Data Mining Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Data Mining - Assignment Example The more the business understands why some of its customers are loyal and how it can continue to retain and attract customers from different segments, the more the business will be able to come up with compelling offers and messages that are relevant. Predictive analytics results in an analytical framework which helps in the prediction of product preferences and customer buying habits required in the discovery of meaningful relationships and patterns in the customer data so as to accomplish better market targets and drive customer loyalty and value (Turkey, 1997). Association discovery can be employed in a business to determine the affinity patterns of its products. This information is important in optimizing the manner in which the business orders are picked and accumulated from their centers of distribution. The same information obtained through association discovery can be based on to generate dynamic rules which would permit business orders to be picked or accumulated taking into consideration the chances of another order that is identical occurring in a span of few days. The outcome of such an optimization is that decisions take less time thus substantially saving on the business costs (Agresti, 2002). Web mining allows the business to sift through information regarding the market situation so as to identify where the market value is. Such discoveries will help the business come up with new opportunities as the business with such information will have the ability to implement parallel processing systems and high performances as it is in a position to analyze large data in a very short time. The business can also make use of data mining to try out different business models to best understand the market situation and adapt to it. Such information also helps the business in making better predictions (Witten and Eibe, 2011). The clustering of information using data mining related to customers have served as important networks to business in the process of hand ling numerical market data. The market is normally the main target for any business when it comes to information clustering. This data mining technique helps the business segment potential customers on the basis of given sets of attributes. The technique also helps businesses to adapt the best operation methods through discovering market facts that are hidden giving the business an added advantage when it comes to its competitive position. The business will also be in a position to understand better what their customers really need and want. 2. Assess the reliability of the data mining algorithms. Decide if they can be trusted and predict the errors they are likely to produce Data mining algorithms is one of the main methods used in the exploration of linkages and relationships among sets of data. Such algorithms have been relied on by many businesses as they are believed to have the ability of reducing computational efforts and are in a position to deal with structural systemâ€⠄¢s failure mode. Despite data mining algorithms being viewed as being highly accurate and efficient in their operation, the algorithm has been associated with a number of identification, exploration and exploitation errors. Reliability is seen in the way any given data mining model operates on different sets of data. A model that is reliable is one which comes up with the same

The Need for Cultural Sensitivity in Multicultural Special Education Essay Example for Free

The Need for Cultural Sensitivity in Multicultural Special Education Essay Teachers in this changing multicultural society need to be aware of challenges in teaching English Language Learners as well as African-American students. Labeling students immediately as having a learning disability is a disservice not only to the student it is affecting, but also the entire school system. Teachers must learn to incorporate multicultural activities into their teaching style, which would allow them to connect with as many of their diverse students as possible. â€Å"For many multicultural learners, the noble ideal of leaving no child behind has not yielded the desired dividends in general and special education. †(Obiakor 148). I believe that students of all ethnic backgrounds would benefit from their teacher being more sensitive to their diverse cultures and backgrounds. Festus E. Obiakor’s article regarding† Effective Intervention for Today’s Schools† portrays a 9 year-old student named Ricardo whose teacher does not understand his culture and diversity. Ricardo spoke English with an accent, and had a hard time relating to his classmates. The teacher actually had made a note that he was trouble and did not get along with his peers (148). Ricardo was ultimately labeled as having a behavior disorder and was put into a special education classroom. Unfortunately, this is an alarming trend that is occurring in our nations Ramirez 2 schools. â€Å"Students learning English were disproportionately identified as having a disability in the three largest urban districts. †(Turnbull 79). Obiakor notes in his article, that according to the U. S. Department of Education in 2001 that although Hispanic students made up 4% of the general public school enrollments, there was a national average of 14% of these students being placed in special education services(149). This is where teachers need to turn to the theory of cultural relativism. If educators were able to â€Å"know what it is like to be a member of the second culture and to view the world from that point of view,† (Gollnick and Chin 17), teachers would be able to better understand the needs of their students of various ethnic backgrounds. Rather than place them in special education services hastily, by understanding the other culture, teachers perhaps would stop judging the ethnic minority students behaviors as deviant, and put aside their cultural biases (Obiakor 149). If an educator gains an understanding of their students’ background, becoming in-tune with their cultural nuances, they will then begin to turn the tide of stereotyping these students as having special needs. Culturally biased standardized tests are also another factor that affects the student from another culture to be unfairly marked as needing special education. â€Å"Unjustifiable reliance on IQ and other evaluation tools, high-stakes testing, and power differentials between minority parents and schools may also be contributing variables. †(Gollnick and Chin 185). Educators need to recognize that students may fail these tests due to differences in the child’s cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Festus E. Obiakor’s article states that African American learners in special education are continuing to experience â€Å"inadequate general and special education services. †(p. 28) African American students are among the highest ethnic group placed in special education services, due to the process of over-referrals. â€Å"â€Å"With over-referrals, teachers tend to make Ramirez 3 excessive referrals of students of color for placement in special education classes for students with disabilities. †(Gollnick and Chin 183) The disproportionate placement of students of color is one of the most problematic issues facing education (Gollnick and Chin 180). Many students, according to Obiakor’s article who attend urban settings are often labeled â€Å"slow learners† or â€Å"learning disabled†, which in turn takes them out of the running for higher educational opportunities(29). As is the case with Hispanic students, African American culture is not understood by the majority of teachers, most of whom have typically been White. I believe if teachers and administrators take on a culturally responsive aspect to their lessons, they eventually would stop making such rash assessments on these culturally diverse students, eventually allowing these students to be assessed according to their real capabilities, not based on their ethnocentric attitudes and feelings. As a future educator, I realize the need to challenge myself and my peers to become culturally and emotionally sensitive to students of diverse backgrounds. Labeling a child as learning disabled when they are in fact not, is a tragedy that none of us should make. Multicultural students will not only have to deal with discrimination based on their race, but they will also have to deal with the negative connotation a special education label may bring to them. Teachers have such an important role in a child’s life that it is important to try our best not to negatively impact any child. By understanding how a culture learns, the teacher needs to develop a curriculum that is culturally and historically relevant to these children. Educators need to take into account the vast learning styles of these students to make sure that we are not making the mistake of mislabeling a child as having a learning disability, when in fact, one is not present. References Obiakor, Festus E. (2007) Multicultural Special Education: Effective Intervention For Today’s Schools. Intervention In School and Clinic. Volume 42(3), pages 148-155. Obiakor, Festus E. (2010) African American Learners In Special Education: A Close Look at Milwaukee. Intervention In School and Clinic. Volume 5(2), pages28-48. Turnbull, A. (2010) Exceptional Lives: Special Education in Today’s Schools. (R. Turnbull, Michael Wehmeyer, Eds. ) New Jersey: Merrill.

The Primary Obstacle To Success Marketing Essay

The Primary Obstacle To Success Marketing Essay The primary obstacle to success in international marketing is a persons self reference criterion (SRC) in making decision, that is, an unconscious reference to ones own cultural values, experiences, and knowledge as a basis for decisions. The SRC impedes the ability to assess a foreign market in its true light. if we talk about in basic terms then SRC means to forget about self like if a company is going to some another country then the going company will have to take care about the culture etc of the host country and will have to forget about our culture like McDonalds when entered India they sold product aloo tikki burger in spite of their beef burger. In international marketing scenarios, we are talking about working in different cultural environments and hence a self referenced behaviour may not be the correct behaviour from the perspective target culture. Hence, realization of this difference of culture and the possibility of self reference criterion is important in internationa l marketing. This is not such a big issue in domestic marketing since the cultural difference is not major. Animals provide a good illustration of the impact of the SRC on the thinking process. Americans and Europeans commonly treat dogs as family members, addressing the animals affectionately and even letting dogs sleep on family members beds. However in Arab, view dogs as filthy animals. Some in the Far East go so far as to cook and eat dogs. A consumption habit viewed as revolting and compared to cannibalism by Americans. Hindus, in contrast, revere cows and do not understand how Americans can eat beef, especially in large quantity. In order to investigate a phenomenon in another country, a researcher or marketing manager must attempt to eliminate the SRC effect. The marketing challenge is to create a product that fits the needs of a particular culture. The presence of the SRC, if not controlled, can invalidate the result of a research study. Lee suggests a multi step approach to remove the undue influence of the SRC. First the problem should be defined in terms of the culture of the researchers home country. Second, the same problem is defined again, except that it is defined in terms of the cultural norms of the host country. Third, a comparison is made of the two cultural composites. Any difference noted between the composites indicates an existence of the SRC, necessitating another look at the problem with SRC removed. To illustrate the impact of the SRC, consider misunderstanding that can occur about personal space between people of different cultures. In the west, unrelated individuals keep a certain physical distance between themselves and other when talking to each other or in groups. We do not consciously think about that distance; we just know what feels right without thinking. When someone is too close or too far away, we feel uncomfortable and either move further away or get closer to correct the distance, we are relying on our SRC. In some cultures, the acceptable distance between individuals is substantially less than that comfortable to westerners. When they, unaware of another cultures acceptable distance, are approached too closely by someone from another culture, the unconsciously confusion results for the parties. Westerners assume foreigners are pushy, while foreigners assume westerners are unfriendly and stand-offish. Both react to the values of their own SRCs, making them all vict ims of a cultural misunderstanding. http://www.citeman.com/7414-the-self-reference-criterion-and-ethnocentrism-major-obstacles/ Ethnocentrism and the SRC can influence an evaluation of the appropriateness of a domestically designed marketing mix for a foreign market. If US marketers are not aware, they might evaluate a marketing mix based on US experiences (i.e. their SRC) without fully appreciating the cultural differences that require adaptation. Esso, the brand name of a gasoline, was a successful name in the United States and would seem harmless enough for foreign countries; however in Japan the name phonetically means stalled car an undesirable image for gasoline. Another example is Pet in pet Milk. The name has been used for decades, yet in France the word pet means, among other things, flatulence again, not the desired image for canned milk. Both of these examples were real mistakes made by major companies stemming from reliance on their SRC in making a decision. In US culture, a persons SRC would not reveal a problem with either Esso or pet, but in international marketing, relying on ones SRC could pr oduce an inadequately adapted marketing program that ends in failure. Question B To enter a foreign market, a manufacturer has a number of strategic options. Many companies employ multiple strategies. Polycentricity is a strong orientation to the host country. The attitude places emphasis on differences between markets that are caused by variations within, such as in income, culture, laws and politics. The assumption is that each market is unique and consequently difficult for outsiders to understand. Thus, managers from the host country should be employed and allowed to have a great deal of discretion in market decisions. A significant degree of decentralization is thus common across the overseas divisions. On the other hand egocentricity is a compromise between the two extremes of ethonocentricity and policentricity. It could be argued that this attitude is the most important of the three. Egocentricity is an orientation that considers the whole world rather than any particular country as the target market. A geocentric company might be thought of as denational ized or supranational. As such international or foreign departments or markets do not exist because the company does not designate anything international or foreign about market. There is a high likelihood that a geocentric company does not identify itself with a particular country. Therefore, it is often difficult to determine the firms home country except through the location of its headquarters and its corporate registration. A subculture is a distinct and identifiable cultural group that has values in common with the overall society but also has certain characteristics that are unique to itself. Subcultures are groups of people within a larger society. Although the various subcultures share some basic traits of the wider culture, they also preserve their own customs and lifestyles, making them significantly different from other groups within the larger culture of which they are a part. Indonesia, for example, has more than 300 ethnic groups, with lifestyles and cultures that seem thousands of years apart. There are many different ways to classify subcultures. Although race or ethnic origin is one obvious way, it is not the only one. Other demographic and social variables can be just as suitable for establishing subcultures within a nation. The degree of intra country homogeneity varies from one country to another. In the case of Japan, the society as a whole is remarkably homogeneous. Although some regional and racial diversities as well as differences among income classes are to be found, the differentials are not pronounced. There are several reasons why Japan is a relatively homogeneous country. It is a small country in terms of area, making its population geographically concentrated. National pride and management philosophy also help to forge a high degree of unity. As a result, people work together harmoniously to achieve the some common goals. One study of the relationship between ethnicity and lifestyles found significant differences among English, French, Italian, and Greek Canadians even when socio demographic variables were controlled. Greek Canadians, for example, are more brands loyal but dislike credit. Each ethnic group, due to size, may require a differentiated marketing strategy. Ethnically speaking, two prominent subcultures emerge: English speaking and French speaking. Studies have repeatedly shown that the French speaking and English speaking households differ from each other significantly in term of demographics, subculture, and consumption habits. French Canadians consumer behaviour is a cross between that of North Americans and that of the continental French, being both similar to and different from those of these two groups. Compare to the French, Quebecers are more direct, less dramatic and less formal. Compare to other English Canadians, Quebecers move far less often and thus have far less need to make long distance phone calls to relatives and friends. Subculture may provide an effective basis for market segmentation. In the case of the United States, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans spend around $750 billion annually and deserve marketing attention. American firms attempt to attract various sub cultural groups in many different ways. Carnival Cruise Lines has an entire cruise ship (Fiesta Marina) just for the Hispanic market. McDonalds has created a Mac Report series of Spanish infomercials. J C Penney has outfitted 170 stores to carry merchandise for Hispanic and African American consumers. ATT, MCI, and Sprint have advertised their long distance phone services in a variety of Asian dialects. One marketer offered native language coupons giving $24 discounts with each purchase to Chinese Americans. Unfortunately, 2 and 4 in some Chinese communities are close to the words easy and death respectively. Naturally, many customers do not want easy death. In another case, green baseball caps were offered as premi ums during a Chinese New Year celebration. Among older generations, a man wearing a green cap wants to bring public scorn on his wife by telling the public that his is cheating on him. Culture prescribes acceptable beliefs, traditions, customs and values that are then socially shared. Culture is subjective, enduring yet dynamic and cumulative. It affects peoples behaviour in diverse ways through logic, communication and consumptions. Although some cultural traits are universal, many others are unique and vary from country to country. And in spite of national norm, cultural differences as a rule even exist within each country. While there may be a tendency to misunderstand different cultures and subcultures, this temptation should be resisted. Being the force that it is, the culture of one country should not be judged as superior to the culture of another country. Each culture has its own particular values and social practices, and the international marketer will be much further ahead if he or she tries to walk in the other persons shoes in order to understand more clearly that persons concerns and ideas. It is also more important to know what a person thinks than w hat that persons language is. Because of the great differences in language and culture around the world, any firms need to adjust their approach to solving marketing problems in different countries. In a foreign cultural environment, the marketing plan that has worked well at home may no longer be effective. As a result, the firms marketing mix may have to undergo significant adaption and adjustment. However, effective marketing in this environment will thus mandate that the company be culturally responsive. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. International marketing, Analysis and Strategy, Third edition by Sak Onkvisit John J Shaw chapter 1, 6, 9 2. International marketing, European edition by Cateora and Ghauri chapter 1, 6 3. Marketing across cultures, 4th edition by J C Usunier and J A Less Part 1 (1,23), Part 2 (4, 7)

In A View From The Bridge, Show How The Audiences Opinion Of Eddie :: English Literature

In A View From The Bridge, Show How The Audience's Opinion Of Eddie Changes. In A View From The Bridge, Show How The Audience's Opinion Of Eddie Changes. Refer To The Dramatic Effects Of A Few Key Scenes A View From The Bridge is a play by Arthur Miller. It was first produced as a one-act play in verse in 1955, and had the name of An Italian Tragedy. The play is rooted in the late 1940's when Miller became interested in the works and lives of the communities of the longshoremen of New York's Brooklyn Bridge where he had previously worked. He mentioned it in his autobiography Timebends as 'waterfront was the Wild West, a desert beyond the law', where was populated and worked by people who came to America seeking the 'American Dream', wealth, work and security which their own countries could not guarantee. This play was set in the 1950's, and at that time America was seen as the land of opportunity for many people, to start a new life, escape their past or just for a change, people believed America held the key. However this was not the case, as immigrants often lived in the most run down parts of town and found themselves out of work and with little money to live on the or send their families at home. Miller was concerned with this living through the depression, which bankrupted his father, and he saw the effects on the ordinary people. It was during this time that Miller heard a story from one of his lawyer friend of 'a longshoremen who had "ratted" to the immigration bureau on two brothers, his own relatives, who were living illegally in his very home, in order to break an engagement between one of them and his niece. ' This story became the model of A View From The Bridge when he paid a visit to Sicily and saw the awkward situation of the Italians without work and food, combined with his own experiences of Italian immigrant workers in Brooklyn. Miller also wanted this play to be a modern version of a Greek Tragedy, in which a central character is led by fate towards an inevitable destiny; thus when the final version of A View From The Bridge was published in 1956, he retained much of the content of the verse but transformed it into prose. In this essay I shall discuss how the audience's opinion of the central character of the play, Eddie Carbone, changes and the factors that influence them. In the opening scene, when Eddie first appears on stage, the way he

Health and Safety act 1974 Essay

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, also referred to as HASAW or HSW, is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in the United Kingdom. The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing the Act and a number of other Acts and Statutory Instruments relevant to the working environment.Covers: †¢ safe plant and systems of work; †¢ safe methods for the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances; †¢ necessary information, instruction, training and supervision; †¢ a safe and well-maintained workplace, including safe access and egress; †¢ a safe working environment with adequate welfare facilities This legislation requires employers to prepare, and maintain up-to-date, a statement showing the policy on safety and the organisation and arrangements put in place to ensure the general policy is carried out. The employer must ensure that all employees are aware of the policy and any revision. Manufacturing organisation: Tasty Bake- Tasty Bake is one of the UK’s leading sausage manufacturers. Cardamon Pod- Cardamon Pod is a small business offering a wide range of delicious savoury and sweet samosas to both public and private clients throughout the UK and overseas. Service provider: Chef per Tutti – offering a private chef service. Planglow Ltd. – Planglow is a recognised market leader for the supply of branded paper-based products to the catering industry. Main causes of injury: †¢ Manual handling and lifting – especially lifting heavy and awkward loads and pushing wheeled racks †¢ Slips and trips – mostly due to wet or contaminated floors †¢ Falls from height – off ladders, stairs, work platforms, plant and vehicles †¢ Struck by an object (eg hand knife) or striking against an object (eg plant) †¢ Exposure to harmful substances and hot objects, eg splashes/vapour from cleaning chemicals, contact with hot equipment Electricity at work regulations 1989 This legislation places legal implications on employers to ensure the safety of electrical devices in the workplace. Covers: †¢ Ensure all persons working on or near electrical equipment are competent, to prevent danger and injury †¢ Maintain electrical systems in safe condition †¢ Carry out electrical work safely †¢ Ensure equipment is suitable and safe to use in terms:- – of strength and capability – of use in adverse or hazardous environments e.g. weather, dirt, dust, gases, mechanical hazards, flammable atmospheres, etc †¢ Ensure effective insulation of conductors in a system This legislation is requires precautions to be taken against the risk of death or personal injury from electricity during work activities. Manufacturing organisation: McKinlay Electrical Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Elkay Electrical Manufacturing Company Ltd Customer providers: Southern Electric E-on Main hazards: †¢ Electric shock †¢ Electric burns †¢ Fires of electrical origin †¢ Electric arcing causing â€Å"Arc Eye† †¢ Explosions initiated or caused by electricity Display screen equipment regulations 1992 The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 aim to protect the health of people who work with DSE. The Regulations were introduced because DSE has become one of the most common kinds of work equipment. Covers: †¢ Assess display screen equipment workstations and reduce any risks which are discovered. †¢ Make sure that workstations satisfy the essential safety requirements which are set for the display screen, keyboard, desk and chair, working environment, task design and software †¢ Plan display screen equipment work so that there are breaks or changes of activity †¢ Provide information and training for display screen equipment users This legislation requires: †¢ Employers have to carry out a ‘suitable and sufficient analysis’ of all workstations provided for use by users or operators – in other words, a risk assessment. †¢ DSE workstations must meet the Schedule of Minimum Requirements. †¢ Employers have to ensure that users get periodic breaks or changes of activity away from the display screen equipment. †¢ Employers have to provide information to users and operators on risks identified by the assessment, steps taken to reduce the risks, and, where appropriate, the systems for breaks and for eyesight tests. Manufacturing organisation: Computer manufacturers: Dell, Asus. Customer providers: Shops – Asda, Tesco, Boots, they are using screen equipment. Accountant assistant job – working with computers. Risks: †¢ Upper Limb Disorders – aches and pains in the hands, wrists, arms, neck, shoulders, back etc. †¢ Visual Difficulties – eyes can become tired and existing conditions can become more noticeable.

Middle East Essays (429 words) - Palestine Liberation Organization

Middle East Essays (429 words) - Palestine Liberation Organization Middle East Middle East The political systems of Middle Eastern countries display considerable variety. For much of the post-World War II period, the greatest distinction was between the conservative, capitalist, pro-Western monarchies and the reformist, socialist, and neutralist or pro-Eastern republics, many of which were military regimes. Pan-Arabism, which seeks to reunite the Arabs, was a dominant ideological force in much of the region. The failure of Arab unification schemes, particularly between Egypt and Syria between 1958 and 1961, and the passage of time encouraged the growth of state-based nationalism. The perceived failure of European-derived ideologies also encouraged the spread of Islamic fundamentalism and the search for indigenous solutions to the region's problems. Perhaps no other region of the world has suffered so much political turmoil since World War II. Since 1979 the Iranian revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the assassination of President Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, an epidemic of terrorist incidents, a United States attack on Libya, and the Persian Gulf War have occurred. Yemen, Jordan, Sudan, and Lebanon have been ravaged by civil wars. From 1980 to 1988 Iran and Iraq were embroiled in a bloody conflict. Casualties amounted to 1 million for each side. But the most protracted conflict has been between the Arabs and Israelis, who fought wars over territory and the rights of the Palestinians in 1948-49, 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1982. In 1988 Palestine was declared an independent state by the Palestine National Council. This declaration led to frequent and often violent clashes between Israelis and Palestinians. On Aug. 2, 1990, Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait after accusations over a disputed oil field. This resulted in war against Iraq early in 1991 by a United Nations (UN) coalition led by the United States. Iraq was soundly defeated in six weeks. Israel did not join the conflict, in spite of Iraq's firing Scud missiles at Israeli targets. This restraint on Israel's part opened the way for unprecedented peace talks with the Arab states. These began in September 1991 and continued intermittently for the next two years. A change of government in Israel led to secret meetings in Oslo, Norway, with representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The outcome was an Israeli- Palestinian accord signed in Washington on Sept. 13, 1993. For the first time, Israel recognized the PLO. It also granted limited self-rule to Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and Jericho. Israel and the PLO pledged to begin working out a permanent settlement in 1995, if the accord succeeded.