Write a 2 pages paper on what do you think are the three most important aspects of any belief system in drawing new believers to it compose a framework of at least five specific questions one might ask when examining any new belief system.

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Write a 2 pages paper on what do you think are the three most important aspects of any belief system in drawing new believers to it compose a framework of at least five specific questions one might ask when examining any new belief system. December 13, Belief Systems: Attraction and Consequence Belief systems can be, quite literally, a matter oflife and death. Everyone uses them to define reality, select community, and direct behavior. Some people inherit belief systems, while others choose a belief system with personal intention. Some people combine fragments from multiple systems, or insert fragments into a system. This essay will introduce three of the most important aspects of any belief system in drawing new believers into it, and six core questions that should be considered when examining any belief system.

One of the primary aspects of a belief system that attracts new believers is its relevance to the pulse of the times, the psycho-socio-historical dynamics (Whitsett). The rise and spread of Chuck Smith’s Calvary Chapel, for example, had its beginnings in California, a state of transients and extremes, and the belief system, while fundamentalist Christian, moved away from dour old people in suits and welcomed new believers, including Society’s rejects (gang members, mental patients, drug addicts) with love, rock music, jeans and T-shirts, and mass baptism in the ocean (Smith and Brooke). The Amish, on the other hand, attract few new believers because they are focused on retaining their separateness through norms and values of another place and time (Keiser).

A second important aspect, that attracts new believers to a particular belief system, is the presence or implied presence of a charismatic leader who interprets and represents the belief system for new believers and provides a strong figure with which to merge (Inzlicht, McGregor and Hirsch). People who are shopping for a new belief system may feel lost and alone, failed by a previous belief system. They want to feel strength and power and belonging (Inzlicht, McGregor and Hirsch). Although the presence of a community assists in providing these things, it is the charismatic leader who holds the community together and keeps everyone focused on the principles of the belief system.

Thirdly, the capacity of the belief system to relieve uncertainty and anxiety by outlining practical steps to take to be right, to bring about desired change, or to be safe, is of critical importance (Whitsett). Belief “is marked by reduced reactivity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a cortical system that is involved in the experience of anxiety and is important for self-regulation (Inzlicht, McGregor and Hirsch 385)”. Whether it is a religious belief system that promises a scriptural guide and better life after death, a political belief system that promises honesty and socio-political improvements, an ecological stance that outlines ways to save the planet and give our children a natural future, an education belief system that argues for a certain method (like homeschooling or unschooling, for example) to empower children to be self-directed and less vulnerable to State agenda, this anti-anxiety aspect is critical.

Here is a six question framework for examining any belief system:

1. In what way(s) is this belief system relevant to the times and culture in which we live?

2. What answers are provided to questions, challenges, dilemmas people face?

3. Where does authority lie, in the basis, interpretation and application of this belief system?

4. Based on information available from both etic and emic accounts, what are the lifestyle consequences one might expect if adopting this belief system?

5. What is the background and foreground of the leader or leaders?

6. What are the criticisms offered, about this belief system, by former believers who no longer support it?

One cannot forever bask in the protected glow of new believer status. Choosing a belief system engages the person on a path that leads somewhere. These questions attempt to gain understanding of the foreseeable consequences of membership. Perhaps the belief system sounds intriguing, but if it requires the sacrifice of loved ones, career, hobbies, and home, and if it is likely to leave you dead in a jungle (a la Jim Jones), exploded in a fire (a la David Koresh), sharing a partner’s intimacy with others (as in a polygamist community or hippie commune), suffocated in a plastic bag while wearing new Nikes in preparation for reunion with the Mother Ship, or in Federal prison for domestic or international terrorist actions, then one should consider these implications very carefully.

Works Cited

Inzlicht, Michael, et al. “Neural Markers of Religious Conviction.” Psychological Science

(2009): Vol. 20, No. 3, 385-392. Print.

Keiser, Steve Hartman. “Pennsylvania German in Ohio.” 2005. Ohio State University. Web. 13

December 2011 .

Smith, Chuck and Tal Brooke. Harvest. Old Tappan: Chosen Books, 1987. Print.

Whitsett, Doni P. “A Self Psychological Approach to the Cult Phenomenon.” Clinical Social

Work Journal (1992): Vol. 20, No. 4, 363-375. Print.

prepare and submit a paper on economic analyses of collusive bidding behavior. In the United States, some legislation has been made to minimize the incidence of collusion behind the supply of school milk.

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Your assignment is to prepare and submit a paper on economic analyses of collusive bidding behavior. In the United States, some legislation has been made to minimize the incidence of collusion behind the supply of school milk. In line with this, anyone who will be caught guilty of entering into collusion to control the auction price of milk will be required to pay fine sent to jail for a period of six months, or both (Porter & Zona, 1997). Despite the government’s effort to control the incidence of collusion in school milk auctions in the U.S., the culture behind collusion in school milk auctions has been going on for a long period of time.

The economic issues behind the procurement process and the nature of auction for school milk will be provided to give the readers a better understanding of the case study. In response to the case study, some of the key economic issues that could explain the development of collusion in school milk auction will be identified and tackled in details. In line with this, the impact of economic factors like prices, consumer welfare, actual and potential competitors on market competition will be examined to enable us to determine whether or not economic reasons could stimulate the high incidence of collusion in school milk auction will be answered. As part of going through the explanation, the theory of supply and demand will be used to explain what really happens in the market of school milk.

The main purpose of the study is to encourage the student to develop his/her expertise in analyzing the economic factors that could trigger the high incidence of collusion in school milk auction in Ohio.

The market of school milk supply in the United States is purely affected by the demand, production process, and competition among the suppliers within a geographic area (Porter & Zona, 1997). Although the market of school milk supply is dictated by supply and demand curve, the fact that each school conducts a yearly auction does not necessarily mean that a higher the demand for milk supply would invite more potential milk suppliers to join the market competition. Likewise, the lesser the demand for milk supply does not necessarily mean a lesser number of milk supplier.

Hint Water began 15 years ago when founder Kara Goldin decided to make changes to her lifestyle. The mother of three (now mother of four) had recently left her high-profile job as vice president of shopping and e-commerce partnerships at AOL, where she had built revenue to more than $1 billion in less than seven years. Then she took time off to plot her next move. She expected her path to veer towards work with nonprofits, but instead her path veered into the beverage industry. Noticing low energy levels and skin issues, she began to suspect her reliance on “diet” beverages that were packed with added sugars and artificial sweeteners. However, when she tried to drink only water, she struggled with the taste. This realization led to the creation of Hint. Today, Hint is the largest non-alcoholic beverage company in the United States that isn’t affiliated with Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or Dr. Pepper Snapple. Since starting Hint Water in her basement in 2004, and running the business from her dining room table and out of her garage, her offering, which contains no sugar, no preservatives, and no calories, has become a leader in an emerging category known as natural essence waters. While Goldin and husband, Theo, a former attorney at Netscape and Hint’s COO, originally targeted natural and specialty stores, the product is proving to have wider appeal. Today, the waters, flavored with extracts of watermelon, raspberry-lime, and more exotic blends like pomegranate-tangerine, are among the fastest growing of the flavored waters at Whole Foods and sold at mainstream markets, including Publix, CVS, Food Emporium, Stop & Shop, Sheetz convenience stores, and online sites like Amazon.com. Hint has made cameos on Grey’s Anatomy, Boston Legal, and CSI and is the “official flavored water” on the Google campus. Goldin states that “there are more than 2,000 beverage companies in the United States today, but it’s hard to name a beverage company that’s actually about health. There’s a lot of healthy perception versus healthy reality. We’re really focused on changing health; we’re actually, like I said, hearing from lots of consumers that we’re doing it.” Hint has recently launched into new areas, including a sunscreen. Goldin says, “We’re launching sunscreen to call attention to chemicals like oxybenzone and parabens, which are in 95 percent of the sunscreens available to the average consumer in drugstores like CVS and Walgreens and elsewhere. I’m really, really excited. It speaks to the mission of the overall company, which is [to be] a consumer advocate and help people actually understand products. In doing so, we also offer products for sale that really help people get as healthy as they want to be.” Hint has also added new products in the categories of deodorant, hand sanitizer, masks, and more. Questions: 1) Evaluate the quality of the new brand extensions using the criteria in the chapter. Would you have advised going into all of these markets? If you wouldn’t have, which ones would you have advised not entering? Be sure to provide your rationale. 2) Into what other product categories do you think Hint should expand next? Provide your rationale. Make sure to do your research here (i.e., don’t choose categories that Hint has already expanded into or has publicly announced they are expanding into).

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Hint Water began 15 years ago when founder Kara Goldin decided to make changes to her lifestyle.  The mother of three (now mother of four) had recently left her high-profile job as vice president of shopping and e-commerce partnerships at AOL, where she had built revenue to more than $1 billion in less than seven years. Then she took time off to plot her next move.  She expected her path to veer towards work with nonprofits, but instead her path veered into the beverage industry. Noticing low energy levels and skin issues, she began to suspect her reliance on “diet” beverages that were packed with added sugars and artificial sweeteners.  However, when she tried to drink only water, she struggled with the taste.  This realization led to the creation of Hint.

Today, Hint is the largest non-alcoholic beverage company in the United States that isn’t affiliated with Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or Dr. Pepper Snapple.  Since starting Hint Water in her basement in 2004, and running the business from her dining room table and out of her garage, her offering, which contains no sugar, no preservatives, and no calories, has become a leader in an emerging category known as natural essence waters. While Goldin and husband, Theo, a former attorney at Netscape and Hint’s COO, originally targeted natural and specialty stores, the product is proving to have wider appeal. Today, the waters, flavored with extracts of watermelon, raspberry-lime, and more exotic blends like pomegranate-tangerine, are among the fastest growing of the flavored waters at Whole Foods and sold at mainstream markets, including Publix, CVS, Food Emporium, Stop & Shop, Sheetz convenience stores, and online sites like Amazon.com. Hint has made cameos on Grey’s Anatomy, Boston Legal, and CSI and is the “official flavored water” on the Google campus.

Goldin states that “there are more than 2,000 beverage companies in the United States today, but it’s hard to name a beverage company that’s actually about health. There’s a lot of healthy perception versus healthy reality. We’re really focused on changing health; we’re actually, like I said, hearing from lots of consumers that we’re doing it.”

Hint has recently launched into new areas, including a sunscreen. Goldin says, “We’re launching sunscreen to call attention to chemicals like oxybenzone and parabens, which are in 95 percent of the sunscreens available to the average consumer in drugstores like CVS and Walgreens and elsewhere. I’m really, really excited. It speaks to the mission of the overall company, which is [to be] a consumer advocate and help people actually understand products. In doing so, we also offer products for sale that really help people get as healthy as they want to be.”  Hint has also added new products in the categories of deodorant, hand sanitizer, masks, and more.

Questions:

1)  Evaluate the quality of the new brand extensions using the criteria in the chapter. Would you have advised going into all of these markets?  If you wouldn’t have, which ones would you have advised not entering?  Be sure to provide your rationale.

2)  Into what other product categories do you think Hint should expand next? Provide your rationale. Make sure to do your research here (i.e., don’t choose categories that Hint has already expanded into or has publicly announced they are expanding into).

the satisfaction of the visitors of the anne frank house

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I need some assistance with these assignment. the satisfaction of the visitors of the anne frank house Thank you in advance for the help! The findings of the study proved that the visors view the museum from the holistic point of view, the overall satisfaction of the customers was more than the satisfaction with regards to specific items. The approach mainly appeared to the young people, Europeans, and people with high educational background. Young people and people with a high level of learning background appeared to be more satisfied as compared to people from other areas. While the conclusion of the stud applies mainly to the Anne Frank House the unique approach adopted in measuring the satisfaction of visitors can be easily adapted and applied to any other historical site/museum or a similar tourist attraction.

A number of studies from a marketing point of view have been focused on various museums. The satisfaction of the visitors is mainly examined from two angles. the feature of products and demographic perspectives where the holistic approach plays an important role. The discussion in the paper gauges the prevalence of the approach among visitors who are on the on-site of the Anne Frank House. The approach perceives the museum in its entity and not as the summation of the specific items. (Smith, 2014)

The public sector museums are usually encouraged to be more market-oriented as a result of the public funding has to be justified in terms of the satisfaction of the visitors. Besides, there has been an upsurge on the customer concerns audience and preference development. According to Dodd and Sandell (1998), there is increases competition from other museums and leisure activities for a marketing-oriented approach.

One of the key elements of the marketing approach is the segmentation and various distinguishing various target groups. Common segmentation is usually on the basis of age, gender, education/income/social class, race, religion, and nationality. In addition to the identification of various target groups focuses mainly on the audience development for various different groups.