Marketing Management

Introduction Marketing Management is a business aspect that entails the marketing department of an organization researching and giving proposals on how best an organization can change its business techniques to best suit the changing environmental conditions. The roles of a marketing manager or consultant vary depending on the size of an organization and general industry characteristics.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To create an effective marketing strategy, marketing managers or consultants should understand clearly the market environment within which they operate[1]. A marketing environment consists of factors or elements such as customers, competitors, suppliers, government policies or controls among other micro and macro-economic factors that affect a business. Given the fact that all those aspects, which form the marketing environment, are always const antly changing, marketing consultants are compelled to be up to date. It is only when a marketing manager is armed with current information that he or she can come up with new strategies and ideas to ensure his or her organization remains competitive.[2] Based on this understanding, this paper provides an analysis of Singapore’s Manor House Country Club Hotel. Manor House Country Club Hotel Manor House Country Club Hotel (MCCH), which is the case study in this paper, is located in Singapore; is an island of almost 650 square kilometers. Manor Country Club House is on a 1.2 ha piece of land and given its strategic geographical location on the Island, it attracts many customers. It is situated near Theme Park and a Museum, which increases its economic prospects. In order to understand factors affecting its profitability, a marketing consultant has to look in both the microenvironment and the macro-environment in which it operates[3]. Microenvironment of MCCH The microenvironmen t of a business consists of factors such as organizational culture, organizational resources, organizational structure, customers, competitors, suppliers and the immediate public that surround the organization. It is reported that the hotel industry has witnessed an increase in sit-down meal customers i.e. a growth rate of 16% was registered since 2003. Based on this trend, an increase in customers should be expected if variety of sit-down meals from diverse parts of the world are introduced.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, the management should consider introducing a boutique at MCCH to attract customers. Information from hotels in other middle-east countries, like Qatar, shows that tourists prefer services of boutique while on holiday. Therefore, the new CEO of MCCH should consider investing in a boutique to provide more value for tourists who lodge at the ho tel. The new CEO will be preparing to fail if he does not address himself to competitors’ characteristics. It has to be noted that in the Singapore market, there is lack of differentiation i.e. all the hotels do the same things save for different prices and the different locations of these hotels. The only things that distinguish MCCH from competitors are price and location. Differentiation through the introduction of more quality and diverse services is thus very important in delivering a competitive advantage[4]. It is recommendable that MCCH focuses of tailored cultural experiences in order to attract and delight customers more than competition. Many visiting tourists must necessarily find it exciting when they are exposed to different Singaporean cultures while staying in MCCH. Macro-environment of MCCH A business’ macro-environment consists of factors that affect an organization but the organization has no direct control over the same[5]. Macro-economic factors th at affect business operations include demographic, economical, environmental, legal technological, cultural, and political forces. Macro-environmental factors keeps on changing over the years[6]. Therefore, it is important for marketers to keep scanning the business environment to respond to change in time. In the year 1990, the total population in Singapore was 2.705 million. The latest population projection indicates that Singapore’s total population is 3 million. This means that for a period of ten years the population has increased by a paltry 300,000 people. It therefore follows that Singapore has a very low population growth rate and majority of the total population are ageing people. Such statistics should inform all decisions made by the marketing department at MCCH. For instance, the marketing strategy has to target largely people who are ageing and couples.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The marketing manager at MCCH has to come up with policies that best suit the kind of people targeted, as given by population statistics. Away from the aging segment, the luxury bedrooms that were made available at MCCH in the year 2002 and the bar inside MCCH that was licensed to sell alcoholic drinks will on the other hand attract all the young couples and singles to MCCH. Just as changes keep on occurring in the Singaporean, the relative demand by tourists for products also keeps changing. Psychographic trends are measured y studying specific characteristics of a certain population, and they include attitudes, motives, values, and interests of a certain population.[7] According to a research by Kau et al, 65% Singaporeans said that family was the most important thing for them[8]. 65% is great majority thus need to bear in mind that Singaporeans value their families when planning any marketing venture. The government also seems to ag ree with these facts since a family day is usually organized by the government every year where families get together to share various activities. MCCH through its new CEO should therefore look out for these family days and organize family day promotions. MCCH can also organize special treats on specific weekends monthly for families to just come together and spend some time at the facility. Religion and education also matter a great deal of most Singaporeans. MCCH through its CEO should desist from inclining towards any kind of religion be it Buddhism or Christianity since it can lead Singaporeans from one religion completely ignore MCCH. Another critical macro-environmental factor that may affect MCCH’s performance is government control through bureaucracy. This is evident through bans on smoking and licensing laws that affect the hotel industry[9]. Finally, it is worth noting the contribution of technology in improving operations at the hotel. Technological changes that im prove efficiency e.g. use of credit cards in all hotel transactions and electronic door systems on hotel rooms have been adopted by MCCH. SWOT Analysis SWOT is an acronym for the words Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and strengths. To understand an organization, an analyst has to look within its internal environment to identify strengths and weaknesses therein and within its external environment to identify opportunities and threats. Based on the information given a SWOT analysis on MCCH is as shown below.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strengths Well managed Market leader in profitability Prime physical location i.e. proximity to famous tourist sites 11 years of continued investment Increased capacity due to buying of adjacent property and increasing luxury bedrooms in 2002 Extended and modernized function suite Busy and successful bistro New Spacious Foyer Beauty salon that offers latest beauty treats Well trained staff in communication skills and customer care Opportunities Increased consumer spending on sit down meals Increasing adoption to new cuisines from different parts of the world Eating out major part of lifestyle of young and middle aged couples Growing demand for healthier eating Growth in domestic tourism Increased inbound tourism in the country Increased family travel Weaknesses Decline in corporate client bookings Retirement of one of the major partners Lack of enthusiasm from other partners towards new ideas Threats Highly competitive hotel industry Lack of product differentiation Increased government control Persistent war prices Highly demanding customers; i.e. affluent customers who wish to have an authentic experience Ansoff’s Matrix Ansoff’s matrix indicates that growth of a company depends on whether the organization markets old products in existing markets, develops new product or services, develops markets or diversifies i.e. goes into other businesses that are not similar to current business[10]. MCCH should foster its growth through market penetration. This can be made possible through anchoring on the opportunities in the business environment. For instance, there is growth or increase in both foreign and domestic tourism. Therefore, through proper market communication suited for different market niches, MCCH can tap into the market potential. Slow and sure bus tours should be made available for the ageing couples while live concerts and all night music at the licensed bars could be introduced to bring in young couples and singles . This strategy will help MCCH maintain develop and increase its market share. MCCH can also expand in the next 2 years through market development. Market development involves coming up with strategies that help an organization to enter new markets[11]. For MCCH, there are new market frontiers due to increased foreign and local tourism. More importantly is the change in tastes and preferences by locals leading to adoption of eating delicacies from other parts of the world. Market development will also require proper market communication but on a much greater scale unlike when focus is on market penetration. For instance, MCCH should use channels like the internet, 24-hour television channels like CNN and BBC to ensure the message is spread everywhere. The third strategy that MCCH can adopt as per Ansoff’s matrix is product development. Product development is the creation of new services and products. The tastes of customers are changing. In tandem, MCCH should bring in new pr oducts in tandem with changing customer needs. For instance, family tours are becoming more popular thus, introduction of family fun days, additional educational services and live concerts in the bars and restaurants can be the way to go for MCCH. Diversification is also an important strategy and it helps bring some differentiation in an industry that is direly in need of difference. Introduction of complimentary or supplementary businesses or even very different business could help cushion MCCH against any changes in the market. Porters Five Forces Model There are five forces, which a business owner has to understand to guide an organization to greater heights[12]. The first force that the management at MCCH has to consider and evaluate is supplier power. The new chief executive officer of MCCH has to understand how powerful the organization’s suppliers are. This is usually calculated in terms of the number of suppliers the organization has; the number of individuals in the industry that supply a commodity needed by an organization. If the suppliers are few, they are more powerful and can alter prices as they wish[13]. Although, information is not provided on the suppliers of MCCH, the new CEO has to work closely with suppliers to gain economies of scale, have competitively priced supplies or enjoy better performance due to just in time delivery of supplies. The second force to contend with is buyer power. Buyer power refers to capacity of buyers to influence prices[14]. Buyer power increases with increase in competition among suppliers[15]. It has to be noted that consumers especially the affluent are becoming even more quality conscious. This means that going into the future, customers are likely to enjoy more power over what hotels offer and how they offer it. MCCH has to in readiness for the same becoming a leader through better anticipating of customer preferences and designing appropriate responses. The third force that managers have to take into account as per Porter’s grid is threat of new entrants. Exit and entrance barriers determine threat of new entrants[16]. If it is easy for another firm to enter an industry, the threat of new entrants is high. Given the continuing growth of the Singaporean tourism market, and with projections of 17 million tourists annually, by the year 2015, the threat of new entries prevails. However, given the high cost involved in setting up an international hotel, the likelihood of many other international hotels being set up is limited. Therefore, the head of MCCH should expand to attract the many tourist expected in Singapore in future. Competitor rivalry in the hotel industry in Singapore is very high[17]. However, MCCH is leading the pack and there are more opportunities that can be tapped into. Through diversification and developing of new products, differentiation can be introduced by MCCH thus setting itself apart for a successful future. The final force, as per Porter’s m odel is threat of substitutes. In the case study, there is no indicator whatsoever of substitute offerings. Therefore, there is no threat of substitutes. However, through improving on its offering and tapping into emerging opportunities, MCCH should be able to grow in leaps regardless of whether substitute offerings arise or not. Bibliography Bryant, EF AJ Morrison, â€Å"Travel market segmentation and the  implication of market strategies†, Journal of Travel Research, Vol.18, no.3, 1981, pp. 2-6 Crask, MR, â€Å"Segmenting the Vacationer Market: Identifying the Vacation Preferences, Demographics and Magazine Readership of Each Group†, Journal of Travel Research, vol.20, no.2, 1981, pp. 29- 33 Doole, I. P Lancaster R Lowe, Understanding and Managing Customers, Prentice Hall, London, 2004 Engle, J F RD Blackwell, Consumer Behavior, New York: The Dryden Press, 1982 Kau, A K, WY, Yeong D Richmond, A Delphi Study of Future Lifestyles and Consumption Patterns in Singa pore, Center for Business Research and Development, National University of Singapore, 1993 Kau, AK C Yang, Values and Lifestyles of Singaporeans: A Marketing Perspective, Singapore: Singapore University Press, 1991 Kay, J, Foundations of Corporate Success: How Business Strategies add Value. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2003 Kotler, P, Marketing Management: Analysis, Planning and Control, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1984 Mills, G, Retail Pricing Strategies and Market Power. Melbourne University, Publishing, Melbourne, 2002 Yergin, D. J Stanislaw, The Commanding Heights, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2002 Footnotes J,F,Engle R D Blackwell, Consumer Behavior, New York: The Dryden Press, 1982, p. 45 P Kotler, Marketing Management: Analysis, Planning and Control, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1984, p. 122 MR Crask, â€Å"Segmenting the Vacationer Market: Identifying the Vacation Preferences, Demographics and Magazine Readership of Each Group†, Journal of Trav el Research, vol.20, no.2, 1981, p.31 EF Bryant AJ Morrison, â€Å"Travel market segmentation and the  implication of market strategies†, Journal of Travel Research, Vol.18, no.3, 1981, p. 4 Ibid., p. 2 Ibid., p. 3 Engle Blackwell,p. 34 AK Kau, WY Yeong D Richmond, A Delphi Study of Future Lifestyles and Consumption Patterns in Singapore, Center for Business Research and Development, National University of Singapore, 1993, p.5 Kau, et al, p.11 G Mills, Retail Pricing Strategies and Market Power. Melbourne University, Publishing, Melbourne, 2002, p. 102 Engle Blackwell, p. 75 I Doole, P Lancaster R Lowe, Understanding and Managing Customers, Prentice Hall, London, 2004, p. 221 D Yergin J Stanislaw, The Commanding Heights, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2002, p. 123 Ibid., p. 128 Mills, p. 44 J Kay, Foundations of Corporate Success: How Business Strategies Add Value. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2003, p. 113 Kau et al, p. 7 This essay on Marketing Management was written and submitted by user Deacon C. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

transpiration essays

transpiration essays Transpiration is the evaporation of water from cells and tissues. In the plants studied this is the loss of water from the leaves. The water enters the stem of the leaf from the potometers tube via osmosis. Because the water potential in the stem is lower then that in the tube the water molecules enter the stem down a water potential gradient. Once in the stem, in the xylem cells this occurs again as the next cell along has a lower water potential from the one before it. The theory of how the water moves up the stem and out the leaves is called cohesion tension theory. As the water molecules move from cell to cell, they pull other water molecules with them. This pulling affect, known as the transpiration pull is possible due to cohesive forces between the molecules. The pull creates tension in the xylem cells, which pulls the water through the stem. The water potential in the atmosphere is usually lower then that in the leaf. If the stomata in the leaf are open, the water molecules are able to go down the concentration gradient into the atmosphere. If there is some air movement this water is moved away from the leaf as it leaves the stomata. This is replaced by more water evaporating from the surrounding the substomatal space. The water is taken fro these cells in 2 ways: Apoplast method- Water travels along the cell wall along spaces in-between cellulose fibres. As this water evaporates into the substomatal space from the wall of 1 cell, it creates a tension, which pulls water from the cell walls of other cells. The pull is transmitted through the plant by cohesive forces between each of the water molecules. Symplast method Cells are connected to each other by tiny gaps called plasmodesmata. Water can move into the cell via osmosis through these gaps. If water is lost from the cell through the stomata, the water potential of this cell is lowered. Water will now flow into this cell from the cells near the xylem vesse...

The Enlightenment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Enlightenment - Essay Example Scientific inventions and scientific discoveries made the hallmark of the enlightenment period. During the enlightenment period, it was known that science was the subject that could bring transformation in the world (Withers, 2007). The transformation that was desired was that which could make human life comfortable and easier on earth. During this period, more goods were produced at reduced cost, the stress of traveling, communicstion was reduced, and mobility was advanced hence the ease of communication and transit. Trade became advanced to different locations and human life ceased to be caged in geographical confines. During this period, there were many criticisms as well as the mushrooming of various organized groups. The church specifically was criticized during this period. The church was criticized by the liberals to have been be confining peoples’ reason to doctrinal thoughts. The thought of the enlightenment age proposed a more individualized system that does not cons trict people to a particular system of belief. Enlightenement period was a period of enquiry and people wanted logical reasons and proof behind phenomena. At this time, people did not want to set their belief on speculations because they were propounded by the church or by such authorities like Plato; they wanted scientific truth (Pancaldi, 2003). This though and desire led to the attack of absolutist and mercantilism. The think tanks of the enlightenment age refused to believe and accept some dominating dogmas. They could not any scientific proof to make them believe that the monarchs had superior status than other human beings. They could further not find scientific comprehension that there is a class of people set a part to dominate other human race because they were set a part to claim sovereignty over others. Thinkers of the enlightenment age wanted proof beyond any reasonable doubt that mercantilism was of economic benefit. 2. Compare and contrast the role played by Danton and Robespierre during the terror Danton and Robespierre, had great influence in shaping human history. Both of these personalities were leaders to be reckoned with. They had major differences in belief and though; a thing which later led to the spilt of political stances. Robespierre strongly believed that a nation would be a better republic only if it was governed on the principle and the foundations of philosophy, virtue, and justice. Danton on the other hand strongly advocated for a nation that is ruled in the basis of nobility, tradition, and domestic agreement and peace. Each of these figures of power supported the course that they believed was in the best interest of the people and none was willing to sacrifice their though to accommodate that of the other (Gascoigne, 1989). Their opposing belief became personal that they could not meet each other. They had strong hatred for each other until when revolution came; to them, an opportunity to destroy each other presented itself. Du ring the Terror period, Danton was elected in the Public Safety committee. While he was serving in the committee, Danton sought to reconcile the parties that were conflicting with the min intension of restoring peace and enforcing the rule of law to take effect in nations. Danton hoped to bring stability during the revolution by adopting a new constitution. The second committee of the public safety under the leadership of Robespierre stood upright with a declaration to continue terror until the

Pleasant and Unpleasant Description of a Lunch Meal Essay - 2

Pleasant and Unpleasant Description of a Lunch Meal - Essay Example Negative paragraph - Truly disappointed with the atmosphere and service of the restaurant I could not imagine how the food was to taste. The service was slow, non-courteous and interruptive. Sitting on an Algonquin round table with white covers with stains on it. I was looking for a great experience and found this place lacking. The atmosphere is non-conducive no privacy and noisy. Not really worth the trouble services below average, prices much above average than the usual. Had a cheese omelet for lunch overcooked too much strong cheese on it? I could not bear it. A glass of wine here cost more than the lunch itself. "I am not looking forward to a return visit" (Catford, par 4). I used a great deal of word choice in each of my two descriptions. For example in my positive paragraph, I described the cheese omelet to be ‘tasty and delicious’ to a point that I hardly had enough. In the negative paragraph, I described cheese omelet to be ‘overcooked with too much chees e on them’. This means that I could not bear them anymore as they lacked taste. In my positive paragraph, I described the atmosphere to be ‘quiet and relaxing with good privacy’. This implies the place to be cool and conducive. In the negative paragraph, I described the atmosphere to be’ noisy and with no privacy’. This portrays the place to be unbearable and non-conducive. In my positive paragraph, I described the service to be ‘excellent’. This is further explained by the politeness, courteousness and non-interruptive nature of the service. In the negative paragraph, I describe the service to be’ slow, non-courteous and interruptive. This brings out the disappointment nature of the client.  Ã‚  

Any company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Any company - Essay Example There are numerous market models available for different companies to choose from in addressing the marketing aspects, however, a majority usually choose that fit in their operational programs as well as have the simplest of formats that eases the explanation and interpretation of information available (Gregoriou and Razvan 28). The choice of a particular market model for a company is usually influenced based on the five characteristics of the models used. Therefore, for every organization, the choice of a particular market model is usually influenced by the characteristics of the particular model. Out of the four types of market models, SaaS Company operates depending on Perfect or Pure Competition Model. This is a type of market model in which ones success is influenced by the ability to outshine the competitor on the goods produced and the services rendered. In this instance, the competitors indeed work in a similar product line, with an aspect of equal quality of the products. The market influence is therefore, dependent upon influencing many buyers and having many suppliers for the products made for success (Gregoriou and Razvan 96). Based on the five characteristics of the market model, each is directly aligned to the company’s market model. First is that the product in the most essential in the business operations. For SaaS, there is the building of customer systems, providing the customers with most appropriate product choices. The second characteristic is that there is cost/ value preposition. In a business where two or more companies are producing similar products and equal in value, it is substantively important that price be set at a lower value compared to the competitor’s value for success to be realized. SaaS, on this perspective provides cheaper products compared to the alternatives, provides a network of benefits which are not easily found with the other competitors, operates based on certain sophisticated technology models

The Debates on Offshore Outsourcing in America

The Debates on Offshore Outsourcing in America Outsourcing has provided growth to United States corporations and has allowed these corporations to reduce costs and compete more successfully in the global markets. Corporations are saving billions of dollars by replacing American employment with outsourcing to foreign countries at a much lower wages. In the meantime, workers who once made a middle-class living are now being forced to find different types of employment, and live with less money in their wallets. In the twenty-first century, the debate on outsourcing white-collar jobs to low-wage developing countries has picked up significantly. The general assumption is that jobs, money, skills, and experience are being exported to foreign countries, while the American people are losing jobs, money, skills and experience. Americas economic future is at risk due to jobs being outsourced to other countries. What is outsourcing? As simple as this question might seem, most people do not truly know and use assumption to what outsourcing means. When the average person hears the word outsourcing, it is presumed that an American company is outsourcing an American job to a foreign country. This is not necessarily true; outsourcing simply means a company that contracts with another company to provide services that might otherwise be performed by in-house employees, regardless if it is being done by a company in the same country, or outside of the companys country. Words that are commonly used in place of outsourcing are sub-contracting, flexible staff, employee leasing, and offshore. This report is focusing on offshore outsourcing. (Johnson, 1999) What is offshore outsourcing? Offshore outsourcing is when a company contracts with another company or person overseas to provide services that could be performed by in-house employees. Although offshore outsourcing is very close to the same implication of outsourcing, it is very simple to see how people can get confused over the explanation. Its hard to believe, but even the media confuses the two terms. Take for example a recent article published by Business Week: Pakistan, A Popular Outsourcing Destination? This article talks about how Pakistan is becoming a popular destination for companies all over the world to outsource to. Not once in this article does the author refer to offshore outsourcing, even though that is what the article is truly about. (King, 2009) The most common departments that are off-shoring outsourced within a company are Customer Support/Call Centers, Accounting, Human Resources, Manufacturing, legal and IT. These departments are the core departments of any corporate business, but really offshore goes further than the corporate office. Realtors, Oilfield labors, computer programmers, welders, shipping and receivers, and the list continue. The more companies research and find cheaper labors in other countries the more different types of American jobs are going oversea. The single most important tactical reason for outsourcing is to reduce or control operating costs and increase profits. Access to an outside providers lower cost structure is one of the most compelling short-term benefits of outsourcing. Foreign countries offer the talents of a college-educated workforce at a fraction of U.S. salaries. Partnering with an organization with world-class capabilities can offer access to new technology, tools and techniques that the organization may not currently possess; more structured methodologies, procedures and documentation, and a competitive advantage through expanded skills. Competing corporations are outsourcing operations offshore to have the cost advantages over the market and to free up management resources. Although outsourcing has achieved cost savings and has been used to enter key foreign markets, these benefits may not outweigh the long-term impacts on U.S. industries and the economy. Large companies such as American Express, Microsoft, Dell, IBM and SAP all offshore outsource to India. All of these companies are very successful and all have excellent profits. When searching on offshore outsourcing India, there are thousands of articles that claim there is a reduction of at least 40% or more in cost and great quality. There are three main reasons that can be accountable to offshore outsourcing to India: 1. Labor Wages are much lower than American wages, 2. Capital Infrastructure costs are lower in India then America, and 3. Labor Management Outsourcing enables companies to do-away with the expenses on bench labor, as the outsourcing vendor allocates the bench employees to projects for other clients or bears the cost of inefficiency. (Kobayashi-Hillary, 2005) International Business Machines (IBM) is well known for off-shoring their American jobs and helping other American companies to find employees overseas. IBM provides off-shore consultants to deliver highly quality services with lower hourly costs, which reduces operating costs and increases profits for the American company. Although the American company is benefiting from this service, the American people are losing their employment to other countries providing the same services an American provide the company. (IBM, 2008) According to [emailprotected] CWA Local 1701 (IBM union), IBM has laid-off approximately 10,000 jobs in American since the beginning of this year. According to IBMs annual reports, IBM employed the following in the US: 2006 127,000, 2007 121,000, and 2008 115,000. IBM 2009 annual report will not be out until late winter, but Alliance is predicting that 16,000 American jobs will be lost in 2009. While Americans are losing jobs, other nations such as India employment has been increasing. According to IBMs annual reports in 2007 to have 98,000 employees in Brazil, China, India and Russia, by 2008 employment overseas increased by 15% to 113,000, mostly in India. (Thibodeau, 2009) According to United States Department of Labor, from 2006 2016 employment for computer programmers will decrease by 4 percent. In 2006 computer programmers held 435,000 in American, by 2016 the projected jobs to be held is 417,000. One factor that will cause 18,000 jobs to be lost is offshore outsourcing. Computer Programmers are at much higher risk of having their jobs because this job function can be done from anywhere in the world. With todays technology, companies can transmit their programs digitally to anywhere in the world and take advantage of foreign countries lower wages. (Computer Programmers, 2007) â€Å"Every year India produces around 2.5 million university graduates, including 400,000 engineers and 200,000 IT professionals. It is estimated that India has 28% of the worlds IT offshore talent. The cost of an Indian graduate is roughly 12% of that of an American one.† These are just a few of the advantages that India brings to the market, which is why the offshore outsourcing boom continues to grow. This is one of the reasons why American students are not majoring in these fields. Young adults have the assumption that IT jobs are sooner or later going to be sent overseas, so there is not point on getting an education in these fields. (The Economist, 2006) The fear of offshore outsourcing is striking a chord with Americas future employees. Recently, the education system has seen shifts in college enrollment, as college students have begun to shun high-tech fields like computer science and even engineering. With the lack of stability in these fields students are concerned that their jobs could eventually be outsourced internationally and are therefore deciding to focus on their business skills. The war for talent is at its fiercest in high-tech industries which poses a threat to the future of the American technology industry and the overall economy. American companies may be forced to consider outsourcing not only to save costs, but due to lac k of local talent. Studies have shown that the proportion of incoming undergraduates planning to major in computer science is now 70% below its peak in the early 1980s. (The Economist, 2006) High-tech, white collar jobs are being transferred to foreign countries which limit opportunities for highly educated Americans. The U.S focuses so much attention on higher education yet people cannot put their skills to use if their job is outsourced. â€Å"When manufacturing jobs started moving overseas in larger numbers, American workers were told by free trade ideologues not to worry, that the U.S. comparative advantage was in services—especially high-tech and other knowledge-based industries. Displaced workers were told to simply acquire better skills and more education in order to succeed in the changing American economy. Many workers did, but now they find that knowledge and talent cant compete against the chase for higher profits and cheaper labor in the new global marketplace.† If Americans decide not to invest in their education, companies will mitigate their chances of sustaining a strong knowledge-base within the U.S. and induce the risk of international spi llovers. (Dobbs, 2004) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics between 1979 -1999, Thirty-six percent of employees who lost their jobs to outsourcing found jobs that matched or increased their wages. Although Twenty-five percent of workers were able to find employment, their wages were thirty percent or more decrease in wages. ‘These concerns are real and need to be addressed, says Diana Farrell, the director of the McKinsey Global Institute. But she argues that rather than trying to stop offshoringa practice that she argues increases wealth in the U.S. economyleaders should focus on its distribution and help workers who are disproportionately hit.(Otterman, 2004) â€Å"The $50 billion-a-year offshore outsourcing business was growing at a 29 percent annual rate until the credit crisis hit last fall, Mr. Bourgeois said. But he now forecasts growth in 2009 to be about 10 percent.† And according to Forrester Researcher Inc offshore outsourcing will increase 17 percent annually from now throug h 2012. That is a possible 10 17 percent increase in the already high unemployment statistics. With the possibility of more companies looking at offshore outsourcing, the better chance the unemployment rate will stay around 9%, or even increase in the next few years (Lohr, 2009). Highly paid jobs are being moved to foreign countries at an increasing rate. 500,000 financial jobs and 200,000 engineering jobs are being relocated yearly overseas. That is approximately 54 million square feet of office space vacate. Approximately 8,500 manufacturing plants are being closed each year. These are American jobs that should be staying in America, who would ever have thought these types of jobs would be moved across seas? China and India will soon be the world leaders in manufacturing and technological. (Pollina Ph.D., 2005) US President Barack Obama has proposed new tax laws that would affect American Corporations that operate operations abroad by disallowing deductions for various offshore business expenses; this tax law still needs to be approved by Congress. The new tax law, if approved, is aimed at providing tax cuts to companies that keep employment in America, and give higher taxes and removal of tax benefits to companies that outsource to other countries. President Obama is trying to keep jobs in America; many analysts do not believe this new tax law will slow down or stop offshore outsourcing. Companies are offshore outsourcing because costs are anywhere from 40 to 70 percent lower in foreign countries. (Srivastava, 2009) Corporate America should start â€Å"thinking out-side the box† and finding alterative ideas to off-shoring. It is true companies are saving money and having an increase in profits by off-shoring, but this does not help the average person needing to pay the bills. By looking at colleges in the area and hiring newly graduated students. Graduated students are inexperience and do not require a high wage, they are looking for experience. By hiring a graduate, this provides the person experience, the company is paying a low wage, and the job is staying in America. People who are on assistance are another area to look into. By teaching a person a new skill, this takes them off assistance, provides them experience, and again keeps the job in America. Extensive growth in the practice of offshore outsourcing has raised a number of political and social concerns. On one hand, it helps in creating new employment opportunities within offshore country but on the other hand, it results in cutbacks for white collar jobs within America. In addition to this, it also raises issues pertaining to the quality and confidentiality of specialized and sensitive work that gets outsourced to a foreign country. Offshore outsourcing of jobs, especially white collar jobs to India has emerged as one of hottest issues in United States. Bibliography Dobbs, L. (2004). Exporting America: Why Corporate Greed Is Shipping American Jobs Oversea. New York: Time Warner Book Group. IBM. (2008, February). Retrieved August 12, 2009, from IBM Congnos BI Report Migration Offshore Services: http://download.boulder.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/data/cognos/support/en/products/cognos8/migration/8.4/report_migration_offshore_service.pdf Johnson, M. (1999). Outsourcing in brief. Woburn: Butterworth-Heinemann. King, R. (2009, June 4). Business Week. Retrieved August 14, 2009, from Pakistan, A Popular Outsourcing Destination?: http://www.businessweek.com/technology/technology_at_work/archives/2009/06/pakistan_a_popu.html Kobayashi-Hillary, M. (2005). Outsourcing To India. London: Springer-Verlag Berlin †¢ Heidelberg. Lohr, S. (2009, January 8). The New York Times. Retrieved August 17, 2009, from Troubles of Satyam Could Benefit Rivals and 2 U.S. Companies : http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/business/09react.html Otterman, S. (2004, February 4). C ouncil Foreign Relations. Retrieved August 6, 2009, from Trade: Outsourcing Jobs: http://www.cfr.org/publication/7749/trade.html Pollina Ph.D., R. R. (2005). Keeping Jobs In America. Business Xpansion Journal , 1-4. Srivastava, M. (2009, May 6). Businessweek. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from Obama vs. Outsourcing: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/blog/eyeonasia/archives/2009/05/obama_vs_outsou.html The Economist. (2006, October 7). Retrieved August 2, 2009, from The Battle for Brainpower: http://www.amrop.pl/ahgr/PHP/APP/eng/directors/i/p5.pdf Thibodeau, P. (2009, August 7). Computer World. 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Cigarette Smoking is a Costly and Deadly Habit! Essay -- Argumentative

Abstract Cigarette smoking is the greatest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. Secondhand smoke causes numerous lung cancer deaths annually. Measures have been taken in both workplaces and public places to limit exposure to secondhand smoke. The economic cost of smokers to society is phenomenal- it includes monetary costs, lost workdays and shortened work lives. Many states are establishing and maintaining comprehensive tobacco-control programs to reduce tobacco use. They provide education to our youth to prevent them from ever starting and smoking cessation programs for individuals that currently wish to stop smoking. Education and support are known ways to eventually prevent smoking in the future. Efforts to increase the public perception of the harmful effects of tobacco must utilize a comprehensive approach that affects policy development, education strategies and health care systems. Smoking is becoming more and more unfashionable as time goes on. There are many studies conducted showing that secondhand smoke is a health hazard to both the smoker and anyone that relies on the same air supply, not to mention the unpleasantness and discomfort it causes those that do not smoke. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that it is estimated that secondhand smoke that emerges from exhaling and burning cigarettes causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 37,000 heart disease deaths in nonsmokers each year. (Nolo, 2002). According to a 1998 Gallop poll, 94% of Americans, including both smokers and nonsmokers, agree that companies should either ban or restrict smoking to properly ventilated areas. Another Gallop poll indicates that 95% of nonsmokers, and 69% of smokers, t hink California's ban on smoking in almost all workplaces is positive. Some companies are now refusing to hire anyone who admits to smoking on a job application because of higher healthcare insurance, absenteeism, unemployment insurance and workers' compensation insurance associated with these individuals. (Nolo, 2002). Those that do not smoke feel it is an infringement of what they consider to be a reasonable right not to have to breath other people’s cigarette smoke while at work. During the 1970’s the dangers of secondhand smoke were beginning to amass and a movement for nonsmokers emerged. When it was proven that secondhand smoke was ... ...ity and Mortality Weekly Report, Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction, (Vol. 43). No. RR-2. Lee, P.R. (1994). Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People, A Report of the Surgeon General, Retrieved June 7, 2002, from http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgryth2.htm. Nolo Law for All, (2002). Smoking in the Workplace: Still a Burning Issue, Retrieved May 16, 2002, from http://www.nolo.com.lawcenter/ency/article.cfm/objectID/5622E54E-4494-B†¦ Office of the Surgeon General, You Can Quit Smoking, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2002). Retrieved June 10, 2002, from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/consquits.htm. State of Delaware, (2002, May 31). Governor Ruth Ann Minner Signs Landmark Ban on Smoking In Delaware's Indoor Public Areas, Retrieved June 4, 2002 from http://www.state.de.us/governor/news/2002/05May/053102-SB99.htm. University of Nevada, Reno, Robert Shubinski, M.D., (1999, March 9). Costs of Tobacco Use, Retrieved May 16, 2002 from http://unr.edu/homepage/subinsk/smokost1.htm U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People, A Report of the Surgeon General, (1994).