The Narrator in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man Essay

The Narrator in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man The narrator in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man views himself as invisible because he believes the world is full of blind men who cannot see him for who is really is. In the beginning of the story, the narrator is treated by white men as the stereotypical black male - sex-hungry, poor and violent. These white men are completely blind to what black men really are. However, as the novel progresses, the narrator finds a way to remain invisible, yet take power from those who previously held it. Later on, we find that the invisible man eventually†¦show more content†¦It is rather appropriate that the boys are blindfolded, because it shows how the men view these boys. They dont see these black men for who they are, rather as sub-humans, playthings of the white race. Therefore, the black boys true identities are invisible to the white men, which is where the title o f the book is derived. The blindfolds also speak to how the black men cannot see the ulterior motive these men have. On the surface, the white men seem to be on a mission of goodwill, but the reader quickly sees that the boys are supposed to conform to another kind of characteristic associated with blacks - violence. The fight is an obvious allegory to why blacks are so unsuccessful in trying to gain power. Instead of banding together to fight for black rights, they are instead told by white men that the enemies are other blacks, so the blacks end up fighting themselves. The saying of a divided house cannot stand is particularly relevant in this case because the house (the black race) is unmistakably divided. The boys are finally rewarded for all of their hard work as coins and dollar bills are put on a rug. The blacks begin crawling to the money only to find that the rug is electrified. (The narrator will come back to electricity throughout his progression.) We see that at the very first stage of theShow MoreRelated The Invisible Man Essay example946 Words   |  4 PagesThe Invisible Man Ralph Ellison speaks of a man who is â€Å"invisible† to the world around him because people fail to acknowledge his presence. The author of the piece draws from his own experience as an ignored man and creates a character that depicts the extreme characteristics of a man whom few stop to acknowledge. Ellison persuades his audience to sympathize with this violent man through the use of rhetorical appeal. Ethos and pathos are dominant in Ellison’s writing style. HisRead MoreMetaphors In Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man1235 Words   |  5 PagesMetaphors in Invisible Man Ellison uses many examples of metaphors in his novel to convey invisibility, especially with references to music, imagery, and the use of a nameless character. With literature that challenged the accepted ideals surrounding that time period, Ellison expresses his thoughts by comparing an invisible man to various relatable subjects in life. When the narrator firsts starts on his journey and gets constantly bumped, he states that â€Å"You constantly wonder whether you aren’tRead More Invisible Man Essay: Importance of Setting1087 Words   |  5 PagesImportance of Setting in Invisible Man      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Liberty Paint Factory in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man provides the setting for a very significant chain of events in the novel.   In addition, it provides many symbols which will influence a readers interpretation.   Some of those symbols are associated with the structure itself, with Mr. Kimbro, and with Mr. Lucius Brockway.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first of many instances in these scenes that concern the invisible man and the symbolic roleRead MoreJazz in Invisible Man1464 Words   |  6 Pagesmusic in Invisible Man gives feelings that Ellison could never explain in words. In Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the narrator’s search for his identity can be compared to the structure of a jazz composition. In order to see the parallel between the novel and jazz, one must first see how Ellison incorporates jazz music in the prologue of the novel. He not only sets the scene with jazz music in the background but also gives the narrator a deep understanding of music. The music that the narrator listensRead MoreInvisibility in Invisible Man1352 Words   |  6 PagesInvisibility in Invisible Man In order to analyze Invisible Man on any level one mush first come to terms with Ellisons definition of invisible. To Ellison invisible is not merely a faux representation to the senses; in actuality, it is the embodiment of not being. This simply means that for Ellison, his main character is not just out of sight, but he is completely unperceivable. The assertion that the Negro is relegated to some sub-section of society is nothing new; however, never beforeRead MoreRalph Ellison’S Novel, Invisible Man Serves As A Cultural1408 Words   |  6 PagesRalph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man serves as a cultural ethnography of the African American condition in the 1950s. Flooded with issues of signifyin(g), African American folklore, and trickster figures, Ellison’s main theme for the novel is for the narrator to find his own identity in a world defined by whiteness. Specifically, Ellison’s employment of the trickster, a figure that generally bends normal rules and conventional behavior, acts as a cultural â€Å"gift-bearer† that is essential to the readingRead More Invisible Man Essay: Values of the Invisible Man1267 Words   |  6 PagesValues of the Invisible Man      Ã‚  Ã‚   Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man is the story of an educated black man who has been oppressed and controlled by white men throughout his life. As the narrator, he is nameless throughout the novel as he journeys from the South, where he studies at an all-black college, to Harlem where he joins a Communist-like party known as the Brotherhood. Throughout the novel, the narrator is on a search for his true identity. Several letters are given to him by outsiders thatRead More The Search for Identity in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man Essay1107 Words   |  5 PagesThe Search for Identity in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man It is through the prologue and epilogue, that we understand the deeper meanings of Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. The prologue is essential, laying down a foundation that allows us to understand the meaning and reason behind the symbolism and relevance of events the that follow. The prologue allows us to understand the extent and level of intensity the novel is trying to achieve. Acting in the same way, the epilogue further illustratesRead More Betrayal of Self in Ellisons Invisible Man Essay1310 Words   |  6 PagesBetrayal of Self in Ellisons Invisible Man   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man, the nameless narrator is betrayed by a handful of different characters--for this reason his life remains in a constant state of upheaval throughout the novel. Confusion and a lack of personal vision cause the Invisible Man to trust many characters whose designs for him are less than virtuous. Oftentimes these characters betray the Invisible Man, whose reactions to said betrayals form the greater part ofRead MoreThe Real History in Ralph Ellison ´s Invisible Man Essay1831 Words   |  8 Pagesabout the novel Invisible Man. I chose the novel Invisible Man because it is literally perfect for this assignment. I am fully appreciative of the fact that it is extremely hard for any author to publish a novel that does not sway from the â€Å"real† history being referenced. Also, I do not believe that Ellison necessarily wrote this novel with intentions to include exact characteristics of the past, or in an ahistorical way. H owever, throughout the text of the novel Invisible Man, there are several

Marketing Audit Guinness Nigeria - 2245 Words

Scenario Diageo Africa is a  £1bn net sales value,  £300m trading profit drinks business that operates in over 40 markets across Africa through various business models including publicly quoted companies, joint ventures and licensed brewing arrangements. In Nigeria it trades under the name Guinness Nigeria and will be referred to as such from this point. Over the past few years Africa has been Diageo’s most dynamic growth region, delivering the highest proportion of its global growth. Guinness is by far Diageo’s largest brand in Africa accounting for over 30% of the region’s turnover and profits. Moreover in the last few years it has consistently delivered double digit growth. Nigeria overtook Ireland in 2007 as the second largest†¦show more content†¦* The political environment in Nigeria is stable and will encourage more foreign investors * â€Å"Research shows that political stability is a key component in the rise in beer consumption in Africa,† said Andrew Holland, drinks analyst at Evolution Securities, a stockbroker. â€Å"The fact that the Nigerian market has grown so strongly has a lot to do with the relative civil calm.† (The times 2009 Mathew Goodman) | Economic * A growing middle class with more buying power * GDP is growing due to oil revenues * Continued private sector investment * â€Å"Nigeria is one of the top 10 fastest-growing drinks markets in the world† (Sarah Rundell 1/10/2009 African Business magazine) * Nigeria has however been affected by the global downturn and this has affected Heineken owned Nigeria Breweries business * Nigeria is attracting investment from foreign retailers such as â €˜Park n Shop’ | Social * In addition, there is a growing number of expatriate Nigerians returning home and â€Å"bringing Western culture to Africa†, (The Sunday Times) * Alcohol consumption is a social activity. People rarely drink alone which reflects in a strong on trade market * Drinking is traditionally done in bars but high crime rates mean that people are less likely to go out for the evening for fear ofShow MoreRelatedStrategic Marketing Management337596 Words   |  1351 PagesStrategic Marketing Management Dedication This book is dedicated to the authors’ wives – Gillian and Rosie – and to Ben Gilligan for their support while it was being written. Acknowledgements Our thanks go to Janice Nunn for all the effort that she put in to the preparation of the manuscript. Strategic Marketing Management Planning, implementation and control Third edition Richard M.S. Wilson Emeritus Professor of Business Administration The Business School Loughborough University Read MoreGsk Annual Report 2010135604 Words   |  543 PagesThrough our global restructuring programme, we have removed  £1.7 billion of cost since 2008 and are on track to deliver our target of  £2.2 billion of annual savings by 2012. These savings have been extracted from our developed country sales and marketing, support functions, RD and manufacturing infrastructure and reinvested in higher returning activities such as Emerging Markets, vaccines and Consumer Healthcare. Our plans †¢ Evolve our commercial model †¢ Re-shape manufacturing †¢ Streamline ourRead MoreEffects of Corruption in the Phil.14311 Words   |  58 Pages(often with the collusion of the payer, in effect combining theft with bribery) steal cash from treasures, extend advances to themselves that are never repaid, or draw pay for fictitious â€Å"ghost† workers, a pattern well documented in the reports of audit authorities. For example former Philippines president Ferdinant Morcos was accused of stealing millions of dollars, much of it in American foreign aid. In another example in Iran-Contra affair in which profits from the sale of US government property

Present and Future free essay sample

DHL: Past, Present, and Future Abstract This paper presents a brief history of DHL, its formation in 1969, and its rapid growth in the international courier market. The paper then looks at the history of couriers, express and parcel delivery services, the current status of the company, and future opportunities and challenges for the industry and the company. DHL: Past, Present, and Future This paper will explain to the reader the courier, express, and parcel delivery service industry with a brief history of how these industries work. After explaining these industries, this piece will go into the history of the global market leader in logistics, DHL. After concluding the brief history of DHL, the majority of this paper will describe DHL’s Express division, the current status of the industry and company, macroeconomic indicators that relate to DHL, and future opportunities and challenges for the industry and the company. Courier services have been around for ages. The word itself is taken from the Spanish word correr, which means to run. A courier can be defined as a messenger, especially one on official diplomatic business. Wikipedia’s Courier article stated the following: A courier is a person or a company employed to deliver messages, packages and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialization and individualization of services, and committed delivery times, which are optional for most everyday mail services. As a premium service, couriers are usually more expensive than usual mail services, and their use is typically restricted to packages where one or more of these features are considered important enough to warrant the cost. The company specialized in shipping gold, packages and newspapers throughout the West, making a Wells Fargo office in every camp and settlement a necessity for commerce and connections to home. Shortly afterward, the Pony Express was established to move packages more quickly than the traditional method, which followed the stagecoach routes. It also illustrated the demand for timely deliveries across the nation, a concept that continued to evolve with the railroads, automobiles and interstate highways and which has emerged into today’s courier industry. (â€Å"Courier†) Now that the history of couriers has been conveyed to the reader, package delivery will need to be explained. Package delivery is conducted by a courier or expresses service, and is the single sole purpose of an Express service. Wikipedia states the following about package delivery in the United States: Motor freight services arose quickly with the advent of gasoline and diesel powered trucks. United Parcel Service had its origins in this era, initially as a private courier service. The general improvement of the highway system following World War II prompted its expansion into a nationwide service, and other similar services arose. At the same time the contraction or rail passenger service hurt rail-based package shipping; these contractions led to the cancellation of the mail contracts with the railroads, which in turn caused further passenger cuts. Eventually REA was dissolved in bankruptcy in 1975. Air mail was conceived of early, and scheduled service began in 1918. Scheduled airlines carried high valued and perishable goods from early on. The most important advance, however, came with the â€Å"hub and spoke† system pioneered by Federal Express (now known as FedEx) in 1973. With deregulation in 1977, they were able to establish an ir-based system capable of delivering small packages—including mail—overnight throughout most of the county. In response the postal service initiated a comparable Express Mail service. Ironically, in the same period they also began contracting with Amtrak to carry mail by rail. Thus at the beginning of the 21st century, the US consumer can choose from a varie ty of public and private services offering deliveries at various combinations of speed and cost. The history and meaning of Express service itself, encompasses both the histories of couriers and package delivery. DHL is the largest provider of international logistics and operates under four specialized divisions of Express, Global Forwarding, Freight, Supply Chain, and Mail. DHL started with just three men named Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn. Fortuna’s blog depicts the history of DHL as: Founding DHL Worldwide Express is an international express mail service. As a main competitor with FedEx and UPS, DHL vies for much of the shipping needs of businesses and individual around the world. What started with humble beginnings soon became a several billion dollar international enterprise. The company was founded in 1969 to provide express delivery services between the contiguous United States and Hawaii. The three young founders were Larry Hillbloom, a University of California at Berkeley graduate, Adrian Dalsey and Robert Lynn, all based out of San Francisco, California. Initially their shipping company offered the delivery of shipping document by express air delivery. These shipments, made in advance of bulk shipping needs, allowed ships to be unloaded more quickly once they arrived in the following days. Early Success From its early service shipping logistically from San Francisco to Honolulu, the company gradually expanded to encompass the Americas, and then much of Asia and the Pacific Rim in 1971, followed by the rest of the Western Hemisphere, Europe and the rest of the world. DHL services were first introduced in the vital markets of Hong Kong and Japan in 1974. That same year they opened their first UK office in London, expanding their company from three employees in 1969 to 314 five years later with over 3,000 customers. Ever adapting to meet the needs of the world marketplace and keep up with growing competition, DHL continually altered its methods, soon becoming a full delivery program. Co-owner Adrian Dalsey owned a share of the company until 1980, when he traveled Hawaii, Micronesia, Guam and other parts of Asia selling his shares and interest in DHL. 1980s to Present In 1983, DHL became the first air forwarder to serve the Eastern European countries and opened an international hub in Cincinnati, Ohio, the same year. By 1985, they opened a deluxe center in Brussels that handled over 150,00 orders every night. They expanded further with major post openings in Bahrain in 1993 and Kuala Lumpur in 1998. In 1999 Deutsch Post, the world’s largest logistical company, began to acquire shares and stocks in the company and in 2001 bought enough to acquire majority ownership. By the end of 2002, they would achieve full ownership of the company. As of 2009, DHL employed 300,000 people around the world in over 220 territories and countries. Since the company’s founding, their services have expanded to encompass air, overland, freight and sea shipping, and they remain the top logistical delivery company internationally. Also in early 2009, DHL discontinued its domestic-only Express service. The company changed its Express business model to focus only on its international shipping to reduce costs. DHL purchased Airborne Express in 2003 to compete with FedEx and UPS, but later found out how much of a stranglehold the two companies had on domestic-only services. After announcing the discontinuation of domestic-only services, DHL closed its ground hubs and cut the number of stations it had by 75%. Currently, DHL is starting to rebound from its U. S. quagmire and current global economic recession. After DHL reduced U. S. operating costs by over 80%, it finds itself looking forward to 2010 and beyond. According to DHL’s 2010 Press Release: Deutsche Post DHL concluded the first quarter of fiscal year 2010 with an increase in revenues and a strong rise in earnings. Buoyed by the continuing recovery and the world economy and rising transport volumes, consolidated revenue climbed 4. 4 percent to EUR 12. 0 billion compared with the same period last year. These solid results were fueled by substantial growth in DHL, a development that was also driven by increasing business with important new customers.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Essays

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I. Article 1: The Legislative Branch a. section 1: Legislative powers given.. b. section 2: Description of the House of Representatives. -Representatives elected every 2nd year -Qualifications of Representatives -Must be a citizen for at least seven years -Must be at least 25 years old -Will not be inhabitant of the state in which he is chosen -Number of Representatives per state -Executive authority fills vacancies -Choose speaker and officers, Sole power to impeach. c. section 3: Description of the Senate -Separation and replacement of senators -Qualifications of Senators -Must be a citizen for at least nine years -Must be at least 30 years old -Will not be inhabitant of the state in which he is chosen -Vice Presidents role in Senate -Choosing of offices and President pro tempore -Power given to try impeachment trials, and guidelines for such trials -Judgment guidelines for impeachment trials d. section 4: Elections of Senators and Representatives -Guidelines for election of Senators and Representatives e. Section 5: Rules of House and Senate -Guidelines for meetings in the Houses -Power to decide rules, punishments, and expulsions given -Guidelines for journals -Guidelines concerning adjourning f. section 6: Compensation and privileges of members -Compensation and Protection from arrest during meetings -Rules concerning holding offices g. section 7: Passage of bills -Revenue bills originate in the House of Representatives -Instructions concerning bills passed in House and Senate -Every order, resolution, and vote must be presented to the President h. section 8: Extent of Legislative power -Taxes, duties, imposts, excises -Borrowing money -Regulation of commerce -Laws about bankruptcy -Processing of money -Punishment for counterfeiting -Post office and post roads -Promote science and arts -Tribunals -Punishments of piracies and felonies on high seas, offenses against law of nations -War, letters of marque, reprisal, capturing of land and water -Armies -Navy -Regulation of land and naval forces -Calling of militia -Organizing, arming, disciplining, governing, and reserving militia -Exercising exclusive legislation -Necessary and proper clause i. section 9: Limits on Legislative power -migration and importation of persons -Habeas corpus -No attainder or ex post facto law -Capitation or other direct tax -Tax or duty -Preference by regulation of commerce or revenue -Money drawn from treasury -Titles of nobility j. section 10: Limits on states -No treaties -No posting of duties -No duty of tonnage, keeping troops, ships, entering into agreements, engaging in war III. Article II : The Presidency a. section 1: Election, Installation, Removal -Rules of term -4 year term -Guidelines of election -Instructions for electors -Time of choosing electors -Guidelines for Presidential candidate -Must be a natural born citizen -Must be 14 years a resident of U.S. -Must be 35 years old -Compensation -Must take Oath or Affirmation b. section 2: Presidential power -Military and pardoning -Treaties and appointment of ambassadors -Filling vacancies in senate c. section 3: State of the Union, receive ambassadors, laws faithfully executed commission officers d. section 4: Impeachment IV. Article III : The Judiciary a. section 1: Judicial power given b. section 2: Extent of Judicial power -Specifics of extent of judicial power -Original and appellate jurisdiction -Trials by jury c. section 3: Treason -Definition and conviction of Treason -Punishment of treason V. Article IV : The States a. section 1: Full faith and credit given -Privileges of citizens -Convicted people who leave state jurisdiction b. section 2: Privileges and immunities, Extradition, Fugitive slaves c. section 3: Admission of States d. section 4: Guarantees to States -Republican form of government -Protect against invasion -Protect against invasion when deemed necessary by legislature VI. Article V : The amendment process -2/3 house of representatives must agree to present amendment -or 2/3 of state legislature must approve - ? of the senate must agree to get it into the constitution I. Article VI : Legal Status of the Constitution A. Bill of rights a. Amendment 1 : Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition- 1791 b. Amendment 2 : Right to bear arms- 1791 c. Amendment 3 : Quartering of Troops- 1791 d. Amendment 4 : Search and Seizure-1791 e. Amendment 5 : Grand Jury, Double Jeopardy, Self- Incrimination, Due Process-1791 f. Amendment 6 : Criminal prosecutions - Jury trial, right to confront and counsel-1791 g. Amendment 7 : Common law suits - Jury trial-1791 h. Amendment 8 : Excess bail or fines, cruel and unusual punishment- 1791 i. Amendment

Rights of the Child in National and International Essays

Rights of the Child in National and International Essays Rights of the Child in National and International Contexts Theoretical Aspects. Vygotsky observed children as active learners who wish to make sense of their experience and he observed learning taking place in a social context. He discerned a process through which children grew into the intellectual life of the more mature children and adults around them. This was very much unlike Piaget who saw cognition and intellectual growth developing in a child in several maturational stages. To Vygotsky every function in the child's cultural development appears twice. First on the social level and later, on the individual level; first between people (inter Psychological) and then inside the child (intra Psychological) (cited at p 32 of S. Bartlett et al 2004) Vygotsky's seminal work was on the relationship between language and thought, for him "language was generated from the need to communicate and was central to development of thinking". Vygotsky also stressed importance of talk as a learning tool. Pupil talk is encouraged as it allows learners to refine what they know through expression of their thoughts. "Reports of some Eminence have reinforced the status of talk in the class room" (cited p 139 S. Bartlett et al 2004) Examples of such reports are the Bullock report (1975) Assessment of Performance unit report (1986). Concept of Psychological tools was a cornerstone of Vygotsky's theory. To him these tools serve as " a bridge between individual acts of cognition and the symbolic socio cultural requirements of these acts" (Kozulin 1998 cited at P138 in S Bartleet et al 2004) He explained inter cultural cognitive differences to "variances in systems of such tools and methods of their acquisition practiced in different cultures" (cited at P 140 of S. Bartlett et al 2004) The work of Vygotsky has pedagogical implication implying a problem solving approach for the learner and a enabling role for the Teacher. Brown (1994 :7 cited at P 141 in S Bartleet et al 2004) argued that "students navigate by different routes and at different rates but the push is towards upper rather than lower levels of competence". Grouping and pairing of learners with similar capacities was observed by Bruner as advantageous. In encouraging learning, to Bruner, good pedagogy encourages students to discover principles by themselves; the teacher provides an assistant's role. This implies an exercise of "scaffolding" put up by teacher, removed, when felt no longer necessary. A concept introduced by Vygotsky to explain the distance between a child's actual development as determined by independent problem solving and level of potential development under guidance with elders or peers was described as Zone of Proximal Development (cited at P 35 in Fifty Great Modern Thinkers, J.A. Palmer Routeledge London reprint 2004). These zones vary from pupil to pupil and extent of variation may pose a challenge to the teacher. Broenfen bremer (1979) offered a model of ecological systems to explain inter connectedness of environmental factors that impact on a child's learning. He proposed four "nested systems" of development. A micro system (home, class room) a Meso system (links between micro systems) an Exo system (setting where child does not participate and a Macro system (ideology, subculture where child lives). This model helps explain the inter connectedness of environmental factors, and its impact on a child's learning. As for example, how Health, parental care, national level policy decisions impact on a child's learning. (cited at p 151 of S. Bartlett et al 2004) Critical Awareness Child labour and child work are two terms that have been used alternatively. Generally a difference has been noted in house hold work and work outside the house hold. In such situations there is reference to external child labour or hidden or invisible child labour. Several authorities have identified worst forms of child labour and differences between "labour" and "work". In order to have a more meaningful understanding of the terms one goes back to the cause of child labour and remedies to such causes which may lead to programmes and campaigns that are preventive. Poverty drives the child to enter the labour market often exposing the child to dangerous and abusive work conditions. Child labour is defined by the UNCRC article 32 as the right to be protected from economic exploitation and from participating in any work that is hazardous or interferes with the child's education health or development. Work is identified as activities undertaken by children to contribute to their own and or family income. Some working children see it as dignified as it contributes to family survival others see work as harmful and exploitative. (http//www/savethechildren.org.uk/scuk.cache/cmsattach/411-childlabour) Save the children a Non government orgnaisation that takes a pragmatic approach to child labour

Grammar Tips Subjectâ€Verb Agreement - Proofread My Paper

Grammar Tips Subject–Verb Agreement - Proofread My Paper Grammar Tips: Subject–Verb Agreement An important part of writing a grammatical sentence is making sure that the subject and verb in a sentence agree. In the following, well take a look at some of the basics. The Basics of Subject–Verb Agreement In the present tense, subject–verb agreement requires using singular verbs with singular subjects and plural verbs with plural subjects. In this context, the â€Å"subject† is the person or thing in the sentence performing the action, while the verb is the action being performed: Singular Subject Present Tense Singular Verb The bird†¦ †¦sings. Plural Subject Present Tense Plural Verb The birds†¦ †¦sing. In the simple past tense, though, there’s usually no difference between singular and plural verbs: Singular Subject Past Tense Verb The bird†¦ †¦sang. Plural Subject Past Tense Verb The birds†¦ †¦sang. Songbirds themselves care little for grammar.(Photo: Georg_Wietschorke) Compound Subjects Subject–verb agreement becomes more complicated when using a compound subject. When two subjects are joined with the coordinating conjunction â€Å"and,† we always use a plural verb: Bob and Cheryl are going to the game. However, when using â€Å"either/or† or â€Å"neither/nor† in a compound subject, whether to use a singular or plural verb depends on the term nearest to the verb: Singular: Either the girls or the boy is going to the game. Plural: Neither the boy nor the girls are going to the game. In the above, we use the singular â€Å"is† when the singular noun â€Å"boy† comes after â€Å"or,† but the plural verb â€Å"are† when the plural noun â€Å"girls† comes after the conjunction. Parenthetical Statements One common mistake with subject–verb agreement occurs when a parenthetical statement appears between the subject and the verb: The man, in the company of his dog, goes for a walk. Here, we use the singular verb â€Å"goes† because the bit of the dog is mentioned within a parenthetical clause (i.e., within commas), not as part of the subject of the sentence. If we rephrased this so that the dog was part of a compound subject, we would use the plural verb â€Å"go† instead: The man and his dog go for a walk. But when an additional person or thing is mentioned in parentheses or within commas, the verb should always agree with the subject that appears outside of the parenthetical clause. A man trying to explain parenthetical statements to his dog.(Photo: ToNic-Pics) Collective and Mass Nouns Another potential confusion relates to the use of collective nouns. In American English, these require using a singular verb despite referring to a group of things: The team is playing to win! Here, we use â€Å"is† because â€Å"team† is singular. Mass (or â€Å"non-count†) nouns are similar, since they take singular verbs despite referring to a mass substance (e.g., â€Å"milk† or â€Å"sand†): The milk is going sour. Here, it doesn’t matter how much milk we’re discussing: we’d always use the singular â€Å"is.† Some Exceptions As usual in English, there are exceptions to the rules above. The first-person â€Å"I† and the singular second-person â€Å"you,† for example, reverse the usual rules in the present tense (e.g., we say â€Å"I sing† not â€Å"I sings,† even though â€Å"I† is singular and â€Å"sing† is usually a plural verb). Auxiliary (or â€Å"helper†) verbs (e.g., â€Å"is†/â€Å"are† or â€Å"has†/â€Å"have†) also cause trouble, since they often change depending on whether the subject is singular or plural when using a past participle (e.g., â€Å"The boy has finished his homework† vs. â€Å"The boys have finished their homework†). And since the rules do vary depending on how a sentence is constructed, it pays to be careful with subject–verb agreement! Having your work proofread is a good idea if you’re not confident about this aspect of grammar.

Reproductive Health as A Womans Issue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reproductive Health as A Womans Issue - Essay Example Perhaps nowhere in the world today where every aspect of women’s reproductive health is heavily scrutinized than in that country. Which explains why it is worthy to take notice if such measure of improving women’s health is valid and re-examine our own stance with the arguments presented. There are two sides of the argument, according to pro-RH Bill â€Å"the reproductive health (RH) bill promotes information on and access to both natural and modern family planning methods, which are medically safe and legally permissible. It assures an enabling environment where women and couples have the freedom of informed choice on the mode of family planning they want to adopt based on their needs, personal convictions and religious beliefs. On the other side of the coin is the â€Å"the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' Fr. Melvin Castro drew raised eyebrows when he said tubal ligation, a popular medical method involving the cutting women's Fallopian tubes to preve nt them from becoming pregnant again, is considered as a sin by the church (Philippine Daily Inquirer).

The Working Culture of Big Organizations Case Study

The Working Culture of Big Organizations - Case Study Example When MIGROS thinks of expanding abroad, I would strongly suggest India, not because it is my country, but because of the very favorable economic situation prevailing in this country, notwithstanding the depression that has engulfed most of the global markets. The mention of the name MIGROS kindles many expectations about this organization for its quality products and its philanthropic attitude towards business. MIGROS wish to serve the community. The 15th Parliament Elections have brought about the stunning victory for the Indian National Congress Party that has been pursuing the policy of liberalization in the economic front, under the leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister. He is an economist of international repute and former Governor of Reserve Bank of India. During the last five years, this country has attained rapid economic growth. He can feel the pulse of the Indian economy in the global context. Corporate performance has been stunning under his leadership. During his speech in Parliament, while presenting the Budget 1994-95, as the Union Finance Minister, he quoted Victor Hugo: "No power on Earth can stop an idea whose time has come." True to his vision, the productivity in the Indian industry grew like never before†¦now, we have a very different economy as compared what it was 10 years ago. Far from close to defaulting on its international debts, the economy is sizzling and has posted 10.4 percent GDP growth last quarter. More economic reforms, liberalization, and corporate-friendly policies are on the cards. So, I feel this is the right time for an international retail giant like MIGROS to make the entry in the Indian Market in a big way. The city of Faridabad is known all over India. The management of top commercial establishments of any country must know Faridabad. It became the 12th District of Haryana State, an important State of India, from the point of view of both industry and

The Gileadean regime and how are these portrayed Essay Example for Free

The Gileadean regime and how are these portrayed Essay There are also few occasions in the telling of her story where Offred seems almost inconsolable through sheer desperation as a result of the lack of normality in her life, I want her back (her mother), I want everything back, the way it was. She is desperate to escape from this regime which has bound her to such alienation. She wants to love and be loved once again. When Offred looks inside herself in her moments of nostalgia, she does find a set of memories that allow her to recall a sense of herself. She can remember her job, her love for her husband, her daughter, her mother, her friends; particularly Moira, her education and the successes and failures of everyday life. Throughout the book she tries to hold on to these, but eventually they begin to fade away. Luke and her daughter slip into past tense. She fears that she is finally betraying Luke when she has her affair with Nick, and she feels erased by time, no longer a presence in her daughters existence. I sit in the chair and think about the word chair. It can also mean the leader of a meeting. It can also mean a mode of execution. It is the first syllable in charity On many occasions throughout the novel Offred plays with language. Language is one of the central symbolic themes of the novel and it is something that is restricted and demoted in Gilead. Barbara Hill Rigney2 described Atwoods use of such a mechanism in the Handmaids Tale to represent Offreds oppression as: Language is a fragile protest, but it represents the only salvation possible. I believe this is absolutely true in that Offred being able to relate her story to somebody else is what keeps her sane. It gives her some form of escape where she does not have to be someone she isnt, yet she can choose to be exactly what she wants; its her story, her choices. According to Amin Malik1 what makes Atwoods book such a moving tale is its clever technique in presenting the heroine initially as a vice like sleepwalker conceiving disjointed perceptions of its surroundings, as well as flashing reminiscences about a bygone life. As the scenes gather more details and momentum, Offreds narrative transfigures into a full roundedness that parallels her maturing comprehension of what is happening around her. Atwood skilfully manipulates the time sequence between Offreds past (pre-Gilead) and the present: those shifting reminiscences offer glimpses of a life, though not ideal, still filled with energy, creativity, humaneness and a sense of selfhood, a life that sharply contrasts with the alienation, slavery and suffering under totalitarianism. 1. Amin Malik, Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale and the Dystopian Tradition, 1987 2. Barbara Hill Rigney- Atwood Critic Published by Macmillan Press 1987. Dec 2003 Miss. Slocombe Nasima Begum 12B Pg 1 of 3 Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Margaret Atwood section.

Iran-Contra Affair Essay -- US International Relations

America had begun to indulge in the unilateral environment afforded to it during the Cold War. As the Soviet Union began to collapse in the 1980s, the United States was on its way to becoming a solo super power. This acquisition of complete power would inevitably lead the country into new problems, including those foreign and domestic. One of the main issues that came around in the 1980s for the Unites States was the Iran-Contra Affair, which involved the Reagan Administration. With the United States readily inserting influence across the globe, the Iran-Contra Affair proved how foreign intervention can lead to scandal and disgrace in the modern world. Along with detrimental scandals, the Iran-Contra Affair showed how America’s imperialistic behavior in South America was beginning to catch up. In order to remain a dominant influence in South America, the United States had no choice but to topple governments that did not align with American ideology. Using guerillas like the C ontras insinuates America’s cornerstone of doing what is necessary in order to satisfy foreign interest. The Iran-Contra Affair involved the United States, Iran, and Lebanon. The affair coincided with the Iranian hostage crisis, which promoted the United States’ actions in sending weapons to Iran. The Reagan administration decided to trade arms for hostages in hopes of successfully retrieving American hostages from Iran. Iran was at the time under the power of Ayatollah Khomeini, who had put his full support behind the hostage crisis and believed there was nothing that the United States could do to Iran. America’s only chance of rescuing the hostages was to put their support behind Iran in the Iran-Iraq War, which involved the shipment of weapons to Iran f... ...es when it comes to implementing controversial foreign policy decisions that directly affect Americans and those in different countries. The main aspect of the affair that greatly influences the United States’ government is ensuring that its past imperialistic motives do not become an integral part of American affairs once again. Works Cited Boland Amendment. Decemmber 2010. http://www.fact-index.com/b/bo/boland_amendment.html (accessed Novemeber 2010). PBS. Reagan Timeline. 2000. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reagan/timeline/index_5.html (accessed November 2010). U.S. History: Iran-Contra Affair. Iran-Contra Affair. 2010. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1889.html. Vianica. History of the Sandinista Revolution: the union of a whole nation. January 2010. http://vianica.com/go/specials/15-sandinista-revolution-in-nicaragua.html (accessed November 2010).

An Indivisible Peace

It is very inevitable that somewhere in our lives, we have been touched by a special bond called â€Å"friendship†.   That special bond might happen in the most unusual time and place. It might even be connected not just with love, but also with envy and selfishness.A Separate Peace is a timeless novel which depicts a tale of two best friends named Gene and Finny or Phineas who are both away from their homes to attend boarding school during World War II. Since both of them are experiencing the same hardships, pressures and turmoils that come with boarding school, they both create a unique bond and help each other survive tough times. They help each other develop independence and courage while trapped in a boarding school that's full of distressing things.The plot revolves around Devon School which is said to be the most beautiful school in New England because it helps its male students master both scholarly and athletic facets of their lives. Devon School is a boarding schoo l which has an atmosphere of privileged students.The students who are accepted in Devon both possess class and money. It is very usual that a school is just a place for educational achievements and at the same time, personality growth. But Devon isn't just an ordinary   institution for it's a place wherein the boys get the chance to be carefree without worrying about their reputations being ruined.The novel is set on World War II, a very crucial point for the boys because it is the time wherein they'll choose which certain military branch will they enlist in. The boys aren't really forced to enlist in the military but during that time, being involved in the war is truly a great status symbol for it proves the courage of a man. Both Gene and Finny possess contrasting personalities.Gene is a man who excels in his academic and on the other hand, Finny is excellent in sports. The state of being a pacifist also lies in Finny's nature. Although Gene's character isn't that bad, it is Fin ny who   is well-adored by their teachers and schoolmates. He doesn't have enemies and a lot of people look up to him and want to be in his shoes for his extraordinary skills in sports. Gene is the type of man who runs rebellious things inside his head. When they both go to the beach, Finny told Gene that they're now â€Å"best pals† but Gene doesn't respond for a darkness in his heart is already accummulating.He is doubtful of Finny's â€Å"pure† character. He believes that Finny is just showing his sincere side because he is deeply jealous with him and his achievements and that he wants to sabotage him. Since Finny is not doing well academically, Gene doubts that Finny wants to destroy him academically by diverting his attention. With this in mind, Gene decides to get even with Finny. Gene even mentions that â€Å"[Finny] could get away with anything. I couldn't help envying him that a little, which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little.† (Knowles 18).But what Gene thought isn't harmful turns out to be a very critical situation. Gene's grudge towards Finny is unbearable that's why while jumping on a tree during a summer day, he intentionally shook the tree which causes Finny to lose his balance and fall drastically.Although Finny already has a doubt that Gene intentionally did it, he never seriously thinks about it for he believes that his best friend cannot do it. Finny's leg become broken which disabled to him to play sports again. He somehow loses his self-confidence knowing the fact that he cannot engage himself with the one thing he's passionate with which is sports.He returns to Devon in crutches and in a pitiful state, but he never bears a grudge in his heart. Both he and Gene develops their bond more stronger. They willingly share each other's skills. Gene tutors Finny in his academic subjects while Finny teaches Gene about the foundations, tactics and techniques of sports.For a while , they forget about the war in which they are pressured to enlist to. Time comes wherein Gene is put in a mock trial for someone suspects that he's the cause of Finny's injury. Finny then realizes that his best friend actually knocked him off the tree. Fifteen years later, Finny knocked himself again off a marble staircase which causes his recovering leg to become worse again.Gene's conscience undoubtedly bothers him so in the infirmary, he visits Finny and asks for forgiveness for the monstrous crime that he has committed. Finny unconditionally accepts his plea for forgiveness and assures him that nothing will change between them. Finny dies and although Gene is shocked about his death, he still continues to enlist in the Navy. Gene then realizes the misery that he created out of his dark and jealous heart and decides to change his view of the world.The central focus of the heartwarming novel is to depict that each individual in the world is longing for his own separate peace and w ill do anything to attain it. Each individual has his own way of achieving his separate peace. In Gene's case, he attained his separate peace by knocking off Finny in the tree.Gene fears that his bestfriend will sabotage and betray him that's why he chooses to get even with him. Although he doesn't have a concrete evidence that Finny is really set to destroy him, he still continues his plan and thus, satisfying himself with Finny's downfall. Looking at Finny's case, his separate peace is to detach himself from the war and so he uses his excellence in sports to get away from the enlistment. The characters of the novel both have fears that's why they create their own defense mechanisms to hide the truth that is driving their lives.During those times, the boys in Devon also act in conformity. They do things which they think would be acceptable with their friends. Instead of listening to what their hearts really want, they listen to what their friends must say about what is acceptable a nd what is not. Of all the schoolboys, Finny is the only one who enjoys his life using his own standards. His kind-hearted and genuine character sets him apart from his friends including Gene. Finny follows everything that his heart dictates and he always sees that the things that he's doing is a heartwarming reflection of his love for life.A Separate Peace is beautifully woven to show the evils that are lurking inside a human's heart. It depicts that a human has fears and insecurities which cause him to release his â€Å"dark† and â€Å"flawed† side. On the lighter side, it is truly humbling to know that not all humans are indeed evil for there exist some who's love and light for life overpower the evil and greed of human hearts.It's clearly demonstrated in Finny's tale who has always been loving and pure. He forgives his best friend and shows him that it's never too late to change and open up his heart to the world.   Finny's sincere character was proven when he sa id to Gene: â€Å"It was just some kind of blind impulse you had in the tree there . It wasn't anything you really felt against me, it wasn't some kind of hate you've felt all along. It wasn't anything personal.When Finny dies, Gene is left to realize how his conceit killed his best friend. It's a tough time for Gene but he later gives forgiveness to himself and   moves on with his life using a sadder yet wiser perspective. He even recalls his best friend in a heartbeaking way:   â€Å"During the time I was with him, Phineas created an atmosphere in which I continued now to live, a way of sizing up the world with erratic and entirely personal reservations, letting its rocklike facts sift through and be accepted only a little at a time, only as much as he could assimilate without a sense of chaos and loss.No one else I have ever met could do this†¦.When [others] began to feel that there was this overwhelmingly hostile thing in the world with them, then the simplicity and u nity of their characters broke and they were not the same again.† (Knowles 194)A Separate Peace not only chronicles a tale of two best friends but it also has a historical context that lies beneath its story. It is known that the novel was first published in England in 1959, but it doesn't actually mean that the time of the novel is 1959. The novel focuses on the early 1940s wherein United States had proclaimed its participation in World War II. Aside from the country's participation, World War II brought out enormoue valor and patriotism in each citizen's heart.Even though some of them are not actually engaged in combat, each citizen felt When A Separate Peace was first published in the United States in 1960, the Korean War had been over for approximately seven years. Also at that time, the country's participation in Vietnam War had not yet heightened to greater proportions. The United States made it compulsary for men to enroll in the military particularly the draft which is the U.S.'s role in Vietnam in the early 1960s.A small protest happened to diminish the compulsory participation but in the end, the young antiwar protesters were forced to respond by burning their draft notices.It was also in 1960s where the youngest president of United States, John F. Kennedy, was elected. At the age of forty-three, he had defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon. During Kenndy's term, the population was hugely comprised of adolescents and by the time they have reached college, they greatly became a dominant part of American politics and culture. They have started to doubt and question the authority of their parents' generation. In line with their scrutiny, they have also started to search their own meaning of identity which was also reflected in the novel through Gene's search of his individuality.By the end of 1960s, A Separate Peace   already praised by a wide array of conservative critics. The novel was praised in various ways. Some critics find the book's a ntiwar sentiments very moving, accurate and timely while some deeply admire the book's moral lessons especially the part wherein it showed that a sin's redemption is still possible no matter how great a sin can be.A Separate Peace is not only hailed for its moving historical contexts, but also because itemulates several valuable themes such as war, rivalry, guilt and friendship. On a certain level, the novel emulates the war topic for it concentrates the huge impact World War II has created on the male adolescents.The novel focuses on the dificulty the young men are facing with their decisions about the war. Most of them are in the verge of deciding whether to enlist themselves in the war. Some of them are even preoccupied with the thoughts of their tentative acceptance on their desired military branch.The Word War II caused great implications on Gene's generations especially the fact that most of their young teachers are away to do war-related jobs. Thus, most of the teachers left to instruct them were men between the ages of fifty and seventy. Since a huge age discrepancy lies between them, the teachers cannot directly relate with the students' mind. The students' bond immediately intensified.It is also very evident that the existence of rivalry is very dominant in the novel. All the students in Devon do their best to fit in with the â€Å"society† their friends have created.   If not trying to fit in, some of them are doing implicit things to get even with their friends. It is well portrayed in Gene and Finny's frienship wherein Gene does his best to exceed Finny.Guilt is also a very domineering theme in the novel. In the end, Gene realizes that he's living in his self-contained world which is filled with hatred and disgust for others particulary his best friend Finny.Of the mentioned themes, friendship stands out most for it is the root of everything. It depicts that friendship doesn't just curtain all the good things, but underneath the relations hip lies hidden desires and envy.Gene's experience with Finny depicts to the readers that harbouring false motives towards other people can lead to disastrous things. He also shows that it is impossible for an individual to create complete peace in his heart until he confronts the evil in his heart and let the light shine through it.He realizes that  Ã‚   â€Å"wars were not made by generations and their special stupidities, but that wars were made instead by something ignorant in the human heart.†Ã‚   It's a compelling fact that Gene is able to acknowledge that the real enemy lies within himself. He admits that his false attitude is the cause of the corruption of his entire character .The novel ends with the portrayal that â€Å"separate peace† can only be achieved when an individual learns how to fight his personal evils. What's good in this tale is that it clearly demonstrates that no matter how impure a human's heart is, there's still a chance for him to change a nd put things in its right places.Works CitedBryant, Hallman Bell. A Separate Peace: The War Within. Twayne Publishers: Boston, 1990.Knowles, John. A Separate Peace. Bantam Books: New York, 1959.McDougal-Littell. â€Å"Author Spotlight: John Knowles.† Available online at: http://www.mcdougallittell.com/lit/guest/knowles/

An Evaluation on Factors That Influence the Choice of a Mobile Telecommunications Service Provider

TITLE:AN EVALUATION ON FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE CHOICE OF A MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDER TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary3 2. Background4 2. 1Purpose of study5 2. 2Significance of study5 2. 3Research Objectives5 2. 4Research Questions6 3. Methodology7 3. 1Method of Research7 3. 2Types of Research7 3. 3Population7 3. 4Sampling7 4. Sources of data collection8 4. 1Secondary Data8 4. 2Primary Data8 5. Data collection tools8 5. 1Questionnaire8 5. 2Validity and Reliability9 6. Data Analysis10 7. Recommendations15 8. Limitations and Delimitations of the study16 9. Conclusion17 0. References18 11. Appendices19 1. 0Executive Summary The Zimbabwean telecommunication sector has grown rapidly over the past years. This exponential market growth attracted new players to this sector, which in turn resulted in increased competition. The aim of this study was to establish critical factors in the selection of mobile telecommunications service providers. A research instrument was e mployed to collect data from consumers of the three mobile phone operators in Zimbabwe. Convenience sampling, a form of non-probability sampling was used to collect data from 40 participants.This research used descriptive statistics for data analysis and discussions. The results of the study revealed that customers’ selection of which mobile telecommunications service providers to use is influenced by overall service quality, free calls and free SMSs, network capability, reliability of service, network innovativeness, low rate charges, accessibility, promotions with discount, geographic network coverage, family and friends, and customer care. In addition to this, the study found that customers prefer subscribing to the same service provider as their family members and friends.However, visually appealing physical facilities and high profile customers, were found to be the least influential factors in selecting mobile telecommunication service provider. Marketing mix elements a re relevant towards evaluating factors that determine the selection of mobile service provider in Zimbabwe. However, this study incorporated and investigated further by including factors influencing consumer buying behaviour, which makes it more comprehensive for application in telecommunication services.Thus, the focus on consumer behaviour was helpful in situating and understanding customers' buying behaviour in mobile telecommunication services. The study recommended specific marketing strategies to enhance the success of mobile service providers in this competitive market and ensure quality service delivery to satisfy customers. This study had limitations in its research design, strategy and sampling method; hence, areas for future studies addressing these shortcomings have been identified and recommended. 2. 0Background and objectivesThe mobile telecommunication industry has grown over the past few decades and has seen the industry undergoing intense competition to attract and retain customers. The mobile industry has become an important factor in global interactions as computer-based technologies and communication networks are being implemented daily. In the last twenty years, the mobile revolution has truly changed the socio-economic landscape of Zimbabwe and has seen the industry grow rapidly, that is keeping pace with global advancements in the mobile telecommunication market.The year 1997 marked a new era in the Zimbabwe telecommunication sector as it marked the beginning of deregulation of the telecommunications sector, which was previously a monopoly. The Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (PTC) which was wholly owned by the Government; did not have any competition and thus it flourished as the sole fixed line provider. According to Melody (1999) technological change and new service opportunities are factors bearing on the telecom reform process everywhere. In 1996, technological advancement saw the birth of NetOne, the first cellular network operator in Zimbabwe, a subsidiary under the PTC.However, in 1998 things started to change dramatically when the first major new player, Econet Wireless entered the telecommunications market. The deregulation of the telecommunications sector opened the market from a monopolistic market to a competitive multiple service providers. Currently, there are three mobile service providers in Zimbabwe, which are Econet Wireless, Telecel and NetOne, and the competitive pressure is high. The three MSPs compete with each other to grab customers by proving a wide range of both basic services and value added services.The customers enjoy the option of choices among the service operators and thus the competitive environment causes brand consciousness among the subscribers and potential buyers (Melody, 2003). In order to survive the competitive environment, the service providers must ensure network quality, customer acquisition and retention. Table 1 shows the detail of the mobile subscribers in Zi mbabwe, that depicts the market share of the MSPs. 2. 1Purpose of study The purpose of the study was to evaluate factors that determine the selection of mobile service providers.Also to evaluate and understand the consumers buying behaviour in selecting service providers and to help service providers to design more appealing marketing programs which deliver better customer value and thus providing the required returns. 2. 2Significance of study The robust competition between the three mobile network operators in Zimbabwe has intensified. Therefore, identifying and understanding the factors which considerably influence the customer buying behaviour is of greatest importance to the marketers.Thus, the key success factors in mobile telecommunication battles are effectiveness of marketing strategies and understanding of consumer behaviour. The determinant factors for customers choice of the MSP in Zimbabwe is not clear as there is insufficient documentation on the issue. Therefore, ther e is a need to empirically evaluate and analyze the phenomenon for managerial implications. The outcome of the study would provide insights to service providers to take profound actions towards enriching customers’ service experience.Moreover, the study also builds on existing consumer behaviour literature by exploring the factors influencing consumer buying behaviour that ultimately influence the selection of mobile service providers. In addition, the findings of the study will also assist telecommunication companies to invest their resources more efficiently, or to make changes to crucial quality attributes that bring out consumers’ satisfaction levels. 2. 3Research Objectives The overall objective is to ascertain the logic behind customers’ selection of a particular mobile service operator.Sub-objectives †¢To determine the social factors which lead the customer towards selecting a particular mobile service provider. †¢To determine the service qualit y dimensions influencing the customers’ selection of a particular mobile service provider. †¢To establish the influence of marketing mix elements on purchasing behaviour of mobile service operators. 2. 4Research Questions †¢Which social factors influence the selection of a mobile service provider? †¢Which service quality dimensions influence the customers’ selection of a particular mobile service provider? Which marketing mix elements have an influence in purchasing behaviour of mobile service operators? Keywords: Consumer behaviour , Service quality, Price, Promotion, Service availability/place 3. 0METHODOLOGY 3. 1Method of Research This is a quantitative study which mainly will depend on numeric data to classify features and count them. According to Burns & Grove 2005:23, quantitative research is a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data are used to obtain information. This research method is used to examine relationships among va riables and to determine the cause-and-effect interactions between variables.This study is concerned with the assessment of factors that influence consumer buying behaviour. 3. 2Types of Research A descriptive research was used for the study to describe factors that influence the customers buying behaviour as well as describing the marketing mix elements that play a role in determining the customers’ selection for mobile service provider. Polit and Hungler 1999 state that the descriptive research mainly describes what exists and may help to uncover new facts and meaning.The purpose of descriptive research is to observe, describe and document aspects of a situation as it naturally occurs. They further state that the descriptive research involves the collection of data that will provide an account or description of individuals, groups or situations. The research instruments that were used for this study were questionnaires with closed questions. 3. 3Population Population select ed for this study were all Bulawayo residents who are customers of any of the three mobile service providers available in Zimbabwe which is unknown. 3. Sampling Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2003) state that it is not easy to assess the entire population, therefore, it is necessary to assess a sample of the population as an alternative in order to generalize about the entire population. The researcher will target the Bulawayo residents who visit the National University of Science and Technology Campus along Gwanda Road and Cecil Avenue. The sample size used for the research was 100 respondents and a non-probability sampling technique was used. The convenience sampling method was used to select the targeted sample.According to convenience sapling is a statistical method of drawing representative data by selecting people because of the ease of their volunteering or selecting units because of their availability or easy access. The researcher used this method to get easy access to info rmation from walk in customers at the Main Administration Building (NUST Campus). Time and cost constraints also justified the convenience sampling technique. 3. 5Sources of data collection 3. 5. 1Secondary data Secondary data is the data which is collected for some other purposes or the data which is gathered by previous researchers.The research was involved in a desk research were information about the background of the telecommunications industry was acquired. The researcher also used articles, books and the internet to gather more information about the factors that influence the purchasing behaviour of mobile service provider. The data acquired aided the researcher in the analysis of data as a toll for deriving in reliable and relevant conclusions. 3. 5. 2Primary data In this research primary data was obtained by collecting data from uestionnaires which were administered at the Main Administration Building at the NUST Campus to the target sample size. The researcher issued the r espondents the questionnaire and gave the at most fifteen minutes to fill in the questionnaire. 3. 6Data collection tools There are many tools available for gathering empirical data but it depends upon research question and purpose of study that which tool is used for study. For this study, the researcher used the questionnaire because it is less time consuming, and provides good quality data easily. 3. 6. 1QuestionnaireThe questionnaire is the medium of communication between researcher and respondent. The researcher used close ended questions because of the quantitative nature of the study. The researcher chose the questionnaire because it is considered to be inexpensive, less time consuming and provide good quality data easily (Babbie, 2010). The questionnaire was drafted with the aim of answering the research question and research objectives. The questionnaire consisted of closed-ended questions as they were quicker and easier to answer and readily accessible to coding and quanti tative analysis.The questionnaires consisted of five categories and items on different constructs are organised in each category namely; service quality, price, promotions, availability and social factors. The questionnaires were personally handed to the respondents as they were entering the Main Administration Building. 3. 7Validity and Reliability Gravetter and Forzano (2009) state that the validity of a research study is the degree to which the study accurately answers the question it was intended to answer.According to Babbie (2010), the reliability of a research instrument is the degree of consistency with which the instrument measures the attributes it is supposed to be measuring. Validity and reliability were not measured for this report. 4. DATA ANALYSIS A five-point Likert scale was used to measure the output of each item answered by the respondents. The outputs, frequency tables were generated using the SPSS package and from these the data was presented in bar graphs. More over, the number of respondents who selected each of the response options is reported as percentages of the total number of responses.The total number of questionnaires issued was 40 but there were three spoilt questionnaires, so for the data analysis 37 questionnaires were analysed. Service Providers The findings in Fig 1 reveal that a total of 57% of the respondents were Econet Wireless subscribers, whilst 23% were NetOne and 20% being Telecel subscribers. The findings illustrate that most of the respondents were Econet Wireless subscribers. Frequency Responses from Social Factors Fig 2: Frequencies for Social FactorsThe findings in Figure 2 reveal that a total of 7% of the respondents disagreed, 36% were unsure and 57% agreed that it is important to subscribe to the same service provider with family members and friends. Additionally, 30% of the respondents disagreed, 10% were unsure while 60% agreed to value friends, colleagues and family members’ opinions before buying an y product from the service provider. On the other hand, 95% of the participants disagreed, 1% were unsure and 4% agreed that high profile customers of a particular service provider influence them to choose a mobile service provider.Frequency Responses for Service Quality Dimensions Fig. 3: Frequencies for Service Quality Dimensions Figure 3 reveal that 8% of the participants disagreed, 10% were unsure, 82% agreed that reliability of service influence their choice of the mobile service provider. Moreover, the figure show that 2% of the respondents disagreed, 0% were unsure and 98% agreed that network capabilities of a service provider influence their subscription to a mobile service operator.It is evident that customer’s choice of mobile service provider is significantly influenced by network coverage. It also reflects that 5% of the respondents disagreed, 7% were unsure and 88% agreed that network innovativeness is an important factor that they consider when subscribing to a mobile service provider. Likewise, the results reveal that 18% of the respondents disagreed, 3% were unsure, and 79% agreed that customer care at the service provider outlets influence them to choose a mobile service provider.Frequency Responses for Price Fig 4: Frequencies for Price Findings in Figure 4 illustrate that 15% of the participants disagreed, 2% were unsure, 83% agreed that low rate charges influence them to subscribe to a mobile service provider. Frequency responses to Promotional Mix Fig 5: Frequencies to promotional mix The findings in Figure 5 reveal that the results shows that 63% of the respondents disagreed, 3% were unsure, and 34% agreed that advertisement influences them to subscribe to a mobile service provider.These finding revealed that, the majority of the customers indicated that advertisement does not influence their choice of mobile service provider, thus advertisement was insignificant. Additionally, the findings shows that 17% of the respondents disagre ed, 11% were unsure and 72% agreed that offers such as SIM card offered with initial balance influences their selection of a service provider. Similarly, Figure 5 reveal that 13% of the participants disagreed, 2% were unsure and 85% agreed that free calls and free SMS encourage them to subscribe to a mobile service provider.The findings show that free calls and free SMS significantly determine customers’ choice of mobile network. Frequency Responses from Service Availability Aspects Fig 6: Frequencies from Service Availability Aspects The data in Figure 6 reveals that 37% of the respondent’s disagreed, 30% were unsure, 32% agreed to value visually appealing physical facilities than customer care. Likewise, it illustrates that 11% of the participants disagreed, 10% were unsure and 79% agreed that accessibility of services influence their preference for mobile service provider.That means ease access to telecommunication services influence consumers’ choice. On the other hand, the findings reveal that 51% of the respondents disagreed, 24% were unsure, 25% agreed that international roaming plays an important role when choosing a mobile network. 5. 0RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the findings of this research, the mobile service providers are recommended to: †¢Provide service quality through network quality, network extension and upgrade. †¢Offer quality service at lower rates. †¢Provide more offers for family and friends. †¢Enrich customer’s service experience and loyalty.Value the importance of day-to-day interactions, such as response quality in call centers, skills of staffs in retail outlets, speed of technical repair and other measures. †¢Pay attention to staff skill possession, knowledge, attention to customers and their needs, offering of fast and efficient services and general attitude to customer services. †¢Consistently monitor what customers want and what they get through the feedbacks, then identify t he gap in between through research and bridge the gap through continuous innovation. 6. 0LIMITATIONS AND DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDYA discussion of the study limitations demonstrates that the researcher understands that no research project is perfectly designed; consequently, the researcher will make no overweening claims about generalizability or conclusiveness about what has been learned (Marshall and Rossman, 2011). This study was limited to evaluate the factors that determine the selection of mobile service provider. In fact, considering resources and time constraints, the research was limited to one town in Zimbabwe. Therefore, it cannot be representative of the whole of Zimbabwe population’s behaviour. Some of the limitations originated from the tool that was used.The use of the closed ended questionnaire meant that it was not possible to ask follow-up questions and thus finding out the reasons for selecting a particular service provider over the other. The other concern is that this study was measuring factors affecting consumers’ perception in the telecommunication sectors were measured, but there is a lack of related literature. The delimitations of a study are those characteristics that limit the scope of the inquiry and define boundaries for the study (Ledez, 2008). Furthermore, the delimitations of this study were also related to the use of a singular research design as opposed to triangulation.The research instrument and the number of test items were also limited. 7. 0CONCLUSION This study aimed to evaluate the factors that determine the selection of mobile service providers in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s mobile telecommunication market has grown over the past decade and it is highly competitive. In any competitive environment, firms are likely to compete in order to attract and retain customers. However, it is extremely important that a company recognizes the needs, wants, tastes, criteria and the perceptions of its customers.The stu dy employed data representing factors that influence customers’ selection of mobile network to identify and meet customers’ needs and wants as well as to establish the perceived and preferred service quality, activities that would entice customers, the prices that customers are willing and able to pay, and the possible best ways of utilizing available resources to supply the needed/desired services. The Zimbabwean mobile networks must maintain a combination of all these variables in order to succeed in a competitive telecommunication market as well as to enjoy the uch-needed profit to invest in network infrastructure, innovations and human resources. Providing superior service quality, particularly, in the dimensions of network quality and performance, reliability, responsiveness, and convenience, is of utmost importance that requires mobile service provider managerial attention in order to attract and retain customers. The study suggested that regulators in the Zimbab we’s telecommunication sector should take appropriate measures to include these dimensions in undertaking objective assessment of quality of service of mobile telephone operators in safeguarding customers’ interest.In this study, the focus on marketing mix elements and consumer behaviour was helpful in situating and understanding customers' preferences and buying behaviour in mobile telecommunication services. Besides, it is evident that customers’ choice is largely influenced by marketing mix elements. The current study established that customers look at the call rates; promotional mix offers such as free calls/minutes and free SMSs, and promotions with discount and free sample play a vital role in customers’ choice of mobile service provider . REFERENCES 1. Babbie, E. R. (2010), The Practice of Social Research. 2th edition. USA: Wadsworth. 2. Burns and Grove aker, M. J. (2003), The Marketing Book. 5th edition. USA: Butterworth-Heinemann. 3. Gravetter, F . J. and Forzano, L. B. (2009). Research Methods for the Behavioural Sciences. 3rd edition. USA:Wadsworth. 4. Hanif, M. , Hafeez, S. , and Riaz, A. (2010). Factors Affecting Customer Satisfaction. International Research Journal of Finance and Economics [online], 60 (2010), p. 44-52. Available from: http://www. eurojournals. com/irjfe_60_04. pdf [Accessed 22 February 2013]. 5. Kapoor, R. , Paul, J. and Halder, B. (2011). Services marketing: Concepts and Practices.New Delhi: McGraw-Hill. 6. Marshall, C. and Rossman, G. (2011). Designing Qualitative Research. 5th edition. California: Sage Publications, Inc. 7. Melody, W. H. (1999). Telecom Reform: Progress and Prospects. Telecommunications Policy, 23 (1999), p. 7 – 34. 8. Melody, W. H. , (2003). Preparing the Information Infrastructure for the Network Economy. World Telecommunications Markets: International Handbook of Telecommunications Economics, Vol. III, p. 1-27. 9. Paulrajan, R. and Rajkumar, H. (2011). Service Quality and Customers Preference of Cellular Mobile Service Providers.Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 6(1), p. 38-45. 10. Thornhill, N. (2003). Your research Project. 2nd edition. London: Sage. 11. Wilson, R. M. S. and Gilligan, C. (2005). Strategic Marketing Management: Planning, Implementation and Control, 3rd edition. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. Appendix 1 Table 1: Subscriber base in Zimbabwe Service ProviderNumber of Subscribers Econet Wireless10. 2 million NetOne2. 6 million Telecel1. 8 million Appendix 2 A QUESTIONNAIRE ON EVALUATION OF FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE CHOICE OF A MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDER Good day, my name is Thembelihle Moyo.I am a student at the National University of Science and Technology doing Master of Science Degree in Marketing. I am carrying out a evaluation on factors that influence the selection of a particular mobile service provider. The information solicited herein is purely for academic purposes and will be treated in the stric test confidence. 1. Which service provider’s connection do you have? Econet Telecel NetOne 2. Social Factors Using a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being â€Å"strongly agree† and 1 being â€Å"strongly disagree†. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements:Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNot SureAgreeStrongly Agree Family and friends should be the sole reason of choosing a mobile network I value the opinions of my friends when making purchasing decisions High profile customers inspire me in making purchase decisions 3. Service Quality Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNot SureAgreeStrongly Agree The mobile service provider I use is reliable The mobile service provider has a wide network coverage The mobile service provider has high quality in network innovativeness The have high standards of customer care 4. Price Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNot SureAgreeStrongly AgreeThe low rate charges attract customers to this service provider 5. Promotion al Mix Elements Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNot SureAgreeStrongly Agree The advertisements of this mobile service provider attracted me to be their subscriber The sim card with initial balance attracted me to this mobile service provider The free calls and free sms attracted me to be a subscriber 6. Service Availability Aspects Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNot SureAgreeStrongly Agree The offices are visually appealing The service is easily accessible International roaming is one aspect that is essential in a mobile line THANK YOU An Evaluation on Factors That Influence the Choice of a Mobile Telecommunications Service Provider TITLE:AN EVALUATION ON FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE CHOICE OF A MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDER TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary3 2. Background4 2. 1Purpose of study5 2. 2Significance of study5 2. 3Research Objectives5 2. 4Research Questions6 3. Methodology7 3. 1Method of Research7 3. 2Types of Research7 3. 3Population7 3. 4Sampling7 4. Sources of data collection8 4. 1Secondary Data8 4. 2Primary Data8 5. Data collection tools8 5. 1Questionnaire8 5. 2Validity and Reliability9 6. Data Analysis10 7. Recommendations15 8. Limitations and Delimitations of the study16 9. Conclusion17 0. References18 11. Appendices19 1. 0Executive Summary The Zimbabwean telecommunication sector has grown rapidly over the past years. This exponential market growth attracted new players to this sector, which in turn resulted in increased competition. The aim of this study was to establish critical factors in the selection of mobile telecommunications service providers. A research instrument was e mployed to collect data from consumers of the three mobile phone operators in Zimbabwe. Convenience sampling, a form of non-probability sampling was used to collect data from 40 participants.This research used descriptive statistics for data analysis and discussions. The results of the study revealed that customers’ selection of which mobile telecommunications service providers to use is influenced by overall service quality, free calls and free SMSs, network capability, reliability of service, network innovativeness, low rate charges, accessibility, promotions with discount, geographic network coverage, family and friends, and customer care. In addition to this, the study found that customers prefer subscribing to the same service provider as their family members and friends.However, visually appealing physical facilities and high profile customers, were found to be the least influential factors in selecting mobile telecommunication service provider. Marketing mix elements a re relevant towards evaluating factors that determine the selection of mobile service provider in Zimbabwe. However, this study incorporated and investigated further by including factors influencing consumer buying behaviour, which makes it more comprehensive for application in telecommunication services.Thus, the focus on consumer behaviour was helpful in situating and understanding customers' buying behaviour in mobile telecommunication services. The study recommended specific marketing strategies to enhance the success of mobile service providers in this competitive market and ensure quality service delivery to satisfy customers. This study had limitations in its research design, strategy and sampling method; hence, areas for future studies addressing these shortcomings have been identified and recommended. 2. 0Background and objectivesThe mobile telecommunication industry has grown over the past few decades and has seen the industry undergoing intense competition to attract and retain customers. The mobile industry has become an important factor in global interactions as computer-based technologies and communication networks are being implemented daily. In the last twenty years, the mobile revolution has truly changed the socio-economic landscape of Zimbabwe and has seen the industry grow rapidly, that is keeping pace with global advancements in the mobile telecommunication market.The year 1997 marked a new era in the Zimbabwe telecommunication sector as it marked the beginning of deregulation of the telecommunications sector, which was previously a monopoly. The Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (PTC) which was wholly owned by the Government; did not have any competition and thus it flourished as the sole fixed line provider. According to Melody (1999) technological change and new service opportunities are factors bearing on the telecom reform process everywhere. In 1996, technological advancement saw the birth of NetOne, the first cellular network operator in Zimbabwe, a subsidiary under the PTC.However, in 1998 things started to change dramatically when the first major new player, Econet Wireless entered the telecommunications market. The deregulation of the telecommunications sector opened the market from a monopolistic market to a competitive multiple service providers. Currently, there are three mobile service providers in Zimbabwe, which are Econet Wireless, Telecel and NetOne, and the competitive pressure is high. The three MSPs compete with each other to grab customers by proving a wide range of both basic services and value added services.The customers enjoy the option of choices among the service operators and thus the competitive environment causes brand consciousness among the subscribers and potential buyers (Melody, 2003). In order to survive the competitive environment, the service providers must ensure network quality, customer acquisition and retention. Table 1 shows the detail of the mobile subscribers in Zi mbabwe, that depicts the market share of the MSPs. 2. 1Purpose of study The purpose of the study was to evaluate factors that determine the selection of mobile service providers.Also to evaluate and understand the consumers buying behaviour in selecting service providers and to help service providers to design more appealing marketing programs which deliver better customer value and thus providing the required returns. 2. 2Significance of study The robust competition between the three mobile network operators in Zimbabwe has intensified. Therefore, identifying and understanding the factors which considerably influence the customer buying behaviour is of greatest importance to the marketers.Thus, the key success factors in mobile telecommunication battles are effectiveness of marketing strategies and understanding of consumer behaviour. The determinant factors for customers choice of the MSP in Zimbabwe is not clear as there is insufficient documentation on the issue. Therefore, ther e is a need to empirically evaluate and analyze the phenomenon for managerial implications. The outcome of the study would provide insights to service providers to take profound actions towards enriching customers’ service experience.Moreover, the study also builds on existing consumer behaviour literature by exploring the factors influencing consumer buying behaviour that ultimately influence the selection of mobile service providers. In addition, the findings of the study will also assist telecommunication companies to invest their resources more efficiently, or to make changes to crucial quality attributes that bring out consumers’ satisfaction levels. 2. 3Research Objectives The overall objective is to ascertain the logic behind customers’ selection of a particular mobile service operator.Sub-objectives †¢To determine the social factors which lead the customer towards selecting a particular mobile service provider. †¢To determine the service qualit y dimensions influencing the customers’ selection of a particular mobile service provider. †¢To establish the influence of marketing mix elements on purchasing behaviour of mobile service operators. 2. 4Research Questions †¢Which social factors influence the selection of a mobile service provider? †¢Which service quality dimensions influence the customers’ selection of a particular mobile service provider? Which marketing mix elements have an influence in purchasing behaviour of mobile service operators? Keywords: Consumer behaviour , Service quality, Price, Promotion, Service availability/place 3. 0METHODOLOGY 3. 1Method of Research This is a quantitative study which mainly will depend on numeric data to classify features and count them. According to Burns & Grove 2005:23, quantitative research is a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data are used to obtain information. This research method is used to examine relationships among va riables and to determine the cause-and-effect interactions between variables.This study is concerned with the assessment of factors that influence consumer buying behaviour. 3. 2Types of Research A descriptive research was used for the study to describe factors that influence the customers buying behaviour as well as describing the marketing mix elements that play a role in determining the customers’ selection for mobile service provider. Polit and Hungler 1999 state that the descriptive research mainly describes what exists and may help to uncover new facts and meaning.The purpose of descriptive research is to observe, describe and document aspects of a situation as it naturally occurs. They further state that the descriptive research involves the collection of data that will provide an account or description of individuals, groups or situations. The research instruments that were used for this study were questionnaires with closed questions. 3. 3Population Population select ed for this study were all Bulawayo residents who are customers of any of the three mobile service providers available in Zimbabwe which is unknown. 3. Sampling Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2003) state that it is not easy to assess the entire population, therefore, it is necessary to assess a sample of the population as an alternative in order to generalize about the entire population. The researcher will target the Bulawayo residents who visit the National University of Science and Technology Campus along Gwanda Road and Cecil Avenue. The sample size used for the research was 100 respondents and a non-probability sampling technique was used. The convenience sampling method was used to select the targeted sample.According to convenience sapling is a statistical method of drawing representative data by selecting people because of the ease of their volunteering or selecting units because of their availability or easy access. The researcher used this method to get easy access to info rmation from walk in customers at the Main Administration Building (NUST Campus). Time and cost constraints also justified the convenience sampling technique. 3. 5Sources of data collection 3. 5. 1Secondary data Secondary data is the data which is collected for some other purposes or the data which is gathered by previous researchers.The research was involved in a desk research were information about the background of the telecommunications industry was acquired. The researcher also used articles, books and the internet to gather more information about the factors that influence the purchasing behaviour of mobile service provider. The data acquired aided the researcher in the analysis of data as a toll for deriving in reliable and relevant conclusions. 3. 5. 2Primary data In this research primary data was obtained by collecting data from uestionnaires which were administered at the Main Administration Building at the NUST Campus to the target sample size. The researcher issued the r espondents the questionnaire and gave the at most fifteen minutes to fill in the questionnaire. 3. 6Data collection tools There are many tools available for gathering empirical data but it depends upon research question and purpose of study that which tool is used for study. For this study, the researcher used the questionnaire because it is less time consuming, and provides good quality data easily. 3. 6. 1QuestionnaireThe questionnaire is the medium of communication between researcher and respondent. The researcher used close ended questions because of the quantitative nature of the study. The researcher chose the questionnaire because it is considered to be inexpensive, less time consuming and provide good quality data easily (Babbie, 2010). The questionnaire was drafted with the aim of answering the research question and research objectives. The questionnaire consisted of closed-ended questions as they were quicker and easier to answer and readily accessible to coding and quanti tative analysis.The questionnaires consisted of five categories and items on different constructs are organised in each category namely; service quality, price, promotions, availability and social factors. The questionnaires were personally handed to the respondents as they were entering the Main Administration Building. 3. 7Validity and Reliability Gravetter and Forzano (2009) state that the validity of a research study is the degree to which the study accurately answers the question it was intended to answer.According to Babbie (2010), the reliability of a research instrument is the degree of consistency with which the instrument measures the attributes it is supposed to be measuring. Validity and reliability were not measured for this report. 4. DATA ANALYSIS A five-point Likert scale was used to measure the output of each item answered by the respondents. The outputs, frequency tables were generated using the SPSS package and from these the data was presented in bar graphs. More over, the number of respondents who selected each of the response options is reported as percentages of the total number of responses.The total number of questionnaires issued was 40 but there were three spoilt questionnaires, so for the data analysis 37 questionnaires were analysed. Service Providers The findings in Fig 1 reveal that a total of 57% of the respondents were Econet Wireless subscribers, whilst 23% were NetOne and 20% being Telecel subscribers. The findings illustrate that most of the respondents were Econet Wireless subscribers. Frequency Responses from Social Factors Fig 2: Frequencies for Social FactorsThe findings in Figure 2 reveal that a total of 7% of the respondents disagreed, 36% were unsure and 57% agreed that it is important to subscribe to the same service provider with family members and friends. Additionally, 30% of the respondents disagreed, 10% were unsure while 60% agreed to value friends, colleagues and family members’ opinions before buying an y product from the service provider. On the other hand, 95% of the participants disagreed, 1% were unsure and 4% agreed that high profile customers of a particular service provider influence them to choose a mobile service provider.Frequency Responses for Service Quality Dimensions Fig. 3: Frequencies for Service Quality Dimensions Figure 3 reveal that 8% of the participants disagreed, 10% were unsure, 82% agreed that reliability of service influence their choice of the mobile service provider. Moreover, the figure show that 2% of the respondents disagreed, 0% were unsure and 98% agreed that network capabilities of a service provider influence their subscription to a mobile service operator.It is evident that customer’s choice of mobile service provider is significantly influenced by network coverage. It also reflects that 5% of the respondents disagreed, 7% were unsure and 88% agreed that network innovativeness is an important factor that they consider when subscribing to a mobile service provider. Likewise, the results reveal that 18% of the respondents disagreed, 3% were unsure, and 79% agreed that customer care at the service provider outlets influence them to choose a mobile service provider.Frequency Responses for Price Fig 4: Frequencies for Price Findings in Figure 4 illustrate that 15% of the participants disagreed, 2% were unsure, 83% agreed that low rate charges influence them to subscribe to a mobile service provider. Frequency responses to Promotional Mix Fig 5: Frequencies to promotional mix The findings in Figure 5 reveal that the results shows that 63% of the respondents disagreed, 3% were unsure, and 34% agreed that advertisement influences them to subscribe to a mobile service provider.These finding revealed that, the majority of the customers indicated that advertisement does not influence their choice of mobile service provider, thus advertisement was insignificant. Additionally, the findings shows that 17% of the respondents disagre ed, 11% were unsure and 72% agreed that offers such as SIM card offered with initial balance influences their selection of a service provider. Similarly, Figure 5 reveal that 13% of the participants disagreed, 2% were unsure and 85% agreed that free calls and free SMS encourage them to subscribe to a mobile service provider.The findings show that free calls and free SMS significantly determine customers’ choice of mobile network. Frequency Responses from Service Availability Aspects Fig 6: Frequencies from Service Availability Aspects The data in Figure 6 reveals that 37% of the respondent’s disagreed, 30% were unsure, 32% agreed to value visually appealing physical facilities than customer care. Likewise, it illustrates that 11% of the participants disagreed, 10% were unsure and 79% agreed that accessibility of services influence their preference for mobile service provider.That means ease access to telecommunication services influence consumers’ choice. On the other hand, the findings reveal that 51% of the respondents disagreed, 24% were unsure, 25% agreed that international roaming plays an important role when choosing a mobile network. 5. 0RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the findings of this research, the mobile service providers are recommended to: †¢Provide service quality through network quality, network extension and upgrade. †¢Offer quality service at lower rates. †¢Provide more offers for family and friends. †¢Enrich customer’s service experience and loyalty.Value the importance of day-to-day interactions, such as response quality in call centers, skills of staffs in retail outlets, speed of technical repair and other measures. †¢Pay attention to staff skill possession, knowledge, attention to customers and their needs, offering of fast and efficient services and general attitude to customer services. †¢Consistently monitor what customers want and what they get through the feedbacks, then identify t he gap in between through research and bridge the gap through continuous innovation. 6. 0LIMITATIONS AND DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDYA discussion of the study limitations demonstrates that the researcher understands that no research project is perfectly designed; consequently, the researcher will make no overweening claims about generalizability or conclusiveness about what has been learned (Marshall and Rossman, 2011). This study was limited to evaluate the factors that determine the selection of mobile service provider. In fact, considering resources and time constraints, the research was limited to one town in Zimbabwe. Therefore, it cannot be representative of the whole of Zimbabwe population’s behaviour. Some of the limitations originated from the tool that was used.The use of the closed ended questionnaire meant that it was not possible to ask follow-up questions and thus finding out the reasons for selecting a particular service provider over the other. The other concern is that this study was measuring factors affecting consumers’ perception in the telecommunication sectors were measured, but there is a lack of related literature. The delimitations of a study are those characteristics that limit the scope of the inquiry and define boundaries for the study (Ledez, 2008). Furthermore, the delimitations of this study were also related to the use of a singular research design as opposed to triangulation.The research instrument and the number of test items were also limited. 7. 0CONCLUSION This study aimed to evaluate the factors that determine the selection of mobile service providers in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s mobile telecommunication market has grown over the past decade and it is highly competitive. In any competitive environment, firms are likely to compete in order to attract and retain customers. However, it is extremely important that a company recognizes the needs, wants, tastes, criteria and the perceptions of its customers.The stu dy employed data representing factors that influence customers’ selection of mobile network to identify and meet customers’ needs and wants as well as to establish the perceived and preferred service quality, activities that would entice customers, the prices that customers are willing and able to pay, and the possible best ways of utilizing available resources to supply the needed/desired services. The Zimbabwean mobile networks must maintain a combination of all these variables in order to succeed in a competitive telecommunication market as well as to enjoy the uch-needed profit to invest in network infrastructure, innovations and human resources. Providing superior service quality, particularly, in the dimensions of network quality and performance, reliability, responsiveness, and convenience, is of utmost importance that requires mobile service provider managerial attention in order to attract and retain customers. The study suggested that regulators in the Zimbab we’s telecommunication sector should take appropriate measures to include these dimensions in undertaking objective assessment of quality of service of mobile telephone operators in safeguarding customers’ interest.In this study, the focus on marketing mix elements and consumer behaviour was helpful in situating and understanding customers' preferences and buying behaviour in mobile telecommunication services. Besides, it is evident that customers’ choice is largely influenced by marketing mix elements. The current study established that customers look at the call rates; promotional mix offers such as free calls/minutes and free SMSs, and promotions with discount and free sample play a vital role in customers’ choice of mobile service provider . REFERENCES 1. Babbie, E. R. (2010), The Practice of Social Research. 2th edition. USA: Wadsworth. 2. Burns and Grove aker, M. J. (2003), The Marketing Book. 5th edition. USA: Butterworth-Heinemann. 3. Gravetter, F . J. and Forzano, L. B. (2009). Research Methods for the Behavioural Sciences. 3rd edition. USA:Wadsworth. 4. Hanif, M. , Hafeez, S. , and Riaz, A. (2010). Factors Affecting Customer Satisfaction. International Research Journal of Finance and Economics [online], 60 (2010), p. 44-52. Available from: http://www. eurojournals. com/irjfe_60_04. pdf [Accessed 22 February 2013]. 5. Kapoor, R. , Paul, J. and Halder, B. (2011). Services marketing: Concepts and Practices.New Delhi: McGraw-Hill. 6. Marshall, C. and Rossman, G. (2011). Designing Qualitative Research. 5th edition. California: Sage Publications, Inc. 7. Melody, W. H. (1999). Telecom Reform: Progress and Prospects. Telecommunications Policy, 23 (1999), p. 7 – 34. 8. Melody, W. H. , (2003). Preparing the Information Infrastructure for the Network Economy. World Telecommunications Markets: International Handbook of Telecommunications Economics, Vol. III, p. 1-27. 9. Paulrajan, R. and Rajkumar, H. (2011). Service Quality and Customers Preference of Cellular Mobile Service Providers.Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 6(1), p. 38-45. 10. Thornhill, N. (2003). Your research Project. 2nd edition. London: Sage. 11. Wilson, R. M. S. and Gilligan, C. (2005). Strategic Marketing Management: Planning, Implementation and Control, 3rd edition. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. Appendix 1 Table 1: Subscriber base in Zimbabwe Service ProviderNumber of Subscribers Econet Wireless10. 2 million NetOne2. 6 million Telecel1. 8 million Appendix 2 A QUESTIONNAIRE ON EVALUATION OF FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE CHOICE OF A MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDER Good day, my name is Thembelihle Moyo.I am a student at the National University of Science and Technology doing Master of Science Degree in Marketing. I am carrying out a evaluation on factors that influence the selection of a particular mobile service provider. The information solicited herein is purely for academic purposes and will be treated in the stric test confidence. 1. Which service provider’s connection do you have? Econet Telecel NetOne 2. Social Factors Using a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being â€Å"strongly agree† and 1 being â€Å"strongly disagree†. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements:Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNot SureAgreeStrongly Agree Family and friends should be the sole reason of choosing a mobile network I value the opinions of my friends when making purchasing decisions High profile customers inspire me in making purchase decisions 3. Service Quality Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNot SureAgreeStrongly Agree The mobile service provider I use is reliable The mobile service provider has a wide network coverage The mobile service provider has high quality in network innovativeness The have high standards of customer care 4. Price Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNot SureAgreeStrongly AgreeThe low rate charges attract customers to this service provider 5. Promotion al Mix Elements Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNot SureAgreeStrongly Agree The advertisements of this mobile service provider attracted me to be their subscriber The sim card with initial balance attracted me to this mobile service provider The free calls and free sms attracted me to be a subscriber 6. Service Availability Aspects Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNot SureAgreeStrongly Agree The offices are visually appealing The service is easily accessible International roaming is one aspect that is essential in a mobile line THANK YOU