Reflective Essay on Business and Entrepreneurship

Reflective Essay on Business and Entrepreneurship Reflective Essay I have never really considered much about business and entrepreneurship until I started the Marketing in Hospitality course. I have come to understand how businesses have evolved their marketing strategies over the years by implementing various concepts in order to achieve company goals. I have also come to appreciate the importance of team work; given that this module requires the work to be done in a group. In doing this it has created a sense of team spirit among myself and my group members. In this reflective essay I will be outlining what I have learned in each Assessment Criteria and how it will help me in my profession. In AC 2.1 I leaned about the importance of an organisation having a Marketing Mix which will allow them to meet customer expectations and needs. I also gained a full understanding of the 4 Ps of the marketing mix and the crucial part in which each play in ensuring that the organisation achieves their goals. This AC will help me to know why a company chooses to use a certain distribution method or the form of advertisement that they choose. In AC 2.2 I learned about the various pricing strategies that have been utilised by organisations in order to gain a leading advantage over competitors. The various strategies that have been utilised are floor pricing, penetration pricing, premium pricing, equal pricing, bundle pricing among others. Depending the kind of feedback or result in which the organization is seeking; they will choose the pricing that best suits them. I also learned that there are various factors such as competition, ethics and even the economy that may affect the pricing of a product. In AC 3.1 I learned about promotional mix and the importance of branding and image. I learned how relevant a customer perception of a company, service or product is; hence, the advertisement or promotional method in which they choose can determine whether or not they will succeed. In AC 3.2 I learned the importance of advertisement and advertising campaigns. I learned about how to plan an advertisement campaign, the steps to take and also how to ensure that the campaign is effective in impacting the targeted audience. AC 3.3 I learned about sales promotion and also public relations. Sales promotion are short- term techniques that companies might use to create an incentive scheme for customers in order to get them to purchase their products. I understand that gaining public acceptance is a vital role for public relations and they are given the task of ensuring that people know about the company and the product or services it provides. AC 4.1 I learned about the relevance of market research and how vital it is for companies to conduct such research in order to ensure that their plan or product will be successful or is suitable for the current market. Marketing research identifies trends and anomalies within the market and focuses on the needs of the consumers. AC 4.2 I learned how to carry out a marketing research. I learned about the different steps to take and also about data collection and sources which should be used. I learned about primary and secondary sources, how to select the best sampling groups and the various use for qualitative and quantitative research. AC 4.3 I learned about the different marketing methods such as television, magazines, billboards and posters among others. I also learned about the advantages and disadvantages of each and the effect that each is said to have on consumers. I also learned about the various factors to consider when choosing a marketing method such as budget, resources and available time. AC 4.4 I learned about the process of implementation in marketing. This is where all the marketing strategies that a company has come up with are put into action. I learned that there are various approaches that can be taken when implementing the various marketing strategies such as command approach, change approach, cultural and consensus approach. Overall, the course was very educational and the group assignments were good as it stimulated team work. This is vital and resourceful, as I am currently working in an industry that requires working together as a team. For the purpose of gathering information, formulating a way to approach the assessment criteria and delegating the workload, I have learnt to listen attentively, respect and appreciate everyones suggestions and feedbacks. I had gained more than enough knowledge and insights for establishing and running a business

Outline and assess the contribution of the social psychoanalytic perspective to the study of family relationships

Rooted in how family is defined are precepts about what is considered a social norm, or acceptable behaviour. It tells people what’s perceived as a family and what is not. Within the word family are individual inherited social, historical and cultural values. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a family as the servants of a house, or the household or everyone who lives in a house or under one head and finally as a â€Å"group of persons consisting of the parents and their children, whether actually living together or not†. The family evolves and changes as the society in which we live changes.Does the â€Å"traditional†, heterosexual family still exist as the norm? There has been a decline in marriage, increase in cohabitation and children born into single parent families. There has also been an increase in divorce, incline of compound families and recognition of same sex relationships, marriages and parenting. The multiplicity in human relationships makes it p roblematic for psychologists to define family or forecast patterns of behaviour. Individual-society dualism refers to one of the interrogative themes in social psychology.The challenge of how individuals and society are associated is both complex but also greatly controversial, as it forms the basis of many political thinking, values and viewpoints and the formation of social policies. Traditional psychological theories and research into the structure of families mainly focused on the realm of developmental psychology. Much research centred on mother-child interactions with few studies of father-child interactions (O’Brien 2005). Traditional research centred on the shortcomings and problems within the family structure, such as incest and eating disorders (Cawson et al., 2000) and looks for origins of breakdowns between members of the family.Traditional research viewed the individuals as being separate from society and unaffected by it or as over socialised beings and as such was found to be constrictive in its use. â€Å"Families and close personal relationships give us a vital framework through which we come to make sense of ourselves and the world† (Helen Lucey 2007 pg 66 cited in Social Psychology Matters). From birth the family generally is the main source of influence in the development of physical, social and emotional well being and as such is worthy of further research and debate.Recent perspectives such as the discursive and psychoanalytic perspective have gone a step further to take account of both individual and society and looks at how the individual is influenced by as well as from society such as culture and family history (Lucey, 2007 Open University, DVD 1). For the purpose of this essay the main focus will be on the dynamics of family relationships providing a critical evaluation of theory and research into close relationships specifically sibling relationships to demonstrate these complexities from a psychoanalytic point of view .The concept that our actions and interactions are relatively the creation of unreasonable and unconscious processes tackles previous psychological ideologies about qualities common to humanity. The majority of theories on families, as well as social policies and practices suppose that people are influenced by sound motives that they usually know what their behaviours are and motives for them and have power over their lives.In comparison psychoanalysis and the more recent social psychoanalytical theories or perspectives propose that conscious thought only ‘scratches the surface’ and is in the domain of extensive unconscious processes, by which the majority of our internalised self lives within, that addresses this notion of an unconscious tool effective in controlling unconscious anxiety, known as splitting, projection and projective identification. The psychoanalytic perspective can be viewed as responding to the need of a more holistic explanation of families and deve lopment of self. Previously siblings were marginalised.When we look and Freud’s theory for example they were only noticed in negative scenarios, murderous rivalry and jealousy. The focus would be on the evolving of individual subjectivity and the psyche and now psychoanalytic theorists are beginning to view siblings as internalised individuals in children’s lives (Lucey 2007) Some of the approaches fundamentals tend to overlap with approaches such as discursive and phenomenological perspectives, but differentiates from these schools of thought in psychology and theories of social sciences by its underlying notions of a powerful subjective conscious and unconscious.As a result, research into the family from a social psychoanalytic approach may well transcend the individual-society dualism. In direct opposite to the discursive approach the psychoanalytical approach views the family structure/makeup as changeable and influenced by society, parents, individuals and culture . People’s behaviours are not viewed as existing in isolation or as separate entities, but must be viewed as part of and within the wider cultural economic and social world, which influences, effects and guides individual’s behaviours and as a result has different outcomes for relationships.Lucey 2007 argues that siblings are unique individuals who have in common their genetic makeup and share a majority of social aspects with each other and as such could provide a window into the fundamentals of close relationships. The psychoanalytic approach takes the stance that older siblings are just as important in the development of self as the parents. Siblings evolve into role models (ego-ideals) in which they establish their superego from perceived behaviours (Mitchell 2003).Society’s social order dictates an individual’s choice which is clearly evidenced in Edward and Lucey’s 2006 research which followed five Bangladeshi sisters living in the United Kin gdom. Azra who is the eldest sibling is clearly shown to be regarded as a role model to her younger sisters and an example of how they should behave and the choices they should make in terms of how they live their lives in order to obtain the ‘respect’ and acceptance within the cultural community to which they belong.The theme of individual-society dualism is displayed as the girls in the research have autonomy to make specific choices in their lives. However this is within the constraints of the Muslim cultural structures. Habiba the second eldest feels pressured to study hard to achieve the success expected and avoid letting her sister down. The unconscious introjection and projection of Azra's perceived purity, goodness and conforming behaviour. Azra’s persona acted as a guide for the sisters behaviour and accomplishments.The notion of her reproof or displeasure in their failure in anyway is evidently important and ensues in splitting, dividing the good from t he bad, and the agreeable and un-agreeable. The individual-society dualism is reflective in the girl’s social surroundings and the relation between culture, community and social factors. ` Sabina, the third eldest sister doesn’t view herself as an individual but refers to her reputation as ‘a family’. Her personal identity is viewed as the family as a whole.Asian cultures like theirs are guided by ethical and moral principles within the close knit communities they live with strict cultural values and seek approval from each other and as such the need to achieve acceptance is very great (Heinnink 1999). It is clear that the five sister’s choices are restricted by the unconscious self and social influences. The girls however do take an operative role in the creating of their identity on an individual level, as family and as members of their community.There is an assumed existence of defences such as projection to help resolve any anxieties or conflict experienced Thomas Ogden (1982). In the social psychoanalytic approach anxiety is viewed as unavoidable and ‘normal’ and core to the evolvement of an individual’s personality (Freud 1936). It is important to note the idea of agency and how much choice an individual exerts and how much is governed by the structures, groups and cultures to which individuals belong within society.For example during an individual’s school years they have no control over which school they attend this is governed by societal structures and parental choice to a limited degree and friends are usually chosen from the class the individual is affiliated to, referred to as propinquity effect (Bersheid and Reis 1988). Therefore proximity, teacher and school dictate which group you will belong and therefore choice of friendships formed. So how much is based on individual choice and how much is dictated by the society, group psychic processes.However the propinquity effect doesn’ t fully explain about interpersonal attraction or why we become friends and other factors must influence our choice such as culture, values and interests for example. Further research is required to highlight features of close relationships. The social psychoanalytic perspectives in the study of families and research into sibling relationships put forward a viable means of comprehending family dynamics and the implications of individual as agency and the influence of social forces such as attachments, race, culture and social and how these forces shape the family and relationships within it.The psychoanalytic research into siblings highlights how the inner psyche and social life are intertwined, and how the older sibling can become part of ‘critical inner voice’ that siblings will use as a measure for their own desire and impulses (Lucey DD307 Guide). In conclusion therefore the writer is inclined to support and agree with the psychoanalytical perspective and accept tha t it is important to take account of a multitude of interacting factors such as individual, historical, cultural and social contributions to the study of the family.Close relationships are formed as a result of the individual as well as social world to which they belong. The problems in the definition of the family highlights the need for a more complete understanding linking theories in social psychology and possibly sociological social psychology which studies societal processes and individuals within the culture and structures in which they live and psychological social psychology which addresses the role of the family and child development during early socialisation.If social psychology is to effect change in political thinking and social policies which are important especially in the field of social work if working practices are to change, further research needs to be undertaken, due to the fact that sibling relationships are the longest lasting that the majority of individuals will experience. Longitudinal studies into sibling relationships could provide further information into how family dynamics change over time, providing possible models of studying other forms of close relationships.

What Is a Good LSAT Score Score Ranges by School

LSAT scores can range from a low of 120 to a perfect score of 180. The average LSAT score is between 150 and 151, but most students accepted to top law schools receive a score well over 160. The exam consists of four scored sections (one reading comprehension section, one analytical reasoning section, and two logical reasoning sections) and one unscored, experimental section. A separate writing section, taken remotely within a year of registering for the LSAT, is also required but not scored. LSAT Scoring Basics Each administration of the LSAT exam consists of a total of approximately 100 questions, and every question answered correctly accounts for one point of your raw score. The raw score, which can range from 0 to 100, is converted into a scaled score ranging from 120 (lowest) to 180 (highest). Raw scores of 96 and above translate to scaled scores of 175 to 180.  Note that points are given for correct responses, but are not deducted for incorrect answers. Differences in scaled and percentile scores for different test administrations are based on adjustments made for variations in exam difficulty. When you receive your LSAT score report, it will include a percentile rank. This percentile rank tells you how you compare to other applicants who took the LSAT test at the same time. It’s also a good way to gauge how competitive you are for different law schools. For example, if your percentile rank is 70% for the October LSAT exam, that means that you scored equal to or higher than 70% of test-takers, and the same or lower than 30% of test-takers who sat for the October test. Current LSAT Percentiles The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) releases LSAT score data for all tests administered during a three year period. The table represents the most current data with percentile ranks for all test administrations between June 2016 and February 2019. Overall LSAT Percentiles (2016-2019) Score Percentile Rank 180 99.9 179 99.9 178 99.9 177 99.8 176 99.7 175 99.6 174 99.3 173 99.0 172 98.6 171 98.1 170 97.4 169 96.6 168 95.5 167 94.3 166 92.9 165 91.4 164 89.4 163 87.1 162 84.9 161 82.4 160 79.4 159 76.5 158 73.6 157 70.0 156 66.4 155 62.8 154 59.0 153 55.1 152 51.1 151 47.6 150 43.9 149 40.1 148 36.3 147 32.6 146 29.7 145 26.0 144 23.0 143 20.5 142 17.7 141 15.5 140 13.3 139 11.3 138 9.6 137 8.1 136 6.8 135 5.5 134 4.7 133 3.9 132 3.2 131 2.6 130 2.0 129 1.7 128 1.3 127 1.1 126 0.9 125 0.7 124 0.6 123 0.5 122 0.4 121 0.3 120 0.0 Source: LSAC Score Distribution - Law School Admission Test The overall LSAT percentile ranking is useful for noting how your score for a specific exam compares to other applicants who sat for the same exam. However, law schools are more interested in your numerical score. The table below provides the score ranges for students accepted to top 20 law schools. LSAT Score Ranges by School The data in the table below represents the 2018 LSAT score ranges for 20 top law schools. The percentiles represent the range of LSAT scores of students who were admitted to each school. To understand the data, remember the following: 25% of admitted students scored at or below the 25th percentile score. That means 75% of admitted students got a higher score. If your score is below a certain schools 25th percentile score, your chances of admission to that school are not high.50% of admitted students scored at or below the 50th percentile score (the median). That means half of the admitted students got a higher score.75% of students scored at or below the 75th percentile score. That means 25% of admitted students got a higher score. If your score is in the 75th percentile or higher for a particular school, your odds of admission are favorable. Note that this data is specific to each school, unlike the LSAC data which is for all students who took the LSAT in a given year or years. LSAT Percentiles by School (2017-2018) Law School 25th Percentile 50th Percentile 75th Percentile Yale Law School 170 173 176 University of Chicago Law School 167 171 173 Stanford Law School 169 171 174 Harvard Law School 170 173 175 University of Virginia School of Law 163 169 171 Columbia Law School 170 172 174 NYU School of Law 167 170 172 University of Pennsylvania Law School 164 170 171 Duke University School of Law 167 169 170 Northwestern Pritzker School of Law 164 169 170 University of Michigan Law School 165 169 171 Cornell Law School 164 167 168 UC Berkeley Law 165 168 170 University of Texas at Austin School of Law 160 167 168 Vanderbilt University Law School 161 167 168 Washington University School of Law 160 168 170 Georgetown Law 163 167 168 UCLA School of Law 165 168 169 USC Gould School of Law 163 166 167 Notre Dame Law School 159 165 166 Source: American Bar Association Standard 509 Disclosure The Truth About LSAT Cutoff Scores Most law schools do not have minimum cutoff LSAT scores. The Law School Admission Council strongly discourages LSAT cutoff scores, unless the minimum score is supported by â€Å"clear evidence that those scoring below the cutoff have substantial difficulty doing satisfactory law school work.† Several top tier law schools, including Yale, Harvard, and Columbia, specifically state that they have no minimum score requirements. However, the score data for the most selective schools indicates that most successful applicants score above the 90th percentile on the LSAT. How Important Is It to Have a Good LSAT Score? A good LSAT score is perhaps the most important part of your law school application as it is ultimately a measure of your potential for success in law school. However, it is not the only significant part of your application. Your undergraduate GPA is also a strong determinate of your chances for admission to law school, so its useful to consider your index score, which takes into account your LSAT score and undergraduate GPA. Law school admissions calculators offer predictions as to how competitive your chances are to particular law schools given your undergraduate GPA and LSAT score. Beyond quantitative measures, other important factors in law school admissions include your personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume, and work experience. While these factors may have less weight in the admission process, they are essential to a successful application. In particular, a strong personal statement exhibits writing and communication skills that are vital in the legal profession.