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Every degree program at the University must satisfy a certain set of the course requirement as well as other activities conne
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Every degree program at the University must satisfy a certain set of the course requirement as well as other activities connected to the academics. The university ensures the conditions are clear to all the students, and they are easy to follow. It is the duty of the students to employ all the resources that would assist them in meeting the requirements of the University. The university may set requirements in terms of mean grade required for graduation, lecture rate of attendance per student, minimum course units a student should take, lack of proper internship programs, and the submission of the necessary research papers and projects at the completion of the course. However, the completion requirements should reflect the changing nature of a college degree.
Competition for higher education continues to intensify. There are numerous people seeking opportunities to acquire a degree. The world has become extremely keen on achieving relevant intelligence level by having a lot of people getting a higher education status. There are more unemployed graduates than the people who did not acquire the tertiary education. According to statistics from the Labor Department, out of the 9 million people who are unemployed, 4.7 million have acquired higher education (Snyder 01).
What could be done to eliminate the concern remains a major concern for the universities. The first element that may be the cause of the puzzling trend is a lack of proper preparation for students at the university. The students lack proper exposure to the tasks that they are to undertake when they complete their degree. In most cases, the universities insist on excellence in theory works (Snyder 01).
It is clear that every course that one chooses to undertake in the University has some practical part. Some universities do not find the significance of the practical part. They assume that once the students have the required theoretical exposure they can easily employ the knowledge when required to do it practically. However, some students cram the notes to pass the exams but they can hardly recall anything after the exams (Snyder 01). Therefore, it becomes extremely difficult to get highly competent students in terms of practical.
The universities need to evaluate the practical knowledge requirement. It is shameful for a university student not to be in a position to handle even the simplest task of his course. The universities should come up with reliable systems that will ensure that every student goes through practical test to ascertain that he or she is well prepared to handle the tasks that await him or her after the course. A reliable period must be set within which the practical skills of the student will be tested. Tough measures must be in place to ensure the student pass this level, and they are ready to handle similar tasks after school. Grading for practical exams should be higher than for normal exams to ensure the students sharpen their skills to reach reliable levels.
College education is no more reserved for the best and the brightest. It has become every student’s way of life. In the United States, approximately 70% of the citizens attempt college education. Approximately half of them eventually graduate. It is an indication that the market in the United States will continue to flood as more people seek the education (Snyder 01). Something should to be done to ascertain that the issue is controlled in a perfect way.
The universities may intervene to ensure only the most qualified students get to the university. If a student below the set standard gets a chance to go to the university, he or she must satisfy another condition. The issue may be possible if the necessary entry requirements are set. For the students who had not reached the minimum entry points to the university they must show exclusive performance (Snyder 01). For the years that they will be in the university they must meet the minimum grade set by the university. The method will help to filter a deal of students who may not perform as per the set conditions.
The method will assist in ensuring only highly competent individuals access the higher education. The filtering process through the grades set as a minimum will protect incompetent students from graduating. If all the universities embraced this move, it would be extremely easy to have a college degree becoming more sensible at a time when its credit is reducing. The qualifications will prepare individuals for jobs in the right way without getting wasted following the existence of many college degrees that are not credible.
Grade is a major consideration during graduation. Students must achieve a certain grade before they are considered for graduation. Universities determine the performance of a student through GPA (Grade Point Average). It refers to the average performance of the student in the entire course (Slavov 01). The universities must consider what they can do to ensure they set a reliable GPA.
There is an absolute need to raise the grade for graduation so that students may work harder. At such time, there would be extremely many challenges if the GPA remained the same. To control the college degree from flooding in the society, the government must be cautious to ensure the universities maintain high GPAs that will push people to work harder (Slavov 01). The low GPAs set for graduation may mean massive mess among the students since they will flock in the market and it will be extremely difficult for them to secure jobs.
As another measure to control the GPA, the lecturers must be keen on their grading techniques. They must show seriousness in defining the necessary principles for their lessons or course subjects. Recently, there have been complaints regarding grade inflation in the universities. The lecturers are unable to offer grades on content, but they are doing it on the idea. As a result, it is becoming extremely easy for any person to pass in the university. The lecturers are not able to test for creativity and extra knowledge on the subject being tested (Phillips 01). They are focusing on the elements that may not show the potential of the student to think or reason independently over an issue.
The universities must be ready to deal with the issue as it continues to unfold. They must be willing to hold the extensive challenge that come with the exercise. It would be necessary for the universities to set standards that will allow keen marking for exams and grading. For example, the institutions may come up with exceptional strategy that will allow employment of external examiners. The people will have excellent qualifications to enable them mark the exams accordingly and in consideration of the necessary details as per the requirements of the subject.
The external examiners will help in maintaining equality among students. Also, there will not be any favor among students in grading as they will receive their grades depending on the performance. In such an incidence, it will be easy to ensure only the brilliant students pass their exams and progress to the next level of their academics. It will also ensure only the best students access the best opportunities in the job market that await the college graduates. The move will be a proper solution to the rising concern of grade inflation (Slavov 01).
For a student to complete a course successfully, he or she must undertake a certain number of units. Universities must set the minimum number of units that every student should undertake during the course. Among the units that the universities indicate as core, a target score must be set. It means all the students must meet the score. At no point will any of the students be allowed to continue on their activities if they are unable to reach the score (CSUMentor 01). The standard will be significant in ensuring that the students who leave the universities are well qualified, and they can handle various tasks based on their qualifications.
Proper grading or standards for education shows the seriousness of the institutions. It will act as a guarantee to the public that it is possible to achieve an education system that prepares the students reasonably and in a unique way. The move will help in raising positive attitude among people on the uniqueness and the significance of higher education (CSUMentor 01). The tarnished name of the college degree will be reclaimed in due time.
Internship programs must be made the core for all the students who wish to graduate. The programs are essential in testing the competence of the students who have undergone full theoretical training. The program should test the potential of the students as well as their ability to put into practice what they study in class. Also, it acts as an exposure to the reality of their profession. The students get the picture of what their profession entails. They can understand the essence of the various principles that they learned in class. The programs will ensure that only qualified students graduate (Phillips 01).
To show their understanding for the course, before the students graduate they are supposed to submit research proposals and research papers to show their competence in the subject. The papers are supposed to reflect on the lessons that the students have learned throughout the course. The universities should make this requirement compulsory and at no point should any student be allowed to graduate without handing in their project papers (CSUMentor 01). The technique will add value among the students and make their college degree relevant since they will have carried out the necessary research to allow them graduate.
The poor performance among the university students is linked to poor class attendance. In most cases, students will come up with excuses why they should not attend lectures. It is unfortunate when the administration fails to follow the class attendance per student. The administration must ensure the student attends the set minimum number of lectures before he or she is permitted to graduate. The poor attendance for classes is reflected through poor performance for students (Snyder 01). Therefore, the universities must ensure that all graduate reasonable attend their lectures so that they may be well prepared for the activities that await them in the job market.
Change for degree completion requirements by the universities would change the current status of the college degree. Following the extensive negative traits that have been attached to the current college degrees the institutions must step up to repaint the tainted image. There must be proper control of how students graduate. Necessary conditions must be satisfied to make sure only competent students succeed. The issues that make the education irrelevant must be grounded and practical measures put in place to encourage excellent standards for college degrees.
Works Cited
CSUMentor “CSUMentor.” – Plan for College. CSUMentor. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <https://secure.csumentor.edu/planning/transfer/upper_div_ge_req.asp>.
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Phillips, Vicky. “Online Degree Completion: 5 Tips for Bachelors Degree.” Online Degree Completion: 5 Tips for Bachelor’s Degree. Geteducated.com, 9 Nov. 2009. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.geteducated.com/cutting-online-university-cost/257-online-college-credits>.
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Slavov, Sita. “How to Fix College Grade Inflation.” US News. U.S.News & World Report, 26 Dec. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2013/12/26/why-college-grade-inflation-is-a-real-problem-and-how-to-fix-it>.
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Snyder, Bonnie. “The Majority of the Unemployed Went to College?” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 22 May 2012. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-bonnie-snyder/unemployment-college-graduates-_b_1536195.html>.
Discuss the relationship between parental style and adjustment in adolescence
Discuss the relationship between parental style and adjustment in adolescence
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Institution
Introduction
Different parental treatments have significant effects on the children’s social and emotional development. The type of environment that a child grows helps in determining the mode of adjustment during puberty (Sheehan and Noller, 2002). Outcomes from different studies show that parent’s approach has a positive or negative impact towards a child growth during the adolescence. Adolescence represents psychological and physical transition stage from puberty to adulthood. Parenting is associated with the type of discipline a parent demonstrates to children and the techniques used to make a child live a positive lifestyle. Many researchers concentrate on the effects of parental styles and discipline on children during early adolescence adjustment, but few concentrate on adjustments in late adolescence (McKinney, Milone, and Renk, 2011). The following paper investigates the relationship between parental style and adjustment in adolescence. The main parental styles that will be analyzed are authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved parenting styles. In each of the above parenting style, the paper will provide a definition and discuss how it relates to the adjustment in adolescence in Malaysian contest, and other areas.
Relationship between Parental Style and Adjustment in adolescence
Authoritarian Parenting Style
Parental styles play a major role in influencing the adjustment of adolescents to the next stage of growth. The authoritarian parenting style is characterized by parents who always act in a strict and harsh manner towards their children. The main aim of the authoritarian parent is to ensure the child grows an obedient person focusing more on their own demands and not those of the child. The child grows under the rule of the parent and has no room to decide on his or her own. Ang terms authoritarian parents as controlling, strict, hostile, and aggressive. Most researchers in children psychology claim that children whose parents are authoritative record poor adjustment to adolescence outcomes (Ang and Goh, 2006). The above parenting style has its own benefits and negatives as discussed below.
Pros
Children growing under the authoritarian parents show more respect and obedience and fair well in the society. Rules given to children during early periods of growth should act as guiding principles that control children’s conducts and behaviors towards other people in the society irrespective of the relationship, age, or status. On the other hand, the child grows as a respected person in the society with total respect towards elders because of the nature of their parents during childhood. Authoritarian parents believe in respect and obedient values and would not allow their children to show any form of disobedience. The style helps children understand their potential and most end up becoming professionals in their areas of career upon reaching adulthood (Bornstein and Bornstein, 2007).
Cons
The authoritarian parenting style is associated with much negativity in terms of the child growth and adjustment to the physical environment. Firstly, most children never seem to understand the meaning of rules and guidelines given by their parents and only follow them in fear of punishments. Authoritarian parents believe that their children should follow what their parents say and should not ask questions. Secondly, the style is characterized with poor communication between parents and children. Authoritarian parents do not bother teaching their children effective communication skills rather they implant more fear, and a child grows lonely and away from peers. Finally, forceful measures towards children make them stay unhappy life. Authoritarian parents force their children to follow rules, a situation that makes children grow with low self-esteem and large gaps in social skills (Bornstein and Bornstein, 2007). In addition, Bornstein and Bornstein argued that most children end up becoming bullies because the style evokes bitterness and anger. A child reacts aggressively to any person they hate especially their peers (Bornstein and Bornstein, 2007).
How adolescence adjust to authoritarian parenting style
Control and warmth form the two major aspects of parenting behavior that controls the adjustment of a child to the environment depending on the parenting style a child experiences. Authoritarian parenting style shows a high rate of control but display low warmth leading to poor adjustment in adolescence. Children under this parental style must adjust to strict, disciplinary, and restrictive environment making them fear natural things and respond poorly to the changing moods in adolescence. In addition, authoritarian parents never engage their children in discussion (Turner, Chardler and Heffer, 2007). Children during the adolescence stage require constant counseling and guidance from their parents who teach them how to prepare for adulthood. Lack of such lessons leads to low adaptability to the adolescence age hence, ends up becoming rebellious and dependent (Turner, Chardler and Heffer, 2007). Adolescence finds it hard adjusting to the environment under this parenting style and always requires further counseling (Kopko, 2007).
Authoritative Parenting Style
As opposed to authoritarian parenting style, authoritative style shows high development of competence in adolescence. This type of parenting style is associated with parents, who listen to their children, have high expectations for their children, encourage their children, and show more love for their children. Authoritative parents aim at producing self-determined adults who show both moral character and competence. In addition, authoritative parents allow their children to express their opinions and administer consistent discipline in a fair and acceptable manner. Children who grow under authoritative parents utilize their thoughts and work independently and have high life expectations. Parents always play a part in encouraging children, and those who break rules undergo fair and consistent discipline. According to Steinberg, Lamborn, and Dornbuch (1991), authoritative parenting style improves parent-child relationship and promotes consistency of children’s behaviors from childhood to old-age. Like the authoritarian parenting style, authoritative style has its pros and cons.
Pros
Children growing under the authoritative parenting styles develop knowing their expectations in life and understand reasons behind such high expectations. Authoritative parents ensure their children follow their dreams and play a part in ensuring they fulfill them effectively. Secondly, the style promotes good children-parent relationship making children free to interact with parents, ask questions, and give their opinion on various aspects of their adolescence life. Thirdly, children take age appropriate responsibilities that are within their responsibilities. Finally, the warmth nature of this style makes children grow respecting their parents, with less fear of punishment (Marsiglia, Walczyk, Buboltz, and Griffin-Ross, 2007).
Cons
The authoritative parenting style increases the responsibility of parents. The freedom of speech enjoyed by children often forces parents to give responses to new things that children say or act. Secondly, parents often face challenges especially when one of the children becomes willful. Parents should maintain a higher degree of patience in order to survive under this parenting style. Most children end up asking different questions, some of which parents are shy to answer. On the other hand, parents need to be more attentive to their children behaviors because of the changing needs as they grow. Parents must constantly modify needs and amend rules as the years go on in order to cater for physical and psychological development of the child (Marsiglia, Walczyk, Buboltz, and Griffin-Ross, 2007).
How adolescence adjust to authoritative parenting style
Children require two main things from parents, which are control and warmth. The authoritative parenting style seems to fulfill all the two aspects making it easier for a child to adjust to adolescence. The above type of parenting style promotes high levels of adolescence school achievement, but the results vary depending on the culture, ethnicity, and social- economic status of the child. Adolescences always find it easier to adapt to changing environment because they have total love from parents, and receive lessons on how to deal with different emotions as they occur during adolescence (Spera, 2005). Moreover, adolescents never suffer from loneliness as in the case of the authoritarian parental style because the authoritative parents take responsibility of their children’s well-being and allow them to ask questions regarding their physical and psychological development.
On the other hand, sometimes children experience challenges adjusting in adolescence under the authoritative parenting style. A research conducted among European Americans identified authoritative parent style as the most optimal because of its consistency and better children and adolescent’s outcomes. However, the study among minority communities, like the Malaysians, revealed poor adjustment of adolescents to their environment. The authoritative parenting style received much negativity because ethnic minorities prefer not talking about critical issues like sex, parenting, and other issues that children ask their parents. According to the research, high levels of parental warmth associated with low parental strictness promotes optimal outcome among adolescents (Garcia and Gracia, 2009).
Permissive Parenting Style
Permissive parenting style forms one of the most original parenting styles as described from the psychological point of view. According to Turner, Chandler, and Heffer (2011), permissive parenting represents parents who show relatively few demands upon their children. Parents show low expectations and have limited self-control, hence rarely caution or discipline their children. Permissive parents show more qualities of responsiveness than demands (Nijhof & Engels, n.d). Permissive parenting style is more modern and allows children to self-regulate their behaviors with limited parent intervention. Parents demonstrating permissive parenting style show limited rules towards their children, are very nurturing and show more love for their children, and they often show a more friend-child relationship rather than parent-child relationship (Nijhof & Engels, n.d). The permissive parenting style has the following pros and cons.
Pros
According to Kipko (2007), permissive parenting style is very warm and increases the bond between parents and their children. Permissive parents play part in influencing adolescents positively by demonstrating more love through giving wishes. Most adolescents like the permissive parenting style because such parents allow them to do whatever they wish such as staying late at night without any question.
Cons
The permissive parenting style has its effects on children in Malaysia and other European countries. Firstly, children lack self-discipline because parents never dedicate time to teach children good virtual. In addition, parents lack demands and expectations making children less sensible and controllable. Secondly, adolescents grow with poor social skills and find it hard adapting to careers such as leadership that require the person to interact effectively with other people. Permissive parents have minimum requirements for mature behaviors denying their children social settings that promote good interpersonal relationship. Finally, permissive parenting style makes children more insecure because they lack guidance on real-life activities. Most of these children perform poorly in schools because they lack parental motivations (Nijhof & Engels, n.d).
How adolescence adjust to permissive parenting style
Adolescents of permissive parents create fewer boundaries and rules that create less self-control and behaviors towards their psychological development (Steinberg, 1990). Adolescents experience difficult times associating with peers from authoritative and authoritarian parents, who show self-discipline and respect for the society. In addition, the problem contributes to poor peer relationship because adolescents lack proper teachings on real-life issues. Moreover, adolescents from permissive parents show variations in demographics such as social relationships, and cultural representations. Permissive parents allow their children to do anything they wish, an issue that makes such children facing discrimination from the society. During the adolescence period such children fail to adjust to the new developmental age, and tend to demonstrate strange behaviors and poor performance (Steinberg, 1990).
On the other hand, adolescents from permissive parents record low scores on self-esteem as shown in Milevsky, Schelechter, and Netter research. Adolescents of permissive parents are less likely to suffer from depression compared to adolescents from authoritarian parents who always leave with fear. Permissive parents fail to supervise their children and upon reaching adolescence, children change into doing weird behaviors as they follow their instincts (Milevsky, Schelechter, Netter, and Keehn, 2006). Parents have no say on children at this age because they believe whatever action they take is the correct one. Moreover, lack of parental control makes the child experience many problems during adulthood and the issue affects even other generations.
Uninvolved Parenting Style
Unlike the three discussed parenting styles above, the parents showing uninvolved style have few demands for their children, low responsiveness, and little communication. Uninvolved parents meet all their children’s basic needs, but generally not involved in any activity of their children’s life. In most cases, adolescents of uninvolved parenting styles end up neglected by their parents. The parent-child interaction time is minimal to an extent that some parents even never know the whereabouts of their children. The adolescent time forms the most critical stage a child and with uninvolved parents, such children always experience challenges adjusting to the changing environment. Uninvolved parents always never care where their children go, stay, or even sleep provided they have given them all the basic needs. Any decision or idea from a teen to his or her parent makes no impact. Because of the low demanding nature of uninvolved parents adolescent learn to avoid them at older ages. The issue makes such children turn into unethical activities like teen sex and drug and substance abuse (Calafat, Garc´ia, Juan, Beco˜na, Fern´andez-Hermida, 2014).
Pros
Whereas some parents prefer this type of parenting style, the style has no significant benefits to the life of children. This is not the chosen parenting style of parents, especially those with life-time family goals. In addition, the characteristics of parents shown on this style are not the type that would benefit children in their adolescence stage (Kipko, 2007).
Corns
With no benefits on this style, it has a number of cons towards parents, their children, and the society. Firstly, parents never place any demands on their children leading to impulsive teens with an “I do not care” attitude. Children feel neglected and have difficulties adjusting to adolescence stages that require support from parents to manage. In addition, adolescents from uninvolved parenting styles perform poorly in school because they have a lot to think about leading to less concentration in their studies. Secondly, children are always along increasing chances of involvement in criminal activities and other unethical practices that can ruin their lives. Finally, the uninvolved parenting style raise children who demonstrate high low levels of self-regulation making them poor performers in their adulthood. Such children end up raising their families in an uninvolved manner,
How adolescence adjust to uninvolved parenting style
Adolescents adjust poorly to uninvolved parenting style because this parenting style ends up making their lives unbearable. Teens especially from Malaysia complain about the level of supportiveness of their parents who ignore their household duties and leave their children to wonder around unattended. Uninvolved parenting style gives adolescents no chance to shape their future lives, but introduces them to different types of life-time risks. Moreover, adolescence ends up hating uninvolved parents for the rest of their lives. Parents bear the blame of not teaching their children society-acceptable virtual and ethics. A study by Gunnoe revealed that age plays a major role in determining the adjustment of a child to a parent. Children between ages of 5 and 7 show high rate of adjustment to unsupportive parents compared to children in their adolescence stages (Gunnoe, 2013).
Conclusion
The analysis shows that the type of parenting style determines the level of adjustment of adolescents. Teenage years are the most stressful periods for both teen and their parents. For parents, the behavior portrayed towards an adolescent child determines the future of that child in terms of liking the parents or disregarding them. The discussion portrays the authoritative parenting style as the most acceptable parenting style among the other three. The style offers adolescents with parental warmth and control needed to adjust to the changing psychological and physical environments from puberty to adulthood.
References
Ang, P. R. and Goh, D. H. (2006). Authoritarian parenting style in Asian societies: A cluster-
analytic investigation. Contemporary Family Therapy, 28(1), 131-152
Bornstein, L, and Bornstein, M. H. (2007). Parenting styles and child social development. In:
Tremblay RE, Boivin M, Peters RDeV, eds. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood
Development [online]. Montreal, Quebec: Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development and Strategic Knowledge Cluster on Early Child Development, 1-4. Available at http://www.child-encyclopedia.com/documents/BornsteinANGxp.pdf
Calafat, A., Garc´ia, F., Juan, M., Beco˜na, E., Fern´andez-Hermida, J. R. (2014). Which
parenting style is more protective against adolescent substance use? Evidence within the European context., Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Available at
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.02.705
Garcia, F. and Gracia, E. (2009). Is always authotitative the optimum parenting style? Evidence
from Spanish families, Adolescence, 44(173), 102-131
Gunnoe, C. (2013). Associations between parenting style, physical discipline, and adjustment in
Adolescents’ reports, Psychological Reports: Disability & Trauma, 112(3), 933-975.
Kipko, K. (2007). Parenting styles and adolescence. Cornell Cooperative Extension
Marsiglia, C.S., Walczyk, J.J., Buboltz, B. and Griffith-Ross, D.A. (2007). Impact of parenting
styles and locus of control on emerging adult’s psychosocial success. Scientific Journals International, 1(1),
McKinney, C., Milone, C.M., and Renk, K. (2011). Parenting and late adolescence emotional
adjustment: Mediating effects of discipline and gender. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev, 42, 463-481.
Milevsky, A., Schlechter, M., Netter, S., and Keehn, D. (2006). Maternal and Paternal Parenting
Styles in Adolescents: Associations with Self-Esteem, Depression and Life-Satisfaction, J Child Fam Stud, 16, 39–47.
Nijhof, K., & Engels, R. (n.d.). Parenting Styles, Coping Strategies, And The Expression Of
Homesickness. Journal of Adolescence, 709-720.
Sheehan, G. and Noller, P. (2002). Adolescent’s perceptions of differential parenting: Links with
attachment style and adolescence adjustment. Personal Relationships, 9, 173-190.
Steinberg, L. (1990). Authoritative parenting and adolescent adjustment across varied
ecological niches. WI: National Center for Effective Secondary Schools, Madison.
Spera, C. (2005). A review of the relationship among parenting practices, parenting styles, and
adolescent school achievement, Educational psychology review, 17(2), 125-145.
Steinberg, L., Lamborn, S., and Dornbusch, S. M. (1991). Authoritative parenting and
adolescence adjustment across varied ecological niches. Journal of research on adolescence, 1(1), 19-36.
Turner, E., C, Chardler, M. and Heffer, R. W. (2011). The influence of parenting styles,
achievement motivation, and self-efficacy on academic performance in college students. Journal of College Student Development, 50(3), 337-346
Current states of the furniture industry in UK and analysis of marketing strategy UK
Current states of the furniture industry in UK and analysis of marketing strategy
Project aim
This project aims at examining the marketing strategies that are applied in the UK furniture industry. this means that the research will examine the strategies various companies have applied to succeed in the furniture industry which is one of most competitive with a total number of 6395 companies as at 2008 ( FIRA, 2010). In addition, the research aims to understand the UK structure and operations of the UK furniture industry, and its competitiveness. This will help in understanding why various companies adopt or implement certain marketing strategies.
UK furniture industry is among the fastest growing industries in the manufacturing sector in the county. This is attributed to various technical factors that have transformed the industry to enhance mechanised production creating a revolution in retailing of furniture and creating a mass market. Today, furniture companies through aggressive marketing have been able to persuade a large number of the working class to make large sales, hence driving the market share of the industry. According to FIRA (2010), The UK, industry is subdivided into three sectors, the domestic, and contract and office sectors. The industry has a large number of micro and small medium companies. This makes it interesting to study the marketing strategies these companies employ.
Therefore, marketing entails the process of formulating and implementing initiatives to plan and manage ways in which a company can establish, predict and satisfy the needs of customers in a manner that is profitable to the marketer. Therefore, we aim to understand these processes in regard to the UK furniture industry. Indeed, a marketing strategy determines the long term objectives of a company, and the plan that a company will pursue to reach its set objectives. As noted by Shaw (2012) a marketing strategy needs detailed research and crafting of a suitable marketing mix to satisfy the consumers. As noted before, the UK has thousands of furniture companies and all of them compete for the same customers. However, how they survive this competition depends on the marketing strategies they put in place, for example, it possible to compete on the basis of quality, price or customer service. Therefore, this research seeks to o understand the specific marketing strategies are used in the UK furniture industry.
ObjectivesThe primary objective of this research is to examine the current states of the furniture industry in UK and analysis of marketing strategy. To achieve this primary objective we have also deduced three secondary objectives as follows:
To examine the current UK furniture industry
To examine the marketing strategies employed by furniture firms
To examine the successful marketing strategies that can used within the UK furniture industry
Rational for the study
The researcher has decided to examine the UK furniture industry because is one of the main industries in the manufacturing sector, it’s competitive and there interesting to study. However, in spite of importance in the economy and the marketing challenges companies within the industry face, little research is available on marketing strategies used in the furniture industry, it is against this background that the researcher has sought to undertake this present study.
The findings of this research will be important in to various stakeholders within the industry. For example, the findings would be important to furniture companies that want to enter into the UK furniture industry. This is because; it will help such potential new entrants to understand the successful strategies that can be employed to succeed in the industry.
Secondly, the findings of the research will also be useful to the current players in UK furniture industry in understanding the different marketing strategies that their competitors employ. In doing so, they will be able to respond in an effective manner. It can also allow these companies to change or strengthen their marketing strategies.
Thirdly, the findings of this study can be used by marketing students and professional who wish to understand the marketing strategies that are being used by the UK companies, or to know which marketing strategies have been established to be effective.
In general, the findings of this project are intended to help those interesting in the UK furniture industry, be it furniture companies, industry experts, or students.
To achieve these objectives of this project, as stated before will be carried out on the UK furniture industry. In particular, the research will examine the marketing strategies of two selected company (IKEA) as case studies companies.
Methods
This research will takes qualitative approaches to achieve the desired objectives. The qualitative or secondary research methodology approach will assist the researcher in the examination of the concepts of the furniture industry in UK and analysis of marketing strategy.
Indeed, the qualitative research is suitable for the present study owing to the fact that if will allow the researcher to apply a systemic method in analyzing the study research question. This argument is shared by Powell (1985), when he states that qualitative research avails vast past data on an issue being investigated. However, this method is prone to certain limitations that may affect the findings of the research. For instance, since it is done by others researchers, it may not be able to answer the formulated research questions, more so, there maybe a mismatch in the variable used, in the present research and previous studies.
The researcher in the present research will apply case study research, which will allow him to identify the marketing strategies employed by selected furniture firms operating in the UK industry. This is important in achieving the research objectives. Indeed, Powell (1995) has pointed out those case studies when used as empirical research examines an issue under research in its real-life environment. Powell (1995) adds that case studies give detailed researched information on certain conditions or occurrence in our environment, which matches our current examination.
Data collection
Data collection of qualitative research will involve company information, selected journal and news items selected because of their related themes to the present researcher and reliability. Therefore, the final articles will mainly comprise of published works, books reviewed, journal, websites that are directly related to the research question.
Similarly, the researcher will use IKEA UK as the case study company. Accordingly, data from about the company’s marketing strategies will be collected and analyzed.
References
FIRA (2010). Competitiveness of the UK Furniture Manufacturing Industry 2010: Retrieved from: http://www.fira.co.uk/document/fira-competitiveness-report-2010.pdf
Powell, R. (1985). Basic research methods for librarians. Norwood, NJ: AblexShaw, E. (2012). “Marketing strategy: From the origin of the concept to the development of a conceptual framework.” Journal of Historical Research in Marketing, 4(1), 30–55
Stake, R. E. (1995). The art of case study research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage