The Information Processing Theory

In the early 1990s, many scholars of developmental psychology, disenchanted by the antimentalistic and biases of behavioral psychology and shortcoming of Piaget’s theory, shifted to cognitive psychology and computer science to seek new thoughts and insights about children’s thinking.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Information Processing Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Computer systems that rely on mathematically programmed operations to offer solutions enabled these researchers to formulate a framework for information processing perspective that could explain cognitive development (Shaffer and Kipp 58). According to information processing theory, the human mind is like a computer storage on which information is stored, operated on and converted to answer and solutions to problems. Proponents of this theory assert, using computer analogy, that human mind is a hardware comprising of the brain and nerves as peripherals, and that the mental processes are software. The software exhibits themselves in form of attention, memory, perception, problem-solving and critical thinking strategies (Shaffer and Kipp 58). The theory suggests a connection between biological and cognitive development. Unlike Piaget’s theory, which was vague about this link, information processing theory contend that brain maturation and the nervous systems allows children and adolescents to process information quickly (Shaffer and Kipp 58). Therefore, developing children are able to sustain attention, recognize and store relevant information, and execute mental programs that enable them to process what has been stored to provide solutions to problems.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Information theorists are alive to the fact that strategies that children develop for processin g information are significantly influenced by the experiences presented to them-that is, they are influenced by the nature of problems presented to them, instructions, and the cultures-specific information they get (Shaffer and Kipp 58). The theory of information processing, like Piaget’s theory, construe that children’s thinking is controlled by internal (biological) systems, as well as culturally specific information. However, proponents of this theory suggest that external elements are more influential than internal systems (Seigler, DeLoache and Eisenberg 265). They contend that biological systems are essential information processing systems that depend on external forces, which are instructions and information obtained or gathered from culturally oriented learning environments (Taylor 89). For this reasons, these theorists believe that natural or biological components, which consist of the brain and the nervous systems, should be secure and functional to gather, s tore, and operate on information and produce desired outcomes. The theory of information process asserts that cognitive development is a continuous process, and is not stage-like. Ideally, the theory postulates that the strategies we adopt to collect, store and operate on information are evolutionary. They change over the course of childhood and adolescence (Taylor 89). As a result, information-processing theorists believe that cognitive development is a gradual quantitative changes rather than large qualitative changes.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Information Processing Theory specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The theory construes cognitive development as constructive waves that overlap, as opposed to a sequence of distinct stages of development. Children’s thinking is a process that incorporates progressive changes in learning strategies. For example, children learning mathematics use st rategies such as finger counting, Min counting strategy, and oral counting. They move from these easier, but less efficient approaches to complex, but efficient, approaches (Taylor 89). The theory suggests that children’s thinking is marked by a slow quantitative change in cognitive development. This means that children’s cognitive development grows from one stage to the other in a uniform manner. As a result, information-processing theorists assert that this process is continuous rather than dramatic shifts. The process does not happen or occur in a bang, but children’s comprehension of the environment follows a sequence of events, including growth of biological components and experiences presented. According to this theory, cognitive abilities of children are task-specific rather than general. Like computers, children’s mind is able to process information based on specific instructions, which provide outputs (memory, attention, problem-solving skills) t hat are specific. Unlike Piaget’s theory, information-processing theory contends that where vague instructions are provided, no accurate solutions can be arrived at. Children’s thinking is governed by several domains that are able to gather, store, operate on, and process information. However, the theory acknowledges that no single domain works in isolation, but as an organized system of dependent variables.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Instructions should be such that they address specific cognitive skills (McDevitt, and Ormrod, Ellis 145). For example, instructions given for mathematical additions cannot be similar to those provided for language skills. Individualized domains are capable of processing incoming information to yield solutions to problems presented to children (Taylor 89). The theory has a huge bearing on how educationists should proceed to formulate school or learning and teaching curricula to match the needs of different children. Since the theory suggests that information processing is domain-specific process, educators should design curriculum instructions that are specific, rather than general (Seigler, DeLoache and Eisenberg 265). In addition, instructions should be given continuously to enable learners to make sense of the problems that are presented with in their daily lives. The curriculum should also begin with simple, yet inefficient methods and proceed to complex and efficient strategies that build upon each other. This means that learning strategies should not be discrete, but rather continuous to help learners to relate complex problems with simple problems (Shaffer and Kipp 58). Information process theory has had a significant impact on how educators and developmentalists view the thinking process in children. This theory supports rigorous research methods, which have helped teachers to understand how children approach various challenges and reasons why they may make errors as they search for solutions (Taylor 26). Since teachers are aware of how and why children are unable to solve mathematical problems, they are able to develop alternative strategies that can improve the performance of children. Conclusion Although theorists of information processing differ with other theories such as Piagetian thinking, they contend that intellectual development of human mind is influenced by nurture (experiences that children interact with in the environment) and nature (bio logical factors such as maturation). While this theory has been criticized where critics contend that, the framework undermines the diversity and richness of human cognition. Notwithstanding its criticisms, information-processing theory can be used to shape the perception of educators and help in developing relevant curriculum instructions. Works Cited McDevitt, Teresa M., and Ormrod, Jeanne Ellis. Child Development and Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2012. Print. Seigler, Robert S., Judy S. DeLoache., and Nancy, Eisenberg. How Children Develop, New York: Worth Publishers, 2010. Print. Shaffer, David R, and Katherine, Kipp. Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence, Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Taylor, Laura M. Introducing Cognitive Development, Hove, U.K: Psychology Press, 2005. Print. This research paper on The Information Processing Theory was written and submitted by user Karlee O. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

GETTING THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BOOK-TOUR BUCK

GETTING THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BOOK-TOUR BUCK My short-story collection, QUIET AMERICANS, was published Some of this has depended on the assistance of generous friends and family in my destination locations. For instance, I’ve been lucky that these kindly connections respond to my promises of everlasting gratitude if they host book parties for me. (So far, my book and I have been the guests of honor in three cities.) But I’ve done more than drop vigorous hints to people predisposed to respond favorably to them. Consider my trip to Washington for a writers’ conference. I didn’t stop with the two panels and one book-signing that were scheduled for the conference site. One of the stories in my book is inspired More recently, after my application to participate in the Virginia Festival of the Book was accepted, and I learned exactly where and when my festival panel would take place,I tried to think creatively of ways I might meet still more readers in Charlottesville, a place where I didnt know a soul. An article in THE WRITER magazine introduced me to WriterHouse, Charlottesville’s thriving writing center. A few emails and one phone conversation later, I had a contract to teach a freelancing seminar there during my stay. Then, since my book features Jewish themes and characters even beyond the story inspired Of course, much of this success depends on the goodwill of others. But without thinking more broadly about opportunities that might cluster in each location, and without doing some initial research and outreach, none of it can happen. I’ve done it. You can, too. RESOURCES (primarily U.S.-based) Writing Conferences Centers: Literary Festivals: Museum Associations

The Contrasting Elements of the Two Companys Management Styles - Acme Assignment

The Contrasting Elements of the Two Companys Management Styles - Acme and Omega - Assignment Example Omega discourages barriers between managers and employees, as well as company memos, as it’s believed the barriers create artificial distances between individuals that should be collaborating.  Ã‚   2. When considering the contrasting elements of the two company’s management styles in regards to the ways they coordinated the production of the memory unit prototypes there are a number of notable factors. It seems that Acme highly structured production process created an atmosphere where divergent departments could be willfully disregarded for the purpose of the speed of production. At Acme, this occurred as the process department was bypassed to increase speed. Although this ultimately resulted in increased product deficiency, it nonetheless functioned as a means of allowing the company to maintain its deadline. At Omega the organic management process was better suited to determining the production process and delivering a quality product on time, as the process department wasn’t so easily disregarded. 3. While in the short-term Omega’s manufacturing process was more efficient and better prepared for the task than Acme’s, one can imagine how in a long-term process Acme’s management structure could outpace Omega’s. With a more highly-structured management, the individual departments can be micromanaged more efficiently for production. When a single department is behind on the production schedule, the company president is then capable of applying pressure to this department, and the other departments are still capable of advancing without the hindrances of this single entity. Omega’s organic structure makes this more difficult since the two departments are seamlessly intertwined, so that multi-tasking is complicated. 4. I would recommend that Omega capitalizes on its organic structure through the creative aspects that it could potentially create. As Acme’s structure is more highly structured it disturbs the flow of creative idea production. One can imagine an organic structure working well in a company such as Apple, Inc. where unique ideas are central to the company’s existence.  Ã‚  

Analyzing Ragged Dick and comparing its depiction of status and Essay

Analyzing Ragged Dick and comparing its depiction of status and identity with that of Black Protest and the Great Migration and - Essay Example The boundaries which are created through each story show how culture is based on creating divisions within society because of stereotypes, status and ways in which relates to material goods. The first concept related to identity and status and the divisions which this creates in American society comes from the ideal of class. In each of the stories, there is a division of class which occurs, specifically between the lower, middle and higher classes. The point which is made with each of these classes shows that this is based on wealth and money, which allows any individual to change their class if they can make wealth. When these specific classes clash or the information about wealth is recognized, then it creates the division. For instance, in â€Å"Ragged Dick,† Dick is known to have lived on the streets and without a home; however, if this is disclosed to those in the middle class, which he is trying to turn to through wealth and money, then it will create division. For inst ance, when he is seen walking with Frank, there is recognition that Frank has a wealthy home while Dick has been on the streets.1 This information shows the divisions between class and how it turns from financial situations into social status. The concept of social status and the relationship to wealth is not only important in determining divisions between rich and poor. The concept of status created more divisions that were based on other stereotypes created within American society. One’s identity was furthered with divisions of color, race and the area which one was from, such as displayed in â€Å"The Great Migration†.2 This story is similar to that of Dick’s, specifically because the looks which one has and the ethnicity which they belong to create the same division. The identity then relates to the class which one belongs to. The revelation in this story is important because it defines not only divisions created in American society through race, but shows h ow society has created the boundaries of identity beginning with stereotypes of race, then leading to wealth expectations, neighborhoods which one should live in and the lifestyles which one has. Each of these attributes of division are seen with the movie â€Å"Lady and the Tramp† as a way of showing how the identity and status become a sense of conflict. The main plot of this story shows how a dog from the other side of the tracks falls in love with a mongrel from the other side of town. When looking at the division between these two, it can be seen that there are complexities with wealth, looks, race and the class divisions between the two. The boundaries are based on the identification of several attributes which are incorrect in the two being together3. This creates the central conflict in the story and shows how division is based on the superficial identities which are created in society. The differences which occurred within in society and identity, all which are divid ed according to the wealth, ethnicity and identity of an individual, come into conflict when the stereotypes of class are no longer effective. The economic, social and political concepts tie together, specifically because of the status which is held. If one has a specific social status based on wealth, then begins to change into a

Human Resource Management - Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Human Resource Management - Case Study - Essay Example Complicating the problem is the problems faced in the continuing task of recruiting and hiring qualified and experienced workers out of a pool of individuals that are almost nomadic in their habit of moving around. The first step to effective recruiting is to fully understand the type of employees the store needs and what skills and knowledge the employees need to succeed. Skills are those abilities needed to perform the job while knowledge is what the employee needs to know to perform the job. The second step is to identify potential employees who have the necessary skills and knowledge. Here the store needs to draw people in from outside its traditional pools like former employees, volunteers, homemakers, students, family members of present employees, older workers, people with mental or physical disabilities, ethnic minorities, people new to the community, people looking for part-time work ,people currently on welfare or assistance. The next step is to how to reach the people in these groups and let them know about opportunities at the store. Traditional methods such as job postings or classified advertising should not be ignored but the store should be prepared to expand beyond this especially when the store is trying to reach groups of people who have not been reached through traditional recruiting techniques. Here are some creative ways to notify people about employment opportunities: Meet representatives from minority agencies within the community, post notices at youth centers, advertise on bulletin boards, at the supermarket, library, health club, child care center, family restaurants, etc. ,place fliers on car windshields in parking lots, distribute leaflets at immigrant settlement centers, have an older worker to speak at a senior

Is It Possible to Reconstruct a State?

Is It Possible to Reconstruct a State? Definitions: According to Max Weber, â€Å"State is an entity which possesses a delegatable monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.† (Warner, 1991) When a state looses its monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force or looses its capacity to perform even the most basic functions within its territory, it comes under the category of failed/ dysfunctional states. Most of the times reasons for failure of a state are civil war, international conflict, corrpution, lack of resources etc. De jure state[1] State which exist by a fiat of the international community, which recognizes them as soveregin entities whether or not they have a government capable of effectively controlling or administering the territory. Example- Somalia De facto state- State which receives no international recognition and has weak institutions, but where power is exercised and enforced within its territory. Examples- Kurdistan, Puntland, Somaliland De facto de jure state- State which enjoys international recognition and excercises control over people and territory through formal and strong, preferably democratic instritutions. This is the modern state in all its legal- rational Weberian splendour. In other words, this is the model the international community tries to replicate in dysfunctional states. Reconstruction:- is a process of recreation of an entity by the intrnal or external forces. Externally-led-reconstruction Where International actors intervene into a state and try to reconstrct. This model demands transtition from dysfunctional de jure state to the Weberian de facto state. Examples- Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia etc. Internally-led-reconstruction- Where domestic actors inside a state try to bring change. A transition from dysfunctional de jure state to a de facto state that slowly develops institutions, though not necessarily democratic ones. Examples- Mozambique, Kurdistan etc. Historically failed states simply used to disappear, divided up or conquered by a more powerful neighbour but today’s conventional wisdom has it that collapsed states must be reconstructed immediately and comprehensively along the lines of democratic countries with free market economies, thanks to the intervention by international community.[2] International community has assumed that it is both possible and essential for all the dysfunctional state to be reconstructed within their old borders but this assumption is very recent one. In the 1990s intervention by international community in a dysfunctional state invariably entailed the organizing of multi-party elections within the shortest possible time. For example. The Lusaka agreement of 1999 required the warring parties of DRC[3] to engage in ‘national dialogue’ to reach agreement on a new democratic political syatem and to hold elections. The December 2001, Bonn agreement called for holding of a loya Jirga[4] in Afghanisatn to reach agreement on a new democratic political system, to be followed by elections. Historically, attempts to reconstruct a state can be categorized in two ways- Externally-led-reconstruction:- Donor approach[5] of reconstruction includes setting up of new democratic institutions, re-writing constitutions, new election laws, creating civil society organization, liberalization of the economy etc. Most of the times these organizations do not turn out to be significant and established-hence institutions because most of the time they do not provide solution to the real problems on the ground. But donors, however, think of institution building, less in terms of finding solutions to what local actors preceive to be problems, and more in terms of transpalnting â€Å"best practices† that have been successful elsewehere. In the end, this approach of international community makes difficult for organizations to become institutions because they do not solve the real time problems. International community also wants institutions to come into function within a short span of time which is impossible. Internally-led-reconstruction:- The domestic actors that reconstruct states are miliatry men and politicians, who are more prone to act than to write, meaning by creation of constitution and institutions (liked by international community) is usually not their first priority. Majority of the internally led reconstuction of states come from Africa. For example in Uganda, Eritrea, Ethiopia, first step towards reconstruction was military victory. Since there were no other means at the disposal of domestic actors to generate the authority needed to govern a state, the only path was recourse to the raw power generated by superior force. Once they had generated legitimacy through force, they tried to transfrom that raw power into authority by regularizing institutions and processes of governemnt. This led to the reconstruction of the state, but not to the emergence of democratic states. Major components, free choice and popular participation were missing. Thus International community doesnà ¢â‚¬â„¢t like this approach. Criticism of Externally-led-reconstruction- Best practices do not solve real problems. For example, in Afghanistan retributional justice, against the wishes of President Karzai, was adopted against Taliban which became reason for Taliban to re-emerge. But if we look at the South African trasition from Aprtiheid regime, it was very smooth because they practiced what suited South Africa’s future the best. Donor supported institution building put an unbearable burdan on fragile states and in the end becomes self-defeating. For example , the strength of Afghan Army is 3,75,000. Annual budget of the Army and the annual income of the state are similar. Therefore, if there is no international committment then how will Afghan state fund the salaries of soldiers and what is their use if Taliban can come to negotiating terms. In most of the attempts of reconstruction, so-called institution building is not part of a sustained, open ended intrnational commitment to remain involved until the process is completed, but rather part of an exit strategy. Donors wants organizations in place so that they can go home but to my understanding that is a self-defeating strategy. Criticism of Internally-led-reconsturction- The actors wants to create a de facto state but usually they don’t have resources Even if they have the capacity to reconstruct the de facto state, they are likely to be reluctant to curb their newly acquired power and move from dictatorship or raw power to institutionalized politics and rule of law. In both types of state reconstruction, a major challenge lies in moving from â€Å"order imposed through power to the institutions† because institutions help in regularising authority in the long run. In internal reconstruction processes, second phase of state reconstruction[6] often fails to take place, because those who have consolidated power have little incentive to limit its exercise by developing institutions. In donor-directed processes, the international community rushes to develop institutions, but tends to withdraw the power that buttresses them far too soon, leading to failure. Some prescriptions to reconstruct a state:- When we think about the term reconstruction, we should give enough attention towards the possible outcome and resources at our disposal. Above all we need to know the short term and long term goals. Sometimes states are in need of means of survival but we are busy in creating democratic institutions and implementing best practices of governance for them. Thus we need to create and promote institutions according to the relevance and need of the hour but at the same time keeping in mind the long term goals. We need to recognize the potential candidates of statehood. For an example, Kurdistan Regional Government is a de facto state but it does not have international recognition. We are afraid of accepting the nationhood for Kurdistan. The same goes for Somaliland or Puntland. International community need to give heed to the de facto states. We need to know that institution building is a slow process and one size does not fit all- hence one type of system cannot fulfil the needs of every state. Every place is different on the earth and people have different approaches to the life. Thus we shouldn’t impose so-called â€Å"best practices† of governance in every corner of the world. Above all we shouldn’t create those institutions which can put unbearable burden on fragile states and become self defeating. For example- strong military apparatus in Afghanistan. If any state believes in the implementation of the â€Å"best practices† then that donor should set modest targets and should have long term commitment. We shouldn’t’ expect too much too soon. As saying goes, It takes 18 years for an infant to turn into an adult then how we can expect an institution to be functional within few years. Conclusion Reconstruction of states is a very difficult process. In 21st century, international community believes that there can not exist any failed states in the world and if there is any then we need to reconstruct it. But a lot of lessons needs to be learnt before we take up new assignments of reconstruction. Neither extrnal led, nor internal led approaches of reconstruction are perfect but with some improvements they can yield descent outcomes. International community always seems to be in hurry to build institutions but it requires a very long term commitment for organizations to turn into established institutions. Sometimes there is severe imbalance between the goals set by international community and the resources donors are willing to commit to attain the goals. It is possible to reconsturct a state if whatever organizations we set up, help in solving real probelms on the ground and thus become long lasting instutions. But if we just delpoy best practices without giving heed to the possible outcomes, it can lead to failure. Internally led reconstruction can also yield positive results if international community can provide long term commitment in building institutions. At the same time international community should bring de facto states into de jure states but there are always no easy choices to make. Bibliography:- Jackson, R. (1990) Quasi-states: Sovereignty, International Relations and the Third World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Daniel Warner (1991) An ethic of responsibility in International Relations. Lynne Rienner Publishers Chang, H. (2000) `Institutional Development in Developing Countries in a Historical Perspective: Lessons from Developed Countries in Earlier Times. Forman, S. and S. Patrick (2000) Good Intentions: Pledges of Aid for Post-Conflict Recovery. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers. Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction (2009), United States Institute of Peace Press, Washington DC Marina Ottaway (2003), Rebuilding State Institutions in Collapsed States, EBSCO publishing house. Call Charles T. (2008). â€Å"Building States to Build Peace? A critical analysis†. Journal of Peacebuilding and Development Vol.4 n.2 p.60. De Weijer, F. (2013). ‘A Capable State in Afghanistan: A Building without a Foundation?’ WIDER Working Paper No. 2013/063. Helsinki: UNU-WIDER. [1] Definitions of de jure and de facto states have been borrowed from the work of Robert R Jackson. [2] International Community- in this paper this word means â€Å"the conglomerate of industrialized democracies and the multilateral agencies over which industrialized countries have preponderant influence.† [3] DRC- Democratic Republic of Congo [4] Loya Jirga- is a special type of grand assembly that is mainly organized to choose a new head of state in case of sudden death, to adopt new constitution or to settle serious issues such as war etc. [5] Donors- International community including international organizations [6] Second phase of reconstruction in internally led reconstruction is to transform raw power into authority by establishing institutions.

The Character Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter :: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Hester Prynne's choice to control the meaning of the scarlet letter transforms her from a shameful and evil person to a compassionate woman. Her refusal to stop wearing the letter proves the letter has a different meaning rather than adultery. Hester Prynne transforms the meaning through her good deeds and deserved redemption. After some time, society begins to construe the scarlet letter as ?Able? rather than adulteress. From this process Hester creates a passionate identity. The scarlet letter claims Hester Prynne?s past but only she can determine whether it will benefit or hurt her future. Hester Prynne sees herself as a strong and independent woman. She realizes that she has committed a sin, and therefore she refuses to remove the A from her chest. She is determined to change her identity and the Puritan community?s views. For example, Hester Prynne does not attend church, nor does she believe in a religion. She sets herself apart from everyone else and chooses to live on the outskirts of town. Hester Prynne does what she feels is right and intends to wear the A as long as she needs to, to prove she controls the meaning of the scarlet letter and not society. The Puritan community?s views of Hester Prynne change throughout the novel. The community notices that Hester Prynne is a very responsible woman and a good mother. She singularly raises Pearl and makes her own living. Moreover, she sells things to provide for her?s and Pearl?s living costs. Hester Prynne performs many good deeds, such as feeding the poor. The responsibility, independence, and good deeds help change society?s views of Hester Prynne and her scarlet letter. The effects of the scarlet letter lie in the hands of Hester Prynne.

Judicial Control of Administrative Action in India and Writs

1 Judicial Control of Administrative Action in India and Writs One of the important field of the study of the administrative law is the „? Judicial Control of Administrative Action in India. Today the power of the administrative authorities become very strong and thus it resulted different complications and repercussions in the socio-economic field in India. Therefore, considering the day to day increasing power of the administrative bodies judicial control is become an important area of the administrative law as because the judicial department i. . Courts have proved to be the more effective and beneficiary branch than any other Parliamentary or Legislative or Administrative action for the purpose of the controlling the administrative action in India. In this regard Prof. Jain & Jain rightly quoted that, â€Å"the real kernel of democracy lies in the courts enjoying the ultimate authority to restrain all exercise of absolute and arbitrary power.Without some kind of judicial p ower to control the administrative authorities, there is a danger that they may commit excess and degenerate into arbitrary authorities, and such a development would be inimical to a democratic Constitution and the concept of rule of law† . Administrative law also provides for control over administrative action by an outside agency strong enough to prevent injustice to the individual while leaving the administrative agencies adequate freedom to enable them to carry on effective administration. Administrative Action† is a very comprehensive term in which all the actions of administration are included. Administration is the meeting point of three types of government functions. The executive performs the residue of all these functions which are not vested in the two other branches of government i. e. the legislature and the judiciary. 1 Administration exercises a variety of powers. Administrative action may therefore, be legislative or judicial or neither, i. e. it could be discretionary non-judicial order or merely a ministerial act.All these functions are exercised by the administration. Administrative process in this way cuts across the traditional classification of governmental powers and combines into one, all the powers which were traditionally exercised by three different organs of state i. e. the legislature, the judiciary and the Executive. Power of Judicial control of the Administrative action may be divided under two heads in India :- (I) Judicial Control of Administrative actions by Writs: Administrative actions may be controlled by the Courts by issuing different writs under different circumstances in India.Courts through issuing different writs playing a vital role in the judicial control of administrative actions in India. Article 32(2) provides that the Supreme Court shall have power to issue directions or orders or including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari, whichever may be appr opriate for the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights 2 and for the control of the administrative action in India. This right is available only against State as defined under Article 12 of the Constitution of India.This Article provide only Original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court not the Appellate jurisdiction. Thus a person can go straight to the Supreme Court for the protection of his Fundamental rights; this jurisdiction of Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution is considered as a part of the basic structure of the Constitution. Article 226 empowers the High Court to issue writs for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights as well as for any other oppose. Article 226 provides that notwithstanding 1. Jayantilal Amrat Lal Vs F. N. Rana, A. I. R. 1964 S. C. 648, 55. . Bandhua Mukti Morcha V. Union of India, A. I. R. 1976 S. C. 803. 2 anything in Article 32, every High Court shall have power throughout the territories in relation to which it exercises jurisdict ion, to issue to any person or authority including in appropriate cases any Government within those territories, directions, orders or which including writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari, or any of them for the endorsement of any of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by part III of the Constitution and for any other purpose.Both Article 32 and Article 226 provide five kinds of writs through which administrative action may be judicially controlled along with other actions. Article 226 under clause (4) made it quite clear that though both the Articles provides right of writs under the same heads, i. e. habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari, but the power conferred on a High Court by Article 226 shall not be in derogation of the power conferred on the Supreme Court by Clause (2) of Article 32.Judicial Control over administrative action is exercised through the Constitutional extraordinary remedies and statu tory ordinary remedies as well. Provisions for extraordinary remedies have been made under Article 32 and 226 of the Constitution. For controlling administrative action Supreme Court and High Court can issue the writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari. A short discussion is given hereunder:Habeas Corpus: Habeas Corpus means bring the body.The writ of habeas Corpus is issued as an order calling upon the person who has detain another person to produce the detune before the Court to examine the legality of his detention. If the detune is produced before the Court and the Court finds the detention is illegal then it will order for the immediate release of the person detained illegally. The main objective of this writ is not to punish the person who has detained another person illegally but to secure immediate release of the person detained illegally whether in prison or private custody.Mandamus: The writ of mandamus is, in form, a control or command is sued by the Superior Court (the Supreme Court and High Court) to the Government, inferior court, tribunal, corporation, authority or any other person having public duty to perform asking such the Government, inferior court, tribunal, corporation, authority or any other person to perform the public duty or to refrain from doing illegal act.Thus mandamus is defined as a command issued to direct any person, corporation, inferior court or government requiring them or him to do any particular thing which he or they should do as a duty of his or their office and is in the nature of public duty or to prevent them from doing any illegal act. The purpose of this writ is to compel the performance of public duties prescribed by the statute and to keep a control over the subordinate court, Tribunal, corporation and other officers or administration exercising public duty.Certiorari: The writ of certiorari is the writ, which is issued by the Superior Court (i. e. Supreme Court or the High Court) to the inferior court or Tribunal or body exercising judicial or quasijudicial functions to remove the proceedings from such Court, Tribunal or body for examining the legality of the proceedings. If any order passed by the lower court or Tribunal or body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions is found to be illegal by the Superior court then the Superior court may quash or demolish it.It also controls the judicial or quasi-judicial functions of the inferior court or Tribunal or body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions exceeding it jurisdiction. 3 The prime aim of the writ of certiorari is to keep judicial control over the inferior courts or Tribunal or bodies functioning judicially or quasi-judicially within the limit of the jurisdiction allocated to them by the law and to prevent them from acting in excess of their jurisdiction.Prohibition : The writ of Prohibition is issued by a superior court to an inferior court or tribunal or body exercising judicial or qua si-judicial functions for preventing such inferior court or tribunal or body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions from uprising jurisdiction which is legally not vested to them or from acting in violation of the principles of natural justice or from acting under the unconstitutional law.The object of the prohibition is to restrain the inferior courts or tribunals or bodies exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions from exceeding their jurisdiction. To control and keep them under the limit of their jurisdiction. Prohibition is an order of Superior courts directed to an inferior courts which forbids the court to continue proceedings in excess of its jurisdiction or in contravention of the law of the land.Quo Warranto: The word ‘Quo Warranto’ means „By what authority?. The writ of Quo Warranto is issued against a person who occupies or holds or usurps an independent sustentative office and asked him to show by what authority he claims it. The procedu re of this writ confers jurisdiction on the court to call upon the person holding an independent substantive public office or franchise or liberty to show by what right or authority he holds the said office or franchise or liberty.The unauthorized or illegal occupant of such office may be ousted by the judicial order and the person entitled to the office may be allowed to hold or occupy it. The object of this writ is to protect or control the right of the citizen through Courts from being deprived of public office to which he may have a right. By this writ the court protects the public from usurpers of the public office and control the administrative action in making appointment of the public office.Through this writ the court protects a citizen from being deprived of a public office to which he is legally entitled to hold. (II) Judicial Control of Administrative action by other than Writs: Some important aspects other than Writs also provided to the Constitution of India for the ju dicial control the administrative action in India. (i) Special Leave to appeal: The power of judicial review conferred on the Supreme Court under Article 136 is special or extraordinary in nature. This power is in the nature of a residuary reserve power of judicial review.Article 136 lays down that the Supreme Court may, in its discretion, grant special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any Court or Tribunal, except any Court or Tribunal constituted by or under any law relating to the Armed Forces. Since the Supreme Court has been invested with a plenary jurisdiction to hear appeals against the decisions of Administrative Tribunals and other adjudicating agencies, it is now regarded as an important mode of judicial review of administrative adjudications.But this jurisdiction is special and exercisable outside the purview of ordinary law. The Court entertains special leave only where the needs of justi ce demand its interference. 3 (ii) Supervisory Jurisdiction: The power of judicial review which has been conferred on all the High Courts under Article 227 is supervisory in nature. Article 227 provides that ever High Court shall have superintendence over all Courts and tribunals throughout the territories in relation to which it 3. Durga Shanker Mehta v. Raghuraj Singh, A. I. R. 1951 S. C. 20 (522). 4 exercises jurisdiction. This supervisory power is both judicial and administrative in nature. 4 The supervisory jurisdiction conferred on the High Courts under Article 227 is in addition to the power given under Article 226 to control inferior Courts or tribunals. The supervisory jurisdiction extends to keeping the subordinate tribunals within limits of that authority and ensuring that they obey the law. The power under the article can be exercised even in those cases in which no appeal or revision lie to the High Court5.Though all the above mentioned writs and non-writs power are imp ortant weapons against state (Article 32) as well as against any detune, whether a private person or State (Article 226) for the judicial control of the administrative action in India but the main instinct for the judicial control of the administrative action by writs is the writ of ‘MANDAMUS’ and ‘QUOWARRANTO’ which are equally protective against the violation of judicial as well as administrative action, and among the other than writs power is the ‘SPECIAL LEAVE TO APPEAL’ which empowers to appeal from any judicial and administrative judgment in India. ***** Department of Law, B. U. Shashi Nath Mandal LL. M ( Part – II), 4. Ram Roop v. Bishwa Nath, AIR 1958 all. 459. 5. Jagir Singh Ranbir Singh, (1979) 1 SCC 560.

Cp Rice Global Marketing Essays

Cp Rice Global Marketing Essays Cp Rice Global Marketing Essay Cp Rice Global Marketing Essay Table of Contents 1INTRODUCTION5 1. 1COMPANY BACKGROUND5 1. 1. 1History of C. P. Company5 1. 1. 2C. P. INTERTRADE CO. , LTD, the trading arm of C. P. group major distribution of C. P. Thai rice5 1. 2ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE6 1. 3REASON FOR CONDUCTING INTERNATIONAL MARKETING ACTIVITIES6 1. 4PRODUCT OVERVIEW7 1. 4. 1C. P. Main Products services7 1. 4. 2Agribusiness Food, the heart of C. P. 9 1. 5PARTICULAR PRODUCT (FOR GROUP ANALYSIS)9 2CURRENT MARKET SITUATION9 2. 1COUNTRY ANALYSIS (TARGET MARKET)9 2. 1. 1Geographic Environment9 2. 1. 2Cultural Environment12 2. 1. Economic Environment14 2. 1. 4Political and Legal Environment16 2. 2COMPETITORS ANALYSIS19 2. 2. 1Thailand; number one rice exporter19 2. 2. 2C. P. competitor analysis20 2. 3EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT OF HOST COUNTRY VS. MARKETING STRATEGIES21 3MARKET ENTRY STRATEGIES23 4MARKETING MIXES23 4. 1PRODUCT23 4. 2PRICE25 4. 3PLACE (DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL)26 4. 4PROMOTION27 5SWOT ANALYSIS FOR C. P RICE PRODUCT28 5. 1WEAKNESSES AND STRENGTHS OF THE COMPANY28 5. 2TREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FOREIGN MARKET30 5. 3SOLUTION OR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THOSE CHALLENGES33 6BCG MODEL FOR C. P. THAI RICE33 RECOMMENDATION35 Introduction Enclosed within this report is the background of the Charoen Pokphand Group; Asia’s leading globally committed conglomerate, how it was started and their main products and services as â€Å"Rice† product is the key focus. It includes host country and competitor analysis, market entry strategy also being explored in this report. This detailed explanation was arrived after much research and analysis. Objectives The objective of this report is to find out the background of the company, as Rice is specific product and Singapore is a trading partner . We hope to know about host country environment which affect the demand for the company product and their competitors as well as the entry mode and market entry strategy. We also analyse marketing mix and company’s SWOT as the data tell many things about the company. Above all, we hope to improve our ability and understanding and also educate other classmate about the modern philosophy in the field of Global marketing and its applications in Thai situation. We are working on and for them to have a better understanding of the subject. 1Introduction 1. 1Company Background 1. 1. 1History of C. P. Company In 1921, Charoen Pokphand Group or generally know as C. P. Group was very first introduced as a small seed shop in Bangkok’s China town named â€Å"Chia Tai† by Chia brothers, Ek Chor and Siew Whooy. A successful seeds business in Thailand allowed this company to steps forward to other level; livestock farming, then toward a fully integrated agribusiness (as of seed to feed to food). During 30 year of operation; C. P. reached fifth largest feed mill operator in the world. Recently C. P. group is the largest conglomerate business in Thailand and one of the leading conglomerates in Asia. Since Charoen Pokphand Group carry on aggressively invest and operate in numerous industries across the world, agribusiness still is intensely embedded within the practicalities of the organization as it branches additional into the international markets. The C. P. group is now employing greater than 250,000 people worldwide and attained 14 million dollars at the end of 2006. 1. 1. 2C. P. INTERTRADE CO. , LTD, the trading arm of C. P. group major distribution of C. P. Thai rice The International Trading Business Group of C. P. or commonly known as C. P. Intertrade CO. LTD was founded in 1979 as general trading company promoted by Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) ), with registered capital 100 million baths. C. P. Intertrade CO. , LTD is the trading arm of C. P. Corporation conducts trade sorting from basic agricultural products and industrial raw materials to high value-added foodstuffs. With over 25 years of international trade experience, The Company won THE BEST EXPORT ER awards in 1978 and 1988, besides in 1995 award-winning rice products are known under the brand name ‘Royal Umbrella’. 1. 2Organization Structure 1. Reason for conducting international marketing activities C. P corporate has been involved in international business. Almost of their businesses are direct- investment and joint- venture in many country. It has branches throughout Asia (including China), the Middle East, Europe, North and South America and South Africa. As the great opportunity to expand its business, C. P. Group has been fully conducted the international business since 1960 while the first international branch was established in Hong Kong. Lately, the company has grown into a global business, with more than 250 subsidiaries in 20 countries Like other successful company, C. P. see an opportunity of maximize their profit and expand it market throughout the world. Seeing that, C. P. generates various kinds of products and services, performing international marketing activities will generate more distribution channel and increase number of business customer both directly and indirectly. As number of customer of C. P. increase, it is surely that the company will generate more revenue. 1. 4Product Overview 1. 4. 1C. P. Main Products services As the largest conglomerate business group, C. P. Corporation gradually expands business throughout the world and involve in international business offering wide ranges and different product lines. Begin with Agro-business and Food by CPF group and its vision of becoming the â€Å"Kitchen of the World† maintains this company as the number one of Agro-business and Food Industry in Thailand. Since 1921, Agribusiness is still at heart of C. P. This core business divided into two major business lines; Livestock business consisting of chicken, duck and swine; Aquaculture business consisting of shrimp and fish. Marketing and Distribution business; To serve consumers wants and needs efficiently and effectively, the foundation of convenience stores, shopping malls and hyper supermarkets have been one of the C. P. group’s main business. Three main businesses is comprised of C. P. ’s Seven Eleven; international’s premier convenience store with 3,800 stores in Thailand. , C. P. ’s Lotus Super Centers ;‘one-stop’ shopping situated across China with 75 store ,and C. P. ’s Super Brand Mall; China’s first and largest one-stop shopping and entertainment complex. C. P. s Telecommunication Services; Thailand’s most integrated communications solution provider, convergence leader and prime lifestyle enabler which generally known as True Corporation Plc. True is tactically positioned to provide consumers with a convergence of network services and content. Seed, Fertilizer and Plant Protection by Chia Tai Business Group, offering a full range of seeds (vegetables and flowers) and fertilizers (various formulas). Besides, the business group has developed organic vegetables for local markets and offers consultation farming services in local and Asian markets International Trading Business Group; conducts trade ranging from basic agricultural products and industrial raw materials to high value-added foodstuffs. The Crop Integration Business Group, with four main businesses in the area of ‘Field Crops’, ‘Horticulture’, ‘Rice’ and ‘Agricultural Machinery’. Products such as hybrid corn, rice, fertilizers, tropical fruits, orchids, tea, wine, disease-free planting materials and food processing machinery are sections of the Crop Integration Business Group’s accomplishments. This business line holds local and international farmers located in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, and etc. C. P. ’s Plastic By Plastic business group; manufactures a wide range of products from polypropylene, PVC, artificial leather, and sponge to rigid PVC. This has been one of Thailand’s largest plastic manufacturers. The Pet Food Business Group by Perfect Companion Co. ,Ltd providing balanced and nutritional food, including special diet formulas, vitamins, treats and chews, plus care products, for specific breeds of dogs, cats, birds, aquarium fish, horses and zoo animals. The Automotive and Industrial Products Business Group; concentrates in manufacturing motorcycles (Under the DAYANG trademark) and automotive parts. With a production achieve at 1 million units per year in China, the company currently produces 50 models covering 8 series of motorcycles ranging from 50cc to 200cc. Aside from supplying products to the domestic market, the company’s products are exported to countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America The Real Estate and Land Development Business Group owns and manages several property sites inside Thailand. Existing property sites include apartment, hotel (The Grand Mercure Fortune), office buildings, shopping centers, industrial estates, and etc. 1. 4. 2Agribusiness Food, the heart of C. P. The integrated agribusiness of C. P. group places them to meet the world’s changing lifestyles need for affordable, nutrition, and high quality food products. With five divisions which are seed, animal feed, and livestock production, further processing, and trading and implementing both horizontally and vertically integrated agribusinesses help C. P. roup satisfy the world’s demand and then established this largest conglomerate business group with value. 1. 5Particular Product (For Group Analysis) C. P. Intertrade Co. , Ltd. , a subsidiary of C. P. Corporation, supplies variety of food under â€Å"ROYAL UMBRELLA† brand which has been trade worldwide under its control. However, a specific product that has been chosen for group analysis is â€Å"CP Thai Rice† under a brand name of â€Å"ROYAL UMBRELLA†. 2Current Market Situation 2. 1Country Analysis (Target market) C. P. Group began business in Singapore since 1976. Later Singapore become the largest rice importer form C. P. Intertrade Co. ; Ltd; under the â€Å"Royal umbrella† brand. 2. 1. 1Geographic Environment Involving in international trade, geographical perspectives is surely effect C. P. group for the reason that it’s related to their business decisions: The location of different kinds of economic activity and the transactions that flows across national boundaries, provides insights into the natural and human factors that influence patterns of production and consumption in different parts of the world. It explains why patterns of trade and exchange evolve over time. And it provides a means for assessing how patterns might change in the future through analysis of processes that result in different geographic patterns. In a word, geographic environment provides powerful means for CP group business strategy. GEOGRAPHIC ENVIRONMENT AND C. P. BUSINESS LOCATION It is one of the most important factor that CP have to consider first when develop their new market at outside of local areas. Location affects their logistic strategy as transportation and distribution. (Ex: Different locations need different transport ways as railway, ship, truck. ) C. P. hip their rice product to Singapore via Vessel which is the suitable mode of transportation as rice is the generic food and not easy being spoiled and very heavy. Vessel shipment is not only inexpensive but also carry large amount at a time. The destinations are Port of Singapore; the worlds busiest port in 2005 in terms of shipping tonnage handled and Jurong Port. Koh Sichang is the commercial port for load ing / unloading vessels. PLACE The characteristics of places both natural and human profoundly influence the way that our business executives in different places participate in international economic transactions. Natural features- climate is one of the other important factors because C. P. business related to agricultural production. Therefore, C. P. will build distribution center in warmer, drier areas where good for rice storage and will also consider of climate when we transport our rice to other country in order to decrease damages from bad climate. Human features – population of a place is also important because C. P. business require intensive labor to be successful. Skills and qualifications of the population also play important role in determining productivity of rice growing. Singapore is a very small county with a big amount of population which covered by modern buildings and road, therefore, no place to grow agricultural product, it is caused a big demand in many kinds of industrial and agricultural resources. In other ways, its allow CP group export more rice to Singapore. INTERACTION The nature of human-environmental interaction also affects C. P. group strategies in production and world market distribution. With technological advances, the company has been able to modify and adapt to their production environment in increasingly sophisticated ways. Advanced irrigation system and bio-tech permit us increase in productivities and be grown in more area. Developing and increasing quality of transportation ventures and condition of road allow C. P. quicker in delivery to Singapore. MOVEMENT Our inter-trade exists because movement permits the transportation of people and goods and communication of information and ideas among different places. The location and character of transportation and communication systems long have had power influences on our economic standing of places because C. P. usiness faces on large export transportation. Communication advances have had a staggering impact on the way that international marketing. Currently we successfully create our brand royally in the world wide market. Keep on communicating with our customers is also important for our further business. Singapore typically request for higher grade and better quality of rice. This is mainly the result of better living standards, a change in lifestyle a nd subsequent change in taste and choice. The healthy choice consumers are also health conscious in their consumption pattern. This is inline with the active promotion of the Government to eat and stay health. Therefore, Consumers in Singapore prefer the higher grade rice that is widely know as â€Å"Thai Hom Mali† rice or Thai fragrant rice. The quality, texture and moisture content in this rice are most acceptable by the local consumers. Although it’s has high price. REGION Understanding of region is also important because region can define by patterns of location, place, and movement in other ways its combination of all patterns. Government: government has a strong impact on the conduct of C. P. business. The borders of government jurisdictions often coincide with the functional boundaries of economic regions. Therefore, study of WTO and FTA rules in different regions is directly related to C. P. margins. We have to work out different marketing strategies to different regions. Singapore is one of the ASEAN Free Trade Area members, so C. P. export of rice has very low cost in tariff and non-tariff barriers. And Singapore government encourages local retailers to import C. P. group rice by reorganization of their high quality rice. . 1. 2Cultural Environment Culture is the pattern of behavior and thinking that people learn, create, and share. Culture distinguishes one human group from others. Cultural preferences are major reasons for adapting products as they affect purchasing behavior and product use. Cultural influences drastically on the usage of goods such as personal goods (clothing, food) and non-durable consumer goods (grocery products, etc). The cultural influence i s less appreciated with regard to industrial goods and production goods. However, even if the latter are less modification of the cultural environment, alternations is still necessary for other reasons, for example, connection to legislation climate. Cultural development, the sociology and cultural influence on economic development, moral maps in societies, gender and human values and national prosperity are creating changes in consumption, distribution, product and price adaptation in foreign market. Understanding the cultural value of various consumer behaviours and understanding personal values in a society affect on marketing strategies in emerging economies. A peoples culture includes their beliefs, rules of behaviour, language, rituals, art, and technology, styles of dress, ways of producing and cooking food, religion, and political and economic systems. For example: A U. S. toothpaste manufacturer promised its customers that they would be more â€Å"interesting† if they used the firm’s toothpaste. But in Latin American Countries â€Å"interesting† is another euphemism for â€Å"pregnant†. Consumption patterns, living styles, and the priority of needs are all dictated by culture. Culture prescribes the manner in which people satisfy their desires. No wonder that consumption habits very greatly. The consumption of beef provides a good illustration. Some Chinese do not consume beef at all, believing that it is improper to eat cattle that work on farms, thus helping to provide foods such as rice and vegetables. Singapore: the most economical and largest country in South East Asia has a loveable and incredible combination of different cultures of various ethics groups. The immigrants of the past have given the place a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences, all of which have intermingled. The Chinese are predominantly followers of Buddhism, Taoism, Shenism, Christians, Catholics and some considered as free-thinkers (Those who do not belong to any religion). Malays have the Muslims and Indians are Hindus. There are a sizeable number of Muslims and Sikhs in the Indian population. The important manners and customs of Singaporeans that the international marketers should know are they do not like to be touched anything with the fingers. Using the hands is considered ill-mannered and unhygienic. Singaporeans use utensils such as forks, spoons and chop sticks for pizza, sandwiches, fruit, chicken, Chinese foods such as noodle and Japanese foods such as sushi. They try to eat in the â€Å"continental† style, with the chop stick most of the time. Singaporeans people like to eat street food all the time. It is no secret that Singaporeans eat and drink with a passion. As the Singaporean traditional food is so much rely on the rice. Such as Chinese food (Hainanese chicken rice, clay pot rice) Malay food (coconut rice with chicken) Indian food (bariani). As the Asian, they used to eat with rice everyday. Modern people especially who take care on their health has been looking for a meal that is delicious, low fat and easy to eat something like Japanese sushi. In Singapore, people discovered Sushi Sashimi in the last decade, so, everybody is looking for something really special for a healthy life. For a long time Japanese restaurants were unknown before becoming fashionable a few years ago, and now they are popular to stay as the new generation cannot live without a sushi. Eating well in good Japanese restaurants in Singapore is not cheap but it is very easy. The city is quickly becoming one of the gastronomic centres of the world. As eating rice has been used in Singapore cuisines for a long time ago, they prefer to have the rice in sushi in Singapore is a change agent there. So the new style of eating rice takes their interest and consumption of rice is increasing. So Singapore’s culture is easy to adapt as there are many ethic groups. There is no conflict with the language and religion of Singapore because they also use English and the Buddhism has no restriction on one’s eating habit. And their manners and customs on eating give no trouble to operate. Though they have their wonderful, gorgeous and wonderful traditional cuisine, they also fond of all kinds of good foods around the world. The main point is that the high demand of rice in Singapore is very attractive as they use large amount of rice in their traditional food and Japanese food restaurants, such as sushi retailers, are also more and more. We can target not only the Japanese in Singapore but also the new generation of Singapore as they are now enhancing eating habits of Japanese Cuisine where we can mostly use rice in large amount. Moreover, we can also target the Singaporean Cuisine. 2. 1. 3Economic Environment C. P. Company sees a greater export potential for high quality rice due to its unique taste particularly jasmine rice, 100-per-cent white rice and parboiled rice. The company exports under its own brand name, Royal Umbrella, an average of 40,000 tones of rice annually worth Bt1 billion. Main export markets include Hong Kong, Singapore, the Middle East and the United States. During the review period, economic growth in Singapore was strong until mid-1997, when the effects of the Asian economic crisis began to be felt. Between 1995 and 1997, real GDP growth averaged over 8% annually. Real GDP growth fell sharply to 0. % in 1998, however, mainly as a result of both weaker demands in the region and in demand for Singapores main exports outside the region. Slower economic activity pushed unemployment up from 1. 8% in 1997 to 3. 2% in 1998. Economic growth in Singapore is underpinned by a stable macroeconomic environment. A history of prudent fiscal and monetary policy enabled the Governme nt to respond swiftly to the economic crisis that hit the region in 1997, giving temporary tax cuts to businesses in the 1998 and 1999 budgets to tide them over the crisis. As a consequence, the previously surplus budget is expected to register a deficit of 3. % of GDP in 1999/2000. In addition, monetary policy was loosened to allow the exchange rate to fluctuate within a wider band, reducing pressure on the currency. The outcome is that the Singapore dollar has depreciated against major international currencies, although the more substantial regional currency devaluations have eroded the external competitiveness of Singapores lower value-added exports. As a result, inter alias, of the Governments budgetary measures, improved demand in Singapores major export markets for electronics, and signs of economic recovery in the Asian region, the Singapore economy appears to be making a rapid recovery. Overall real GDP growth projections for 1999 are currently around 5%, substantially higher than 0. 3% in the previous year. The economic crisis in Asia and subsequent currency devaluations in neighboring countries has, nevertheless, highlighted concerns about the export competitiveness of some sectors; particularly lower value-added manufactures, where lower cost regional producers are making in-roads. Singapores relative unit labor costs, especially with respect to other countries in the region, have continued to rise for much of the period under review. While the recent temporary budgetary measures have helped cut costs, longer term measures, including programmers such as Industry 21, Information Technology 21, and Manpower 21, have also been taken to increase value-added production in manufacturing and services. Between 1995 and 1998, Singapore reduced the percentage of tariff lines subject to import prohibitions (from 0. 7% to 0. 5%) and to automatic and non-automatic import licensing (from 19. 7% to 19. 2%), the report states. In general, Singapore maintains import and export restrictions for environmental or health and safety reasons; however, imports of rice are licensed for food security reasons and a ban is maintained on imports of motor vehicles that are three years old and above, for safety and environmental reasons. Every decision making that C. P. Corporation has been made for international engaged company must be considered trade restrictions and regulations of Singapore. Rice is the number one export product of Thailand. C. P. Intertrade is one of the major Thai rice exporter and one of its main target market is Singapore. Singapore import rice mostly from Thailand around 350,000-400,000 tones each year more than other country. Percentage show that 83. 1 % of total rice imports are from Thailand. SINGAPORE IMPORT REGULATION Singapore employs Free Trade Policy, thus there is no import tax except GST (Goods Services Tax) which is only 5% (Government of Singapore is now consider to increase to 7% in 2005). The Importer must be granted an Import License from International Enterprise Singapore (I E Singapore). RICE TRADE REGULATION Rice importers of Singapore have to stock the rice two time of its rice import each month and have to keep it only in Singapore Storage Warehouse Pte. Ltd. (SSW). Types of rice that have to be reserve are Fragrant Rice, White Rice and Broken Rice. Other than this is exception. Besides, International Enterprise Singapore (I E Singapore) is only an organization that has authorization to approve quantity of rice trade so if any importer prefer to increase or decrease amount of rice trade, they must inform and ask permission three month before any transaction is occur . 1. 4Political and Legal Environment Political and Legal Environment has played a critical role and influenced every business organization in conducting global business. Expert manager should clearly understand about political and legal circumstances of both home country and those of the host country. HOME POLITICAL LEGAL (THAILAND) The politics of Thailand currently takes place in a structure of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government and a hereditary monarch is head of state. Thailand had been ruled by kings since the thirteenth century. The King of Thailand has little direct power under the constitution but is a symbol of national identity and unity. Export Control Promotion and maintenance of quality in Thai Hom Mali Rice is requiring establishing reliability and gaining acceptance in foreign markets. 1. ) Thai Hom Mali Rice should be prescribed as a standardized commodity. 2. ) Thai Hom Mali Rice Standards should be divided into the 2 following types: White rice and Cargo rice. 3. ) Thai Hom Mali Rice which is standardized should have the standards as follows: (1)Containing must not less than 92. per cent of Thai Hom Mali Rice (2)The moisture content must not having exceeding 14. 0 per cent (3)Having the general characteristics of a long grain rice with naturally little chalk (4)Not having any live insect HOST POLITICAL LEGAL (SINGAPORE) The politics of Singapore take place in a framework of a administrative republic, that the Prime Minister of Singapore is the head of government with a purifier multi-party syste m. The role of the president as the head of state has been, historically, largely ceremonial, although the constitution was amended in 1991. Import Control Policy and Import Quota Singapore use freely trade system, no import tax. The tax that collect call goods and services tax 5% and have the import regulation by importer have to receive the import license from International Enterprise Singapore which has characteristic of Statutory Board. Rice Import Quota 1. The importer has to reserve the rice in double of quantity that import in each month and the rice reserve have to keep in Singapore Storage Warehouse Pte. Ltd. The types of rice that have to reserve are Fragrant Rice, White Rice and Broken Rice. The rice that has not reserve are Half-milled rice, Steamed rice and sticky rice. 2. I E Singapore who approve quantity of import rice such as in case that importer have a purpose to import rice 500 tons in March should have 1,000 tons an in April, for those who want to import 550 tons should write the letter to I E Singapore to request for the approval first. In case to reduce the quantity of import such as from 500 tons to 450 tons should request the approval from I E Singapore 3 months in advance. Rice License Rice is a main food in Singapore. Consequently, the import regulations for rice are maintained purely for security purpose. All importers of rice are required to be licensed. The imports of rice are also subject to licensing. There are two categories of import licenses, namely, the stockpile licenses and ordinary licenses: 1. Licenses for stockpile grades of rice are issued only to importers who participate in the Rice Stockpile Scheme. The licenses seeks to ensure that the importers of the stockpile the stipulated types and minimum quantities of rice in proportion to their total imports. The rice stockpile is reserve stock for emergency use; and 2. Licenses for non-stockpile grades of rice are issued automatically. The quantities of rice that are imported into Singapore are decided entirely by the importers themselves. Singapore’s average annual imports of rice in the last two years are about 200,000 tons. Under license and partial monopoly of the Food Commissioner’s Department, Licenses are issued to actual users for import of small quantities of luxury varieties of rice. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT The Department of Export Promotion have a very important strategies for improve Thai producer and exporter which have a very potential in case to negotiate with foreign buyer and importer both in the main export market and new export market. Also in the market which have FTA contract to achieve the alliance negotiation between countries include increase export potential by service the exporter with export document and electronic support document and encourage the E-Logistic system for decrease the register step and cost. In the export promotion, the indicator for the strategic is the proportion of the value of export in the main market with the old market, in the year 2007 the proportion is about 40:60 The Department of Export Promotion provide information and suggestion about commercialization, marketing, product development and services business, building Thai brand, develop employees to export and develop commercial telecommunication system. 2. 2Competitors Analysis 2. 2. 1Thailand; number one rice exporter Considering in general, Thailand has been the number one rice exporter and supplier in the global rice trade and market share for many years since 1995 up to now seeing that Thai rice quantity and quality is remarkable in the Global market. The top three rice exporter regardless Thailand are Vietnam followed by India and United State as the table show below. Within this latest year; the year of 2007, World rice supplies are predicted to be tight, but despite this abundant supplies in Thailand will permit it to expand its lead as the world’s largest exporter. Vietnam as the world’s second-largest rice exporter is stuck in exporting and expanding their global market share. Even though, within this several years Vietnam took some market share form Thailand and considered as a hard competitor. However, during this year due to unexpected natural disaster and decreasing in rice cultivation area, Vietnam is predicted to export less than last year and lowering in world rice market share while Thailand is expected to increase in market share. RankCountryExports (M/T) 1Thailand 8. 25 2Vietnam 4. 70 3India 4. 30 4United States 3. 08 5Pakistan 2. 50 6China, Peoples Republic of 0. 80 7Egypt 0. 80 8Uruguay 0. 75 9Australia 0. 60 10Argentina 0. 45 Data source: USDA-FAS, Production, Supply and Distribution (PS) Database. fas. usda. gov/psdonline/psdHome. aspx 2. 2. C. P. competitor analysis Analyzing competitors in Rice trading sector of C. P. , both direct competitors to Royal Umbrella brands itself and competitors in rice biding are realized. COMPETITORS OF ROYAL UMBRELLA RICE Direct competitors to Royal Umbrella brand in Singapore, which has been shelves in the same distribute store are more than 30 brands namely; Double FairPrice, FairPrice, Golden Fairprice, Golden Royal Dragon, Harvest King, Golden Wheel, Rambutan, Golden Dragon Phoenix, Golden Phoenix, Golden Jade, Golden Rhino, Golden Coco, Songhe, Double F. K. , Golden F. K. Sun Moon, Golden Flying Fish, Golden Padi, Golden Eagle, Jin Huang, Golden Lion King, Heavenly Peaches, Golden Twin Lion, Golden Prosperity, Golden Leaf, Golden Five Stars, Golden Twin Stars, Golden Three Stars, Golden Pineapple, Royal Lily, Golden Narcissus, Golden Field, Golden Tri-Leaf, Golden Longan, Flying Man, Golden Princess, Golden Mandarin, Happy Times and Day’O Fragrant. Those are brand competitor to Royal Umbrella brand in Singapore rice retailing. RICE BIDDING COMPETITORS Recently, rice bidding of Thai government each year becomes more aggressive as there are many potential participants. C. P. Thai Rice submits all tender under control of 2 companies which are C. P. Intertrade Co. , Ltd and Bangkok Rice Products Co. , Ltd C. P. Thai Rice has been faced more than 200 competitors on rice biding. However, several main competitors are Capital Cereal Co. , Ltd , Capital Rice Co. , Ltd from STC Group, Siam Thanyarak Silo from President Agri Trading Co, Ltd, Chokanan Rice (2003) Co. , Ltd, Koaw Chaiyaporn Co. ,Ltd, from Chaiyaporn International Co, Ltd, Asia Goldenrice Co. ,Ltd, Riceland International Co. ,Ltd. nd etc. Competitors in rice biding are more aggressive than rice selling. Finding customer is easier than competing in biding rice. Any company in rice sector wins in the biding will surely sell the entire silo as the world rice demand is more than supply. 2. 3External Environment of Host country VS. Marketing Strategies When C. P group subject to its business, there are two marketing environments Effect Company’s marketing strategy; Micro and Macro Environmen t or in other words are company’s internal and external environment. External environment is larger societal forces that affect the internal environment. It’s considered to beyond the control of the organization. The illustration shows below is the external environment forces which affect C. P groups marketing strategies in Singapore: Those external environment forces which are geographical, culture, economic, political and legal environments affect C. P. Company’s marketing strategies in exporting their rice to Singapore. Traditionally, rice is the main meals for Singaporeans but as the limited geographical environment, there is no area of growing rice. Therefore, importing form outsides is the only way to satisfy the large rice demand of Singaporean population. Singapore government creates free trade policy which has no import tax except GST. for I. E license holders. Moreover, the highly growth and more strength in economic of Singapore result better living standards, a change in lifestyle and subsequent change in taste and choice. The healthy choice consumers are also health conscious in their consumption pattern and with the active promotion of the Government to â€Å"Eat and Stay Health† As a result, higher grade and better quality of rice that is widely know as â€Å"Thai Hom Mali† rice or Thai fragrant rice. The quality, texture and moisture content in this rice are most acceptable by the local consumers, even though it’s has high price. Providing the higher grade and the better quality of rice is the best way to capture the Singapore market share in rice sector. 3Market Entry Strategies Company uses various market entry strategies in doing international business with different countries in different types of business and product. In rice trading, C. P. roup uses Exporting as the market entry mode to distribute their rice product to more than 50 countries around the world including Singapore. They established their own intermediary which knows as C. P. intertrade; their own Export Management Companies (EMC) to manage all of their exporting and for propose of sourcing, buying agent, and consolidating services for all non-food and foodstuffs from Thaila nd and all over Asia. 4Marketing Mixes 4. 1Product C. P. Intertrade Co. Ltd or CPI adds value to various categories of generic product such as Rice and other agricultural goods. This report is focus on â€Å"Rice† as the main product. â€Å"ROLAY UMBRELLA Thai fragrant rice, as a leading product was won the prime ministers export award in 1995. The premium quality Thai fragrant rice which is re-cleaned and polished by the most modern machines which automatically run under computerized quality control, strictly free from insects and unusually materials. BRANDINGLOGO Rice product of C. P. Company has been called as â€Å"CP Thai Rice† under a brand name of â€Å"ROYAL UMBRELLA† and brand theme of â€Å"Rice is Life†. PACKAGING It is individually packed in attractive and strong consumer bags of 1 50 kilograms. (1kg, 2kg,5kg,10kg,20kg,25kg,30kg and 50kg. ) PRODUCT LINES For rice products, the company provides four different categories together with the premium quality Thai fragrant rice. 4. 2Price Trading price of Rice between C. P. Company and their importer is a commercial secret. However, they must follow the standard rice export selling price that will be announced by Rice Exporters Association of Thailand. Price that has been announced is FOB selling price from Bangkok Market. The example Standard selling prices of rice in year of 2005 are as follow; STANDARD EXPORT RICE PRICES (Export Prices (F. O. B), USD per M/T) Type of rice29-Aug-0722-Aug-0715-Aug-078-Aug-071-Aug-07 Jasmine Rice 100%NA$574 $580 $583 $586 White Rice 100%$334 $332 $336 $337 $339 White Glutinous Rice 10%$746 $746 $724 $728 $732 Parboiled Rice 100%$340 $338 $341 $340 $342 Source; The Rice Exporters Association ( Bangkok, Thailand) Term of sale that has been employed by C. P. Intertrade and importer in Singapore is CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight); a common selling term in a sales contract. This means that C. P. takes responsible of freight or transport costs and also the cost of marine insurance. There are several of different payments methods that C. P. accepted. Three mostly used are as followed. Cash in advance Document against Payment Letter of Credit 4. 3Place (Distribution Channel) Distribution is the part of the marketing mix ensuring that customer obtains their purchases at the right time in the proper place. This doings insert value to a product. Actually, distribution offerings to three of the four type of utility-time, place, and ownership utility. RICE DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL OF C. P. Form a Rice Silo to rice processing plants in Patumthani and Ayudhaya Province, C. P. Company exports their rice to Singapore and other countries around the world using their own intermediary; CPI or C. P. intertrade Co. Ltd. Key importers of C. P. Thai Rice are Singapore General Rice Importers Association and NTUC FairPrice Co- Operative. Their customers are end user, manufactures who need rice as the raw material, Wholesaler/ Distributor and Exporter. C. P. also sells rice under Royal umbrella brand. It can be found easily in Singapore. The key distributors are NTUC (National Trades Union Congress) Fair Price; the leading supermarket in Singapore with a retail network of close to 180 stores and NTUC Fair Price also uses an E-commerce to sell their product, Cold Storage; the supermarket retailer of 30 stores, Carrefour (2 Branches), Giant (7 Branches), Cheers Convenience Store, Pearn-Thai shop and other grocery stores island-wide. 4. 4Promotion Promotion is one of the four key aspects of the marketing mix. This includes all of the tools available to the marketer for marketing communication. The elements of the promotions mix are: ? Personal Selling. Sales Promotion. ?Public Relations. ?Direct Mail. ?Trade Fairs and Exhibitions. ?Advertising. ?Sponsorship. C. P. Company has been promoted their Royal Umbrella brand product mainly through Trade Exhibitions. The latest exhibition that they attend was Thaifex, World of Food Asia. Below the line strategy tool such as Sponsorship has been use a lot to promote their Royal Um brella rice product. Academic Olympics Sponsored by â€Å"Royal Umbrella Rice† has been recognizing gradually by their customers. The company also promotes their product through website. They creates separate website for Rice product via â€Å"www. cpthairice. com†. Above the line Strategy for example Advertising through TV commercial is one of promotion tool that has been using for Royal Umbrella Rice (broadcast in Singapore Oct 2003 – Oct 2005). 5SWOT Analysis for C. P Rice Product STRENGTHSWEAKNESSES High Quality Product Good reputation among customers Quality Guarantee Strong Marketing and Distribution Channel Strong in building human resource High financial stabilityLess Focus On Individual Product Huge span of control OPPORTUNITIESTREATS Removal of International Trade Barriers High rice production capacity Rising demand of rice in Global market Strong Competitors in the world market Emergence of substitute product High standard rice export grade Hard Inspection of Export Rice Complicated rice biding process Strong Currency of Thai Baht 5. 1Weaknesses and Strengths of the company WEAKNESSES Less Focus On Individual Product Seeing that C. P. Group is doing business in many different areas, they can not concentrate in every product at a time even though they have an effective management team. Huge Span of control Since C. P. Group has doing business across many sectors, it may not have the flexibility of some of its more focused competitors. STRENGTHS High Quality Product C. P. ees a greater export potential for high quality rice due to its unique taste particularly jasmine rice, 100-per-cent white rice and parboiled rice. It’s renowned to the world for the best selection from the best rice cultivated, clean and hygienic processing with high technology and long experience in exporting rice. The company provides various rice products of brand â€Å"ROYAL UMBRELLA† and also offers high quality under customers brand. That all of products are come from excellent source through high standard of production technology and pack in hygienic packaging which is just as important as the quality of the rice itself. Good reputation among customers Awards: Thai Prime Minister award Superbrands Thailand 2005, 2006 Superbrands Singapore 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Quality Guarantee C. P. Intertrade guarantees 100% satisfaction on all products that they sell. The Quality Technician performs several quality checks ensuring the C. P Products meets international quality. All export rice must be inspected by independence surveyor, such as SGS or Bureau Veritas, at the end of process to certify the Quality, Quantity, Packing and Weight. Strong Marketing and Distribution Channel Thailand is major rice exporting country and it alone controls about 30% exporting of the market. The CP Thailand Company is the Top 10 exporter of rice, and this is a variety world wide customers brand. Main export markets include Hong Kong, Singapore, the Middle East and the United States. To be a top one in exporting rice, that they own the strong distribution channel: CP has constantly sought to provide premium quality products and services at easily accessible stores. The creation of convenience stores, shopping malls and hyper supermarkets has enabled them to serve consumers wants and needs efficiently and effectively. Strong in building human resource The establishment of C. P. Corporate University allows for a centralized system of human resource training and development within the organization at its units situated locally and abroad. In order for the organization to efficiently serve its growing businesses with productive and proficient employees, the need for a knowledge m anagement center was realize High financial stability For the fiscal year ended December 2004, CPF generated revenues of THB 91,790 million ($2355 million), an increase of 10% over 2003. The operating profit of the company during fiscal year 2004 was THB2612 million ($66. 7 million), a decrease of 6. 5% over 2003. The net profit was THB1236 million ($31. 5 million) in fiscal year 2004, a decrease of 44. 9% over 2003. 5. 2Treats and Opportunities in the foreign market TREATS Strong Competitors in the world market Agribusiness country like Vietnam is becomes the hard competitor of exporting rice due to their competitive advantages like cheaper labor cost and fertile rice growing areas. Emergence of Substitute Product There are many substitute products for rice such as bread and noodle. This will reduce the demand for rice if the lifestyle of people is changing. High standard requirement for rice to be export Thailand is the number one of rice trade and supply in the global market. To maintain this position, Thai government creates the high standard rice export grade. C. P Company has to meet this standard. Hard Inspection of Export Rice All rice export from Thailand mu st be inspected prior to loading. Generally the inspection is done by independence surveyor ( SGS, Bureau Veritas, etc) appointed by buyer/seller and according to the Ministry of Commerce regulation, the Rice Inspection Committee of Board of Trade of Thailand has been appointed to inspect all lots of Thai Rice Export. Complicated rice biding process A new rice bidding process is to help curing the problem of conspiracy among rice trading firm; however it is more complicated than the previous rice biding process. Strong currency of Thai Baht Strong currency value affects almost every business sector in Thailand especially in doing export. C. P was also affected by this crisis. Strong Currency will increase the risk of exchange rate in the host country and affect the price of the product. Price of product will be more expensive and demand for that product may decrease. OPPORTUNITIES Removal of International Trade Barriers Increasing in Economic integration likes ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) or FTA among trading country provides so many benefits in doing business in the global market. C. P. Company has been realizing that benefit when exporting rice to Singapore as Thailand and Singapore have been in ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). Thus; C. P. export of rice has very low cost in tariff and non-tariff barriers. And Singapore government encourages local retailers to import C. P. group rice by reorganization of their high quality rice. High capacity for rice production in Thailand Thailand has considerable excess capacity for increasing rice production. Any upward pressure on the price of rice will provide incentives to exploit the excess capacity for rice production in Thailand. Thailand has continued to increase exports even when rice prices remained low in the world market. Farmers have maintained a low cost of production despite increasing wage rates through consolidation of farm holdings and mechanization of agricultural operations. If rice prices go up, farmers will be encouraged to increase production by investing in irrigation and increasing area under dry season rice, and reducing the yield gap for the wet season. Increasing demand for Rice in the global market 5. 3Solution or possible solutions to those Challenges They should use a company’s internal strengths to take advantage of external opportunities whereas reduce the impact of external threat. Moreover, they ought to improving internal weaknesses by taking advantage of external opportunities while creating defensive tactics to reduce internal weaknesses and avoiding environmental threats. 6BCG Model for C. P. Thai Rice The C. P. Thai Rice business is the rice trader to both domestic and foreign market. The company has the rice to sell by auction from government. They divided their rice business in to two categories which are: 1) sell rice to the huge order, 2) sell rice in a form of small package to the convenience store or retailer. So the position of CP Thai Rice business can indicate rom the auction as follows: 1. ) Government auction in year 2543/2546 In this year, there are 9 rice traders who offer the rice in this period, the government chooses the 3 highest price offer company there are 1. ) Capital Serials Co, Ltd (part of Nakorn Luang Rice Trader) 2. ) CP Intertrade and 3. ) President Agri Trading Co, Ltd. In this auction, CP Thai Rice was be the first place and g ot the rice about 100. 493. 3 tons at the price of 8,672. 36 Bath:ton. 2. ) Government auction in year 2547/2548 The total rice quantity in this year is 440,000 tons. From 30 price offer trader, the government forecasted that the number one of this auction is CP Intertrade(121,301 tons with 15,500 Bath:ton), and next is Hual Chuan Rice Trader(14,500-15,500 Baht:ton) and Chareaonphol Ricemill(14,000-15,300 Baht:ton) From the 2 auctions report, we can summarize as follow: From the graph, we can conclude the CP Thai Rice in the Thai rice market that this business is in the â€Å"STAR† period because the company have a very high market share and market growth. The star business is the market leadership so company should use a large amount of money to invest and also generate a large amount of cash. If a company can maintain their large market share, the company will be the cash cow when the market decline in next future. 7Recommendation C. P. Thai rice under control of C. P Intertrade Co. Ltd, have been successfully in the global market as it has been export to more than 50 countries world- wide for more than a decade. Well-built networking, Trading arm and Strengths of the C. P. group are well supports to C. P. Thai Rice Product. Nevertheless, after many researches about this largest Conglomerate Company in Asia and their C. P. Thai Rice product, we have found a very important issue which is the rice bidding conspiracy corruption in Rice Industry. C. P. Company should avoid any corruption and bribery on bidding. Following the normal and legal processes will surely bring them a very beautiful success in the global market. Our Last words We have learned very much on this report after much research in every aspect of Charoen Pokphand Group and their Rice Product. This report has not only given us the knowledge of Charoen Pokphand group but also provide a better understanding of Global Marketing term and concept. Moreover we hope to educate other colleagues about the company . We are working on and for them to have a better understanding of this subject. List of References Poter, Michael E. 1980. Competitive Strategy. London: Collier Macmillan Publishers. Boon, Louise E. , and Kurtz David L. 2002. Contemporary Business. 11th ed: Harcourt College Publishers. McConnell, Campbell R. , and Brue, Stanley L. 2005. Microeconomics: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. Ferrell, O. , Hartline, M. , Lucas, G. , Luck, D. 1998. Marketing Strategy. Orlando, FL: Dryden Press. Childs, N. , 2007. Rough Rice Exports Critical to U. S. Rice Producers. Amber Waves. [ online] Available from: ers. usda. gov/AmberWaves/February07/Findings/RoughRice. htm [cited 12 August 2005]. Charoen Pokphand Group. , C. P. History. [online]. Available from: cpthailand. com/default. aspx? tabid=81 [cited 7 July, 2005]. Charoen Pokphand Group. , C. P. Businesses. [online]. Available from: cpthailand. com/Home/OurBusinesses/tabid/228/Default. aspx [cited 11 July, 2005]. C. P Intertrade. , Rice Product. [online]. Available from: cpthairice. com/Product/tabid/71/Default. aspx [cited 11 July, 2005].

Standard Based Grading Measures Student Skills

Standard Based Grading Measures Student Skills What does an A on a test or quiz mean to a student? Mastery of skill or mastery of information or content?   Does an F grade mean a student understands none of the material or less than 60% of the material? How is grading used as feedback for academic performance? Currently, in most middle and high schools (grades 7-12), students receive letter grades or numerical grades in subject areas based on points or percentages. These letter or numerical grades are tied to credits for graduation based on Carnegie units, or the number of  hours of contact time with an instructor.   But what does 75% grade on a math assessment tell a student about his or her specific strengths or weaknesses? What  does a B- grade on a literary analysis essay inform a student about how he or she meets skills sets in organization, content, or conventions of writing?   In contrast to letters or percentages, many elementary and intermediate schools have adopted a standards-based grading system, one that uses a 1-to-4 scale. This 1-4 scale breaks down academic subjects into specific skills needed for a content area.   While these elementary and intermediate schools use standards-based grading may vary in their report card terminology, the most common four-part scale denotes a students level of achievement with descriptors such as: Excels or above grade level (4)Proficient or at grade level (3)Approaching proficiency or approaching grade level (2)Well below proficiency or below grade level (1) A standards-based grading system may be called  competency-based,  mastery-based,  outcome-based,  performance-based, or proficiency-based. Regardless of the name used, this form of a grading system is  aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts and Literacy and in Math, which was established in 2009 and adopted by 42 out of 50 states. Since this adoption, several states have withdrawn from using CCSS in favor of developing their own academic standards. These CCSS standards for literacy and for math were organized in a framework that details specific skills for each grade level in grades K-12. These standards serve as guides for administrators and teachers to develop and implement the curriculum. Each skill in the CCSS has a separate standard, with skill progressions tied to grade levels. Despite the word standard in the CCSS, standards-based grading at the upper-grade levels, grades 7-12, has not been universally adopted. Instead, there is ongoing traditional grading at this level, and most middle and high school use letter grades or percentages based on 100 points. Here is the traditional grade conversion chart: Letter Grade Percentile Standard GPA A+ 97-100 4.0 A 93-96 4.0 A- 90-92 3.7 B+ 87-89 3.3 B 83-86 3.0 B- 80-82 2.7 C+ 77-79 2.3 C 73-76 2.0 C- 70-72 1.7 D+ 67-69 1.3 D 65-66 1.0 F Below 65 0.0 The skill sets outlined in the CCSS for literacy and math can be easily converted  to four point scales, just as they are at the K-6 grade levels. For example, the first reading standard for grade 9-10 states that a student should be able to: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Under a traditional grading system with letter grades (A-to-F) or percentages, a score on this reading standard may be difficult to interpret. Advocates of standard based grading will ask, for example, what a score of B or 88% tells a student. This letter grade or percentage is less informative about a student’s skill performance and/or subject mastery.  Instead, they argue, a standards-based system would singularly assess a students skill to cite textual evidence for any content area: English, social studies, science, etc. Under a standards-based assessment system, students could be assessed on their skill to cite using a 1-to-4 scale that featured the following descriptors:   Score 4: excels in citing  strong and thorough textual evidence -explicit and inferential OR needs no support;Score 3:  proficient at  citing  strong and thorough textual evidence -explicit and inferential  OR needs minimal support;Score 2:  approaching proficiency at citing  strong and thorough textual evidence -explicit and inferential OR needs moderate support;Score 1:  below proficiency at citing  strong and thorough textual evidence -explicit and inferential OR needs extensive support and/or reteaching. Assessing students on a 1-4 scale  on a particular skill  can provide clear and specific feedback to a student. A standard by standard assessment separates and detail the skills, perhaps on a rubric.  This is less confusing or overwhelming to a student when compared to a combined skills percentage score on 100 point scale. A conversion chart that compares  a traditional grading of an assessment to standards-based graded assessment would look like the following: Letter Grade Standards-Based grade Percentage grade Standard GPA A to A+ Mastery 93-100 4.0 A- to B Proficient 90-83 3.0 to 3.7 C to B- Approaching proficiency 73-82 2.0-2.7 D to C- Below Proficiency 65-72 1.0-1.7 F Below Proficiency Below 65 0.0 Standards-based grading  also allows teachers, students,  and parents to see a grade report that lists overall levels of proficiency on separate skills instead of composite or combined skill scores. With this information, students are better informed in their individual strengths and in their weaknesses as  a standards-based score highlights the skill set(s) or content that need(s) improvement and allows them to target areas for improvement. Furthermore, students would not need to re-do all of a test or assignment if they have demonstrated mastery in some areas. An advocate for standards-based grading is educator and researcher Ken OConnor. In  his chapter,  The Last Frontier: Tackling the Grading Dilemma, in Ahead of the Curve: The Power of Assessment to Transform Teaching and Learning, he notes: Traditional grading practices have promoted the idea of uniformity. The way we are fair is we expect all students do to the same thing in the same amount of time in the same way. We need to move†¦ to the idea that fairness is not uniformity. Fairness is equity of opportunity (p128). OConnor argues that standards-based grading allows for grading differentiation because it  is flexible and can be adjusted up and down as students confront new skills and content. Moreover, no matter where students are in a quarter or semester, a standard based grading system provides students, parents, or other stakeholders an assessment of student understanding in real time. That kind of student understanding may  take place during conferences, such as the ones Jeanetta Jones Miller explained in her article   A Better Grading System: Standards-Based, Student-Centered Assessment in the September 2013 edition of the English Journal. In her description of how standard based grading informs her instruction, Miller writes that it’s important to set up appointments to confer with each student about progress toward mastery of course standards. During the conference, each student receives individual feedback on his or her performance in meeting one or more standards in a content area:   The evaluation conference provides an opportunity for the teacher to make it clear that the student’s strengths and areas for growth are understood and the teacher is proud of the student’s efforts to master the standards that are most challenging. Another benefit to standardized based grading is the separation  of student work habits that are often combined in a grade. At the secondary level, a point penalty for late papers missed homework, and/or uncooperative collaborative behavior is sometimes included in a grade. While these unfortunate social behaviors will not stop with the use of standards-based grading, they may be isolated and given as separate scores  into another category. Of course, deadlines are important, but factoring in behaviors such as turning an assignment in on time or not has the effect of watering down an overall grade. To counter such behaviors, it may be possible to have a student turn in an assignment that still meets a mastery standard but does not meet a set deadline. For example, an essay assignment may still achieve a 4 or exemplary score on skills or content, but the academic behavior skill in turning in a late paper may receive a 1 or below proficiency score. Separating behavior from skills also has the effect of preventing students from receiving the kind of credit that simply completing work and meeting deadlines has had in distorting measures of academic skill.   There are, however, many educators, teachers and administrators alike, who do not see advantages to adopting a standards-based grading system at the secondary level. Their arguments against standards-based grading primarily reflect concerns at the instructional level. They stress that the  transition to a standards-based grading system, even if the school is from one of the 42 states using the CCSS, will require teachers to spend immeasurable amounts of time on extra planning, preparation, and training. In addition, any statewide initiative to move to standards-based learning may be difficult to fund and manage. These concerns may be a reason enough not to adopt standards-based grading. Classroom time can also be a concern for teachers when  students do not reach proficiency on a skill. These students will need reteaching and reassessment placing another demand on curriculum pacing guides. While this reteaching and reassessment by skill does create  additional work for classroom teachers, however, advocates for  standards-based grading note that this process may help teachers to refine their instruction. Rather than add to continuing student confusion or misunderstanding, reteaching may improve later understanding. Perhaps the strongest objection to standards-based grading is based on the concern that standards-based grading might put high school students at a disadvantage when applying to college. Many stakeholders -parents, students teachers, guidance counselors, school administrators-believe that college admissions officers will only evaluate students based on their letter grades or GPA, and that GPA must be in numerical form. Ken OConnor disputes that concern suggesting that secondary schools are in the position to issue both traditional letter or numerical grades and standards-based grades at the same time. â€Å"I think it’s unrealistic in most places to suggest that (GPA or letter grades) are going to go away at the high school level,† O’Connor agrees, but the basis for determining these might be different. He proposes that schools might base their letter-grade system on the percentage of grade-level standards a student meets in that particular subject and that schools can set their own standards based on GPA correlation.   Renowned author and education consultant Jay McTighe  agrees with OConnor, â€Å"You can have letter grades and standards-based grading as long as you clearly define what those (letter-grade) levels mean.† Other concerns are that standards-based grading can mean the loss of class ranking or honor rolls and academic honors. But OConnor points out that high schools and universities confer degrees with highest honors, high honors, and honors and that ranking students to the hundredth of a decimal may not be the best way to prove academic superiority. Several New England states will be at the forefront of this restructuring of grading systems. An article in  The  New England Journal of Higher Education Titled directly addressed the question of college admissions with standard based grading transcripts. The states of Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire have all passed legislation to implement proficiency or standards-based grading in their secondary schools.   In support of this initiative, a study in Maine titled Implementation of a Proficiency-Based Diploma System: Early Experiences in Maine  Ã‚  (2014) by Erika K. Stump and David L. Silvernail used a  two-phase, qualitative approach in their research and found: ...that benefits [of proficiency grading] include improved student engagement, greater attention to development of robust interventions systems and more deliberate collective and collaborative professional work. Maine schools are expected to establish a proficiency-based diploma system by 2018. The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) and the New England Secondary School Consortium (NESSC) met in 2016 with admissions leaders from highly selective New England colleges and universities and discussion was the subject of an article How Selective Colleges and Universities Evaluate Proficiency-Based High School Transcripts (April 2016) by Erika  Blauth and Sarah Hadjian. The discussion revealed that college admissions officers are less concerned with grade percentages  and more concerned that grades must always be based on clearly specified learning criteria.   They also noted that: Overwhelmingly, these admissions leaders indicate that students with proficiency-based transcripts will not be disadvantaged in the highly selective admissions process. Moreover, according to some admissions leaders, features of the proficiency-based transcript model shared with the group provide important information for institutions seeking not just high-performing academics, but engaged, lifelong learners. A review of the information on standards-based grading at the secondary level shows that implementation will require careful planning, dedication, and follow through for all stakeholders. The benefits for students, however, could be worth the considerable effort.