Saturday, August 1, 2020

Implicit Bias Causes, Effects, and Prevention

Implicit Bias Causes, Effects, and Prevention Theories Cognitive Psychology Print How Does Implicit Bias Influence Behavior? Explanations and Impacts of Unconscious Bias By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on February 08, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 09, 2020 LaylaBird / Getty Images More in Theories Cognitive Psychology Behavioral Psychology Developmental Psychology Personality Psychology Social Psychology Biological Psychology Psychosocial Psychology In This Article Table of Contents Expand Causes Implicit Attitude Test Discrimination Effects Reducing Bias View All Back To Top An implicit bias is an unconscious association, belief, or attitude toward any social group. Due to implicit biases, people may often attribute certain qualities or characteristics to all members of a particular group, a phenomenon known as stereotyping.?? It is important to remember that implicit biases operate almost entirely on an unconscious level. While explicit biases and prejudices are intentional and controllable, implicit biases are less so. A person may even express explicit disapproval of a certain attitude or belief while still harboring similar biases on a more unconscious level. Such biases do not necessarily align with our own sense of self and personal identity. In many cases, people can hold positive or negative associations with regards to their own race, gender, religion, or another personal characteristic. The Psychology Behind Peoples Prejudices Causes While people might like to believe that they are not susceptible to these biases and stereotypes, the reality is that everyone engages in them whether they like it or not. It does not mean that you are necessarily prejudiced or inclined to discriminate against other people, however. It simply means that your brain is working the way it should, taking in information to form associations and make generalizations. It is the natural tendency of the brain to sift, sort, and categorize information about the world that leads to the formation of these implicit biases. Were susceptible to the bias because of this. We tend to seek out patterns. Implicit bias occurs because of the brains natural tendency to look for patterns and associations in the world. Social cognition, or our ability to store, process, and apply information about people in social situations, is dependent on this ability to form associations about the world.We like to take shortcuts. Like other cognitive biases, the implicit bias is a result of the brains tendency to try to simplify the world. Because the brain is constantly inundated with more information than it could conceivably process, mental shortcuts make it faster and easier for the brain to sort through all of this data.Experience and social conditioning play a role. Implicit biases are influenced by experiences, although these attitudes may not be the result of direct personal experience. Cultural conditioning, media portrayals, and upbringing can all contribute to the implicit associations that people form about the members of other social groups. Implicit Attitude Test The term implicit bias was first coined by social psychologists Mahzarin Banaji and Tony Greenwald in 1995. In an influential paper introducing their theory of implicit social cognition, they proposed that social behavior was largely influenced by unconscious associations and judgments. In 1998, Banaji and Greenwald published their now famous Implicit Association Test to support their hypothesis. The test utilizes a computer program to show respondents a series of images and words to determine how long it takes someone to choose between two things. Subjects might be shown images of faces of different racial backgrounds, for example, in conjunction with either a positive word or a negative word. Subjects would then be asked to click on a positive word when they saw an image of someone from one race, and to click on a negative word when they saw someone of another race. The researchers suggest that when someone clicks quickly, it means that they possess a stronger unconscious association.?? If a person quickly clicks on a negative word every time they see a person of a particular race, the researchers suggest that this would indicate that they hold an implicit negative bias toward individuals of that race. In addition to a test of implicit racial attitudes, the IAT has also been utilized to measure unconscious biases related to gender, weight, sexuality, disability, and other areas.?? The IAT has grown in popularity and use over the last decade, yet has recently come under fire. Among the main criticisms are findings that the test results may lack reliability. Respondents may score high on racial bias on one test, and low the next time they are tested. Also of concern is that scores on the test may not necessarily correlate with individual behavior. People may score high for a type of bias on the IAT, but those results may not accurately predict how they would relate to members of a specific social group. Link With Discrimination It is important to understand that implicit bias is not the same thing as racism, although the two concepts are related. Overt racism involves conscious prejudice against members of a particular racial group and can be influenced by both explicit and implicit biases. Other forms of discrimination that can be affected by unconscious biases include ageism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism. One of the benefits of being aware of the potential impact of implicit social biases is that you can take a more active role in overcoming social stereotypes, discrimination, and prejudice. Effects Implicit biases can influence how you behave toward the members of other social groups. Researchers have found that such bias can have effects in a number of settings, including in school, work, and legal proceedings.?? Implicit Biases in School Implicit bias can lead to a phenomenon known as stereotype threat in which people internalize negative stereotypes about themselves based upon group associations. Research has shown, for example, that girls often internalize implicit attitudes related to gender and math performance.?? By the age of 9, girls have been shown to exhibit the unconscious beliefs that females have a preference for language over that of math.?? The stronger these implicit beliefs are, the less likely girls and women are to pursue math performance in school. Such unconscious beliefs are also believed to a play a role in inhibiting women from pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Studies have also demonstrated that implicit attitudes can also influence how teachers respond to student behavior, suggesting that implicit bias can have a powerful impact on educational access and academic achievement. One study, for example, found that black childrenâ€"and black boys in particularâ€"were more likely to be expelled from school for behavioral issues.?? When teachers were told to watch for challenging behaviors, they were more likely to focus on black children than on white children. Implicit Biases in the Workplace While the Implicit Attitude Test itself may possess problems, this does not negate the existence of implicit bias. Or the existence and effects of bias, prejudice, and discrimination in the real world. Such prejudices can have very real and potentially devastating consequences. One study, for example, found that when black and white job seekers sent out similar resumes to employers, black applicants were half as likely to be called in for interviews as white job seekers with equal qualifications.?? Such discrimination is likely the result of both explicit and implicit biases toward racial groups. Even when employers strive to eliminate potential bias in hiring, subtle implicit biases may still have an impact on how people are selected for jobs or promoted to advanced positions.?? Avoiding such biases entirely can be difficult, but being aware of their existence and striving to minimize them can help. Implicit Biases in Legal Settings Implicit biases can have troubling implications in legal proceedings. Research has found that there is an overwhelming racial disparity in how black defendants are treated in criminal sentencing.?? Not only are black defendants less likely to be offered plea bargains than white defendants charged with similar crimes, they are also more likely to receive longer and harsher sentences than white defendants. How to Reduce While implicit biases can have an impact on your behavior, there are things that you can do to reduce your own bias. Focus on seeing people as individuals. Rather than focusing on stereotypes to define people, spend time considering them on a more personal, individual level.Work on consciously changing your stereotypes. If you do recognize that your response to a person might be rooted in biases or stereotypes make an effort to consciously adjust your response.Adjust your perspective. Try seeing things from another persons point of view. How would you respond if you were in their same position? What factors might contribute to how a person acts in a particular setting or situation? A Word From Verywell Implicit biases can be troubling, but they are also a pervasive part of life. Such unconscious attitudes may not necessarily align with your declared beliefs. While people are more likely to hold implicit biases that favor their own ingroup, it is not uncommon for people to hold such biases against their own social group. The good news is that these implicit biases are not set in stone. Even if you do hold unconscious biases against other groups of people, it is possible to adopt new attitudes, even on the unconscious level.?? This process is not necessarily quick or easy, but being aware of the existence of these biases is a good place to start making a change. 10 Cognitive Biases That Distort Your Thinking

Friday, May 22, 2020

Book vs. Movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 432 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/04/22 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Harry Potter Essay Did you like this example? There are many differences when most literary works become movies. Usually because the director wants to cut parts out because he does not feel they are important enough to make the final cut. That is usually true for all works that are made into movies. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Book vs. Movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone" essay for you Create order The book will go more into depth about people, things, and places because they have more chapters, characters, and views on certain things than the movies will go into. When J. K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter and the Sorcerers stone and was published in 1997, it became a huge success around the world. The movie was created five years later in 2002. There were differences throughout the two of them as they usually are between literary works and movies. First, one of the big differences are how characters are portrayed and how they appear, such as looks and appearances. Harry Potter in the book is explained as smaller for his age, has a scar, obviously, crazy messy hair, and green hazel eyes. In the movie he does not have the crazy hair, is normal height for his age compared to the others and has blue eyes. Other ones include Ron, Harry Potter best friend, not having a long nose. Where in the book he is described as having a long nose and a little dorky, with red hair and freckles. Also, the Uncle and Aunt, who took Harry Potter in after his parents died, are described as blonde in the book. Details such as these are left out in Hollywood because usually, they do not care about the little details, but they are found by the ones who have read the book. Secondly, some little details in the book versus the movie are how harry potter sees his parents in the mirror when he is snooping around Hogwarts. In the book he sees his whole extended family that has passed on. Another is in the book when they Harry, Ron, And Hermione are going through their tasks to get to the Scorers stone. The movie left out the potion task, in the book Hermione completes a potion task to get through to the next stage. In the movie, she just stays behind to show aid to Ron after they win in the chess game. This just shows how different and certain things will be cut out of a movie. Sometimes they can not see every detail but everyone who has read the book sees it. Sometimes the director cuts out parts that you really liked in the book out of the movie. Showing differences between movies and their books.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

The Negative Effects Of Cell Phone Use In The Classroom

Cell phones are disruptive and frowned upon in the classroom. Despite the access smartphones give us to the world around us. Several reasons such as it being looked at as a barometer for engaging the current lecture. What can we do to instead incorporate mobile technology into the curriculum? Can this negative view of cell phones in the classroom be changed? To obtain more knowledge about my topic, I researched the causes, percentages of student cell phone use as well as related but more specific surveys such as students who disagree/agree on phones being a detriment in the classroom, and solutions that can be applied to the problem. One of the main problems with mobile phone use in school is due to the amount of over usage of these†¦show more content†¦Reasons like so are the reasons phones have such negative association in a classroom. Which is why I think that classrooms need to make that powerful tool of a cell phone work for them. If a student had to use their phone for class assignments then they would be less likely to get distracted with their cell phones as we now actually need to use them for a specific purpose. In the article â€Å"Expanding Access to Learning with Mobile Digital Devices† (2017). Associate professor at the University of Mississippi Jeff Carter argues â€Å"I believe that the development of learning apps for these devices (and other kinds of digital learning tools) will be useful for many adult learners† (53). He enhances that argument by pointing out the multiple times where technology has helped in improving education for those with learning disabilities. He uses such an example to point out that if those with learning ailments can improve their workload while using these tools, then a fully functional person can use it and get even greater results. In the article â€Å"The Impact of Digital Mobile Devices in Higher Education† (2015). Sevillano and Vasquez-Cano from the University of Granada in Spain state â€Å"Without doubt, ubiquitous learning forms a new educational paradigm that stems from new media and technology resources based on the principles of mobility,Show MoreRelatedImportance Of Cell Phones In The Classroom1719 Words   |  7 PagesThe idea of cell phones in the classroom is an immensely debated topic. Researchers and professors have done research and conducted experiments to decide if having technology in the classroom is beneficial or simply a distraction. Many school’s policies on the use of technology vary depending on the type of education system. The statistics given based on whether cell phone use is permitted at school is oftentimes used to support one side of the argument. People tend to lean towards a specific sideRead MoreCell Phones in the Classroom: Keep Them Banned, or Incorporate The m?1413 Words   |  6 PagesCell phones are quickly becoming a child and teenager’s new best friend. In fact, they even seem to be replacing human contact, and are now how both children and teenagers communicate with each other. Cell phone sales have sky rocketed at an alarming rate, and many of the consumers are under the age of 18, meaning they are still in elementary and high school. Society has influenced students to feel that they need to own a cell phone to be â€Å"cool†, thus making the issue of cell phones in the classroomRead MorePros Of Cell Phones At School755 Words   |  4 PagesCirelli, Cheryl. â€Å"Pros of cell phones in school.† Retrieved from http://cellphones.Lovetoknow.co Cheryl Cirelli’s â€Å"Pros of cell phones in school† is an excellent resource for debating in favor of cellphones in school. It offers examples and evidence to the topic of cellphones in the classroom. Cirelli explains that cellphones are not only an in stant form of communication, but also a learning aid. In addition, cellphones can be used as a collaboration tool for group projects. Overall, she supportsRead MoreIncreasing Usage Of Cell Phones1174 Words   |  5 PagesAbstract Smart phone allows us to communicate with the people who we wish to stay connected with. Nowadays due to the over usage of cell phones we often find ourselves wasting too much time on it, obesity growing in teenagers, distant relationships with people etc. after researching we found that the increasing usage of cell phone has a great effect on students studying in high schools or collages such as their behavior, dropping grades etc. Concerns about dependency on mobile phones corresponded toRead MoreCell Phones Should Not Be Banned976 Words   |  4 Pages The use of smartphones is becoming more common, but at times the use of cell phones can cause problems for a school system. Cell phone usage during school has increased significantly since technology has allowed us to access the internet or social media and text or call anyone whenever we desire. In certain circumstances, however, the use of cell phones should not be allowed such as in class. Some students may face a challenge by p utting their phone away just for a split second, and they cannotRead MoreEssay Adolescents: Leave the Cell Phones At Home1676 Words   |  7 PagesPost inception of the cell phone has fueled a shift in the civility of adolescent social interaction. Gone are the days of seeing teenagers imaginatively playing alongside each other with the only restriction being his or her ability to effectively communicate. Virtual conversations, text messages and online social networks have replaced development of social skills through personal interactions. Some educators insist that cell phones provide a unique opportunity to capitalize on the learning experienceRead MoreOur Distracted Culture : What Was It?1643 Words   |  7 Pagesinto depth on how our culture is addicted to devices, specifically cell phones, that correlates with social media and how it affects relationships and everyday life. He claims, The harsh truth is we Americans have become addicted...is taking a toll on everything from nurturing our authentic relationships to simply paying attention to what matters during our brief lifetimes† (5H). In other words, these distractions, mainly cell phones, withdrawal us from life and lead us to fail to communicate withRead MoreCell Phones Harm Students Academically Essay1663 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Even when they have a computer or tablet at their fingertips, students prefer to use a mobile phone for projects, most adults wouldn t undertake without a keyboard and mouse† (Wells D.1). Efforts to incorporate cell phone in the classroom is quickly gaining momentum (Compoy and Harte A.3). In a 2013 poll of 2600 schools, 10 percent of the schools were allowing to use mobile devices this is up from 3 percent in 2010 (Compoy and Harte A.3). Students of today seem more connected to their wirelessRead MoreThe Effects Of Cell Phones On Our Lives1053 Words   |  5 Pagesimprove our everyday lives. The wide use of cell phones has caused a remarkable impact on p hysical, and social aspects of our life. Cell phones impacts have contributed positively to our lives, but still others have influenced negatively on our life. With technology, the way we communicate has changed over the past year with our smart phones we can surf the internet, check our social media accounts, use GPS, and text and call our families and friends. The cell phones have made a significant impactRead MoreThe Effect Of Cell Phones On Teenager s Lives843 Words   |  4 PagesThe Effect of Cell Phones in Teenager’s Lives iPhone 5, 5s, 5c, 6, 6XL, Droid, Blackberry. The list of different cell phones that are in the possession of the teenage population across the world, is endless. The use of a cell phone especially in the teenage years, is almost like an addiction. This is mostly because of the endless possibilities having to do with a cell phone. Today cell phones are basically mobile computers at your fingertips. Within a second the Internet can be searched for

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Markting Mix Free Essays

Marketing Mix Activity 2. Zara’s Objectives, Strategies and Problems. 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Markting Mix or any similar topic only for you Order Now 1 Objectives The first objective for Zara is to continue their expansion in countries like Switzerland, Italy, and Czech Republic and also on other continents: Latin America and Asia. A second objective is to continue their stores’ growth in the countries where already exists in order to consolidate its position and increase its market share. By the accomplishment of the two objectives Zara is looking to create enduring profitable growth. 2. 2 Strategies I will start with the product market penetration used by Zara and more precisely with the product line stretching (one of the tactics allowed by the product market penetration) and we can see in OUR MISSION STATEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY Through Zara’s business model, we aim to contribute to the sustainable development of society and that of the environment with which we interacts. The company’s commitment to the environment is included in Inditex Group’s Corporate Responsibility Statement, published on our website: www. inditex. com. The following are some of the objectives and actions included in the framework of the group’s environmental commitment and have a direct impact on our shops and customers: AT THE STORE * – We save energy. * – The eco-friendly shop. * – We produce less waste, and recycle. * – Our commitment extends to all our staff. * – An environmentally aware team. We save energy. The eco-friendly store.? We are implementing an eco-friendly management model in our shops in order to reduce energy consumption by 20%, introducing sustainability and efficiency criteria. This management model sets out measures to be applied to all processes, including the design of the shop itself, the lighting, heating and cooling systems and the possibility of recycling furniture and decoration. We produce less waste and recycle. Recycling hangers and alarms, which are picked up from our shops and processed into other plastic elements, is an example of our waste management policy. Millions of hangers and alarms are processed each year and both the cardboard and plastic used for packaging are also recycled. Our commitment extends to all our staff. Increased awareness among our team members.? We hold In-company awareness campaigns and specific multimedia-based training programmes to educate our staff in sustainable practices, such as limiting energy consumption, using sustainable transport and modifying behaviour patterns. WITH THE PRODUCT * – We use ecological fabrics. * – Organic cotton. * – We manufacture PVC-free footwear. We use ecological fabrics. Organic cotton.? Zara supports organic farming and makes some of its garments out of organic cotton (100% cotton, completely free of pesticides, chemicals and bleach). They have specific labels and are easy to spot in our shops. We produce PVC-free footwear. No petroleum derivatives or non-biodegradable materials are used in the production of our footwear (PVC free). IN TRANSPORT We use biodiesel fuel.? Zara’s fleet of lorries, which transport more than 200 million items of clothing a year, use 5% biodiesel fuel. This allows us to reduce our CO2 emissions by 500 tons. Zara’s Marketing Strategy Posted on September 16, 2011 by Conrad Chan The fashion company Zara has a marketing strategy that is quite unique. Zara only spends about 0. % of their revenue on promotion. This would be the reason Zara does not appear on television or poster advertisements. Zara focuses heavily on their product, place and pricing as opposed to promotion. Zara rarely advertises any store sales or   have sales promotions other than sale items unlike other retailers. It is also interesting to note that Zara never places their brand or logo on their products. I n contrast to local retailers like J2 Clothing, Zara’s sales associates do not need to focus on personal selling. Their customer service within the store is rather weak. It is their innovative products and affordable pricing that keeps customers returning to their store. Their products seemingly advertises itself. In addition, Zara has remarkable logistics and they are able to get a product from design to the shelf in just two weeks. With such efficiency, they are able to produce thousands of new designs a year. In fact, Zara produces new products every week as said on their website. Zara is known for their fast fashion, which means popular products may disappear off the shelf within days, forcing customers to constantly check for new items. Zara also markets it’s brand through rapid expansion. With more than 1,500 stores around the world in over 70 countries, they open around 150 new stores every year. With the brand becoming world renown, the company is also focusing on sustainable marketing by opening stores which consume 30% less energy compared to the average conventional store. The new stores also save 50% of water consumption and maintains their CO2 emissions below 150 toms a year. It is no wonder  a  Louis Vuitton  spokesperson described Zara as â€Å"possibly the most innovative and  devastating  retailer in the world†. Zara’s Success Strategy for Dummies Zara, or more precisely its parent company Inditex, has become the world’s largest retailer. Here is how they did it in 3 steps! But first, just a few impressive numbers†¦ * Annual sales: â‚ ¬13. 8 billion (? 11. 2 billion) * Garments produced in one year: 840 million * 5,900 stores in 85 countries * Zara has become a renowned fashion phenomenon with its ability to provide stylish interpretations of catwalk trends at a reasonable price and at exceptional speed. So how do they do it? STEP ONE: Find out what customers want It all starts with the store staff†¦ â€Å"What if this dress was a little shorter? Would you like this jumper in another colour? What if we added zippers at the ankles? †Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ These are questions you often hear at Zara. This is because Zara’s store staff has been trained to find out what you want. Store managers are really motivated to do this because as much as 70% of their salaries can come from commissions. When the day is over and the store is closed, the staff turns into a sort of investigation unit, searching for clues in the pile of unsold items that customers tried on. They look for any evidence of colour, style and fabric trends. Geeky computer stuff†¦ Then, armed with Digital Assistants, they store their report on a very intelligent information system and combine it with the hard data captured at the cash register. Zara’s Headquarters in Spain can then access this information to find out current trends in what customers want. STEP TWO: Offer what customers want Designing†¦ From their Headquarters in La Coruna (Spain), designers and product developers look at all the data collected from the stores to create clothes we have shown interest for. By the way, they design over 30,000 items a year versus only 4,000 by H;M†¦ WOW! Zara has often been accused of copying high-end brands, but always got away with it because they always change their design just enough to escape copyright laws. Producing†¦ The average time for a Zara concept to go from idea to appearance in store is 15 days, while it takes H;M about 3 to 5 months! This is because Inditex runs a vertical supply chain, which means that it possesses its own manufacturing and distribution capabilities. A Dolce ; Gabbana dress photographed on fashion week takes months to arrive on the shop floor, but Zara manages to produce something awfully similar in just a couple of weeks! How infuriating for designers?! By making roughly 40% of its own fabric and purchasing most of its dyes from its own subsidiaries, Zara gains a lot of flexibility and saves a lot of time. It actually dyes its cloth in its own factories as late as possible so it can react more quickly to any trend shift that might occur mid season. ? STEP THREE: Attracting customers Frequent and limited production†¦ Zara stores receive deliveries of new clothes twice a week. This constant arrival of new, limited-run items encourages us to visit Zara much more often and has created an urgency to buy. I definitely feel this. If I see a jacket I really like from Zara, I know I have to buy it now, or it will probably be gone by next week. No advertising†¦ it’s all about location! You will never see a Zara flashy campaign, that’s because Inditex doesn’t advertise. In fact, it barely even has a marketing department! As Mark Tungate describes it, â€Å"The secret to Zara’s appeal is that, although shopping there is cheap, it doesn’t feel cheap†. This phenomenon is due to Inditex’s heavy investments on the beauty and historical appeal of it’s stores. It wants its stores to look and feel like a luxury shop. Zara will place its store very close to luxury brands, targeting each city’s smartest shopping areas, and then buy a grand, modern and spacious store. In fact, Zara bought the most expensive building ever sold in Manhattan: 666, 5th Avenue for the modest sum of $324 million! How to cite Markting Mix, Papers

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Strategic Planning Essays (969 words) - Strategic Management

Strategic Planning Strategic Planning: A Dynamic Duty Tiqila Bryson-Finney Organization Theory And Design August 7, 2000 Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola are household names. Together they control soft drink market. Their success can be attributed to their overall strategy to produce and promote their products. They both decided to build global brands to bottlers throughout the world. And a portion of the proceeds goes toward advertising to build and maintain brand awareness. The bottlers are responsible for producing and distributing to vending machines, supermarkets, restaurants, and other retail outlets. However, the advertising is left up to Coca-Cola and Pepsi. In addition, the bottlers must sign an agreement that prohibits them from distributing competing cola brands. Their strategy is simple, yet dynamic. It forces bottlers to enter into exclusive agreements, which creates a high barrier to entry into the industry. Any potential competitor must create their distribution network rather than use the existing one. And the large amounts of money spent on advertising helps to develop a global brand name and differentiate their products. Furthermore, brand loyalty allows both companies to charge high prices. Accordingly, managers must study the way other organizations behave and identify their strategies. In an uncertain or unstable competitive environment, managers must hold fast in thorough planning to find a strategy that allows them to compete effectively. Strategic planning involves three major steps: determining an organizations mission and major goals, choosing strategies to realize the mission and goals, and implementation of the strategies. Determining the organizations mission and goals is the first step of the planning process. To define the mission managers must ask themselves Who are our customers, are their needs being satisfied, and how are we satisfying them? These questions allow the manager to identify the needs for the present and future. They also help the managers to plan and establish appropriate goals and disregard inappropriate goals. Developing goals give an organization a sense of direction. Coca-Colas mission to maximize shareowner value over time is backed by six key beliefs: 1) Consumer demand drives everything we do. 2) Brand Coca-Cola is the core of our business. 3) We will serve customers a broad selection of the nonalcoholic ready to drink beverages they want to drink throughout the day. 4) We will be the best marketers in the world. 5) We will think and act locally. 6) We will lead as a model corporate citizen (Cola, 2000). These objectives are their strategy to increase sales to improve profit. Their goals are ambitious and require that managers continually improve performance capabilities. Once the mission and goals are agreed upon and formally stated in a corporate plan, the next step is to formulate a strategy. Strategy formulation involves managers analyzing an organizations current situation and then developing strategies to accomplish its mission and achieve its goals. It begins with analyzing the factors within the organization and outside, in the environment, that may affect its ability to meet its goals now and in the future. SWOT analysis is a technique used by managers to analyze these factors. Its planning exercise identifies organizational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Based on SWOT analysis managers are capable of implementing the best strategies to achieve its organizations mission and goals. It is assumed Coca-Cola has a well-developed strategy, brand name reputation, good marketing skills and differentiation advantage as strengths. One of their opportunities was expanding into foreign markets. One of their weaknesses would be their recent conflict and politics. And a potential threat would be an increase in industry rivalry (Pepsi). With the SWOT analysis completed, and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats identified managers can determine strategies to achieve the organizations mission and goals. These strategies should enable the organization to attain its goals by taking advantage of opportunities, attacking threats, building strengths, and correcting weaknesses. After identifying the strategies needed to achieve an organizations mission and goals, managers must confront the challenge of putting those strategies to action. Strategy implementation requires managers to allocate responsibilities to appropriate individuals or groups, draft detailed action plans that specify how a strategy is to be implemented, establish a timetable for implementation that includes precise, measurable goals linked to the attainment of the action plan, allocate appropriate resources to the responsible individuals or groups,

Friday, March 20, 2020

Without Faith, There Can be no True Virtue

Without Faith, There Can be no True Virtue Introduction Religion is a concept that has been frequently used to denote the spiritual dominance and practices of Christians. It sets itself apart from the portrayal of worldly perceptions and knowledge. In fact, it is doubted whether those who do not embrace and worship ghost, divinity, or other spirits, and those who have the essential and natural vision on humanity should search for divine knowledge.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Without Faith, There Can be no True Virtue? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is always difficult to understand Christian teachings because understanding how God exists is also not easy. Based on biblical teachings, there are supernatural and natural beings. Understanding these characters is essential for spiritual nurturing. According to White and Cessario (2001), good religious studies and personal convictions are thus very necessary in nurturing spiritual faith. Considering these two concepts in our everyday undertakings is important in advancing the faith of an individual and groups. It is not possible to please the Almighty where there is no faith and gracious actions. In the bible, Enoch justified the act of faith and delighted God. Faith imparts life to the spirit of individuals and any spiritual task that is accomplished without faith generates transgression. Therefore, the Lord considers those who lack the faith to be lifeless in everything they do. In the bible, any faithless individual is compared to the adorned picture that is dull but depicts that object. Conversely, the spiritual believes that lack affection appears to be wonderful and is not absurd before man. Although the faithless responsibilities might be sparkling before human sights, they hardly pervade the everlasting life according to God. Such responsibilities are perceptive and obscure because they are of good quality and spirited effects, but are not predetermined according to biblical teachings. It is, therefore, imperative to base our knowledge on St Augustine’s teachings that there can be no virtue without faith. Being Righteous, Sinless and Gracious Faith is hardly acknowledged where there are no righteous virtues since it may not be instilled without gracious acts. Faith and grace are normally linked up to create real virtue. For one to be righteous, it is important to embrace and live a sinless life because this will lead to faith nourishment. In fact, gracious acts facilitate the faith we possess in Christ and help us to be accepted by God.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, in the bible, a robber who endured pain alongside Jesus had strong faith in Christ and believed in God. The gracious God later forgave the thug and cleansed him of his sins because he had faith (White and Cessario, 2001). Hence, the Bible teaches that spiritual nourishment cannot lack life, but life can be without the nourishment of self-righteousness. Nobody who sins before God and fails to repent is righteous. As the Bible asserts, the Almighty may not be gracious or have mercy on such a sinful person. Being Virtuous and Having Faith in God According to the biblical teachings, man is obligated to have faith to nurture the good virtue in him. It is true that people who excel by executing their desired virtues have no everlasting life. Like the biblical burglar, he had no desirable qualities but repented before God and was granted time to live. Furthermore, the Bible teaches that God will not hear excuses and objections from any man who sins and waits to be forgiven after the time for repenting have elapsed. The Bible affirms that it is the only faith that will save everyone from the bondage of sin (Zschokke, 1830). However, salvation is going astray when we fail to acknowledge faith and dispense our lives to the virtues relatin g to bad qualities. The Bible claims that no good feature in man can be available to an endless life that lacks faith. Thus, our work cannot justify our actions, but rather our faith may help us to acquire the desired and prospective virtues. The tendencies that are present in the course of good personal acts are human virtue. Faith represents the devotion itself, therefore we have fashioned and indistinct faith. A fashioned faith entails two things namely perfecting it and believing it. All these are the proceeds from intelligence confirmed by the authority of our will. However, indistinct faith is not a virtue and does not necessitate precision on the part of man’s willpower. Besides, the Bible teaches that temperament would not be a virtue if cautions were not there to coherently control and determine the power of man. Hence, all practices that possess values of excellent human accomplishments are virtues.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Without F aith, There Can be no True Virtue? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This implies that any spiritual object pertaining to faith is beyond human explanations (Zschokke, 1830). God reveals these spiritual objects since they are outside the deliberation of God’s creatures. Not unless, you have sturdy faith to envy good virtues then God can reveal them to humanity. It is clear that God inculcates convention in people whose achievements are higher than their temperaments (St Thomas Aquinas, 2000). St Augustine Teachings on Faith According to St Augustine, there can be no good care held where faith is not present. One must not imagine that a man will possibly do some finer action without faith. Thus, we ought not to lay down the first-class mechanism before affection. Although men take these occupations as admirable honor, to God they are of no value and not acceptable. A faithless person is like a horse competing out of the system way and u ndergoing an enormous work without any intention (St Thomas Aquinas, 2007). Consequently, if one had faith in God, he safeguards the virtue he has as an individual. It is for this reason that where there is no faith there is no excellent livelihood. Augustine saw that faith must control the intention of a man to have good qualities. Jesus Christ said that his entire body was darkness if his eyes were nothing. Here, the eyeball signified the intention as specified by Augustine. In fact, there is no smile if a man does something with godly intention. Such actions leave one without good grace in that there is a lack of affection when we are working in love. Measuring good virtues should not be by the facts themselves, but by the aim of the results for doing so (Aquinas, 2009). One may think he or she is implementing a proper virtue, yet it is an activity directly relating to a vice. It is not just before God for one to feed the hungry and dress the naked without having faith, respect, and love for Him. Otherwise, this pleasing quality is unproductive, worthless, and dead in the face of the Lord. St Augustine demands that whether one fades or not, a faithless grace is nothing. The allegation is true in that faith does speak well about the work of God. Whereas we can fell to good virtues in building strong relations, we are hopeless without faith in Christ. Faith works well with charity. Therefore, it is important for an individual to have faith to set a stable foundation in God (St Thomas Aquinas, 2007). It is in faith where we pass all other virtues like righteousness, self-control, knowledge, and influence as Augustine reveals. Without faith, we only have the shadows and name of these good virtues, but not the commitment itself. Moreover, in the livelihood of those missing true faith, there is sin and waste. It relates to the author of integrity and the dishonest virtue that occurs where there is no faith in God even if the qualities of an individual are the bes t.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In St Augustine’s statement, the pagans, Jews, and the heretics fed and dressed the poor. However, their work of good care was hopeless because they did it without faith. He compared them to a turtle who had found a nest for keeping her young birds so that they could not be lost. It was clear that if one had faith in God, he could protect the virtue he has individually. Similarly, the nest signifies the faith that protects the birds (Aquinas, 2009). Thus, we can also safeguard our loyalty through faith so that our rewards remain unbroken. Justification of Augustine’s Disputes by Other Saints The spirit of having good virtues where faith is absent was in dispute by St Augustine. St Ambrose justified that by explaining the ordinary strength of the character that survives the vices. One would beautify up the time of faithless life and achieve the impossible virtues. He challenged that without faith no respect to the true God. As a result, any person is inevitable to confu se a virtue for a vice (Saint Thomas Aquinas, n.d). St Chrysostom John wrote that many of the descendants lacking faith in them are not in the group of Christ. They may prosper in good works of kindness, have fairness, and always come out in care and sympathy, yet their work yield no fruit because they lack faith. He linked this to the story where the Jews asked Jesus concerning what they should do to be righteous. All he did was to call for faith in the work of the Lord. One should believe, and immediate faith becomes complete in him. Through this, he shall thrive in good virtues in that not anything is excellent without faith. St Chrysostom in the same way insisted that one is lifeless when he excels and shines in good works without God’s faith (St Thomas Aquinas, 2007). It further shows having the valuable and godly burial place whilst attaining nothing from them. Conclusion In general, one should have a strong faith to have the pleasing virtues. The moral standards result ing from good features are linked with one another. Moreover, it is not normal for the open principles like grace, love, and faith to come to mind without charity. Compassionate faith cannot keep on living without moral virtues. The inquiry about charity, hopefulness, and sincerity direct us to the conclusion that there can be no charity without hope and faith. If one has faith in God, he preserves the good virtue he has in character. Therefore, without faith, we only have the shades and names of these good virtues, but not the commitment. It is the only faith that will save everyone from the oppression of sin. Salvation is going lost when we take no notice of faith and give out our lives to the virtues relating to bad qualities. Thus, faith is essential for true virtue in all spiritual aspects. Reference List Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica: Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province. Alabama: Mobile Reference Press, 2009. St. Thomas Aquinas. Summa Theologica Complet e. Cairo: Library of Alexandria, n.d. St. Thomas Aquinas. Summa Theologica: Second Section. New York: Cosimo, Inc., 2007. St. Thomas Aquinas. The Summa Theologica. Raleigh: Hayes Barton Press, 2000. White, Kevin, and Romanus Cessario. On the Virtues. Washington: CUA Press, 2001. Zschokke, Johann. Hours of Devotion for the Promotion of True Christianity and Family Worship. London: Oxford University, 1830.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Christmas Card Quotes

Christmas Card Quotes This Christmas, add a special touch to your Christmas cards with these wonderful Christmas card quotes. Write the most appropriate quote on it, and your greeting card will stand out in a pile of other Christmas cards. Secular Quotes for Christmas Cards Charles Schulz  Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone. Helen Steiner Rice Peace on earth will come to stay,When we live Christmas every day.Thomas TusserAt Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.Winston ChurchillWe make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give. Garrison KeillorA lovely thing about Christmas is that its compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.Bess Streeter Aldrich Christmas Eve  was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with a melody that would last forever.John Greenleaf WhittierA little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year†¦ These make a  Merry Christmas! Charles DickensI will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. John Greenleaf WhittierSomehow, not only for ChristmasBut all the long year through,The joy that you give to othersIs the joy that comes back to you. Bob HopeMy idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? Norman Vincent PealeChristmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.Religious Quotes for Christmas Cards George Mathew AdamsLet us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years. Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart.Grace Noll CrowellWhatever else be lost among the years, Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing: Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears, Let us hold close one day, remembering its poignant meaning for the hearts of men. Let us get back our childlike faith again.Helen Steiner RiceBless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind. Eva K. LogueA Christmas candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away; While quite unselfish, it grows small. Charles DickensFor it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself. Luke, 2:14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.