Distance Selling Regulations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Distance Selling Regulations - Essay Example Under this provision, consumers get a cooling-off period of seven working days. This paper will explore the factors associated with distance selling regulations. It will also examine how consumer electronic sales can be promoted using e-commerce techniques. The term consumer electronics got popularity in the early 20th century. It refers to all electronic devices that are beneficial for everyday use (Consumer electronics). Personal computers, television, and MP3 players are some examples of consumer electronic products. In the modern technological world, consumer electronics sales grow rapidly as people largely depend on electronic equipments in day to day life. In the opinion of analysts from the Consumer Electronics Association (as cited in McGrath, 2011), the consumer electronic sales may approach even top of $1 trillion. The increased market demand for consumer electronic products has led to the emergence of large numbers of multinational companies which deal with consumer electr onics products. At this juncture, strategic changes in production and distribution of these products have become essential so as to govern the market. According to Burnett (n.d.), it is suggestible for the consumer electronics vendors to adopt some innovative sales promotion techniques such as price deals, contests, and sweepstakes.

Understanding how asset classes and systematic strategies behave and Thesis - 1

Understanding how asset classes and systematic strategies behave and perform during different macroeconomic environments - Thesis Example The CLI system uses a predefined system of indicators and uses their composite measure to predict the future economic activities. The movement of CLI is in the same direction of movement of the business cycle and they are specially designed to recognize the turning point. However, CLIs cannot be used to predict the intensity of recovery of the business cycle. The importance of this method has increased even more after the global financial crisis of 2008 as it has become very important for the policy makers, economists and other agents related to the business cycle to analyze the economic condition correctly (OECD, 2009). In case of the CLI OECD indicators it has been observed that the CLI results are mainly used by the in-house users. Analysts have mainly used this method to determine the current state of the economy. This paper focuses on the use of CLI indicators in predicting the future pattern of economic growth in a number of economies. This is done by reviewing the existing literature. The final part of the paper focuses on the behaviour of the asset classes and its relation to the business cycle. The CLI indicators was introduced in 1938 and has been modified a number of times to improve its efficiency over time. It has been stated that CLIs are mainly constructed by using reference series as it represents a composite of many other indicators. As in most of the other composite indicators Gross Domestic Product was expected to be one of the major indicators to be used as reference series in constructing CLI. However, in practice it has been observed that Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is taken as the primary reference series. The rationale behind involving IIP is that this is measured on a monthly basis whereas GDP is measured at a quarterly basis. It is for this reason that IIP is found to show the way in which GDP will behave in the subsequent months. In case of OECD countries the concept of leading

Innovation A Case Of Walmart Commerce Essay

Innovation A Case Of Walmart Commerce Essay In the present world, knowledge plays a pivotal role in economic processes. Those organizations with enough knowledge have a competitive advantage over those with less. In an economy that is knowledge based, innovation plays an essential and central role. An organization can maintain competitive advantage through quality and price (Francis, Bessant, Hobday, 2003). Organization does innovation in order to defend and maintain their competitive stand and to seek their competitive advantage (Francis, Bessant, Hobday, 2003). Innovation is the heart of economic change; it shapes the momentous changes in the world and fills in the process of change continuously. It turns ideas and knowledge into products and services. The stumbling block of innovation is management innovation. The present management systems that are in place in every firm today develop over the last 160 years. The dynamic business innovation transforms by management innovation and as a result, business models and practices, can meet challenges of change. The ability to spot new opportunities and create new better strategies is the heart of every management innovation (Genus Cloes, 2006). Walmart is the largest stores in the United State of America, and one big chain store the world. It operates more than 4,000 retail store globally. On top of this, company is a dominant retail in Mexico, Canada, and United Kingdom. A survey by Fortune 500 index shows that Walmart is the richest and most powerful corporation in the world. It holds the number one when ranked by its total sales. It is the second most admired company in the world (Vance, Sandra, Roy, 1994). The company provides diverse merchandise ranging from household needs, electronics, toys, fabrics, jewelery and shoes, crafts, family apparel, lawn and garden. It also runs a pharmacy department and photo processing center (Vance, Sandra, Roy, 19 Product innovation. Walmart examine the life cycle of their products and the supply chain try to make products that are sustainable from farm to the shelf. They work with the research consortium who delivers research findings, metrics and reporting system. This assists Walmart to engage suppliers so that they understand the products they sell. In 2011, the company used the metrics from the research firm to develop an index for six products. By engaging research results and integrating them into the core merchandise processes, will help transform their products to better suit customers needs. In my own view, this is a product innovation process because the company will use research findings to improve on their products. Furthermore, their supply chain, which is transparent, is also one of the product innovations. Walmart implemented an information system that is transparent. For example, when scanning the band-aid at the register, the information sent Walmart D C and also to suppliers. This will give information to suppliers, and are able to know the amount to ship out. These have reduced time, labor and paper work. The supplier forecast demand and plan production hence greater efficiencies. 2.0 The Wal-marts Market Management The success and growth of any organization entirely depends on how the market is penetrated and controlled. An organization may win by producing and delivering product that are of high quality than those of their competitors. Products and services that exceed customers expectations ought to be delivered. This is because a customer compares the product bought with those of other companies and take into consideration the opportunity cost the will be derived from the product. There are various strategies that Wal-mart employed in the market so as to overcome challenging market environment and be on the top in the industry. These strategies are enumerated below:- 2.1 The employees and customers Expectation The studies conducted on customer research suggest ideas and concepts that are to be used in order to get the target customers (Lovelock et al, 1996). This is of great importance as it assists in providing essential products and services based on customers wants and perceptions (Kotler 1999). On the other hand, a good working environment in the workplace enables employees to come up with creative ideas that are brilliant. This will enable them come up with new innovative ideas that will in the long run result in products that are unique. If a leader leads the way and provide and enabling climate in the workplace, employees will bring out a new ideas, thoughts, concepts, designs, or processes that will revolutionize existing products and services. Wal-mart has remained at the top due to the strong beliefs they uphold: Respect: This calls for exercising respect for all individuals who are both the employees of the company and the customers. This has resulted in the attraction of peoples of different economic and social background. Better services to all: Wal-mart developed the commitment to deliver the best to its customers in which ever store. They uphold this by keeping the pricing policy the same across all branches and to maintain it as low as possible. Excellence and uniqueness: The strive for excellence have been maintained by expanding, innovating new products that are superior and unique, and reaching further to new markets (Vance, Sandra, Roy, 1994). The Sundown Rule: This is a directive from the top management to all employees. The directive requires that any employees must answer the customer request or the supplier within 24 hours. The Ten Foot Rule: This is also another directive that any employee who is at a distance of 10 feet to a customer must welcome, beam, and listen to a customer in a store. This is a hospitality policy that is aggressive and compels staff to engage in cheerfulness. The Wal-mart company develops its staff to flourish in the working environment. Every member of staff stick to the irrespective of ranks they have been given. This gives freedom to staff so that they can have the confidence to challenge, question, and suggest ideas as part of a group with a common objective unconstrained by day-to-day operational environment (Cooper, 2001). 2.3 Market Segmentation In the every market environment, customers needs and wants are diverse; therefore an organization will not be able to supply an entire market for a particular product or service. It is therefore compelled to identify division of a market that it can effectively serve (Kotler, 1999). Locally Wal-mart is the largest US retailer. It has over 3,000 stores, and 77 distribution centers serving over 100 million customers. In my own view, I see this as market segmentation because Wal-mart started small but gradually developed with time to what it is today setting up new branches in every part of the globe. In those branches products are unique in that they deal with diverse products. There have been changes in the way in which products produced and supplied to customers. The aim is to occupy every segment of the market so that they can meet all the needs and want of its customers. Its expansion globally has been aggressive and dynamic in the sense that their products are unique in every step of the way. So the process, they undertook to diversify, expand, and innovative as there is no firm that is able to compete with Wal-mart. 2.4 Positioning When a market segment has been identified, the next step is to put in place the product in the market. The design of the position in the market will have an impact in the customers minds (Ziethmal et al, 1996). The customers will compare this with the competitors of a particular product in the market. Walmart has an elaborate, efficient supply chain system. They have combined supply chain, technology, and services. This has changed customers shopping behaviors, suppliers, and employees. Suppliers are able to forecast and the demand of items required and are able to arrange and plan for products in advance. They achieved this through effective positioning strategies; managers had insights of how various attributes of markets are treasured by the existing and potential customers within that division. Wal-mart examination and contribution is successfully situated and has established and maintained a characteristic place for itself in the consumers mind in relation to competing organizat ions offerings. If a product is successfully positioned, the declaration of the service will summon up in the customers psyche an image that is different from descriptions of similar product contributions (Ziethaml et al, 1996). 2.4 Marketing This is the way of doing business that aims at maintaining and improving current customers and acquiring new ones. The relationship between the customers and the firm is maintained through quality service, commitment, and innovation (Lovelock et al, 1996). The strategy used in Wal-mart is to dominate every sector of the business and sell goods at low process, outsell competitors and expand. Typical Walmart model is to build stores, make existing stores bigger, and dominate its competitors. In every step, the company works hard to make a profit and remain on top of its competitors, to a point of shunning some of them out of business (Francis, Bessant, Hobday, 2003). The organization uses its size, financial stability, and resources to dominate retail. This transform to effective use of strategy whether operating locally, or acquiring another retail chain in another country. The size and power of the company allows it to achieve its goals (Vance, Sandra, Roy, 1994). Their strategy is clear and direct. Sam Walton on 1960 lay down it and refined over decades. The company is proud of it and incorporates it within its advertisements. The message of the company by the CEO is consistent and has been so over time. Scott Lee in his annual speech repeated the main message of the firm, repeating the culture of the organization as explained by founder Sam Walton. There is an emphasis of selling less, respecting employees and communities, and expanding (Francis, Bessant, Hobday, 2003). The company manager strives to create and sustain a culture in which innovation can flourish. Whenever they entered into a market, they set up physical and organizational space. We can see that they capture an area by putting up building and making it stands out among the rest (Francis, Bessant, Hobday, 2003). 3.0 Paradigm innovation. As the world is changing rapidly, business as usual in organizations is no longer an option. Managers are adopting new approaches that are friendly to the environment and society. They adopt deep, systemic change. Walmart is not an exception. They are developing and selling products that are environmentally friendly. For instance, in one of the stores they sell green light bulbs. This is a product that consumes little energy. By adopting this product, they are promoting the fight against global warming, which is, a great challenge on the globe. 4.0 Competitive Strategy. The strategy used is to dominate every sector of the business and sell goods at low process, outsell competitors and expand. Typical Walmart model is to build stores, make existing stores bigger, and dominate its competitors. In every step, it takes the company works hard to make a profit and remain on top of its competitors, to a point of shunning some of them out of business (Francis, Bessant, Hobday, 2003). The organization uses its size, financial stability, and resources to dominate retail. This transform to effective use of strategy whether operating locally, or acquiring another retail chain in another country. The size and power of the company allows it to achieve its goals (Vance, Sandra, Roy, 1994). Their strategy is clear and direct. Sam Walton on 1960 lay down it and refined over decades. The company is proud of it and incorporates it within its advertisements. The message of the company by the CEO is consistent and has been so over time. Scott Lee in his annual speech repeated the main message of the firm, repeating the culture of the organization as explained by founder Sam Walton. There is an emphasis of selling less, respecting employees and communities, and expanding (Francis, Bessant, Hobday, 2003). The company manager strives to create and sustain a culture in which innovation can flourish. Whenever they entered into a market, they set up physical and organizational space. We can see that they capture an area by putting up building and making it stands out among the rest (Francis, Bessant, Hobday, 2003). 5.0 Innovation Strategy. In order to keep at the breast with other competitors in the market, the firm adopted the steady state archetype where the manager guided the organization to take strategic position that highly depended (Francis, Bessant, Hobday, 2003). They also utilized decision making by allocating resources to the basis of risk management and operate with a set of routine and structures that embedded them (Cooper, 2001). In order to cope up with the innovation change, a wide range of potential targets for innovation set up. They diversify to different, new sectors of the market. Networks put up various parts of the region and expanded globally. In every sector, they encouraged competitiveness within themselves (Tidd Bessant, 2009). For example, Walmart has a history of exploring future options and driving innovations. Most recently, through research the company assessed the market. This provided a focal point for various, diverse kinds of goods which might form and generate future goods and ser vices (Cooper, 2001). I think that implementing an innovation strategy ensures that core competencies aligned with organizations objectives and goals because communication is the core competence, commitments, and dedication. This applies to all organization boundaries. It is also beneficial in accelerating changes, quick acceptance, and new products adoption. Conclusion Firms that manage works have a greater chance of succeeding in an aggressive successful business setting. Managerial control in organizations accomplished through the implementation management innovation strategies. Prudent management rules, proper structures of the organization, tools of the project and project techniques that are in line with the project scope and risks must be put in place. Management novelty though requiring much effort to embrace quickly is a process. Organizations need to react favorably and adopt to change quickly so as to remain relevant in the competitive environment. Managers and its employees need to work together as a team. The manager must create a conducive environment for innovation where every member has freedom. This way, ideas suggested and adopted. Model of innovation leadership must be embraced. This allows building on past work and adding some perspective from the field of change and innovation. Change is inevitable; therefore, managers must respond to change. In my own view, I see Walmarts innovation strategy as unique and SMART. The reason is that it is specific, measurable, attainable, and timely. It is specific because they venture into a particular market, establishes, and compete. In their innovation strategy, targets that are measureable and attainable are set. We can see this in the way they produce a product for a specific market for example, the green bulb. This is a section dealing with energy saving bulbs. In the present day world where everybody is encouraged to go green so as to curb global warming, Walmart have curved the niche setting measurable and attainable targets. On the other hand, I see it also as real and timely. When I use the same example, the introduction of the green bulbs came in handy with the environmental concerns which everybody young and old are embracing. This in itself is an innovation of responding to change in the environment and at the same time grow in business. The lesson I can learn from Walmarts innovation strategy is that as an entrepreneur and an innovator, one need to think big, respond to changes rapidly, and travel the road of achievement as a team. The reason is that one need to see a broader perspective of issues, come up with new ideas as a team, and implement them to reality. My recommendation to Walmart is that besides their supply chain information system that is efficient and effective, they need to focus on online systems where customers are able to inquire, purchase products, and deliver these products to customers at their door steps on within 24 hours. On the other hand, customers are able to pay online with their master card. The information system must be one that can show case all Walmarts products online without jamming. This calls for their own independent and secure information system, competent expert with high integrity virtues.

The Burden of Prejudice and Racism :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

The Burden of Racism The sizzling streams of sunlight were just beautifully glimmering down on the crisp green school yard. Such a wonderful day that was. Nothing could have ruined it. Little Jimmy, since it was such a wonderful day decided to go to the corner store and buy himself a little treat. As little Jimmy started walking over to the store, clouds flocked over the dazzling sun and the sudden pitch dark meant no trouble. On the other side of the road were three white boys from Jimmy's same school. Upon recognizing Jimmy, the boys ran over the street to where he was. "Hey Negro, what's up?", one of the white Boy said. "Did your mamma pack you enough to eat to-day?", another hooted. "Just leave me alone.", Little Jimmy said "Oh no, Jimmy's really getting pist off!?", the first boy retaliated. "Just shove off and let me be," Jimmy answered. "Now you’re gonna die, Nigger", one of the white Boy said. It is like this everyday, everywhere, and everytime, people suffer discrimination. All because they have differences amongst each other. Different beliefs, different cultures, different skin colour, all of these act like building blocks to help construct what we know as Racism. Racism has become one of the many burdens amongst multi-cultural worlds like Canada and the States. Racism is a part of each and every one of us. No doubt, we are all racist, but this the term racism has been used too loosely. Racism has been mutated to such an extent that it could be a reason for war, a symbol of terrorism, and even an excuse for neglecting. Is that all there is to it? No, actually it is just the beginning. Racism is just like warfare in which there is no shelter and nobody is neutral. Nobody is exempt from this demon. He has haunted us with a bitter curse. On one occasion I remember, nobody would play with me at school. I would walk around by myself and ask people if we could play together. Everywhere that I went, like the process of induction, everyone would avoid me. Like two inducted poles with the same polarity, they would just shimmer off into the distance and continue to do whatever they're doing. Because of racial differences, they neglect me. People are afraid of the unknown, and it is this difference amongst people that spread rumors and distrust amongst people. Corrupting our thoughts and reasons, we get accustomed to thinking differences are omens. Amongst smaller kids, there is no difficulty in getting them to all play together.

Keeping Your People Pumped

The article â€Å"Keeping Your People Pumped† by Naik discusses four effective ways – incentives – how to motivate employees and to create collective sense of purpose. In modern swiftly changing business environment it is necessary to refer to employee motivation to survive and to succeed in highly competitive environment. Therefore, the article contributes management field providing ways of performance improvement. The article is easy for understanding and reading; thus, it is intended not only for professional who are aware of all business peculiarities, but also for non-professionals who are interested in becoming acquainted with new trends and tendencies in business world.The author’s purpose is likely to describe the importance of tools in motivating employees. In particular, the study aims at describing the following motivational factors: recognition, celebration, collective sense of purpose, balancing achievement and challenge. Naik, the author of t he paper, explains why and how to motivate your employees. It is a matter of fact that motivated employees are needed as, it is mentioned above, business environment is swiftly hanging and empowered personnel helps organization to survive. Moreover, motivation results in increased productivity and higher job commitment.Employees are interested in job security, interesting work, and good working conditions. The key questions the author addresses are: How to keep your people pumped? Why motivation is claimed to be the biggest challenge? Every leader wants to increase job commitment in his employees, and the paper discusses four ways how to achieve the desired outcome. The author is very persuasive as he uses logical arguments, facts, and conclusions to defend position that motivated employees are the core of company’s success. Naik argues that money shouldn’t be the only motivator in the company because â€Å"even in employees who claim money doesn’t matter to th em†. Money is important for energizing people, but it is necessary to motivate people â€Å"to invest their souls and hearts in their jobs†.Naik, mainly, discusses only non-monetary tools of employee motivation. The first tool is recognition. He means that it is necessary to announce publicly about achievements of either individual or a team. Moreover, he recommends talking about achievements at every opportunity. Personal appreciation and rewards are strong motivators. Employee’s work should be recognized; otherwise, they will feel de-motivated and hurt. Public recognition motivates competitive team members. Naik says that recognition should be in the form of engraved doodads and should never be in money form.The second tool is celebration. The author stresses that it is important to celebrate together company’s success and achievements because it promotes collective thinking and sense of belonging. Celebrating success is, surely, one of the most effectiv e ways to keep people pumped. However, it is necessary to celebrate even the smallest victories to show that every victory is equally important for the company. It is a good way to increase productivity as well because small victories are new chances to congratulate employees and books their spirits to fight further. Celebrations are also recognition, though with fun involved. I agree with the author that every employee who has done a great job is wiling to hear: â€Å"Great job! I'm taking everyone to Mama Maria's tonight†.The third tool is very powerful and can be used only if organization is clear with its purposes – collective sense of purpose. Too often bosses aren’t clear about their missions, and in such situations, tool may fail to help. Naik writes that â€Å"many leaders are so busy with the daily grind that their missions fall by the wayside†. Collective sense of purpose suggests that employees should understand and realize where they are going and what they are doing. Sense of purpose makes team confident about their tasks and responsibilities, what boss is waiting from them, etc.The author argues that the final tool is difficult in implementation, though it is very effective motivational tool. The author talks about the balancing achievement and challenge. He means that employees are motivated when they feel they are climbing on the top. They should see the end of their road. Leaders have to create jobs with â€Å"the right push-and-pull† because it increases competitiveness.The author draws relevant conclusion summing up main ideas discusses. He states that financial motivator isn’t on the top of the list. In many cases, personal appreciation and recognitions play crucial role in motivating people. However, some people consider money the only motivator. Professional leader should be aware of peculiarities of his working team to choose the best suited motivational tool. For example, money rarely gravitates toward business. Therefore, leader should think firstly about money as motivator, and when income increases, they may refer to other motivational tools.Apparent strength of the article is that the author provides real examples to intensify reader’s impression. He writes that one investment banker when being asked whether he was motivated, told that he was pleased with bonus, and â€Å"he was just as excited by how it measured up to the other top rainmakers in his firm†. So, money is also effective way of keeping the score. Nevertheless, Naik says that bankers are always caring about money. Therefore, when choosing motivational tools it is necessary to consider working environment. All employees need to feel they matter, and their work means something for leaders. Summing up, open appreciation, shared goal, celebration, and personal attention are the key motivators.

Brechtian Performance †Message Delivery Essay

Our group explored and used a variety of different Brechtian techniques. Our chosen form of â€Å"social improvement† was â€Å"safe sex†, and we chose to use a parody of the well-known Bible tale of Genesis to deliver our message, hence juxtaposing contemporary society. We presented it with quite a lot of satire, with physical comedy (the banana and the throwing of clothes whilst Adam [Ryan] and Eve [Steph] were behind the curtains) as well as verbal comedy (â€Å"But God said we could do anything but touch the bananas!†). This example of verbal comedy was to parody God’s command to not touch the apples in the book of the Bible. We also had a narrator (Rebekka) who proved to be effective and acted in the style of a â€Å"Brechtian† narrator. We had individuals step out of the group to address the audience too – God (Jasmin) talked directly to the audience. This is a very popular Brechtian technique as it breaks the â€Å"fourth wall† and jars the audience. God and the narrator also gave stage directions, an example of self-reference which is again jarring for the audience. Since we used a Biblical story, there is already the presence of God, who made the judgment on characters in the end and resolved piece of epic theatre – another Brechtian technique. Also, when God entered, the music We Will Rock You was played in the background, juxtaposing God’s holiness and seriousness and creating opportunities for comedy at the same time. I think certain Brechtian techniques were utilized quite well in our piece of epic theatre. By choosing the tale of Adam and Even, we do not need introductions or monologues in order for the audience to understand the characterizations of the roles – even if not everyone is religious, I think it can be assumed that the whole of the audience are quite familiar with the basics of the tale. This allows the audience to be easily engaged in our performance. Our physical and verbal uses of comedy was successful – the audience understood the innuendos and showed this by laughing at the appropriate times. We also presented the Bible view of contraception satirically, and in the end used the narrator to tell the audience what the message really was – to have safe sex. Thus our issue of social improvement was clearly understood by the audience. When God said â€Å"to go forth and multiply†, the narrator also held up a placard that said â€Å"= MAKE BABIES†, a nother attempt at humor and also translating the Biblical language to make sure the audience could comprehend and follow the story. Critically, I believe we employed the Brechtian techniques well, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. We used self-referencing – both the narrator and God gave stage directions. The narrator also, whilst speaking to the audience, did not speak as herself – instead, she used â€Å"The narrator enters stage right and proceeds to tell the audience that this story is going to be about the issue of safe sex.† This use of third person is jarring and effective. God also gave directions to turn the lights on and off, which made the â€Å"theatre† of our piece evident. However, there were a lot of opportunities to use more Brechtian techniques, but we didn’t. I feel our use of juxtaposition wasn’t particularly strong – we could have used a contradicting type of music when Adam and Even were behind the curtains and throwing the clothes out instead of using the music we chose, which fit with the scene instead of contrasting it. Also, we only used â€Å"frozen images†, and not gestus – Adam and Eve froze whenever God and Satan entered, but it couldn’t be called a representation or summary of all the feelings and emotions depicted in the scene. Personally,I do not think my portrayal of Satan was up to its full potential. I didn’t really use any Brechtian techniques in my role, and my wearing the Devil horns seemed to fail as a humorous stereotypical presentation of Satan. I also think the narrator might’ve given herself more stage directions at times to create an even more jarring and comical effect. For example, â€Å"The narrator says the end to conclude the story. /pause/ The end.† We did not really have time to try this out though, so it might not be a good idea and is merely what I would’ve wanted to try. I also feel we should’ve tried juxtaposing the â€Å"sex† scene to be more sarcastic and humorous – perhaps with a classic, slow, romantic song, paired with the frantic throwing of the clothes. Again, our lack of organization meant we could not try that out, so it is only another personal goal that I wanted to attempt. I wish to have explored more Brechtian techniques, especially in my own role. For example I could’ve used a mask – perhaps a typical Halloween type of mask for a comical, stereotypical presentation. I think we synthesized our content with our form quite successfully. Choosing the Biblical tale of Genesis as the base of our form was a good choice as we favourably parodied God’s commands and the audience could follow the story with ease. This form we chose was effective because it allowed us to employ a variety of Brechtian techniques. The use of physical comedy was also very effective – the audience liked it and it was a sarcastic and humorous symbolism when Adam and Eve went behind the curtains. The use of the banana as a symbol was also very popular and the audience liked it. These uses of physical comedy were effective because we allowed the audience to piece things together and realize the joke, thus making it more amusing for them. The use of the narrator’s third person was also very well executed as it jarred the audience – they were not used to this and it made â€Å"theatre† more evident. Adam and Eve also spoke in colloquial language, p arodying the sophisticated Biblical text and making it more modernized, relating to the targeted audience. Overall the audience understood and appreciated the message we were trying to bring through, as well as our social improvement, thus I would consider this as well synthesized. Our group did not use any cross cutting, which I think is a very effective Brechtian technique. For example, for Tanisha’s group, whose social issue was the modern attitude to obesity, the use of cross cutting was executed very well. When Chloe was giving statistics about obesity and discussing facts about â€Å"Tanya†, Tanisha was at the background eating her Doritos. With this, we understand more easily what Chloe was saying – it was like she was describing the Tanisha at the back. This also provided a lot of comedy and the audience laughed a lot. It could still be an example of juxtaposition and contrast, where Chloe was talking about how Tanya’s condition was very fatal and she must be helped immediately, whilst Tanya was at the back just eating and eating. I also really like the use of the â€Å"original song† in the Gay Marriage group, and feel like we could have employed that technique too. YMCA is a song we, the audience, all know, and changing the lyrics to fit their own message was very successful. It was effective because we understood right away that they were gay and supported gay rights, and it was also very amusing as the lyrics to our well-known song are not changed in such a way. More comedy was created by their stylized acting – Georgia, Amalissa and Charlotte were so serious when singing the song, like it was an anthem and such – which made it more humorous for us. The use of making up your own lyrics to a well-known tune is, I feel, a very effective Brechtian technique, as the audience would easily understand and would also find it very funny. The â€Å"power relationships† demonstrated in Cora’s group was also something I would’ve wanted to use. Their social issue was bullying, and the bullies stood on chairs and towered over â€Å"Cinderella†, who was backed up against the wall. This is a very famous and popular Brechtian technique in demonstrating power – and I find this very effective. This explicit exaggeration of statuses makes the audience question the otherwise â€Å"normal† relationship. We’ve become so used to bullying that we know it’s wrong, yet we never really question the immorality of it or how to stop it anymore. Having the bullies stand on chairs and Cinderella cowering in fear was like a â€Å"wake-up call† – we see the power relationship and we see how wrong it is. Hence this was an effective way to get the social improvement across to the audience. Lastly, I really liked how Tanisha’s group â€Å"broke the fourth wall†. When the two contestants introduced themselves, we were given instructions to clap and give a round of applause. This made the â€Å"theatre† of the piece very evident – the audience is actually joining in and somehow â€Å"taking part† in the performance – we provided the applause. This technique is very effective because it jars the audience and makes them realize they are watching a piece of theatre. I would like to perhaps take this even further and try to ask questions and demand answers from the audience. This penetrates the fourth wall strongly and having the audience participate in such a way is very effective in making â€Å"theatre† obvious. This will make the audience think about the social issue more – the piece of theatre was not merely something you went to watch and got absorbed in, but rather, a representation of reality. I believe this is a n extremely effective Brechtian technique.