Symbolic interactionism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Symbolic interactionism - Essay Example Our group known as the ‘The Saviour’ came up with the project of collecting clothes. Our strategy was to use all methods possible to collect many clothes to help the poor people in Senegal. To be effective in the meeting of our target, we divided the group into two. My team was given the task of placing donation boxes at various strategic points, giving out flyers to students in various colleges, and placing of posters to public notices. The posters had our contacts and activity. After two weeks of the activity the whole group came together to discuss on the progress. We all found out that the turnout was far below our expectations. According to symbolic interactionism theory, I expected my neighbors to appreciate my efforts to assist the poor through donations. However, that was not the case; the neighbors were seemingly getting a different symbolism from my efforts. I decided to meet with my team and discuss the way forward on how we could increase the awareness of our project in all our strategic places. We decided not to rule out possibility of miscommunication in our awareness efforts. As a team, we decided to purchase t-shirts printed with information regarding the project. At interval times, a person had to be at the strategic points we had placed the boxes and always carry with them a small mapping board with the group banner. Since our donation boxes were placed the bus terminal, the garden, school gates and the market place, the person was to talk to people around and create a good rapport about the group’s activity. In the next two weeks, we experienced a tremendous improvement in donations. This was perhaps possible because we were able to communicate our idea and convince people that we were a genuine group of youths dedicated to helping the poor in the developing countries. Language is an important concept of symbolic interaction. Therefore, we understood that different people perceive ideas differently. Our target was to colle ct several cargo tanks of clothes. We decided that each one of us would go from house to house in our respective neighborhood during our free time and weekends to distribute the remaining fliers. I visited most of the families in my neighborhood during weekends for a month. The response was encouraging because most neighbors embraced the idea and were happy about our project. Most of them gave out dozens of clothes and even promised tell others. Their appreciation and promises of cooperation was in accordance with the theory of symbolism interactionism. Thoughts are a concept of symbolic interactionism. Thought modifies the way a person perceives and understands a symbolism. We found out that placing the posters would not yield much as expected probably because people had gotten used to posters being used by scam artists. We decided to come up with alternative workable ideas of using posters. We placed the posters in each class notice board. We also visited some of the offices to al low us use their company’s staff notice board for a while. At first, most of the companies were afraid and thought we were a fake group but after we explained and defended our purpose, some of the companies permitted us. At the end of two weeks, we followed up and got a positive response from the employees, we collected several bunches of clothes from most companies. When the whole group met, we found out that our new strategy worked out very well. We shared the strategies we had used with the other team and the

Porter's model of national competitive Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Porter's model of national competitive - Essay Example Governments team up with business institutions to device strategies that will guarantee a competitive edge against rivalry countries. Porter’s diamond framework has linked firms, industries, and nations together to explain international competitiveness of countries. However, the model has failed to capture support from the economic school of thought and relies on management theories. This can be explained in terms of international competitiveness at the firm level. Changing patterns of globalization of the world economy, world trade, and dissemination of technology have changed international competitiveness at the firm level. Emphasis on competition among firms in world markets has renewed interest in international competitiveness of countries. This paper focuses on explaining whether or not countries compete internationally as depicted in Porter’s model. This paper explains theories underlying the economic and management schools of thought. The first section gives an o verview of trade theory that gives reasons for differences between economists and management specialists on international competitiveness of countries. These theories also provide the basis for Porter’s diamond theory. The second section examines porter’s framework under the context of economic trade theories. Porter utilizes logical reasoning instead of mathematical economic models to describe different trade theories. This makes it possible for policy-makers to understand the Diamond Framework that can be used to enhance international competitiveness of countries. The last section draws generalizations about the validity of the model. Adam Smith’s theory in 1876 of absolute advantage was the first attempt to explain reasons behind free international trade between countries (Smit, 108). According to Smith, a country can enhance its prosperity by specializing in goods and services in which it has absolute cost advantage over other country (Smit, 108). A country can also improve its prosperity by importing goods and services in which it has absolute cost advantage. Smith’s theory explains why countries can increase their welfare through imports and simultaneously selling goods and services in international markets. Adam smith viewed trade as a positive sum game when developing this theory. This theory contradicts the 16th century mercantilists’ viewpoint of trade as a zero sum game where countries have to export