Saturday, October 5, 2019

The Summary of Economic Bubbles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Summary of Economic Bubbles - Essay Example Economic bubbles are formed because the investors respond positive to the increasing price, i.e., they buy more with the increasing prices. This may be due to greed or a desire to become rich by selling those assets at an even higher price in the near future. In other words, buyers tend to assume that they will be able to find another buyer (sometimes referred to as â€Å"a greater fool†) who will pay them even more than they paid for the asset. These bubbles cause a little or no economic damage because usually the â€Å"greater fools† get wiser by learning from their failure and the sellers get a lot richer. However, its effects can be felt if owners of inflated assets assume themselves as rich and start spending unwisely by getting more bank loans against their overpriced assets as securities. So when the prices of the overpriced assets fall, both the loan recipient and the bank could bankrupt and suffer huge losses. On a macro level several banks may fail and lesser money is available for investments to recover the economy. Similarly when this happens due to speculation of the share prices of the company, the stock markets may eventually

Friday, October 4, 2019

The Lithostratigraphic Framework of the Hertfordshire County of Essay

The Lithostratigraphic Framework of the Hertfordshire County of England - Essay Example The Hertfordshire County of England has a young history geologically. The lithology of this area is largely composed of Quaternary and Tertiary deposits, with some glacial movement effects at its northern reaches.   With the sandy conditions of the shores on its eastern side, you might say Hertfordshire is between a small rock and a big hard place. Formations, a principal mapping unit (enquire.com 2006), will be briefly described as to their importance in this report. The status of current ground conditions will also be presented as they affect the analysis of the area. Then geohazards, or expected/probable problems, will be considered. The objective of this report is to provide information that subsequent investigations could use. As in other Home Counties, Hertfordshire shares a common pattern of development from the 17th century, except for its construction of the New River in the Lea Valley that supplies London with water. The majority of settlements built in the times of the N ormans were in the northeast. The Abbey of St. Albans, a major landowner, influenced land management strongly, including the formation of hunting parks, which Hertfordshire has had in abundance. Agriculture displaced many of these parks, and then they were wooded again. A boom in the 16th century of the country-house building came after lands were confiscated by the Crown. The number of palaces from the 1700's were many because of the "rich soil and wholesome air" that attracted wealthy people. (enquire.com 2006) Other building came along the river valleys, slowly. But the industry of malting and brewing in the late 19th century created an era of strong development. The decades since the mid-1900's has seen major changes in the landscape of Hertfordshire.  Ã‚  The development of Portland cement in the early 1900's, that uses gravel deposits in its composition, brought about quarries and industry related to it (HGS 2005). Quarries have also been necessary for researching the strata of the land.  Modern construction has been largely in the south/southwest part of the county. This report, focusing on Stevenage and Ware, is for development purposes in the northern sections of the county.  Near Ashwell is the Steeple Morden Plantation Quarry that allows geologists to see the layers of rock. In trenches cut into the quarry, the color contrasts between Melbourn Rock and the soft chalk is obvious. The gray Plenus Marls and Melbourn Rock that were once thought to be the base of the Middle Chalk (HGS 2005) is now considered the marker horizon while shelly detrital rock is above that and smooth chalk above that. The eight beds of the Plenus Marls can be traced to the Paris Basin and used as a marker horizon across Europe, "indicating a change in anoxic conditions" (HGS 2005).There is a lack of clay-with-flints this quarry. Quarry section showing chalky outwash gravel of Anglian age overlying river gravel of proto-Thames (photo by John Carr) (RIGS 2003) The formations and types of sediments in Hertfordshire will be discussed as they pertain to development, and also as they pertain to restrictions of use (RIGS 2003). Besides the geohazards possible in any construction site, there are also hazards to the geology of a site from construction. All this must be taken into consideration before building can begin. Former construction through the ages has not taken this into account and there has been a degeneration of soils as well as destruction to the buildings by swallow holes and other phenomenon.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Personality and Intelligence in a Distance Learning Environment Essay Example for Free

Personality and Intelligence in a Distance Learning Environment Essay Individuals tend to be different, to a degree, from one another especially in terms of personality and intelligence. As one may expect, such distinctions may also have an effect upon the task of selecting the most suitable study technique in a distance learning environment. Personally, after completing the personality assessment, I found out that I am best considered as a thinker. Those mainly categorized as such, characteristically approach challenges and tasks through a validity-based approach always emphasizing the need to determine whether a method to be followed is logically plausible or not (Cater, Bishop, Kravits, 2007). In agreement with this, the result of the intelligence evaluation highlighted the fact that I have advanced logical-mathematical skills while being least familiar with being naturalistic. Thus, it would be best to reflect upon the possible implications of such information in the context of the distance learning environment. As being independent in accomplishing tasks is one of the suggested study techniques for thinkers (Carter, Bishop, Kravits, 2007), doing so would not be difficult in distance learning. Since most of the time I am able to complete requirements at my own pace, it also becomes possible for me to comprehend and internalize lessons without intrusion at an efficient rate bringing forth positive results. The suggested study techniques for those with proficient logical-mathematical intelligence, such as analytically designing a solution based on trends in data (Carter, Bishop, Kravits, 2007), are similar to those given for individuals with a thinker type personality; hence, studying a task in advance in order to logically establish possible approaches and solutions would also be beneficial in the pursuit of achieving an optimal performance throughout the distance learning process. Improving upon ones less established aspects is without doubt an essential endeavor as well. In this sense, trying study techniques better suited to other intelligence or personality types may be the ideal approach to consider. Particularly, as mostly a thinker and least an adventurer, it would be best to try and merge problem solving approaches with more unconventional ideas from time to time. For example, since one of the study techniques for adventurers is to think outside the box (Carter, Bishop, Kravits, 2007), doing so when there seems to be a lack of proven approaches for task might result in appreciable results. As for the attempt to become more naturalistic, it seems that the only possible way to develop such intelligence would be to frequently reflect upon the connections between the lesson being tackled and the environment as a whole. Learning my strengths as well as weak points, in addition to knowing such details about my classmates, is essential in establishing an optimal learning environment; through such, it would be possible for learners to complement one another and further develop simultaneously. When faced with the need to accomplish a collaborative work despite having to do so online, knowing each other’s strengths and limitations would allow for a more efficient process of completing the task; distributing responsibilities for example would be done in a more suitable manner. Knowing when to provide proper support to fellow learners in parts of the task which they may not be highly capable in, such as the need to design and comprehend diagrams for those who are not adept in visual thinking, would be significantly easier. Therefore, identifying the personality and intelligence types of ones self as well as those of other individuals is indeed a practical and advantageous pursuit especially in distance learning.                  Reference Carter, C., Bishop, J., Kravits, S.L. (2007). Keys to College Studying: Becoming an Active   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thinker (2nd ed.). Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Capital punishment is morally wrong

Capital punishment is morally wrong   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Among some of the most controversial issues of our lives today, no question pops up as frequently as the question of the ethics concerning the Death Penalty. Capital punishment according to the website legal-explanations.com is â€Å"the death sentence awarded for capital offences like crimes involving planned murder, multiple murders, repeated crimes, rape and murder etc where in the criminal provisions consider such persons as a gross danger to the existence of the society and provide death punishment.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With its origins in Latin ‘capitalis meaning ‘regarding the head, a capital crime was originally punished by severing of the head. The first death penalty laws were established as far back as the Eighteenth Century B.C. in the Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon, which codified the death penalty for 25 different crimes. It was also a part of the 14th century B.C.s Hittie Code; in the Seventh Century B.C.s Draconian Code of Athens, which made death the only punishment for all crimes; and in the Fifth Century B.C.s Roman law of the Twelve Tablets. Death Sentences were carried out by such means as crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive, and impalement. (Deathpenaltyinfo.org Part I: History of the Death Penalty)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many arguments both for and against the application of the death penalty. Many people in favor of the death penalty would argue that it serves as a strong deterrent to potential recipients of such a punishment and therefore helps maintain a safer society. While numerous such arguments exist on both sides, I will be discussing why the death penalty is morally, ethically and fundamentally wrong, and try to present counter-arguments to claims made by the advocates of the death penalty.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One problem with the death penalty is that it is simply uncivilized. Most of Western Europe no longer retains the death penalty. On top of that, when Turkey recently made an application for admission to the European Union, the Unions committee made a recommendation against it, citing that â€Å"Turkey retains the barbaric practice of capital punishment.â€Å"American countries like Mexico and Canada have abandoned the death penalty. The parliament of Europe also passed a resolution ugring the United States to abandon the death penatly. A magazine, now in international circulation says, â€Å"Throughout Europe in particular, the death penalty is thought of as simply uncivilized.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"That its practice is said to be problematic for a leading nation. German Justice minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin has argued, â€Å"The Americans do not hesitate, proud as they are of their democratic tradition, to reproach other countries over human rights violations.â€Å"I think that great cost is desensitizing us to death and to using violence as an instrument for civilized society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another one of the biggest ethical problems associated with the use of capital punishment is its irreversibility. Death penalty, unlike conventional punishments is absolutely final. When a person, innocent of his charges is awarded the death penalty and after he/she is executed, there is no going back if advances in medical/forensic technology provide solid evidence in favor of the condemneds innocence. The court or the executioner cannot give back a life, so why should they be able to take it? The researchers Radelet and Bedau (1992) affirm that, â€Å"no less than twenty-three people have been executed who did not commit the crime they were accused of† (Focus on the Death Penalty, 2001). The execution of an innocent is not a problem existing solely in the United States; it taints almost every region in the world which still use capital punishment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A death penalty advocate would argue that once a condemned person is deprived of his or her life, he or she is also stripped of the ability to harm or detriment the society further. If a person is deemed to pose threat to society, life in prison also guarantees no future crimes; and in some cases, is even more psychologically effective than the death penalty. Human beings are social creatures and the level of sensory and social deprivation experienced by some prison inmates is often enough to break them and their purpose to commit future crimes. Many would argue that life in prison would cost the tax-payer more than if the death penalty was carried out. Why should the tax-payer waste valuable resources in prolonging the life of an individual if he or she harbors naught but unfavorable wishes against him? Little do they know that in fact, executions cost almost four times as much! An average lifer would cost somewhere around $500,000 to the government (antideathpen alty.org/reasons) while an execution can cost as much as $ 2 million! Most of this money however is not diverted to the actual process of the execution itself; instead it takes the form of free counseling for defense, for appeals, maximum security on a separate death row wing. (antideathpenalty.org/reasons)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The application of the death penalty can often have a completely reverse effect among potential lawbreakers-it creates martyrs. Criminals are usually associated with a negative connotation in society. Most people are repulsed by the unconscionable, vile act they commit and are tremendously sympathetic for the victims of heinous crimes such as rape, murder etc. However, sometimes the death penalty can shift popular sympathy aside from the victims of the crime and to the criminals themselves. The 2005 execution of former gang leader â€Å"Tookie† Williams, said to have founded the notorious gang of the crips‘, which has an extensive history of assault, robbery and murder (http://www.tookie.com/abtook.html). This man was convicted with overwhelming evidence of the murder of four persons, some of whom he shot and mocked obscenely. A remorseless man, never one to apologize to the victims of afflicted families was, after being executed, idolized and sympathized by the public with events such as Candlelight vigils, websites like savetookie.org, protests and a media circus ensued trying to prevent the execution which took place 26 years after the crimes were committed(Balancedpolitics.org, sec. 12). This is just one of many cases, which make a mockery of the evil crimes, such degenerates commit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is there really a need for the Death Penalty in the human society? Like the silver lining on the dark cloud, one can see, in an otherwise hopelessly misguided system, there exist, other viable alternatives. The sheer number of less controversial, more reasonable and efficient methods of dealing with atrocious crimes in our society question the very place and existence of the death penalty. Could it be as a means of channeling our collective hatred, confusion and anger; a central point for the darker side of humanity, which originates from the rigorous conditions of our lives? The victims of these barbaric actions are often made scapegoats for our social troubles; it is they, who are blamed, even if the fault is inherent in our social policies and practices. George Orwell, in his book nineteen eighty four, needed but a single Goldstein to sustain his tyrannicism; while some of the modern governments need millions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Given the overwhelming amount of arguments against death penalty, one can easily see that there is little purpose to it other than vengeance. Yet, looking at the number of nations still applying this barbaric and archaic form of punishment, it is hard not to see that our society has sunk to a level so low, that vengeance is acceptable to most. The State copies every disgusting quality of the heinous act of murder; a murder is often committed in anger and is therefore penalized with an execution carried out in resentment; a premeditated murder committed with satisfaction and pleasure is met with a likewise execution. The final result is the same and the feeling with which it is carried out is the same. There are several qualities of the death penalty which even go beyond the moral repugnance of a criminal act of murder. What then is the difference between a murder and an execution? Is it really possible for one form of murder to be correct while another be wrong? W ould the same deed, if carried out by two different persons, be at one time abhorrent and barbaric while the other righteous and divine? Most importantly, how can a morally wrongful deed promote the righteousness, let alone the comfortable survival, of the human society? Mutually assured punishment is simply not the solution. This outdated and barbaric eye-for-an-eye form of justice is a savage and eventually senseless way of going about the problem of societal crime.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Why is law-objective and completely free from religious pressures based on such antiquated and savage principles of a God that is more malevolent than divine? Attempting to defeat violence with violence would merely catalyze the proliferation of circumstances, the subsistence of which we claim we are trying to terminate, within our actions and inside our minds. Have thoughtless practices such as these aided humanity in any way by solving any of its problems? What of serenity? Does this have to involve the loss of human life? If only humanity made a collective effort in finding out if we can end the problem instead of delving in delusions of believing that murder is the route to salvation. Such a route to peace does not necessarily have to be paved with blood and that peace bought with the price of murder is naught but an illusion peace, beneath which lies the silence of death. Works Cited Amnesty International. Singapore-The Death Penalty: A hidden toll of executions. January 2004. 18 November 2009 . Cauthan, Kenneth. Capital Punishment. 27 April 2004. 16 December 2008 . Department of Justice. Capital Punishment Statistics. 5 June 1988. 5 12 2008 . McCuen, A B Barbery. Does DNA Technology Warrant a Death Penalty Moratorium. May 2000. Patterson, Aaron. Amnesty.org. November 1998. 18 November 2009 Sorensen et.al â€Å"Capital punishment and deterrence: Examining the effect of executions on murder in Texas. †Crime and Deliquency 1999: 481-493. Sheppard, Joanna. Capital Punishment and Deterrence of Crime. April 2004. 19 November 2009 US .

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Argument Against a National Identification System Essay -- ID Identifi

Argument Against a National Identification System The concept of a national ID card has been debated in the United States for over three decades. In the past, the opposition as well as its allies has been strong. As a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks there has been new interest in the concept of national ID cards. While this idea is not all a new, it is closer to becoming more of a reality than ever, gaining the approval by the key members of congress. Currently the Bush Administration objects this renewed idea, however due to the intense emotion from the recent terrorist attacks the nation is closer to the idea than ever before. The idea of a national identity (ID) card seems simple enough. Take the photographic and alpha-numerical information on our birth certificates, Social Security cards, driver s licenses, and voter registration card; add a bar code, fingerprint, microchip, or other biometric identifier; and display all that information on a neat plastic card no bigger than a credit card. But beneath this smooth surface hides a complex issues and perhaps the greatest threat to personal freedom Americans have ever confronted. A national ID system will Require Americans to obtain federal government authorization to travel, work, rent or buy housing, obtain medical care, use financial services, and make many purchases.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This federal authorization could be denied for many reasons, including database errors, a suspicious transaction profile, being a deadbeat parent, failure to pay taxes or fines, and any other social control measures Congress wishes to hang on the system.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     The system will almost certainly create an outlaw class--as large as 10 to 20% of the population--cut off from "normal" life in America. This outlaw class will sustain the underground economy for the use of future terrorists (and ordinary criminals). (Dority Barbara, p10)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The general questions about national ID cards and concepts involved in the debates, found on the Privacy International website at www.privacy.org/pi/activities/idcard/idcard_faq.html. Can be summarized as below: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Who uses ID cards now? About a hundred countries currently utilize official, compulsory, national IDs for various purposes. These include Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, and Spain. Among the developed countries that don't have such a card are Australia, Canad... ... promote new forms of discrimination and harassment of anyone who looks or sounds "foreign." Failure to carry a national I.D. card would likely come to be viewed as a reason for search, detention or arrest of minorities. The disgrace and humiliation of constantly having to prove that they are Americans or legal immigrants would ponder heavily on such groups.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There I strongly believe that national ID system is not the solution for the problems we are facing today. We have seen before that technological solutions involve risks that should be identified and understood in advance of its use to the greatest extent possible. These risks should be discussed and understood in detail before any decisions regarding its adoption is any form should be made. Work Cited   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dority, Barbara. ?Halt and show your paper!? Humanist. 1 March.2002, Vol.62 Issue 2   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mohl, Jeff. ?How public is personal information?? Communications & Mass Media Complete, 1 September 2003, Vol. 91, Issue 7   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Safire, William. ?The Threat of National ID.? Kirszner and Mandell 586-88.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.aclu.org   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Privacy International www.privacy.org/pi/activities/idcard/idcard_faq.html.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Breast Cancer Essay -- essays research papers

BREAST CANCER I) Anatomy of the breast   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The breast is a gland designed to make milk.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   II) What is breast cancer?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Breast cancer is an abnormal growth of cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These abnormal growths are called tumors. Not all tumors are cancerous.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Non-cancerous tumors – benign   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cancerous tumors – malignant   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If not treated the cancer may spread to other parts of the body.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  second leading cause of cancer death next to lung cancer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The incidence of breast cancer is very low in women in their twenties,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  plateaus at 45 and the increase dramatically after fifty. Fifty   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  percent of breast cancer is diagnosed in women over sixty-five. III) Risk factors   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Early onset of menses/menstrual cycle prior to age 12   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Menopause   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Diets high in saturated fats   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Family history   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Late or no pregnancies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Moderate alcohol intake   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Smoking   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  History of prior breast cancer   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Estrogen replacement therapy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Therapeutic radiation to chest wall   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gene mutations   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Moderate obesity   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Female **Every woman is at some risk for breast cancer (does not necessarily mean that just because it does not run in your family that you will not develop breast cancer – According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation 85% of women with breast cancer have a negative family history   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   IV) Symptoms/Early signs   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A lump in or near your breast   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A change in the size or shape of your breast   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  &nbs... ...run in your family, you will not get it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NO – every woman has some risk of breast cancer, 85% of women who get breast   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  cancer has no known family history   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Only your mother’s family history of breast cancer can affect your risk.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NO – a history in your mother or father’s family will influence equally   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Using antiperspirants causes breast cancer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NO – there is no evidence that influences breast cancer risk   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Birth control pills cause breast cancer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NO – most birth control pills contain a low dose of estrogens and progesterone   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (they however can provide protection against ovarian cancer)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Breast cancer diagnosis is an automatic death sentence   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  NO – 96% of women diagnosed with breast cancer live at least 5 years, more than   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  70% will survive 10 years

Ikea report Essay

Executive summary This report describes the importance of market research, the target market and market segmentation. How a business can use a situation analysis and SWOT to provide a direction for Ikea. This examines how types of customers and buyer behaviour will impact marketing strategies. Evaluates as a key marketing strategy for Ikea as a case study. Analyses marketing strategies can be used to achieve marketing objectives and describes some ethical and legal things that a business must manage and respond to while marketing. Business Overview Ikea is a well-known global brand with hundreds of stores across the world. In order to improve performance, it must assess its external and competitive environment. This will reveal the key opportunities it can take advantage of and the threats it must deal with. Ikea responds to both internal and external issues in a proactive and dynamic manner by using its strengths and reducing its weaknesses. Through this, Ikea is able to generate the strong growth it needs to retain a strong identity in the market. Ikea’s passion combines design, low prices, economical use of resources, and responsibility for people and the environment. The company’s products, processes and systems all demonstrate its environmental stance. For example, clever use of packaging and design means more items can fit into a crate, which means fewer delivery journeys. This in turn reduces Ikea’s carbon footprint. Ikea believes that there is no compromise between doing good business and being a go od business. It aims to go beyond profitability and reputation. Ikea is intent on becoming a leading example in developing a sustainable business. This will create a better everyday life for its customers. Market research When Ikea conducts market research it is important that the business first determines its information needs. The business should have some idea about the type of information it is looking for. It could vary from customer profiles or brand awareness through to attitudes towards certain new products. Once its information needs are established, the business can determine the most appropriate research method. This is primarily done by IKEA group although individual stores would use sales reports in order to  gather data about the types of customers and popular products that are particular to the area or store. The Target Market The target market is a group of customers for whom a particular product has been developed. The business hopes that these people will buy the product when it is made available in the marketplace. Some products appeal to all consumers, while others have limited appeal. A business needs to understand the nature of consumer markets. The three types of markets Ikea appeals to are Consumer, Mass and niche. The products in Ikea produce are universal to all and with their flat pack design they fall into the niche market. Ikea focuses on meeting the customer demands and satisfying their needs. Ikea’s main focus is that of the selling orientation. Market segmentation Market segmentation is the process of breaking down a total market into small markets It allows businesses to focus their efforts and resources on a section of the market. By focusing on a particular target group, It would consider the features that consumers of this target group would be looking for in a product, the appropriate promotional strategies to generate awareness of and sustain interest in the product, and the most suitable pricing policies and distribution channels. Market segmentation and product/service differentiation,Demographic segmentation, dividing consumers into groups based on selected demographics, so that different groups can be treated deferent Situation analysis and SWOT Situation analysis is the way in which a business can examine the current position within the market and provides them with direction for their marketing campaign. SWOT is the first stage of planning and looks at the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats involved in a project or business venture. For example, one of Ikea’s key strengths is its strategic aim to use no more material than necessary in the production of each item. One particular table, the NORDEN table, uses knotty birch wood. The knots in this wood usually mean it is rejected by other retailers and manufacturers as unsuitable for use. However, IKEA has made the knots part of its design feature. Types of customers. psychographic segmentation, this is based on lifestyle and personality, values and interest, Ikea does not divide the store into sections but you have to walk through the whole store before you can exit, this is a strategy to sell more products. The types of customers vary from people, households, firms, educational institutions, government, clubs and societies, religious organisations. The customers that account for most of Ikea’s sale is the bold customer. Ikea is a business that is not aiming towards a purchase occasion but the usage rate of their product, being household items they aim for their products to last well and function to a good quality standard. Ikea has a good user loyalty with a wide range of buyers from the types of customers. Consumers see how affordable Ikea products are and how well they last, as long as they don’t mind putting the product together. The buying process would not be different from Ikea customers but the free yearly catalogue gives purchasers time to plan a trip to Ikea as the Ikea stores are not usually located conveniently due to the large floor space required to house their product. Ikea stores are not usually located outside the inner metropolitan area for this reason. There are psychological, sociocultural, economic and government reasons why people shop or don’t shop are Psychological segmentation Branding. Ikea is ranking 41 in the world’s most valuable brands. The brand name alone is worth 8 million. The brand image for Ikea stands for affordable, contemporary design and its flat pack product range that gives Ikea its identity. The brand name or logo essentially provides a message to the people of the quality and value associated with that product, when they see it they immediately form judgements on the quality, a strong brand name is essentially enhancing the relationship between a business and its customer. Marketing and strategies Product Ikea’s products are tangible, Product matters because it is the reason that customers go to Ikea in the first place. Ikea has the market in flat pack furniture and the unique design attracts customers and meets their needs, this product could include the prestige of owning the product which would also relate to psychological factors. Place Place matters because it is how the customers access the product. The Ikea experience is more than just products, it is a retail concept laid out in such a way that families, singles, couples etc. can enjoy shopping for furniture. A day at Ikea has been described as more of an outing than a shopping trip. Price Price matters because it is at the heart of the Ikea concept. Flat pack furniture cannot compete on price with upmarket, fully assembled pieces, so it is essential that Ikea continues to keep its prices below the competition. Price including pricing methods, market and competition based, Competition based pricing is the commonly used pricing strategy. Promotion Promotion is the most public aspect of marketing and it matters because it helps to drive customers into the stores in order to buy furniture. Ethical and legal. Ikea is recognised as a business that is both legally and ethically a responsible business that looks beyond profit and develops a positive workforce with these practices, advertising is very powerful in developing the wrong or wright idea and misleading advertising is bad ethics. Developing products in 3rd world country is considered unethical because they get payed well below minimum wage. Ikea produces environmentally responsible products, the flat pack design would be argued that it minimizes wastage and the cardboard would be environmentally friendly. The role of consumer law deals with Deceptive and misleading advertising which could be false information about products features and content, false special offers which don’t exist and  overstating the benefits that a product will provide to the consumer. Price discrimination, giving preference to some retail stores by providing them with lower prices than is offered to the competitors of those retailers. The competitor and consumer act aims to discourage the price discrimination in the business environment. Implied conditions and warranties is a great way for a business to ensure the product will last at least the warrantee time, this attracts customers and the consumer expects the business to fulfill their legal obligation to provide a refund or replacement or the product if there is a manufacturing problem within the warranted date, regardless the business by law. Resale price maintenance, this aims to balance the profit maximization of a business, Ikea ensures that the quality of a product in one country doesn’t differ from another. A manufacturer cannot refuse to sell the goods to a retailor if the retailor intends to sell the product for below the recommended price.