Sunday, November 10, 2019
Business Torts and Product Liability
The scope of product liability usually exposes the manufacturers, sellers, product designers or licensres to the sphre of the legal actions. Here the word ââ¬Ëproductââ¬â¢ is not only indicate the finished or final products but it covers the supplimentary items which is intimately associated to consumer expectations . Moreover, the term produt saftey can be a part of a product, which is related, with any kind of chain of distribution. The manufacturers and other entities involved with market are liable for the products, which are defective in nature . The distributors, dealers, retailers, representatives and employers can also brought in to the action if their products are turned to be defective. The American common law adopted the concept of strict liability under consumer perspectives in early 1960ââ¬â¢s. They began to adopt the view that the sellers should bear the cost of injuries or defects in their products as they are in the best position to distinguish the risks associated with their products. The American law institutes call for the various state law departments to recapitulate the developments in strict liability in Section 402A of the Restatement (Second) of Torts in 1977. However, it happens that the defenadnts may undergo harsh facets of the torts and action for their unintentional act or ommission. The courts of modern times also provide the sellers the indisputable liability for their defective products without the negligence or fault on the part of the seller. (1) For such victims the rules and judgements may appear too harsh but the genuine culprits desreves so. ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â 1. Restatement (Third) of Torts products liability, 1999 Business Torts and Product Liability 2 Introduction ââ¬Å"He can excuse himself by showing that the escape was owing to plaintiffââ¬â¢s default; but as nothing of this sort exists here, it si unnecessary to inquire to what excuse would be sufficient. â⬠ââ¬â Blackburn J Generally there are cases that where a defaulter can be held responsible for an injury even where no negligence or evil intent can be shown. The doctrine of strict liability imposes legal responsibility for injuries sustained by or because of an actor's conduct, whether or not the actor used reasonable care and regardless of the actor's state of mind. Strict liability cases are limited to certain narrowly-defined areas of the law, including products liability, ultrahazardous activities, care of animals and certain statutory offenses. However, the question arises whether such liability and the treatment against the alleged wrong doer is too hurtful or not. To analyse this, firstly, we shall discuss the scope of the torts and product liability in buisiness. Buisiness torts and product liability The general principle is that, seller of any defective product which is unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer, is subject to liability for physical harm thereby caused to the ultimate user or consumer or to his property, if the product is expected to and does reach the user or consumer, without substantial change in the condition in which it is sold. (Restatement (Second) of Torts, 1977)(1). It does not matter that the seller has exercised all possible care in the preparation and sale of his product; and the user or ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â 1. Sec. 402A of Restatement (Second) of Torts, 1977 Business Torts and Product Liability 3 consumer has not bought the product from or entered into any contractual relation with the seller. In Rylands Vs Fletcher,(2) the court found that even if the defendant was not negligent or rather, even if the defendant did not intentionally cause the harm or he was careful, he could still be made liable. The defendant may excuse himself by showing that the occurrence was owing to the plaintiffââ¬â¢s default or that was the consequence of vis major or the act of good. The liability arises not because there was ant fault or negligence on the part of persons, but because he kept such defective products and the same was caused some sort of personal damage to another. The liability of the defective products was well explained in the famous case Donogue Vs Stevenson (3) as, a person who is for gain engages in the business of manufacturing articles of food and drink intended for consumption by members of the public in the form he issues them, is under a duty to take care in the manufacture of these articles. That duty must be to whom he intends to consume his products. The law has enumerated a number of rules to provide maximam penalty to the wrongdoerââ¬â¢s for his misconduct regarding the products. .whether this way of gauging the act and ommissions of the wrongdoers for their product liability is justifiable or not? Are they undergoing ruthless treatment than they deserve? Whether the treatment under product liability is harsh or not Recently in the case, Wyeth vs. Levine (4) the Vermont Supreme Court ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â 2. Rylands Vs Fletcher (1868) L. R 3 H. L 330 3. Donogue Vs Stevenson [1932] AC 562 (HL) (Sc) 4. Wyeth vs. Levine, Pharmaseutical industry Today, News, 22 Nov 2008 Business Torts and Product Liability 4 confirmed a nearly $6. 8 million product liability claim against Wyeth because the company's FDA-approved warning label on anti-nausea drug Phenergan only cautioned physicians about a quick-injection method. The injection caused the palintiffââ¬â¢s vein nicked and caused gangrene in an arm that eventually led to amputation. Here, it can be accepted that defendant faced the consequences because of his negative conduct to the consumers. Still there is a question arises about the magnitude of the penalty usually provides in such cases. The fact is that such liability causes negative impact on the day-to-day conduct of buisiness also. The product liability always compel the the manufacturers to internalize the cost of the product. When the manufacturer assigned all the liabilities for the injuries caused, he is forced to take account all the harms caused and this may lead the manufacturer unable to profit from producing the product Due to strict imposition of law in various manners, the manufacturer may not produce the socially optimal level of goods. Under such conditions the manufacturer cannot pass on the economic costs to the consumers as insurance as the most of the consumers are highly price sensitive. This may harm the production of the products and complete removal from the market. Apart from this, there is a chance of instituting high-level substantial higher transaction costs due to the high-level apllication and the sucsequent penalty of the product liability. Moreover, this causes lowering the consumer surplus from these transactions. (Miller,Goldberg ,2004)(5) ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â 5. Miller, C. J, Goldberg, R. S (September 30, 2004) Product liability, 2 edition Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; ISBN-13: 978-019825678 Business Torts and Product Liability 5 Some times the damage may cause due to the default of the palintiff . The palitiff may misuse the product. Moreover, there is a chance that the product has been altered and modified by the palintiff without the knowledge of the manufacturer. The defects may cause due to the conduct of the third party who is neither defendantââ¬â¢s servant nor does the defendant have any control over him. Or else there is a chance of the product is being manufactured or designed according to the industry custom and standards and government standards related to the manufacture and design. In such cases there is no point in treating the defendant with a extreme penalty. (6)(Salmond, 1996) The cases like Fardon Vs harcourt Rivingston (7) and Glosgow Corp. Vs Muir (8) clearly laid down the priniciple regading the minimising the liability of the wrong doer under such circumstances.. If the possibility of the incident emerging is only a mere possibility which could never occur to the mind of eth reasonable man ,there is no negligence in not having taken extraordinary precautions. People must guard against reasonable probablities but they are not bound to guard against fantastic possibilities. Conclusion Since the product liability is the legal responsibility of manufacturers and sellers to buyers, users and bystanders for damages or injuries suffered, the strict liability of these sections are firmly observed. However, a manufacturer of a product cannot be considered the absolute guarantor of its productââ¬â¢s safety. It can be said that there is a utilitarian ââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬âââ¬â- 6. Salmond, Heuston (1996) , Law of Torts, , p443 publisher: Sweet & Maxwell; 21Rev Ed edition (24 Oct 1996) ISBN-13: 978-0421533509 7. Fardon Vs harcourt Rivingston (1932) 146 L. T 391 8. Glosgow Corp. Vs Muir ((1943) A. C 488 principle revolved under the imposition of such liability. Because the people determined to cling to the responsible persons for their actions even though there is no negligence on their part. Because there are some derivation of benefits likes improved products, safety and accountability, which is generally, prevail over the burden on the defendant in strict liability proceedings. So in such cases in order to fulfill the public policy of minimizing the injury, it is more reasonable to introduce the burden of finding and correcting such dangers upon the manufacturer rather than taking away the defective products from the consumer. ********************************** References 1. Faegre & Benson, 2003 UK Trade and Investment, US product liability law, Nov. 2003 2. Kubasek, Nancy K. ; Browne, Neil M. ; Giampetro-Meyer, Barkacs, Linda, Andrea; Herron, Dan; Dynamic Business law (January 4, 2008) McGraw-Hill ISBN 0073524913 / 9780073524917 3. Miller, C. J, Goldberg, R. S (September 30, 2004) Product liability, 2 edition Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; ISBN-13: 978-0198256786 4. Restatement (second) of Torts products liability, 1977 5. Restatement (Third) of Torts products liability, 1999 6. Salmond, Heuston (1996) , Law of Torts, , p443 publisher: Sweet & Maxwell; 21Rev Ed edition (24 Oct 1996) ISBN-13: 978-0421533509
Thursday, November 7, 2019
The First African-American Church in the U.S.
The First African-American Church in the U.S. The African Methodist Episcopal Church, also called AME Church, was established by the Reverend Richard Allen in 1816. Allen founded the denomination in Philadelphia to unite African-American Methodist churches in the North. These congregations wanted to be free from white Methodists who historically had not allowed African-Americans to worship in desegregated pews. à As founder of the AME Church, Allen was consecratedà as its first bishop. The AME Church is a unique denomination in the Wesleyan traditionit is the only religion in the western hemisphere to develop from the sociological needs of its members. It is also the first African-American denomination in the United States. God our Father, Christ our Redeemer, Man our Brother - David Alexander Payne Organizational Mission Since its establishment in 1816, the AME Church has worked to minister to the needsspiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual and environmentalof people. Using liberation theology, the AME seeks to help those in need by preaching the gospel of Christ, providing food for the hungry, providing homes, encouraging those who have fallen on hard times as well as economic advancement, and providing employment opportunities to those in need. The History of the AME Church In 1787, the AME Church was established out of the Free African Society, an organization developed by Allen and Absalom Jones, who led African-American parishioners of St. Georges Methodist Episcopal Church to leave the congregation because of the racism and discrimination they faced. Together, this group of African-Americans would transform a mutual aid society into a congregation for people of African descent. In 1792, Jones founded the African Church in Philadelphia, an African-American church free from white control. Desiring to become an Episcopal parish, the church opened in 1794 as the African Episcopal Church and became the first black church in Philadelphia. However, Allen wanted to remain Methodist and led a small group to form the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1793. For the next several years, Allen fought for his congregation to worship free from white Methodist congregations. After winning these cases, other African-American Methodist churchesà that were also encountering racism wanted independence. These congregations to Allen for leadership. As a result, these communities came together in 1816 to form a new Wesleyan denomination known as the AME Church. Before the abolition of slavery, most AME congregations could be found in Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Washington D.C. By the 1850s, the AME Church had reached San Francisco, Stockton, and Sacramento. Once slavery ended, the AME Churchs membership in the South increased tremendously, reaching 400,000 members by 1880 in states such as South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Texas. And by 1896, the AME Church could boast membership on two continentsNorth America and Africaas there were churches established in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. AME Church Philosophy The AME Church follows the doctrines of the Methodist Church. However, the denomination follows the Episcopal form of church government, having bishops as religious leaders. Also, since the denomination was founded and organized by African-Americans, its theology is based on the needs of people of African descent. Early Notable Bishops Since its inception, the AME Church has cultivated African-American men and women who could synthesize their religious teachings with a fight for social injustice. For example,à Benjamin Arnett addressed the 1893 Worlds Parliament of Religions, arguing that people of African descent have helped develop Christianity.à Additionally,à Benjamin Tucker Tanner wrote, An Apology for African Methodism in 1867 and The Color of Solomon in 1895. AME Colleges and Universities Education has always played an important role in the AME Church. Even before slavery was abolished in 1865, the AME Church began establishing schools to train young African-American men and women. Many of these schools are still active today and include senior colleges Allen University, Wilberforce University, Paul Quinn College, and Edward Waters College; junior college, Shorter College; theological seminaries, Jackson Theological Seminary, Payne Theological Seminary and Turner Theological Seminary. The AME Church Today The AME Church now has membership in thirty-nine countries on five continents. There are currently twenty-one bishops in active leadership and nine general officers who oversee various departments of the AME Church.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Your Guide to the Hottest Jobs in Chicago
Your Guide to the Hottest Jobs in Chicago ah, the windy cityâ⬠¦home of deep dish pizza and perennially dashed baseball hopes (sorry, cubs fans!). by any measure, chicago is a bustling hub in the heart of the country. and while its thriving cultural and sports scenes are vital to everyday chicagoans, chances are youââ¬â¢ll need a day job in case that improv career with second city doesnââ¬â¢t pan out. if youââ¬â¢re seeking a new job or a new career path, take a lookà at someà the hottest jobs in chicago. the tech sectorsure, chicago is considerably colder than silicon valley, but if youââ¬â¢re looking for a job in the tech sector, donââ¬â¢t count out a midwestern move. over the past 6 years, the chicago-based tech world has grown even faster than silicon valleyââ¬â¢s. companies like google have offices there, and the city is also home to co-work spaces and business incubators that are steadily putting chicago on the tech map. business incubators are communities-within-the-community that help support talent and entrepreneurs as they develop new products and businesses. and this kind of collaborative community is one of the reasons that chicago is becoming a magnet for young tech innovators and entrepreneurs.hot job: software developerin an increasingly tech-friendly city, software developers are at the very heart of it all, working on software programs and apps. with a bachelorââ¬â¢s degree and the programming skills, software developers command a median salary of $100,000. and the demand keeps growing: the u.s. bureau of labor statistics predicts 17% overall growth by 2024.the service sectorover the past few years, chicago has seen an unprecedented number of visitors to the city. that means soaring demand for people to fill jobs in hotels/hospitality, restaurants, bars, and other service industries. and itââ¬â¢s not just chicago- the united states bureau of labor statistics predicts 6% growth for hospitality-related industries by 2024.hot job: mixologistin chicago as anyw here else, there are plenty of places where you can drop in for a cold beer, no fuss. these days, there are also a lot of places where you can drop in for the plenty-of-fuss version: an artisanal cocktail, crafted with homemade bitters, herbs grown in a community garden, and an instagram-ready look. bartenders and mixologists are taking on the status of chefs these days, and with the fancier cocktails commanding prices in the $10-$15 range, this is not your grandpaââ¬â¢s suds-slinger. the average mixologist in chicago earns $22,000 before tips- and the field is expected to grow by a healthy 10% nationally by 2024, per the bureau of labor statistics.the healthcare sectoras a nation, our health isâ⬠¦a growing challenge. as such, healthcare-related industries are booming just about everywhere, especially as the population ages. chicago is no exception, and itââ¬â¢s even being touted as one of the next big hubs for health technology. chicago is a city with world-class medical facilities (90 hospitals, six medical schools, and numerous fictional tv hospitals), as well as headquarters of major medical organizations like the american medical association, the american hospital association, the american alzheimerââ¬â¢s association, and the american heart association. (not to mention the walgreenââ¬â¢s pharmacy mothership just outside the city.)hot job: home health aidei mentioned chicagoââ¬â¢s many exciting tv hospitals before, but the reality is that some of the most important healthcare jobs are considerably less flashy. home health and personal care aides fill important roles in this industry, providing daily care to seniors, the disabled, and other home-bound patients. what the job lacks in glamour and riches (the median salary is $22,920 per year, or $10.54 per hour), it makes up in stability and accessibility. you can become a home health aide without a formal degree (and with some on-the-job training). and the bureau of labor statistics predic ts that the field will grow by an astonishing 38% over the next decade. if youââ¬â¢re trying to decide whether the healthcare career path is right for you, this job could be a good way to dip your toe in and find out.the manufacturing/production sectorspeaking of less-glamorous jobs, chicago is a leader in manufacturing. and in fact, manufacturing is chicagoââ¬â¢s second-biggest business sector, tied heavily to its strong trade and export industries. and this has a long and storied history with its get-your-hands-dirty jobs: as far back as 1914, poet carl sandburg referred to the city as ââ¬Å"hog butcher for the world / tool maker, stacker of wheat, / player with railroads and the nationââ¬â¢s freight handler.â⬠basically, you name it, chicago has probably processed and handled it. these days, manufacturing isnââ¬â¢t the nationwide industry it once was, but in chicago there are some areas of the industry that continue to thrive, like food processing and production. companies like kraft, heinz, wrigley (of ballpark and chewing gum fame), sara lee, keebler, and quaker oats have maintained major operations in chicago, alongside a growing industry of small-batch food companies that are rising in popularity on the foodie tide.hot job: truck driverall of these foods and products need to make it from point a to point b, and thatââ¬â¢s where a fleet of dependable drivers come in. whether local, regional, or long-haul, trucking can be a great career option for someone with a spotless driving record, an ability to find zen in the open road, and the knack for solving problems on the fly and get somewhere on schedule. with a specialized commercial driving license (cdl) and some on-the-job training, drivers make a median salary of $40,260 per year, or $19.36 per hour. according to the bureau of labor statistics, the need for drivers will continue to grow through the next decade.whatever you want your career path to be in chicago, windy city newbie to s easoned chicagoan, you have so many options, in fields that will continue to grow and thrive. happy hunting, and go bulls!
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Macro Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Macro - Essay Example Unemployment rates in transition economies and developing countries have also moved higher, ââ¬Å"in particular in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Central and South-eastern Europeâ⬠(Andy Kilmister, 2008). Economic theory: According to Andy Kilmister (2008), in the years leading up to the economic crisis that began in 2008, the global economy showed strong Economic Growth (EG). Over 2001-07, real world gross domestic product (GDP) grew by more than 3 percent a year, exceeding annual growth of 2.7 percent during the 1990s. The large influx of money into the Western financial system enlarged the ââ¬Å"supply of funds available for loans and investment relative to the profitable opportunities availableâ⬠(p. 67). This consequence, combined with ââ¬Å"insufficient government financial regulation and supervision, resulted in investors and banks making riskier loans, such as for subprime home mortgages and mortgage refinancing in the Unites Statesâ⬠(Andy Kilmister, 2008). Interest on the article: The world financial crisis is a recent world effect, which affected almost all countries in world, Andy Kilmister (2008). It impresses me most because, to come out of the crisis, economic knowledge was needed to salvage the situation. Economic theory played a major role, ââ¬Å"for instance the use of interest rates to regulate the cost of borrowing from financial sectorsâ⬠(p. 23). Also, the use of fiscal policies, for instance stimulus packages in the financial and non-financial sectors (Andy Kilmister,
Friday, November 1, 2019
Strategic Analysis and Selection of Information Systems Essay - 1
Strategic Analysis and Selection of Information Systems - Essay Example Dichotomies begin to occur when environmental changes do not occur as foreseen or at the rate expected by the strategy makers, as also when the outcomes of IT initiatives are measured independently of the fundamentals in strategy that led to their formulation in the first place. This essay takes up two cases from the May and October 2001 issues of CIO Magazine. It studies the dilemmas, even predicaments faced by pioneers who took far-reaching initiatives in their business and IT strategy and analyzes their success or lack thereof vis--vis their formulation, execution, and goal achievement. In the first instance, (Worthen) Jack Lowry, a much experienced and competent IT professional joined the Goldman Industrial Group of Vermont, a consortium of machine tool manufacturers as VP for IT. It was for him an opportunity to give shape to his dream, "a truly collaborative computing environment", (Worthen) which would integrate all group companies, as also link up with existing and potential buyers and sellers. With the support of Mark Swift, the Group President, Jack and his team burnt two years and four million dollars to put up a well- grounded, state of the art, comprehensively integrated system on an AS/400 platform. The new technology infrastructure connected an abundance of desk PCs and factory workstations with CAD and PDM systems as well as to an ERP system, linked to the Company's e-commerce website. With this investment in effort, time and money, the Company now had the collaborative infrastructure in place for some truly awesome link-ups with partners and customers and, in so doing, cut the manufacturing cycle to a quarter of the original. To everyone's surprise, the collaborations did not happen. While Lowry and Swift, on realizing the predicament, worked hard at getting customers and suppliers to access their brand new system, most of the people reached, though seemingly interested were loath to commit. Reasons for this tepidity in response have ranged from genuine roadblocks in the integrating of disparate ERP systems to the fear of layoffs in mid-level employees, the disinclination to fork out money on expensive software, and the impracticality of expecting a number of companies to collaborate on linked computing at the same level. Lowry and Swift are making steady headway in their mission to reach out to their suppliers and customers but the institutionalization of collaborative computing on a truly grand scale does appear to be some distance hence. The second case (Sawhney) deals with the difficulties faced by B2B trading exchanges and their demise or subsequent re-invention as top end software or process vendors. B2B trading exchanges, which appeared in good number in the late nineties, provided a common electronic platform for buyers and sellers to interact freely and close deals, with a success dependent transaction charge going to the exchange. With time, the exchanges planned to introduce value add-ons like supplier verification, buying credit, settlement and even logistics. The business model did not work. Very few suppliers and buyers came forward to register and with investors backing off, the exchanges, short on cash started exiting the marketplace. Why this Well, Mohanbir Sawhney, McCormick Tribune Professor
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
The Depletion of Natural Resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
The Depletion of Natural Resources - Essay Example The density of palms and lianas were also recorded as they were observed to have different behavior than that of the dicotyledonous trees. The study was conducted under the original site of 78/5 experiment that was conducted in 1978 at Tonka research site in Suriname that is located within the Kabo creek, comprising of rain forest area. The region had around 197 species with 37 of them having great commercial value. In 1978, three levels of exploitation and three levels of silviculture refinements were tested and replicated three times. Virgin forest plots or VFPs were also set up in three replications using different compartments. The replications were carried out in nine compartments comprising of 1 ha assessment plot which was further divided into ten subplots. The exploitation levels were coded as E14, E23, and E46 where logging took place. E46 saw excessive logging which was considered non-acceptable. Silviculture levels were coded as S0, S18, and S14 where unwanted trees. In the heavy refinement area, cutting off unwanted trees was accompanied by climber cutting and poison girdling of non-commercial trees. The current study took a small part of the original experimental area comprising of three compartments per replication along with 3 VFP compartments, totaling 60 subplots. The density of 8 selected tree species studied on the basis of 20% Random sampling of 100 plots. Species were selected for their adaptability to sunlight and shade. Vegetation layer of 3-10 m has opted because they were bested suited as test subjects. Using various statistical and non-statistical measurements like forest class, ANOVA, t, and chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon signal tests were used to test the hypothesis. Mortality was higher in heavy exploitation and treatment region. Climax trees are not much-affected with treatments.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Social Networking Is A Recent Invention Media Essay
Social Networking Is A Recent Invention Media Essay Low cost: Definitely, its cheaper to use online social networking for both personal and business use because most of it is usually free. While personal use is rather simple for anyone, the business functions are underestimated by many. In a social networking site, you can scout out potential customers and target markets with just a few clicks and keystrokes, adding a boost to your usual advertisements and promotional strategies. It lets you learn about their likes and dislikes, which is tremendous. If you want to fine tune your business, then this is the way to go, whether on a budget or not Builds credibility: You definitely can gain the customers confidence if you can connect to them on both a personal and professional level. Despite having to do a bit of work, it definitely pays off as you can be tapped for an offer if someone catches wind of your products or services. As long as you dont pursue them too aggressively, you will do well here. Connections: You are friends with people who have other friends, and so on. There is potential in such a common situation. By using a social networking site, you can do what you can and get connected with these people to form a web of connections that can give you leverage if you play your cards right. As long as you give as well as you receive, then they will most likely stick with you. These connections are definitely valuable in the long run. However, what about the disadvantages though? Face to face networking: A little less personal than face to face networking. Yes there are steps you can take to remove those impersonal touches, but the reality is that you will never have the full personal touches that face to face networking have. Instead, you have to bring your own personality to the table, so when you are on social networking sites people get a good feel for who you are, and what you are about. A little more time taking: Keeping up with social networking can be a full time job (or for any of my clients my job). You have to make sure that you respond to people in a reasonable time. That is not always 100 percent possible. This is why it is so crucial to be as timely as possible when dealing with people on social networking sites. Scams and harassment: There is a potential for failure of security in both personal and business context. While many sites apply certain measures to keep any of these cases of harassment, cyber-stalking, online scams, and identity theft to an absolute minimum, you still may never know. Psychological Impact: The psychological impact of social media on individuals is immense. The positive aspect of the entire experience has been the ability to connect with people. The core USP of social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter is its ability to connect with people across the world and this brings a certain sense of joy to people. You would have met lots of your old friends through Facebook and that ability to stay in touch with them irrespective of locations makes it a very positive psychological impact on individuals. However, there is another side to this coin. I know a lot of young adults who wake up to Facebook without even brushing their teeth. On a personal level, I have known people who have been online on Facebook for ages without even signing out. There comes a point, after the initial connect with old friends, where you would be idling your time on Facebook doing literally nothing for a long time. This idling time makes you lost and completely distracted from what you had in itially intended to do. From 10 mins of Facebook, it would have become 2 hours of Facebook at a stretch. So this addiction to social networking sites makes one even unaware of the real time zones, creating a negative impact on peoples mindsets. This addiction to stay connected and noticed makes one prioritize these small things over many more important activities. Revolutionary Impact: The biggest power of the social medium is the ability to mobilize support for social causes in a very short span of time. The Arab Spring is a point in case for the biggest achievement of the social medium and it also reflected some of its own shortcomings. The advent of the Arab Spring would not have been possible if not for the social media. Both Twitter and Facebook were extensively used to galvanize support to shake the dictator regime and remove it from office. The Tahirir Square uprising symbolized the potential of social media to trigger and create change in a nations prospects. However, it also has showed some of the shortcomings of the medium itself. Even though the social media was able to assist the revolution, it needed people on the ground to sustain it and implement the changes. Almost after a year, they have had their President elected and ironically it is a leader from the radical Muslim Brotherhood. Social media could not help in implementing change on the ground bec ause its not accountable and its virtual in nature. This entire episode shows the impact power of social media and also shows that social media can trigger and support movements but the success of such movements depends much upon the core issues raised on the ground. Social Impact: One of the biggest successes of the social media revolution is the amount of fairness that intrinsically the social networking sites have especially Twitter. There is such an open platform for the common citizen to interact and evolve; it shapes many peoples identities and ideologies. Being an open and unbiased medium, it is actually the worlds most efficient democracy in its truest sense. In addition, it helps to provide so much information that it enriches people with loads of information. Information is indeed wealth and this medium provides so much for it. Ironically, this extensive outpouring of information leads to one of the common issues that social media in general faces. Having an opinion on any issue is a right for any individual, there is no doubt it. However, the power of social media is such that it influences peoples opinions very fast. It also leads to opinion makers who make short sighted comments that might be just fitting for a 140 letter character. There is a certain level of irresponsibility within certain sets of people that leads to this discussion being only a one way street. One way abuse or giving opinions without responsibility makes the social media, at times, an ocean which has varied levels of depth. While it is a legitimate right for anyone to have their view, it needs to be with decorum that befits educated individuals. Amidst all these various impacts of the medium, one gets the impression that social media has blatantly obvious positives and some surreal negatives that get underplayed very often. Since everyone brags about the positives, the negative impacts at every stage of the assessment need to be also taken into account. It liberates the common man to have his voice heard in an open platform and helps to connect people across generations. In this process, it also provides him an additional freedom for individuals to air their views on issues. However, this excessive overflow of information and connections can also have a detrimental effect on the personal lives and attitude of individuals if it is not handled in a mature manner. The balance needs to be the key, with regards to the virtual life and the real life, only this balance and a matured democratic mindset can make the social media experience a worthwhile one. Social networks are also being used by teachers and students as a communication tool. Because many students are already using a wide range of social networking sites, teachers have begun to familiarize themselves with this trend in order to leverage student interest in relation to curriculum content. Some of this includes creating chat-room forums and groups to extend classroom discussion to posting assignments, tests and quizzes, through to assisting with homework outside of the classroom setting. Social network services are also being used to foster teacher-parent communication. These services make it possible and more convenient for parents to ask questions and voice concerns without having to meet face-to-face with their childrens teachers. The use of online social networks by school libraries is also increasingly prevalent and they are being used to communicate with potential library users, as well as extending the services provided by individual school libraries. The social media experience can be a double edged sword, it all depends on the balance we exert on it There are many disadvantages of doing social networking. In the end, you have to be aware that using this strategy is like any other marketing strategy with pros and cons. There are good things about social networking and bad. Just be aware of the disadvantages of social networking before you start. Just dont think youre a failure or that the social platform isnt for you just because of whats not directly observable. Consider both the public and latent impact of your social engagement and youll realize the crack-like spikes of retweets dont compare to the overall winning of hearts and minds within your community where it matters most.
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