Data Protection Act 1998 Essay Example for Free

Data Protection Act 1998 Essay The data protection Act 1998 came into force in 2000 and aims to protect an individual’s right to privacy in relation to their personal data. This includes things like the person’s medical information, information about their current employees, their address, pay, bank detail etc. Santander has to make sure the information of their employees is kept secret and no one can access it. Businesses like Santander need information about people to increase the chances of people joining them. They also need information about their customers e. g. their address, their home phone number, their occupation etc. so the information stored by business on database must be: Obtained fairly and lawfully Used for purposes stated during collection Adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the intended use Accurate and up to date Not kept for longer than necessary Processed in line with your rights Subject to procedures to prevent unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction and damage to personal data Protected from transfer to an area outside the European economic area (EEA) unless adequate protection exists for that data in the area. Santander needs to make sure they follow all these laws or they can get prosecuted and their organisation can be closed down by the government for breaking the law. Santander needs to make sure all their employees obey these laws because if they break them then they are breaking the law. In order to make sure the employees working at Santander don’t break the laws, Santander provide them the information about these laws when they join to work for Santander and keep them up-to-date as the laws change. Freedom of information Act 2000: The freedom of information Act 2000 is a really important law. It provides individuals and organisations with the right to request information held by a public authority. This law came into effect in 2005. The public authority must tell the person asking for the information so the organisation or an individual if they (public authority) have the information or not and if they have the information then they must supply the information within 20  working days, in the requested format. Public authorities are the national, state or local government agency. The freedom of information Act 2000 does have exemptions to it for example if the cost of a request for information exceeds an appropriate limit, the public authority may decide whether a greater public interest is being served by denying the request or supplying the information. This law effect Santander because it can be used Santander to find important information about people, different trends etc. to increase the chances of peop le joining them. For example Santander can demand information about the statistics about people from public authority in order to help them sell their products. This law doesn’t affect the employees of Santander to much. This law doesn’t cause any conflict within the organisation so Santander doesn’t have to address it to much. Freedom of information Act 2000 can help Santander to persuade people to sell their items or what items to sell because they can get information about different trends or other statistics from the public authority which can show them what majority of people are like and what product they buy etc. For example the statistics about people who get life insurance after the age of 50 can help Santander sell life insurances because they will know what age group buy the most life insurance so they can target that age group and try to persuade them to join Santander. This is an important law which Santander can benefit from in order to progress faster as a company and make more profit. It doesn’t affect the customers or employees to much although in a way it does affect the employees, if Santander make more profit then they expected then they might give their employees higher bonuses. Computer Misuse Act 2000: This is a really important law because it prevents a lot of important things. The computer misuse act 1990 is a law in the UK that legislates against certain activities using computer for example hacking into other people’s account/system or misusing software’s to gain protected files. This means if someone tries to take another person’s personal file or hacks into their computer then they are breaking the law and can be prosecuted and jailed. The computer misuse Act is split into 3 different sections and these are: Unauthorised access to computer material. Unauthorised access to computer systems with intent to commit another offence. Unauthorised modification of computer material.  This is one of the most important laws for Santander to keep in mind because Santander has a lot of employees and this law applies to all of them. None of the employees can use another person’s information for their benefit or even look at it without a reason. If they do then they are breaking the law and will be sacked and reported to the police. In order to deterrent employees from looking at peoples information for their benefit, Santander sack anyone caught of committing this crime. It is really easy for people to commit frauds if they have other people’s personal information so this is another reason Santander has to make sure they handle people information carefully and they don’t send people’s personal information to other agencies and companies. If they do send their customer’s information to third parties without the customer’s permission then the customers can sue Santander. Santander has to make sure none of their employees commit any crime especially in regards to this law because it can lead to frauds being committed against their customer. Santander needs to make sure they take serious actions against anyone who breaks this law in order to deterrent people from doing it. This law protects the customers of Santander as well as the employees so it’s important. Health and Safety (display Screen equipment) Regulations 1992: This law is really important because it includes everyone associated with doing work on computers or other display screen equipment in Santander. Santander has a lot of people working on computers so this rule covers a lot of employees of Santander. This rule applies to employees who are a user of displace screen equipment, their work station have to be assessed with regard to the health and safety of the user. â€Å"The minimum requirements of the work station (i.e. display equipment, keyboard, software, accessories, disc drive, telephone, modem, printer, document holder, work chair, work surface or desk, etc. when provided are laid down in the Schedule. The scheduling of the work of a user shall be such that the work on the display screen equipment is periodically interrupted by breaks or changes of activity. Before a person is employed as a user that person has a right to have an appropriate eye and eyesight test carried out by a competent person. Such tests shall be available to users at regular intervals. Where normal corrective appliances cannot be  used when the operator is experiencing visual difficulties which reasonably may be considered to be caused by work on display screen equipment, the employer shall ensure special corrective appliances are provided.iâ€Å" When Santander recruits someone for a role which has the use of computers, they (Santander) should give them training regarding the appropriate health and safety to make sure they are safe whilst they do their job. In this rules a few things are covered such as: Equipment. Environment the person has to work. User/computer interface. Santander has to provide training for people who aren’t sure about how to operate stuff that includes display screens such as computer. This can be a expensive process for Santander because training sessions are expensive. On the other hand Santander can recruit people who are familiar with these regulation and rules in order to cut the costs of training them although it will be harder to find people like these because most of them have jobs. The more trained and experience Santander’s employees are, the faster the organisation will progress and the more profit they will make this is because if people know what they need to do then they will do it faster than people who struggle to do their role and need time to adjust or find the role hard. These laws mostly apply to employees in Santander so it is quite important for Santander to keep this law in mind and obey it. They need to make sure their employees are given proper health and safety guidance before they start and in addition Santander should regularly make their employees go to optician to get their eye sight checked. Santander have training sessions for people who aren’t familiar with these health and safety rules in order to make sure they don’t harm themselves while working.

Ethan Frome Readers Response :: Essays Papers

Ethan Frome Readers Response I thought the novel Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton was one of the best books that I have ever read. When I started reading the book I thought that it would be about the accident that Ethan experienced instead of the incidents behind it. The novel is also well written, Edith Wharton did a fine job writing a book that I never wanted to put down. I felt as though the story was being told to me and that I actually knew Ethan and Mattie. As well I enjoyed the way that Edith Wharton used a lot of adjectives to make the scenes and story come alive, for example in the end of the story during the sledding scene I actually felt as though I was on the sled with Ethan and Mattie. Only two things in the novel bothered me, the fact that in the beginning of the novel I thought that I would find out what happened to Ethan in more detail and I also wanted Mattie and Ethan to run off together. In the opening of the novel, I thought that I would learn more about the accident and when I finished the novel I thought that I was â€Å"left hanging† when Edith Wharton really did not tell you what happened after she made it seem as thought that is what the novel is about. I also wanted Mattie and Ethan to live happily ever after, maybe it was the female in me but I think that they should have run off together instead of being sensible. In the end of the novel, I was really surprised to find out that Ethan is still married to Zeena, I thought that Zeena might leave Ethan and then Ethan and Mattie could get married. I did notice some of the symbolism that Edith Wharton uses in her novel for example, that there is striking symbolism in the imagery that the author uses, primarily that of winter which depicts coldness, detachment, bleakness and seclusion. I also think that Edith Wharton chose winter as a theme in this novel because it symbolizes emotional and physical isolation, and death that surrounds Ethan. Similarly, the name of the town, Starkfield, is symbolic of Ethan's boring life. Just as Ethan’s house was once new and beautiful it is now worn by many harsh winters in Starkfield, as was Ethan after the accident.

Cultural Diversity

Race defines me as Mexican, German, and Irish. My religion defines me as Catholic. My country of birth defines me as American. However, I believe these terms describing me, merely list historical facts and statistics. The fact remains; I belong to these various groups by birth, not choice. I believe I am fortunate that my family instilled the understanding of diversity as far back as I can remember. Each of the people who raised me contributed to my value set in different ways. In addition, and most important, my personal experiences helped me to discover and appreciate diversity. I hail from Santa Ana, California where Hispanics make up 76. 1% of the city’s population, according to the U. S. Census Bureau (2009). In addition, my Mexican American grandparents primarily raised me. The neighborhood I where I lived consisted of fellow Hispanics and distant relatives. The Hispanic influence shaped my strong family values and racial identification. My grandparents truly believe that regardless of circumstance, family is first and above all else. The fact they raised me and still enjoy my company today is a testament to this teaching. Growing up with my grandparents meant, in addition to lifelong allegiance to family, a strong religious set of values. I was sent to Catholic school along with my cousins, taken to mass every Sunday, and prayed the rosary in hopes of keeping me safe from sin. I do appreciate the cost relating to my education; however, I am afraid it only served to strengthen my current beliefs. Specifically, that religious intolerance is unacceptable. Religious beliefs are individual. No religion is correct or incorrect. My grandparents grew up and survived an era of intolerance and prejudice. In spite of their experiences, they instilled in me values of tolerance and acceptance. My father, former â€Å"hippy,† is also responsible for my belief that, a person’s place of birth or color of skin is of no consequence. In my opinion, this teaching is the most valuable and relevant today. My second husband and I am an interracial couple. We share the same values, beliefs, and morals. The only differences we have relate to color and religious background. Thankfully, I was taught to value the person, all else is irrelevant. Through my husband, I learned that familial tradition influences religious and social beliefs. After several debates, I recognized that I was not as open-minded and tolerant as I believed. He helped me to accept myself given both, the negative and positive experiences in my life. Through him, I learned that to accept others, I had to accept myself. For me, this realization was monumental. Whereas I hold close the family values and acceptance taught to me, I realize that my diversity is due to my personal perspective. My grandparents could never teach to me the understanding of addiction. However, my father, through his own addiction taught me sympathy for those suffering from their own conflicts. I wore my father’s addiction as if the addiction were my own until I realized my siblings wore the same shame. I never understood loss of faith until I met a colleague who lost hers. Her experience helped me to understand how people are broken to the point of non-belief. I first married a person most resembling myself in terms of race and religion. However, I learned quickly that these commonalities do equal a match made in heaven. I went to school with people who came from wealth while I suffered poverty. Through these classmates, I learned that money does not magically equal happiness. My experiences do not necessarily relate to a specific culture, but do relate to understanding. I cannot make determinations upon anyone until I have experienced his or her same set of circumstances. I make no distinction between people based on religion, race, nationality, or sexual preference. I believe that each person has a purpose, even those who disturb me. By that, I mean, each person serves to strengthen beliefs or change our minds. Each experience with someone different is an opportunity to learn a new perspective. In my family, we married into various races, befriend people of various beliefs and religions, and enjoy the company of others regardless of association. Cultural diversity, in my opinion, is a two- word phrase describing understanding. I believe that I am not a product of pluralism, for I do not believe that cultural or ethnic values bind us (Kottak & Kozaitis, 2003). Assimilation does not fit my values or beliefs, because I do not believe that a single culture describes my upbringing. I believe that, based on my statistics, I am multicultural. However, based on my beliefs, experiences, and perspectives, I am simply diverse. References U.S. Census Bureau. (2009). State & County QuickFacts. Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0669000.html Kottak, C.P., & Kozaitis, K.A. (2003). On Being Different: Diversity and Multiculturalism in the North American Mainstream (2nd ed.). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies Cultural Diversity Race defines me as Mexican, German, and Irish. My religion defines me as Catholic. My country of birth defines me as American. However, I believe these terms describing me, merely list historical facts and statistics. The fact remains; I belong to these various groups by birth, not choice. I believe I am fortunate that my family instilled the understanding of diversity as far back as I can remember. Each of the people who raised me contributed to my value set in different ways. In addition, and most important, my personal experiences helped me to discover and appreciate diversity. I hail from Santa Ana, California where Hispanics make up 76. 1% of the city’s population, according to the U. S. Census Bureau (2009). In addition, my Mexican American grandparents primarily raised me. The neighborhood I where I lived consisted of fellow Hispanics and distant relatives. The Hispanic influence shaped my strong family values and racial identification. My grandparents truly believe that regardless of circumstance, family is first and above all else. The fact they raised me and still enjoy my company today is a testament to this teaching. Growing up with my grandparents meant, in addition to lifelong allegiance to family, a strong religious set of values. I was sent to Catholic school along with my cousins, taken to mass every Sunday, and prayed the rosary in hopes of keeping me safe from sin. I do appreciate the cost relating to my education; however, I am afraid it only served to strengthen my current beliefs. Specifically, that religious intolerance is unacceptable. Religious beliefs are individual. No religion is correct or incorrect. My grandparents grew up and survived an era of intolerance and prejudice. In spite of their experiences, they instilled in me values of tolerance and acceptance. My father, former â€Å"hippy,† is also responsible for my belief that, a person’s place of birth or color of skin is of no consequence. In my opinion, this teaching is the most valuable and relevant today. My second husband and I am an interracial couple. We share the same values, beliefs, and morals. The only differences we have relate to color and religious background. Thankfully, I was taught to value the person, all else is irrelevant. Through my husband, I learned that familial tradition influences religious and social beliefs. After several debates, I recognized that I was not as open-minded and tolerant as I believed. He helped me to accept myself given both, the negative and positive experiences in my life. Through him, I learned that to accept others, I had to accept myself. For me, this realization was monumental. Whereas I hold close the family values and acceptance taught to me, I realize that my diversity is due to my personal perspective. My grandparents could never teach to me the understanding of addiction. However, my father, through his own addiction taught me sympathy for those suffering from their own conflicts. I wore my father’s addiction as if the addiction were my own until I realized my siblings wore the same shame. I never understood loss of faith until I met a colleague who lost hers. Her experience helped me to understand how people are broken to the point of non-belief. I first married a person most resembling myself in terms of race and religion. However, I learned quickly that these commonalities do equal a match made in heaven. I went to school with people who came from wealth while I suffered poverty. Through these classmates, I learned that money does not magically equal happiness. My experiences do not necessarily relate to a specific culture, but do relate to understanding. I cannot make determinations upon anyone until I have experienced his or her same set of circumstances. I make no distinction between people based on religion, race, nationality, or sexual preference. I believe that each person has a purpose, even those who disturb me. By that, I mean, each person serves to strengthen beliefs or change our minds. Each experience with someone different is an opportunity to learn a new perspective. In my family, we married into various races, befriend people of various beliefs and religions, and enjoy the company of others regardless of association. Cultural diversity, in my opinion, is a two- word phrase describing understanding. I believe that I am not a product of pluralism, for I do not believe that cultural or ethnic values bind us (Kottak & Kozaitis, 2003). Assimilation does not fit my values or beliefs, because I do not believe that a single culture describes my upbringing. I believe that, based on my statistics, I am multicultural. However, based on my beliefs, experiences, and perspectives, I am simply diverse. References U.S. Census Bureau. (2009). State & County QuickFacts. Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0669000.html Kottak, C.P., & Kozaitis, K.A. (2003). On Being Different: Diversity and Multiculturalism in the North American Mainstream (2nd ed.). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies Cultural Diversity Understanding and Celebrating Cultural Diversity in America ` Many people mistakenly use phrases such as â€Å"American culture,† â€Å"white culture,† or Western culture,† as if such large, common, and homogenous cultures exist in the United States today. These people fail to acknowledge the presence of (1)cultural diversity, or the presence of multiple cultures and cultural differences within a society. In reality, many different cultural groups comprise the United States.The United States of America thrives on (2)diversity. A synthesis of the world’s plentiful and varied (3) races, religions, and cultures, America is a home to all, such that no one group can call itself more â€Å"American† than another. The fusion of cultures here is so unique and so exceptional that citizens can be just as proud of their original (4)cultural heritage as they are to be an American. However, many people remain opposed to the idea of cultural diversity, or multicul turalism.Cultural diversity is important because our country, our workplaces and our schools includes persons of various ethnic groups and interests. We can learn from one another, but first we must have a level of understanding about one another. What is cultural diversity? (5)Diversity is nothing more than a difference from the majority. Cultural diversity helps people to dispel negative stereotypes about one another. In any culture there is a majority and many (6)minorities. (7)Culture is a set of norms that set standards for a (8)society of what is acceptable behavior.Cultural diversity was characteristic of this continent prior to the coming of European colonists and African slaves. Throughout history, humans have expressed an interest in cultural diversity. People have recognized differences in values, (9)norms, beliefs and practices everywhere. Cultural diversity allows for a better understanding of other cultures and ideas. Whenever different groups have come into contact wi th one another, people have compared and contrasted their respective cultural (10)traditions.Societies often differentiated themselves from one another based on these variant cultural patterns. The many separate societies that emerged around the globe differed markedly from each other, and many of these differences persist to this day. As well as the more obvious cultural differences that exist between people, such as language, dress and traditions, there are also significant variations in the way they interact with their environment. Cultural diversity can be seen as analogous to (11)biodiversity.Writings on the diversity of cultures have often been based on (12)ethnocentric attitudes. (13)Ethnocentrism is the practice of judging another society by the values and standards of one’s own society. It appears that ethnocentrism is a universal phenomenon. In America, many of us have a peculiar habit of assuming that those who differ from our norms are wrong. We tend to view the w orld from a rather (14)myopic view leading to those outside this country calling us â€Å"ugly Americans†.As humans learn the basic values, (23)beliefs and norms of their own society, they tend to think of their own group and culture as preferable, ranking other cultures as less desirable. In fact, members of a society become so committed to particular cultural traditions that they cannot conceive of any other way of life. Unlike (15)assimilation, where everyone’s differences are lost in a giant melting pot, (16) multiculturalism advocates the idea that maintaining our different cultural identities can enrich us and our communities.Multiculturalism does not promote ethnocentrism or seek to elevate one (24)cultural identity above another. Instead, it celebrates diversity by allowing us to value our individual (17) heritages and beliefs, while respecting those of others. To combat the problem of ethnocentrism, (25)sociologists embrace the concept of (18)cultural relativi sm. Cultural relativism is the view that (26)cultural traditions must be understood within the context of a particular society’s responses to problems and opportunities.Cultural relativism is a method or procedure for explaining and interpreting other people’s cultures. Because cultural traditions represent unique adaptations and symbolic symbols for different societies, these traditions must be understood by sociologists as objectively as possible. Cultural relativism offers sociologists a means of investigating other societies without imposing ethnocentric assumptions. Cultural diversity makes our country richer by making it a more interesting place in which to live.Just think how boring a meal would be without Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Italian, German, French or Indian food. Cultural diversity also makes our country stronger and better able to compete in the new (19)global economy. People from diverse cultures bring language skills, new ways of thinking, and creat ive solutions to difficult problems and negotiating skills. In the past, ethnographers in the United States used to refer to our country as a (20)melting pot where new (21) immigrants would eventually be fully integrated into the American culture.This has obviously not happened so modern researchers have begun to talk about America as a garden salad where different cultural diversity mixes with the European American culture to form a meal where all of the various ingredients are still readily identifiable. As we build our cultural awareness, we also build bridges to trust, respect, and understanding across cultures and within a multicultural world. Every culture and race has made a substantial contribution to American history. Respect for each others’ (27)cultural values and belief systems is an intrinsic part of cultural diversity.Look around and you will see that our society is very diverse. Diversity enriches our lives. People may fear diversity simply because they are acc ustomed to the way things used to be and change makes them uncomfortable. They often view other cultural traditions as strange, alien, inferior, crazy or immoral. But the bottom line is that when we fully recognize that America is great because of the contributions of the many, then we as a people will be even more united in our common goals, and even more proud to be American citizens.Without its rich mixture of religions, races, and cultures, America would not be the nation that it is today. Founded upon the basis of equality and freedom for all, America acts as a stage where intensely different cultures not only coexist peacefully, but also thrive symbiotically and create a nation. Cultural diversity makes the United States a much more interesting place in which to live for all of its (22)inhabitants. If we all thought alike, looked alike and acted alike, imagine how boring and dull the world would be. Each culture provides its own special and irreplaceable contribution to our un derstanding of America today.No one likes being ignored. People long to be celebrated, not tolerated. They always have and they always will. References Naylor, Larry L. (1997). Cultural Diversity in the United States. Westpoint, CT: Bergin and Garvey. Page 1-10. http://www. diversity-books. com. html Macionis, J. J. (2009). Society: The basics. (12th ed. ). Boston, Ma: Pearson Education Inc. Scupin, Raymond and DeCorse, Christopher. (2012). Anthropology: A Global Perspective. (7th Edition). Boston, Ma: Pearson Education, Inc. Pages 218-220. Cultural Diversity Understanding and Celebrating Cultural Diversity in America ` Many people mistakenly use phrases such as â€Å"American culture,† â€Å"white culture,† or Western culture,† as if such large, common, and homogenous cultures exist in the United States today. These people fail to acknowledge the presence of (1)cultural diversity, or the presence of multiple cultures and cultural differences within a society. In reality, many different cultural groups comprise the United States.The United States of America thrives on (2)diversity. A synthesis of the world’s plentiful and varied (3) races, religions, and cultures, America is a home to all, such that no one group can call itself more â€Å"American† than another. The fusion of cultures here is so unique and so exceptional that citizens can be just as proud of their original (4)cultural heritage as they are to be an American. However, many people remain opposed to the idea of cultural diversity, or multicul turalism.Cultural diversity is important because our country, our workplaces and our schools includes persons of various ethnic groups and interests. We can learn from one another, but first we must have a level of understanding about one another. What is cultural diversity? (5)Diversity is nothing more than a difference from the majority. Cultural diversity helps people to dispel negative stereotypes about one another. In any culture there is a majority and many (6)minorities. (7)Culture is a set of norms that set standards for a (8)society of what is acceptable behavior.Cultural diversity was characteristic of this continent prior to the coming of European colonists and African slaves. Throughout history, humans have expressed an interest in cultural diversity. People have recognized differences in values, (9)norms, beliefs and practices everywhere. Cultural diversity allows for a better understanding of other cultures and ideas. Whenever different groups have come into contact wi th one another, people have compared and contrasted their respective cultural (10)traditions.Societies often differentiated themselves from one another based on these variant cultural patterns. The many separate societies that emerged around the globe differed markedly from each other, and many of these differences persist to this day. As well as the more obvious cultural differences that exist between people, such as language, dress and traditions, there are also significant variations in the way they interact with their environment. Cultural diversity can be seen as analogous to (11)biodiversity.Writings on the diversity of cultures have often been based on (12)ethnocentric attitudes. (13)Ethnocentrism is the practice of judging another society by the values and standards of one’s own society. It appears that ethnocentrism is a universal phenomenon. In America, many of us have a peculiar habit of assuming that those who differ from our norms are wrong. We tend to view the w orld from a rather (14)myopic view leading to those outside this country calling us â€Å"ugly Americans†.As humans learn the basic values, (23)beliefs and norms of their own society, they tend to think of their own group and culture as preferable, ranking other cultures as less desirable. In fact, members of a society become so committed to particular cultural traditions that they cannot conceive of any other way of life. Unlike (15)assimilation, where everyone’s differences are lost in a giant melting pot, (16) multiculturalism advocates the idea that maintaining our different cultural identities can enrich us and our communities.Multiculturalism does not promote ethnocentrism or seek to elevate one (24)cultural identity above another. Instead, it celebrates diversity by allowing us to value our individual (17) heritages and beliefs, while respecting those of others. To combat the problem of ethnocentrism, (25)sociologists embrace the concept of (18)cultural relativi sm. Cultural relativism is the view that (26)cultural traditions must be understood within the context of a particular society’s responses to problems and opportunities.Cultural relativism is a method or procedure for explaining and interpreting other people’s cultures. Because cultural traditions represent unique adaptations and symbolic symbols for different societies, these traditions must be understood by sociologists as objectively as possible. Cultural relativism offers sociologists a means of investigating other societies without imposing ethnocentric assumptions. Cultural diversity makes our country richer by making it a more interesting place in which to live.Just think how boring a meal would be without Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Italian, German, French or Indian food. Cultural diversity also makes our country stronger and better able to compete in the new (19)global economy. People from diverse cultures bring language skills, new ways of thinking, and creat ive solutions to difficult problems and negotiating skills. In the past, ethnographers in the United States used to refer to our country as a (20)melting pot where new (21) immigrants would eventually be fully integrated into the American culture.This has obviously not happened so modern researchers have begun to talk about America as a garden salad where different cultural diversity mixes with the European American culture to form a meal where all of the various ingredients are still readily identifiable. As we build our cultural awareness, we also build bridges to trust, respect, and understanding across cultures and within a multicultural world. Every culture and race has made a substantial contribution to American history. Respect for each others’ (27)cultural values and belief systems is an intrinsic part of cultural diversity.Look around and you will see that our society is very diverse. Diversity enriches our lives. People may fear diversity simply because they are acc ustomed to the way things used to be and change makes them uncomfortable. They often view other cultural traditions as strange, alien, inferior, crazy or immoral. But the bottom line is that when we fully recognize that America is great because of the contributions of the many, then we as a people will be even more united in our common goals, and even more proud to be American citizens.Without its rich mixture of religions, races, and cultures, America would not be the nation that it is today. Founded upon the basis of equality and freedom for all, America acts as a stage where intensely different cultures not only coexist peacefully, but also thrive symbiotically and create a nation. Cultural diversity makes the United States a much more interesting place in which to live for all of its (22)inhabitants. If we all thought alike, looked alike and acted alike, imagine how boring and dull the world would be. Each culture provides its own special and irreplaceable contribution to our un derstanding of America today.No one likes being ignored. People long to be celebrated, not tolerated. They always have and they always will. References Naylor, Larry L. (1997). Cultural Diversity in the United States. Westpoint, CT: Bergin and Garvey. Page 1-10. http://www. diversity-books. com. html Macionis, J. J. (2009). Society: The basics. (12th ed. ). Boston, Ma: Pearson Education Inc. Scupin, Raymond and DeCorse, Christopher. (2012). Anthropology: A Global Perspective. (7th Edition). Boston, Ma: Pearson Education, Inc. Pages 218-220.

Evaluation of pest analysis of the general motors company - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2257 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Marketing Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Business, according to dictionary, refers to something being concerned with the sale and purchase of, or with trade and commerce. Over time, after centuries of research, the perspectives and the very fabric have changed, giving a new dimension to this phenomenon called business. The prime objective of this article is to deduce the business environment and also comprehend its gravity on management students and the entire business enterprise. To understand this better, PESTEL also known as PEST analysis will be applied on the GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY, it will help analyze the various factors which constitute a business environment and the strategic decisions taken in the last half decade. Subsequently, conclusions and recommendations will be accomplished. INTRODUCTION There are innumerable factors that exemplify an organization and all these factors affect the decisions and the strategies which the organization chooses to make. The factors might be external such as competitors, customers, suppliers and may have a direct effect on the functioning of a company. These directly effecting factors are referred to as Micro environment. In the same way the factors might be external and can affect the functioning of the company indirectly such as social, technological, political, legal and environmental. These aspects are termed as Macro environment (Palmer and Hartley, 2006). The primary objective of any organization is to manifest profitable and successful artifice which is only possible if the organization is enlightened about the weaknesses and can make maximum out of an opportunity when it strikes. To apprehend the business environment of a company, PESTEL analysis can be utilized to evaluate political, environmental, economic, social, technological and legal factors. PESTEL analysis helps evaluate the macro-environment better and subsequently produce fruitful strategies. Another important method of analysis is the SWOT which examines the e xternal aspects as threats or opportunities and the internal factors as strengths or weaknesses. These methods altogether constitute and help derive the most efficient strategy to achieve the desired goal. A deep analysis will be conducted on the GENERAL MOTOR COMPANY. A definite conclusion is subsequently deduced presenting the possible reasons which have led the company serious deficiencies in the past five years, the company being one of the oldest and unarguably top most automobile manufacturers all over the world, and the possible decisions taken by the company heads which led to such catastrophic outcomes. ORGANISATION DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUNG Founded on September 16, 1908 famously known as GM, General Motors Company is a group from the United States of America, with its head branch located in Detroit Michigan. The company is massive, with its establishment in 34 countries and employees numbering about 244,500 from all around the world, including sales and services in about 140 countries. According to the statistics in 2008, GM has ranked as the largest automaker in the U.S and the second largest in the world. The General motor Group owns a series of world class car manufacturers which makes GM group indisputably the worlds biggest automobile entity. The General Motors Company is headed by Edward Whitacre.Jr. as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer. With automobile brands such as Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling under its hood, it is a daunting task to manage this business, which is spread in almost every continent. In recent times the company has faced humongous challenges, which has made the company choose new business strategies and reform itself. (www.gm.com, 2010) GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Acquiring business in a single country has its own challenges, regardless of the nature of business, being constantly under the microscope and c onstantly maneuvering itself according to the trends and the demands of the consumers is directly proportional to profit the company makes. Moreover if the company is multinational, the risks, challenges and the opportunities multiply. In the year 2007, the constant hike in oil prices had a deep impact on the automotive industry; the impact was not only by the changing retail habits of the consumers but also by the pricing pressure from the raw material. Moreover, the industry also faced constantly increasing external pressure from the public transport industry, as the consumers were curtailing private vehicle usage. () The United States of America is one of the worlds largest consumers for light vehicles, passenger cars and light trucks. This segment was dominate by the big three namely the General Motors, Ford Motors and Daimler-Chrysler, which account for about half of total number of cars and trucks in the automotive industry. Holding almost a monopoly in the automobile industry, ironically GM group is going through losses in recent times. PESTEL will be unveiled on the General Motors Company which will consequently give the strategies and the decisions taken. Economic Factors To commence with the economic factors, the whole continent was going through recession in the year 2008 and everybody, right from customers to the raw material suppliers were curtailing there expenses which just made the condition more suffering. This also left a deep impact on the macro-environment which resulted in unemployment. As an automobile industry, besides being a merchandiser, GM group is also a major consumer of various metals, textile, rubber, plastic, vinyl and computer chips. When the business cycle is at the stage of recession known as recovery, it becomes even difficult for the potential customers to keep up with the routine purchasing habits. This means that the customers purchase only the things which are economical and are of absolute importance. The new protocols imposed by the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) resulted in a hike on the organization by the government which resulted in the increase of selling prices, thus making the vehicle out of reach of purchase. Inflation as well as deflation marks a straight blow to the cost of products and the services. For instance, if more tax is levied on customers, it implies diminished income which finally results in lower expenditure. All these circumstances directly affect the potential customers to turn away from GM and chose more affordable and economic automotive products. Furthermore, for international markets, the inconsistency in the exchange rate gave others an added advantage. Political Factors Political environment can be inferred as all the aspects of the government which affect the sales and the purchase directly or indirectly, i.e. any one of the aspect affects the functioning of a company positively as well as negatively. The rules of the government have always been against the ignorance of the company towards environmental as well as safety regulations since 1960. The company has been always ignorant towards safety equipments such as seatbelts, airbags, ABS (antilock braking system) and environmental friendly products such as large engines and catalytic converters, with an idea to keep its vehicle notoriously strong, unconventional and pleasurable. But the change in the norms worldwide took a heavy toll on the firm. The world now had new demands and new set of trends which had no place for unsafe and oil gulping engines. Furthermore, the antagonistic image of the president of the United States of America George. W. Bush also led to boycotting of American produced vehicles. This situation intensified with the war between U.S.A and Iraq which resulted in further worsening of the sales figures of General Motor Company throughout the world. But somehow, the new government rules were passed to promote local sales in the country by limiting imports and developing local companies which played a major role in the persistence of GM group through crucial times. Technological Factors As time has progressed, so has technology, which is a dominating factor in the performance of a firm. As a matter of fact, companies should be ready to mould themselves according to the demands of the customers which rapidly changes due to advancements in technology and subsequent transformations in the market. The company not only makes full use of the evolving technology to constantly innovate itself for the cut throat competition by the rivals but also uses it for reaching out to the customers and understanding their needs and comfort better. Technology is also used by the company to reach out to the customers more efficiently through more effective distribution channels. For General Motors Company the technological aspect was analyzed through raw materials. The new improved products made from plastic and fiber glass were not only reliable but at the same time more economical, which is a beneficial step towards both, the merchandiser as well as the consumer. Technology brings in good opportunities I addition to new hurdles too. Another breakthrough where technology benefited the company was with the enrollment of the internet in the systems. Not only could customers place their orders online, but also solve their queries, making the business deals effortless, thanks to the internet. The GM group has found a plan which is long term called as the business-to-business and business-to-customer. There is yet another factor about technology that has resulted in the betterment of GM group; its the perception towards research and development (RD). In recent times companies spend a lot more than earlier times on RD, ensuring total safety, performance and economy to the potential customers. General Motors takes special care about connecting with faithful customers, even after the company has passed its maturity stag e and is now in the reform stage. The company has potential customers who are not volatile and will stick to the brand GM. Social factors Social aspect is also one of the vital contributions for analysis of any firm. The condition is simpler when dealing with a national entity but gets complex when a multinational firm is under consideration, reason being each county has a different perception towards its buying habits depending upon education, requirement and various other features such as urbanization. Social factor has been a boon to GM because the firm is in existence for almost a decade now. It has been a global leader in sales and services for almost seventy years. This is a factor which gives the company its name and status, which is treated with respect and associated with reliability and endurance. Considering the aforementioned positive social factors, the company still had to suffer setbacks due to distinct values and attitude of the consumers and naÃÆ'ĮšÃ‚ ¯ve strategies GM that imposed in some countries. Cutback was the new trend of the customers and GM had to adapt itself to stay in the market. Hence, the bulky and consuming engines had to be replaced with high technology fuel efficient ones such as hybrid. Point out what the challenge/problem was?( this the problem highlighted by the professor) What were its consequences on General Motors? ?( this the problem highlighted by the professor) What did GM do to deal with it in the best possible way? ?( this the problem highlighted by the professor) Conclusion To understand the environment of the General Motors Company in a gist, it is one of the worlds oldest and largest enterprises in automobile business. The firm produces all the big brands of vehicles which are in the dream car list of almost every individual; it enlists Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac, Hummer, Saab, GMC, Saturn. It shares alliance with Suzuki and Isuzu. GM also shares technologies with the cur rent world leader Toyota and Honda Company. The firm is always known for its exotic cars and setting world standards of driving experience. The vision of GM has always been par comparison and to be a leader in automotive products and associative assistance. Its motto is to provide enthusiasm in customers via endless betterment through reliability, joint effort and innovation of the GM group. For GM to become a world leader in automotive business the firm had to shift on to alternatively fueled automobiles and advanced standard products that makes an impact on international consumers and gives them the assurance that they can associate with quality and innovation. Even though the group is not at its best in recent times globally, one of the greatest advantages is that the company has stayed in the business for almost a century which makes it the worlds most globally experienced group and consequently gives it a cutting edge over the others when expanding globally is considered. Ad ding up to it is the OnStar Satellite Technology installed in vehicles which is helpful in catastrophic conditions like theft. This technology allows the driver of the vehicle to communicate with the OnStar assistance whenever necessary. With so many advantages on its side, GMs average of US $ 701 /vehicle increased to about 108% in the year 2001. Standing tall and dominating over its rivals for a very lengthy period, the rivals have found many loop holes that could e used to take down GM. The main reason for its downfall is the employment structure of GM. The company is still a leader in building revenues but the number of employees are way more than the rivals. One the biggest weakness of GM is investing in the project of hybrid and alternative sources. The company has been doing research for years and blowing up a lot of monetary resources without desirable results. This is the biggest blow which has almost single handedly outcaste GM from the world competition. More over, after liquidation, approximately 67% of the firm is owned by the US treasury department. Hence, they are too dependent on the government which hampers its power to make decisions. Also, the competitors are too strong to focus on just one country. Lastly, considering the topic of poor organization structure again, the association is vertically structured, this being a cause of lack in communication. This directly affects the productivity. . Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Evaluation of pest analysis of the general motors company" essay for you Create order