Improving Business to Business Marketing in TCL Business Research Paper

Improving Business to Business Marketing in TCL Business - Research Paper Example Over the past two years, most small and medium businesses have been badly impacted by the recent economic downturn with TCL not having been spared from the impact. During this period most businesses are cutting costs in order to remain competitive in the business, this grossly affects TCL’s business as its revenue stream is mostly reliant on the marketing budgets that companies set. Over the past year, with reduced business, TCL recorded a drop in revenue by 25%, and the business is increasingly finding it hard to get new business and establish new clients. It is imperative that TCL make a change to its current business to business marketing. In view of this, this business report analyses and addresses various aspects of a business to business marketing that TCL needs to address in order to be able to efficiently meet its objectives. In doing so, the report will focus on how TCL can restructure its marketing mix, how the business networks and relationships impact TCL’s business, how it can rearrange its sales team for effective impact at low cost. With the recession, most of TCL customers are cutting back on their marketing spending. As can be noted from TCL’s product portfolio, TCL gives precedence to offline business marketing using tools such as radio and television for their clients. The very nature of such advertising means being expensive implies that TCL is losing a lot of money in this area. Since TCL also offers other marketing services such as online marketing, it is important for the company to explore its product portfolio and see how it can restructure it well enough for the business that is focused on cost-cutting. Trends in the recession show that more companies which are cutting costs are tending towards online marketing not only because it is cheaper, but because of the reasoning that most end consumers being thrifty during these periods also tend to go online in search of better and cheaper deals (Chlebisova, et al, 2011:1 234-1236). Indeed Court (2009:71) note that key advertising tools that most companies use for advertising and marketing during the recession are the use of the internet, mobile devices and the social networking which are far cheaper and much more effective in a recession-stricken economy. Most companies prefer to use a combination of these with traditional media (Bulearca, & Bulearca, 2010).

staffing policies Essay -- essays research papers

CURRENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES In order to maintain a competitive edge and consistently reduce staffing issues, many companies have turned to alternative methods of staffing. As companies continue to ‘change with the times’, so do their staffing needs. Therefore, the traditional hiring of a full time employee is not the only option. Companies have turned to more effective ways of getting the job done. They are using outside sources to recruit employees. United Healthcares hiring practices will be utilized in this report to identify the ways in which a company fills its open positions. First there is the process of finding external candidates for a position. The company uses a variety of sources to recruit these candidates:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Newspaper advertisements  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Employment Agencies  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Search firms  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Staffing agencies  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Internet  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Employee referrals  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Networking  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  America's Job Bank On occasion Untied may have the need for a contracted or temporary employee. It is important that It is understood that, â€Å" contract services personnel, independent contractors, or vendors, are employees of companies under contract to United Health Group, not employees of United Health Group. The needs of the business may require that we use contract services personnel fo...

The plight of migrant workers

Introduction:The wise saying goes, ‘The writer sees, what the Sun can not see.’’(Proverb) If that writer happens to be a photojournalist, his products are going to be nearer to the reality. This is the strength of the book of David Bacon. Of the four factors of production, Land, Labor Capital and Organization, it is known that the Labor occupies the first position, because without it, the other three are rendered idle.In the context of globalization of all segments of economic and profit-generating activities, agriculture too occupies the prominent place. The labor requirement in this area is vast, and it needs to be employed at the right time, depending upon the timings of the harvesting and marketing of the crops. How do the migrant workers plough their lives, what are the problems that confront them and what is the solution?The harsh realities of migrant experience†¦The materialistic civilization, industrial and internet revolution have made the concept of globalization a reality, without world leaders formally announcing the same. The economic compulsions are such, something tangible is happening all over the world in the industrial and agricultural sectors, without anyone making efforts for it ‘actually.’ Transnational communities are being formed in the natural course, because of the common economic and survival interests and aspirations of such labor force.This has happened all along the northern road from Guatemala, via Mexico and far into the United States. Douglas Bacon is eminently suited to do the task of writing this book, for he is thrice-blessed—being the journalist, the photographer, and a trade union leader and labor organizer.(Ahn, 2004) With the might of his pen, and the click of the flashgun of the camera, he gives the picture of the real life of the migrant labors working for plenty and prosperity of others to a great extent, and their individual prosperity to some extent.Workers move and become part of the migrant work-force, not because they want to move, but because someone somewhere is willingly and anxiously waiting for them. Undocumented immigrants far outnumber the documented immigrants. (Ahn, 2004)US border policy treats them in an unjust manner, labeling them as an aggregation of individuals.Immigration policy on such block of immigrants demands special attention and policy guidelines, to properly accept them into the mainstream of the society, because they are contributing to the welfare of that society. These great dramas of borderlands create new issues time and again.   Their combined work output is definitely contributing to the movement of giant wheels of agriculture production to fulfill the food requirements of the Nation. The labor movements are both for survival and for further improvement of working conditions to secure stable life, without uncertainties and anxieties.Agriculture:1. The obstacles the migrant workers face, their thoughts about their hom eland, and their plans for building a better life:The number of migrant workers in USA runs into millions. They are available for all types of work related to agriculture, like planting, weeding, harvesting and packing. Their contribution is basic and fundamental, but in return, they don’t get what they deserve. Their income is less than $7,500 an year. (Ahn, 2004)The working conditions are dangerous from the point of view of health, for they have to toil in the hot fields below the hotter sun, they handle  Ã‚   not too safe farm equipments, the ill effects of physical exposure to herbicides, chemical fertilizers and poisonous pesticides do serious damage to their health.â€Å"Often we went into the fields barefoot,† remembers Jorge Giron, from the Mixtec town of Santa Maria Tindu, who now lives in Fresno. His wife, Margarita, recalls that in the labor camp â€Å"the rooms were made of cardboard, and you could see other families through the holes. When you had to re lieve yourself, you went in public because there were no bathrooms. You would go behind a tree or tall grass and squat. People bathed in the river and further down others would wash their clothes and drink. A lot of people came down with diarrhea and vomiting.† The strikes, they say, forced improvements. (Bacon, 2005)2. In what way do the members of these communities face ethnic and racial discrimination?The main problem of the migrant workers is their status. Since they are illegal entrants, the worry of their clandestine stay bothers them during 24 hours in a day. Their number is more than 52% of the total workforce. (Ahn, 2004) They move like caravans, depending upon the requirements in a particular area.This affects their lifestyle adversely, because they live in temporary houses, in congested areas where sanitation facilities are too poor. Some spend their nights in their cars or dusted fields; under temporary structures.   They work even when they are sick, for the med ical facilities are poor, one is afraid to ask for them for the fear of losing wages, or even the job. In case of prolonged illness, the chances of being deported are certain.Long periods of absence from homeland and the denial of the association of near and dear ones, lead to depression in many cases. Since the job is temporary and without any perquisites, they remain engulfed in a sense of insecurity. They live under compulsion, for they have to support their family members in a distant land, who are expecting their remittances month after month. Migrant workers with the family, face another problem of education of their children, as they have to constantly shift from one school to another.The children are brought up in uncertain and poor conditions and they develop a sense of inferiority complex. The racial and ethnic problems though not there legally, yet in the day to day dealings, they show their presence. â€Å"Labor organizing was part of the mix here too. In 1993 FIOB bega n collaboration with the United Farm Workers. â€Å"We recognized the UFW was a strong union representing agricultural workers,† Dominguez explains. â€Å"They recognized us as an organization fighting for the rights for indigenous migrants.†But it was an uneasy relationship. Mixtec activists felt that UFW members often exhibited the same discriminatory attitudes common among Mexicans back home toward indigenous people. Fighting racism in Mexico, however, had prepared them for this. According to Rivera Salgado, â€Å"the experience of racism enforces a search for cultural identity to resist [and] creates the possibility of new forms of organization and action.†(Bacon, 2005)3. What kinds of organizations have they formed to protect themselves?Cezar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers Union and the farm workers stand up for their rights. His pressure tactics made the growers sign the contract, which protected worker’s interests. Laws are being framed one after another, but these have proved to be laws designed for exploitation. For every provision of the law for protecting the interests of the workers, the legal brains of the employers find an escape route. â€Å"Labor shortages caused by World War II resulted in the 1942 U.S./Mexico Bracero Program. Bracero contracts ranged from one to six months, and employers were required to provide food and housing, pay local wage rates, cover medical expenses, and provide transportation between Mexico and the farm.These clauses, however, were rarely enforced and growers routinely exploited Braceros by shorting the hours they worked or changing the rate of pay once the work was completed.†(Ahn, 2004) With strong protests from the labor, the Bracero Program was terminated in 1964.United Farm Workers Union of America (UDW) is credited with securing improvement in the working conditions of California farm workers and now the workers have the legal mandate of access to faucets, toilets and cold drinking water. But the Unions face a peculiar problem. They don’t get the necessary support from the workers. Less than 10 percent of all strawberry workers are unionized.(Ahn, 2004)At the National level, there are several organizations fighting for the rights of the workers. Some of them are the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Florida, Farm Labor Organizing Committee in North Carolina etc.4. How does their position in American society compare with the civil rights struggles of other groups we have studied?The Civil Rights Struggle is a broad struggle, having national and international repercussions. The problem of migrant worker is a â€Å"struggle within the struggle.†(Own)   Rights for the workers are the consequential action to the Civil Rights struggle. Now that the civil rights issues are settled legally, it is time that the government pays sincere attention to the plight of the migrant workers, so it does not turn out to be an issue like the issue of s lavery in disguise.Conclusion:Unfortunately in USA, democracy and capitalism have joined hands to give a free reign to exploitation and the workers are at the receiving ends. What to talk about those illegal migrant workers. They are like smuggled goods liable to be confiscated by the Government at any time. Some tangible steps need to be taken to reconcile these good ideals. USA has tried combinations and permutations, by placing emphasis on one or the other ideal. The problem of migrant workers is mainly the human problem, apart from the one that of legal and economic.The concept by the workers that the Management is the sworn enemy and they must be a war with it always, is wrong. Similarly, the Management needs to have the humane approach. The thought process both the parties need to change. Then only their action process will also change. So, when the thoughts are changed, the mind is changed; when the mind is changed, the man is changed; when the man is changed, the society is changed.References Cited:Ahn, Christine, Article: Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy | For Land †¦Workers Without Rights in American Agriculture, (2004)†¦Bacon, David (Author), Carlos, Jr. Munoz (Foreword), Douglas Harper (Foreword) Book: Communities without Borders: Images and Voices from the World of MigrationPaperback: 235 pagesPublisher: ILR Press; 1 edition (October 2006)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0801473071ISBN-13: 978-0801473074Proverb: Source anonymousOwn: This symbol is my own creation.Bacon, David: Article: Communities Without Borders (David Bacon);The Nation: October 2005 issue.

Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee - 1442 Words

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a beautifully crafted novel which portrays the tragic, yet withstanding, struggles of those facing severe discrimination and challenges of character, which reveals a profound message about courage. Various aspects in To Kill A Mockingbird, such as the dialogue and actions of Atticus Finch, Mrs. Dubose, and Boo Radley, suggest that to do what is right, one a person s courage is shown not only through physical, but emotional and mental strength even when at a disadvantage so they can do what must be done. The novel is told through the eyes of Jean Louise â€Å"Scout† Finch, who narrates the story of her childhood in the earlier 20th century. Scout, her older brother named Jem, and a friend called Dill, were fascinated by the rumors of their neighbor Boo Radley, who was, as Scout described, a â€Å"malevolent phantom,† that never stepped foot outside of his house. The children made several efforts to lure Boo outside of his house but unfortunately failed. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer with very high morals. He takes upon himself to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, in a rape case. Even though he receives many harsh comments for supporting an African American at the time, Atticus insists on continuing with the case as his ethics would not allow him to do otherwise. He compiles evidence proving Tom is innocent; unfortunately, since Tom was the African American in a case against a white man, Bob Ewell, the verdict deemed Tom guilty.Show MoreRelatedKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1049 Words   |  5 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird: How a Story could be based on True Events in Everyday LifeDaisy GaskinsCoastal Pines Technical Collegeâ€Æ'Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama. Her father was a former newspaper editor and proprietor, who had served as a state senator and practiced as a lawyer in Monroeville. Also Finch was known as the maiden name of Lee’s mother. With that being said Harper Lee became a writer like her father, but she became a American writer, famous for her race relations novel â€Å"ToRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee1000 Words   |  4 Pagesworld-wide recognition to the many faces of prejudice is an accomplishment of its own. Author Harper Lee has had the honor to accomplish just that through her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, a moving and inspirational story about a young girl learning the difference between the good and the bad of the world. In the small town of Monroeville, Alabama, Ne lle Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926. Growing up, Harper Lee had three siblings: two sisters and an older brother. She and her siblings grew up modestlyRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1290 Words   |  6 PagesHarper Lee published To Kill a Mockingbird during a rough period in American history, also known as the Civil Rights Movement. This plot dives into the social issues faced by African-Americans in the south, like Tom Robinson. Lee felt that the unfair treatment towards blacks were persistent, not coming to an end any time in the foreseeable future. This dark movement drove her to publish this novel hopeful that it would encourage the society to realize that the harsh racism must stop. Lee effectivelyRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee873 Words   |  4 PagesIn the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates that â€Å"it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird† throughout the novel by writing innocent characters that have been harmed by evil. Tom Robinson’s persecution is a symbol for the death of a mockingbird. The hunters shooting the bird would in this case be the Maycomb County folk. Lee sets the time in the story in the early 1950s, when the Great Depression was going on and there was poverty everywhere. The mindset of people back then was that blackRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee963 Words   |  4 Pagesgrowing up, when older characters give advice to children or siblings.Growing up is used frequently in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Harper Lee uses the theme growing up in To Kill a Mockingbird to change characters opinion, develop characters through their world, and utilizes prejudice to reveal growing up. One major cause growing up is used in To Kill a Mockingbird is to represent a change of opinion. One part growing up was shown in is through the trial in part two of the novelRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1052 Words   |  5 PagesTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee takes place in Maycomb County, Alabama in the late 30s early 40s , after the great depression when poverty and unemployment were widespread throughout the United States. Why is the preconception of racism, discrimination, and antagonism so highly related to some of the characters in this book? People often have a preconceived idea or are biased about one’s decision to live, dress, or talk. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee examines the preconceptionRead MoreHarper Lee and to Kill a Mockingbird931 Words   |  4 PagesHarper Lee and her Works Harper Lee knew first hand about the life in the south in the 1930s. She was born in Monroeville, Alabama in 1926 (Castleman 2). Harper Lee was described by one of her friends as Queen of the Tomboys (Castleman 3). Scout Finch, the main character of Lees Novel, To Kill a Mockinbird, was also a tomboy. Many aspects of To Kill a Mockingbird are autobiographical (Castleman 3). Harper Lees parents were Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Finch Lee. She was the youngestRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1695 Words   |  7 PagesIn To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee presents as a ‘tired old town’ where the inhabitants have ‘nowhere to go’ it is set in the 1930s when prejudices and racism were at a peak. Lee uses Maycomb town to highlight prejudices, racism, poverty and social inequality. In chapter 2 Lee presents the town of Maycomb to be poverty stricken, emphasised through the characterisation of Walter Cunningham. When it is discovered he has no lunch on the first day of school, Scout tries to explain the situation to MissRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1876 Words   |  8 PagesThough Harper Lee only published two novels, her accomplishments are abundant. Throughout her career Lee claimed: the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fiction, and Quill Award for Audio Book. Lee was also inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. This honor society is a huge accomplishment and is considered the highest recognition for artistic talent and accomplishment in the United States. Along with these accomplishments, herRead MoreKill A Mockingbird, By Harper Lee1197 Words   |  5 Pagessuch as crops, houses, and land, and money was awfully limited. These conflicts construct Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird. In To Kill a Mocking Bird, Lee establishes the concurrence of good and evil, meaning whether people are naturally good or naturally evil. Lee uses symbolism, characterization, and plot to portray the instinctive of good and evil. To Kill a Mocking Bird, a novel by Harper Lee takes place during the 1930s in the Southern United States. The protagonist, Scout Finch,