Thursday, December 26, 2019

Essay about Growing as a Reader - 1145 Words

Throughout this year, I have read many different works of early English literature. From reading these works and following the rules of Vladimir Nabokov, I have grown tremendously as a reader since the beginning of this year. From reading Alice in Wonderland to now, I have grown to appreciate literature much more. I have developed a better sense of the English language through the use of a dictionary and the difficult sentence structure of works such as the Canterbury Tales, Beowulf, Le Morte D’Arthur, and the Fairie Queene. Because of the difficult sentence structures, the different word usages, and the deeper meanings wrapped in each of these works, I have learned to reread to better my understanding of the text and to see if I†¦show more content†¦With Alice in Wonderland, I had no intentions of using a dictionary for words that I did not understand, and as a consequence, I had no idea what a portmanteau was. This hindered my understanding of the entire chapte r with Humpty Dumpty and also the portmanteaus throughout the book. Learning from my mistakes as I started Beowulf, I began to use a dictionary as I read, but I only looked up words that I had never seen before. Because I did not look up words that looked out of place to me due their meaning now, I misinterpreted many parts of Beowulf. As I began the Canterbury Tales, I started to write words that I did not understand or that looked out of place in my journal with a question mark by them. After I was finished reading, I would go back and look up the words I wrote down. Then, I would reread the passage to get a better comprehension of it. I continued to do this throughout the year on most of the other works I read. I used the difficult sentence structure of the literary works I read this semester to give me a greater understanding of the English language. Before this year, I had read little to nothing with any form of Old English sentence structure, and when I came to Beowulf, I found it difficult to read. I had to read a passage three or four times before I finally understood what was happening. In my journal, I would write why could we not have a better translation. Now I know why. As I becameShow MoreRelatedBuilding a Foundation and Growing As Readers Essay746 Words   |  3 Pagesprior background knowledge about phonics, and word usage. The whole idea is to build both top-down model strategies, and bottom-up skills and word identification at the same time. The foundation has to be set before students can build and grow as readers. They must be immersed in reading and surrounded by it as well. As a teacher I plan on using phonemic awareness, and word identification skills while also practicing reading, and writing comprehension. Students are constantly building scaffold’sRead MoreComing of Age in Catcher in the Rye1139 Words   |  5 Pagesrealizes that growing up cannot be stopped. He wanders around the New York City by himself and gains experience of life that teaches him to become mature. This book is clearly written to show the theme of coming of age because it shows many symbols of coming of age, it shows the changes of young adults in modern life, and it creates an image of Holden growing up. There are many symbols that represent coming of age in this book. The author hides the innuendos of growing up in the natureRead MoreAnalysis Of The Horizontal World By Debra Marquart772 Words   |  4 Pageslike North Dakota. Throughout the passage it explains how growing up in North Dakota or the square states is boring and plain. Along with talking about how plain these states are, the author brings up many points on why these states are important. Points such as how these states are the states that hold strong women and good looking men (Marquart 26). Throughout this passage the author uses visual imagery and expert testimonial to show the reader how the square states are viewed. Visual imagery canRead MoreAnalysis Of Jane Hirshfield s Poem Tree 997 Words   |  4 Pagesredwood† (line 2) growing near a house, near a kitchen window. The redwood is already scraping against the window frame of the house, reminding the reader of the â€Å"foolish† (line 1) idea of letting it grow there. Humans were created to be one with nature, but as they evolved as a species, they were obligated to choose between the materialistic world or the world of nature. Hirshfield writes this poem in second person to give life to the poem so that the poem speaks to the reader. The poem starts byRead MoreEssay about Boys: Short Story Analysis998 Words   |  4 Pagesabout—relationships, travel, growing up, bedrooms, hotels, restaurants, the synagogue on 42nd Street—and they trust that they will discover things about the topic as they work.† (Sellers 71) Rick Moody author of â€Å"Boys† has taken a relatable topic the process of growing up and has turned a thirty year frame into a condensed linear chronological format. Moody offers the reader a different view point, introduces repetition and the stressing of words creating a certain movement influencing the readers experience. Read MoreAnalysis Of Majed R. Muhtaseb s Argument1353 Words   |  6 Pagesof Majed R. Muhtaseb’s argument in â€Å"Growing role of hedge funds in the economy† is to inform the reader of the increasing role hedge funds play in the eco nomy. Muhtaseb does not make the argument to persuade the reader to invest in hedge funds, but he attempts to convince them of their importance. Stated in the first sentence of the abstract, Muhtaseb presents the simple thesis for the article: â€Å"The objective of this article is to document the profound and growing role of hedge funds in the economy†Read MoreThe Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock1005 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,† published in 1915, was written by a man named T.S. Eliot. The speaker of the poem begins to describe an evening that appears to be somewhat romantic and a little mysterious. As the reader progresses into the poem, the mood soon fades and the reader starts to figure out that this evening is not what they pictured. â€Å"Acquainted with the Night† is a poem written by Robert Frost. The poem was first published in 1927. The speaker of the poem has a similar mood as Eliot’sRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Ranch Girl 929 Words   |  4 Pagesof a ranch girl is unknown to many people across America. In Maile Meloy’s Ranch Girl, a female narrator brings the reader into her hard life being raised as a ranch girl. Through many different literary devices including, tone, mood, and characterization, the writer set the reader to feel everything the narrator depicts and the reader ingested with a heavier impact than the reader anticipates. The obligation to the community for the ranch girl is to break all stereotypes, thus showing her communityRead MoreEssay On Innocence In To Kill A Mockingbird815 Words   |  4 Pagesteaches many lessons as well as defies stereotypes. Scout gives readers her perspective of things. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the growth and characterization of Scout to reveal to readers how innocence slowly falls away through Scout’s obliviousness about other people, Scout’s protection towards her family, and Scout’s curious ways. Although Scout starts off being insensible towards others, she begins to grow and unmask to readers that innocence slowly disappears from a child. Jem and ScoutRead More`` Hidden Intellectualism `` By Gerald Graff912 Words   |  4 Pagesreligious studies, sparking Graff’s’ interest in the idea of hidden intellectualism. He addresses throughout the paper how the culture of schools is not conducive to feeding intellectual growth; his main focus is that of his childhood, and his experience growing up in a school system that focused on memorization of seemingly unconnected facts and an environment that continuously put down intellectuals. Graf continues to argue that schools focus on suppressing conflict for a peaceful and quite faà §ade, however

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The American Dream Is Existent - 1525 Words

A recent study shows that more than half of Canadians do not believe that the American Dream is existent. Fifty-eight percent agreed that â€Å"the American Dream has become impossible for most people to achieve.† Canadians have reached this verdict for a very simple reason: It’s true. Obtaining a living wage, retirement security, and the opportunity for one s children to receive a post-secondary education are now nearly impossible. And it is only getting worse. As North America grows in population and wealth, more individuals believe that the American Dream can be easily achieved with hard work and diligence. However, as the cost of living increases, the key aspects of the American Dream are becoming progressively unaffordable for society. Today, a majority of individuals are unable to get ahead financially. As researcher Ben Casselman observes, the middle class has not experienced a wage increase in 15 years. Median household income has fallen since 2008 t o $51,000, while income for the wealthy has actually risen. In the New York Times. Thomas Edsall observed that, â€Å"Not only has the wealth of the very rich doubled since 2000, but corporate revenues are at record levels.† Edsall also mentioned that, â€Å"In 2013, according to Goldman Sachs, corporate profits rose five times faster than wages. A reasonable rate of income growth is a fundamental principle of the American Dream. With statistics like these, individuals should not expect to achieve it.Show MoreRelatedThe Non Existent American Dream1374 Words   |  6 PagesThe Non-Existent American Dream Why is America never America? â€Å"America never was America to me† is a line repeatedly written in the poem ‘Let America be America Again’ by an African American poet Langston Hughes. This poem was published in 1936, when being African American was one’s greatest sin. African Americans were treated as things that elite whites can own rather than free- willed humans. In this poem, the pain and suffering of colored Americans, who were considered less thanRead MoreDiscrimination Essay : The American Dream805 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The American Dream† is advertised as being the act of a person having an idea, goal, or as the saying suggests, a dream, and then them spending time, energy, and money to make it come true. However, if you haven’t realized it yet, there’s a reason they call it a dream because it hardly becomes a reality. More and more people are realizing this so called â€Å"dream† is nothing but a hoax, and that the promises America assures and guarantees such as equal opportunity and equal success are nothing butRead MoreMartin Luther King Speech Analysis989 Words   |  4 Pagestime. His words sparked change for an entire nation and was an enormous factor in contributing to the African American Civil Rights movement. During the time of Martin Luther King Jr’s speech, the country was in a great state of distress regarding equal rights and equal opportunity for people of color. Riots, protests, and chaos seemed to be taking over the country as African Americans began to demand their deserved equality. Martin Luther King Jr stepped up through all the madness going on andRead MoreThe American Dream828 Words   |  4 Pagesand believe me, we are trying our best to change this stereotype. The American dream has always been what everyone desires- a little perfect family, house, and neighborhood. The American dream is what our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents have always wanted. Everyone always desires owning their own home; this concept of the American dream has a symbol of stability attached to it. However, isn’t the â€Å"American dream† itself just another stereotype? I am tired of my generation being tiedRead MoreThe Great Gatsby - Demise Of The American Dream883 Words   |  4 PagesThe Great Gatsby - Demise of the American Dream The Great Gatsby (1925) is a highly symbolic novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald on 1920 s America, an era of great prosperity and material excess. Its theme mainly deals with the disintegration of the American Dream due to decayed social and moral values. The American Dream is a set of ideals in which freedom includes the right for prosperity, success, and social upward mobility for all Americans which can be achieved through hard work and dedicationRead MoreEssay on Modernism at Its Finest in Literature756 Words   |  4 Pagesof society and impacted more American lives than ever before. During the American modernism period of literature, authors, artists, and poets strived to create pieces of literature and art that challenged American traditions and tried to reinvent it, used new ways of communication, such as the telephone and cinema, to demonstrate the new modern social norms, and express the pain and suffering of the First World War. With new modernist American literature, Americans lose faith in their traditionalRead MoreThe American Dream801 Words   |  4 PagesThe American Dream has a different meaning today as opposed to fifty-years ago. The American Dream once meant: marrying the love of your life, buying a home in the suburbs with a white picket fence, two to three children, and obtaining a job one could retire from in twenty years. That dream has vanished and disappeared with the advent, development, and advancement of technology, higher costs of living, and rising expenses of student loan debt. The heavy burden of paying off loans from attainingRead MoreHarlem A Dream Deferred Analysis762 Words   |  4 Pagesbecomes their dream, but people do not always fulfill these dreams. There are obstacles that come in the way of people being able to fulfill their dreams. In â€Å"Harlem [A Dream Deferred]† Langston Hughes uses imagery and rhetorical questions in order to demonstrate what happens to a dr eam. The theme that appears through Langston Hughes poem is the theme of not pursuing a dream. Through Hughes poem, this theme is demonstrated and the imagery helps in conveying the idea of having a dream postponed. Read MoreThe American Dream Is The Forefront Of Many Beginnings For Citizens And Immigrants Alike943 Words   |  4 Pages The American Dream is the forefront of many beginnings for citizens and immigrants alike. Achieving this idea has proved to be unfair in certain circumstances due to many factors. The ability to reach the American Dream is not entirely realistic to a handful of people and is highly refutable. Having the chance to accomplish the American Dream is a freedom that most people desire. The American Dream is in fact real, and many have reached this set of ideals with success. However, the diversity thatRead MorePhillip Morrison: Marketing Case Study1156 Words   |  5 Pagescampaigns had been focused on them. By targeting women, Phillip Morris would have the ability to increase its sales levels through strategies of market development, or the in depth expansion of the strategy through the sale of already existent products, into already existent markets (Kotler and Armstrong, 2009). The targeting of people in the middle classes, as these tend to possess the means to purchase the cigarettes, but also the lower education than the high social class; this dimension is relevant

Monday, December 9, 2019

Peer Teaching Lesson for Nurse Education- myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about thePeer Teaching Lesson for Nurse Education. Answer: Learning theory used to guide peer teaching session The aim of the given assignment is to provide the learning theories and styles that are used as a peer teaching sessions for nursing. The main purpose of nursing plan is to provide lesson for the basic one to one life support. According to Bradshaw and Hultquist (2016), the learning theories is to provide the framework will provide the blue print for the teaching guidelines. In case of the nursing support related to basic one to one life support care, the teaching guidelines needs to include the general theories. The primary purpose of the basic life support care is to act according to the immediate needs of the patient. One of the essential skills is to have the ability to develop the immediate decision making skills. One of the essential protocol that are needed for the nursing teaching is provided by the need theory of nursing teaching. As mentioned by Oh et al., (2015), the Need theory focuses on the nursing students for development of their own cognitive thinking skills. This will help them to make and implement decisions according to the needs of the patient and situation. The educator wills get the opportunity to teach the lessons that are directly related with the practical situation in the health care service. The theory can also help the individual to focus on the needs of other aspects that will include mental and psychological demand of the patients. Learning styles to be considered The learning style in nursing aims to incorporate the awareness among the people about matters personalized level care. The effective quality of the nurse is dependent on their skills of learning knowledge that is needed for better levels of future growth. The main of the nursing learning styles is to generate the positive environment that is needed for quality care. The style of nursing style depends on the preference of the student. Andreou et al., (2014), have mentioned about the importance of analytical learning styles that are needed for the purpose of understanding the analytics that are associated with the given context. It will therefore be possible for the learners to develop the skill of acquiring information related to the existing medical situation. The analytical style is also combined with that of the situational styles, where most of the learner gets the skills of dealing with the issues with limited amount of medical resources. Both the analytical and situational styl e of learning helps to make most use of the nursing leadership styles. The cultural beliefs within the community also is an essential element of the style of teaching within nursing. The nurse of the community, need to have the ability to understand the sentiment of local culture. This will help them to maintain and establish proper communication within the patient groups (Johnston et al., 2015). Ways to identify the learning needs One of the crucial characters of every professional nurse is the ability to understand and access the needs of the people in the context of the given situation. The importance of understanding the learning needs is to fulfil the gaps that are associated with effective learning skills. In most of the cases, due to the gaps exist mostly due to the rapid changes that occur within the health care sector. Due to the variation in the gaps, exist due to diverse nature of the health care issues in each community. The assessment tool is the most important part of the learning skills that are requested in the context of determining the learning needs. Individual strengths and weakness of the nursing students can be determined that is needed to incorporate personalized levels of nursing care. The teaching objectives in the nursing plan can also be determined by needs (Brennan Bakken, 2015). The area of special focus is part of the nursing teaching plan. Depending on the needs of the local community, it is important to focus on the medical issues faced by the medical experts. Feedback within the nursing care plan As feedbacks are collected from the nursing students, it is possible to understand individual strengths and weaknesses. As a nursing student I will provide feedback by direct interaction with the educator. I will also make use of the evaluation tool, where it is possible to highlight the exact issues in the nursing care plan. For the educators, it is possible to highlight on the barriers that are generally encountered in the teaching plan process. In most of the case, this is possible to deal with the issues that are faced by the nursing students. I can also encourage the educator to change on the existing theory that is needed to incorporate new strategies within the teaching plan. Regular evaluation of the teaching plan is needed, which is the central idea for providing the frameworks needed for the same. Urden et al., (2017), have mentioned about the feedback sandwich model that is needed in the matters highlighting both positive and negative opinions. This model ensures that the information that is gathered from the feedbacks can be used in constructive manner. It also aims to deal with the issues related to the lower motivation of the educators as they have the opportunity to improve the existing teaching methods. Assessment of learners competence The competency level of the learner will help to evaluate the success rate of the implemented nursing teaching plan. With higher levels of competency, it is possible to ensure higher levels of learning success. According to LeGrow and Espin (2017), one of best ways to use of the learning competency is to evaluate the decision making ability of the nurse. The ability to incorporate the soft understanding can also be generated within the process of decision making that will help in improving the accuracy levels of the health care treatment provided. With most of the people engaging in effective communication, it is essential to ensure that proper message is being conveyed to the stakeholders. The objectives can be determined by the rate of recovery of the critical care partients. Reference Andreou, C., Papastavrou, E., Merkouris, A. (2014). Learning styles and critical thinking relationship in baccalaureate nursing education: a systematic review. Nurse education today, 34(3), 362-371. Bradshaw, M., Hultquist, B. L. (2016). Innovative teaching strategies in nursing and related health professions. Jones Bartlett Publishers. Brennan, P. F., Bakken, S. (2015). Nursing needs big data and big data needs nursing. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 47(5), 477-484. Johnston, A. N. B., Hamill, J., Barton, M. J., Baldwin, S., Percival, J., Williams-Pritchard, G., ... Todorovic, M. (2015). Student learning styles in anatomy and physiology courses: Meeting the needs of nursing students. Nurse education in practice, 15(6), 415-420. LeGrow, K., Espin, S. (2017). Beginning explorations of the connectedness between patient-centred care, practice development and advanced nursing competencies to promote professional development. International Practice Development Journal, 7(2). Oh, P. J., Jeon, K. D., Koh, M. S. (2015). The effects of simulation-based learning using standardized patients in nursing students: A meta-analysis. Nurse education today, 35(5), e6-e15. Urden, L. D., Stacy, K. M., Lough, M. E. (2017). Critical Care Nursing-E-Book: Diagnosis and Management. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Monday, December 2, 2019

International Marketing Market Entry Plan

Introduction As domestic markets mature and competitive activity intensifies, foreign business expansion is becoming an increasingly important component of most business enterprises across the world (Miller, 1998).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on International Marketing: Market Entry Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Future growth in international market activity is apparently expected to accelerate because of unprecedented opportunities that are presented by emerging markets. As observed by Miller (1998), emerging economies usually experience four distinct phases of demand development as shown in figure 1. Figure 1: Phases of Demand Developments in Emerging Economies – adapted from Miller (1998) One of the principal benefits of developing overseas markets is the opportunity to achieve increased sales. Managers around the globe are recognizing the increasing necessity for their companies to devel op the skills, aptitudes and knowledge to compete effectively in international markets. The emergence of a more open world economy, the globalization of consumer tastes and the unabated expansion of Internet access globally, all increase the interdependency and interconnections of national economies across the globe (Rugman Collinson, 2009). There are, however, challenges that are associated with entering a new market in a foreign country.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Because of geographical distances, and the complexities of operating in a number of disparate markets where risk and uncertainty are high, the need for knowledge and understanding is of paramount importance in international marketing (Doole Lowe, 2008). Table 1 shows the differences between single country operations and international operations. Table 1: Differences between Single Country Operations a nd International Operations Factor Single Country Multinational Operation Language The same language is spoken Being in a different country will require the use of other languages Culture Culture is relatively homogeneous This is diverse between and within countries Labor Skilled and well trained labor is readily available Special training and redesign of production methods might be required Economy The economy is relatively uniform There is a possibility of having wide variations among countries and within countries Politics The political environment will be stable and relatively unimportant The political environment is often volatile and of decisive importance Governmental interference This is stable and reasonably predictable It is often extensive and subject to rapid change Financing There are well developed financial markets and different sources are available In some countries, capital flows are subject to government control and are sometimes poorly developed This paper presents an international marketing strategy to be used by a company to enter a new market in a foreign country. The paper is organized in three major sections: situation analysis, recommended marketing strategies, and economic evaluation. Situation Analysis Before a company can expand its market base to a foreign country, an in-depth preparation is very critical. The marketing department will need to plan the method by which the entry into the new country will be accomplished and how the stated objectives will be realized. Usually, the objectives serve as the driving force for the ambition to move into the new ground (Clemente, 2002). A major responsibility on the part of the marketer is to determine the what, where, when, and how to complete the process. These are briefly explained in the following sub-sections. What Under ideal circumstances, all information could be made available to the market researcher and this can then be quickly sorted into what is relevant fo r the research. The reality, however, is that information is scattered and sometimes hidden and completely unavailable to the market researcher. Access to the information may be restricted by governmental, proprietary, budgetary and temporal constraints. As suggested by Curry (2009), a company should divide its market research into two main sections. There will be cultural information and commercial information.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on International Marketing: Market Entry Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Where To be successful, the company should conduct its cultural research inside the target nation. It is not advisable to depend on cultural information. Although reading tour guide books and national histories is useful, this should only be done as preparation for a research trip by the company’s marketing team and not a substitute for the real work that must be done in the target coun try. Commercial research, on the other hand, may be partially conducted in the company’s domestic market in case the target nation has a history of economic openness. Despite the fact that the Internet and governmental databases may serve as good sources of statistical information, surveys and product testing must be conducted within the target market to get first-hand information (Doole Lowe, 2008). When Although global business often moves quickly, research and access to information sources can be time consuming. It is important for a company considering entry to a foreign market to conduct its research as soon as possible within the shortest period considered prudent (Rossi, 2010). If the company takes too long to complete its research, the final report may contain information that is out of date. How The company may choose from a variety of different means available for conducting market research. One option is to gather its own information or use that was provided by go vernment agencies or consulting companies. Face to face surveys among consumers or observing their behavior from a distance is another approach that the company can take in its research. Other available options include the use of raw statistical data to build elaborate mathematical models of how a market will perform, and relying on empirical evidence as well as cultural history. According to Curry (2009), successful international market entries have been launched using all these models from large to small companies ll. Components of the Strategic Marketing Plan There are several different frameworks to think about and use while developing a strategic marketing plan. Some of these are explained in the following sub-sections. Strategy and Culture The company’s culture is â€Å"made up of people, processes, experiences, ideas, and attitudes†. The strategy indicates where â€Å"the company is headed, what path it will take, and how it will get to its destination.† (Kim, Lee Park, 2010). According to Boone and KurtzIt (2011), it is impossible to have strategy without culture and vice versa.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Internal and External Framework A company will usually have an internal and external framework. The marketing strategy is external to an organization and contains information gathered from customers, competitors, industry, and the operational environment in order to â€Å"identify opportunities and threats. Through employee surveys, board assessments, and financial statements, it is possible to identify the company’s strengths and weaknesses, which are internal† (Raymond, 2003). The Balanced Scorecard Perspectives This is a framework that is applied in order to develop objectives in four main directions. They include financial, customers, internal business processes, and people (Raymond, 2003). While financial, internal business processes, and people are internal the customer is external. Market Focus Growth always comes from the main focus being on customers and thus consequently delivering the best services to them. The market focus framework touches on making sure t hat customers are satisfied. It is very critical to the growth of the organization. Preparing for Market Entry Markets are never completely open or completely closed (Curry, 2009). Every market presents the aspiring entrants with an enormous number of possible doors through which to pass. Some of the doors are unlocked and as clear as glass, while others may be as solid as steel. It is important for the company to understand that ease of entry does not directly imply that the company will realize good profits once it settles in the new country. Oftentimes, governments keep the most lucrative markets well secured mainly to protect its local businesses. Other times, doors are left open and unguarded in an attempt to lure unsuspecting investors or traders to a pitiable and profitless fate. There are also possibilities of lucrative doors suddenly swinging wide open for a moment and then closing. In some instances, a company may only need to have the name of the right person associated w ith them to gain entry into a new country. In all these cases, a company’s ability to properly analyze the information available will determine which door to approach and what product or services to present when the door finally opens. Regardless of the approaches that the company decides to take, devising a blueprint to guide the entire process of entry to a market in a foreign country is critical for success to be realized. Carrying out an exhaustive research in the identified foreign market will enable the company to attain the original goal and avoid numerous distractions sound during the information gathering stage. A detailed marketing plan assures that everything is taken into account before the real investigative work can start. Foundation for the Marketing Plan A marketing plan is the â€Å"formalized roadmap that describes how the company will execute its chosen strategy† (Curry, 2009). The company’s international marketing plan will provide a strong f oundation on which its entry into the new country will be based. It clearly outlines what the company intends to do so as to reach its intended goal. An effective plan will help to focus the energy, resources, and time of everyone in the company towards the same direction. The plan will also make it possible for the company to build a competitive advantage, communicate its strategy to staff, prioritize its financial needs, and â€Å"provide focus and direction to move from plan to action† (Curry, 2009). It is the company’s plan of execution to ensure that everything goes well. Elements of the Strategic Marketing Plan Successful companies develop strategies for marketing their products. The strategic plan guides the marketing department as it makes decisions about the attributes of the product, its distribution, promotional activities and pricing (Pride Ferrell, 2008). A clear understanding of the foundation of marketing is essential in formulating a strategy and in th e development of a specific marketing plan. The key elements of the strategic plan are vision, mission, goals and objectives, strategy, and execution and evaluation. Figure 2 shows some of the elements which are briefly explained in the subsequent sub-sections. Figure 2: Elements of a Strategic Plan – adapted from Pride and Ferrell (2008) Vision Usually, one gets what he or she focuses on. The company must have a vision that will help to bring things to focus. Rather than paying attention to urgent problems, the company should instead focus on vital long term issues. Unless the company can get staff to focus on a common vision, chances are that it will not go anywhere (Monye, 2000). A clear vision will ensure that the energy of all key players is directed towards the common goal of developing the foreign market. It will therefore pay for the company to have a vision that will allow it to marshal the efforts of its team. Mission, Goals, and Objectives The mission statement, g oals, and objectives exist in a strategic plan to empower employees to be more effective. They provide the framework to be used by the company to make independent decisions that will make it possible for the company to be successful in the execution of its marketing plan. The company must have its mission statement, goals, and objectives for the entry into the new country clearly stated and in a way that can be easily articulated by all the concerned parties. Strategy Once the mission, goals, and objectives of the entry into the foreign market are made clear, the company will then proceed to establish how they will be achieved. The strategy will show how the company will achieve what it wants with the resources at its disposal. With a good strategy, the company will be able to out-perform its competition, achieve a sustainable competitive advantage, grow its revenue, maintain or shrink its expenses, satisfy its customers in the new market, and respond to the changing international m arket conditions. Execution and Evaluation All the best missions and strategies in the world are a waste of time if they are not implemented. With a clear marketing plan in place, the company should not hesitate to move into the action stage. The success of the planning process is usually about keeping the plan active. To ensure that the company does not go off target, execution should be subjected to periodic evaluation. Major Planning Pitfalls The company should be aware of the fact that the planning process may yield less than desirable results due to the presence of numerous challenges that may be encountered in the process. First of all, a plan is only as good as the information on which it is built (Moutinho Chien, 2008). The company should avoid depending on untested assumptions which are always risky to follow and lead to erecting the marketing plan on an unsteady foundation. The company should also not ignore any information discovered during the planning process that may require the company to take a different direction. Before embarking on a serious plan to enter the foreign market, it will be helpful for the company to clean up any internal messes which may later interfere with the entire process. It is important for the company to be in good shape before moving forward. Finally, the company should not fall into the trap of copying the best practices of another company involved in a similar business. Even though employing best practices from your industry is important, experiences of other organizations may not be relevant. It is important for the company to find its own path rather following that of others. Tips for Better Planning There are a number of useful tips to ensure that a company succeeds in its supposed entry into the new country. The first thing is for the company to put together a diverse but appropriate group of people to constitute the planning team (McEwan, 2001). A better marketing plan will result from diversity. For effectivene ss, the company should bring together a small core team of leaders and managers who represent every area of the company. Another useful thing to do will be to allow enough time for strategic thinking. It does no help to try and squeeze strategic planning discussions in between putting out fires (Sen Bhattacharaya, 2001). The company should do whatever is necessary to create time for big picture thinking. This may include taking the team off site. It is also important to get full commitment from key people in the organization. If the team does not receive support from key stakeholders, it may result in a disaster eventually. There should be an allowance for open and free discussions regardless of each person’s position within the company. If necessary, the company should hire an outside facilitator. Since good strategic plans are flexible, the company’s marketing plan should not be made rigid or unbending. It must be reviewed periodically to make sure that everything i s on course. Assessing the Company’s Readiness As part of the situation analysis, it will be wise for the company to assess if it is ready to take the challenge of entering a foreign country. Successful planning and implementation will require a keen understanding of how well the company can adapt to fit into the foreign market. Introducing a concept at the right time is critical to guaranteeing a successful implementation. This is the point in the entire planning process where it is important to be brutally honest. Any company that jumps into planning by assuming it is ready is likely to fail somewhere along the way and the whole process can easily get derailed. As part of evaluating itself, the company should look at where it is presently, where it wants to go, and how it will get there. These are briefly explained as follows. Where the Company is currently This can be easily determined by looking at the foundational elements to ensure there has not been a change. It is imp ortant to look at what is happening internally as well as externally to determine how the company needs to shift or change. These foundational elements are the mission statement, values or guiding principles, and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis. These elements are crucial in assessing the company’s strategic position. While the company can build on its strengths, it can make attempts to minimize weaknesses, capitalize on opportunities, and recognize the threats. Where the Company is heading This helps in imagining how the organization will look like in the future. The elements that help to determine the future of the company include sustainable competitive advantage and vision statement. Sustainable competitive advantage explains what the company is best at compared to its competitors. Vision statement on the other hand helps to formulate a future picture of the company. How the Company will get there This is like the core of the marketing pla n but also the most time consuming. It takes long mainly because there will be a number of routes from the current position to where the company desires to be. Recommended Marketing Strategies One entry mode that may be used by the company is Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). This approach involves the transfer of financial, capital, technology, and other skills that are considered necessary (Moosa, 2002). It gives rise to costs and benefits for the countries involved. Both the investing country and the host country are affected in the process (Agarwal Ramaswamy, 1992). Other useful strategies to use are joint ventures and strategic alliances. The company may enter into joint venture agreements to provide services jointly with companies based in the host country. Strategic alliances will be useful where the company intends to work in the host country through local partners without fully establishing itself in there (Plante Nordhill, 2011). Of the three entry modes discussed above, joint ventures and strategic alliances are cheaper and commonly used by most companies. The company may therefore make use of the two options. Another strategy that may also be used by the company to penetrate the market in the new country is branding (Zou, Kim Cavusgil, 2009). According to Jain and Griffith (2012), developing a global branding strategy is increasingly becoming an important priority for many firms. It will certainly be very useful for the company to brand its products as part of the strategy to enter into the new country (Welch, Benito Petersen, 2007). The impact of global brands has further been enhanced by the movement of people, goods and ideas across national and regional boundaries (Jain Griffith, 2012). Other marketing strategies that will be helpful include segmentation, targeting, differentiation, positioning, and working on having healthy public relations. Segmentation This is the procedure whereby marketers determine how large or how small a group to ap proach with their products is. It is about dividing a mass market into identifiable and distinct groups or segments (Habiyaremye, 2011). Opportunities for segmentation in international marketing may seem endless. The world can be treated as a single marketplace, or it may be seen as composed of billions of single member marketers in the form of individual human beings. The degree of segmentation is determined by the appeal of a product to a general market and by the ease with which that product can be adapted to increasingly specific markets. For this reason, most companies start off with as broad an appeal as possible and then sharpen their focus as more insights are gained. Initially, targeting an entire country can be risky, especially when the geography is expansive and the population diverse. Marketers must determine how consumers in any particular group respond to the marketing mix of the product, its price, promotional efforts, and the means of distribution. Information gathe red during research will be used to make this initial determination, which over time will be increasingly defined. Given that the company may not have all the resources required to meet the demands of all people who may be scattered all over, market segmentation can be used to enable it to use what it has effectively. This will also enable it to ensure that the marketing mix elements namely; product, price, place and promotion are designed to target the selected customers (Habiyaremye, 2011). Market Targeting Market targeting is a company’s decision on which market segments to pursue. It commences once the company segments its market. It is based on the evaluation of the market potential of each individual segment as determined by such factors as market size, growth, competitor activity, and the company’s own resources and corporate objectives. Based on its strength, the company should focus on delivering goods and services to a selected market segment. When this is pr operly done, the company will be more effective in its delivery. Differentiation Differentiation is the conscious effort by a company to distinguish itself from its competition. Even when a segment has been selected, it must be understood that a competitor has already made the same selection or will shortly. This is where differentiation comes into play as a means of reaching the consumer (Lennick Kiel, 2005). Every consumer has a reason for buying a particular product. Starting from the macro-level of marketing, marketers will have only a general understanding of such motivations upon entering a new national market. Time and familiarity will bring about micro-level marketing approaches such as consumer buying patterns. Positioning This is the means by which a marketer establishes the product as a distinct image or brand in the customer’s mind. Simply put, it is the management of perception and it goes beyond the consumers’ general belief about a product. Products are seen as part of a larger category, but a marketer seeks to hold a separate and singular position in the consumer’s mind (Hollensen, 2007). There are six main steps that one can use to prepare a positioning strategy. They include segmenting the market, listing competitors, determining how competitors are positioned, identifying open positions, determining how consumers make decisions, and differentiating a company’s products. Public Relations This is where a company does activities to maintain or improve its image and change the consumers’ attitude towards its products and personnel. Positioning is part of this image maintenance (Czinkota Ronkainen, 2007). Marketers realize that a company’s image can be changed in the consumer’s mind but that too much change or too drastic a change may result in damage. Oftentimes, the image of a company isn’t entirely under its own control. The media can be a very powerful tool both for building an image a nd destroying it. International companies have enormous public relations concerns as they must contend with a wide variety of overseas media cultures as well as with their own domestic news outlets (Lymbersky, 2008). Abroad, virtually everything a foreign company does both prior to and after entering a new country will be scrutinized. Economic Evaluation Economically, it will be necessary for the company to do a thorough evaluation to determine the possibility of carrying on with the plan to move into a foreign market. This evaluation includes undertaking a cost benefit analysis. The company may use the Net Present Value (NPV) technique to determine whether it makes sense to carry on with the project. Other approaches include Return on Investments (ROI) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Conclusion From the discussion presented in this paper, it is quite obvious that the process of entering a new market in a foreign country is quite an elaborate one. This paper, however, presents a useful guide that may be used by a company to successfully penetrate a foreign market. If followed properly, it will lead to impressive results in the end. References Agarwal, S. Ramaswamy, S. N. (1992). Choice of Foreign Market Entry Mode: Impact of Ownership, Location and Internationalization Factors. 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