Australian Conscription in Vietnam War Essay Example for Free

Drunk as drunk free essay sample

Flushed as tanked This sonnet is about the vulgar connection between two individuals. The pair lay in the blossoms under the night sky and kiss each other until what appears months after the fact. I think the couple portrayed are in the beginning times of their relationship. They go through the entire day with their bodies squeezed against each other and kiss in the blossoms. They are so devoured in one another that they disregard rest, food, and water. I think its every one of the somewhat misrepresented yet it is unquestionably delineating a youthful, enthusiastic love. Neruda utilizes numerous analogies in this sonnet for the impact of making a couple of desire filled sweethearts. He compares them to angle under a net of our kisses. The two get to know each other, and cant consider something besides that. He additionally utilizes symbolism, saying miour wet body wedged between my wet body and the strake of our vessel that is made of blossoms. He utilizes symbolism to portray two darlings lying on the grass, and squeezed against every others bodies. He causes it to appear the desire (and love) between these individuals is wedged together, I. . indistinguishable. The tone of the sonnet is exceptionally adoring and sentimental. The storyteller is one of the sweethearts, which makes you see their association better. The utilization of analogies, representations and tone in this sonnet show the quality of Nerudas composing. He makes you alcoholic as alcoholic on turpentine from his composition. Young lady. Subjects The Danger of Female Sexuality Even however the little girl doesnt appear to have yet arrived at youth, the mother stresses that her present conduct, whenever proceeded, will prompt an existence of wantonness. The mother accepts that a womans notoriety or decency decides a mind-blowing nature in the network. Sexuality, in this manner, must be deliberately protected and even hidden to keep up a decent front. Thusly, the mother joins numerous angential articles and undertakings to the untouchable subject of sexuality, for example, crushing bread before getting it, and quite a bit of her recommendation focuses on the most proficient method to maintain decency. She reprimands her little girl for the manner in which she strolls, the manner in which she plays marbles, and how she identifies with others. The moms steady accentuation on this subject shows the amount she needs her little girl to understand that she isn't a kid and that she needs to act such that will win her regard from the network. The Transformative Power of Domesticity The mother accepts that residential information won't just spare her little girl from an ife of indiscrimination and ruin however will likewise engage her as the leader of her family and a beneficial individual from the network. She essentially accepts that there are just two sorts of ladies: the good kind and the prostitutes. Without a doubt for some Antiguan ladies, local information prompts efficiency, which thus wins regard from family and society. Family unit work along these lines brings power and even esteem to ladies notwithstanding keeping them occupied and away from allurement. Perusers perceive the respect the mother has for the intensity of home life due to the various explicit guidelines she gives her little girl, for example, how to ook pumpkin wastes, clear, develop okra, purchase bread, and wash garments. For her, family life brings decency; closing up a dress sew in this manner turns out to be in excess of a network. Themes The mother over and again underscores food all through her talk to strengthen her conviction that joy originates from home life. The acts†and art†of making pumpkin wastes, tea, bread pudding, doukona, and pepper pot in this manner take on more noteworthy importance as components that interface ladies to their families, their family units, and the more prominent network. From numerous points of view, food will likewise be the moms most noteworthy heritage as he passes old family plans and culinary customs down to her little girl and people in the future of ladies. Strangely, nourishments, for example, doukonaand pepper pot additionally go about as stays that solidly place the story in Antigua and the Caribbean. Referencing these particular local nourishments permits Kincaid to reproduce a world that is clear and not the same as our own without destroying the storys structure with superfluous portrayals. Fabric Cloth and its relationship to appearances and appropriate housekeeping return all through the story to feature the significance of decency. The mother knows cap a people dress uncovers much about character and character and that decrepitude suggests sluggishness and neediness. Washing, sewing, and pressing permit ladies not exclusively to extend their status yet additionally their profitability and self-esteem. Tidiness in appearance likewise relates to the communitys impression of a womans sexual decency and profound quality. Sorted out, beneficial, all around prepped ladies seem able and in charge and therefore have considerably less possibility of falling under doubt of having had unlawful associations with men. The mother accordingly focuses on the significance of dress and appearance to spare the little girl from an existence of isrespect. Images Benna Antiguan folksongs, or benna, represent sexuality, a subject the mother fears her little girl definitely knows a lot about. Verifiably, local Antiguans sangbenna to covertly spread shameful gossipy tidbits and tattle under the uncomprehending British people groups noses. Singing benna in Sunday school, in this manner, speaks to noncompliance as well as evil, illegal information that cant be talked about straightforwardly out in the open, let alone in chapel. Despite the fact that the little girl may not deliberately liken benna with sexuality as her mom does, her protestations by the by uggest she realizes without a doubt bennas enchanting force, persona, and illegal characteristics.

Where to Start with Algerian Literature

Where to Start with Algerian Literature My favorite Algerian book critic, Dr. Nadia Ghanem, has  put together an overview of whos whoâ€"and whats whatâ€"when it comes to Algerian literature  in English. In total, she found around 100 books. The first French translation of an Algerian literary work was published in 1956. After that, the first Arabic translationâ€"of Taher Wattars The Earthquakeâ€"came in 2001. As of yet, no full-length Tamazight translation has appeared. In general, there is little Tamazight work in translation. The work of the Kabyle poet Ahcene Mariche is an exception, Ghanem says, thanks to friends who regularly translate his collections into English. Ghanems 99 books represent novels, memoirs, and poetry collections. Among these, a third have appeared since 2010. A Few More Observations Arabic literature in Algeria is vibrant, but severely underrepresented in English translation. While both genders are under-represented in Arabic, things get ridiculous when it comes to womens writing. Only  one  womans full-length works have been translated from Arabic to English: those of Ahlam Mostaghanemi. We did find another woman, Zhour Ounissi, who has a translated essay in a collection. Assuming you wont read all 99, Dr. Ghanem and I put together this list: a six-book start on Algerian literary prose. For a start at poetry, check out Words Without Borders January supplement, ed. Marilyn Hacker. 1. The Earthquake  by Tahar Wattar, tr. William Granara Dr. Ghanem says: anyone interested in 1960s and 1990s Algeria should read The Earthquake  by Tahar Wattar  and The Star of Algiers  by Aziz Chouaki. 2. The Star of Algiers  by Aziz Chouaki, tr.  Ros Schwartz and Lulu Norman The Star of Algiers is set in Algeria in 1990â€"91, just on cusp of the Algerian civil war. 3. Morituri  by Yasmina Khadra, tr. David Herman Yasmina Khadra is by far the most translated into English, and the works are…uneven. Indeed, Ghanem calls choosing among his works a game of Russian roulette. But, she adds, his Inspector Llob series, starting with Morituri,  is exceptionally well constructed and thoroughly entertaining. 4. The Obstinate Snail by Rachid Boudjedra, tr. Leon Stephens This is one of my favorites, brilliant absurdist humor. 5. Tomboy, Nina Bouraoui, tr.  Jehanne-Marie Gavarini and  Marjorie Attignol Salvodon According to Dr. Ghanem, Algerias only out lesbian writer. 6.  The Tongues Blood Does Not Run Dry by  Assia Djebar, tr. Tegan Raleigh Last, stories from the internationally acclaimed, unmissable Djebar. Ghanem told me to choose anything of Djebars, so these seven short stories are it.

The Impressions Made by Unrealistic Images of Women

Have you ever looked through a magazine at the ads and thought you would like to be as thin or fit as the models in it? Many adolescent girls today are faced with these images on a daily basis. At this age girls are very impressionable and already go through tons of peer pressure just to be faced with pressure from advertisements and shows to be unnaturally thin. All magazine and billboard owners should be required to publish unretouched and realistic images of women because super models negatively affect young womens mental and physical health. Some may believe that models in the fashion industry are healthy and make good role models for young girls. Some may also argue that it is not the medias responsibility to ensure that young girls dont gain unrealistic views about their body image. Also others might believe that blame shouldnt be cast on the people in charge of the media but instead maybe the models themselves. Being constantly bombarded with these images of false perfection c auses girls to have low self esteem. A persons body image is closely related to their self-esteem (Huebscher, 2014). During adolescence is when girls bodies go through puberty and they gain more body fat (Rierdan, Koff, 1997). During this time the rates of depression in adolescence increase (Rierdan, Koff, 1997). According to Huebscher paper,concerns about the body have been documented as widespread among female populations, with adolescence considered an especially vulnerable periodShow MoreRelatedAnorexia: Role of Media600 Words   |  3 Pagesdisorder and a mental condition that can be life threatening if not well managed. People suffering from this condition have several common characteristics that includes trying to reduce weight even when they do not weigh much, they suffer from their body image due to low self-esteem thinking they are overweight when they are not, and most of them have been found to exercise a lot with the intension of losing weight. The individuals sufferin g from anorexia tend to more often hide their eating behavior toRead MoreSocio Cultural Morals Of Feminine Beauty1212 Words   |  5 Pagesin all forms of favored media, battering women with images that portray what is advised to be the impeccable body.These morals of beauty are almost completely far-off for most women; a majority of the models advertised on television and in advertisements are below what is considered healthy body weight. Mass media s use of unrealistic models says an implicit message that in order for a woman to be beautiful, she must be unhealthy.The media puts an image of beauty that is unattainable. They do thisRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women894 Words   |  4 Pagesrights were almost non-existent. Throughout the history of the world, women of all cultures have held very few rights and are of slim mention in history. And over a century later, society seems to attack women from a different angle, through objectification in modern advertising. Nearly everywh ere imaginable, there are advertisements. They put words and images together to get the attention of consumers. The initial impression from an ad is that the advertisers are just trying to sell their productsRead MoreIts a Barbie World1114 Words   |  5 PagesIt’s a Barbie World Abstract Barbie dolls have been around for many years and many young girls have gotten a Barbie as a gift at some time in their lives. Barbie is made out of plastic and has unrealistic features to her. Her body proportions are not possible and her look only relates to less than half of the human population. Barbie has the perfect, dream world where she has her dream car, house, an impeccable wardrobe, and of course the man of her dreams. Many girls grow up and admire BarbieRead MoreGender Discrimination: A Global Issue1277 Words   |  6 PagesIn 2012, women reported making only 77 cents compared to a man’s dollar. Also, it is reported that â€Å"thirty four percent of all male wage earners supervise other people, while only sixteen percent of all female wage earners are in a similar positions† (Wlodarski). This is one of the most common examples of gender discrimination. Gender discrimination, also known as sexism, is the unjust treatment of either males or females. The most c ommon form of gender discrimination, as shown in the example aboveRead MoreHarmful Women Stereotypes Essay975 Words   |  4 Pageswide ranging harmful representations of women have now achieved a new level in popular culture. Every medium (television, movies, magazines, games) has the problems of their own of depicting women. Whereas there are various other issues related to the way women are repented for viewers, for the purposes of this essay it is useful to explore gender stereotypes and negative depiction of women in movies, which also include overly sexualized and unrealistic images in movies. All together these issues shoreRead MoreThe Media And Its Effects On Society1736 Words   |  7 Pagesgrowing every day. From digitally editing magazine ads, to starved models, to plastic people, advertising paints an unrealistic and unhealthy body image to the public. Advertisements that display these plastic people as the epitome of beauty, cause otherwise normal, healthy people to i nvest in unhealthy diet plans which can lead to eating disorders, and even premature death. Women desperately trying to compete with plastic models are not the only casualty of this cruel psychological war; men areRead MorePhotoshop : How Does It Really Affect Girls And Teenagers?1225 Words   |  5 Pagesmake them thinner. But some people may say they might not like seeing someone fat or a more realistic picture because it would make them feel bad. The problem in that is these younger or naive girls are being affected and feeling bad about these unrealistic pictures of these super skinny models. Using photoshop is creating illusions of these models that look anorexic and if the media used something more realistic they would realize they are normal and not need to drastically lose weight, go tanningRead MoreBarbie Doll s Influence On Young Girls919 Words   |  4 Pagescalling attention to the images children are exposed in cartoons, or Disney productions, but what about the toys they play with? In the death grip of my two year old sister, like many other young girls, lies a fairy princess Barbie doll. Barbie has been the toy of choice for girls everywhere since her debut fifty years ago, representing the ideal girl with a perfect life to match that can not be achieved. Barbie and other dolls alike negatively affect young girls causing body image issues and low self-esteemRead MoreThe Little Mermaid: Disneyfication1238 Words   |  5 PagesDisney’s Portrayal of Women and Simplification of Morals For most people, the first image that comes to mind when the subject of Walt Disney’s animated movies comes up is the studio’s popular princesses. Ever since Snow White made her debut in 1937, Disney has cornered the market on princesses. One primary topic that critics have discussed in Disney’s films is the way princesses are portrayed. The roles of the female characters are especially drawing the interest of academic critics. Jack Zipes

Witness Old Amish Society - 1474 Words

#65279; Witness In the 1985 film witness director peter weir explores the sharp cultural conflicts between the old Amish society of western Pennsylvania and the modern American world of crime and violence. The main character, Philadelphia police detective John Book (played by Harrison Ford), is forced into hiding by a group of corrupt fellow officers looking for a little Amish boy (played by Lukas Haas). The boy witnesses a brutal killing and identifies the policeman who did it from a photograph on the wall at headquarters. John Book and his witness hide in the house of the boys#8217;s mother Rachel (played by Kelly McGillis) on a farm in the Amish country. The detective and the Amish widow†¦show more content†¦Book#8217;s world is the opposite of innocent, but we soon learn that he is incorruptible, hardworking and clean in his morals. His handgun becomes a major symbol of violence and a force that he brings from the big city to the quiet Amish world. But he adapts to the new way of life and learns other ways of dealing with enemies, an example of character evolution. In the last sequence of the movie Book actually kills his attackers by using the mechanisms of the grain silo, rather then shooting them with a .38 pistol. Many other symbols of the interaction between old and new, such as peaceful and violent, corrupt and innocent are the be found in this film. Book#8217;s carpentry birdhouse represents his determination to earn respect and love from Rachel and her family, which I though was great film communication. There was many other ways to convey this message but the way this was used was very profound. The way a hammer replaces his pistol at his side, he proves his manly abilities to everyone#8217;s satisfaction. The social relations between Book and the Amish are symbolized by his change of clothing. Book adopts the plain Amish dress oh his sanctuary, and the emotional weight of being her potential lover and husband as well. But the cl othes fit him very poorly, making him look something like a scarecrow and amusing even put back on the grey suit and tie of the Philadelphia police detective.Show MoreRelatedEssay about Peter Weirs Witness1454 Words   |  6 PagesPeter Weirs Witness In the 1985 film witness director Peter Weir explores the sharp cultural conflicts between the old Amish society of western Pennsylvania and the modern American world of crime and violence. The main character, Philadelphia police detective John Book (played by Harrison Ford), is forced into hiding by a group of corrupt fellow officers looking for a little Amish boy (played by Lukas Haas). The boy witnesses a brutal killing and identifies the policeman who did it from a photographRead MoreWhitness Essay1284 Words   |  6 PagesIn the film Witness starring Harrison Ford, producer Peter Weir has created two different worlds with different value systems. He has done this through the use of juxta-positioning, camera angles set at different heights and the process of character development. In the Film, John Book played by Harrison Ford plays the parts of detective, protector, and refugee, all to solve the murder case of another Police Officer. The only witness to the murder is 7-year-old Samuel who is unofficially under BooksRead MoreSocial Norms around the World879 Words   |  3 Pagesnorms. In the film Witness, director Peter Weir explores the distinct and huge cultural conflicts between the old Amish society of western Pennsylvania and the modern American world of crime and violence. The main character, Philadelphia police detective John Book, is forced into hiding by a group of corrupt fellow officer s looking for a little Amish boy, Samuel. The boy witnesses a merciless killing and identifies that one of the murders is Book’s boss. John Book and his witness hide in the houseRead MoreWitness: Amish World Essay868 Words   |  4 PagesThe thriller film ‘Witness’, directed by Peter Weir in 1985, tells about cultural conflicts between the Amish of Western Pennsylvania and Modern American corruption and violence. Philadelphia Police officer, John Book was obligated to hide from the three brutally and corrupt police officers as they were looking for a little Amish boy, Samuel Lapp. The boy witnessed the brutal killings and identified the killer as the three police officers. The ‘Witness’ strongly displayed many images of people andRead MoreWitness - Peter Weir1707 Words   |  7 PagesEnglish Essay – ‘Witness’ by Peter Weir The 1985 film witness, directed by Peter Weir is a crime/drama that develops the theme of conflict on a social, cultural and personal level. These areas of conflict are highlighted through the use of film techniques such as; camera shots, camera angles, lighting and costume. The film outlines the contrast between mainstream American society and the Amish community in regional Pennsylvania. While American society is seen as a violent and arrogant group ofRead MoreIdentity and Belonging Essay1111 Words   |  5 Pagessomething one creates’. This notion supports the idea that we all have the ability to shape our own identity. Shaping who we are will lead to the eventual sense of belonging we desire. Throughout an individual’s life they may decide to alter how society perceives them. This is known as their ‘public face’. Often we mould ourselves to fit in with social norms and behaviour in an attempt to be accepted into a particular group, in which we believe our belonging lies; however, sometimes our search forRead MoreRisk of Violating Social Norms1041 Words   |  4 Pagesthe movie, Witness, directed by Peter Weir, James McFee and Paul Schaeffer remove detective John Book from their group because he is violating their actions, which is killing a man in the public restroom. In the article â€Å"Ain’t Nobody’s Business If You Do: Separation of Society and State† by Peter McWilliams, individuals in the society do not care much about those who are not following the laws that government has made. However, if group members do not follow the society’s rules, societies do not needRead MoreWitness by Peter Weir Notes12043 Words   |  49 PagesNOTES ON MODULE B, WITNESS BY PETER WEIR, 1985 Introduction: * Engage in a detailed analysis of a text * Understanding of how the ideas, forms and language of a text interact within the text and may affect those responding to it. * Students will need an understanding of film techniques and of the police drama genre. Important aspects to know: * Visual techniquesenhance understanding of characters * Editing techniquescreate suspense, establish characters, create atmosphere, positionRead MoreRumspringa: Role Conflict Within The Amish Youth Community Essay742 Words   |  3 PagesThe Amish culture in general try to withhold the same traditions, values, and language as the original Amish. This individual Amish subculture in Indiana displayed in the Devils Playground goes to show just how culturally diverse society can be. Though the ultimate desire of the Amish is to be a good example of Christ, the community encourages a positive deviance of their teenagers called Runspringa. Starting at age sixteen Amish teens are allowed the opportunity to explore the English world toRead MoreThe Group to Which We Belong to Provides Us with Our Identity1200 Words   |  5 Pagesand encounter new experiences in life. In Witness, the director Peter Weir, in great detail, depicted the contrast between the Amish community and the English and demonstrated how great the impact the groups we belong to can cast on our sense of identity. The female protagonist Rachel Lapp, despite her electrifying passion for city policeman John Book, ultimately forgoes the love affair due to her conformity to rules and expectations of her society. However, Rachel has undergone a shift in her

Marketing Mix and the Brand Reputation of Nokia Free Essays

string(87) " differentiation and extending the same towards a specific product category is easier\." Market Forces April 2008 Vol. 4 No. MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH MARKETING MIX AND THE BRAND REPUTATION OF NOKIA SYED EHTESHAM ALI College of Management Sciences PAF-Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology E-mail: s_ehtesham_ali@hotmail. We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Mix and the Brand Reputation of Nokia or any similar topic only for you Order Now com Abstract Pakistan’s mobile phone market is growing very fast. The most selling brand in the market is Nokia. A hypothesis was developed that the reputation of a brand is a source of demand and the competitively superior quality image justifies a premium price. In this survey we assessed the reasons for preference of this brand based on established parameters of marketing mix (the 4 Ps). The objective of this study was to measure the extent of preference of these parameters. For this purpose a questionnaire was developed and administered to 240 respondents. The alternate hypothesis that at least one of the predictor variables would have a linear relationship with the dependent variable brand reputation was accepted. R? is 0. 53, which indicates that about 53% of the variation on the dependent variable is explained by the predictor variable, which is significantly moderate. Among all the independent variables the slope for the product quality and promotion (advertising communication) were higher than the rest. Regression coefficients for product quality and promotion (advertising communication) were 0. 95 and 0. 85 respectively. This means that an increase in one rating (on the scale of five to one) of product quality and promotion (advertising communication) would cause brand reputation to increase by 0. 95 and 0. 85 rating respectively. 1. 0. 0 OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure how elements of marketing mix and their relationship affect the brand reputation of Nokia mobile phone. Though the marketing mix concept such as product, price, place and promotion are very important in analyzing the marketing strategy, the scope of the study was mainly MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 15 MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH focused on one aspect of brand equity i. e. brand reputation, the ultimate reflection of the correct blend of all marketing mix. 1. 1. 0 LITERATURE SURVEY 1. 1. 0 Brand Branding has an ancient history. It could be traced back to the times when the ancient Egypt brick makers used to stamped symbols on the bricks for identification and distinction purposes (Farghuhar 1990). Nilson (1998) on the other hand found that ancient farmers used to put symbols on the cattle with the help of hot iron, which meant burning. The word brand has been derived from the Scandinavian word â€Å"branna† that means to burn. In Swedish language the word â€Å"brand†, means fire. Thus when a producer put some marks or symbols on their product it will come in the category of branding (Nilson 1998). One of the advantages of strong brand name is that its helps in penetrating in a new market or a new market category. Globalization has created tremendous brand awareness and this awareness is not dependent on the availability of the products. Czinkota Ronkainen 2001). For example in Pakistan, brands such as such as McDonald, Pizza Hut and KFC had very strong awareness even before they opened their franchises in Pakistan. 1. 2. 0 Brand Equity Brand equity is a relationship between customers and brands resulting in a profit to be realized at a future date (Wood 2000). Kotler and Armstrong (1996) were of the opinion that measuring brand equity is a tedious job. Nevertheless a powerful brand means high brand equity that helps in achieving ‘higher brand loyalty, name awareness, perceived quality, and strong brand associations’. Some of the major benefits of brand equity are brand awareness and consumer loyalty which helps in reducing marketing costs. Brand is an important equity; therefore, it should be carefully preserved by adopting strategies that would help in maintaining or improving brand awareness, perceived brand quality and positive associations. (Kotler Armstrong 1996) Ambler and Styles (1997) are of the opinion that brand equity could be measured from two perspectives. One is â€Å"financial evaluation approach† and the other is â€Å"consumer-based approach†. The financial evaluation approach is related to the monetary value of the brand, and the consumer-based approach focuses on the brand itself that is how much value the consumers give to the brand. Brand equity is also considered as an accumulated profit that could be realized at a future date. The brand equity concept can also cause confusion, because of difficulty in measuring it (Ambler Styles 1997). MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 16 MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH Importance of brand equity demands need for more practical experience and comparative research to judge and validate the usefulness of brand evaluation methods (Farquhar 1990). The recent merger and acquisition trend has also increased the importance of measuring brand equity (Tauber 1988). The role of brands is now far beyond product differentiation or competing for market share. They are accumulated annuities which the firm can acquire from its balance sheet (Tauber 1998). Firms could have a strong competitive edge over competitors if they could create brand equity ‘through building awareness, image, and linking associations’ (Keller 1998). A stronger brand would always have a better understanding of needs, wants, and preferences of consumers than the brands that are not competitive. Thus stronger brands would help in creating effective marketing programs that could go beyond consumer expectations. (Keller 1998). Brand equity since last one decade has remained popular for attracting new market segments (Pitta Katsanis, 1995). This phenomenon of brand equity has coincided with the newly emerged but equally popular phenomenon of brand extension (Ambler Styles 1997). Research shows a two way relationship between brand equity and extension. A brand’s equity could influence the success of extensions, and extensions could positively influence brand’s equity. The result is that highly valued brand extensions are more successful. Consumers tend to choose those brands that have strong brand equity. This creates strong brand loyalty, and would make it difficult for the customers to switch to the competitors. Brand position of a firm is strongly dependent on the positive image of brands. Strong brands are a major source of differentiation and extending the same towards a specific product category is easier. You read "Marketing Mix and the Brand Reputation of Nokia" in category "Papers" Successful brand allows firms to demand high prices and are a source of barrier which makes it difficult for consumers to switch to other brands (Pitta Katsanis 1995. 1. 3. 0 BRAND REPUTATION: According to Aaker (1991, 1996) and Kapferer (1997) both companies and consumers are watchful over the brand reputation of what they sell or buy. Every brand represents distinct values, creates a distinct profile in the minds of the customers in respect to what it stands for. For example in beverage industry Coca-cola stands for â€Å"refreshing† and in car industry Volvo brand is perceived for â€Å"safety and comfort†. Similarly in the mobile industry Sony Ericsson is poised as â€Å"music and entertainment† etc. Globalization and advanced technology have made the market more competitive, thus firms, now, are more brand sensitive. They have observed that the consumer preferences have become homogenous because of globalization and the spread of technology. Thus, both the sellers MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 17 MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH and buyers are paying attention to the brand reputation in terms of what they are buying and selling. A consumer during his lifetime undergoes a series of ever changing circumstances and situations. As a result his brand preference shifts with his changing needs. The brand attributes or features must fit to consumers’ need to maintain an ongoing permanent relationship with the brand. The consumers need to have a trust in their preferred brands for continued offering of the desired benefits. According to Browne (1998), if companies fail to ensure a trustworthy, stable brand reputation, the brand’s growth and market share will be affected. Thus a brand reputation is the image of superior quality and added value, which justify a premium price. A reputable brand is a strong asset, which benefits from a high degree of loyalty and stability for future sales (Kapferer 1997). Ultimate goals of highly reputed brands should be to strengthen their image. Low selling brands with low reputation should focus on tailoring their marketing mix and fixing the overall image problem (Baldinger Rubinson 1996). Firms dealing with mobile handset are also concerned with the reputation of their brands, and how this would affect their international market share. Competition among the mobile companies has forced them to create a brand reputation in customers’ minds. The mobile telephone industry is comprised of mostly multinationals and has financial advantages in their cost structure. This advantage is not available to their purely domestic counterparts (Kapferer, 1997). Brand reputation in the mobile telephone industry is becoming crucial for consumers’ purchasing behaviors. Temporal and Lee (2001) argue that powerful brands are the ones that are built on reputation and this will not change, but would gain more importance in the future. Up Shaw (1995), agrees and claims that branding is the art of trust creation and therefore it is imperative for companies to build a reputable identity in order to maintain trust with their consumers. A highly reputed brand name is considered as a favorable and publicly recognized name that reflects merit, achievement, and reliability. According to Paul and John (1997), the attribute reputation is an estimation of the consistency, over a period of time for an entity. This estimation is based on the entity’s willingness and ability to perform an activity repeatedly in a similar fashion and an attribute is some specific part of the entity – price, quality, promotion, distribution and other marketing skills. A brand is a relationship between reputation and promise. Moreover, reputation is a set of expectations. A brand is a combination of tangible and intangible attributes, symbolized in a trademark. If properly managed, brand creates influences and generates value. Temporal and Lee (2000) also define the brand MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 18 MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH as a promise to the consumer of what the product, service, or company stands for, and for the kind of experience they can get from it. If the promise is delivered, customers will be satisfied and this will keep them coming back to a company’s product. Kotler (1999) defines three clear advantages, which brands offer to the consumers. Firstly, brands inform the consumer about the product quality. Buyers, who consistently purchase the same brand, are aware that they will get the same quality each time they purchase the product. Secondly, brand names simplify shopping for consumers, by enhancing their ability to find the products that match their wants and needs, as opposed to generic branding. Lastly, brand names allow consumers attention to be drawn to new products that are beneficial to them, since the brand is the first form of recognition. To become successful and hence profitable, brands must develop a positive reputation. A reputable brand is strong assets, which benefits from a high degree of loyalty and thus forms stability of future sales. (Rogerson 1983). Brand reputation involves a continuum ranging from an uncertain feeling that the brand is recognized at the market place, to a belief that it is the number one in the product class by customer (Aaker 1991). This continuum can be represented by different degree of brand reputation known on the market. The brand reputation can be good or bad, strong or weak. It crystallizes how people feel about the reputation based on whatever information they have about the brand. Some companies have not built any brand at all. We can say for the â€Å"unknown brand† that, for it, no reputation exists and it does not affect consumer-buying behavior on the market. 1. 2. 0 MARKETING MIX. 1. 2. 1 PRODUCT (Quality): (Quality): Product quality is an important determinant for the customers for choosing a brand that helps in the development of brand reputation. Quality belongs to the product perspective of a brand’s identity whereas perceived quality is how a brand’s quality is seen by the consumers. It is one of the key dimensions in Aaker’s brand equity model. A higher price is a sign of high quality to the consumers. Perceived quality is a source of consumer satisfaction it makes them to repurchase the product, which leads to loyalty. (Uggla 2001). MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 19 MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH 1. 2. 2 PRICE (Affordability): (Affordability): Price influences the brand choice in two ways: (1) Seek the lowest price to avoid financial risk or (2) Seeks the higher price to gain product quality (Macdonald Sharp 2000). For some consumers, the price is vital particularly when they are purchasing everyday products. Some consumer may choose a brand just because it has the lowest price, while other consumers may choose a brand just because it has the highest perceived price inferring that it is of high quality. 1. 2. 3 PROMOTION (Advertising Communication): Communication): How can a company build its brand reputation through promotion? A promotion that provides incentives to try a new flavor or new use will be more effective if the brand is familiar and there is no need to combat a consumer skeptical of brand reputation (Pringle Thompson 1999). Advertising acts as a major tool to enhance brand reputation. The purpose of advertising is to make the consumers to purchase their brands. Advertising is one of the most visible forms of communication. It creates a set of associations the consumers want to have about a brand. If advertising, promotion and packaging support a constant positioning strategy over time, the brand is likely to be strong (Aaker 1991). 1. 2. 4 PLACE (Availability): Firms rarely work alone in creating value for customers and building positive brand reputation. Consistency of supply and availability at convenient locations are vital for brand reputation. Any disagreement between marketing channel members on goals and roles may create channel conflict, which eventually could hamper overall reputation of the specific brand (Kotler, 2006). Reputation is a historical notion based on the sum of the past behaviors. It is prone to change over time and is a function of time. 2. 0. 0 RESEARCH QUESTION: The following research question has been formed in the light of the literature review. How do the mobile phone buyers perceive the brand reputation of Nokia in terms of marketing mix? 3. 0. 0 METHODOLOGY: MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 20 MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH Based on the literature survey and the above-identified independent and dependent variables, a close-ended questionnaire was developed. Questionnaire was based on a total of 14 questions; seven were related to personal data and the rest were related to the subject study that is measuring brand reputation in terms of marketing mix. The sample size for the study was 240 and it was chosen non-randomly and was personally administered by my students. The analysis was inclusive of the measures of central tendencies and the measure of dispersion. The hypothesis was tested through multiple regressions. 4. SURVEY FINDINGS: 4. 1 MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCIES DISPERSION: The respondents’ opinions on the determinants of marketing mix and brand reputation were obtained. The determinants for marketing mix were product (quality), price (affordability), promotion (advertising and communication) and place (availability). The determinants for brand reputation were favorability, public recogni tion, reliability and consistency. The summarized results related to the measures of the central tendencies and dispersion are presented below: Table Number One Measure of Central Tendencies Product (Quality) Mean St. Error Median Mode St. Dev. S. Var. Kurtosis Skew ness Range Minimum Maximum Sum Count 4. 74 0. 03 5. 00 5. 00 1. 13 0. 19 -0. 77 -0. 98 1. 00 4. 00 5. 00 1138 240 Price (Affordability) 3. 82 0. 03 5. 00 5. 00 0. 81 0. 18 -0. 39 0. 08 1. 00 4. 00 5. 00 1144 240 Promotion (Adv. Communication) 4. 45 0. 03 5. 00 5. 00 1. 08 0. 29 -0. 18 -0. 82 2. 00 3. 00 5. 00 1107 240 Place (Availability) 4. 02 0. 03 4. 00 4. 00 1. 04 0. 23 1. 23 -0. 74 3. 00 2. 00 5. 00 1017 240 Brand Reputation 4. 89 0. 05 5. 00 5. 00 1. 16 0. 49 3. 69 -1. 09 3. 00 2. 00 5. 00 1117 240 MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 21 MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH M ark e ting M ix viz. Brand Re putation 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Product Price Promotion Place Brand Reputatioon 4. 74 3. 82 4. 45 4. 89 4. 02 The respondents’ opinions on dependent variable brand reputation was the highest with a mean of 4. 89, whereas the rating on product (quality) ranked second with a mean of 4. 79 and the price (affordability) was the lowest with a mean of 3. 82. The standard deviation of respondents’ opinion on independent dimensions â€Å"price (affordability)† was the least (0. 1) as compare to the other dimensions. This indicates that there is less polarization and difference in the respondents’ opinion on the dimension â€Å"price (affordability)†. The standard deviation of respondents’ opinion on dimension â€Å"product (quality)† was the highest i. e1. 13 as compared to the other dimensions. This indicates that there is a high polarization of respondentsâ€⠄¢ opinions on the â€Å"product (quality)† dimension. Skewness for all the determinants of brand reputation was negative except price (affordability)† with the value of 0. 08. The negative skewness indicates that the majority of the respondents’ opinions on the respective determinants were below the average level and the distribution curve is negatively skewed. 4. 2. 0 BRAND REPUTATION The respondents’ opinions were obtained in terms of favorability, recognizably, reliability, and consistency. The summarized results are presented below: TABLE NUMBER-2 REPUTATION OF NOKIA Most favorable Most Publicity Most Reliable Most Consistent MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 22 MARKETING MIX BRAND Recognized 4. 01 4 3. 1 RESEARCH 3. 63 4. 5 4 3. 5 3 2. 5 2 1. 5 1 0. 5 0 4. 01 4 3. 1 3. 63 Most f avorable Most Publicity Recognized MostReliable Most Consisten The level of favorability and recognize ability of Nokia brand was the highest with a mean of 4. 04 and 4. 0. The perception on the consistency and reliability were found to be on the lower side with a mean of 3. 1 and 3. 63 respectively. 4. 1. 2 HYPOTHESIS TESTING: Literature survey suggests that, buyers perceive or build brand reputation of mobile phones in terms of (1) product (quality), (2) price (affordability), (3) promotion (adv. communication) and (4) place (availability). Based on the theoretical framework, the following hypotheses were developed. H1o: Sufficient evidence exists to conclude that no linear relationship exists between Nokia’s dependent variable â€Å"brand reputation† and independent variables such as product, price, promotion, and place. H1A: At least one of the predictor variables has a linear relationship with the dependent variable â€Å"brand reputation†. STATISTICAL REPRESENTATION: The statistical representation of the above hypothesis is presented below. H1O: ? 1= ? 2= ? 3= ? 4=0 H1A: ? 1? ?2? ?3? ?4? 0 The above hypothesis was tested through multiple regressions for brand NOKIA and the summarized results are presented below. MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 23 MARKETING MIX BRAND TABLE NUMBER-2 MULTIPLE REGRESSIONS Regression Statistics Multiple R R Square Adjusted R Sqr. Standard Error Observations RESEARCH 0. 69 0. 53 0. 52 0. 44 240. 00 Df Regression Residual Total 4. 00 234. 00 240. 00 Coefficients Intercept Product(quality) Price(affordability) Promotion(Adv. Comm. ) Place(Availability) 0. 72 0. 95 0. 27 0. 85 0. 34 SS 12. 01 13. 05 25. 06 Std. Error 0. 49 0. 09 0. 03 0. 03 0. 02 MS 3. 00 0. 06 F 53. 82 Significance F 0. 00 t Stat 1. 48 2. 61 7. 57 6. 83 7. 41 Pvalue 0. 14 0. 02 0. 00 0. 01 0. 00 Lower 95% -0. 24 0. 06 0. 16 0. 15 0. 13 Upper 95% 1. 68 0. 42 0. 27 0. 27 0. 22 R? or the brand NOKIA is 0. 53, which indicates that about 53% of the variation on the dependent variable is explained by the predictor variable which is significantly strong. Among all the independent variables the slope for the product and promotion are the highest, this means that as compared to other independent variables, product and promotion of Nokia bra nd cell phone has stronger relationships with the dependent variable â€Å"brand reputation†. Regression coefficient for product and promotion are 0. 95 and 0. 85 respectively. This means that an increase in one rating (on the scale of five to one) of product (quality) and promotion (adv. communication) will cause brand reputation to increase by 0. 95 and 0. 85 rating respectively. The F-value is high and falls in the critical region that means variations of independent variables are unequal; this indicates that the results are not biased. Except for the coefficient of product and promotion, no other coefficient is statistically significant. 5. 0 CONCLUSION: CONCLUSION: MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 24 MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH Based on the survey findings the following conclusions have been drawn: †¢ According to the respondents’ opinion the rating on dependent variable brand reputation was highest with the mean of 4. 9, whereas the rating on product (quality) was the second highest with a mean of 4. 79 and the rating on price (affordability) was lowest with a mean of 3. 82. The standard deviation of respondents’ opinion on independent dimensions â€Å"price (affordability)† was the least (0. 81) as compared to the other dimensions. This indicates that there is less polarization in the respondents’ opinion on the dimension â€Å"price (affordability)†. The standard deviation of respondents’ opinion on dimension â€Å"product (quality)† was the highest 1. 13. This indicates that there is high polarization of respondents’ opinion on the â€Å"product (quality)† dimension. Skewness for all the determinants of brand reputation were negative except for â€Å"price (affordability)† with the value of 0. 08. The negative skewness indicates that the majority of the respondents’ opinions on the respective determinants were below the average level and the distribution curve is negatively skewed. The alternate hypothesis that at least one of the predictor variables would have a linear relationship with the dependent variable brand reputation was accepted. R? is 0. 53, which indicates that about 53% of the variation on the dependent variable is explained by the predictor variable, which is significantly strong. The slope for product’s (quality) and promotion (advertising communication) were the highest; this means that as compared to other independent variables, product (quality) and promotion (advertising communication) of the Nokia brand cell phone have stronger relationships with the dependent variable brand reputation. Regression coefficient for product (quality) and promotion (advertising communication) were 0. 95 and 0. 85 respectively. This means that an increase in one rating (on the scale of five to one) of product (quality) and promotion (advertising communication) will cause brand reputation to increase by 0. 5 and 0. 85 rating respectively. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ ANNEXURE 1 Q1) Age: (in years) 15 – 25 QUESTIONNAIRE (DEMOGRAPHIC DATA) 26 – 35 36 – 45 46– above MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 25 MARKETING MIX BRAND Q2) Qualification: ? Matriculation Others —-Q3) Gender: ? Male Q4) Marital Status: ? Single Q5) Profession: Marketing T eacher Q6) Income: Up to 20,000 above RESEARCH ?Intermediate ?Graduation Masters ?Female Married Banking Engineering Other(s) please specify†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 21,000 – 30,000 31,000 – 40,000 Doctor 41,000 and Q7) Please mark the area of your residence Sadder Defence Clifton Gulshan F. B. Area Nazimabad PECHS Other(s) — Rate the following statements in terms of your answer (5 being highly agreed and 1 being highly disagreed) MARKETING MIX Q8) Rate the brand reputation of Nokia brands in terms of â€Å"Product† i. e quality. 5 4 3 2 1 Q9) Rate the brand reputation of Nokia brands in terms of â€Å"Price† i. e. affordability 5 4 3 2 1 Q10) Rate the brand reputation of Nokia brands in terms of â€Å"Promotion† i. e. Advertising Communication. 5 4 3 2 1 Q11) Rate the brand reputation of Nokia brands in terms of â€Å"Place† i. e. Convenience in availability. 5 4 3 2 BRAND REPUTATION Q12) I consider Nokia as most favorable brand in terms of brand reputation. 4 3 2 1 Q13) I consider Nokia as most publicly recognized brand in terms of brand reputation. 5 4 3 2 1 Q14) I consider Nokia as most reliable brand in terms of brand reputation. MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 26 1 MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH 5 4 3 2 1 Q15) I consider Nokia as most consistent brand in terms of brand reputatio n. 5 4 3 2 1 ANNEXURE 2 REFERENCES Aaker, D. A. , 1991. , Managing Brand Equity: Capitalizing on the Value of the Brand Name. NewYork: The Free press. Aaker, D. A. , 1996. , Building Strong Brands. New York: The Free Press. Aaker, D. A, 2004. Brand Portfolio Strategy, New York: Free Press. MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 27 MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH Ambler, T. , Styles, C. , 1997. Brand development versus new product development: toward a process model of extension decisions. Journal of Product Brand Management, 6(4), p. 222-234. Browne, K. , 1999. Nokia’s Brilliant Branding. Finance Week – South Africa. Vol. (22), p. 12-26. Baldinger, A Rubinson, J. , 1996. , Brand Loyalty: the Link between Attitude and Behavior. Journal of Advertising research, Vol. (2), p. 84-97. Czinkota, M. Ronkainen, M. , 2001. , International Business (6th ed. ). Fort Worth: Harcourt College. Farquhar, P. , 1990. Managing brand equity. Journal of Advertising Research, August/September) 30, RC 7 – RC 12. Keller, K. L. , 2003. Strategic brand management, Building Measuring and Managing Brand Equity, 2nd Ed. , Upper Sadle River. . Kotler, P, Armstrong, G. , 1996. Principles of Marketing. (7th ed.. USA: Prentice Hall, Inc. Pringle, H. Thompson, M. , 1999. Brand Spirit: how cause related marketing builds brands. New York: John Wiley Sons. Jean, N. K, 1997. Strategic Brand Management, Princeton: University Press Princeton. Kapferer, J. N. ,1997. Strategic Brand Management. 2nd. London:Hove. Kotler, P. Armstrong, G. Saubers, J. Wong, V. , 1999. Principles of marketing. 2nd ed. England: Prentice Hall press. Kotler, P. Keller, K. L, 2006. Marketing Management 12th ed. Indiana: Indiana University Press. Macdonald, E. K. Sharp, B. M. 2000. Brand awareness effects on consumer decision-making for a common, repeat purchase product: A replication: Journal of Business Research, Vol. (48), p5-15. Nilson, H. T. , 1998. Competitive Branding-Winning the Marketplace with Value Added Brands. Chichester: Wiley,cop. Paul, H. John, M. , 1997. Pricing Strategy Practice. Bradford: 5(1),p. 25. MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 28 MARKETING MIX BRAND RESEARCH Pringle, H. Thompson, M. , 1999. Brand Spirit: how cause related marketing builds brands: Journal of Marketing, Vol. (21), p. 61-78. Pitta, A. Katsanis, P. L. 1996. Understanding Brand Equity for Sucessful Brand Extension. Journal of Consumer Marketing. 12(4),51-64. Rogerson, W. P, 1983. Reputation and Product Quality, The Bell Journal of economics, Vol. (2), p. 508-516. Tauber, E. , 1988. Brand leverage: Strategy for growth in a cost- control world. Journal of Advertising Research, ( August/September). 8, 26-30. Temporal, P Lee, K. C. 2001. Hi-Touch Branding, Creating Brand Power in the Age of technology. Journal of Information technology, 94(2), p. 67-86. Uggla, H. , 2001. What makes winning brands different: The hidden method behind the world’s most successful brands. The journal of marketing, 18(3), p. 24-41. Upshaw, L. B. 1995. .Building Brand Identity: A strategy for success in a hostile marketplace. New York: John Wiley Sons, Wood, L. , 2000. Brands and brand equity: definition and management. Management Decision, 38(9), 662-669. MARKET FORCES APRIL-2008 29 How to cite Marketing Mix and the Brand Reputation of Nokia, Papers

Organizational and Corporate Culture

Defining Corporate/Organizational Culture Every organization, whether small or big, has an organizational culture. This culture can be defined variously. It involves a collection of common values, practices, symbols, assumptions (Bryson 34), and beliefs that influence members of an organization.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Organizational and Corporate Culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Organizational culture is a company’s practices and beliefs that determine how the entity is ran and operate on a daily basis. Employees of an organization share common beliefs and practices, values, norms, systems, symbols, and working language. New employees and other entrants into the organization are socialized into these collective behaviors, attitudes, and assumptions that form part of the entity’s cultural framework. Organizational culture is what shapes the organization’s history, current assumptions, experiences, and key viewpoints that hold it together. Culture is a way of thinking. It is the unwritten or unspoken ways of working together in an organization. Corporate culture shapes the organization’s key strategies and their implementation. As such, it plays a major role in influencing the success of an organization (Zabid, Murali and Johari 711). Importance of Corporate Culture Organizational culture provides a shared platform that ensures that members of an organization are operating from the same page. It provides a basis for integration and coordination of operations in an organization thus guiding behavior and change. Organizational culture helps employees have a common goal and stay united thus providing an organization with a well-networked work setting that is vital for the communication, understanding, and implementation of key organizational strategies (Bryson 752).Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we ca n help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Corporate culture influences the behavior and social interactions among employees. It establishes or sets standards of acceptable behavior in an organization. Culture links organizational strategies and policies to everyday’s organization activities. This equips the organization with a competitive advantage, thus helping it to achieve its goals and objectives (Zabid et al. 712). Organizational culture reflects and contributes to the brand image of the organization. It shapes how the outside world will view the organization. An organization with a good company image is likely to be viewed by external stakeholders as a better and strong business entity. It makes them view the organization as one that has the capacity to deliver quality goods or services. This enhances the relationship between the external stakeholders and the organization. It boosts efficiency, effectiveness, profitability, and overall performanc e of the organization (Bryson 751). It promotes efficiency in an organization. Corporate culture influences the standard of behaviors and the kind of goals that members should pursue. This affects change of behavior and attitudes among employees thus aligning them with organizational goals and objectives.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Organizational and Corporate Culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More When the activities and attitudes of employees and members of the organization are well aligned with the organizational goals and objectives, they can deliver much more and more efficiently. This translates to overall improvement of organizational efficiency and performance (Bryson 750, 756). Organizational culture focuses more on human resource in the entity. It helps build lasting cordial relationships among employees. This relationship of mutual respect and understanding helps members of an organization to bring about needed changes in the firm. Since organization culture changes over time, new ways of doing things are adopted. This supports creativity and innovation in an organization which are vital components of success in today’s competitive global market. Organizational culture is the glue that holds the entity together. It helps the internal mechanisms and practices remain intact and effective. Culture binds members of an organization to certain expectations and approved patterns of behavior. This enables the organization to effectively maintain its internal positive working practices and internally handle employees’ grievances (Zabid et al. 711). Organizational culture is vital to the improved performance of both the employees and the organization. It helps increase efficiency among employees which in turn increases performance of the organization. It helps members of the organization to understand key organizational objectives, processes, and events.Advertisi ng Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This enables the members of the organization to understand their role in these processes, thereby increasing their knowledge and performance as well as that of the organization (Zabid et al. 712, 713). Corporate culture is a key influence of decision-making processes among employees in an organization. Good corporate culture enables members of the organization to make informed and guided decisions that inform the direction taken by the organization. Effective decisions and decision- making mechanisms are key components of success in an organization. They facilitate efficiency and effectiveness among employees at the workplace, thus leading to enhanced organizational performance. Strong organizational culture enhances commitment and self- confidence among employees. It facilitates and promotes ethical behaviors among members of the organization. When employees and members of an entity are committed to the organization’s activities, they become motivated and this increases thei r productivity (Zabid et al. 720, 721). Determinants of Corporate Culture There are several factors that determine organizational or corporate culture. These are analyzed below: Behavior These are the actions and attitudes of individuals and groups towards one another and towards the organization as a whole. It determines organizational culture. Behavior that reflects the values of the organizations is often rewarded and becomes the general, acceptable, and dominant behavior. On the other hand, behavior that does not reflect the organization’s values is not rewarded; it is punished. Behavior plays a vital role in influencing the organizational culture. It includes the way individuals respond to certain conditions. It forms a major component of culture since the latter is the overall set of behavior standards expected of individuals or group of individuals. Culture cannot exist without behavior; it determines the kind of culture an organization has at a particular period (Zabi d et al. 720). Relationships These are developed among the employees and the organization over time. It encompasses mutual understanding among individuals or members of an organization. Interaction among employees determines the acceptable and unacceptable norms, behaviors, and assumptions that shape organizational culture. An organization with poor relationship among its members cannot sustain a healthy organizational culture. Corporate culture is dependent on the interrelationships among employees in the organization. Communication and social interaction forms the basis of analyzing acceptable and unacceptable norms and behavior patterns. Therefore, corporate culture is more or less determined by relationships (Hellriegel, Slocum and Woodman 529). Attitudes Individual attitudes influence behavior patterns of these individuals, thus influencing the culture of an organization. The attitude of employees determines the kind of corporate culture that exists in an organization (Balthaza rd, Cooke and Potter 715, 727). Values The value system among individuals or employees in an organization is paramount to the behavior patterns of these employees. They may be different due to upbringing, religion, and educational levels. However, the organization adapts these many and different value systems to come up with acceptable organizational values that shape the culture of the organization. A change of values by employees leads to a change in the values of the organization, leading to change in organizational culture in extension (Balthazard et al. 715, 727). Environment This is another important aspect when it comes to organization culture. Internal and external factors of a business entity may affect its culture variously. External factors such as political, social, economic and physical environmental may influence the operations of the organization. Organizational structure is a factor within the business entity that informs its cultural framework. When the structure fa ils to support transparency, this may lead to poor communication, relationships and culture in the organization (Balthazard et al. 710, 714). Organizational culture is expressed through the external and internal practices of the entity. It is seen in the degree of freedom given to employees in decision-making, contributing to new ideas, innovativeness, creativity and personal expression. It is reflected in how well an organization treats its employees and customers as well as the community. Organizational Structure Organizational culture is also influenced by the organization’s structure. This is how an organization distributes power and information throughout its various levels. Employees’ commitment and dedication to the job and goals of the company is also a key indicator of the culture of an organization. When employees are more committed and dedicated to the organizational activities, they provide a corporate image that defines the kind of culture an organization has at a particular period (Zabid et al. 721). Healthy Organizational Culture: Characteristics A healthy organizational culture is characterized by the following key aspects: Organizational Pride Employees of an organization that has a healthy organizational culture take pride in their work. They feel as part of the organization. This makes them feel more obligated to their work. It also motivates them to work more effectively and efficiently. Organizational pride among members of an organization also boosts the image of the entity to its external stakeholders (Balthazard 716). Effective Teamwork, Communication, and Employee Relationships A healthy and strong organizational culture is highly characterized by the presence of highly effective teams. The flow of information and the understanding of this information within an organization is an indication that a healthy corporate culture is present. This allows for effective exchange of information, behavior patterns, norms, and attitud es in an organization (Rothman 220). Quality Leadership Organizations with healthy corporate culture have an effective leadership structure that influences the organizational culture and change. Quality leadership is vital for every organization’s success. It plays a major role in the implementation of key strategies in the achievement of organizational objectives (Balthazard 715). Positive Client-Customer Relations Strong and positive relationship between employees, employees and managers and employees and customers exists in a company with a healthy corporate culture. Innovativeness and Creativity A healthy corporate culture stimulates innovativeness and creativity at the work place. Employees are accorded the right training and suitable working environment to effectively come up with better products and services. This cutting-edge thinking in an organization stimulates the growth of employees as well as that of the organization. Types of Corporate Culture Every organizatio n has a type of organizational culture that is different from that of another organization. However, there are similarities and indicators of corporate culture that can be used to classify different organizational cultures. The following are some of the dimensions applied in defining different organizational cultures: Deal and Kennedy’s Model of Defining Corporate Culture This classification of organizational culture was developed by researchers Deal and Kennedy. They first identified the subcultures, strong cultures, and weak cultures in an organization. Sub Culture A subculture exists where differences in departmental goals within an organization exists. It is the segments or sections of the main organizational culture that show different individual values, norms, behaviour and beliefs different from the main culture. It may arise due to difference in job requirements, different departmental goals and geographical area within the organization (Terrence and Deal 34). It can be within the organization or formed for social interactions outside the organization by members of the entity. Strong Culture Strong corporate culture is highly characterized by employees’ common aspect and sharing of beliefs, norms, behaviours, and values in the organization. An organization with a strong corporate culture is characterized by recognition, respect and strong social relationship among its employees and managers. It makes them feel more proud to be associated with the organization. Employees deliver quality services and goods under a strong organizational culture that recognises them and rewards them accordingly (Terrence and Deal 15). Weak Culture A weak organizational culture is not strongly knit within the organization. It does not fully affect change of behaviour, norms, and work patterns among members of an organization. Communication and implementation of key organizational strategies is not well understood and executed in the organization due to its loo se nature. This creates diversity of expected behaviour patterns. Lack of congruence in these organizations is highly associated with the influence of individual’s objectives and culture on the organization (Terrence and Deal 15). Dean and Kennedy came up with the following four types of corporate cultures: Tough Guy Culture According to Terrence and Deal (15), a tough guy culture exists in an organization that has effective feedback mechanisms and which is characterized by high risk. It is more prevalent among large financial service sectors where quick responses are barely a luxury but a necessity. In a tough guy organizational culture, the long term aspects are not considered as much as the short term or present aspects due to the high risk of the organizational activities. This is for example in the police force, sports and emergency response surgeons (Terrence and Deal 111). â€Å"Work Hard, Play Hard† Work hard, play hard culture is characterized by rapid feedbac k and rapid reward as well as low risks. Organizations with a work hard play hard culture are involved in taking few risks and receiving fast feedback. Most software companies are characterized by this work hard, play hard culture (Terrence and Deal 113). Bet-the-Company Culture This is another form of cultural framework found in various organizations. It is characterized by significant decisions touching on high stake undertakings. It is more common in companies performing experimental projects and research such as oil exploration companies (Terrence and Deal 117). Process Culture Process culture is often found in organizations that have slow or no feedback mechanisms. This culture is characterized by procedures that are overly cautious in following the laws, rules and regulations. Consistency of results of the process culture makes it good for public service, insurance companies and the banking sector (Terrence and Deal 119). Market Oriented Cultures There are four types of market oriented organizational/corporate cultures. These are: Entrepreneurial corporate culture Competitive corporate culture Consensual corporate culture, and Bureaucratic corporate culture Entrepreneurial Corporate Culture In entrepreneurial corporate culture, issues of profitability, market superiority, competitive advantage, and profits are more emphasized. In this type of organizational culture, the entity supports values, attributes, and behavior patterns of the employees that lead to profitability. The presence of certain characteristics that supports and enhances the organization’s capability to achieve market superiority that leads to competitive advantage and profitability are key indicators of entrepreneurial corporate culture. In entrepreneurial corporate culture, less emphasis and attention is given to other factors such as predictability and employees’ wellbeing. More emphasis is placed on profitability of the organization (Zabid et al. 715). Competitive Corp orate Culture The competitive corporate culture emphasizes on risk taking, high levels of dynamism, creativity, and innovation. In a competitive corporate culture, some aspects of an organization are given priority over others. Issues of competitiveness in an organization or industry are paramount and more important than any other aspect of the organization (Balthazard et al. 719). This corporate culture supports creativity and innovativeness among members of an organization. This is encouraged in order to facilitate a working environment that is conducive for the breeding of competition-oriented employees that are able to produce more competitive products for the market (Zabid et al. 715). Consensual Corporate Culture The consensual corporate culture lays more emphasis on loyalty, tradition, self-management, personal commitment, teamwork, and social influence. It is more evident in family- owned businesses where loyalty, tradition, personal commitment, and social influence play a v ital role in the success of the organization in the society. It is not however limited to family businesses. Other organizational structures that support and encourage personal commitment, teamwork, and social influence are characterized by this consensual corporate culture. Members of an organization with a consensual corporate culture feel as part of the organization and are more motivated to bring their share of experiences and skills to the workplace (Zabid et al. 715). Bureaucratic Corporate Culture The bureaucratic corporate culture focuses more on predictability, stability, and efficiency. Bureaucratic culture does not promote creativity and innovations among employees. The employees in such organizations are often subjected to certain set standards and predictable ways of doing things in the organization. This limits adoption of changes in an organization. Procedures, work, and behavior patterns are aligned to be predictable, efficient and stable. Organizations with bureaucr atic corporate cultures are more concerned with the effectiveness and predictability of results rather than the profitability and competitiveness of their products (Zabid et al. 715). Case Studies Best Buy Co. Inc. is a US electronic retailer giant. Best Buy has increased its presence in many countries due to its strong organizational culture. This is a customer focused and employees’ wellbeing culture. Best Buy responds quickly to customer needs through its efficient customer service. As one of the leading electronics’ retailer in the world, it strives to deliver the best electronic gadgets and equipments to its dozens of stores across national borders. With a competitive culture that encourages results oriented work environment among its employees, Best Buy has continued to perform better in the electronics industry. The company is also much involved in building long lasting and beneficial customer relationships. For example, there are some stores with shopping assis tants to help customers in their shopping as well as take them on a shopping trip. This customer- oriented and competitive culture is good for the company since it is involved in a fast changing electronic market. Founded in 1962 by Sam Walton, Wal-Mart is an American multinational retailer. It has stores in 27 countries, 2.2 million employees worldwide and with expected approximate sales of $444 billion in 2012.Wal-Mart has a strong organizational culture. It has a ‘cult-like’ strong culture. Employees of Wal-Mart exhibit organizational pride; they are very proud to be associated with Wal-Mart. They take pride in their work. They are commonly referred to as ‘Walmartians’ or associates. This is a sign of quality leadership in the organization. Employees and managers are motivated to work better and most of them have high ambitions. Wal-Mart has dedicated team players at all levels as a result of an effective communication system and mechanism. This strong c ulture has helped Wal-Mart sustain an entrepreneurial spirit throughout. It has made the company to be more innovative, profitable and continue to grow expansively. For example, Wal-Mart is one of the leading private employers and among the few existing trillion dollar companies. Toyota Motor Company which was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda and headquartered in Toyota, Japan, is a multinational automobile car manufacturer. Toyota’s growth as one of the leading and most profitable companies in the world is based on its strong entrepreneurial and competitive corporate culture. Its culture focuses more on quality product development and strong, mutually beneficial customer relationship. Toyota is also strongly engaged in the use of innovative technological and advanced mechanisms in its production of automobiles. The much visible efficient customer and employees’ relationship in Toyota has also helped the company to come up with highly competitive products. IKEA which was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad is Swedish international furniture and home products retail company. IKEA is widely associated with product development and lower prices. It portrays a customer oriented corporate culture that focuses more on the customers and product competitiveness. Apple Inc. which was founded in 1976 is an American consumer electronics and computer software manufacturer and retailer giant. The company is strongly based on a flat organizational structure that encourages mutual customer and employee relationships that also encourage an open entrepreneurial corporate culture to thrive in the company. The entrepreneurial culture enables the company to strategically align employees to their areas of expertise. This helps the company in the development of its innovative and highly creative and successful products in the market. Conclusion Corporate culture is an important aspect of every organization. It influences the standard of behaviors and the kind of goals that members should pursue. This affects change of behavior and attitudes among employees in the organization, thus aligning them with organizational goals and objectives. When members of the organization are aligned with organizational goals and objectives, they perform better. This leads to the overall improvement of organizational performance. Organizational culture that stimulates creativity and innovation influences success in an organization. It increases organizational performance. There is therefore the need for organizations to embrace a favorable organizational culture that motivates the employees. Works Cited Balthazard, Pierre, Robert, Cooke, and Richard, Potter. ‘Dysfunctional Culture, Dysfunctional Organization: Capturing the Behavioral Norms that Form Organizational Culture and Drive Performance.’ Journal of Managerial Psychology 21.7 (2006): 43-59. Print. Bryson, Jane. ‘Dominant, Emergent, and Residual Culture: The Dynamics of Organizational Change .’ Journal of Organizational Change Management 21.2 (2008): 23-39. Print. Hellriegel, Don, John, Slocum, and Richard, Woodman. Organizational Behavior. New York: Southwestern College, 2001. Print. Rothman, Juliet. Cultural Competence in Process and Practice: Building Bridges. Indiana: Indiana University, 2007. Print. Terrence, Eric, and Allan, Deal. Corporate Cultures: The Rites and Rituals of Corporate Life. New York: Wesley Publishers, 1982. Print. Zabid, Abdul, Sambasivan, Murali, and Juliana, Johari. ‘The Influence of Corporate Culture and Organizational Commitment on Performance.’ Journal of Management Development 22.3 (2003): 67-69. Print. This term paper on Organizational and Corporate Culture was written and submitted by user Eli Reyes 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.