Comparison of Home-Made and Store Bought Apple Juice

Comparison of Home-Made and Store Bought Apple Juice COVER PAGE TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT This extended investigational report was aimed to show and prove how store bought apple juice (golden circle) is unhealthier and less beneficial to the body than home-made apple juice. The apple juice samples were analysed and tested using pH using litmus paper Determination of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) by iodine titration Determination of fruit acids by iodine titration (sugar acid ratio) Testing foe simple sugars Refractometer These tests were used to find out the differences between store bought and home-made apple juice and which was unhealthier and less beneficial to the body. It was found that- X X X X X This report discusses apples and both their benefits and deficiencies, investigating the chemical reactions that are occurring whilst doing the experiments to gather a better knowledge and understanding of the chemical processes that occur. The aim of the investigation is to prove that store bought apple juice is unhealthier and less beneficial to the body in comparison to homemade apple juice. AIM The aim of this experimental investigation report is to identify, determine and prove that home-made apple juice will be much healthier than that of the store bought apple juice. INTRODUCTION Consumers are becoming increasingly demanding of food manufacturers. They want to know exactly what is in the food they are eating. Some people need to be aware of the content in food due to severe allergies, while others want to know so they can maintain a healthy diet .These days, due to increase in amounts of advancements in chemical and biological technologies, Chemicals that are more than just added preservatives, additives and sugar can be added into any kind of food to make a certain user friendly product that is available in the market. Therefore manufacturers are trying to create food and beverages by manipulating certain ingredients in the product which contain artificial ingredients rather than natural ingredients. A good example of it is Apple juice. Commercial apple juice typically include Vitamin C to increase the ascorbic acid content as well has some certain preservatives, additives and certain sugars to prolong shelf life. This report compares a home-made apple juice with a high end commercial grade apple juice (golden circle). APPLE Apples are the most common fruit that is eaten. It even states that â€Å"An apple a day keeps the doctor away†. There are almost nine types of apples that are grown and found in Australia and the rest are imported from overseas. Apples are one of the best, because it is rich in minerals and vitamins. It has minerals like potassium(K),Calcium (Ca) , phosphorous (P), magnesium (Mg) , manganese (Mn), iron (Fe) , sodium (Na) , copper (Cu) , zinc (Zn) and vitamins like A,B1( thiamine),B2( riboflavin),niacin and folate.In Queensland there are only four family farmers that provide apples to whole of Queensland. They are the Simon Favaro, David and Roslyn Sutton, Nicolette and Vincenzo’s. Because there are not many farmers that grow apples in Australia, apples are imported from different countries. But the countries that it gets imported from needs to meet the legislations of food organizations. It mainly get imported from Japan and china as it is cheap and it is high quality. BENEFITS OF APPLE Apples have many benefits when it comes to eating healthy. Apples are known for their high amounts in antioxidant activity, and it contains a lot of beneficial vitamins and minerals that are needed for the body and are low GI. Antioxidants are molecules that oxidise to form other molecules. Oxidation when occurring can have a reaction forming free radicals. But in turn the antioxidants get rid of these free radicals so it does not damage the body. Reducing agents like thiols , ascorbic acid and polyphenols are antioxidants which are present in apple. Apples help prevent diseases like Brain health, stroke, diabetes, cancer and heart diseases. All these diseases are prevented when linked back to antioxidants. DEFICIENCY OF APPLE Apple just like any other fruit has vitamins and minerals and if not supplemented with it, you may suffer from different diseases. Because apple contains potassium(K),Calcium (Ca) , phosphorous (P), magnesium (Mg) , manganese (Mn), iron (Fe) , sodium (Na) , copper (Cu) , zinc (Zn) and vitamins like A,B1( thiamine),B2( riboflavin),niacin and folate, not getting enough amounts of these vitamins and minerals might hinder your health and may damage your body. Some diseases that can be causes are scurvy, wound to heal slower, make skin more sensitive and joint pains. Apple juice contain Phytonutrients which help reduce the chances of artery blockage However this assignment deals with apple juice .The commercial apple juices adds gratuitous amounts of sugars that are unhealthy and less beneficial. Even though the store bought apple juice might say zero sugar, it contains artificial sweeteners that are more harmful than normal sugar. Artificial sweeteners are synthetic sugar substitutes but may be derived from naturally occurring substances, including herbs or sugar itself. Artificial sweeteners are also known as intense sweeteners because they are many times sweeter than regular sugar. VITAMIN C Vitamin C which is commonly known as Ascorbic acid (C6H8O6), is found in a lot of organic compound, and especially in apple juice and has antioxidant properties. Its melting point is 192o Celsius and the boiling point is 553o Celsius. (Wiki, 2014).It has a molar mass of 176.13 g.mol-1.This Vitamin is essential for humans as it reduces kidney and liver diseases, acne and chronic fatigue syndrome(CFC),it is also uses as an agent in enzyme and non-enzyme reactions. The international Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry names Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 2-oxoL-threo-hexono-1, 4-2, 3-enediol.Its visual aspect is a white solid, and the impure samples of it are yellowish. This acid can be oxidised to dehydroascorbic acid ((5R)-5-[(1S)-1 , 2-dihydroxyethyl]furan-2,3,4,5(5H)-trione) Ascorbic acid is commonly known acid, because it is weak acid and definitely a weak sugar acid and has a structure that is similar to glucose. This acid is found to have one of the lowest pH levels. Nevertheless when the acid is standardised the pH level rises to more than 4.0, It is profusely found only in its ionised formation, it is called ascorbate.(BIO CyC , 2004).Because ascorbic acid has properties of having antioxidants in it , it is often used as a preservative and additive in few drinks. Ascorbic acid has one downfall; it cannot protect fats from the oxidation process. (ncbi , 2006).Because ascorbic acid can be destroyed easily by reactions occurring with different gases, it is very hard to preserve it for an extended period of time. Therefore the manufacturers try to seal the food and beverages preventing gases from entering and destroying the product chemically. It is also used as an agent to prevent browning of enzymic foods. MALIC ACID Malic acid is a weak organic acid and it has a molecular formula C4H6O5.Malic acid are found in many fruits and plant matter. It sometimes is noticed as ascorbic acid than malic acid because the chemical structure is quite similar. The IUPAC name for malic acid is hydroxybutanedioic acid and has a melting point of 1300 C and a boiling point of 3220 C. Its molar mass is 134.09 g mol−1.This acid can be found in various types of food and it acts as a natural preservative. It is sometimes used as a flavour additive because the acid is quite tangy in taste. HYPOTHESIS The quantity of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in home-made apple juice is higher than the amount in a commercial store bought apple juice, making them healthier. Home-made apple juice has a higher pH than commercial apple juice due to ascorbic acid occurring naturally The amount of sugar in commercial apple juice is higher than that of home-made apple juice , which makes it less beneficial for health The quantity of fruit acids in commercial apple juice is higher than that of the home-made apple juice, making it less beneficial. METHODS Preparation of apple juice Materials: 1 x 1kg apple(fresh produce) 1 x 1 x 3 x 250mL Erlenmeyer flask 1 x 5mL Dropper 1 x 25mL pipette 1 x 50mL burette 1 x Burette Stand 4 x 250mL beaker Determination of Vitamin C by Iodine Titration (Malic Acid) Aim: This experiment aims to determine how much vitamin C , both the apple juice have. Hypothesis: The quantity of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in home-made apple juice is higher than the amount in a commercial store bought apple juice, making them healthier. Materials: 1 x Distilled water 1 x 500ml graduated cylinder 1 x 250mL Volumetric flask 3 x 250mL Erlenmeyer flask 1 x 5mL Dropper 1 x 25mL pipette 1 x 50mL burette 1 x Burette Stand 4 x 250mL beaker 1 x 600mL beaker 1 x Electronic scale 1% Starch indicator Potassium Iodide Potassium Iodate Ascorbic Acid 3M Sulphuric Acid 3 x Apple juice samples 1 x Funnel Method: Iodine Solution (NOTE: Prepared by the lab technicians prior to the experiment) 5g potassium iodide and 0.2680g potassium iodate was dissolved in 200.0mL of distilled water. 30.0mL of 3M Sulphuric acid was added. This solution was poured into a 500.0mL graduated cylinder and diluted to a volume of 500mL with distilled water. The solution was mixed. The solution was transferred to a 250.0mL beaker to allow ease of pipetting. Vitamin C Standard: 0.250g of ascorbic acid was weighed and added to 100.0mL distilled water (in a 250mL volumetric flask). The solution was diluted to the 250.0mL mark with distilled water. The standard was labelled. Titration: 5.0mL of the standard was added to a 250.0mL Erlenmeyer flask using a pipette. 2 drops of the 1% starch indicator solution was added. It was swirled to ensure it mixed properly. The above steps were repeated three times with all standard and juice samples (the pipette was rinsed between uses with distilled water). The burette was rinsed with some Iodine solution and then filled (using a funnel) to the zero mark. The solution was carefully titrated until the blue/ purple endpoint was reached and persisted after 20 seconds of swirling. The final volume was recorded. This was repeated for all aliquots. Determination of Fruit Acids by Titration (Sugar Acid ratio) Aim: This experiments tried to determine which apple juice contained more malic acid. Hypothesis: The quantity of fruit acids in commercial apple juice is higher than that of the home-made apple juice, making it less beneficial. Materials: 1 x 50mL Burette 1 x Burette stand 1 x 25mL Pipette 1 x Distilled water Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) O.1M Phenolphthalein 1% in 95% ethanol 3 x 250mL Erlenmeyer flask 2 x Apple juices Method: NOTE: While doing this experiment the home-made apple juice sample was too concentrated and thus after taking advice from the laboratory technician, we diluted distilled water in the apple juice, to make it less concentrated and easy to see the titration and thus the values were changed.25 ml of home-made apple juice sample was diluted to 250ml diluted water (1:10) 3 drops of Phenolphthalein were added to the samples in the Erlenmeyer flasks. This was repeated three times for both apple juices. 0.1M solution of NaOH was poured into the burette until it reached the zero mark. The sample was slowly titrated with the NaOH until the endpoint was reached (light pink that lasted after 30 seconds of swirling). The amount of NaOH used to titrate was recorded. This was repeated for all samples. Testing for Simple Sugars Aim: This experiment tried to determine how much sugars each sample contains and which juice has more samples Hypothesis: The amount of sugar in commercial apple juice is higher than that of home-made apple juice, which makes it less beneficial for health Materials: Benedict’s reagent 1 x Scale illustration colours and associated sugar concentrations 1 x 500mL Beaker 6 x Glass Test tubes 1 x Test tube holder 1 x Graduated cylinder 10mL or 100mL 2 x Apple juices 1 x Kettle 1 x Distilled water 1 x 25mL pipette Method: 4.0mL of apple juice was added to a test tube using a pipette. 1.0mL of Benedict’s reagent was added to the juice. It was swirled to ensure it mixed well. This was repeated three times for both types of apple juice (the pipette was rinsed between each use with distilled water). Each sample was labelled to ensure there was no confusion over which sample reacted. The kettle was filled with water and boiled. The boiling water was then poured into the 500mL beaker. All the samples were held in the beaker for a few minutes (about 3 minutes) until the colour change was totally completed. The colour change was noted and compared to the Scale illustration. The results were recorded. Repeat for all samples. pH using Litmus Paper Aim: This experiment tried to determine the changes of pH between store-bought and homemade apple juice. Hypothesis: Home-made apple juice has a higher pH than commercial apple juice due to ascorbic acid occurring naturally Materials: litmus paper 1 x Glass Stirring rod 2 x 100mL beakers 2 x Apple juices 1 x Tweezers Method: The samples of Apple Juice were added to separate 100.0mL beakers. A piece of Litmus paper was removed from the vial. The samples were stirred using a glass stirring rod. Some solution was obtained on the end of the stirring rod. The litmus paper was held using the tweezers on one end and a drop of sample was placed on it using the stirring rod. The colour change was noted according to the scale provided on the litmus paper vial. This was repeated three times for the homemade and store-bought samples. The results were recorded. Refractometer: Aim: Aim of this experiment was to determine the brix value for the samples of apple juice. Materials: 1 x Refractometer (sugar, Brix value) 1 x Distilled water 1 x Dropper Paper towel 2 x Apple juices Method: The Refractometer was calibrated to zero by dropping a few drops of distilled water on the glass section (this was only done once as recalibration is only needed every half hour). Three to four drops of apple juice were dropped on the glass section. The reading was then recorded. The Refractometer was cleaned using distilled water and paper towels between uses. These steps were repeated for three samples per apple juice. REFINEMENTS Determination of Vitamin C by Iodine Titration (Malic Acid) Materials: 1 x Distilled water 1 x 500ml graduated cylinder 1 x 250mL Volumetric flask 3 x 250mL Erlenmeyer flask 1 x 5mL Dropper 1 x 25mL pipette 1 x 50mL burette 1 x Burette Stand 4 x 250mL beaker 1 x 600mL beaker 1 x Electronic scale 1% Starch indicator Potassium Iodide Potassium Iodate Ascorbic Acid 3M Sulphuric Acid 3 x Apple juice samples 1 x Funnel 1 x sheet of white paper 1 x kettle 1 x 500mL beaker 1 x electronic thermometer Method: Iodine Solution (NOTE: Prepared by the lab technicians prior to the experiment) 5g potassium iodide and 0.2680g potassium iodate was dissolved in 200.0mL of distilled water. 30.0mL of 3M Sulphuric acid was added. This solution was poured into a 500.0mL graduated cylinder and diluted to a volume of 500mL with distilled water. The solution was mixed. The solution was transferred to a 250.0mL beaker to allow ease of pipetting. Vitamin C Standard: 0.250g of ascorbic acid was weighed and added to 100.0mL distilled water (in a 250mL volumetric flask). The solution was diluted to the 250.0mL mark with distilled water. The standard was labelled. Titration: 5.0mL of the standard was added to a 250.0mL Erlenmeyer flask using a pipette. 2 drops of the 1% starch indicator solution was added. It was swirled to ensure it mixed properly. The above steps were repeated three times with all standard and juice samples (the pipette was rinsed between uses with distilled water). The kettle was boiled and the water was poured into the 500mL beaker. The samples were placed into the boiling water bath until a temperature of 20ËÅ ¡C was reached. The burette was rinsed with some Iodine solution and then filled (using a funnel) to the zero mark. The sheet of white paper was placed under the burette tap. The solution was carefully titrated until the blue/ purple endpoint was reached and persisted after 20 seconds of swirling. The final volume was recorded. This was repeated for all aliquots. Determination of Fruit Acids by Titration (Sugar Acid ratio) Materials: 1 x 50mL Burette 1 x Burette stand 1 x 25mL Pipette 1 x Distilled water Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) 1M Phenolphthalein 1% in 95% ethanol 3 x 250mL Erlenmeyer flask 2 x Apple juices 1 x white paper 1 x Kettle 1 x 500mL beaker 1 x electronic thermometer Method: 3 drops of Phenolphthalein were added to the samples in the Erlenmeyer flasks. This was repeated three times for both apple juices. 0.1M solution of NaOH was poured into the burette until it reached the zero mark. The kettle was boiled and the water was poured into the 500mL beaker. The sample was placed into the boiling water bath until a temperature of 20ËÅ ¡C was reached. The sheet of white paper was placed under the burette tap. The sample was slowly titrated with the NaOH until the endpoint was reached (light pink that lasted after 30 seconds of swirling). The amount of NaOH used to titrate was recorded. This was repeated for all samples.

Essay --

Executive Summary Air Asia, is the market leader of low cost carriers in Asia, indicate on the excellent record of bringing for innovative concept into the business. Air Asia is a low cost carrier that keeps position in the world’s records. Strategic management has played a rouge role in successfully of many business institutions in the world of many airlines including Air Asia. There are many parts in this report such as company background, SWOT analysis, target market, monitoring and evaluation, marketing mix, and budget. So as to make more profit for Air Asia, a marketing strategy has been planned to have a better growth throughout this marketing action plan in the near future. Lists of Table and Content Figures/ Tables Pages Figure 1: Competitive of Air Asia†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..5 Figure 2: The Strategy Clock of Air Asia†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦......10 Figure 3: Product Life Cycle of Air Asia†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...12 Table 1: Product and Services of Air Asia†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.6 Table 2: Competitors of Airasia.................................................................................................7 Table 3: Strength and Weaknesses of Competitors†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦........8 Table 4: SWOT Analysis of Air Asia†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.........9 Table 5: Marketing Action Plan of Airasia...............................................................................14 Table 6: Budget of â€Å"You fly I fly† of Air Asia†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..15 Table of Contents Page Executive Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦1 List of Figures and Tables†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.........2 Table of Contents†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... ... low-income and medium-income group because of them do not have so much money to buy an expensive ticket to travel, so that Air Asia promote this plan to let more people can have a chance and go travel with this promotion plan. There are some alternative plans for the marketing action plan such as game plan. Air Asia provides constituency good serving to places they want or need to go to as well as at an equitable and forecast price. As well as the price is obviously a significant element driving the marketplace, it is definitely not the only one. It will not be our aim though we may occasionally lowest price on the market competitors. Nor will we look for to be the highest priced, either a reasonable fare basis, perspicuity, and equitable linked with good service and greater expediency than furnished elsewhere, be going to be our guiding principles (Svala, 2013).

Cross Cultural Differences- China and Usa

| THE 101: Cross Cultural Issues in Tourism & Hospitality | Assessment No. 2| | Ariana Janjua| 201111790| Culture, as defined by Geert Hofstede, is the â€Å"the collective programming of the mind distinguishing the members of one group or category of people from another†. (Hofstede, 2011) It is due to the research carried out by scholars such as Hofstede and Fons Trompenaars that we are able to understand cultural values, and the difference in cultures more thoroughly. This information gives us the ability to understand, and interact people for other cultures that may be drastically different from our own. Such research also gives a basis by which social and business dealings can be held. (itim International, n. d) Knowledge of other cultures is imperative when dealing with business relations; it has been helpful in the age of globalization where cross-cultural business is at a dramatic rise, and even aids in such things as the training and communications. It is also crucial in the face of tourism and social life, as it gives us the understanding of how people from other cultures function as a result of their particular set of cultural values. The aim of this essay is to provide a deeper understanding between the cultural differences between two very different cultures: those of China and the USA. The essay is divided into two parts: the first will explore the different cultural dimensions present in a social and business context according to the research by Hofstede and Trompenaars. The second part will give an example of a practical application of this information in the hospitality industry, and will provide recommendations upon which American hotels can better accommodate Chinese guests. As mentioned above, Hofstede was a Dutch scholar who performed intensive research in order to fully understand his five cultural dimensions, of which this essay looks more deeply into three: Power Distance, Individuality and Long Term Orientation. From his results, we can compare the differences in these dimensions between China and the USA. (itim International, n. d) As can be seen, there is a remarkable difference in all the indexes, especially in PDI (China 80, USA 40), IDV (China 20, USA 91) and LTO (118, USA 29) (China, 2011). These figures give us a starting point to understand these differences more thoroughly. Power Distance is the extent to which people respond to inequalities in different organizations and institutions. (Hofstede, 2011) The PDI of China is considerably high, meaning there is â€Å" high level of inequality of power and wealth within the society† (Patent, 2009). In social terms, this means that authority figures such as the father of a family are given utmost respect to. Furthermore, in all situations, one must address a person by their title is order to give them the respect of their status. This is also reflected in a business atmosphere, where hierarchies are clearly defined. Those on top of the hierarchy are respected, and unquestionably obeyed by those lower in the hierarchy, who are given clear instructions of what is to be expected of them. (Patent, 2009) There is a limited level of communications between these different levels. This is a fact that is prevalent and accepted all throughout Chinese society. On the other hand, the PDI of the United States is very low, and almost leans toward egalitarianism. This is indicative of a greater equality between societal levels, including government, organizations, and even within families. â€Å" (Hofstede, 2011) Socially, Americans are more comfortable around one another, regardless of their ranking. This is reflected in social life, where this is much lower emphasis on titles and qualifications. It is apparent in day-to-day dealings in which Americans greet each other by shaking hands and often call each other by first n ames, regardless of the person’s title. In a business context, leaders may be respected, but more so for their abilities and success rather than their positioning in the hierarchy. (Patent, 2009) They often take on the role of mentors with whom employees are unintimidated and motivated to work with. â€Å"Individualism on the one side versus its opposite, collectivism is the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups. â€Å" (Hofstede, 2011) China is a highly collectivist culture, where all individuals are part of the unit, with the most fundamental unit being that of family. The prosperity of these units is ultimately more important than that of individual persons. Collectivism is apparent in all parts of life, from the attention given to group behavior more than individual behavior, to small everyday activities such as crowding on to a bus with numerous other passengers, such as seen in bustling Chinese cities such as Shanghai. (Gallo, 2009) These beliefs stem from the Confucian values of â€Å" harmony, strong interpersonal relationships and group loyalties. † (Fitzgerald, 2002) Loyalty to relationships is emphasized, even in a business context. For this reason, employees are dedicated to the company they work with, and in turn they are treated with the same loyalty, transforming the business environment into a somewhat family environment. (Gallo, 2009) Also in business, every employee regards himself as part of team, and all his efforts are solely to work towards the success of that team. Collectivism in Chinese culture can be summed up in one term ‘ guan xi’, which can be loosely translated to mean â€Å"to concern, to relate, to make connections, to make relationships’. Fitzgerald, 2002) The United States, on the other hand, is a highly individualistic society. Every individual is looking for ‘the American dream’, a better state than they presently are in (Cultural, n. d. ). Individuals believe in working hard and performing well for one’s own benefits, and relationships and group culture is one of less importance than the concept of â€Å"I† (Kwintessential, 2011). This is prevalent from childhood, when children are taught the worth of being independent and self-reliant. Fitzgerald, 2002) This is a common element of American society: it is accepted and rewarded. The same goes for the attitudes seen in a business environment. There is a lesser concept of teams, and a higher concept of individuals working hard for their own success rather than for that of a larger unit’s. Likewise, individual high performers in a company are rewarded for their efforts. (Gallo, 2009) â€Å"Long- term oriented societies foster pragmatic virtues oriented towards future rewards, in particular saving, persistence, and adapting to changing circumstances. (Hofstede, 2011) According to Hofstede’s analysis, China is a country that is very long term oriented, with a high factor of 118. This is one of the most commonly seen values in Chinese society, and is founded upon the teaching of Confucian, which are engrained in the Chinese culture. They are seen in everyday behavior: the Chinese are always looking to a better future and working towards this through the saving of money, perseverance, and the ability to adapt to changes surrounding them. (itim International, n. d) For example, Chinese sellers are infamous for their bargaining abilities. Another value of this long-term orientation society is to have a sense of shame, which is why Chinese people always remain highly composed and respectful no matter the situation. (nwlink, 1997) This composure is further complimented by their hard work and determination in business-matters. They believe that the future matters more than the present or past, and therefore put all their potential into working for better things to come. â€Å"Short-term oriented societies foster virtues related to the past and present such as national pride, respect for tradition, preservation of â€Å"face†,  and fulfilling social obligations. (Hofstede, 2011) The USA comes in with a relatively low LTO factor at only 29. Short term oriented societies are concerned with the Truth of matters, which Americans view as science, religion and management. Following the same values, they believe that the truth may be manipulated in order to obtain the desired results. (nwlink, 1997) As Americans are ex tremely concerned about personal solidity, these values about truth tie in well with both their social and business lives. In social lives, Americans are very protective of themselves and their ‘face’ or reputation as they are in business life. Having looked at Hofstede’s differences in the cultural dimensions between China and America, we can now take a look at these differences from a different perspective. Trompenaars, who was also Dutch, was a professional in cross-cultural communication and drew up a model of culture with seven dimensions. This essay will pay particular focus to the dimension of universalism and particularism in USA and China. Particularist societies such as that in China are those societies in which people believe that a clear and right decision can be made on the grounds of the relationships and the situation it in based on. It may be said, â€Å"Particularism is based on logic of the heart and human friendship. † (Cultures, 2011) For this reason, Chinese people believe in the value of all relationships and they make the required effort to base these relationships on a strong foundation for a long lasting outcome. The Chinese are known for being good hosts, and often participate in small gestures, such as giving gifts. In businesses as well, the Chinese try to build a relationship with the person they are doing dealings with. They like to take their time in business dealings and negotiations, rely on a mutual trust and respect to get the process finished, and believe in the simplicity of such dealings. (Cultures, 2011) In Universalist societies â€Å"There is a belief that what is good or true can be discovered, defined, and applied to every situation† (cyborlink, 2011) . These societies, such as that of the USA take a universal point of view and believe that all matters are relative. Socially, they are okay with having weak relationships with friends or family members. But this universalism can really be see in a business aspect, as Americans are very concerned with terms and conditions and contracts; basically, the little details entailed in a business dealing. They are usually even lawyers involved in seeing to a smooth running of the matter, and this is reflected in the fact that there are more lawyers per person in the USA than anywhere else in the world. (Cultures, 2011) After looking at these four cultural dimensions and the differences they show between China and America, a great deal of understanding may be acquired in why these countries work in the way they do. The next part of this essay will apply this understand in a Tourism and Hospitality context: it will provide recommendations for the Industry in America on how it could welcome and deal with Chinese guests. As well have already seen, the Chinese are loyal, hardworking people who give great importance to status, relationships, and the future. In order to give them a satisfying and pleasurable experience in the USA, American hotel and tourism managers must reciprocate these values. Because China is not, per se, a religiously founded country, there are not many strict dietary restrictions or other practices that the Chinese people follow. This makes it easier for the American hosts to welcome their guests, as the only alterations they really need to make is that in their behavior and attitude in order to fit with the personal value system of the Chinese. During their stay at a hotel, Chinese guests must be treated in the same way that they would treat guests in their country. They should be welcomed graciously, and perhaps given a small gift as a token of appreciation for their arrival and as a gesture that implies the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Too much eye contact should be avoided as the Chinese may misconstrue this as being rude. What’s more, Chinese guests should always be addressed by their title, and although friendliness is appreciated, an overly boisterous or excited manner may be considered as not being genuine. To make their stay more comfortable, Chinese guests should be given their privacy in room that have all the amenities required, but they should have the knowledge that they are always being accommodated and that if they need anything, it would be at their doorstep in a moment’s time. For families, there should be a range of activities so that the guests know that their hosts, too, understand the importance of family and relationships. On departure, the guests should be given personal attention by hotel staff members and should be asked about their trip and their stay in the hotel. They should be aware that they will be welcomed back at any point of time with the same hospitality and that in staying with the American hotel, not only has a business dealing been made but a long lasting relationship has been established. It is important that the guests feel like their stay has been a worthwhile investment of their money and time. For the tourism industry to be more adaptable to Chinese guests, there are numerous things they could do. As with the hotel industry, they must approach the guests in a respectful manner and be able to make them feel comfortable, content and confident in the investment of their money and time. Due to the collectivist nature of the Chinese people and because their Confucian values urge them to seek constant knowledge and education, informational group activities would be perfect for Chinese guests. For example, if in New York, a group tour that takes the tourists to all the important landmarks and locations, such as the Statue of Liberty, whilst providing an interesting and educational background will be very pleasing for the guests. As will events that provide an opportunity for Chinese tourists to meet with others, communicate and enjoy what may be the start of a great relationship. Such events may be organized dinners, cruise trips, exhibitions and so on. There should also be a large range of family activities, such as trips to theme parks. As long as the Chinese are given an entertaining and informational environment to enjoy their trip, they should be very satisfied and looking forward to come back for more. In conclusion, the work and findings of Geert Hofstede and Fons Trompenaars has given us a thoroughly insightful look into the vastly different cultures of China and America: in both a social context and in a business context. It is incredible and inspiring to see how much this information can help individuals and professionals to act and interact with people from other societies, and how it can be applied in a range of different areas, such as in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry. Truly, such information provides us with an â€Å"edge of understanding† (itim International, n. ) by which only more and more successful cross-cultural interactions can be expected in the future. REFERENCES: Bing, J. W. (2004, February). Hofstede's consequences: The impact of his work on consulting and business practices. Retrieved May 28, 2011, from ITAP International: http://www. itapintl. com/facultyandresources/articlelibrarymain/hofstedes-consequences-the-impact-of-his-work-on-consulting-an d-business-practices. html Chan, S. (1999). The Chinese Learner-a question of style. Education and Training , 41 (6/7). China, C. D. (2011). Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions: China vs. World Average . Retrieved May 28, 2011, from Cultural Dimensions in China: http://www. geert-hofstede. com Cultural, C. (n. d. ). Individualism. Retrieved May 26, 2011, from Clearly cultural: http://www. clearlycultural. com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions/individualism/ Cultures, I. B. (2011). Universalism versus particularism. Retrieved MAY 28, 2011, from International Business Cultures: http://www. via-web. de/universalism-versus-particularism/ cyborlink. (2011). United States of America. Retrieved May 27, 2011, from Hofstede Analysis United States of America: http://www. cyborlink. com/besite/us. htm Fitzgerald, H. (2002). Cross Cultural Communication for the Tourism and Hospitality Industry. Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia: David Cunningham. Gallo, F. (2009, June 23). Individualism Vs. Collectivism in China. Retrieved May 28, 2011, from Calypso Consulting: http://chinacalypso. com/content/individualism-versus-collectivism-china Hofstede, G. (2011, n. d n. d). Culture. Retrieved May 29, 2011, from Geert Hofstede: http://www. geerthofstede. l/culture. aspx International, I. (n. d. ). Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions. Retrieved 5 28, 2011, from Itim International: http://www. geert-hofstede. com/ Kwintessential. (2011). Individualism. Retrieved May 26, 2011, from Kwintessential: http://www. kwintessential. co. uk/intercultural/individualism. html Li, F. M. (2008). Culture as a Major Determinant in Tourism Development of China. Current Issues in Tourism , 11 (6), 492-5 13. Mathilde, C. (2008, February 1). CHINA REPORT: Cultural dimensions of China. Retrieved May 28, 2011, from

Aberdeen Maritime Museum Essay Example

Aberdeen Maritime Museum Essay Example Aberdeen Maritime Museum Essay Aberdeen Maritime Museum Essay The purpose of this report is to provide a critical analysis of the existing communications strategy at Aberdeen Maritime Museum, and recommend future promotional activity. This will be done through an investigation of the museums target market, the current communications strategy used, a possible future communication strategy and ways to evaluate it. Conclusions will then be drawn. The Information needed for this report was gathered from textbooks, journals, the Internet and an interview with John Edwards, Aberdeen Maritime Museums Keeper of Science and Maritime History which took place on Monday 4th November. Museum Background Aberdeen Maritime Museum has been part of the citys heritage for numerous years. Prior to 1984 it was situated in a basement room of Cowdray Hall before it moved to Provost Ross House. 1998 saw the opening of a  £4million extension to the museum in its own purposely built building, (a converted church and empty plot next to Provost Ross House) making the museum five times its previous size. Today the museum is a very popular attraction within the city with 81,460 visitors last year (Evening Express, 14 March 2002). The museum has been ranked 24th out of 360 museums in Scotland. (www.scottishmuseums.org.uk). The museum has also won a five star award from Scottish Tourist Board. This is awarded to establishments who are exceptional. Target Market Segmentation is The division of the market into customer subsets, one or more of which becomes the target market, each with a distinct marketing mix (Turnbull, 2002). Therefore, target marketing is the process whereby specific segments are selected and marketing plans are developed to satisfy the needs of the potential buyers in the chosen segment (Fill, 2002) The museum targets local people as it contains local history. (90% of the objects inside the museum have been donated by local people (Edwards, 2002)) Segmenting people by this method is called geographic segmentation as the target market is in a specific area. School children and 16-24 year olds are the museums main audiences. The main reason for this is due to the large number of educational visits. Segmenting by age is known as demographics. Demographics can be defined as dividing the market into groups based upon demographic variables such as age, gender, occupation, education, religion, race and nationality. (Kother and Armstrong, 2001) Therefore the museums main target market (school children and 16-24 year olds in the Aberdeen area) is segmented by geo-demographics (a combination of geographic and demographic segmentation) Business tourism is also a fast growing market, with an increase in conference and exhibitions. The Maritime Museum offers conference facilities that are growing in popularity. This could be because its classed as an unusual venue. Previous users of the conference facilities have included Grampian Police and major oil and computer companies. This market could be segmented on the basis of demographics the museum is targeting professionals looking for a venue to hold their conference. The museum also has customers who visit the museum to use the shop and the cafe facilities. This group of visitors would be segmented and targeted based on their behaviour traits. Overseas visitors to the city are not specifically targeted. Most visitors knowledgeable about the museum find out information via the Visit Scotland. The Maritime Museums target market of local people could be broken down into more specific segments such as schoolchildren, 16 24 year olds and professionals looking for conference facilities. Other segments such as retired people and families could also be considered. Current Communication Strategy Marketing communication is a management process through which an organisation enters into a dialogue with its various audiences (Fill, 2002). The main communication methods used to achieve communication are advertising, direct marketing, sales promotion, exhibitions, packaging/design, personal selling, sponsorship, merchandising/point of sale, corporate identity, public relations and word of mouth. Advertising Advertising can be defined as any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods or services. (Kotler and Armstrong, 2001) With an advertising budget of  £10,000 per year, the museum can not afford any large-scale advertising activity. Currently the museum advertises locally through a leaflet produced by Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums called the Diary. The leaflet highlights exhibitions and whats going on in the Art Gallery, Provost Skene House and the Maritime Museum. (Appendix 1.) The Diary could be described as an arts marketing consortia a regular forum for joint marketing (Freeman 1997) The benefits of this include reduced advertising costs, and reaching people who are unaware of the museum. The museum produces its own leaflet, but it is unavailable outside the museum. This is because it is primarily used for orientation around the museum. The museum also invests in advertising in a leaflet called North-East Scotlands Coastal Trail. (Appendix 2) There are over 200,000 leaflets produced, so it reaches a large number of people at a relatively low cost. (Edwards 2002) The small marketing budget means that the museum can not afford to have regular adverts in the local press. However, they are considering advertising in either the Press and Journal or the Evening Express each week in the same space to that people will become aware of the advert, then visit the museum. The only form of outdoor advertising that the museum partakes in is a banner outside the museum. Another form of advertising is through the Maritime Museums web page (www.aagm.co.uk), this is known as interactive advertising. Significant investment into Visit Scotland (www.visitscotland.com) is also made. In doing this the museum a reach a world-wide audience. Direct Marketing Kotler and Armstrong (2001) define direct marketing as a direct communication with carefully targeted individual consumers to obtain an immediate response and cultivate lasting customer relationships. The Friends of Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums could be described as direct marketing. As well as providing funds to the AAGM, members receive invitations to functions and exhibition openings, mailings of information, and discount on selected items from the shops. (Appendix 3) Sales Promotion Sales promotion seeks to offer buyers additional value as an inducement to generate an immediate sale. (Fill, 2002) As the Maritime Museum offers a free service, sales promotion is not used. However, in 1998 until 2000, the museum introduced entry charges. Consequently, the number of visitors dropped by 75% (Edwards, 2002), so were therefore abolished. Sales promotion could have been used during this period, for example a family of four could have paid entry fees for two adults and the children got in free. Packaging/Design Packaging and design is concerned with the designing and producing the container or wrapper for a product. (Kotler and Armstrong, 2001) This communication method does not play apart in the museums strategy as they offer a service. Personal Selling Personal selling is a form of marketing communication that involves a face-to-face dialogue between two persons or by one person and a group. (Fill, 2002). Again this method does not play a part in the museums communication strategy. Sponsorship Fill (2002) defines sponsorship as a commercial activity whereby one party permits another an opportunity to exploit an association with a target audience in return for funds, services or resources. The museum does not sponsor anything it does however hold Techfest and activity weekends during the summer holidays for children (their target audience). Benefits of doing this include increased visitor numbers and increased awareness of the museum.. Merchandising/Point of Sale Merchandising is done at the museums shop, which sells goods such as pens, pencils and stickers that all contain the museums name Corporate Identity Corporate identity is simply the awareness, perception and attitudes held by an organisations various stakeholders (Fill, 2002) The museum finds out about its image by survey sheets which they have had for the last four years, and also by notes left in the visitor books which are placed throughout the museum. The museum is also conscious that the average shopper is not aware of the museum, but to find out exact figures, they would need to carry out expensive market research done by experts. Public Relations / Publicity In the March 1997 edition of the Museum Journal, Sarah Freeman stated during this time of cutbacks, aggressive political manoeuvres and market saturation, museums have started looking for allies to help them reach out to the public and convince audiences that are vital and worthwhile. The best way for museums to do this is through public relations. Public relations (PR) is about building up good relations with the companys various publics by obtaining favourable publicity (Kotler and Armstrong, 2001) Whenever a new exhibition is introduced into the Maritime Museum, a press release is sent to the local newspapers, which will then possibly run an editorial on it. This benefits the museum as it costs nothing but will also increase visitor numbers, raise support, influence people, establish a professional reputation and target audiences that are hard to reach (Freeman 1997) PR also has its downfalls. Main stories may only make it to newspapers and TV (local, regional or national) if there has been a disaster, a visit from a famous person, or a wacky or topical story. If there is important news on the same day as the museums editorial, the museum story is likely to be dropped, so it is very vulnerable. (Freeman 1997)

Battle Tactics essays

Battle Tactics essays Much of what we now understand about war and tactics has been gleaned from centuries of history birthed in the Greco-Roman experience. Not only did Greek and Roman culture lead directly into later European theory by inspiring the tactical writers and thinkers of the Rennaissance and its history become a textbook case for latter strategical study, it also had a directly hands-on influence on the Western approach to war. It is hard to find a nation in Europe or Eurasia whose natives did not both train under the direct military guidance of Rome and gain further combat experience in turn fighting against Roman troops. The so-called barbarians of the Roman era, after all, were destined to become the predominate races of medieval and modern Europe, and the ideals of Imperial Rome inextricably bound up with the morality of the dominant European religious structure. (King, 2004; Sazerac, 2002) So it should not be surprising that there is much to be learned from Greco-Roman tactical history, and much that may be applied to the modern world. In particular, parallels may be drawn between the constant warfare between the urban Greco-Roman world and the nomadic barbarian cultures that surrounded it, and the modern counter-insurgency and anti-terrorist "small wars" that engage the attention of the American super-power it seems entirely plausible that if one understood what aspect of the barbarian strategy dissassembled the powerful Greco-Roman civilization, one would be prepared to offer powerful advice regarding the tactics of modern American military movements. To truly understand the difference between the barbarian and the Roman strategies, one must first understand that their tactics were rooted in different primary requirements for success. At the risk of making a sweeping generalization, it seems that Rome (like Greece or Egypt before it) was defined by its urban centers an...

Nursing research paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nursing research paper - Assignment Example of this research was to determine the effect of educating diabetic school children and their parents on the various coping skills for the diabetic patients. This was due to the consideration of the fact that, more than any other group, the diabetic children, more so those in adolescents had shown poor response to diabetic medication which according to researchers was as a result of lack of coping skills (Grey 2009). As such the question guiding this research was, â€Å"does the coping skills training (CST) influence the individuals responses to type 1 diabetes (T1D)?† In this research quantative methodology was used, whereby, the researchers established two groups of school children who were diagnosed with T1D. One of the groups was trained on the coping skills while the other was just given the general diabetic education (GE). However, there were certain requirements for the participants whereby they were required to: The researchers anticipated to use one hundred diabetic children as their most effective sample. However, they only managed to use 73 participants whereby, 53 children in the CST group and 20 in the GE group. In the determination of the results of the two groups, CST and GE, a correlation was established by the use of the standard deviation method, whereby 0.5 significance level, would have 98% power to detect a variance among the 2 group means of 04. 99% power to detect a variance among the 3 time means of .051, and 80% power to detect an interaction among the 2 group levels and the 3 time levels of .022, assuming that the common standard deviation is .04. However, this methodology was used on the assumption that the participants were a hundred as earlier intended. Additionally, descriptive statistics was used, whereby it was found that the majority of those who showed significance response to CST were predominately white and of high income (ibid). CST did not have the expected effect on child and family outcomes on the sample of school-aged

Solve the questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Solve the questions - Essay Example The fact that smaller creatures are able to simulate and identify potential effects of pesticide exposure on humans is most intriguing. Animal testing is an integral part of the product and drug trails before their commercialization. The benefits of testing animals are the fact that it acts as a prototype through which the effects of the drug or product on human life can be simulated. The value of human life cannot be compared with that of animals, for this reason these product or drug trials cannot be tested on humans directly. The research helps increase the yield and betters result. On the negative aspect, the testing exacerbates the animal to early exposure and diseases. Others argue that testing effects on animals do not accurately simulate human’s response to the same drugs. This creates the problem associated with misleading results. Animal testing is essential in order to simulate and understand effects of toxicity in humans. This is proven by vaginal cancer and uterine deformities in offspring’s of rats that were exposed to DES. Offspring’s of humans that had been exposed to DES also developed similar symptoms as those seen in rats. The DES exposure case similarity in rats and humans clearly pointed out that animal testing does give accurate results that can be related to humans. Dr. Tyrone Hayes talks about using rats to simulate effects of toxicity in humans. Dr Hayes argued that effects of toxicity in rats reflect possible effects of exposure in humans. He presented the case of DES exposures in both rats and humans. DES exposure caused vaginal cancer and uterine deformities in offspring’s of those rats that had been exposed. Similarly, DES exposure in humans has caused similar symptoms to develop in offspring’s. Similarly, Atrazine exposure in humans can cause the same effects that it causes in rats. If you were a farmer that dependent on high yield of crops for a living do you think that you would use