What Is the Social Learning Theory

Social learning theory is a theory that attempts to explain socialization and its effect on the development of the self. There are many different theories that explain how people become socialized, including psychoanalytic theory, functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interaction theory. Social learning theory, like these others, looks at the individual learning process, the formation of self, and the influence of society in socializing individuals. The History of Social Learning Theory Social learning theory considers the formation of one’s identity to be a learned response to social stimuli. It emphasizes the societal context of socialization rather than the individual mind. This theory postulates that an individual’s identity is not the product of the unconscious (such as the belief of psychoanalytic theorists), but instead is the result of modeling oneself in response to the expectations of others. Behaviors and attitudes develop in response to reinforcement and encouragement from the people around us. While social learning theorists acknowledge that childhood experience is important, they also believe that the identity people acquire is formed more by the behaviors and attitudes of others. Social learning theory has its roots in psychology and was shaped greatly by psychologist Albert Bandura. Sociologists most often use social learning theory to understand crime and deviance. Social Learning Theory and Crime/Deviance According to social learning theory, people engage in crime because of their association with others who engage in crime. Their criminal behavior is reinforced and they learn beliefs that are favorable to crime. They essentially have criminal models that they associate with. As a consequence, these individuals come to view crime as something that is desirable, or at least justifiable in certain situations. Learning criminal or deviant behavior is the same as learning to engage in conforming behavior: it is done through association with or exposure to others. In fact, association with delinquent friends is the best predictor of delinquent behavior other than prior delinquency. Social learning theory postulates that there are three mechanisms by which individuals learn to engage in crime: differential reinforcement, beliefs, and modeling. Differential Reinforcement of Crime Differential reinforcement of crime means that individuals can teach others to engage in crime by reinforcing and punishing certain behaviors. Crime is more likely to occur when it 1. Is frequently reinforced and infrequently punished; 2. Results in large amounts of reinforcement (such as money, social approval, or pleasure) and little punishment; and 3. Is more likely to be reinforced than alternative behaviors. Studies show that individuals who are reinforced for their crime are more likely to engage in subsequent crime, especially when they are in situations similar to those that were previously reinforced. Beliefs Favorable to Crime On top of reinforcing criminal behavior, other individuals can also teach a person beliefs that are favorable to crime. Surveys and interviews with criminals suggest that beliefs favoring crime fall into three categories. First is the approval of certain minor forms of crime, such as gambling, â€Å"soft† drug use, and for adolescents, alcohol use and curfew violation. Second is the approval of or justification of certain forms of crime, including some serious crimes. These people believe that crime is generally wrong, but that some criminal acts are justifiable or even desirable in certain situations. For example, many people will say that fighting is wrong, however, that it is justified if the individual has been insulted or provoked. Third, some people hold certain general values that are more conducive to crime and make crime appear as a more attractive alternative to other behaviors. For example, individuals who have a large desire for excitement or thrills, those who hav e a disdain for hard work and a desire for quick and easy success, or those who wish to be seen as â€Å"tough† or â€Å"macho† might view crime in a more favorable light than others. The Imitation of Criminal Models Behavior is not only a product of beliefs and reinforcements or punishments that individuals receive. It is also a product of the behavior of those around us. Individuals often model or imitate the behavior of others, especially if it is someone that individual looks up to or admires. For example, an individual who witnesses someone they respect committing a crime, who is then reinforced for that crime, is then more likely to commit a crime themselves.

Analysis Of John Milton s Paradise Lost - 1035 Words

Satan is the first figure to speak in Milton’s poems in Paradise Lost. His words to Beelzebub are the sort of utterances a politician would make to his party members after a defeat. It combines convincement with the virtue of emotional manipulation. Satan’s words shift like a dream from expression of grief and sympathy to the restatement of united defiance, to which Beelzebub replies unconsciously. Milton creates this shift so subtly that it is hardly noticed and highlights through this that the gift of the gab—the talent of persuasive speech—is virtually the only resource that Satan possesses. However, the gift of the conversation is extensive and enough for Satan to carry on and try to meet his motives. It earns Satan the allegiance of†¦show more content†¦That same line is brought out as a simile to ironically depict Satan as not a man moved by zeal for the common good but rather a self-seeking immortal stimulated by resentment to destroy virtu ousness. On line 678 of the same book, Milton uses the term â€Å"Tempter† whereby it is Satan addressing the fruit before addressing Eve directly. Milton deems the mutual goodness is of outstanding significance. His opposition to kings relies on a principle that states can hardly benefit from monarchies, which are dangerously susceptible to the power held by a faulty individual. God is the only perfect king and thus no human being ought to take over God’s empty throne. Milton is very aware of the ways in which a naked ambition would corrupt republics. He illustrates Satan as deeply cut off by his desires since he cannot put up with the common good afore his desires. An impression of frustration is thus brought out. Satan is frustrated, as he cannot achieve what he desires. Satan always demonstrates manipulation. Indeed, this is his instrumental trait when he makes speeches to other individuals. He gains an inconspicuous supremacy in the first disagreement between the wicked person in Book II by merely being the last to speak after they halt their debate. With monarchial pride, Satan claims the position of traitorous champion for fall of man (II, 428). Imperial sovereignty in his own monarchy,

Search For Identity, Love And Truth - 967 Words

Have you ever been woken up by somebody telepathically talking to you? Well, that’s how our main character, Thomas, wakes from his deep slumber. His life has been a whirlwind up until this point. His best friend died, he doesn’t know where he is, and he barely can remember his life before he was thrown into the horrid maze that changed him forever. So far, Thomas has lost his girl Teresa and wondered the Scorched plains of what used to be the Earth. His group of boys has suffered multiple casualties including the injury of Minho their commander. They have also encountered a clan who call themselves â€Å"Cranks† lead by a crazed, sleep-deprived, completely irrational man named Jorge. He seems totally out of it mentally but agrees to help†¦show more content†¦This time, they’re forcing the children to complete the â€Å"Scorch Trials†. These trials are sets of daunting tasks that WICKED claims will benefit the human race if completed: †Å"Continue to respond well to the Variables, continue to survive, and you’ll be rewarded with the knowledge that you’ve played a part in saving the human race. And yourselves, of course† (Dashner 55). As the man said, they will have to endure the â€Å"Variables† that WICKED could change and any minute. For example, the boys ran into some inclement weather while traveling the arid plains of the Scorch. This storm, consisting of lighting and sand, ultimately ended in the demise of Winston, a good friend of Thomas, and left the once been â€Å"Gladers† broken and defeated. Love. It’s a very obscure concept to some, yet a very material necessity to others. The search for love has gone above and beyond what we would call â€Å"normal† in this book. Thomas, being that he evidently had a childhood with Teresa, has fallen in love with her. Her ominous disappearance and resurgence early within the book lead the reader to believe WICKED is att empting to pry into Thomas’ mental stability. As the story progresses, Thomas and the boys reach the Cranks, as previously stated, they meet their leader Jorge and his fairly attractive assistant Brenda. Brenda immediately falls for Thomas. The line between his love for Brenda and Teresa is blurred by Brenda’s cogent displays of physical affection: â€Å"’No, Brenda,’ he

Opposing Forces in Heart of Darkness Essay - 1628 Words

Opposing Forces in Heart of Darkness In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad sets up the opposing forces of black and white in order to convey the theme that every man has his own heart of darkness that is simply masked by the superficial light of civilization. The novella focuses primarily on Charlie Marlows journey into the African Congo, but simultaneously deals with many underlying themes. Marlow understood the basic premises of imperialism, but was unprepared for the world he encountered while in the wilderness. The world of the African jungle does not abide by the same laws with which Marlow had been raised in civilized Europe. There is an inherent savagery in the jungle that Marlow had not previously encountered and†¦show more content†¦In this case, the color white, usually associated with purity or goodness, becomes a symbol for the evil that was imperialist colonialism. The black of the natives skin, bearing the color often associated with evil and inner darkness, is a stark contrast to the white of the yarn. The fact that Marlow responded with questions – Why? Where did he get it? (27) shows that he had not yet come into an understanding of the effects of imperialism on the wilderness. Marlow responds to the sight of the dying natives by running away from the horror, and continuing on his journey. Proceeding on his journey, Marlow encounters the Accountant of the Outer Station, a man dressed entirely in neatly pressed white linen. This man is directly representative of the ideas that Marlow associates with the civilization from whence he came. Despite the conditions in the Congo, for all of its savage and problematic nature, the man had stayed clean and conscientious. Marlow stated that, in keeping clean and orderly, the man had verily accomplished something (28). The man, though he is the outward representation of the ability to stay civilized, actually appears to be quite inhumane. His work keeps him right in the heart of the goings on at the station, and his response to whites and natives alike is the same; he responds to everyone with relative apathy and disregard. His bookwork for the station -Show MoreRelated Light and Dark in Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness Essay1677 Words   |  7 PagesNow and Heart of Darkness    In Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, Marlow chooses a brighter path than his counterpart in Francis Ford Coppolas Apocalypse Now, Capt. Willard. The two share in the duty of searching for and discovering Kurtz, as well as taking care of his memory, but their beliefs before encountering him place the characters at opposing ends of a theme. These opposing ends are light and dark, representing good and evil. In the opening pages of Heart of Darkness, Marlow beginsRead More Colonization and Wealth in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness and Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart1627 Words   |  7 PagesConrads Heart of Darkness and Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart The novels Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe share a common theme; both deal with the colonization of Africa by settlers from Europe. When one examines the motives for this imperialist attitude in each book, one notices that in both books the motivation for colonization revolves around the gaining of wealth. However Conrad and Achebe define wealth differently. In Heart of Darkness the EuropeansRead MoreUse of Imagery in the First Two Acts of Macbeth1585 Words   |  7 Pagescreate a more detailed image and emphasize the themes of violence, murder and darkness. The omnipresent imagery of darkness evokes the sentiments of fear, danger and death. â€Å"Come thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke in hell† associates the darkness of the night with supernatural powers, seen in the word â€Å"hell†. This creates a sense of unease in the audience, we feel inferior to the outside forces present. Darkness is seen as a blanket for dark deeds, in this case murder. It is describedRead MoreMarginalization: Heart of Darkness and God of Small Things1463 Words   |  6 Pageswas brought up in. Yet as time passed by, it seems these issues have become common discussion. This change of significance in how the audience responds and view texts that carry the notions of marginalization can be seen by Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’ and Arundhati Roy’s ‘God of Small Things’. 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Spirits come fromRead MoreEssay about bram stokers dracula1424 Words   |  6 PagesDracula, were brought into the novel to teach a lesson. Oddly enough, Dracula resembles other forces of evil in other religions as well. A strong comparison exists between Dracula, Satan, and Hindu demons. Of course these parallels are not fully drawn across the entire novel. Some differences do exist, but the parallels that are apparent bring attention to a cultures idea of a monster or threatening force to order. Dracula is the perfect symbol of otherness for the Victorian age. He comes from TransylvaniaRead MoreLiterary Elements in the Poem She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron608 Words   |  3 Pageslines, â€Å"where thoughts serenely sweet express how pure, how dear their dwelling place†, and â€Å"the smiles that win, the tints that glow, but tell of days in goodness spent, a mind at peace with all below, a heart whose love is innocent!† The mention of her sweet, pure thoughts and her innocent heart provided the possibility that Lord Byron loved this beautiful woman. There are many poetic devices that are used in this poem. First, the poet uses personification such as which heaven to gaudy dayRead MoreBless Me Ultima Essay1435 Words   |  6 Pagesas a land of multiple paths and freedom. Such llano however, is not pure at heart as it is glooming with two impactful forces that subsequently break apart the true foundation of the freedom that it represents.†Curses and threats filled the air, pistols were drawn, and the opposing sides made ready for battle. 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Black Catholic Worship On The Sacred Liturgy - 1252 Words

Black Catholic worship as we know it today became possible in the mid-1960s when the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy was issued by the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). The constitution opened worship to local languages and encouraged â€Å"inculturation† of the liturgy. The first U.S. Mass in English featured a hymn, â€Å"God Is Love,† by Fr. Clarence Rufus Joseph Rivers, the first African American to be ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, who received a 10-minute ovation. Fr. Rivers pioneered what he termed â€Å"Soulfull Worship† and soon was joined by other composers and choir directors to bring a new musical wind into Catholic rites. These pathfinders showed how prayer in African American congregations could be both†¦show more content†¦[pp. 127-8] Another scholar of African American Catholic liturgy, Fr. J-Glenn Murray, S.J., notes: â€Å"What makes our worship uniquely Black is our indomitable and uncanny ability to ‘sing the Lord’s song in a strange land’! (Psalm 137:4)† [â€Å"The Liturgy of the Roman rite and African American Worship,† Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal, vol 1, 1987] The African American Catholic â€Å"religious experience is shaped by African factors as well as by those on these shores,† according to Plenty Good Room: The Spirit and Truth of African American Catholic Worship (U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1991), whose principal author was Fr. Murray. This unique blending mirrors the mà ©lange present in African Diaspora culture in general and in a whole range of music – jazz, blues, gospel, mambo, and reggae, to name a few. Robert Farris Thompson in his Flash of the Spirit: African Afro-American Art Philosophy writes about a Black Atlantic performance style that has grown out of the collision of West African and Western Eurocentric musical patterns, aShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Development of Christian Worship2507 Words   |  11 PagesThe Development of Christian Worship According to Crichton (1992 found in Jones et al.:1997) worship is a religious phenomenon, a reaching out through the fear that always accompanies the sacred to the mysterium conceived as tremendous but also fascinates, because behind it and in it there is an intuition of the Transcendent. (Crichton:1992 in Jones et al:1997:2) There are several approaches to which the subject of worship can be studied. This can be thatRead MoreThe And The Great Depression1233 Words   |  5 Pagespart of the Protestant religion. Since some Methodist wanted to return to Wesley’s teachings and sanctification, the holiness movement arose. 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Spychaser Limited Marketing Strategy †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Spychaser Limited Marketing Strategy. Answer: Introduction In Ghana, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in growing the economy. Indeed, according to the government, they contribute approximately seventy percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Government of Ghana, n.d.). Additionally, they create job opportunities which lead to community development. In this essay, a local smartphone application development company named Spychaser Limited wants to market its new smartphone application that can be used by SMEs in their day-to-day operations. The company aims to use SOSTAC model to analyze the viability of its marketing plan, use the RACE model to discuss its online communication strategy, and use AIDAR to evaluate the current consumer purchasing behavior. The SOSTAC model is a marketing plan that was developed by PR Smith in the 1990s. The plan involves six phases that are used to create the acronym SOSTAC. The phases are situation, objectives, strategy, tactics, action, and control (Rupik and ?yminkowski, 2014). There are various ways to use this model. To start with, the model can be used to review how the organization creates marketing strategies (Smith and Chaffey, 2012). For example, what they spend time on or are good at such as developing objectives using the SMART acronym. The second application is getting the right balance across each stage in the planning process. SOSTAC ensures that time is allocated to each phase in an effective manner. To support its use, a research carried out in Maryland revealed that having an internet marketing strategy can increase the performance and survival of small enterprises (Demishkevich, 2015). The first phase of the SOSTAC model is situation analysis. The company is supposed to determine where it is at in relation to its customers and market (Reed FIDM, 2014). It includes a SWOT and competitor analysis. For instance, the company should outline its target customers and competitive advantage. In this case, Spychaser Limited is targeting small and medium enterprises in Ghana. In Ghana, ninety-two percent of the registered companies are small and medium enterprises (Government of Ghana, n.d.). This is an advantage for Spychaser since this is a large readily available market. The company is facing competition from application development companies around the world that offer business applications for SMEs such as WillowTree which is in Virginia. The second phase is outlining the objectives. The objectives are supposed to be developed using the 5 key points (Smith, 2015). The first point is the selling point which determines which how many customers the company is aiming to acquire and retain. The second point is the serving point where the company sets the customer satisfaction target. The third point is the sizzling point which is the added value that the smartphone application has. The fourth point is the speaking point which determines how the company will engage the customers. The last point is saving point where the company measures its gains with regard to efficiency. The objectives should also be SMART that is specific to the organization, measurable with regard to performance, actionable, relevant to the issue and within a given time period (Swan, 2017). For Spychaser, one of the objectives can be to increase product visibility and measure performance through Google Analytics between January 2018 and April 2018. The third phase is strategy which sets a plan to achieve the objectives outlined in the second phase. The focus is on the market segments and target customers. PR Smith developed the STOP and SIT acronyms (Smith, 2015). The STOP represents the existing segments of the market, the target market for the company, the alignment with the objectives and the positioning of the products. The positioning includes the online value proposition which acts as the unique selling point the business offers online. On the other hand, the SIT represents sequence, integration with the customer relationship management systems and the tools that are going to be used. In Ghana, medium-sized enterprises are more likely to use internet advertising than small enterprises (Alliances for Action, 2016). Therefore, Spychaser can use the internet to reach out to medium-sized enterprises. In Spychaser, the objective is to increase product visibility online so this can be done by advertising on online channels that offer software products and software development programs. Additionally, the company can research and see the tools that the competitors are using to boost sales (Swan, 2017). The fourth phase is tactics which define the steps to take to implement the strategy. It includes the marketing mix which has the seven Ps of marketing (Smith, 2015). The first is the product where Spychaser should ensure the application is has been tested on some SMEs and meets the requirements. The second is the price and Spychaser should ensure the price is consistent with the prices of the competitors in the global and local market. The third is place where Spychaser should develop an online retail shop where it can easily sell and engage the customers. The fourth is promotion and Spychaser should utilize the available marketing tools and strategies such as email marketing and using social media platforms. The fifth is people and Spychaser should offer satisfactory customer service in after sale services such as maintenance. It should also use Live Chat to interact with customers on the website. The sixth is process and Spychaser should direct consumers to their website through referrals or recommendations. The consumer can then engage with the staff to determine their requirements and whether the application will meet them. Lastly, through partnership, Spychaser can develop relationships with companies that are not its competitors but can be used to market its products such as companies that finance SMEs. In addition, the company can use marketing tools such as the Search Engine Optimization(SEO), Pay-Per-Click, and affiliate marketing. The fifth phase is action where responsibilities are assigned to different individuals. The company decides whether to use internal or external agencies (Smith, 2015). It also decides the systems and processes that are going to be used. Moreover, the tactics that were selected in the fourth stage are implemented using actions outlined in this phase. For example, if Spychaser chooses to use SEO it will be required to define keywords that will be used for targeting such as SMEs and smartphone applications. The company needs to optimize web pages to get the best ranking. To enrich content, it can build relationships with top bloggers and websites. If the company chooses Pay-Per-Click, it needs to have keywords, a budget, a way to check whether its keywords are reaching the targeted consumers. The last phase is called control and it focuses on monitoring and measuring performance based on the objectives that were set. This includes Key Performance Indicators, website visitor profiling, surveys on customer satisfaction and reporting frequency (Swan, 2017). Spychaser can integrate tools to measure performance weekly, monthly, or per year. However, companies are encouraged to measure performance frequently to ensure that the tactics that are being used are working. In addition, the model includes the use of the 3Ms (Smith, 2015). The first M represents men where the company focuses on the human resources to be used. The second M is the money where Spychaser must plan a budget for the launch of the application. The last M is the minutes and this means that Spychaser must set time frames for each phase to ensure that the project is completed within the given time period. The use of RACE marketing model The RACE model represents a framework that is used in digital marketing. RACE represents reaching, acting, converting and engaging (Chaffey, 2016). In some cases, planning is included in the framework. This framework describes the lifecycle of a customer which starts by informing the customer of the product. It ensures the customers interact with the staff and repurchase products hence retaining them. For the model to be effective, it has to include traditional and digital channels of marketing especially in Ghana for small business owners. Spychaser intends to use the RACE model to develop an online communication strategy. The first step is reach which the company will use to create awareness about the smartphone application (Chaffey, 2016). This can be done through the use of other websites and offline marketing channels such as word of mouth, television and radio adverts. Further, the company can use SEOs and the companys blog posts to write about the application. As a result, there will be traffic generated by the people who visit the main Spychasers website, microsites and the companys social media pages. The marketing team can also use influencers such as top bloggers to notify SMEs about the product. To ensure the tools are working, performance can be measured by checking the unique visitors of your sites, and the number of followers. The second phase is act where the company focuses on interacting with the customer and encouraging their participation (Chaffey, 2016). Interacting with the customer means encouraging the customer to know about the application. For example, Spychaser can make customers to read about the application on their blog post or ask questions about it on Live chat. Participation occurs when the customer reviews the application or shares information about it on social media. All of the above can be achieved through content management. The content should be relevant, influential, and clear to make consumers to take those steps. To measure the performance, Spychaser should monitor the number of likes, comments, shares and the time each visitor spends on the various sites. The third step is to convert the visits to sales. In this step, the company should focus on marketing tools that lead to sales (Chaffey, 2016). They can use e-commerce or offline selling techniques. In some other cases, the goals of marketing may be more than sales such as fans and leads. In all cases, this step ensures that they are converted into the marketing goals. Performance is measured by the number of sales and the revenue earned. The last step is engagement which involves building relationships with new and existing customers to create customer loyalty. Customer loyalty assures Spychaser that they can get repeat sales. This can be achieved through emails or direct interaction with the SMEs. This is measured through repeat purchases and how often customers share Spychasers content on social media. In general, the company should use key performance indicators in all the steps of the model to achieve the desired results. Positioning defines the ability of a product to stand out and occupy the larger portion of the consumers mind compared to its competitors. Positioning is important since it can be used as a competitive advantage by Spychaser. Positioning can be in two forms such as in excess when the company provides false information about features of a product. It can also be done in way poor manner where important features of a product are not mentioned. Factors that can ensure successful positioning are the price, product, place and promotion that are present in the market mix (Marketing, n.d.). The other factors are customers, competition, channels, and the definition of the company (Abinanti, 2015). In product, Spychaser should ensure the application is of the highest quality and it meets the customers requirements (Marketing, n.d.). It must also provide after sale services such as maintenance and installation if it is required. This will differentiate it from the other application in the market since it sends a consistent image. In addition, the prices must be similar to the prices that have been set by the competitors. However, it must be set to depict the uniqueness of the application. For example, if it has additional features and better compatibility it may be expensive compared to the other application. The price must be within the range that is affordable to the target SMEs. For instance, the application may be more expensive for large corporations since it may require more integration and host more users compared to small enterprises. The company may also offer discounted rates to attract more users since it is the first product launch. When considering the place, the company should look at distribution. This is how it will ensure the application reaches the target customers (Marketing, n.d.). It may be available through a download link after payment has been made. It may also be available on the websites freely for customers to install and test its functionality for a certain time period. Promotion refers to the advertising techniques that the company uses. For this case, the company will use traditional and digital methods. Overall, in the marketing mix creating consistency creates a brand image. On the other hand, when referring to channels, the company should consider the channels of distribution (Abinanti, 2015). Positioning allows the company to use the channels to learn more about the customers needs and the purchase process. Consequently, the information can be used to look for a channel that minimizes cost or to use a channel to its full potential. Customers are an important part of positioning since a clear understanding of their needs assists in differentiating a product. Spychaser should understand the needs of the SMEs in order to attract and retain them. Finally, it is important for the company to understand its competitors. Studying the competitors allows the company to understand the niche in a particular market hence design a product that fills it. For Spychaser, they should look out how other global competitors are launching their products and what channels they use to reach their customers. Competitors information can be found on the companys website and mark eting channels such as blogs. The use of AIDAR model The AIDAR model is used to represent the purchasing cycle involved after product development. The first stage in the model is awareness where the customer finds out that the product exists (Tedesco, 2011). The aim is to target as many customers and influencers as possible using techniques that have minimal cost. The next stage is interest where the company must establish itself is a trusted brand that meets the needs of the customers. The company must make sure that when potential customers search social media they find reassuring information about quality. This is because potential customers tend to trust the reviews on social media than the companys website. The next stage is desire where the customer learns about the benefits of the product. This means connecting with them on a personal level which is better achieved on social media than the companys website (Tedesco, 2011). Action is the next stage where purchasing occurs. This is done through testimonials and case studies to move the customers to purchase the product. Spychaser should use social media to engage the customers and gain their reviews and complaints and reinforce their trust. The last stage involves the retaining the customers and earning their loyalty. This cycle is going to impact the sales of Spychasers application. Therefore, Spychaser needs to make implement the same strategy in their marketing plan and make use of social media to interact with the SMEs. Conclusion Generally, all the models provide a way for Spychaser to use marketing strategies to launch its product. Upon launching, it needs to continue using the marketing strategies in the Race model to continue attracting customers and retaining them. The AIDAR model provides a way for the company to use social media to attract customers, make sales and retain them. The marketing team should remember to outline the action plans as outlined in the SOSTAC model. Overall, using the three models allow Spychaser to traditional and digital methods of marketing. References Abinanti, L. (2015).The Key to Successful Positioning: '3 Cs' Research. [online] MarketingProfs. [Accessed 29 Sep. 2017]. Alliances for Action (2016).SME COMPETITIVENESS IN GHANA. [eBook] [Accessed 29 Sep. 2017]. Chaffey, D. (2016).Introducing RACE: a practical framework to improve your digital marketing - Smart Insights Digital Marketing Advice. [online] Smart Insights. [Accessed 29 Sep. 2017]. Demishkevich, M., 2015.Small Business Use of Internet Marketing: Findings from Case Studies (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University). Government of Ghana (n.d.).Empowering SMEs in Ghana for Global Competitiveness. [online] Eservices.gov.gh. [Accessed 29 Sep. 2017]. Marketing (n.d.).Successful Companies Master Positioning and Distribution. [online] Bizfilings. [Accessed 29 Sep. 2017]. Reed FIDM, D. (2014). SOSTAC: The guide to the perfect digital marketing plan.Journal of Direct, Data and Digital Marketing Practice, 16(2), pp.146-147. Rupik, K. and ?yminkowski, T. (2014). Analytical and Behavioral Elements of Marketing Planning Model Empirical Evidence from Polish Firms.International Journal of Economic Practices and Theories, 4(5), pp.668-676. Smith, P. (2015).The SOSTAC guide to your perfect digital marketing plan. [Place of publication not identified]: P.R. Smith. Smith, P. and Chaffey, D. (2012).EMarketing eXcellence. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. Swan, S. (2017).A SOSTAC Plan example - Smart Insights Digital Marketing Advice. [online] Smart Insights. [Accessed 29 Sep. 2017]. Tedesco, T. (2011).Do You AIDAR? Master the Awareness, Interest, Desire, Action and Reorder Stages of Buying -T.J. Tedesco. [online] Printing Impressions. [Accessed 29 Sep. 2017].

Enterprise Bargaining In The Australian System Of Employment Relations

Question: Discuss about the Enterprise Bargaining In The Australian System Of Employment Relations. Answer: Introduction Enterprise bargaining refers to the negotiation of working condition and wage structure at the individual level of organizations with specific focus in Australia. This essay will deal with the future of enterprise bargaining in the Australian system of employment relations. This process involves negotiation between the employees, employer, stakeholders and their bargaining representatives with the aim of making an enterprise agreement. The employers and employees are legally bound with the implementation of the enterprise bargaining agreement. The trade union is often involved in this process of enterprise bargaining to play the role of employer or employees (Financial Review 2018). The collective agreements of enterprise bargaining is usually applied to the workers of one employer. The system of agreement is not similar to awards, which offer same standards for all workers in the whole industry under a specific category of reward. As per the history of enterprise bargaining, it can be said that the collective agreements benefit the employers by incorporating flexibility in terms of performance. However, collective agreements are beneficial for the workers because they increase the pay and allow additional leave (Amma.org.au 2018). This particular essay on enterprise bargaining will focus on the history of enterprise bargaining in Australia and seek out the reasons behind its introduction. It will also highlight the importance of employment relations in Australia and the current threat faced by it to gather information about the future of this agreement. Discussion Enterprise agreement is a deal made at the enterprise level among the employers, employees and trade union members regarding the norms of employment (Actu.org.au, 2018). This process can involve more than one employer making an agreement with a group of employees. There is minor difference between awards and enterprise bargaining. Awards consider fewer amounts of pay and other benefits within the structure of industry. However, enterprise bargaining include particular arrangement for a specific enterprise. In general, the content of award can be considered as a least standard of enterprise bargaining agreement. The latter one is not permitted to provide anything less than its basic standard as per the national Employment Standards (Financial Review, 2018). There are two dominant stages of enterprise bargaining- the negotiation stage and the stage of contract administration. At the negotiation stage, few proposals are introduced to seek for the possibilities of the acceptance. It provides an opportunity for mutual agreement among the employers and employees after proper reflection and thoughtfulness. It further involves the three steps of preparation, procedure and follow- up action. At the stage of contract administration, the contract is signed by strict adherence from both the parties. The process of contract administration need not be ended with the award of a contract. However, it seeks legit knowledge and advice. The elements of contract administration include scheduled delivery, supervision of staffing, workplace safety rules, security clearance, site conditions and others. According to International Labor Organization, enterprise or collective bargaining is a negotiation about working conditions and means of employment between an employer and a group of employees with a perspective of defining industrial relations with one another (Bray and Rasmussen 2018). Economic and political provisions are the two issues that play major role in collective or enterprise bargaining. Hicks Bargaining Model can be referred to in association with enterprise bargaining. This particular model stresses on the length and cost of work strike. He suggested that trade union and the negotiators of management need to create stability between the costs and benefits of a work strike while negotiating. The prime focus of this theory was on the functional association of wage acceptance by one party and the extent of strike that will be followed to settle on that wage. This bargaining model of Hicks was contradictory to the Bargaining range theory because the former one focuses on a fixed wage settlement unlike the latter one. Bargaining range theory of A. C. Pigou described the process of wage settlement between the labors and the employers with a final settlement. As per this theory, the fixed settlement point of wage will depend on the negotiation or bargaining skills and the potential of the management negotiators. Enterprise bargaining was first introduced in Australia as per the Prices and Income accord in 1991. It was later on revised in the year 1993 and became the major part of industrial relations system in Australia. The trade union act was passed during the 19th century, which permitted the workers to negotiate with the employers for their wages and working conditions by forming a group. The era of 1860s and 70s when trade unions began initiating in the Australian working environment which faced success in terms of negotiating specifically, during labor scarcity, or gold rush (Amma.org.au 2018). The success of the enterprise bargaining act was first experienced by the stonemasons in Melbourne who won their demand for an eight hour shift. The severe depression of the 1890s let the employers take back the benefits of the trade union members which they have earned in the last 30 years. From the time of the Melbourne maritime dispute in 1890 let the employers of Australia put on a series of attacks on the trade union members. Membership was demolished and the union hardly got any favorable factors to negotiate with the employers (Financial Review, 2018). At the same time, several colonial ministers, especially Charles Kingston who was a South Australian premiere started looking for the mandatory negotiation and reunion. The idea behind this was that if the employers were unwilling to negotiate with the trade union members then as per the law, they would be able to avail an independent tribunal. If the supervisors and the sub- ordinates still failed to complete the negotiation process on a mutual outcome then the tribunal had the right to impose a mutual settlement. The colonial legislation was first used as a model for the first federal act, the Conciliation and Arbitration Act of 1904 which designed the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. In this way, the Parliament got the power to make regulations only for prevention and settlement of the industrial disputes that was spread to more than one state. The Conciliation and Arbitration Act of 1904 was followed by another case that resulted in the generation of Australias first minimum wage (Amma.org.au 2018). It was known as the Harvester case where Justice HB Higgins set the wages required for an unskilled laborer to support himself along with his family in economical comfort. In the year 1907, the wage was specified at 7 shillings per day or 42 shillings per week. It was regarded as a unique concept in terms of enterprise bargaining as it changed the notion of basic wage. The concept of enterprise bargaining from 1993 provided underpinning as a safety requirement. In order to be approved by the Industrial Tribunal, the EBA required reflecting that it did not prove to be a failure for the employees with respect to the award offering. Initially the award system was represented as the referral point for the certified agreements. The approval of the agreement came to be known as the no disadvantage test (Financial Review, 2018). The norm of enterprise bargaining was introduced to settle workplace disputes between employers, employees and the trade union members. The Australian Industrial Relations Commission was allowed to get involved only with the disputes which could not be resolved in other way. It was considered as the fundamental mechanism which determines the working condition and wages of the workers. There are different types of jobs in Australia which falls under the category of Industry Award. This specific award describes the minimum requirements of the employees in a specific industry. Low wage, yearly leave, strategies to resolve workplace disputes and sick leave fell under this industrial award category. An enterprise bargaining agreement is same as the industrial award only with a bit of difference (Fair Work Commission, 2018). For instance, weekend penalty rates or meal allowances fell under the category of enterprise bargaining. The employees were benefitted from this agreement in comparison to award and therefore, it was introduced. It needed to pass the better- off- overall test in order to get approved by the international tribunal. Fair Work Commissioner conducts this test to calculate if this particular agreement is better than the prevailing award system in the industry (Bca.com.au, 2018). For instance, EBA might not provide meal or other allowance but it paid the workers higher wage overall. Under a specific award category a worker might get a minimum wage of $17.35 in an hour along with a 25% penalty rate for working on Saturday. Therefore his total wage for an hour on Saturday will be $21.69. On the other hand, an enterprise bargaining agreement might not have a fixed rate of penalty for the workers on Saturday but their overall wage begins from $22.50 an hour. Therefore the introduction of this agreement provided better wage to the workers in comparison to the award system. It can be obvious that the worker is getting better paid even without the imposing of penalty rate. This is the basic cause of preference of EBA to industry award. The workers will also be interested in seeking this privilege than the prevailing system. The enterprise bargaining holds a significant impact on the employment relations of Australia. It became an integral part since the time of industrial revolution (Townsend, Wilkinson and Burgess 2013). Under this agreement, if an employer tries to take control of the bargaining process then it provides additional benefits to the employees by simultaneously providing, flexibility and innovation at the workplace. It is important in the industrial relations of Australia because an EBA ensure compliance to enhance productivity and reduce the cost of administrative operation. It is important to be included in any kind of business to meet the requirements of not only the employees but also the employers. It paves the way for a long- term benefit of the enterprise and offers reward to everyone associated with it. There are other important factors associates with enterprise bargaining in Australian industrial relations. It decreases costs, makes the compliance better and helps the employees to attain the workplace rights that they deserve. It is effective in maintaining harmony at the workplace. Opportunity is provided for more flexible working hours and schedule for achieving proper operational requirements of the organization. Talent retention is improved with the effective use of enterprise bargaining agreement due to the ability of direct sourcing in accordance to the target employees (Shaw, McPhail and Ressia 2018). The industrial relations get improved due to wider job categories and job role that can fit the proper business performance. EBA permits the employers and employees to achieve beneficial gains such as enhanced productivity and waste reduction. The importance is also found out in the form of efficient service delivery to provide superior customer service. It is also helpful in enhancing the procedures for dealing with the employee grievance or discussing about workplace issues. With the increasing diversity in the working environment of Australia there is a tendency that the employees will move towards different varieties of job and the EBA will help them in operating under different award categories. It offers an opportunity to the organization to set up own structure instead of restricting employees to a fixed work structure or a fixed award coverage. It helps in making the compliance procedure easy (Pekarek et al. 2017). It was observed that most of the workplace disputes emerged from low wage and due to indefinite award structure. It often becomes tough for the employees and the employers to co-ordinate between the general award category and the few roles carried out in the business environment. Therefore, enterprise bargaining agreement played an important role in this respect of resolving workplace hurdle. The employee experience has focused on the value added to the workplace culture due to the introduction of the agreement and the negotiation proces s. At present, the situation of enterprise bargaining is not anything noteworthy. There are only few sectors which have still clung to the enterprise bargaining agreement, such as construction and the public sector. It is seen that there is a huge decline in the new agreements and the workforce covered under those are also falling. Again, there are some companies whose enterprise agreement was seized by the Fair Work Commission which posed threat to the union officials and ACTU (Australian Council of Trade Unions). The scenario of enterprise is changing in the recent days due to the increasing population of the employees who were covered under the award category. Within a gap of 6 years there was an increase of employees covered under the award category from 15% to 24% (Bca.com.au, 2018). It was a remarkable amendment when the initial assumption was focused on the irrelevance of award system. The Fair Work Act as intended at the attainment of productivity and fairness in work by stressing on the industrial bargaining. However, the decreasing popularity of the enterprise bargaining agreement was explained with the instance of Coles supermarket in Australia. It was noted that the better off overall test was a precondition for the inappropriate certification of the agreement in the case of Coles. A lot of Coles employees were paid a lower wage by putting the virtue of loss of award penalty rates transparent (Townsend, Wilkinson and Burgess 2013). The system of enterprise bargaining was put at stake when the companies did an agreement to make significant decrease in the wage of the employees. The workers realized that there was no option for superannuation along with other conditions in the industry. The trade union agreed to limit such an agreement only to certain companies instead of opening it to all the competitors. The workers understood that they were not being treated properly when the union should have taken care of their best possible interests. The system of collective bargaining became an integral part of industrial relations in Australia. However, due to current financial crisis, it is being targeted by domestic and foreign authorities for obstructing flexibility in the labor market. The crisis has come brought in a complex situation in the emergence of collective bargaining in the organization (Pekarek et al. 2017). The issue was divided into the two categories between employers and the employees on one hand, and the trade union and the employers on the other. The flexibility of collective bargaining as an integral part of industrial relations depended on the feature of more of employer organization and less of union organization to ensure higher workforce coverage. The future of enterprise bargaining in Australia can be considered bleak because of the varied reactions of the employers to the recent change in trends. The modification in the employment relations is central to the economic and political debate in Australia from the last 20 years. There are certain employers who have tried to develop non- union agreements against a strong opponent of the current workforce whereas others have tried the cooperative ways to bring the change. These variations among the functions of the employers will create a disruption in the future of Australian working environment which will give rise to organizational disputes (Actu.org.au, 2018). Change and innovation in the collective bargaining of workplace can be considered as dependent on two different dimensions- individualism to collectivism and high trust or commitment to low commitment or trust. In the future of working environment in Australia, the changes can be considered to integrate collective arrangements. Most of the growth and development in the employment relations has been considered as casual and the employees do not get the accessibility to protection of full- time standard payment. In the long run, the employee security rights will not be applicable to the casual employees and thus they will not get the benefits (Wright 2017). The enterprise bargaining in Australia could not bridge the gap of industrial democracy created due to the decline of union movement. In Australia, the growth in casual jobs outruns the development of fixed jobs by a minor range. It might result in restricting the workers to join a trade union or indulge in the process of enterprise bargaining. However, it can be contradicted that union movement is not as bad as it might sound. As long as there is no work scarcity, the future of workers and unions rights is bright. The future of this system in Australia might vary to a great extent from the current scenario of industrial relations (Financial Review, 2018). For the future of Australia, a work council model can be proposed where the employers and the employees negotiate and correlate labor and business relations within the organization. There is a doubt about the effectiveness of this specific model for the future of industrial relations in Australia. This is because in the past 20 years it was reflected that employers and the government have strongly tipped the balance of work structure towards the employers (Shaw, McPhail and Ressia 2018). Conclusion It can be concluded from this essay that enterprise bargaining plays an important role in the industrial relations of Australia. The history of this agreement was reviewed to find put a comparison between the existing awards system and the recent agreement. The agreement varied among the trade union members, employers and the employees. The entire discussion about the union strategies in Australia and the union movement has focused on the organization of trade union structure in the organization. The history and the current trends o enterprise bargaining have also considered the threats faced by it due to financial crisis and increase in workforce population. The future of this agreement is still under question due to the issues faced by it and the low rate of awareness. It was overviewed that the trend is on the verge of losing its popularity. Therefore it is dubious if the future employees or employers can connect to each other with a single thread. References Actu.org.au. (2018).Australian Council of Trade Unions ACTU. [online] Available at: https://www.actu.org.au/ [Accessed 8 Apr. 2018]. Actu.org.au. (2018).Sally McManus Speech to AIRAANZ February 2018. [online] Available at: https://www.actu.org.au/actu-media/speeches-and-opinion/sally-mcmanus-speech-to-airaanz-february-2018 [Accessed 8 Apr. 2018]. Amma.org.au. (2018).Enterprise bargaining looks irrelevant. [online] Available at: https://www.amma.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/enterprise-bargaining-looks-irrelevant-AFR.pdf [Accessed 8 Apr. 2018]. Bca.com.au. (2018).The Business Council of Australia researches and promotes economic growth policies for the benefit of the nation and all Australians.. [online] Available at: https://www.bca.com.au/ [Accessed 8 Apr. 2018]. Bca.com.au. (2018).The current state of enterprise bargaining typifies the cracks appearing in our workplace relations system a system that is becoming increasingly adversarial and regulated, and ultimately disempowering workers and employers, writes Jennifer Westacott.. [online] Available at: https://www.bca.com.au/media/enterprise-bargaining-on-the-brink-of-failure [Accessed 18 Apr. 2018]. Bray, M. and Rasmussen, E., 2018. Developments in comparative employment relations in Australia and New Zealand: reflections on Accord and Discord.Labour Industry: a journal of the social and economic relations of work, pp.1-17. Fair Work Commission. (2018).Fair Work Commission | Australia's national workplace relations tribunal. 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[online] Available at: https://www.afr.com/opinion/columnists/bill-shorten-is-right-and-wrong-on-the-death-of-enterprise-bargaining-20180130-h0qps7 [Accessed 8 Apr. 2018]. Pekarek, A., Landau, I., Gahan, P., Forsyth, A. and Howe, J., 2017. Old game, new rules? The dynamics of enterprise bargaining under the Fair Work Act.Journal of Industrial Relations,59(1), pp.44-64. Shaw, A., McPhail, R. and Ressia, S., 2018.Employment Relations. Cengage AU. Townsend, K., Wilkinson, A. and Burgess, J., 2013. Is enterprise bargaining still a better way of working?.Journal of Industrial Relations,55(1), pp.100-117. Wright, C.F., 2017. Australian industrial relations in 2016.Journal of Industrial Relations,59(3), pp.237-253.