uncertain about their job security since they cannot comp ete with their foreign counterparts that perform the same quantity of work for considerably less pay.Studies show that an estimated more than 2 million workers in the United States have lost their jobs in the last several years due to business closures in addition to layoffs (Bardhan Kroll, 2003), (Benjamin and Perry 2003). Whereas higher productivity and new management and hiring practices are associated with loss of jobs, a number of companies are increasingly transferring their businesses to other countries with cheap cost of wages as opposed United States. Manufacturing industry has suffered largely in terms of job losses, involving mostly blue-collar workers. It is however acknowledged that many of white-collar jobs are going to China (for manufacturing) (Benjamin and Perry 2003).In the case of working Americans, they have been negatively affected by the colossal increase in foreign trade. There has been loss of well-paying manufacturing jobs, important downward pressure on wa ges as well as increased disparity. The doubling of trade as a share of the economy over the last 25 years was accompanied by a substantial trade deficit, directly displacing several million jobs (Benjamin Perry, 2003).Majority of the jobs were in the manufacturing region, which incorporated millions of union jobs that were well paying compared with average wages (Bardhan Kroll, 2003). Within a period of five years from 2000 to 2005, there was decline as well as disappearance of more than three million manufacturing jobs. It is estimate that at least 30 percent of the decline was due to the rise in the manufactured goods trade deficit (Bardhan Kroll, 2003).With U.S. multinational corporations being occupied on both sides of the international trade, almost 50% of all U.S.-owned manufacturing production is now situated in foreign countries, thus an imperative part of the manufacturing job loss has been due to most of U.S. firms exporting back to the U.S. or producing abroad what th ey once produced locally (Benjamin Perry, 2003).The loss of manufacturing jobs as result of globalization saw wage losses for displaced workers, majority of whom never regained their former wage levels even after acquiring new employment. Globalization had also the effect of increasing world production capacity, which had had the effect of lowering the prices of traded goods, the consequence of which saw workers pay being reduced to reflect the value of goods produced (Bardhan Kroll, 2003). Employers to oppose wage increments for the manufacturing employees used the direct foreign threat.Similarly, the flow of investment in plant and equipment and technology oversaw increase in foreign productivity in sectors that used to be U.S. export strongholds, resulting in declining terms of trade and hence declining real income growth.Last but not the least, as foreign trade drove workers out of manufacturing into poorly paid service jobs; the new supply of workers competing for the same jo bs orchestrated lowering of wages of similarly skilled service workers. What does it imply? It implies that throwing the American workers into competition with production derived from low-wage countries, both those workers engaged directly in import-competing sectors as well as all employees economy-wide who have similar expertise and qualifications will have their wages squeezed. In fact, whereas trade flows with low-wage nations have increased, the distribution of income and wealth in the U.S. has grown more and more unequal (Benjamin Perry, 2003).Impact on input versus outputInternational Trade is increasingly imperative in the global economy and to the United States in particular.   During the last 15 years, global sells abroad have more than tripled and have accounted for more than a third of global economic growth. In deviation from the previous decades, when industrialized economies dictated global trade flows, there has been an increase in developing economies’ sha re of global exports by just over a quarter in the late 1990s to 41 percent by 2004 (Bardhan Kroll, 2003).Increased participation in international trade by the developing world is a crucial force behind what many refer to as â€Å"globalization†. Actually more than 50 percent of US trade presently carried out with developing countries, up from just over a third in the late 1980s.In US economy, manufacturing is the most trade-engaged sector accounting for 60% of the country’s exports and 80% of imports. Globalization has had an important impact on U.S. manufactures, as manufactured products accounts for 75 percent of worldwide trade (Bhagwati Marvin, 1994).Following vigorous intensification of both U.S. manufactured exports and imports at some stage in the mid 1990s; a noteworthy departure has taken place.   Ever since 1998, U.S. sells abroad have grown by just 3 percent per-year (Bardhan Kroll, 2003).   The country’s share of world exports fell from 13 pe rcent in 1998 to just 9 percent in 2004 – the lowly allocation dating 17 years back.   Happening correspondingly, imports grew by 8% per-year and the manufactured trade shortfall increased from -240 billion to -603 billion by 2005 (Bhagwati Marvin, 1994).Whereas a variety of the latest import surge has been as a result of the strong U.S. economy (especially since mid-2003) the truth remains that today, trade ins account for over a 35 percent of manufactured products consumed in the United States – an increase from 25 percent in 1992 and just 15% a 10 years earlier (Bhagwati Marvin, 1994).   A 66 percent of the increase in manufactured imports since 1998 originated from the developing world, and half of that has came from China alone.This rise in import penetration and loss of export competitiveness has had a significant impact on the current state manufacturing (Bhagwati Marvin, 1994).   While in general, manufacturing production has improved from the 2001 dec line, currently positioning at 6 percent above its pre-recession high, in addition to manufacturing employment increasing moderately subsequent to bottoming out earlier in 2004, the present manufacturing resurgence has developed half as fast as the recoveries following the preceding four declines (Bhagwati Marvin, 1994).Of eminent concern is the loss of market share both at home and abroad in recent years by the Unite States manufacturing. While some articulate this market share loss to be because of the inevitable bad trade policy as well as globalization, to others this serves as a pointer to the fact that   in a time of severe global competition, changes in a country’s competitiveness have much larger effects at present than they had in previous decades.Consider dollar value for instance. After sustaining stability for the better part of a decade, its value increased by 28 percent through the period running from 1996 to 2002. Dollar value increase led to imports being c ompetitive in the US market, whereas concurrently it made U.S. exports more costly in markets overseas.   It was during this period that, the rise in import penetration as well as the loss of global export share abroad was most significant.In a period of elevated international competition, US manufacturers have crucially been burdened by high structural non-production costs. Over the last decade, U.S. manufacturers have increased their productivity by over half, more than 150 percent the pace of their major trading partners.   Conversely, much of these efficiency gains have been offset by rising non-production costs at home. As per a research carried out several years ago by the NAM’s Manufacturing Institute, which compared non-production costs on U.S. manufacturers to their nine major trading competitors:The findings indicated that Corporate Taxes on U.S. manufacturers were 16% high than those of their major trading partners. Benefit costs  Ã‚   36% higher, Regulatory burden 85% higher and Litigation  Ã‚  Ã‚   250% higher. Summed up, these excessive non-production costs add 22% to the cost of manufacturing in the U.S. and put U.S. manufacturers at the same level with Germany as most expensive place to produce in the world (Benjamin Perry, 2003).   Moreover, the recent rise in natural gas prices in US has only exaggerated the problem. If US could exclude those excessive costs, it would actually be a lower-cost place to manufacturer than most of their industrialized competitors (Broda David, 2006).Outsourcing has seen the elimination of hundreds of thousands of jobs in the United States within the manufacturing industry. Outsourcing not only benefited US corporations, but also minimized the benefit to society (Broda David, 2006).To offer an anecdote to this observation that outsourcing only benefits corporations while, only minimizing the benefit to society, Tyco Corporation, recently relocated to a location in Texas.   Two of the major gr ounds for their relocation were due to the fact of lower labor costs as well as cheaper manufacturing costs (Broda David, 2006).   This was due to the comparatively close proximity to Mexico.Tyco perhaps took advantage of the great number of immigrants that move to Texas, who can work for comparatively low pay, which would facilitate raise, their bottom line. In so doing the company laid-off more than two hundred employees, some of this had been with the company for almost thirty-five years who had been making close to $22 per hour. The net effect was that these employees had to look for fresh employments, in lower-paying positions that maybe paid half as much, as well as they lost all of their seniority (Broda David, 2006).ConclusionEven though there has been decline in jobs as well as universal interest within the manufacturing sector, outsourcing has had its benefits within the United States (Mandel, 2004).   Sadly, it has been a consequence of just corporate welfare.   O utsourcing has absolutely maintained costs low because of cheap input costs, which drips downward to the end user in low-priced products.   In addition, with productivity rising from annually, corporations have been capable to raise their bottom lines while avoiding price surges (Mandel, 2004).   Regrettably, corporate profits are escalating, save for there are no new jobs being created—jobs relocated to other countries are not being replaced.If blue collar, working-class citizens as well as the jobless workers who experience no job intensification are losing out, in that case who is winning the battle?   Fine, additional productivity as well as lesser-input expenses decode to higher wealth. Businesses with their continually increasing profit limits; consumers, who experience near to the ground cost of goods.   Furthermore, with no job growth in the current economy, there is really no new job industry to lead the way in creating new jobs. Too many U.S. jobs are being outsourced, and without the innovation of new industries, â€Å"job growth will stay sluggish, demand will eventually sag, and†¦incomes will be driven down under the continued pressure of competition from China, India, and other low-wage countries† (Mandel, 2004). However, with the innovation of new upcoming technologies there can be an explosive surge in employment and enormous potential for the economy. Impact of globalization on manufacturing in the U.S Essay Example Impact of globalization on manufacturing in the U.S Essay Globalization owes its origin to at least the late 1980s. During this period, new nations were entering into manufacturing, which was in some logic the weakest connection in the U.S. series of science, development, manufacturing, and sale of goods and services. However, for some nations such as Japan, lower wages firstly made it possible to exploit this relative U.S. weakness. Nevertheless, Japan swiftly developed other diverse advantages articulated on improved manufacturing methods (Benjamin Perry, 2003).Impact on labor marketGlobalization stimulates extensively differing views and projections, varying from rosy portrayal of a supple, worldwide borderless labor market to awful situations of severe polarization between labor market winners as well as losers. First, let us examine globalization impact on careers (labor) and its subsequent consequences on manufacturing. With reduced trade barriers, new international market crop up as well as advanced information and communication tec hnologies, the job market was tremendously affected. Globalization has had an astonishing effect on working-class citizens in the United States, chiefly through the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs brought about by outsourcing, with limited benefits to society (Benjamin Perry, 2003).The key motivation for the outsourcing of jobs was to cut the extremely high labor costs that are thought to diminish revenue. Employers are reluctant to hire workers due to high cost of employee benefits, competitive wages, and skyrocketing health-care premiums hence they consider outsourcing the work to be cheap (Bardhan Kroll, 2003). In essence, it is more economical for an American firm to hire a computer programmer in India who would be eager to perform the work for about one-fifth the pay of an American employee with a degree, whose starting salary would be about $50,000-$70,000 (Benjamin Perry, 2003). This leads Americans to be more uncertain about their job security since they cannot comp ete with their foreign counterparts that perform the same quantity of work for considerably less pay.Studies show that an estimated more than 2 million workers in the United States have lost their jobs in the last several years due to business closures in addition to layoffs (Bardhan Kroll, 2003), (Benjamin and Perry 2003). Whereas higher productivity and new management and hiring practices are associated with loss of jobs, a number of companies are increasingly transferring their businesses to other countries with cheap cost of wages as opposed United States. Manufacturing industry has suffered largely in terms of job losses, involving mostly blue-collar workers. It is however acknowledged that many of white-collar jobs are going to China (for manufacturing) (Benjamin and Perry 2003).In the case of working Americans, they have been negatively affected by the colossal increase in foreign trade. There has been loss of well-paying manufacturing jobs, important downward pressure on wa ges as well as increased disparity. The doubling of trade as a share of the economy over the last 25 years was accompanied by a substantial trade deficit, directly displacing several million jobs (Benjamin Perry, 2003).Majority of the jobs were in the manufacturing region, which incorporated millions of union jobs that were well paying compared with average wages (Bardhan Kroll, 2003). Within a period of five years from 2000 to 2005, there was decline as well as disappearance of more than three million manufacturing jobs. It is estimate that at least 30 percent of the decline was due to the rise in the manufactured goods trade deficit (Bardhan Kroll, 2003).With U.S. multinational corporations being occupied on both sides of the international trade, almost 50% of all U.S.-owned manufacturing production is now situated in foreign countries, thus an imperative part of the manufacturing job loss has been due to most of U.S. firms exporting back to the U.S. or producing abroad what th ey once produced locally (Benjamin Perry, 2003).The loss of manufacturing jobs as result of globalization saw wage losses for displaced workers, majority of whom never regained their former wage levels even after acquiring new employment. Globalization had also the effect of increasing world production capacity, which had had the effect of lowering the prices of traded goods, the consequence of which saw workers pay being reduced to reflect the value of goods produced (Bardhan Kroll, 2003). Employers to oppose wage increments for the manufacturing employees used the direct foreign threat.Similarly, the flow of investment in plant and equipment and technology oversaw increase in foreign productivity in sectors that used to be U.S. export strongholds, resulting in declining terms of trade and hence declining real income growth.Last but not the least, as foreign trade drove workers out of manufacturing into poorly paid service jobs; the new supply of workers competing for the same jo bs orchestrated lowering of wages of similarly skilled service workers. What does it imply? It implies that throwing the American workers into competition with production derived from low-wage countries, both those workers engaged directly in import-competing sectors as well as all employees economy-wide who have similar expertise and qualifications will have their wages squeezed. In fact, whereas trade flows with low-wage nations have increased, the distribution of income and wealth in the U.S. has grown more and more unequal (Benjamin Perry, 2003).Impact on input versus outputInternational Trade is increasingly imperative in the global economy and to the United States in particular.   During the last 15 years, global sells abroad have more than tripled and have accounted for more than a third of global economic growth. In deviation from the previous decades, when industrialized economies dictated global trade flows, there has been an increase in developing economies’ sha re of global exports by just over a quarter in the late 1990s to 41 percent by 2004 (Bardhan Kroll, 2003).Increased participation in international trade by the developing world is a crucial force behind what many refer to as â€Å"globalization†. Actually more than 50 percent of US trade presently carried out with developing countries, up from just over a third in the late 1980s.In US economy, manufacturing is the most trade-engaged sector accounting for 60% of the country’s exports and 80% of imports. Globalization has had an important impact on U.S. manufactures, as manufactured products accounts for 75 percent of worldwide trade (Bhagwati Marvin, 1994).Following vigorous intensification of both U.S. manufactured exports and imports at some stage in the mid 1990s; a noteworthy departure has taken place.   Ever since 1998, U.S. sells abroad have grown by just 3 percent per-year (Bardhan Kroll, 2003).   The country’s share of world exports fell from 13 pe rcent in 1998 to just 9 percent in 2004 – the lowly allocation dating 17 years back.   Happening correspondingly, imports grew by 8% per-year and the manufactured trade shortfall increased from -240 billion to -603 billion by 2005 (Bhagwati Marvin, 1994).Whereas a variety of the latest import surge has been as a result of the strong U.S. economy (especially since mid-2003) the truth remains that today, trade ins account for over a 35 percent of manufactured products consumed in the United States – an increase from 25 percent in 1992 and just 15% a 10 years earlier (Bhagwati Marvin, 1994).   A 66 percent of the increase in manufactured imports since 1998 originated from the developing world, and half of that has came from China alone.This rise in import penetration and loss of export competitiveness has had a significant impact on the current state manufacturing (Bhagwati Marvin, 1994).   While in general, manufacturing production has improved from the 2001 dec line, currently positioning at 6 percent above its pre-recession high, in addition to manufacturing employment increasing moderately subsequent to bottoming out earlier in 2004, the present manufacturing resurgence has developed half as fast as the recoveries following the preceding four declines (Bhagwati Marvin, 1994).Of eminent concern is the loss of market share both at home and abroad in recent years by the Unite States manufacturing. While some articulate this market share loss to be because of the inevitable bad trade policy as well as globalization, to others this serves as a pointer to the fact that   in a time of severe global competition, changes in a country’s competitiveness have much larger effects at present than they had in previous decades.Consider dollar value for instance. After sustaining stability for the better part of a decade, its value increased by 28 percent through the period running from 1996 to 2002. Dollar value increase led to imports being c ompetitive in the US market, whereas concurrently it made U.S. exports more costly in markets overseas.   It was during this period that, the rise in import penetration as well as the loss of global export share abroad was most significant.In a period of elevated international competition, US manufacturers have crucially been burdened by high structural non-production costs. Over the last decade, U.S. manufacturers have increased their productivity by over half, more than 150 percent the pace of their major trading partners.   Conversely, much of these efficiency gains have been offset by rising non-production costs at home. As per a research carried out several years ago by the NAM’s Manufacturing Institute, which compared non-production costs on U.S. manufacturers to their nine major trading competitors:The findings indicated that Corporate Taxes on U.S. manufacturers were 16% high than those of their major trading partners. Benefit costs  Ã‚   36% higher, Regulatory burden 85% higher and Litigation  Ã‚  Ã‚   250% higher. Summed up, these excessive non-production costs add 22% to the cost of manufacturing in the U.S. and put U.S. manufacturers at the same level with Germany as most expensive place to produce in the world (Benjamin Perry, 2003).   Moreover, the recent rise in natural gas prices in US has only exaggerated the problem. If US could exclude those excessive costs, it would actually be a lower-cost place to manufacturer than most of their industrialized competitors (Broda David, 2006).Outsourcing has seen the elimination of hundreds of thousands of jobs in the United States within the manufacturing industry. Outsourcing not only benefited US corporations, but also minimized the benefit to society (Broda David, 2006).To offer an anecdote to this observation that outsourcing only benefits corporations while, only minimizing the benefit to society, Tyco Corporation, recently relocated to a location in Texas.   Two of the major gr ounds for their relocation were due to the fact of lower labor costs as well as cheaper manufacturing costs (Broda David, 2006).   This was due to the comparatively close proximity to Mexico.Tyco perhaps took advantage of the great number of immigrants that move to Texas, who can work for comparatively low pay, which would facilitate raise, their bottom line. In so doing the company laid-off more than two hundred employees, some of this had been with the company for almost thirty-five years who had been making close to $22 per hour. The net effect was that these employees had to look for fresh employments, in lower-paying positions that maybe paid half as much, as well as they lost all of their seniority (Broda David, 2006).ConclusionEven though there has been decline in jobs as well as universal interest within the manufacturing sector, outsourcing has had its benefits within the United States (Mandel, 2004).   Sadly, it has been a consequence of just corporate welfare.   O utsourcing has absolutely maintained costs low because of cheap input costs, which drips downward to the end user in low-priced products.   In addition, with productivity rising from annually, corporations have been capable to raise their bottom lines while avoiding price surges (Mandel, 2004).   Regrettably, corporate profits are escalating, save for there are no new jobs being created—jobs relocated to other countries are not being replaced.If blue collar, working-class citizens as well as the jobless workers who experience no job intensification are losing out, in that case who is winning the battle?   Fine, additional productivity as well as lesser-input expenses decode to higher wealth. Businesses with their continually increasing profit limits; consumers, who experience near to the ground cost of goods.   Furthermore, with no job growth in the current economy, there is really no new job industry to lead the way in creating new jobs. Too many U.S. jobs are being outsourced, and without the innovation of new industries, â€Å"job growth will stay sluggish, demand will eventually sag, and†¦incomes will be driven down under the continued pressure of competition from China, India, and other low-wage countries† (Mandel, 2004). However, with the innovation of new upcoming technologies there can be an explosive surge in employment and enormous potential for the economy.

America and Child Labor essays

America and Child Labor essays The industrial revolution was one of the hardest times in American history. With these hard times brought pollution, poverty, and prejudice. Along with these corruptions brought one of the darkest sides of the industrial revolution and Americas past, child labor. The industrial revolution brought many social evils. One of possibly the most worse of the social issues happens to be the unfair treatment of children in labor. Child Labor was a scandal of the nineteenth century. Child Labor is the employment of children working under the age of physical maturity (Hine, index). Children would start work in mills, coal mines, and factories as young as 5 years old, to 18 years of age. An average child would work 18 hour days. Work days typically ran from dawn to sunset, and winter usually brought longer hours, from 68 to 72 hours per week. The average pay for a child in labor was around $ 3.25 a week (Green, p 13). After the Civil War, the industrial revolution took off. Businesses soared. Along with new businesses, labor was needed. As the number of factories started to grow in the United States, so did the number of people required to tend them. Immigrants came to the U.S. to make a better living for themselves and their families. Immigrants came to America with little to no money to survive. In order to avoid starvation, the families children were often forced into child labor. Because of laissez faire, which means that government would not get involved with business and the economy, businesses were aloud to pay extremely low wages and to allow children to work in horrible, hazardous working conditions. This is why children were often forced into labor, to help their families bring in more money. Surprisingly, with the amount of immigrants coming to America, there were labor shortages. Children were often taken from workhouses by employers. These children were transported in crowds from hu ndreds of miles away, to work all ...

Applying Theory to Practice Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Applying Theory to Practice - Case Study Example The case explains that Bosket’s father was serving jail term and his mother was married to somebody else and did not have much to do with the young boy (Agnew, 2008). One of the factors that I believe are important in understanding Willie Bosket’s delinquent behavior is the motivation to commit crime. It seems like the fact that Bosket committed several crimes and got away with them without serious consequences reinforced his motivation to commit more crimes. The money he got from robbing people acted as motivation for Bosket to commit crimes. The perceived power he got from carrying a gun was another element that added onto Bosket’s motivation to commit crime. The gun made Bosket feel that he would subdue his victims easily and rob them or do whatever else he needed to do to them (Bohm, 2010). Another factor that is important in understanding Bosket’s delinquent behavior is his history of crime. Bosket committed many crimes and confronted law enforcement agencies severally. It is possible that the experience that Bosket got from his history of crimes made him feel that he was becoming a master at what he was doing thus enjoying committing more crimes. Something about Bosket’s history of crime that could explain his delinquency is a likelihood of weakness in the law enforcement system. Weak law enforcement allows juveniles like Bosket to advance their delinquency since they come to believe that nothing serious will happen to them (Agnew, 2008). Absence of parents to Bosket’s from his immediate environment is another important factor in understanding the juvenile’s delinquent behavior. When parents live with their children in their immediate environments they teach their children to conform to norms and values, which discourage crime and this, is one of the things that Bosket was missing. Absence of Bosket’s father must have had an influence in Bosket’s delinquency

As you suggest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

As you suggest - Essay Example tors are shifting their base of operation from US to Mexico where they incur less production costs and reap the maximum profits for the car once sold to dealers in the different nations of the world. With more motor companies among other companies shifting their base of operation from US to Mexico in order to take advantage of the numerous trade agreements, US started losing in the labor department. People lost their jobs as they no longer had cars for example to sell as well as to export. Alternative employments in this economy had to be sort for survival purposes. Individuals who had held their secure jobs for years were left on the street jobless. Majority of the employees had to move to Mexico in order to seek employment in their growing labor market hit high with demand. On the other hand, the labor market in Mexico started flooding. With different motor companies opening operations in Mexico, there was high demand for labor. This is continuing to date as more and more companies continue to build their plants in the different locations across Mexico in a bid to fully take advantage of the trade agreements. Mexicans are getting more offers for the different kinds of jobs available. There are other companies such as Audi which are taking it a notch higher to train their employees in Germany with the best (Althaus & Boston, 2015). What the increase in labor market in Mexico has done is encourage people to go back to school to become specialists in different parts of the motor cars in order to provide the best services to the dealership. Competition in the labor market for the specialists is very high in Mexico with the opening of the different factories and plants for the motor cars. Young people leaving school are guarantee of getting employment as soon as they are through with their education. This is the opposite case in the US where the previous specialists in the field have had to seek employments that are beneath their pay grade and education for

Paris In French New Wave Cinema Film Studies Essay

Paris In French New Wave Cinema Film Studies Essay This essay will analyse the importance of Paris in French New Wave cinema. In addition to that the history of the French New Wave would be looked at to have a better understanding of the importance of location of the film taken as well as the style. Additionally it would also consider the directors who started these films and their impact upon them. This would enable a better understanding of the filming technique and style of the film, the film I will analyze is HYPERLINK http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055852/fullcreditsClà ©o at the cafà © (1962), in English translation Cleo from 5 to 7. The French New Wave is more than a list of titles or a list of directors. The New Wave was at first a cultural phenomenon, coming from political, economic and social trends that were developed in the 1950s. Big changes in other arts including literature and theatre, made some of the shifts in cinema, and the role even domain of art criticism shifted during this time also. The New Wave cinema was shaped by forces as abstract, as the growth of these film criticism that stressed mise-en-scene over thematic and as concrete as technological innovations in motion picture camera and sound recorders. France was going through some extraordinary industrial growth and self-evaluation, both of which put new pressures on the cinema and its place in the larger national sphere. Also, the average of moviegoers of the 1960s was very different from the ones in the 1950s. Political conservatism, consumerism and television, cine-clubs, popular film journals and a new generation of movie producers all had an involvement in the stories and styles that would make this thriving movement. To understand the meant to be nouvelle vague, it is ideal to consider the social, critical, economic, and the technological backgrounds that helped determine the films and their significance. Rather than starting with the cinema, one must bring the social realm but getting a better understan ding of what French life and culture was like in the 1950s, one can understand much better why this even in the cinema world took place, when and where it did. Even though the rest of international cinema could only look in curious way at the revival of French cinema. France had changed largely in the late 1940s, and this large transformation carried on into the 1960s. Every nation involved in World War II was affected by it for a long time after, and France, particularly, was affected more deeply, with war damage and debt. The French faces a strange mixture of national shame for Frances military loss. Moreover the conflicting views of France held by the international community at the wars end, France as a helpless victim, a lazy and unsuccessful military force, a crippled industrial power, were also felt in its own borders. Every politicians and media newspaper seemed to want to speak to and for unified France, and the French people were often known as a single team that now had to get back to basics in order to simultaneously make up for the lost time and join the modernizing world. In Paris, during World War II was a very dark city. The Germans forces created a blackout which imposed Paris to have the lights turned off, there was a shortage of petrol that kept cars off the road, even a curfew kept people away from the street at night. During daylight, a number of regulations, propaganda made the occupation increasingly unpleasant. One of the few things that took away these times for the French citizens, was the cinema. However, these choices of what to watch, was very limited. American films was banned, and German films which was usually copies of Hollywood musicals and comedies, also melodramatic propaganda movies. French citizens only had the access to the 200 off French made films, that was produced during this four year period. These films that was approved by the German censor was few exceptions, pale imitations of the great French cinema of Marcel Carne, Rene Cliar, Marcel Pagnol and Jean Renoir that had came before the war. The generations of cinephiles for example Andre Bazin, Alain Resnais and Eric Rohmer who had all been raised in the rich cinematic culture of the 1920s and 1930s, this less choice added to the sense of loss they already felt as a result of the war. It was not only the French films that they missed out, but the fact they could no longer see the American films that they loves. This experience of the missing out, let them to bring freedom of expression and truth of representation above all else, and values which would later become centre of their work. After the World War II, France was seen desperately trying to assert, or reassert in the eyes of many French citizens, its cultural, political and even the economic clout in Europe and beyond. From the day the Germans was pushed out of Paris in August 19,1994, the French film industry rushed to reclaim its domain from the collaborators and to foster a new reborn cinema that the world regain from the glory of 1930s, which brought out the golden years of Jean Renoir, Rene Clair and Marcel Carne. As the titles states, Clà ©o de 5 à   7(1962) is set between 5pm and 7pm. At this time we follow a young singer, Florence, Clà ©o Victoire as she walks along the busy street of Paris; all the while she is awaiting a dreaded test result from her doctor. The director Agnes Varda, known as the Grandmother of the New Wave, uses fluid camera style with quick jump cuts to casually take us through the streets of Paris, allowing us the audience to feel the presences in the scenery. The camera brings a realistic, real-life documentary but still a strong experience. Florence starts her journey by using a clichà ©. She is taken by materialism and a mostly hypnotized by her own beauty. She is being selfish and ignorant to the people around her as she is walking around, while people are looking at her, as she is quite noticeable to the people around her. She does not smile, or respond, and she acts like people are not even there. In a way in this selected clip, if at first you watch it, you at first can assume that she was a prostitute. Jill Forbes calls this the inescapable mise-en-scene to which women are subjected, usually in Paris (Forbes 2002:89). Forbes concludes that though Cleo is Bauderliareon in some respects, it is an object not subject of the gaze (2002:86). The shots of her walking the street is done using a bird eye view, you see lots of birds flying off the street as she enters the scene. This could have hidden connotations of the fact that it could be sign of a bad omen, in an almost a mythological scale. As she is walking the camera does not zoom into her, but more the camera is showing the street surroundings, and to make her seem a part of the society around her, as one of the public. You can tell its a sunny day, as being a black and white film, and as she is walking underneath tree, wearing sunglasses also, she is unseen in some part from the shadow, this shows how French new wave films, tend to use natural light. Lots of French New Wave films were created on a tight budget. Directors would use their friends as the cast and crew. The Directors would often have to improvise with camera equipment, for example using shopping cart for tracking shots. Cost in making movies was a major thing to think about; even the efforts to save mo ney would make a film turned into stylists innovation. In Jean-Luc Godards film, Breathless (1960), in French known as (À bout de soufflà ©), was told the film was too long and that he was told to cut an hour and half. He then removed many scenes from the film using jump cuts, as they were filmed in one long take. Some parts did not work were just cut from the middle, a practical decision and also a stylistic one. As Florence is seen walking inside the cafà ©, there are many POV shots. It makes the audience feel that they are in the cafe. All the people that are seen, does not blend in the background, they are seen in your way of the camera, and not something you would be used to watching as you would usually not focus on these extras actors. They seem like real people minding their own business, busy working, reading papers and so on. But one to think if they were watching this clip for the first time, that anyone could possibly be a main character that is about to come into scene. Conversation of people in the background is visibly presence, two men who are on the bottom of the screen, is talking about politics. Bloody Algerian Politics says the man, Where does it leave painting, Florence is seen putting on her own song on the jukebox, and the camera pans away from the conversation, and tracks Florence as she walks away from the Juke box. Through this clip only diegetic sound is being played, from people in the background, objects moving around, there is no mood music, just the diegetic sound that is played from the jukebox. The comments from the two male has some issues due to the time of filming. During the making of this film, the Algerian war was still going on. It had started on 1st November 1954 and would end with the Evian agreement of 18th March 1962, which led Algeria to become independent on 3rd July 1962. The French cinema could not talk explicitly to the conflict, until 1963. From 1954 to 1962, many French intellectuals including the New Wave filmmakers were strongly opposed to the war. In 1961 many of them signed the Manifesto of the 121 Even though it started with 121 signees it soon continued to 400. This made French soldiers to desert rather than fight. This was intended to damage some filmmakers careers because the government forbade anyone to publicise the names who had signed the manifesto, but the state owned media also stopped any radio or television appearance by those who signed the manifesto. This therefore stopped them attempting promotion of newly released films. Some films were banned, like Godards Le Petit Soldat (1963) The Little Soldier. This was completed in the 1960 but was released after the end of the conflict in 1963. The mise-en-scene in this clip shows the location that is set, which is France. Originally the director Anges Varda wanted to shoot this film in colour. But her producer, Georges De Beauregard who has produced other New Wave films like Jean-Luc Godards, A Bout De Soufflà © (1959) as well as others such Jacques Demys Lola (1961). He wanted her to think of the financial way, Make a little black and white film that wont cost more than 32 million F, he advised her. This is why Varda decided to shoot in Paris for being more practical and financially suited. Paris being a city of fear also being a personal resonance for Varda, as a provincial girl arriving in the French metropolis, Varda has been afraid of the city and its dangers of getting lost, feeling lonely and also alienated. Other film makers points of referencing when filming in Paris, were usually other films shot in Paris, but Vardas point was more to do with literacy and being artistic. The styling of French New Wave has bought a new look to cinema with improvised dialogue, rapid changed of scenes and shots that go past the common 180 degree axis. The cameras were used not to mesmerize the audience with narrative and illusory images, but to play with the expectations of cinema. The style that was used to shock the audience out of submission and awe was bold and more direct that director Jean-Luc Godard has been of doing this by having contempt for his audience. His approaches can be seen as stylistic approach and can be seen as a desperate struggle, against the mainstream films at the time. Either way the challenging awareness represented by this movement remains in the cinema today. Effects that are now seem to either commonplace or trite, such a character stepping out of their role in order to address the audience directly, were increasingly innovative at the time. New Wave filmmakers makes no attempts to suspend the viewers disbelief, in the fact, they took steps to constantly remind the viewers that a film is just a sequence of a moving image. No matter how stylized use of shadow and light, the result is set of odd mixed up scenes without the attempt to unity it together, or an actors character changes from one scene to the next or even sets in which accidently come into the camera with the extras, who are hired to do the same. Just like the scene where Florence is leaving the Cafà ©, walking down the street. You cannot decide by some looks on people, if they are even paid extras or onlookers looking at her. A little bit of unique style is used here. One thing that makes Florence different from the other people in the scene is her appearance. She is obviously wearing a wig, which you do understand later in the clip, where the wig is hanging from a dressing table mirror. But her black dress, her blonde hair and sunglasses, not to forget the dress itself reveals her shoulders; this gives her a glamorous Hollywood film actress look. As the camera follows Florence in the scene behind her, the camera turns softly to the left and captures the art work of painting on the wall. Many paintings are on the wall, side by side, like an art gallery. Then you hear a discussion from the public people in the background talking about Art. This helps the audience distinguish the presence of Paris. Paris being of the capital that is famous for artists such as Van Gough, paintings that French owns like The Mona Lisa. Paris is known capital of the artistic pictures and painting. There is a humour when the lady compares with a painting done by Picasso, Picasso owls looks like a woman another artist who made his fame in France. Also I have noticed a lot of people are wearing sunglasses inside the cafà ©. Its amusing to wear this, inside where the sun in not in the way, but this I believe is worn as more of a fashion statement. Paris is also known to be one the capital of the world of the fashion industry. Paris is known to have the fashion labels and fashion designers like Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton. Towards the end of the clip, as mentioned earlier of stylised French New Wave films, there is a set of jump cuts of random people. With cuts to Florence walking away from the Cafà © and people looking at her through POV shots. This clearly shows the style of French New Waves films, especially the editing of these jump cuts. These shots are very unsystematic, and almost seem like the director tried to group in scenes that was too long. Or maybe these jump cuts was used to cover some mistakes that might of happened during the filming, as the shoot location was done in an open public space. To conclude this essay it has come to my attention that Paris as a city plays a crucial role in the production of French New Wave. This is mainly due to Paris been seen a central hub for fashion, literature, arts and food as well as not to mention films. This shows that they have come a long way since the French Algerian war as the films were censored from any mention of the war. Additionally the films been produced then did have a low budget, but somehow in Paris, quality and stylistic films was being produced. (2745)

Biofoam: Not Just Peanuts Essay

Summer Internship Program State bank of India 7/27/2013 [Type the author name] A SUMMER INTERNSHIP REPORT ON Merchant Acquiring Business Point of Sale (P.o.s.) Submitted to L.J. Institute of Management studies In requirement of partial fulfillment of Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) 2 year full time Program of Gujarat Technological University Submitted on: 27th July 2013 Submitted by: Batch No: 2012-14 DECLARATION 1. Objective of the Study 2. Company Profile History OVERVIEW OF SBI PROFILE MISSION VISION ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HISTORY ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES OF SBI Owners Products Current Scenario 3. Organization Overview a. Organisation Structure b. Employee Profile c. Departmentation Information i. Finance ii. System iii. Marketing iv. HR 4. Strategies Adopted a. Finance b. Operations/ Production c. Marketing d. HR 5. Research a. Problems Identified b. Hypothesis c. Research Methodology d. Data Analysis e. Conclusions / Observations / Findings f. Suggestions / Comments OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY The objective of the study is TOWARDS THE PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE IN MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (2ND YEAR, SEM-3) The major objective of the study is : COMPANY OVERVIEW ( study of the various departments of the organization ) & MARKET RESEARCH ON ARE THE CUSTOMERS OF HOME LOAN DEPARTMENT SATISFIED WITH THE PROCESSES INVOLVED IN GETTING LOAN FROM SBI ? HISTORY OF SBI EVOLUTION OF SBI The origin of the State Bank of India goes back to the first decade of the nineteenth century with the establishment of the Bank of Calcutta in Calcutta on 2 June 1806. Three years later the bank received its charter and was re-designed as the Bank of Bengal (2 January 1809), the first joint-stock bank of British India sponsored by the Government of Bengal. The Bank of Bombay (15 April 1840) and the Bank of Madras (1 July 1843) followed the Bank of Bengal. These three banks remained at the apex of modern banking in India. On 27 January 1921,they were amalgamated as the Imperial Bank of India. The three presidency banks came into existence either as a result of the compulsions of imperial finance or by the felt needs of local European commerce and were not imposed from outside in an arbitrary manner to modernise India’s economy. Their evolution was, however, shaped by ideas culled from similar developments in Europe and England, and was influenced by changes occurring in the st ructure of both the local trading environment and those in the relations of the Indian economy to the economy of Europe and the global economic framework. Establishment The establishment of the Bank of Bengal marked the advent of limited liability, joint-stock banking in India. It was the associated innovation in banking, viz. the decision to allow the Bank of Bengal to issue notes, which would be accepted for payment of public revenues within a restricted geographical area. This right of note issue was very valuable not only for the Bank of Bengal but also for the Banks of Bombay and Madras. The concept of deposit banking was also an innovation because the practice of accepting money for safekeeping (and in some cases, even investment on behalf of the clients) by the indigenous bankers had not spread as a general habit in most parts of India. But, for a long time, and especially upto the time that the three presidency banks had a right of note issue, bank notes and government balances made up the bulk of the investible resources of the banks. The three banks were governed by royal charters, which were revised from time to time. Each charter provided for a share capital, four-fifth of which were privately subscribed and the rest owned by the provincial government. Presidency Banks Act The presidency Banks Act came into operation on 1 May 1876. This brought the three presidency banks under a common statute with similar restrictions on business. The proprietary connection of the Government was, however, terminated, though the banks continued to hold charge of the public debt offices in the three presidency towns, and the custody of a part of the government balances. Bank of Madras The decision of the Government to keep the surplus balances in Reserve Treasuries outside the normal control of the presidency banks and the connected decision not to guarantee minimum government balances at new places where branches were to be opened effectively checked the growth of new branches after 1876. The pace of expansion witnessed in the previous decade fell sharply although, in the case of the Bank of Madras, it continued on a modest scale as the profits of that bank were mainly derived from trade dispersed among a number of port towns and inland Centers of the presidency. Bank of Bombay Presidency Banks of Bengal The presidency Banks of Bengal, Bombay and Madras with their 70 branches were merged in 1921 to form the Imperial Bank of India. The triad had been transformed into a monolith and a giant among Indian commercial banks had emerged. The new bank took on the triple role of a commercial bank, a banker’s bank and a banker to the government. But this creation was preceded by years of deliberations on the need for a ‘State Bank of India’. What eventually emerged was a ‘half-way house’ combining the functions of a commercial bank and a quasi-central bank. The establishment of the Reserve Bank of India as the central bank of the country in 1935 ended the quasi-central banking role of the Imperial Bank. The latter ceased to be bankers to the Government of India and instead became agent of the Reserve Bank for the transaction of government business at centres at which the central bank was not established. But it continued to maintain currency chests and small coin depots and operate the remittance facilities scheme for other banks and the public on terms stipulated by the Reserve Bank. It also acted as a bankers’ bank by holding their surplus cash and granting them advances against authorised securities. The management of the bank clearing houses also continued with it at many places where the Reserve Bank did not have offices. The bank was also the biggest tenderer at the Treasury bill auctions conducted by the Reserve Bank on behalf of the Government. The establishment of the Reserve Bank simultaneously saw important amendments being made to the constitution of the Imperial Bank converting it into a  purely commercial bank. The earlier restrictions on its business were removed and the bank was permitted to undertake foreign exchange business and executor and trustee business for the first time. Imperial Bank The Imperial Bank during the three and a half decades of its existence recorded an impressive growth in terms of offices, reserves, deposits, investments and advances, the increases in some cases amounting to more than six-fold. The financial status and security inherited from its forerunners no doubt provided a firm and durable platform. The lofty traditions of banking which the Imperial Bank consistently maintained and the high standard of integrity it observed in its operations inspired confidence in its depositors that no other bank in India could perhaps then equal. All these enabled the Imperial Bank to acquire a pre-eminent position in the Indian banking industry and also secure a vital place in the country’s economic life. Stamp of Imperial Bank of India When India attained freedom, the Imperial Bank had a capital base (including reserves) of Rs.11.85 crores, deposits and advances of Rs.275.14 crores and Rs.72.94 crores respectively and a network of 172 branches and more than 200 sub offices extending all over the country. S B I – THE PROFILE REGISTERED NAME: STATE BANK OF INDIA CHAIRMAN: SHRI ARUN KUMAR PURWAR DATE OF ESTBLISHMENT: 1ST JULY 1955 FORM OF ORGANISATION: NATIONALISED BANK CENTRAL OFFICE: CORPORATE CENTRE APEX ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE, MUMBAI. REGISTERD OFFICE: CENTRAL ACCOUNTS OFFICE Number of domestic branches: 9,177 Number of foreign brances: 70 SYMBOL OF SBI The new symbol of the State Bank of India is circular representing the simplest and the most symmetrical of gometrical shapes. The circular shape of the symbol suggests the continual expansion like the ring in the water, to cover the entire country. From the ancient times, the roundness was considered as the fullness of the man’s being and his growing consciousness. The small circle in the center connotes that despite the SBI’s size it is small man who hold the center of State Bank stage. OVERVIEW OF THE BANK * State Bank of India is the nation’s largest bank, accounting for about 20% of India’s deposit and loan activities. * The bank operates more than 13,500 branches and over 5,000 ATMs within India and more than 50 offices in some 30 other countries. * The bank owns an asset base of $126 billion. * While its size has slowed modernization of both its services and its products, the bank has become more computerized. * Its international banking services include shipping and export financing and merchant banking. * The Reserve Bank of India owns about 60% of State Bank of India. MISSION OF SBI * To retain the bank’s position as the premier Indian financial service group, with the world class standards and significant global business, committed. * To excellence in customer, shareholder and employee satisfaction, and to play a leading role in the expanding and diversifying financial services sector, while continuing emphasis on its development banking role. VISION OF SBI * Premier Indian financial services group with global perspective, world- class standards of efficiency and professionalism and core institutional values. * Retain its position in the country as a pioneer in development banking. * Maximize shareholder value through high sustained earning per share. * An institution with a culture of mutual care and commitment, a satisfying and exciting work environment and continuous learning opportunities. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Directors on the Bank’s Central Board as on 1st July 2006 DIRECTORS Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Shri. Ajay G. Piramal Shri. Suman Kumar Bery Dr. Ashok Junjhunwala Shri. A. C. Kalita Shri. Amar Pal Shri. Arun Singh Shri. Rajiv Pandey Shri. Piyush Goyal Shri. Ashok K Jha Smt. Shyamala Gopinath Shri. O. P. Bhatt Chairman MANAGING DIRECTOR Shri T. S. Bhattacharya PRODUCTS AND SERVICIES OF SBI 1. SERVICES 1. SBI VISHWA YATRA FOREIGN TRAVEL CARD 2. FOREIGN INWARD REMITTANCE 3. ATM SERVICES 4. INTERNET BANKING 5. LOCKER 6. GIFT CHEQUES 7. PUBLIC PROVIDENT FUND (PPF) 2. DEPOSIT SCHEMES 1. CURRENT ACCOUNT 2. BASIC BANKING 3. SAVINGS BANK ACCOUNT 4. TERM DEPOSITS 3. PERSONAL FINANCE 1. SBI SARAL PERSONAL LOAN 2. HOUSING LOAN 3. SHORT TERM HOUSING LOAN 4. EASY TRAVEL LOAN 5. GRAM NIVAS SCHEME 6. CAR LOAN 7. EDUCATION LOAN 8. SCHOLAR LOANS 9. PROPERTY LOAN 10. LOAN TO PENSIONERS 11. LOAN AGAINST SHARES DEBENTURES 12. LOAN FOR EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT 13. FESTIVAL LOANS 14. MEDI-PLUS SCHEME 15. TEACHERS-PLUS SCHEME 16. SAINIK-PLUS SCHEME 17. TRIBAL-PLUS SCHEME 18. CREDIT KHAZANA 19. RENT PLUS CURRENT SCENARIO * State Bank of India is focusing on internal accruals through competitive and efficient operations to increase profitability in the coming years. * SBI has moved up in terms of processes and technology in working systems. There has been concerted efforts to push up commercial lending, especially credit to SMEs (small and medium enterprises), besides cashing in on real estate boom with focus on improving housing loans. * SBI was focused on deploying capital to improve agriculture sector ‘in a viable way and not as a one-time basis’. * Retail credit alone stood at Rs 50,000 crore for the year ended 31 March 2006. * SBI has teamed up with GE Capital Services to market its credit cards, being showcased as an important product in personal banking. * At present, the bank has over 2.5 million credit cards in circulation * At present, the bank has around 6,000 ATMs across the country with an average disbursement of Rs 10 crore per day. * SBI Life, a joint venture with French company, Cardiff, adopts banc assurance model to expand its business in life insurance. * Through bundling SBI Life with other products, the bank offered protection to customers. Similarly, SBI Mutual Fund through multiple schemes had received overwhelming response from investors. * To facilitate transactions of  salary in labour intensive companies and factories, the bank has introduced Payroll cards, an ATM card for employees to draw salary from banks after the same has been remitted by the employers. They don’t need to have SB accounts for availing Payroll cards. * The bank has targeted 16 per cent growth in deposits and 20 per cent growth in lending for the region in the current fiscal. * Recently, the newly opened branches have received good response from customers as efforts were taken to improve the ambience of banking experience. ORGANISATION OVERVIEW ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE CHAIRMAN (ARUN KUMAR PURVAR) ↓ MANAGING DIRACTOR (SHRI C. BHATTACHARYA) (SHRI K. ASHOK KINI) ↓ DIRACTORS (ED-3, NED-13) ↓ CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER ↓ GENERAL MANAGER ↓ DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER ↓ ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER (MR S. MANKODI, REGIONAL BUSINESS OFFICE, SAURASTRA)↓ (MR. V. SUBRAMAIAN, MAIN BRANCH, RAJKOT) (MR. JAGDISH JOSHI, PFC, RAJKOT) ↓ CHIEF MANAGER ↓ DEPUTY MANAGER ↓ ASSISTANT MANAGER ↓ EMPLOYEES ↓ CLERKS ↓ MASSENGERS DEPARTMENTATION INFORMATION 1. MARKETING DEPARTMENT 2. FINANCE DEPARTMENT 3. SYSTEM DEPARTMENT 4. HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT MARKETING MDEPARTMENT MARKETING DEPARTMENT 1. MARKETING – AN INTRODUCTION 2. BANKING SECTOR AND THE ROLE OF MARKETING 3. MARKETING IN SBI 4. 7 PILLARS OF MARKETING 5. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT SBI MARKETING – AN INRTODUCTION Marketing is a multi-faceted subject covering the areas of production, consumption and distribution which can be viewed narrowly as activities that occur in the transfer of services to customers or broadly as all processes  by which the society meets its requirements. Marketing seeks to convert customer deeds into products and offers it to the market so as to fulfill the needs of the customers. Marketing communication is considered as a tool to communicate the benefits of the product to the customer. Marketing management is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational goals. Marketing department is one of the most important departments of any business organization. Whether its business unit, service unit, manufacturing unit, non government unit, tourism, country etc., competition has left no sector but to push itself to survive. The world has become global village and constant research and development, technology up gradation has made the market full of services and products and new ideas for customers. Scope of marketing is ever changing and everlasting. Brand management, event marketing, e-marketing, relationship marketing etc. are the new jargons in this area. MARKETING IN BANKING SECTOR â€Å"THE ROLE OF MARKETING IS TO DELIVER A HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING† Marketing in banking sector is expressed as, â€Å"Putting People First† Banking – a word that brings the picture of money, economy cheques, drafts, savings, deposits, investments, and today.. it may bring more pictures of debit card, credit card, ATMs., Mutual funds, loans for 2 wheelers, 4 wheelers, homes, education, traveling, etc. The scope of banking activities has increased and therefore the role of Marketing in banking sector also has undergone rapid changes. Core banking, Net banking, e-banking, mobile banking, phone banking, are the new awtaars of banking today. BANKING ENVIRONMENT IN INDIA The mantra of today’s marketers is â€Å"Catch the customer and cash the customer† â€Å"Love the customer and not the product† The growth in aggregate deposits of scheduled commercial banks at 17.3% in 2003-2004 was higher than 13.4% in 2002-2003, adjusted for mergers. However, scheduled commercial banks’ credit recorded a lower rise of 14.6% during 2003- in food credit following higher off take of food grains. MARKETING IN SBI Marketing activities in SBI are centralized. Basically there are 14 circles all over the country zone wise. Namely, 1. Ahmedabad Circle 8. Hyderabad Circle 2. Banglore Circle 9. Kolkata Circle 3. Bhopal Circle10. Lucknow Circle 4. Bhubaneshwar Circle11. Mumbai Circle 5. Chandigarh Circle12. Delhi Circle 6. Chennai Circle13. Patna Circle 7. Guvahati Circle14. Kerala Circle Under each circle there is one local head office and few Zonal offices which take care of marketing activities of respective local branches of SBI. At L.H.O., there is one marketing head and good staff who plans & executes all the activities of marketing of SBI & its products for that particular region. The Central office at Mumbai decides the budget of marketing for all different circles and according to the allotted budget and requirements, heads at circle designs and develops the needed marketing strategies. So here, at SBI main branch, Rajkot, AGM of Main Branch, PFC & Regional head, carry out marketing functions under the supervision of L.H.O. Ahmedabad. THE CONSTANT MARKETING ACTIVITIES AT SBI MARKET RESEARCH DESIGNING AND REDESIGNING PRODUCTS & SERVICIES PRICING (setting interest rates) PROMOTION DISTRIBUTION AFTER SALES SERVICES etc. MARKETING MIX OF SBI PRICE The second important pillar of marketing or marketing mix of SBI is â€Å"PRICE†. It is important because other P’s are expense making whereas only this P fetches money. Banking sector is a service sector therefore in this sector there is no physical existence of product but here services are delivered and priced. It can be the interest on loan or charges collected for providing different facilities to its customers. Interest rate is the word used instead of price in banking sector. As far as deposits are concerned the public funds are used by bank and interest is paid to the account holders. As far as loans are concerned the interest is paid by the customer to the bank for using the funds of the bank. Interest rates are decided by the corporate office, MUMBAI under the supervision of RBI. In fact, decision regarding interest rates is all affected by monetary policies, capital market, availability of funds to commercial banks and economic conditions of country. PLACE Distribution or execution of products and services at any bank is mostly through its outlets or branches themselves. Yes today, ATMs are the most dynamic retail channel in terms of transformation they are bringing about in banking habits and about popularity with customers and branch staff alike. Depending on the size o market, city, town, state, country and need, the number and place of Zonal offices and branches are determined. As far as SBI is concerned, most of the branches and offices are located at the heart of the city. SBI has huge network of outlets and ATMs through out the world form where it serves its customers. STRUCTURE OF PLANING & EXECUTION PREMISES CORPORATE CENTER (MUMBAI) LHOs ZONAL OFFICE REGIONAL BUSINESS OFFICE BRANCHES Depending on the size of market, city, town, state and country need, the number and place of Zonal offices and branches are determined. As far as SBI is concerned most of the branches and offices are located at the heart of the city. IN RAJKOT THERE ARE 5 BRANCHES OF SBI: 1. RAJKOT MAIN BRANCH 2. BHAKTINAGAR BRANCH 3. JAGNATH BRANCH 4. LAKHAJIRAJ ROAD BRANCH 5. MARKETING YARD BRANCH PROMOTION GENERAL PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES AT SBI: At every branch of SBI they put hoardings of their different products, not only in branches but also on crowded roads of the city. They give advertisement in TELEVISION and NEWSPAPERS for their different products and special schemes if any.  SBI organized WORKSHOPS on securities market awareness campaign (SMAC) at eight centers and educated about 1675 investors in these workshops. They even give advertisement in national level MAGAZINES. PRODUCTWISE PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES 1. EDUCATION LOAN : For advertising at national level SBI put HOARDING and took help of TELEVISION. At local level they give LEAFLET to all the customers that visit the personal finance cell. Recently they have also started giving SEMINARS and PRESENTATIONS in colleges and coaching classes, where potential customers are found. 2. HOUSING LOAN : To increase the sales and for creating awareness about housing loan, SBI conducted a property fair. For that they took help of print media by giving advertisement in local newspapers and by distributing leaflets. 3. AUTO LOAN : As far as marketing of Auto Loan is concerned bank was in general impression that there was no need of doing. But as the time passed SBI started realizing that there rate are little bit higher in market. They decreased their rate & started doing marketing by giving advertising in the in local newspaper. They are doing promotion jointly with the dealers and also keeping stall at fair or other places. FINANCE DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE YEAR| 2005- 06| 2004-05| % change| Total Income (Rs. Crore)| 43,184| 39,548| 9.19| Total Expenditure (Rs. Crore)| 38,777| 35,243| 10.03| Net Profit (Rs. Crore)| 4,407| 4,305| 2.37| Earning Per Share (Rs.)| 83.73| 81.79| 2.37| Return on Average Assets (%)| 0.89| 0.99| (-) 10.10| Return on Equity (%)| 15.47| 18.10| (-) 14.53| Profit Per Employee (Rs. Thousands)| 216.76| 207.50| 4.46| AT THE END OF| March 2006| March 2005| (%) change| Paid up Capital andReserves & Surplus| 27,644| 24,072| 14.84| Deposites (Rs. Crore)| 3,80,046| 3,67,048| 3.54| Advances (Rs. Crore)| 2,61,642| 2,02,374| 29.29| BALANCE SHEET OF THE STATE BANK OF INDIA AS ON 31ST MARCH 2006 (Rs. in billion)| MARCH 2005| MARCH 2006| CAPITAL & LIABILITIES| | | Capital| 5.26| 5.26| Reserves & Surplus| 320.26| 366.80| Minority Interest| 13.04| 14.30| Deposits| 5061.05| 5440.24| Borrowings| 229.30| 369.75| Other Liabilities & Provisions| 656.87| 771.96| Total| 6285.78| 6968.32| ASSETS| | | Cash & balances with Reserve Bank of India | 256.16| 311.29| Balances with banks and money at call & short notice | 253.41| 262.08| Investments| 2619.62| 2279.31| Advances| 2869.87| 3743.17| Fixed Assets| 35.74| 39.58| Other Assets| 250.98| 332.92| Total| 6285.78| 6968.32| Contingent Liabilities| 2017.46| 2930.77| Bills for Collection | 316.90| 247.81| STATE BANK OF INDIA MARKET RELATED RATIOS MARKET RELATED RATIOS| MAR 03| MAR 04| MAR 05| MAR 06| Market Price (Rs) (as on last day of the year/quarter)| 270 | 606| 657 | 968 | Price to Book Ratio (%)| 0.83| 1.58| 1.44| 1.79| Market Capitalization (Rs in Billion)| 142.05| 318.78| 345.75| 509.48| Earning Per Share ( Rs)| 59.00| 69.94| 81.79| 83.73| P/E Ratio (%) | 4.58| 8.66| 8.03| 10.40| Analysis of Performance financial * Level of domestic investments remained stable during the half-year of FY 2005-2006. * Investment Fluctuation Reserve amounted to 5.30% of eligible Investments. * During the half-year the Bank divested its stake in (Credit Information Bureau of India Ltd. (CIBIL) from 40% to 10% and booked a profit of Rs.7.50 crores as a result of this disinvestment. * During the period, forex business on account of customers registered a growth of 28.80% on Year-on-Year basis. * NII of the Bank went up by 24.11% from Rs.6,333.89 crore in H1 of 2004-05 to Rs.7,861.19 crore in H1 of 2005-06. * Staff costs registered a growth of 9.11% due to wage revision. Other Operating Expenses of the Bank showed a growth of 10.41% in in H1 of 2005-06 as compared to H1 of 2004-05 * Total provisions made for this half year were higher at Rs.2,984.21 crore as compared to Rs.2,536.02 crore made in H1 of 2004-05. Major provisions are as under: * Provision for NPAs at Rs.246.74 crore for the current half year (as agains t Rs.508.45 crore during H1 of 2004-05). * Higher Provision for depreciation on investment Rs.2,397.07 crore (as against Rs.344.03 crore in H1 of 2004-05). * Provision for tax at Rs.400.09 crore (including deferred tax debit) as compared to Rs.1,449.97 crore in H1 of 2004-05. Provision for tax is lower mainly due to higher provision for depreciation on Investment. * The provision & contingencies for the Current Quarter (Q2 only) stood at Rs.767.56 crores, as against Rs.1,523.04 crores in the corresponding period of the previous year. SYSTEM DEPARTMENT Information Technology ATM Project * The Bank’s ATM network includes 5479 ATMs in India, which is the largest ATM network in the country. The Bank continues to expand this network rapidly. Customers can transact free of cost at the ATMs of the State Bank Group. * The agreement with VISA and Master Card International for acquiring ATM transactions has resulted in another revenue generation stream. Core Banking Solution (CBS) * The Bank is moving towards a centralized database and a Core Banking Solution, with capability for on-line, real-time transaction processing. The Bank has brought 2165 branches at 437 centers under Core Banking Solution in all Circles, covering 38% business. * Implementation of CBS would substantially enhance the Bank’s capability in introduction of new and innovative products at very short intervals across branches and other value-added services to customers on a 24X7 basis, tone up internal efficiency through straight-through transaction processing capabilities on a centralized database and improve operational effectiveness in the areas, such as, integration of multiple delivery channels, single window for meeting all needs of a customer, better MIS and improved security.This will take the Bank to a superior technology platform leading to near-zero branch level system administration, centralized generation of reports and zero-effort reconciliation of inter-branch entries a s more and more branches shift to core banking platform. * Core banking would integrate the trade finance, Treasury and ALM applications enabling efficient funds management and risk management capabilities. Value Added Services * College/Hostel Fee Payment† through ATMs – Covered more than 67 Institutions sunder this scheme. * Topping up of Mobile phones of Idea, Orange and Airtel transactions. * Opening of Internet Banking accounts through ATMs for cardholders. * ATM is increasingly used as cash point for SBI cards. * Issue of monthly/quarterly season tickets for suburban trains of Central Railway at CST Mumbai. * Cash as well as Cheque Deposit on ATM – Facility has been made Operational on a pilot basis. * Temple trust Donation facility now available for Vaishnodevi, Shri Sai Sansthan, Shirdi and Gurudwara Sahib, Nanded.Devotees can now offer their donations to these Temples through ATM. * Online collection of Application fees for GATE & JMET 2006. * MTNL, Mumbai Bill payment through ATM. PERSONAL BANKING FINANCE CELL : To give focused attention to retail loans at branches, cells have been set up at 182 branches with many more to come. BUSINESS PROCESS RE-ENGINEERING (BPR) : The bank has undertaken BPR exercise and has engaged an international consultant as Advisor for the project. The objective of BPR initiative is to strengthen the bank’s ability to acquire new customers, build lasting relationship with existing customers and increase customer satisfaction through world-class service quality. The BPR team is simplifying and redesigning processes to leverage the core banking solution platform. Strategies are being evolved for migrating transactions to full set of alternate channels namely, ATMs, Internet and Call Centers. The objective is to transform branches into sales and service focused outfits with all back-offices, non-customer facing transactions being moved out of branches to central processing cells. SINGLE WINDOW SYSTEM : To improve customer service and to free the staff for marketing, single window delivery system has been introduced at 7446 branches. HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT 1. Introduction 2. Human Resource Management at SBI 3. Recruitment 4. selection 5. Promotion 6. Training 7. IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT It has become the necessity for the organizations to keep HR Department because EMPLOYEES are the valuable asset of any organization. Each and every organization is concerned with personnel functions and that is the reason for keeping a separate Human Resource Department. The personnel manager has the ultimate responsibility for all personnel and labor polices. This department helps the management in securing, utilizing and developing appropriate manpower to achieve the organizational objectives. For this purpose, it performs several functions like recruitment, selection, compensation, promotion, transfer, training etc. It also relates to the maintenance of industrial peace and harmony, Industrial Relations, labor welfare activities, etc. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AT SBI The bank proposes to automate its HR processes with business objectives. Thus the bank has decided to implement an HRM solution which would handle all aspects of HRM, including payment of wages and salaries, CTC, performance management, training management, fixed assets etc. STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMES Such programmes for officers in Senior Management grade, and Strategic HR initiatives were launched, and in addition, Revamping of the Training System It was undertaken to meet future needs of the Bank which is under implementation. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: Industrial Relations includes maintaining the relations with the employees and colleague to maintain the industrial harmony and peace. In order to increase the responsibilities of Senior or Special Assistants, their passing powers have been enhanced and duties enlarged. RECRUITMENT AT SBI As SBI is the government oranisation here for higher level of designation or post SBI prefers to follow the internal source of recruitment that is Promotion, Transfers, and demotion within the organization. As far as other clerical job is concerned there is no recruitment going on for the post of officers and middle level jobs. The External source of recruitment is used that is Advertisement in newspapers, magazines and web sites. Here, major decisions regarding recruitment are taken by SBI Central Recruitment Board, Bombay. SELECTION AT SBI RECEIPT OF APPLICATION SCRUTINISING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED INVITING RIGHT CANDIDATES FOR INTERVIEW DIFFERENT TESTS FOR SELECTION SELECTION OF THE RIGHT CANDIDATE PROMOTIONS The usual policy for promotion is to promote the person on the basis of seniority or merit. Length of service, education, training course completed, previous work history etc. are factors, which are given weitht while deciding on a operativeness, merit, honesty, many informal influences are powerful determinants of a promotional policy. PROMOTIONS AT SBI There are three types of promotions at SBI : * Fast Track Promotion * Normal Channel Promotion * Seniority Channel Promotion FAST TRACK PROMOTION It is applicable to the employees who have completed 2 years of job. Such employees have to undergo * A written test and * Then group discussion and * Personal interviews respectively. More over, every employee should have secured 90 % and more marks and grade A in confidential performance appraisal report. NORMAL CHANNEL PROMOTION In this channel of promotion employees who have completed four or five years of their job are eligible and they have to udergo written test and group discussion and personal interview. Depending on personal records, performance appraisal, requirement of staff, grades and percentage in test, employees and promoted. SENIORITY CHANNEL PROMOTION It is basedon as the name suggests seniority level of an employee The promotion is given to them. As this type of promotion is only given to senior employees for the higher level of posts and designations, at times they have to also go for written test and at times they have to directly go for oral exams and interviews. Four scale of promotion are there. In this type of promotion, employees who have done 12 years of job are eligible for scale 1 and scale 2 promotion while employees who have completed 14 year of job and carries minimum 50% marks are eligible for scale 3 and scale 4 promotion, Training Bank’s Training Philosophy â€Å"Training in State Bank is a proactive, planned and continuous process as an integral part of organisational development. It seeks to impart knowledge, improve skills and reorient attitudes for individual growth and organisational effectiveness†. State Bank of India†s experience in training spans more than four decades and is based on an in-depth understanding of the business and banking environment, domestic as well as international. TRAINING SYSTEM GOALS * Training * Feedback to corporate office to assist in policy formulation, product development * To act as a think-tank * An internal consultant * Organisational development interventions * To conduct customised on-site programmes at our branches * Interventions at branch level for organisational development * Research & Development TRAINING METHODOLOGY * Knowledge * Lectures * Exercises * Questionnaires * Quiz * Group work * Interface/panel discussions * Skills * Case studies * Exercises * Group work * Attitudes * Small group Work * Role play * Exercises * Interface/panel discussions * Customer interaction * Training media: Audio-visual teaching aids and computer aided learning MARKET RESEARCH -IN HOME LOAN DEPARTMENT VARIOUS STAGES IN RESEARCH Stage-1: PROBLEM IDENTIFIED At the very first stage in research the researcher has to clearly identify and define the problem. A well defined problem helps the researcher in the research. As it said that â€Å"A PROBLEM WELL DEFINED IS HALF SOLVED.† My research problem is â€Å"What are the experiences & difficulties faced by customers in getting Housing loan from SBI?† Stage-2: IDENTIFICATION OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVE Identification of Research objective is very essential in any research because if the researcher fails to identify the research objective he may fail in his research and the researcher can not achieve ultimate results. Research objectives are the end results.It directs and provides the base for the research plan. The objectives of this research are: 1. Primary Objective : To identify the difficulties faced by the customers in getting Housing loan from SBI and to find the gape. 2. Secondary Objective : * To identify the expectations of the loan holders. * Based on the opinions and experiences of the customers, to give suggestions to remove this gape. Stage-3: RESEARCH PLAN For gathering the needed information the researcher needs to draw out the most efficient research plan based on well defined research objective. Designing of research plan includes the following: 1. Data source 2. Research Approaches 3. Research Instruments 4. Research Methods [1]Data Source: In market research data can be of two types: Primary data: In primary data the information is obtained from the original source by researcher. Here, information needed is â€Å"the perception of the loan holders from SBI regarding the processes involved in housing loans†, which is only possible through personal meets with them so it is primary data source. Secondary data: The data, which is already collected and used, previously, is secondary data. For meeting the loan holders I got the personal information like name, address, telephone number etc. from their accounts so that is secondary data. [2]Research Approaches: Primary data can be collected in four ways: Focus groups Surveys Observation Experiments Observational research and survey research are two approaches, which have been used to meet the objectives of research. Observational research has been carried out simultaneously with survey research. [3]Instruments Used in Research : Researchers have a choice of two main research instruments in collecting primary data. * Questionnaires and * Mechanical Devices For surveying the housing loan holders of SBI, the research instrument used is questionnaires for each of them individually. [4]Survey Methods: There are two methods of survey: * Survey of population * Survey of samples selected from the whole To carry out the research, the method adopted here is the survey of the samples. First step to Sample Survey is designing the Sample Plan. Sampling Plan basically deals with the following: * Sample Size * Sampling Method Sampling Plan * Sample size-100 * Sampling method -Simple Random sampling * Instrument used For survey -Questionnaire & Personal Interviews QUESTIONNAIRE Instruction: a) The purpose is to make survey only. b) Information provided will be kept confidential NAME: _________________________________________ CONTACT NO.: _________________________________________ OCCUPATION:ââ€" ¡ Business ââ€" ¡ Profession ââ€" ¡ Service MONTHLY INCOME:ââ€" ¡ 8000 to 15000ââ€" ¡ Above 25000 ââ€" ¡ 15000 to 25000 * Had you visited other banks before taking loan from SBI? ââ€" ¡ Yesââ€" ¡ No * Reason for selecting SBI : ââ€" ¡ Nationalized bank ââ€" ¡ Lower interest rate ââ€" ¡ Good facilities ââ€" ¡ Lower cost ââ€" ¡ Speedy sanction * How you received the related information? ââ€" ¡ In a single piece ââ€" ¡ In bit of pieces * What was the gape between date of application and sanction of loan? ââ€" ¡ 1 to 5daysââ€" ¡ 5 to 10 days ââ€" ¡ 10 to 15daysââ€" ¡ 15 to 20 days ââ€" ¡ More than 20 days * In your opinion, comparatively sanction process is: ââ€" ¡ Speedyââ€" ¡ Moderate ââ€" ¡ Low * Within how many days loan amount was disbursed? ââ€" ¡ 1 to 2ââ€" ¡ 11 to 15 ââ€" ¡ 3 to 5ââ€" ¡ 16 to 20 ââ€" ¡ 6 to10ââ€" ¡ More than 20 * Did you face any difficulty in receiving disbursement? ââ€" ¡ Yesââ€" ¡ No * In comparison with other banks the interest rates of SBI are: ââ€" ¡ Higherââ€" ¡ Lower ââ€" ¡ Equal to other banks * Your suggestion: _______________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY DEPENDING ON THE VIEWS OF THE HOME LOAN HOLDERS OF SBI BASED ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE PREPARED. OCCUPATION OF DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS The above indicated results shows that more of the home loan holders are Businessmen. There is not much variation between service and profession class as the number of both the class of the customers are nearly similler. CLASSIFICATION OF THE CUSTOMERS ON THE BASES OF THEIR INCOME LEVEL BY DIVIDING THEM INTO SPECIFIC INCOME CLASS The above graph shows that there is not much deviation among the different classes. More of the home loan holders are having the monthly income between 15000 to 25000. Those having monthly income more than 25000 are lesser. But looking to the overall scenario there is equal distribution among all the  three income class. NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS WHO HAD VISITED OTHER BANKS BEFORE TAKING LOAN FROM SBI The graph shows that more of the loan holders had inquired, directly or through other sources like friends or relatives, other banks before taking loan from SBI. THIS SHOWS HOW THEY RECEIVED BASIC INFORMATION To the response of this question, more of the customers replied that they faced a little difficulty in receiving different information regarding basic information or the information about documentation. REASONS GIVEN BY CUSTOMERS FOR SELECTING SBI The above graph looks very unevenly distributed but it is due to the reason that the respondents gave more than one answer to this question. Some told that more than one reason are there for selecting SBI. One of the reasons not mentioned through graph is â€Å"TRUSTWORTHYNESS† stated by some of the respondents. GRAPH SHOWING THE TIME DURATION BETWEEN APPLICATION GIVEN BY CUSTOMERS AND LOAN SANCTIONED BY THE BANK The above result is full of variations. During the survey, It was found that some of the first 22% customers got the loan sanctioned even within one day. On the contradictory part, some of 11% customers did not get the loan sanctioned even after 40 days of application. This was also due to the delay in submission of required documents by customer. IF THE SANCTION OF LOAN WAS SPEEDY FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF CUSTOMERS TIME TAKEN BY THE BANK TO DISBURSE THE LOAN AMOUNT TO THE CUSTOMERS AFTER SANCTIONING Gape between sanction and disbursement is generally found to be 2 to 8 days after sanction of the loan. Some of the customer faced difficulty in receiving the disbursement of the loan. Few got the payment after a long wait of approximately a month. CUSTOMERS WHO FACED DIFFICULTY IN RECEIVING THE DISBURSEMENT OF THEIR LOAN AMOUNT INTEREST RATES IN VIEW OF THE CUSTOMERS OF HOMELOAN DEPARTMENT RESEARCH FINDINGS 1. Liberalization in the loans is needed. 2. It was found that most of the customers who got the loans sanctioned fast, received the disbursement faster and those who got the loan sanctioned late, got the payment late than the average time. Of course, this can be due to unclarity on the part of customer. 3. Customers want that they should be able to get all the information from one person only so that they need not to run here and there. 4. Core banking should be fully helpful to the customers. In spite of core banking customers are still facing difficulty regarding flexibility for payment of installment. 5. Lower documentation should be there for the loans. As per customers view only really needed documents should be asked for. 6. Customers who got delayed sanction or delayed disbursement were dissatisfied and suggested to faster the operations of the bank. 7. Most of the customers expressed view that they prefer SBI more for the home loans as it is very good, as compared to the other private banks also, as far as the home loan’s aspect is considered 8. Dissatisfied customers told that the operations involved in sanction and disbursement needs to be made faster like that of private banks. 9. Fast response to the various inquiries of the customers is needed. Some customers as shown in the results complained that they got the information from more than one person. 10. The infrastructure facilities like good interior and air-conditioned branches should be there. 11. Customers expect to be treated with politeness and respect. 12. Customer care should be given more importance. 13. More attracting facilities are needed. 14. Customers should be given full knowledge about the services inquired. 15. More connectivity with other banks. 16. Better front desk services are yet needed, customers are not yet fully satisfied with it. 17. For all the new coming schemes awareness should be created among people. 18. For entertainment of the waiting customers small T.V., Newspapers, Magazines etc should be there. SWOT ANALYSIS STRENGTHS * Nationalized Bank * Safety and security of money * Highest number of ATMs * Years of experience – Century * Large Network * Government Support * Transparency in charges. * Experienced employees WEAKNESSES * Rigid work culture * Lake of young employees * Excessive Documentation * Bureaucracy * All branches and Head offices are not having fully modern infrastructure. OPPORTUNITIES * Constant fear in the minds of customers towards Private Banks. * Ever expanding rural, urban, and international market. THREATES * Private Banks provides more facilities at low charges. * Shifting customer preference towards private banks. * Dynamic employees and greater technological product of private banks. * Customer satisfaction is high in private banks. SUGGESTIONS 1. PEOPLE : * Good suggestions coming from employees side should be appreciated and implemented. * Motivational package for excellent work at the bank should be offered. * Employee integrity and sincerity should be rewarded. * Make duty a desire of employees through Satisfying sociological, financial, status need of employees. * Work culture of employees should be like that of private banks employees. * Young and enthusiastic employees should be recruited for customer care services. All nationalized bank can join hands in this regard and can even seek approval from RBI. * System of hire and fire should be there for this new young employees up to particular age limit. 2. PROMOTION : * To increase the young customers step-ins, SBI can install in house cyber cafes to attract the young customers in premises of SBI. * New schemes and constant recorded announcement of the products in the bank premises itself can attract the attention of customers visiting the bank at least during peak hours. * SBI is flooded by new generation products but they need intensive marketing especially for products like demat A/c, insurance, mutual fund and e-banking. 3. PRODUCT : * Mobile banking, bill payment services, online tax payments, NRI tax advisory, Investment solutions should be given importance. * SBI should have tie up with big industries, schools, NGOs, hospitals, commercial complex, colleges etc for opening the salary A/C of their employees. * Too much documentation and complex procedure should be reduced to greater extent. For example, if a customer is having A/C with any nationalized bank then a simple check can be used for cross checking of their identity. * Women’s A/C : At SBI study of profiles show that lesser number of women prefers SBI, while the fact is number of working women in Rajkot is improving day by day.  To capture this section of society, saving A/c offering with different schemes for women can be planed out. 4. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT : * Each and every counter should be named properly above the desk through hanging sign boards and name boards to minimize customer quarries. * Renovation is the need of SBI branches and good interior with pleasing environment is the demand of today’s competitive edge. * Cabin system should be destroyed and customer-employee interaction should be without any glass partition between them. This reduces the status gap and offers warm helping hands to customers’ problem solution. * Departmentation in the banks should be such that customers don’t need to ask anybody to search for required counter. * Chart showing the designation and department of concerned persons should be there inside the bank.