Strategies that Motivate Students Connected to Proverbs

A proverb is A proverb is a short, pithy statement of a general truth, one that condenses common experience into memorable form. Although proverbs are cultural statements, marking a particular time and place for their origin, they reflect the universal human experience. For example, proverbs are found in literature, as in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet â€Å"He that is strucken blind cannot forgetThe precious treasure of his eyesight lost† (I.i) This proverb means that a man who loses his eyesight-or anything else of value- can never forget the importance of what has been lost. Another example, from  Aesop Fables  by Aesop: We should make sure that our own house is in order before we give advice to others. This proverb means we should act upon our own words, before advising others to do the same. Motivating students with Proverbs There are multiple ways to use proverbs in the 7-12 grade classroom. They can be used to inspire or to motivate students; they can be used as cautionary wisdom. As proverbs have all developed in some human experience, students and educators may recognize how these messages from the past can help inform their own experiences. Posting these proverbs around the classroom can bring about discussions in class as to their meaning and how these Old World sayings still are relevant today. Proverbs can also support motivational strategies that teachers may want to use  in the classroom. Here are eight (8) approaches to motivate students that can be implemented in any content area.  Each of these approaches is matched with supporting proverb(s) and the proverbs culture of origin, and links will connect educators to that proverb online. #1. ​​Model enthusiasm An educators enthusiasm about a specific discipline that is evident in each lesson is powerful and contagious for all students. Educators have the power to  raise students’ curiosity, even when students are not initially interested in the material. Educators should share why they first became interested in a subject,  how they  discovered their passion, and how they understand their desire to teach to share this passion. In other words, educators must model their motivation. â€Å"Wherever you go, go with all your heart.  (Confucius) Practice what you preach. (Bible) Once out of the throat it spreads over the world.(Hindu Proverb) #2. Provide relevance and choice: Making content relevant is critical to motivating students.  Students need to be shown or to establish a personal connection to the material taught in class. This personal connection may be emotional  or appeal to their background knowledge. No  matter how disinteresting a subjects content may seem, once students have determined that the content is worth knowing, the content will engage them.Allowing students to make choices increases their engagement. Giving students choice builds their capacity for responsibility and commitment. Offering choice communicates an educators respect for students’ needs and preferences. Choices also can help prevent disruptive behaviors.Without relevance and choice, students may disengage and lose the motivation to try. The road to the head lies through the heart.  (American Proverb) Let your nature be known and expressed.  (Huron Proverb) He is a fool who does not consider his own interests. (Maltese Proverb) Self interest will neither cheat nor lie, for that is the string in the nose that governs the creature.(American Proverb) #3. Praise student efforts: Everyone likes genuine praise, and educators can capitalize on this universal human desire for praise with their students. Praise is a powerful motivational strategy when it is part of constructive  feedback. Constructive feedback is nonjudgmental and acknowledges quality in order to stimulate advancement. Educators should stress opportunities that students can take to improve, and any negative comments must be associated with the product, not the student.   Praise youth and it will prosper. (Irish Proverb) As with children, there is no taking  away of what has been rightly given. (Plato) Do one thing at time, with supreme excellence.  (NASA) #4. Teach flexibility and adaptation Educators need to try to develop a students mental flexibility, or the ability to shift attention in response to changes in the environment. Modeling flexibility when things go wrong in the classroom, especially with technology, sends a powerful message to students. Coaching students to know when to let go of one idea to consider another can help each student meet success.   Its an ill plan that cannot be changed. (Latin Proverb) A reed before the wind lives on while mighty oaks do fall.   (Aesop) Sometimes you have to throw yourself into the fire to escape from the smoke  (Greek Proverb) Times change, and we with them. (Latin Proverb) #5. Provide opportunities that allow for failure Students operate in a culture that is risk-adverse; a culture where failure is not an option. However, research shows that failure is a powerful instructional strategy. Mistakes can be expected as a part of the application and experimentation taxonomy and allowing age-appropriate mistakes can increase confidence and problem solving skills.  Educators need to  embrace the concept that learning is a messy process and use mistakes as part of a discovery process in order to engage students.  Educators also need to provide safe spaces or structured environments for students to take intellectual risks to minimize some mistakes. Allowing for mistakes can give students the satisfaction  of reasoning through a problem and discovering the underlying principle on their own. Experience is the best teacher. (Greek Proverb) The harder you fall, the higher you bounce.  (Chinese Proverb) Men learn little from success, but much from failure.  (Arab Proverb)   Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up. (Chinese Proverb) Failing to plan is planning to fail  (English Proverb) #6.  Value student work Give students the chance to succeed. High standards for student work are fine, but it is important to make those standards clear and give students a chance to discover and meet them.   A man is judged by his work. (Kurdish Proverb) The achievement of all work is practice.  (Welsh Proverb) Remember that the only place where success  comes before work is in a dictionary. (American Proverb) #7. Teach stamina and perseverance Recent research on how the brain works confirms that the brains plasticity means that stamina and perseverance can be learned. Strategies for teaching stamina include repetition and sequencing activities with  increasing difficulty that offer a continual but reasonable challenge. Pray to God but continue to row to the shore.(Russian Proverb) It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.  (Confucius) There is no Royal Road to learning.  (Euclid) Though the centipede has one of its legs broken, this does not affect its movement.  (Burmese Proverb) A habit is first a wanderer, then a guest, and finally the boss. (Hungarian Proverb) #8. Track improvement through reflection Students need to track their own leaning through ongoing reflection.  Whatever form the reflection takes, students need the opportunity to make sense of their learning experiences. They need to understand what choices they made, how their work changed, and what helped them learn to track their improvement Self-knowledge is the beginning of self-improvement.(Spanish Proverb) Nothing succeeds like success (French Proverb) Praise the bridge that carried you over. (English Proverb) No one can be an expected to be an expert at something before they have got the chance to practice it.  (Finnish Proverb) In conclusion: Although proverbs were born from Old World thinking, they still reflect the human experience of our students in the 21st Century. Sharing these proverbs with students can be part of making them feel connected, beyond time and place, to others. The messages of proverbs can help students better understand the reasons for the instructional strategies in place that can motivate them towards success.

Montage Of A Dream Deferred By Langston Hughes - 946 Words

Many of the poems within â€Å"Montage of a Dream Deferred† by Langston Hughes contain great meaning as well as emotion embedded within them. Whether they are 3 lines or 20 lines long, vivid images and explanations follow. The main focus of the series of poems are centralized on African Americans living in Harlem in the 20’s and on and their opposition from the rest. The motif in nearly all poems express discrimination, daily activities, and African American’s struggle for equality. Out of all poems, certain ones such as â€Å"Theme for English B†, â€Å"Ballad of the Landlord†, and â€Å"Harlem #2† stood out. These short poems have a similar correlation carrying the same meaning and or idea. In the poem â€Å"Theme for English B†, a black student is asked to†¦show more content†¦He concludes with â€Å"As I learn from you, I guess you learn from me—although you’re older—and white—and somewhat more free. This is my page for English B.† The Black student realizes that not only does the teacher have the ability to teach, but even the students can teach the teacher something they never knew regardless if he/she is older, white, and more â€Å"free† than he is. Langston Hughes states that all â€Å"Americans† are shaped and defined differently and there is no specific way to be an American. Moving on to the second poem; â€Å"Ballad of the Landlord†, we see back and forth conversations between a white landlord and his unhappy black tenant. The black tenant tries explaining the poor conditions of his apartment. Flaws such as broken steps, and the leaking roof are examples of imagery. The black tenant tells his landlord that he won’t be able to talk after he lands his fists on him. Without a further ado, the white tenant calls the police and the black tenant instantly gets arrest and sentenced to 90 days in county jail with no bail. Hughes expresses a theme of injustice for the black race in comparison to how the white race is favored and carry unfair power in society. It is easily said that the condition of the apartment explains the quality of a black person’s justice: broken. Lastly, in the poem â€Å"Harlem #2†, the speaker right off the bat tosses many rhetorical questions that the reader can ponder on. â€Å"What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin inShow MoreRelatedBiographical and Historical Approach to Langston Hughes Dream Boogie1340 Words   |  6 PagesBiographical and Historical Approach to Langston Hughes Dream Boogie Michelle Cooks ENG Teacher January 30, 2012 A biographical or historical approach attempt to measure how much an authors life or history has influenced their writings. Most of the time, writings are strengthened when the author writes from a biographical or historical angle, and the importance of their history becomes significant when it is used to create characters that express its values and examines trends that occurRead MoreHarlem: a Dream Deferred1043 Words   |  5 PagesHarlem: A Dream Deferred Langston Hughes Literally Analysis Dreams are aspirations that we hope to reach on our lifetime. They are the day that gives us the drive to live our lives and accomplish our goals. When reaching our goals, we will do anything to get to our destination. But what happens when your dreams deferred and put on hold due to unseen circumstances? Or what do you so when someone tells you that you can not so the things you want to so because of the pigmentation of your skinRead More Unfulfilled Dreams Exposed in Hughes Harlem Essay1135 Words   |  5 PagesUnfulfilled Dreams Exposed in Hughess Harlem      Ã‚  Ã‚   Most of us have dreams that we one day hope to fulfill. They could be little dreams that will take little time and effort to accomplish, or they could be big dreams that will take more time and energy to fulfill. Nevertheless, whether ones dream is as mundane as hitting the numbers or as noble as hoping to see ones children reared properly, each dream is equally important to the person who has it (Bizot 904). Each dream is also equallyRead MoreReader-Response Criticism: Langston Hughes’ Dream Boogie1222 Words   |  5 PagesReader-Response Criticism: Langston Hughes’ Dream Boogie T Wilkins ENG 125 Introduction to Literature Instructor M. XXXXXXXXX May 22, 2011 Literature, no matter what the topic of form it comes in, has the ability to raise issues, spark thought/imagination, and/or draw out emotions that have been buried deep within us as people. It is expected, from the authors, that readers will form opinions and criticisms for their works. Be it that the readers’ emotions parallel those of the writerRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Dream By Langston Hughes1909 Words   |  8 Pagesunique way as well. The two pomes are about dreams, the first poem, Dream is about what could possibly happen if we let go of our dreams and don t purse them. The second poem, Harlem is about the possibilities of what could happen when we postpone our dreams. Both poems do not exactly end with a happy ending, for they show the regret that we will be left with, possibly even death. The poem Dream by Langston Hughes is about following your dreams, because we never know what our near futureRead MoreThe Development Of Jazz, Blues And Literature1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe development of jazz, blues and literature in harlem shine a big light on langston hughes the famous writer .Who was one of harlem s famous writer for his poetry â€Å" Harlem Dream Deferred†.Langston Hughes is broadly viewed as one of the best artists who ever strolled the earth. A number of his subjects concentrated on the issues that were going up against the race, fairness and Suffrage. Langston Hughes was a vital part of the Harlem Renaissance, a period amid the 1920s and 1930s that was portrayedRead MoreLangston Hughes : The Black Writers Of The Harlem Renaissance1488 Words   |  6 Pageswriters of the 1900’S is Langston Hughes. While many writers focused on one style or category of writing, Langston Hughes is the most versatile of all of the writers from the Harlem Renaissance. While the state of Missouri is known for its largest cities such as St. Louis and Kansas City and for famous attractions such as the Gateway Arch, the state is also the birthplace of one of the most well-known writers of the early Twentieth Century. James Mercer Langston Hughes is an American author, writerRead MoreLangston Hughes: A Poet Supreme Essay1879 Words   |  8 PagesLangston Hughes: A Poet Supreme Black poetry is poetry that (1) is grounded in the black experience; (2) utilizes black music as a structural or emulative model; and (3) consciously transforms the prevailing standards of poetry through and inconoclastic and innovative use of language. No poet better carries the mantle of model and innovator the Langston Hughes, the prolific Duke Ellington of black poetry. Hughess output alone is staggering. During his lifetime, he published over eightRead More Langston Hughes Essay833 Words   |  4 PagesLangston Hughes Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. He was named after his father, James Hughes, but was known as Langston. He was the only child from his parents James and Carrie Hughes. His parents were not married for long because of an unhappy marriage. When they separated, Langston was left with his mother, who left him behind to move from city to city to find work. Langston ended up living with his 70 year-old grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas. He livedRead MoreEssay on The Poetry of Langston Hughes During the Harlem Renaissance1694 Words   |  7 Pagesartistic movement it was. II. Langston Hughes â€Å"I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older Than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.† â€Å"I’ve Known Rivers†-Langston Hughes James Mercer Langston Hughes, (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) was born in Joplin, Missouri, to James Nathaniel and Caroline Hughes in 1902. Hughes’ parents were of mixed-race, and Langston Hughes was of African American, European

Evaluation of Leadership Development Plan of Maersk Oil in Qatar Free Essays

string(43) " its workforce and other staff members†\." 1.0 Introduction One of the biggest challenges of the modern business era is the retention of a talented and skilled workforce for business organizations, and the development of future leaders within a company. Business organizations are required to employ a dynamic strategy to respond to the needs and aspirations of their workforce. We will write a custom essay sample on Evaluation of Leadership Development Plan of Maersk Oil in Qatar or any similar topic only for you Order Now A smart, well-designed employee development program can benefit a business organization to great extent in this regard and shape the future of the company by individually shaping the leaders of the future. Prior research indicates that employee development program is linked to higher levels of performance and output. It can create a reservoir of knowledge that can enable business organizations to do better than their competitors. The most important development aspect of any employee is training them in leadership skills which can benefit the business as a whole. Transformational Leadership is a framework which, according to Barling, Christie and Hoption, promotes the qualities of â€Å"idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration† (reference). By displaying motivational qualities and attitudes a leader can improve the efficiency, proficiency and well-being of employees. The aim of the proposed dissertation would be to investigate employees’ leadership development plan at ‘Maersk Oil’, particularly in reference to transformational leadership training. Maersk Oil has been operating in Qatar since the 1990s as a major oil company. It works on the Al-Shaheen Field which produces significant amount of petroleum. The company’s current production level stands at 300,000 barrels of oil per day. As a result of that, Al-Shaheen Field is predicted to be the biggest contributor to oil production in Qatar, making the company significant for the Oil industry and the overall economy of the country. Maersk Oil is a multinational company which is part of A.P. Moller – Maersk Group, operating in various parts of the world. Like any major multinational firm, Maersk Oil Qatar has a diverse workforce belonging to various nationalities (Maersk Oil, 2012). The diverse workforce present in the organization needs to be managed in an efficie nt and effective manner. The dissertation will try to identify the importance of a leadership development plan, investigate the current practices of the company, evaluate its effectiveness, and identify common obstacles for employee’s leadership development plan at the company. The dissertation will also propose some recommendations based on its findings for creating a viable improvement to the leadership development program. The dissertation will be divided into five chapters. The first chapter will be comprised of the introduction, overview of the research, background, and research objectives. The second chapter will detail the research methodology. The third chapter will present a literature review and theoretical background of the research. Fourth chapter will present the findings and analyze the data. Finally, chapter five will present the results and conclusions of the research. 1.1 Research Objectives Investigate to what extent does the company care for its employees through its leadership development plan Identify the significance of employees leadership development plan Investigate practices of employees leadership development plan Evaluate the effectiveness of employees leadership development Identify most common barriers for employees leadership development plan 1.2 Research Questions What is the employees’ attitude towards the company regarding its transformational leadership development program? Is transformational leadership more efficient than other forms of leadership? How does the transformational leadership benefit the objectives and goals of the company? What is the significance of the transformational leadership development plan for both the company and its employees? To what extent do the employees consider the development plan at the company efficient? What are the common barriers associated with the transformational leadership development plan at the company? 1.3 Rationale for the Current Research Although there is a large array of literature on human resource development, practitioners often come under criticism for doing very little to evaluate the learning and development solutions that have been designed to deliver whereby significant and often scarce resources are allocated blindly in development plans that are considered to be effective (Harisson, 2005). When undergoing financial stress, organizations often downsize human resource development budgets. Human resource development personnel undergo tight scrutiny in justifying their expenditures and are required to prove the effectiveness of their employee development plans. Thus evaluation of employee leadership development plan is a viable solution. The importance of evaluation in further signified as the learning and development theory and practices in the modern day is undergoing a considerable change in order to keep up with new circumstantial requirements. In fact, one of the major changes occurring nowadays and in the upcoming years is the organizational changes driven by ‘higher integration between coaching, organisational development (OD) and performance management’ (CIPD survey, 2010: pg.6). Similarly Sloman (2007) made several important propositions regarding the ongoing change in the employee development practices and approaches (see appendix 1). The shift in the learning and development approach and employee development practices signifies the importance of evaluating the current practices of an organization to see whether they are abreast with the prevailing best practices. Additionally, employee development approaches and practices of the oil and gas rich Middle Eastern countries and the Gulf Nations is an under-researched area in HRM literature. Moreover, the available literature regarding employee development practices generalizes the Middle East and the Arab World rather than addressing individual countries or companies (Harry, 2007). The existing gap in the literature pays way for the current proposed study to evaluate the leadership development plan at Maesrk Oil in Qatar. 2.0 Literature Review 2.1 Definition of employee leadership development Employee development plans have been defined as a set of planned efforts by an organization which facilitates the learning and acquaintance of knowledge, specific skills and behaviors for its employees; all of which are essential for them to be successful in their current jobs (Goldstein, 1993). Dotta (2009) defines it as a â€Å"sequence of concurrent activities, initiatives and programs that an organization is involved with to maintain, improve and enhance the skills, capabilities and performance levels of its workforce and other staff members†. You read "Evaluation of Leadership Development Plan of Maersk Oil in Qatar" in category "Essay examples" Employee development plan encapsulates various individual development plans. A leadership development plan goes one step further than this: as well as providing all of the support listed above the employee is also being trained for a management role through the subtle development of the most desirable qualities. According to Depar tment of Defense of USA (2006), an individual employee development plan is â€Å"a tailored written plan developed by the supervisor and employee outlining the employee’s developmental objectives and the developmental activity for achieving these objectives. The purpose of an employee development plan is to increase the current proficiency, development, and progression of the employee through a systematic development plan†. The personal progression of an employee can only be realized if they have been instructed in the transformational leadership qualities which will optimize the business as a whole. Based on aforementioned definitions, several important points can be stated: Employees’ development plan is aimed at enhancing the capabilities and competencies of an organization’s workforce. Employees’ development plan is also crucial for the progression of a career path. Through leadership development it is common for organizations to train and develop their employees to occupy critical positions in future. A transformational leadership development program helps employees to understand the key roles of leadership and develop qualities which will make them an inspirational motivator to their workforce. 2.2 Significance of transformational leadership development In today’s business environment, which is characterized as multi-faced, highly complex, extremely competitive, and dynamic, organizations are required to be very flexible and adaptable in order to survive and succeed. Employee development, a practice that seeks to assist organizations in meeting their business goals through continuous learning and development (Harisson, 2009) is a critical element for achieving that flexibility and adaptability. So much that often human resource development personnel are qualified as ‘agents of change’ (Harisson, 2009). It is only through continuous, effective learning and development of employees that modern day organizations can acquire the essential competencies to adapt to a new conjuncture. Transformational leadership is significant as it not only benefits the leader in question, but also the morale of the employees. Candidates for the development program will be taught the traditional methods of leadership, such as how to ta ke responsibility and effectively manage a team, while also being taught to be motivational, inspirational and influential among their colleagues (Barling, Christie and Hoption). 2.3 Best Practices in Employee Development Plan Numerous studies have recommended several successful approaches towards employee development programs. There is a general consensus among researchers regarding the foremost need for an organization to conduct an analysis of its existing needs and requirements (Jacobs and Jones, 1995; Clegg et al, 2005). According to Jacobs, (1995) an employee development can be rendered meaningless if it does not respond to the organizational needs. Existing needs and requirements can be identified through an effective market analysis, analysis of existing and future labor trends. (Clegg et al, 2005). Since every organization needs to secure its’ future in the business industry it stands to reason that leadership is a high priority in the organizations needs, and transformational leadership can arguably give the best opportunity for employees to grow and develop along with the requirements of the company. Apart from the needs’ assessment, several best practices have been identified by human resource practitioners and researchers. A survey of best practices of 71 companies practicing employee development activities identified three underlying factors important for an effective employee development plan. These are: (1) individual development plans should be developed for key and high potential employees with the ability to become future leaders (2) the individual development plans and practices should be strictly aligned with organizational strategies and goals, with the future of the company in mind and (3) the entire workforce should be facilitated for its progression through the developmental process (Reynolds, 2005). 3.0 Research Methods and Approach 3.1 Research Philosophy Identifying a research philosophy is imperative for designing a viable research method as it determines the manner in which information regarding a research problem/question is collected, evaluated and applied. Researcher have identified mainly three research philosophies namely positivist and interpretivist and realist (Galliers, 1991). A positivist research philosophy perceives reality as a constant phenomenon; something that can be perceived objectively (Levin, 1988). It is a stance of a natural scientist. According to Hirschheim (1985 p.33), â€Å"positivism has a long and rich historical tradition. It is so embedded in our society that knowledge claims not grounded in positivist thoughts are simply dismissed as ascientific and therefore invalid†. Interpretivism, on the other hand, seeks to understand reality from a subjective perception in order to make sense of motives, actions and intentions of those that they study. They emphasize the social construct of the reality (Husserl, 1965). Interpretivists contend that reality and its perceptions can be better understood by placing people in their social contexts (Hussey and Hussey, 1997). Realists believe that the existence of reality is independent of human thoughts, emotions and beliefs. The research philosophy underpinning the proposed research is interpretivism. The research aims to evaluate the employee leadership development plan of Maersk Oil through the perceptions, attitudes and beliefs of its employees, managers, and executives; thus it aims to gain subjective insights for evaluation. 3.2 Research Approach and Strategy A research approach can be either deductive or inductive. The premise of a deductive approach is to test a hypothesis, explain casual relationships and enable generalization of a theory. On the other hand, inductive approach focuses upon building a theory by understanding a phenomenon seeking an answer for a question. The approach adopted for the proposed research is inductive, as this study will look to identify the weaknesses or strengths or the current employee development plan at Maersk Oil Qatar, and answer several proposed questions pertaining to its evaluation. The research strategy for this study will be exploratory as it will aim at providing insights and understanding of the nature of the phenomenon under study in new light. Within the exploratory approach, this study will utilize both qualitative and quantitative data. On one hand, statistical analysis will carried out for the survey responses which will be distributed among the employees of a company, whilst interviews will be conducted with some senior officials and employees in order to gain insights regarding the evaluation of the employee development program. It will complement the understanding gained through the data analysis results. 3.3 Data Collection According to Yin (1994), there are five ways of collecting data; these are â€Å"experimental, surveys, archival analysis, history, and case studies†. This research will utilize a survey strategy. According to Kelley et. al, (2003) â€Å"the survey strategy refers to the selection of a relatively large sample of people from a pre-determined population, followed by the collection of data from those individuals. The researcher therefore uses information from a sample of individuals to make some inference about the wider population†. For the purpose of evaluating the employee leadership development plan, a questionnaire will be prepared, reviewed, and distributed to a random sample of Maersk Oil Qatar employees and people in leadership roles. Survey strategy will allow the researcher to collect a large amount of data within in short time with minimum costs and efforts (Naresh et.al, 2003). Interviews, the qualitative form of collecting data within survey method will be use d concurrently. Semi-structured interviews will be designed and conducted of several senior officials at the company. References CIPD (2010), ‘Annual Survey Report : Learning and Talent Development’, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, {online} http://www.cipd.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/BC060DD1-EEA7-4929-9142-1AD7333F95E7/0/5215_Learning_talent_development_survey_report.pdf (cited on 13th September, 2012) Clegg ,S. et all, 2005: Managing Organizations: An introduction to Theory and Practice. Sage Cohen N., 2002?Pressure on AP Moller to Be Open,† Australasian Business Intelligence, April 23, Department of Defense of USA (2006) The individual development. {online} http://www.usuhs.mil/chr/idp.pdf (cited on 13th September, 2012) Dotta, P.(2009) ‘What Is an Employee Development Plan?’ {online}: http://www.ehow.com/about_5161579_employee-development-plan.html (cited on 13th September, 2012) Goldstein I. L., 1993 â€Å"Training in Organizations† (3rd Ed.) Pacific Grove, California: Books Cole Harrison, R. (2005) Learning and development. 4th ed. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Harrison, R. (2009) Learning and development. 5th ed. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Harry. W (2007) Employment Creation and Localization. The crucial human resource issue for GCC. Int Journal of Human Resource Management. Vol. 18, no.1, pp 132-146. Husserl, E. (1965), Phenomenology and the crisis of philosophy, New York: Harper Torchbooks. Hussey, J. Hussey, R. (1997), Business Research: A practical guide for undergraduate and post-graduate students, London: MacMillan Press Ltd Jacob, R L and Jones, M J. (1995) Structures on Job Training- Unleashing Expertise in the Work Place. San Francisco. Berrett Koehler. Kelley, K., Clark, B., Brown, V., and Sitzia, J (2003) Good practice in the conduct and reporting of survey research. Int. Journal for Quality in Health Care. Volume 15, Issue 3 Pp. 261-266. Levin, D. M. (1988). The opening of vision: Nihilism and the postmodern situation. London: Routledge. LSA Global (2008) ‘Top 10 training best practices for effective learning and development programs’. {online} http://jobfunctions.bnet.com/abstract.aspx?docid=375846 (cited on 13th September, 2012) Maersk Oil (2012) ‘About Us’ {online} http://www.maerskoil.com/ABOUTUS/Pages/AboutUs.aspx (cited on 13th September, 2012) Naresh,M. et.al.,(2003) Methodological issues in cross-cultural marketing research. International Marketing Review. 13 (5) 7-43 Reynolds, S.(2005) Training and development managers share best practices and courseware through LearnShare. Toledo Business Journal. 5(2) 155-163. Sloman, M. (2007) ‘The changing world of the trainer: emerging good practice’, Oxford: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. Yin, R. K. (1994) Case Study Research. Design and Methods. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc. How to cite Evaluation of Leadership Development Plan of Maersk Oil in Qatar, Essay examples

Conceptual And Methodological Foundations â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Conceptual And Methodological Foundations? Answer: Introduction In the present business scenario, marketing strategy being implemented by the contemporary business organizations to not only sell their products, but also determining the market requirement effectively. In the current business state of affairs, business organizations have to operate in intensely competitive market and thus, it is important for them to effectively design their marketing activities in order to target their customers (Baker 2014). Retail market sector is one of the most intensely competitive markets in Australia with having several established players in the market (Chutani and Sethi 2012). Thus, organizations operating in this sector are initiating various marketing concepts in order to stay ahead in the competition. Woolworths is one of the prominent players in the market with having diverse product portfolio and deep market penetration. They are also known for their distinctive marketing strategies being implemented. This report will discuss about the marketing strategy being implemented by Woolworths for promoting HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK in the Australian market. Their target market and their process of segmenting and positioning their customers will be discussed. Accordingly, recommendations will be provided to enhance the effectiveness of their marketing activities. Company profile Woolworth is a chain of supermarkets across Australia with having the market leadership status in the retail market. It was founded in 1924 and currently they are having more than 1000 stores across Australia. They mostly specialize in selling grocery items to their customers. However, gradually they have entered other market sectors also (Woolworths.com.au 2017). Currently they are offering grocery items along with stationary items, music items and household products. Being a supermarket, they are having huge diversity in their product portfolio along with several product lines. Due to their diversified product portfolio, they are catering to broader audiences. Target market strategy Currently, the target market of Woolworths is consists of high-income customers due to their offering of higher end and slightly expensive products (Wedel and Kamakura 2012). However, in the recent time, they are trying to target the middle-income customers also to expand their market area and presence. Due to this reason, they have initiated the promotional activities of HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK. This brand is being targeted offer highest quality at the lowest price available. To initiate the target strategy for the new set of customers, they have initiated various marketing strategies. Segmentation, targeting and positioning model will be used to determine the target strategy of Woolworths for HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK. According to this model, the first step is to segmentation. The customer segment of operation for Woolworths is the higher income customers. However, in the case of HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK, they have targeted the mass market of consumer goods. Geographic al segmentation of them is quite broad due to their presence across the Australia (Cross, Belich and Rudelius 2015). Woolworths is having their presence in every state in Australia and thus, the geographical segmentation for them is effective. Targeting The next stage in this model is targeting. It refers to the initiation of strategies to effectively reach out to the target segments (Riefler, Diamantopoulos and Siguaw 2012). The recent marketing strategies being initiated by Woolworths are mostly oriented towards the grocery and consumer goods. This is due to the reason that, they have targeted the middle-income customers by offering affordable consumer goods at an affordable price range. According to their marketing strategies, consumer goods are being referred as necessity items and thus are will be easy for them to target the new customer segments effectively. In addition, they are involving more extensive marketing strategies in order to target the mass market. They are covering every marketing medium ranging from print media to television commercials (Rosenbloom 2012). These strategies are helping them in reaching out effectively to the mass market. They are also shifting their business orientation towards the concept of every day low value pricing from their existing higher pricing model. Thus, it will also help them to cater to more number of customers. Positioning The last stage of this model is the positioning strategy. It refers to the positing of the particular brand in the mind of the target customers (Hassan and Craft 2012). Woolworths positioned their offerings as premium and top quality products in the market. Quality is the key criterion being followed by them in delivering their products to the customers. Another strategy being taken by them is the pricing policy. They design their pricing policy in such way that it will not offer low price to the customers. This is due to the reason that, offering much lower price will affect the customer impression (Lioze et al. 2012). The advertisement of them is being designed according to their brand positioning status. The promotional activities of Woolworth convey the competitive advantages that they possess in the market over their competitors. These strategies are helping them in creating an image of premium and quality products offerings of Woolworths. However, in the case of promoting HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK, they have positioned their product portfolio as premium offerings for the mass markets. The pricing has also been done accordingly to target the mass market without compromising on quality or their brand value. Marketing strategy implemented by Woolworths To cater to more number of customers, Woolworths have implemented and designed their marketing strategies effectively. They have initiated the marketing mix in their business activities accounting to the requirements of the customers. Seven Ps of marketing mix will be used in determining the effectiveness of the marketing strategies being implemented by them. Product The product is the first aspect of the marketing mix. It refers to the offerings by the organization in the market. Due to the reason that they operates in the retail sector, thus, they resell the finished products to the customers (Mital et al. 2014). It helps them in catering to more number of customers and meeting their diversified requirements. HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK is their private label brand. In the case of the private label brand they are producing and selling the products by own. Thus, they have in the direct competition with the other fruit drink producers. In addition, the private label brand of them is offering diversified products. Thus, the product assortment is more in the case of HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK. Price As discussed earlier, the pricing strategy of Woolworths is being designed according to the requirement of their target customers. The price of the products in HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK is not much lower due to the reason that, it will adversely affect their positioning strategy in the market. Woolworths has positioned HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK as a premium and high quality item. Thus, offering products in lower prices will have negative impact on the target customers. Moreover, they offer various product assortments in a single product line. It helps them in offering the same products in different sizes and prices (Chernev 2012). Thus, eventually the single product is being offered in various price segments. They have priced their private label brands accordingly. Thus, with help of HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK, they are targeting different customer segments. Place Products of HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK are being available from all the stores of Woolworths. Woolworths is having their supermarkets across every state in Australia. In addition, they have more than 19 conventional stores in Australia. Thus, customers have their convenience in having the access to their stores. Moreover, Woolworths have initiated online marketing for their products. Customers have the access of their official websites through which they can shop online (Yoganarasimhan 2013). Thus, the customer convenience will be more in this case. With higher penetration in the market along with effective market presence, customers will find it easy to locate the Woolworths store within their convenience. Hence, the products under HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK are being available at every possible selling point. Promotion The promotional activities initiated by Woolworths cover various marketing mediums and reach to wider audiences. They are initiating innovations in enhancing their marketing activities. One of the key effective marketing strategies implemented by them in the recent years is the social media marketing. Initiation of the social media marketing enables them to effectively determine the requirement of the customers and the current market trend. Accordingly, they are offering their products through their stores. Another key advantage that they have garnered from their social media marketing is generation of the feedback from the customers regarding their existing products (Tuten and Solomon 2014). It helps them to determine their weaknesses compared to their competitors. Another promotional strategy implemented by them is the customer loyalty program. It was first introduced in their stores in Tasmania. It helps them to provide loyalty services to their regular customers, which in turn enhance the customer loyalty as well as the customer satisfaction of them. Another promotional strategy being initiated by them is the everyday rewards. According to this scheme, Woolworths can record and determine the purchasing pattern of their regular customers and accordingly they will offer products and rewards to them. Thus, these types of promotional activities are helping them in targeting more number of customers. People Employees and customers of Woolworths are also being involved in the marketing activities of them. According to them, employees will be the key source of enhancing the satisfaction level of the customers and thus it is important to have proper training and development of the employees (Ji et al. 2012). In addition, effective determination of the requirement of the customers is also important to implement the marketing activities. Woolworths involve various activities to train and equip their employees in order to enable them to provide effective customer service. Moreover, they to determine the market trend are doing market research. Process Process involves the effective service delivery to the customers. In the case of Woolworths, they are installing automated checkout counters in order to reduce the queue in the checkout counter. Moreover, barcode is being attached with all of their products, which enables in swift checking out the case counters (Orel and Kara 2014). Moreover, with initiation of the online shopping portal, customers now have the convenience of shopping their products at anytime and anywhere. Thus, the process of service delivery of Woolworths is effective. Physical evidence Physical evidence refers to the tangible value being provided to the customers by the organizations. In the case of Woolworths, they offer retail consumer goods. Thus, their entire product portfolio is having physical value. It helps the customers to determine the quality and other criterions of them before buying the products. On the other hand, it is easy for the organization to present their quality and other competitive advantages to the customers more effectively. Recommendations Woolworth is mainly operating mainly in the Australian region. However, they are recently opting to enter in some other countries to expand their business area. Thus, it is being recommended that the target market in the international business for them should be the developing countries (Dunning 2013). This is due to the reason that, the retail sector in the developed countries is already being saturated with very less chance for the new entrants to gain market share. On the other hand, the developing economies such as India and China are rapidly growing and thus it will be a huge opportunity for Woolworths to tap the growing market with their products under HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK. Moreover, these nations are having huge populations with a large chunk of middle class. Thus, the market opportunities for them will be more than that in the developed countries. Diversification strategy will also be beneficial for Woolworths due to the reason that, there are huge opportunities of diversification in the retail sector. Moreover, the brand value and identity that they carry with them will be added advantage to push the new products in the market. Under the HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK, they can diversify in to various product categories such as initiation of different flavors to meet the various customer requirements. It will be beneficial for Woolworths if they can introduce premium offerings under HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK. This is due to the reason that, the products under HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK are mainly targeted towards the mass market. Thus, offering premium products will not only extend the market area, but also create positive image among the mass-market customers. Conclusion It is can be concluded that, the existing marketing strategy of Woolworths for HOMEBRAND ORANGE FRUIT DRINK is effective enough to cater to the existing customers in the Australian market. However, they need to gain more competitive edge in order to cater to the global customers. It is of urgent requirement for them to follow the recommended steps given in this report to enhance their competitive advantages to compete in the global market of consumer products. Reference Baker, M.J., 2014.Marketing strategy and management. Palgrave Macmillan. Chernev, A., 2012. Product assortment and consumer choice: An interdisciplinary review.Foundations and Trends in Marketing,6(1), pp.1-61. Chutani, A. and Sethi, S.P., 2012. 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