Symbolic Interactionism And Social Psychology - 1407 Words

The application paper Symbolic interactionism is considered to be part of the building block of micro-sociological thinking, related to anthropology and social psychology that bases the understanding of the society in communication and has greatly influenced the studies on media. This theory suggest that human interaction and communication is facilitated by words, gesture and other symbols that have acquired conventionalized meaning (Dictioinary). Symbolic interaction is a range of ideas that discuss how we as humans interact with the symbols of society. In this Paper will discuss the theory of Symbolic interactionism, its three premises that make up the theory, the roles of three major theorist that led to the development of the symbolic†¦show more content†¦The second premise indicates that the meaning of such things is derived from, or arises out of, the social interaction between humans. This reminds me of myself as I was growing up. My mother primarily raised me and showed me right from wron g. She taught me religion, not to steal and many essential things in life. Her socialization over time, allowed me to attach meaning to certain things in life. When I see elders I know to respect them, when I see people in need I learned to help. The third premise suggests that these meaning are handled in, and modified through, an interpretative process used by the person in dealing with the things he encounters (Blumer, 1984). This premise simply means that we can all hear the same thing but may interpret them differently from one another. The meaning we attached to things may change over time. In some cases, new experiences, or social interaction may change the way you views things thus giving it different meaning. Many theorist have shown interest in the Symbolic Interaction theory. But there’s three theorist that were heavily involved in the development of the concept. Herbert Blumer, George Herbert Mead, and Charles H Cooley were the pioneers that laid the groundwork. E ach of the theorist had a distinct view on human group conduct. Despite the differences in views there were many similarities which gave full meaning to the theory.Show MoreRelatedSymbolic Interactionism Was Proposed By J. Mead1440 Words   |  6 PagesThe theory of symbolic interactionism was proposed by J. Mead. He identifies two levels of interaction: non-symbolic and symbolic. The difference between them is that non-symbolic interaction is a characteristic of living nature, whereas a symbolic interaction is common for human society only. The scientist believed that people react not only to the actions of others but also to their intentions. It means that they unravel the intentions of other people, analyzing their actions, putting themselvesRead MoreSymbolic Interaction: My Favorite Sociological Theory1235 Words   |  5 Pagesaffiliation Authors note My Favorite Sociological Theory There were several theories that I found interesting as a part of the course, yet the theory that I connected with most personally was Symbolic Interaction. This theory was established first by George Herbert Mead, who coined the phrase symbolic interactionism first. The theory has been present in the field of sociology for several decades, and after the death of Mead, other sociologists took on the theory in their own works, studies, and theoriesRead MoreSymbolic Interactionism, By George Herbert Mead And Charles Horton Cooley937 Words   |  4 Pages Symbolic interactionism is a sociological perspective that is influential in many areas of the sociological discipline. It is particularly important in microsociology and social psychology. Symbolic interactionism is derived from American pragmatism and particularly from the work of George Herbert Mead. Herbert Blumer, a student and interpreter of Mead, coined the term symbolic interactionism and put forward an influential summary of the perspective: people act toward things based on the meaningRead MoreSymbolic Interactionism And Social Structure1190 Words   |  5 Pages Using the lens of symbolic interactionism, this essay will analyze Maria’s education, gang surroundings, and family conditions. In the beginning, I will define symbolic interactionism, then I will explain why Maria a fourteen year old girls conditions contain these elements. Finally I will explain how symbolic interactionism is integrated into her life. Symbolic interactionism can be easily described as the â€Å"interactions of individuals with the larger institutions of social structure† (AinbinderRead MoreSociology : A Sociological Perspective896 Words   |  4 Pages According to the University of North Carolina, â€Å"Sociology is the study of human social relationships and institutions† (http://sociology.unc.edu/undergraduate-program/sociology-major/what-is-sociology/). Sociology is science practiced by everyone in the world, whether they realize it or not. It is not only an incredibly important social science but also a beautiful art to study how society works. Now, an educated sociologist will realize that there are different perspective to view the world throughRead MoreSociology At Bowling Green State University867 Words   |  4 Pagesaction with the interpretation is an example of symbolic interactionism. Monica A. Longmore, a professor of sociology at Bowling Green State University, explains symbolic in teractionism is the relationship between a behavior and how it is identified (44). Behaviors are comprehended by how it is symbolized in one’s socialization. The thesis of this essay is some basic social behaviors taught in one’s culture are best understood using symbolic interactionism to interpret what is meant on a conscious andRead MoreCritical Theory, Functionalism And Symbolic Interactionism Essay1351 Words   |  6 PagesIn sociology, there are three major theories; critical theory, functionalism and symbolic interactionism. These theories express the structure of society in which each theory looks at a different aspects of sociology. Sociologists apply these theories in the study of society, but it becomes difficult if only one theory is applied. For that one applied theory, would only look at the aspect to which it is confined to. To successfully study sociology all three theories must be applied together. CriticalRead MoreWhen Should Transgender Identification Begin - Youth or Adulthood866 Words   |  4 Pagesa young age, or later, in adulthood. In regards to sociology, symbolic interactionism is ideal for examining the way in which sociological theory relates to transgender issues. This is because symbolic interactionism is the study of how people relate to one another and their environment, but specifically how the relations between each other have an effect on their environment. Blumer’s conceptualization of symbolic interactionism, known as the situational approach is the one most often used inRead MoreGeorge Herbert Mead s Theory Of Id, Ego, And Superego1029 Words   |  5 Pagesperiod. Mead’s work was the foundation of the symbolic interactionism theory, his three main concepts of that approach are preparatory, play, and game stage, and his theory can be seen in actions by gender roles. Sense George Herbert Mead’s work was the foundation for symbolic interactionism, it should be safe to say, that his papers reflected that work. Mead’s work studied the ways the self-forms in a sociality through interactions using symbolic communications. The work studied children’s interactionsRead MoreSymbolic Interactionism1727 Words   |  7 PagesSymbolic interactionism, or interactionism for short, is one of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology. This perspective has a long intellectual history, beginning with the German sociologist and economist, Max Weber and the American philosopher, George H. Mead, both of whom emphasized the subjective meaning of human behavior, the social process, and pragmatism. Herbert Blumer, who studied with Mead at the University of Chicago, is responsible for coining the term, symbolic interactionism

Business Level Strategy of GSK Company

Question: Discuss about the Business Level Strategy of GSK Company. Answer: Introduction This paper focuses on the dynamic capabilities of well known pharmaceutical company GSK. It also includes the analysis of capability in context of competition and high level technological environment. About Company GSK pharmaceutical company is a reputed organization in USA. It is a global health care company, which deals in research and development of new and innovative vaccines and other healthcare products for consumers. It also produces the cure for various dangerous diseases like cancer, asthma, infections and mental health. GSK is the leading healthcare company, which has generated revenue of $8222 million in year 2015 (GSK, 2014). It is delivering pharmaceutical products and services in more than 150 countries across globe. Dynamic capabilities of GSK pharmaceutical Dynamic capabilities refer to the ability of an organization to develop the new internal and external competencies to operate in the modern era or environment. Meanwhile, it can also be defined as the capacity of organization to build, adopt and change the competencies as per the competition to take a competitive advantage from the available resources (Davidjteece, 2013). At the same time, renovation in internal and external resources also creates value for the business in competitive market. Resource based view assists the company to gain the higher performance (Rehmanm and Saeed, 2015). Pharmaceutical industry experienced the innovative and modern aspect of competition trends. Meanwhile, the competition structure has been changed globally due to new technologies, strategic developments and resource based approach. Businesses are adopting innovation in the industry to build the competitive advantages in market for effective and efficient use of organizational resources. The organiza tional performance is also a dynamic capability for GSK pharmaceutical and because of it company gets additional benefit to attract potential customers in the market. GSK Pharmaceutical explores the organizational learning to develop and enhance the knowledge in dynamic and competitive era. Development of strategic asset is another dynamic capability for business. GSK pharmaceutical possess the dynamic capabilities that add value in the market performance, growth and strategic policy of the company. At the same time, key trends in pharmaceutical industry impact the business operation of company. In regard to this companys key strength capacity is its new innovation to manufacture effective cure practice of new vaccine. Further, it confers global presence and having strong employee base of approximately 100,000 employees (GSK, 2014). At the same time, GSK possess the experts who develop the innovative pharmaceutical products for curing the diseases. USA market is very sensitive in concern to the perception of consumer where consumer can move towards an efficient service provider. GSK pharmaceutical have many opportunities in the US market to expand the business of company and acquire other pharmaceutical companies. Further, Company focuses on the research and development strategy to acquire new techniques for manufacturing advance healthcare products (GSK, 2017). GSK is also having sound financial power in hand with current asset and fix assets. It generated the revenue of 3681 billion in financial year 2015 (Statista, 2015). In addition to this, it is adopting new technologies to produce new medicines for newly diseases in the environment. Further, it has excellent sales team that manages the global level force to distribute the medicine at every region. GSK has adopted an operating model to produce the product at low cost. Moreover, it has owned fully technological manufacturing laboratories for innovative research. Apart from this, GSK possess intangible dynamic capabilities such as patents of product, portfolio of healthcare and oral care. At the same time, company holds the brand image in the US market. In concern to this, GSK possess the capability to acquire pharmaceutical company to lur e the potential customers out of the market and strengthen the dynamic capability. Implications of dynamic capability in concern to the competitive advantages Dynamic capabilities are the unique capabilities of an organization, which derives values for the business in market to affect the strategy of competitive rivals. These capabilities are acquired and developed through scanning of environment and using the organizational resources. At the same time, reconfiguring the internal assets is also considered as capability of company which strengthens the ability of company. Dynamic capabilities create additional advantage for the company to build the capacity of business to sustain for long time and respond effectively to the fierce competition (Teece, 2011). Further, these capacities are developed as the trends that are moving in the environment through transforming the corresponding competencies. This era of modern business is affected by technology. Dynamic capabilities contribute in multiplying the ability of GSK pharmaceutical and it supports in creation of competitive advantages in market. In concern to pharmaceutical business, the company innovate new medicine because of its expert team of scientist. Further, it is also getting benefits from the brand recognition in the market, which helps the company in attracting new customers which ultimately explores the competition prevailing in the market. In addition to this, strategic management helps the business to analyze the competitive environment and focus on shaping a strategy to strongly develop the changes in concurrent environment. Moreover, organization seeks to grab the opportunities from the market and develop the strategy to defeat the competitors in the market. Whether, dynamic capabilities positively impact the competitive advantages. In regard to this, ability of marketing managers to renew the internal and external resources in pharmaceutical company, adds value thr ough taking effective decision, brings in new mode to face the competition. In addition to this, capacity to acquire small pharmaceutical business is a strategic ability of GSK pharmaceutical, which helps in attainment of the sustainable competitive advantages. Dynamic capabilities improve the performance of business in the market through introducing new tactics in the business model and it becomes an advantage for the firm to sustain for long time. GSK pharmaceutical is able to meet the demand of healthcare products and lure the customers, where it manufactures the medicine for effective cure of the disease. The resources are used to enhance the productivity of business in market and capabilities are better than the resource available because sensible capacity can own the resource for the organization. Intangible capabilities for GSK pharmaceutical are strong brand image, patent of drugs; trademark and intellectual property improve the effectiveness of firm in the market and gain competitive advantage. Competition in the pharmaceutical industry is a big issue for the firms, where GSK need to evaluate the volatile market and build strong position of brand in the market (Ding et. al, 2013). GSK pharmaceutical can set the new way of resource with value, rareness, Imitability and organization (VRIO) framework to capture the new resources and create new opportunities for business. Further, the company is changing with the time and getting the benefit of dynamic capabilities for instance Apple and IBM Inc. These businesses have an extension of dynamic capabilities to compete with the dynamic environment (Helfat, 2013). The dynamic abilities of the GSK pharmaceutical support the business to adopt new technology to retain the current position in the market and develop the effective brand image to experience the higher market value. In USA, market performance of GSK pharmaceutical is too improved which affectively impact the competition in business line. Therefore, it can be stated that dyn amic capabilities are the unique resource for company, through use of which an organization can gain the competitive advantages in market. Differences between Dynamic Capabilities and Resources Dynamic capabilities and resources are used interchangeable but they are different. The dynamic capabilities are drawn from the internal and external resources to create a competitive advantage. From the view point of Barney, the dynamic capabilities can be identified and developed from the SWOT analysis. In addition to this, he explored that internal evaluation of firm assists the business to understand the competitive advantages. Barney differentiated the resources and capabilities into four dimensions such as value, rareness, Imitability and organization (Faizal, Zaidi and Othman, 2011). In concern to the value proponent, strategic managers must identify the impact of gaining advantages of opportunities and neutralize the threats of company. Further, the resources add value in the new environment opportunities. In addition Author explained that the resources should be rare that creates competitive advantages for the firm. He also reviewed that Imitability of resources helps the or ganization to create competitive advantages through substitution development would build a competitive strategy. Barney stated that the capability of firm depends on the value, rareness, Imitability of available resources. He focused on organizing and utilizing competitive resources and capabilities for creation of potential competitive position in market. Implications of dynamic capabilities in context of technological advancement Technology has changed the shape of competition, because the firms are introducing innovative, affective and cost effective products in the market. Dynamic competencies are the unique ability of the company to stay in the technique efficient market (Francisco, 2015). Further, in this technology enable environment, these capacities develop the strategy for business firm to come up with new innovation and focus on tapping the market. If the organization has strategic capacity to manufacture the qualitative products through new technology, it enables the business to invent new method to retain competitive position in market. Dynamic capability specifically reconfigures the resources and creates the new technology enabled products to sustain in the competitive era (Rughami, 2013). Along with this if organization possesses different capabilities like strategic management, efficient technology usage, than it adds value in the performance of organization. Moreover, dynamic capabilities adap t the fast changing environment to develop its strategic efficiency and survive in the technology disrupted environment. It helps the business in retaining the competitive advantages for the firms in fierce competition. On the other hand, high level technological advancements compelled the pharmaceutical company to focus on the development of dynamic ability through research and innovation. It is stated that dynamic capabilities differentiate the business from other companies due to its uniqueness which assist the company to stay ahead in the technologically competitive environment. Conclusion: From the analysis of Teece and Barneys paper of dynamic capability, it can be concluded that dynamic capabilities impact the business operation of companies significantly. It can also be concluded that an organization cannot survive in competitive environment without configuring the unique abilities from the resources. References Davidjteece, (2013) Dynamic Capabilities. Retrieved from: https://davidjteece.com/dynamic-capabilities/ Ding, M., Eliasberg, J. and Stremerch, S. (2013). Innovation and Marketing in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Emerging Practices, Research, and Policies. Germany: Springer Science Business Media. Faizal, M., Zaidi, A. and Othman, S. (2011) Understanding Dynamic Capability as an ongoing concept for Technological Capability. International Journal and Business of Social Science. 2(6), pp. 1-11. Francisco, J. (2015). Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities. Retrieved from: https://unipub.lib.uni-corvinus.hu/2171/1/VT_2015n11p50.pdf GSK, (2014). Annual Report 2014. Retrieved from: https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/g/LSE_GSK_2014.pdf Helfat, C. (2013) How Apple and IBM change with the times, Retrieved from: https://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2013/07/02/apple-and-ibm-show-the-power-of-dynamic-capabilities Pisani, G. (2015) A Normative Theory of Dynamic Capabilities: Connecting Strategy Know- How and Competition. Retrieved from: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/16-036_3be51325-1fb0-421a-afca-4571d958ebf9.pdf Rehmanm K. and Saeed, Z. (2015). Impact of Dynamic Capabilities on Firm Performance: Moderating Role of Organizational Competencies, Journal of Business Management, 2(2), pp. 1-23. Rughami, J., Aosa, E. (2013). Environmental dynamic capabilities and their effect on competitive advantage and firm performance. Prime Journal of Business Administration and Management. 3(11), pp. 1239-1243. Statista, (2015). https://www.statista.com/statistics/312366/revenue-of-seretide-advair-worldwide-by-region/ Teece, D. (2011). Dynamic Capabilities: A guide for managers. Retrieved from: https://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/dynamic-capabilities-a-guide-for-managers/ Wadhwanim R. and Jones, G. (2016). Historical changes and the Competitive advantages of Firms: Explicating the Dynamics in the Dynamic Capabilities Framework. Retrieved from: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/17-052_ce716f44-7adb-40d3-9755-bb311f04c9e8.pdf

The Life Of Anna Arkadyevna Karenina English Literature Essay free essay sample

Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin A -A Anna s hubby, a high-level authorities curate and one of the most of import work forces in St. Petersburg. Karenin is formal and duty-bound. He is cowed by societal convention and invariably presents a unflawed facade of a cultivated and capable adult male. There is something empty about about everything Karenin does in the novel, nevertheless: he reads poesy but has no poetic sentiments, he reads universe history but seems unusually shockable. He can non be accused of being a hapless hubby or male parent, but he shows small tenderness toward his married woman, Anna, or his boy, Seryozha. He fulfills these household functions as he does other responsibilities on his list of societal duties. Karenin s primary motive in both his calling and his personal life is self-preservation. When he out of the blue forgives Anna on what he believes may be her deathbed, we see a intimation of a deeper Karenin ready to emerge. We will write a custom essay sample on The Life Of Anna Arkadyevna Karenina English Literature Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Ultimately, nevertheless, the bland administrative official remains the lone Karenin we know. Alexei Kirillovich VronskyA -A A wealthy and darting military officer whose love for Anna prompts her to abandon her hubby and boy. Vronsky is passionate and caring toward Anna but clearly disappointed when their matter forces him to give up his dreams of calling promotion. Vronsky, whom Tolstoy originally modeled on the Romantic heroes of an earlier age of literature, has something of the idealistic lone wolf in him. Yet there is a dark topographic point at the nucleus of his personality, as if Tolstoy refuses to allow us acquire excessively close to Vronsky s true nature. Indeed, Tolstoy gives us far less entree to Vronsky s ideas than to other major characters in the novel. We can neer rather bury Vronsky s early jilting of Kitty Shcherbatskaya, and we wonder whether he feels guilt about about destroying her life. Even so, Vronsky is more saintly than diabolic at the terminal of the novel, and his intervention of Anna is faultless, even if his feelings toward her cool a spot. Konstantin Dmitrich LevinA -A A socially awkward but generous-hearted landholder who, along with Anna, is the co-protagonist of the novel. Whereas Anna s chase of love terminals in calamity, Levin s long wooing of Kitty Shcherbatskaya finally ends in a happy matrimony. Levin is rational and philosophical but applies his thought to practical affairs such as agribusiness. He aims to be sincere and productive in whatever he does, and resigns from his station in local authorities because he sees it as useless and bureaucratic. Levin is a front man in the novel for Tolstoy himself, who modeled Levin and Kitty s wooing on his ain matrimony. Levin s declaration of religion at the terminal of the novel sums up Tolstoy s ain strong beliefs, taging the start of the deeply spiritual stage of Tolstoy s life that followed his completion of Anna Karenina. Ekaterina Alexandrovna Shcherbatskaya ( Kitty ) A -A A beautiful immature adult female who is courted by both Levin and Vronsky, and who finally marries Levin. Modeled on Tolstoy s real-life married woman, Kitty is sensitive and possibly a spot overprotected, shocked by some of the petroleum worlds of life, as we see in her horror-stricken response to Levin s private journals. But despite her indifference to rational affairs, Kitty displays great bravery and compassion in the face of decease when caring for Levin s deceasing brother Nikolai. Stepan Arkadyich Oblonsky ( Stiva ) A -A Anna s brother, a pleasure-loving blue blood and minor authorities functionary whose matter with his kids s governess about destroys his matrimony. Stiva and Anna portion a common inclination to put personal fulfilment over societal responsibilities. Stiva is incorrigible, continuing from his matter with the governess-which his married woman, Dolly, uprightly forgives-to a affair with a danseuse. For Tolstoy, Stiva s moral laxness symbolizes the corruptnesss of big-city St. Petersburg life and contrasts with the powerful moral scruples of Levin. However, despite his evildoings, the amiable Stiva is a hard character to contemn. Darya Alexandrovna Oblonskaya ( Dolly ) A -A Stiva s married woman and Kitty s older sister. Dolly is one of the few people who behave kindly toward Anna after her matter becomes public. Dolly s sympathetic response to Anna s state of affairs and her restrained esteem for Anna s effort to populate her life to the full intimation at the positive facets of Anna s experience. Well acquainted with the adversities of marriage and maternity, Dolly is, more than anyone else in the novel, in a place to appreciate what Anna has left behind by go forthing with Vronsky. The fresh clears with the painful disclosure that Dolly s hubby has betrayed her, and her even more painful consciousness that he is non really penitent. Sergei Alexeich Karenin ( Seryozha ) A -A Karenin and Anna s immature boy. Seryozha is a good-natured male child, but his male parent treats him in cold blood after larning of Anna s matter. Anna shows her devotedness to Seryozha when she risks everything to mouse back into the Karenin family merely to convey birthday nowadayss to her boy. Nikolai Dmitrich LevinA -A Levin s sickly, thin brother. The rationalism Nikolai is mostly estranged from his brothers, but over the class of the novel he starts to pass more clip with Levin. Nikolai is representative of broad societal idea among certain Russian intellectuals of the period ; his reformed-prostitute girlfriend, Marya Nikolaevna, is populating cogent evidence of his unconventional, radically democratic point of view. Sergei Ivanovich Koznyshev A -A Levin s stepbrother, a celebrated rational and author whose believing Levin has trouble following. Koznyshev embodies cold intellectualism and is unable to encompass the comprehensiveness of life, as we see when he can non convey himself to suggest to Varenka. Agafya Mikhailovna A -A Levin s former nurse, now his sure housekeeper. Countess Vronsky A -A Vronsky s judgmental female parent. Alexander Kirillovich Vronsky A -A Vronsky s brother. Varvara Vronsky A -A Alexander Vronsky s married woman. Prince Alexander Dmitrievich Shcherbatsky A -A The practical blue blood male parent of Kitty, Dolly, and Natalie. Prince Shcherbatsky favours Levin over Vronsky as a possible hubby for Kitty. Princess Shcherbatskaya A -A Kitty, Dolly, and Natalie s female parent. Princess Shcherbatskaya ab initio urges Kitty to prefer Vronsky over Levin as a suer. Countess Lydia Ivanovna A -A A morally unsloped adult female who is ab initio Anna s friend and subsequently her fiercest critic. Hypocritically, the spiritual Lydia Ivanovna can non convey herself to forgive or even to talk to the fallen adult female Anna. Lydia Ivanovna harbors a secret love for Karenin, and induces him to believe in and trust on psychics. Elizaveta Fyodorovna Tverskaya ( Betsy ) A -A A affluent friend of Anna s and Vronsky s cousin. Betsy has a repute for wild life and moral diarrhea. Marya Nikolaevna A -A A former cocotte saved by Nikolai Levin, whose comrade she becomes. Madame Stahl A -A A apparently devout invalid adult female whom the Shcherbatskys meet at a German watering place. Madame Stahl appears righteous and pious, but Prince Shcherbatsky and others doubt her motives. Varvara Andreevna ( Varenka ) A -A A pure and exalted immature adult female who becomes Kitty s friend at the German watering place. Varenka, who is a protegee of Madame Stahl, about receives a matrimony proposal from Koznyshev. Yashvin A -A Vronsky s wild friend from the ground forces. Yashvin has a leaning for losing big amounts of money at chancing. Nikolai Ivanovich Sviyazhsky A -A A friend of Levin who lives in a faraway state. Fyodor Vassilyevich Katavasov A -A Levin s rational friend from his university yearss. Vasenka Veslovsky A -A A immature, pleasant, slightly dandified adult male whom Stiva brings to see Levin. The attendings Veslovsky lavishes on Kitty make Levin jealous. LandauA -A A Gallic psychic who instructs Karenin to reject Anna s supplication for a divorce.

How to Find the Best Credit Card for You

How to Find the Best Credit Card for You SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Trying to choose the right credit card can get overwhelming fast. There are tons of options, and every company claims to offer the best one. How can you sort through the jargon and find the best card for your personal finances? I believe that to choose the right card, you need to understand yourself as a consumer. How can you get started down the road of financial self-discovery? First, take my personal finance quiz below. Personal Finance Quiz: What’s Your Financial Style? You see a lot of conflicting advice out there for credit card seekers. Some people love credit cards, saying that they’re great for building credit and getting nice perks. Others fall on the opposite end of the spectrum, saying that cards are the devil and one should avoid them at all costs. So who’s right? As it turns out, both perspectives are right, depending on which card you choose. If you choose wisely, then you’ll successfully build your credit and potentially see nice rewards in the process. If you choose poorly, then you could find yourself in a pit of debt. The key to choosing is understanding what kind of consumer you are. To find out, take this short quiz. True or False: When I use credit cards, I spend more loosely than I would with cash. I have good self-control. I am often spontaneous. When I use coupons, I get enjoyment beyond the money saved. It’s very important to me that I’m getting the best deal possible down to the very cent. I am frugal. Once you’ve responded to each of the statements above, tally up one point for each of your answers that matches the key below: 1) True; 2) False; 3) True; 4) False; 5) False; 6) False For instance, if I marked every statement as "true," then I’d end up with 2 points (a point for question 1 and a point for question 3). Now, let’s take a look at what these points mean in terms of your financial profile. Assessing Your Financial Profile: What Does Your Score Mean? If you’re going to enter into a credit card contract, then you should do so from a place of self-awareness. I don’t mean the kind of self-awareness that comes from a week-long silent yoga retreat. Instead, I mean that you understand the way you use your money and what motivates you to save or spend. The quiz is all about getting to the root of your spending habits, as well as the psychological reasons behind your actions, like self-control in the face of temptations. Let’s see what each quiz result means, and how you can use your results to find the best credit card for you. Scores of 0 - 2: The Optimizers If you scored somewhere between 0 and 2 on this quiz, then you might be an optimizer (like me!). You enjoy getting every last mile out of things and shopping around for the best possible deals. You do your research, compare prices, seek out sales, and buy when the time is right. If you’re an optimizer, then I would suggest you take the time to analyze your spending habits. Take a look at your budget, and find your top three highest spend categories. You can leave out expenses that you wouldn’t put on a credit card, like rent. Relevant spending categories could include restaurants, entertainment, transportation, and clothes. Once you’ve figured out your biggest spend categories, you should look around for cards with matching rewards. If you spend a lot on travel, then you’d benefit from a travel rewards card. If you love to eat out, then you might prefer a restaurant rewards card. People who commute long distances back and forth to work everyday could get the most mileage from a gas rewards card. If you’re looking to carry more than one card, you could also sign up for a general rewards card that gives you something like 2% back on all of your purchases. I like to have a flat-rate card to fall back on, just in case. Another thing that might appeal to your maximizing mindset? A lot of rewards cards offer sign-up bonuses, giving you several hundred dollars toward travel or as cash back when you spend a minimum amount in the first months of opening an account. The potential downside is that some of these cards have annual fees after the first year. For some people, I’d say that the fee isn’t worth it; the rewards don’t add up enough to make up for the yearly fee. If you’re interested in a card with a fee, then you should break down your spending and see if you would get enough rewards in the long run. Even though rewards like travel points offer psychological benefits- it helps you set aside money specifically for traveling- it might be costing you more money in the long run. So now that you know what kind of cards to look for, what are some specific credit cards that appeal to optimizers? Best Credit Cards for Optimizers These are my suggestion for the best credit cards for optimizers who like to put in a little extra effort to get the best possible deals. Chase Sapphire Preferred This travel rewards card gives you 2X points on restaurants and travel and a point for each dollar that you spend on everything else. You’ll also earn 50,000 bonus points if you earn $4,000 in the first three months. You can redeem points as cash back or use them to book through the Chase search engine. If you use the Chase search tool, then your points will be worth 25% more. The downside of this card is that it charges a $95 annual fee after the first year. Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard This travel rewards card gives you 2X miles on all purchases, plus you get 5% of your miles back when you redeem them. You’re not restricted to any particular airlines or hotels. If you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days of opening an account, then you’ll earn 40,000 bonus miles. After the first year, this card charges an annual fee of $89. Citi Thank You Card This card is good for those who love to eat out. You’ll earn 2X points on every dollar you spend at restaurants. You’ll also get a bonus of 20,000 points if you spend $1,500 in the first three months of opening. This card is seriously restaurant-oriented; it even has a personal concierge service to help you make reservations. The Citi Thank You Card has no annual fee. Discover It Card The Discover It card gives 5% cash back on purchases made in certain categories, like restaurants, online shopping, and gas, that change quarterly. It also gives you 1% cash back on everything else. It has no annual fee. Citi Double Cash Card This card is a great back up for times when you don’t want to think about maximizing your rewards. It offers a flat-rate of 2% cash back on all your purchases. This card is also appealing because it has no annual fee. The only downside is that it doesn’t offer a rewards bonus for opening an account, and those hundreds of dollars in the first few month can be a welcome sign up gift. Now let’s consider the next category of spenders, those who scored in the middle of the road. Scores of 3 - 4: Middle of the Road Spenders If you scored between 3 and 4 on the quiz, then you might be a middle of the road spender. I’d say that the majority of people fall into this category. You have decent self-control, but you’re not obsessive about optimizing savings on all your purchases or maximizing rewards in a certain spending category. If this sounds like you, then I’d suggest getting a flat-rate card. You could get 1 to 2% back on all of your purchases across the board, and you don’t have to think about where you spend your money or what kind of rewards you’ll see. It’s consistent across all spending areas. Of course, getting this card assumes that you won’t change your spending habits because you have a credit card. You don’t want to end up carrying a balance month to month and getting into debt as a result of high interest rates. Just because you can technically charge a huge purchase to a credit card, doesn’t mean you should. If you can’t pay off a purchase within the month, then you should think hard about whether buying it on credit is the way to go. If you’re a middle of the road spender, what specific credit cards would work best for you? Best Credit Cards for Middle of the Road Spenders These are my suggestions for middle of the road spenders who don’t want to keep up with quarterly changes in rewards categories or worry about which card they use for each purchase. For the most part, these cards offer flat-rate rewards on any purchases. Citi Double Cash Card As you saw above, the Citi Double Cash Card is my top pick for a flat rate rewards card. It gives you 2% cash back on all purchases and has no annual fee. Again, the downside is that it doesn’t offer any bonuses for signing up. Capital One Venture Rewards This card gives you travel points at a flat rate of 2 miles on all purchases. If you spend $3,000 in the first three months, then you’ll get a bonus of 40,000 miles. After the first year, this card has an annual fee of $59. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards This flat-rate card gives you 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make. It offers a $100 bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months. There’s no annual fee. BankAmericard Cash Rewards This card gives you 1% back on every purchase, plus 2% back at grocery stores and 3% on gas. You’ll get a bonus of $100 after you spend $500 in the first 90 days. There’s no annual fee. Finally, let’s consider the third type of spenders who scored highly on the personal finance quiz. Scores of 5 - 6: Spontaneous Spenders If you scored highly on this quiz, then you might find it challenging to control your spending. Maybe you love shopping, for instance, and find it difficult not to splurge every weekend at the mall. With a credit card, you might spend more than you normally would if you were just using cash. If this sounds like, or if you’re worried that a credit card would be too irresistible not to use beyond your means, then you might consider getting a card that puts caps on your spending. You should also compare interest rates and avoid the high ones. There are some credit cards that work like phone cards. You can load them up with a set number of points each month and thereby set a spending limit for yourself. Similarly, you could look into a secured credit card that doesn’t give you very much credit and requires a deposit before you sign on. You could also avoid credit cards altogether and just use your debit card, assuming that it doesn’t have overdrafts or fees. Keep in mind that a debit card takes money directly from your bank account, so it doesn’t help build up your credit. If you’re trying to gain more control over your spending habits and build credit, then you might start with a low-limit card (either secured or not secured). You could self-impose a 6-month probationary period where you look at your budget and figure out whether you’re spending more with a card that you would without one. As you gain control over your personal finances, you can eventually move onto a non-secured or rewards credit card. Below are my suggestions for the best credit cards for spontaneous spenders. Best Credit Cards for Spontaneous Spenders The suggested cards below help you set limits on your spending. There are two secured credit cards and two prepaid debit cards. Capital One Secured Mastercard This card asks you to make a deposit of $49, $99, or $200 and gives you a limit of up to $200 depending on your credit. You need to pay the full amount of your deposit within 80 days. It has no annual fee. Discover It Secured Card This is a rare secured card that also gives you rewards- 2% cash back on up to $1,000 of spending on restaurants and gas and 1% on other purchases. You need to make an initial deposit of $200 with a bank account. Each month, you’ll be automatically evaluated to see if you qualify for a regular, non-secured card. There’s no annual fee. Bluebird This fee-free card, available both to people with bank accounts and to those without, lets you load cash at WalMart stores and deposit through the Bluebird app. Withdrawals are free at MoneyPass ATMs, but they cost fees between $2.50 and $9.00 at other ATMs. This card works wherever merchants accept American Express and has no annual fee. American Express Serve You can order this prepaid card online for free, and no credit check is required. You load it with cash for free at locations like Rite Aid, Wal-Mart, and some 7-Elevens. There’s a $4.95 monthly fee (except in Texas, New York, and Vermont). At this point, you may have noticed that I haven’t talked very much about interest rates. A lot of people think that low and high interest rates are a top consideration when choosing credit cards. I actually take the opposite opinion in the majority of cases. Read on to find out why. What About Interest Rates? Why They Shouldn’t Matter You may have noticed that I didn’t spend much time talking about high and low interest rates in this guide. A lot of people tout interest rates as the first thing to look at when choosing a new credit card. I take the opposite stance, though, and suggest that interest rates should not matter. No credit card has a very appealing interest rate. All of them will add up to a great deal of money and make it very hard for you to get out of debt. In most cases, you should do everything you can to avoid carrying a balance on your card from month to month. If low interest rates feel like a strong priority to you, then you might consider reassessing your approach to personal finances. You should sit down with a money-tracking app, like Mint, or simply an Excel spreadsheet, and list out your spending activity. By reflecting on your finances, outlining a budget, and setting specific goals, you can start to control your spending better. In the meantime, try to use a card that will work with you to control your expenses. Finding the Best Credit Card for You There’s no single best credit card for everyone. Instead, you have to look for the best credit card for you. To find your best match, you should think about your approach to personal finances, how you spend your money, and how you practice self-control. If you tend to spend spontaneously, then you might benefit from having a card that doesn’t test your willpower. If you’re more strategic about your spending and want to maximize rewards, then you should choose a card that will grant you the most perks in the category most valuable to you. As you saw above, there are several cards with advantages for every kind of spender. Your job, then, is to figure out what kind of spender you are! Once you do that, you can sort through all the promotions and sign up for the credit card with the best benefits for you as an individual.

Sheas' One of a Kind Boutique Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sheas' One of a Kind Boutique - Term Paper Example The recent information released by American Academy of Ophthalmology shows that the eye related complications are on the increase. The statistics revealed that the people above 40 years are the most vulnerable. This places Sheas' One of a Kind Boutique at a good position to step in and rescue the situation before it gets out of hand. Figures indicate that, the number of Americans who wear scarves and eyeglasses has substantially increased. The latest statistics indicate that approximately 126 millions people use eyeglasses. This is about a half of United States population. To respond and maximise these business opportunities, Sheas' One of a Kind Boutique has embarked on restructuring and re-inventing its market strategies. This will be achieving through embracing the information technology. To seal the gap in the demand and supply, it has plans to install strong database that will bridge the evident deficits in supply and demand chain. This will be a prudent strategy of the enterpri se to go online since it will expand its operations in this ever-changing business world (King and King, 2009). With the knowledge that customers are the strong pillars of a business venture, Sheas' One of a Kind Boutique plans to keep the strong pool of its customers and attract a big number of new customers. To comfortably deal with this new challenge, it will further re-invent its marketing strategy (Madura, 2006). This will ensure it reaches a huge number of customers and the most needed awareness of its eyeglasses, contact lens and scarves. To succeed in this strategy Sheas' One of a Kind Boutique further endeavours to use various ways of marketing. To start with, it will plan to use online tools such as social networks. There is a shift from the traditional way of getting information due to unprecedented technological advancement. People have shifted from the traditional sources of information such as radios and newspapers. In the twenty-first century, internet has become a su perhighway of communication. In the light of this, Sheas' One of a Kind Boutique plans to use management protocols such as oracle. In addition, it intends to install Sibel Marketing Resource Management. Through this software, the firm will improve its marketing skills. This software allows keeping a good track of customers. This will enable the firm to maintain its strong customers and at the same time find ways to boost the low profile one (Madura, 2006). Through the use of this database, Sheas' One of a Kind Boutique sees a great improvement in customer relation. This is because; customers will place their orders online after they have properly evaluated the value of the firm’s products. The company will do price negotiations online too. This saves both the customer and the firm the agony of face-to-face negotiations. On top of this, the delivery of eyeglasses, contact lens, glass cases, and scarves will be customer directed. Moreover, customers will give their feedback. Th is will help the firm to streamline its services to fulfil customers’ expectation. Social networks are now the crucial sites for businesses in the twenty-fast century. The firm intends to maximise facebook, blogs, and twitter to promote wearing of eyeglasses and the scarves. The emerging new culture is working along the visions of the firm. It intends to run several advertisements on its products. Just through a click of a button, customers will access a wide large of Sheas' One of

Individual article analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Individual article analysis - Essay Example How a person sees oneself along these lines helps marketers to speculate the kind of products that may appeal to the person. However, the way a person perceives oneself is often far from reality(Gration, Raciti and Arcodia 650). This paper reviews the article by the title above. Brands confer value to consumers in multiple ways(Khare and Handa 63). One way is by enhancing the personality of their user. Besides functional attributes, the non-functional features of the product may determine the consumers decision to buy or not to buy. The article under review reports the findings of the research that explored the degree to which self-concept and brand personality interact to influence how a consumer evaluates brands and arrives at purchase decisions. The research involved a number of secondary school students whose individual self-concept was measured using a scale developed by Malhotra in 1981. The respondents were then made to evaluate one out of three imaginary brands of mobile phones, rate the brand on the basis of the general quality then indicate whether or not they would buy the phone. Having set the stage, the authors proceed to define key concepts in their paper. These are self-concept, personality and Indian youth. They contend that self-concept studies have understood the concept as being multi-dimensional(Khare and Handa 64). The concept enables the consumer to evaluate oneself under different circumstances. Most self-concept studies, they report, have focused on explaining why a consumer buys one brand of a product and not the other. It is crucial that marketers comprehend and appreciate the impact of self-concept, both individual and social, on purchase decisions. Self-concept studies have been based on the hypothesis that the way a consumer sees oneself influences the types of brands they buy. Brand personality entails giving brands human characteristics. For example, a car manufacturer

Policy proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

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