Willingness to Pay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Willingness to Pay - Essay Example The contingent valuation methodology was adopted in drafting the questionnaires that were used in collecting the data to be used in the analysis. An approximate 72% of all the participants who responded to the questionnaires indicated willingness to pay for the conservation though at varying levels. This therefore pointed out that the public in many instances are willing to contribute towards the improvement of the quality of the environment. The study employed use of logistic regression procedures in comparison of the persons who were willing and not willing to contribute actively in improving the environmental quality. Through the contingent valuation analysis, the use value as well as non-use value of natural resources and environmental quality can be established. This method therefore involves a hypothetical scene to establish the willingness to pay of individuals on such natural resources and quality of environment. Hypothetical case studies are often used in such a situation where after describing such a case to the respondent, he/she is then expected to quote the amount of money he/she would be willing to pay for the environmental quality. Reasons expressed for willingness to pay would therefore form the basis of policymaking especially as regards to legislation on environmental conservation and management. In often cases such as was revealed through the case study, non-use values like existence value were cited most as reasons why many people would be willing to pay for conserving natural environment or such a natural park. This study therefore shows that valuation of gains from natural reso urces and environment would contribute greatly towards efforts and willingness of people to pay for such conservations. Han, F., Yang, Z., Wang, H., & Xu, X. (2011). Estimating willingness to pay for environment conservation: A contingent valuation study of kanas nature reserve, xinjiang, china. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment,

The relationship marketing

The relationship marketing Introduction Relationship marketing has become a widely applied and recognised way in which the hotel industry has been able to sell itself to guests. Prior to the start of the essay, the definition of relationship marketing must be addressed. Kotler et al. (2007) defines relationship marketing as the process in which the construction, cultivation and strengthening of strong value laden relationships with customers and other stakeholders occur. Another way relationship marketing can be defined is as with Dwyer et al. (1987, p. 12) both business marketing and consumer marketing benefit from attention to conditions that foster relational bonds leading to reliable repeat purchase. With this in mind, the idea that relationship marketing is a marketing strategy used in the context of the hotel industry for increased benefits both financial and otherwise via repeated purchases will be applied to within the scope of this essay. Recent shifts from the traditional side of transactional marketing to the inception of relationship marketing in recent times has seen a softer approach rather than a dominant approach to making sales transactions, and thus increases the relevance of the application of relationship marketing to the hotel industry. (Gummesson, 1999) While there are many perceptions as well as views to the notion of relationship marketing, this essay intends to focus on the advantages as well as the drawbacks of relationship marketing within the hotel industry, recommendations as well as propositions with regards its future directions will too be discussed with relevance to the question. Pros of Relationship Marketing Customer Loyalty A significant benefit that can be derived from successful relationship marketing (RM) in a business is the development of loyalty in customers. Hennig-Thurau, Gwinner Gremler (2002) mentioned that customer loyalty and positive word-of-mouth recommendations are usually the two outcomes of effective RM. Furthermore, it is further emphasised by Reynold Beatty (1999) that RM can provide exclusive benefits for customers, consequently reducing competition from other businesses that offer the same product which can thus assist in the achievement of consumer loyalty. Oliver (1997) defines loyalty as a close bonding between the consumer and the seller which results in frequent purchase of a certain product or service from the same supplier, despite the influence from other competitors which has the potential to evoke switching behaviour in consumers. The concept of customer loyalty has long been regarded as an important aspect of the integral operations occurring in organisations nowadays, as companies are becoming increasingly aware of the rewards to be reaped in the form of superior financial performance in the long run. This is further supported by Dowling Uncles (1997) purporting that loyal customers are more likely to spend additionally and often make favourable recommendations to other potential customers. In addition, McMullan Gilmore (2008) noted that greater knowledge and understanding of customer loyalty may allow companies to align their management strategies to meet the different needs of its customers in a more effective manner and hence, resulting in a more profitable business. Therefore, many hotels in todays world have implemented their own customer relationship management (CRM) system in order to offer their customers a unique and satisfying experience by accurately identifying the various needs of customers. Lo, Stalcup Lee (2010) stated that the concept of CRM has evolved over the past decades into a strategy employed by many organisations to integrate the different aspects present in the company, so that a greater understanding of their customers can be attained and ultimately, resulting in a long-term profitable relationship between the customers and themselves. However, it is crucial for hotels not to overlook other areas that are closely related to the concept of customer loyalty, instead of just merely focusing on the establishment of an effective CRM system. Customer loyalty is often linked to other service management concepts such as customer satisfaction and customer centricity. Businesses including the hotel industry should be mindful and take into consideration these other concepts that might affect the development of customer loyalty the ultimate aim of successful RM. It is also critical for hotels to recognise the obstacles impeding them from instilling loyalty in customers. One of the more noteworthy obstacles includes unresolved areas of dissatisfaction in consumers which, if left unattended, can result in dropping sales and profitability (McMullan Gilmore 2008). Therefore, a two-way communication becomes all the more essential for businesses to understand what customers want and knowing how to deal with dissatisfaction Lastly, managers should always assess the pros and cons of a loyalty program before implementing them, so that resources get measured and managed. Focus on Customer Retention Another advantage derived from relationship marketing is the increased profitability that stems from the retention as opposed to capturing new customers. Firstly, customer retention can be defined as the ability of a firms offer for a customer to purchase or patronage its product over a specific time period. (Shajahan, S, 2004. p.109) This occurs when, in the context of this essay, a hotel adopts a customer management orientation where it seeks to apply RM to retain its customers. Customer retention reduces marketing costs and as such benefits the hotel financially. This means that hotels need to spend potentially less money to attract customers they have lost as a result of the defection of its existing ones. This was exemplified in a study showing increase in profit by 25% to 125% in a company when it retained 5% more of its customers. (Reichheld, F Sasser, WE, 1990) This can be done by the hotel developing a customer retention strategy and thus focussing its energies on particular customers in which they would like to retain. This is as not all customers are worth the additional effort as well as cost to retain, certain customers are with more important with regards to their perceived value to the company as well as potential for development in the future (Buttle F, 2009). In the context of a hotel for example, a hotel might want to centre its attention on the higher spending, more affluent members of its clientele, as they represent more profits for the c ompany as compared to the ordinary spending customer that patronises the hotel. With these measures and understanding of customer retention in place, hotels can reap increased profits as an advantage of relationship marketing. Word-of-mouth (WOM) Advertising As mentioned earlier in this paper, one of the desired outcomes of successful RM is the positive word-of-mouth recommendations by satisfied customers. WOM has been regarded as a powerful tool of communication which can influence consumers purchasing behaviour and judgements (John 1994). Sweeney, Soutar Mazzarol (2008) further elaborated that WOM behaviour plays an influential role in promotion and it is very important especially in businesses that provide services such as hotels. Zeithaml (1981) reinstated that WOM creates significant impacts in service organisations because the intangibility of service made it impossible for consumers to pre-trial the product before purchasing it. Hence, it is paramount that hotel operators are aware that WOM behaviour can affect them to a large extent. Though significant repercussions may prove to be an issue if negative words about the company were to spread around, operators of hotels should be forewarned of the positives that WOM marketing can provide for them. For instance, WOM can reduce geographical boundaries that used to exist in traditional marketing, especially true with the increased affluence of internet in our modern society today. This is supported by Trusov, Bucklin Pauwels (2009) stating that the use of Internet can provide many various platforms and avenues for users to share their views and opinions with one another. In addition, it also serves as an advertising channel which can lower costs and ensure that consumers receive the message in the shortest possible time. Costs Savings for Businesses As most organisations face difficulties in nurturing and maintaining long-term relationships with their customers (1999), the advancement of information technology (IT) has significantly improved efficiency and decreased the costs associated with RM. For customers, RM through the use of IT will ensure a better understanding and better fit for marketing efforts (Xu, Yen, Lin Chou 2002). For hotels, RM through the use of IT means moving from general market segmentation to a more definitive segmentation while enhancing the level of intimacy between the hotel and her guests (Gummesson 1994). Barlow (1992) concurs that generally, guests desires to be communicated with on a one-on-one basis. Based on past data collected through the use of information systems and property management systems, hotels are able to utilise sequential data in RM (Grà ¶nroos 1995). Berry (1995) perceives that the use of IT in customer RM will facilitate information exchange, allow possible tracking of buying patterns, and the personalisation of service experience. This translates into cost-savings for the hotel for their marketing efforts. Understanding the Market Relationship marketing can be taken advantage to narrow the demand gap for accommodation rooms caused by seasonality of tourism demand. As mentioned by Butler (2001), seasonality in tourism exacerbates problems relating to capital access, retention of skilled labour and the under-utilisation of resources such as hotel rooms. Generally, the two main causes of seasonality in tourism has been identified as natural causes and institutionalised causes (Hartmann 1986). Weather conditions can often lead to the seasonality of demand in tourism (Kozak Rimmington 2000). As such, the ski industry has a large turnover rate of employees and often, ski resorts are vacant during the summer (Ismert Petrick 2004). Based on the geographical environment that it is in, hotels can actually sell nature tourism to potential guests during the off peak seasons. By having leisure activities at the destination, it creates a compelling justification for travellers to stay over. This form of marketing would be best communicated via the use of relationship marketing as hotels will have a better understand of guests preferences. Similarly, hotels can utilise existing guest records to target those that do not have work obligations for instance, and those that they deem as potential guests. During the low-peak seasons, hotels can make use of that as a selling advantage. A different group of guests may be attracted as a result of marketing the hotel to be quiet and peaceful. For example, by creating special packages that addresses accessibility issues, and includes a wide variety of leisure options and accommodation standards for the elderly, the hotel is able to tap on the retired greying population and boost room occupancy rates even during these periods. Cons of Relationship Marketing Importance of Recognising Cultural Differences One of the disadvantages of RM, and especially so for global hotel businesses, is that cultural differences are not being recognized when a single approach is being implemented for different societies. Culture must be first defined in this essay as an integrated system of learned behaviour patterns that are distinguishing characteristics of the members of any given society (Czinkota, MR Ronkainen, IA, 2007 p.54) This would mean that different cultures adopt different mindsets on various issues, attitudes and feelings. In the context of this essay this means various cultures respond differently with respect to RM in hotels. For example, Chinese tourists attach great significance to ritualistic behaviour such as a smile, greeting or a hand-shake as part of a service orientated experience which represents respect and importance of the guests. In the UK, however, ritual greetings by hotel employees are rare; furthermore interactions with guests from Chinese cultures are inclined to be h indered by language barriers. (Wang,Y. Vela,MR. Tyler, K.2008) This means that tourists from a Chinese culture would be affected in ways that guests from for example, a western culture would not be. Hotels therefore are faced with the constant challenge of providing a positive service experience for a variety of visitors with different expectations and needs. It is also noted that RM in the Chinese cultural setting is approached in a different manner than how it is done in western cultures. In the former, it is custom to establish kuan-hsi (networking/relationship) first followed by the business dealing. However in western cultures, a closer relationship is fostered only after the business dealing, with the view of acquiring further business opportunities. (Gilbert, DTsao, J,2000) In the hotels context this would mean that international hotel chains such as Starwood would have to deal with local suppliers or partners in different ways with regards to business dealings. A deal in China would not be approached in the same way as a deal in New York, lest offending or putting off potential suppliers. Hence the challenges faced by global hotel brands in RM with regards to different cultures. Involvement of High Costs for Training and Software Because of the different approaches to RM and a need to recognise these different cultural elements, hotel employees are required to undergo a stringent training process. As Zelkowitz (2005) advocates, the high costs related to relationship marketing generally spawns from the recruitment and training of staff. Thus, it contributes to the additional costs of the hotel. Furthermore, managing relationships have now been rarely limited to just the customer and the business, but also relationships with other stakeholders such as agencies and other suppliers which have different levels of integration and ways of operating. As a result of these complexities identified, many hotels are utilising integrated RM software to simplify their business operations process and effectively manage these multiple relationships. As such, this technology acquisition contributes to ongoing operating costs for the hotel and can be viewed as a form of maintenance (Little Marandi 2003). Counter Productivity of Relationship Marketing While trying to meet the needs of existing loyal guests, RM may have an adverse impact on customer loyalty. Sending unsolicited promotional materials such as mass customised emails to guests may risk jeopardising the relationship the hotel has with the guest (Brown Muchira 2004; Prasad, Ramamurthy Naidu 2001). At the same time, RM can result in guests being bombarded with promotional messages from various hotels that they have previously lived in. Bowie and Buttle (2004) believe that customer loyalty can only be dedicated to a small number of brands. Thus, overloading of information via marketing might be counterproductive and will eventually result in less benefits for both the hotel and the customers (Jayachandran, Sharma, Kaufman Raman 2005). Although RM might be able to anticipate guests needs and wants by accessing sequential records in the information system, it is important to remember that individual guests may not always desire for the same product and service even when b eing at the same property (Bowie Buttle 2004). Negligence of Existing Customers RM can be detrimental to any business if used in an improper manner. For instance, certain hotels may tend to use RM or tailor their strategies toward acquiring new markets whilst at the same time, lesser emphasis is placed on managing existing guest relationships. As previously established, the cost of attaining a new customer is five to six times more than retaining a loyal guest (Ndubisi, Malhotra Wah 2009), meaning some hotels suffer from the leaky bucket syndrome as they seem more interested in attracting new customers rather than retaining existing ones (Dowling Uncles 1997; Gummesson 1994). Limitations and Recommendations It has been widely accepted that the main objectives of relationship marketing and management is to establish long lasting relationships between the hotel and its guests through the increase in consumer knowledge and also establishing a two way relationship which is mutual and beneficial for both parties (Llamas-Alonso, Jimenez-Zarco, Martinez-Ruiz Dawson, 2009). The aforementioned points suggest that sound relationship management can lead to several benefits that increase the value of the hotel, provide competitive advantages, and enhance its competitive market positioning, which is then translated to the improvement in the hotels financial performance (Ryals, 2005; Boulding, Staelin, Ehret, Johnston, 2005). However, evidence also points out that effective relationship marketing requires heavy investment in information and communication technologies (ICTs) and also much effort in order to maintain these long-term relationships (Little Marandi 2003). Henceforth, this section aims t o explore existing limitations pertinent in the implementation of a relationship marketing strategy in hotels and subsequently, propose recommendations to address some of these issues identified. A plethora of research have been done in the area of CRM and they all seem to concur that the CRM framework no longer refers to just relationships between the business and the consumer, but also other organisations and parties interconnected within the framework, one where Gummesson (2004) has termed as a complex network of relationships. Several authors continue to expound on this, stating that these relationships frequently involve different mechanisms of governance, instruments of authority and control, levels of integration, and purposes which thus contributes to this complexity (Achrol Kotler, 1999; Rindfleisch Moorman, 2001), making CRM difficult to implement successfully. According to the Gartner Group ( 2002) and authors Srinivasan Moorman (2005), this complexity also mean certain aspects have not been addressed and thus constitutes to one of the reasons why a high percentage of CRM projects have failed and not liven up to the expectations of it. Hence, it is now understoo d that while these challenges are difficult to address, overcoming the complexity is integral for relationship marketing strategies to be successful within any hotel business. The multidimensional nature of relationship marketing entails proper foundations be established by the hotel management before the implementation of any CRM strategies. It is therefore recommended that the strategic objectives to be achieved by implementing CRM be defined clearly in the early in the planning stages. This ensures that it is clearly aligned to the overall hotel objectives and will thus be able to contribute strongly to hotel operations. As managing multiple relationships become more complex, it is also recommended that a performance management tool specifically catered toward CRM should be established in order to evaluate the success of the CRM strategy. This proposal builds upon the works of Sin, Tse Yim (2005), which proposes a potential tool for measuring performances in relationship marketing, defining the concept as a multidimensional construct consisting of four broad areas strategy, people, technology and processes. Therefore, this approach of recognising other dimensions will enable the hotel to take on a more holistic approach toward relationship marketing and CRM. Furthermore, with technology being increasingly relied on in managing these relationships, these evaluative tools will be able to measure the success of these information systems to ensure it delivers its intended outcomes. As mentioned earlier in this paper, relationship marketing not only refer to creating strong and long-lasting relationships with hotel guests, but also extends to other stakeholders such as suppliers and potential and existing employees (Christopher, Payne Ballatyne, 1991). Employees play a decisive role in managing relationships with guests since they become partners and co-producers in the customer experience (Llamas-Alonso et al., 2009). While most CRM strategies have tended to focus on guest satisfaction, guest loyalty and other areas relation to customer attitudes toward the hotel brand, it is then recommended that equal emphasis be placed on managing employee relationships and suppliers alike in order to increase the probability of successfully delivering the intended outcomes of the overall relationship marketing strategy. Benefits of Recommendations The development of measurement systems will allow hotel managers to anticipate how CRM will work and determine the way CRM will influence the achievement of the hotels strategic objectives. By designing and implementing a balanced, complex, and multi-dimensional measurement system, hotels will then be able to anticipate the future ability of CRM to achieve its objectives through a predictive performance measurement system or establish the level of real success achieved by CRM through an evaluative performance measurement system (Llamas-Alonso et al., 2009). Additionally, the implementation of evaluative measures in hotels will be able to provide important information to key decision-makers, allowing them to determine whether their efforts are on track with the overall relationship marketing strategy. Also, it will help managers to understand whether their programs are succeeding or failing by signalling potential managerial problems when the performance indicators are not able to track in the desired function (Llamas-Alonso et al., 2009). Above all, these measures will encourage hotel managers to take initiative and be accountable, at the same time, clarifying the process for the expectations and requirements of policy makers. The implementation of Performance Management and Control Systems (PMCS) with a predictive orientation will essentially help to minimise the risks of decision making and pave the way for hotel strategies to be executed, consequently improving the return on investments associated with the implementation of relationship marketing programs (Argyres, 1999). Furthermore, as Llamas-Alonso et al. (2009) purports, comparing the predictive and achieved objectives in the hotel will be able to establish the divergences between the expected results and the achieved results, thus improving efficiency and efficacy of the relationship marketing strategy as well. Conclusion After a thorough analysis of the relationship marketing concept within the of hotel industry, it is evident that relationship marketing if utilised appropriately, can lead to significant potential benefits for the hotel business. Such benefits include positive word of mouth recommendations to future customers as a direct result of customer loyalty, greater cost savings for business, increasing occupancy rate during off-seasons and also, customer retention all of which translates into higher profits and improving the overall functionality of the hotel. Despite the benefits gained, relationship marketing can also present several drawbacks to hotel operators. In todays world, globalisation has allowed the interactions between people of different ethnicity and cultural practice to take place more frequently. This means that understanding different cultures and learning to deal with different people becomes all the more relevant and could potentially sap large amount of time and effort. In addition to this, the costs required to establish a CRM system and training employees to be proficient in it can be exorbitant. It should be noted however, that these are investments that need to be made in order for relationship marketing to be implemented successfully and thus entail proper planning and objectives setting. Furthermore, the multidimensional nature of relationship marketing means hotels face much complexity. Hence, it is imperative that performance measures with an evaluative focus should be utilised in order to ensure the success of a relationship marketing strategy. It was also noted in this paper that relationships with suppliers and especially employees need to be managed as well, since the latter contribute to delivering the overall guest satisfaction. The adoption of a relationship marketing approach involves a great challenge for the firm, since it means a different way of understanding the marketing strategy, the market and the approach to the guest. Above all, hotel businesses need to be able to communicate this strategy to its staff, and ensure that the relationship marketing strategy is fully embraced and the organisation fully aligned to it in order for the business to face the multitude of challenges for the future. List of References Achrol, R. S. Kotler, P. 1999, Marketing in the network economy [special issue], Journal of Marketing, vol. 63, pp. 146-163. Argyres, N. S. 1999, The impact of information technology on coordination: Evidence from the b-stealth bomber, Organisation Science, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 162. Barlow, R 1992, Relationship Marketing The Ultimate in Cstomer Services, Retail Control, vol. 60, no. 3, pp. 29-37. Berry, L 1995, Relationship Marketing of Services Growing Interest, Emerging Perspectives, Journal of the Academy of marketing science, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 236-45. Boulding, W., Staelin, R. Ehret, M., Johnston, W. J. 2005, A customer relationship management roadmap: What is know, potential pitfalls, and where to go, Journal of Marketing, vol. 69, pp. 155-166. Bowie, D Buttle, F 2004, Hospitality Marketing: An Introduction, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford. Brown, M Muchira, R 2004, Investigating the Relationship Between Internet Privacy Concerns and Online Purchase Behaviour, Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 62-70. Butler, R 2001, Seasonality in tourism: issues and implications, Seasonality in tourism, pp. 5-21. Buttle, F 2008, Customer relationship management: concepts and technologies, 2nd edn, Elsevier, Amsterdam. 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Jayachandran, S, Sharma, S, Kaufman, P Raman, P 2005, The Role of Relational Information Processes and Technology Use in Customer Relationship Management, Journal of Marketing, vol. 69, no. 4, pp. 177-92. John, J 1994, Referent Opinion and Health Care Satisfaction, Journal of Health Care Marketing, vol. 14 (Summer), pp. 24-30. Kandampully, J Duddy, R 1999, Relationship marketing: a concept beyond the primary relationship, Marketing Intelligence Planning, vol. 17, no. 7, pp. 315-23. Kotler, P., Brown, L., Adam, S., Burton, S., Armstrong, G. (2007) Marketing, Pearson Education Australia, NSW. Kozak, M Rimmington, M 2000, Tourist satisfaction with Mallorca, Spain, as an off-season holiday destination, Journal of Travel Research, vol. 38, no. 3, p. 260. Llamas-Alonso, M. R., Jimenez-Zarco, A. I., Martinez-Ruiz, M. P. Dawson, J. 2009. 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Comparing the Three Statues of David Essay -- Donatello Michelangelo

Comparing the Three Statues of David The pieces of art I will be comparing and contrasting are the three statues of David, by Donatello (Donato di Niccolà ² di Betto Bardi), Michelangelo (Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni), and Bernini (Gian Lorenzo Bernini). The statues are modeled after the biblical David, who was destined to become the second king of Israel. Also most famously known as the slayer of the Philistine giant Goliath with a stone and a sling. The sculptures are all based on the same biblical hero, but differ from one another. Each David is unique in its own certain way. A good deal is known about Donatello's life and career, but little is known about his character. Donatello was born in Florence, Italy in 1386 and died in 1466; he was never married and had no children. He was a master of sculpture in bronze and marble and is considered to be one of the greatest Italian Renaissance artists of his time. The first sculpture is of Donatello?s David, 1425-1430. Its material is bronze and stands 5? 2  ¼? and is currently located at Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence. The sculpture is a nude and is contrapposto. The scene being depicted is after the clash with Goliath. Donatello?s statue of David was the first large scale, free-standing nude statue of the Renaissance. The sculpture helps to strike a balance between classicism and the realism by presenting a very real image of a boy in the form of a classical nude figure. Although Donatello was inspir...

Transport of Karachi

Karachi is the economic and financial hub of Pakistan generating approximately 53. 38% of the total national revenues. Approximately 75% of the population falls in category of poor or low income groups while the rest constitute middle or high income groups. Urban transportation system of Karachi has no mass transit system and people rely mainly on bus services. The people on average take 13. 5 million mechanized trips per day, of which 52% is made by public transport. Urban Bus Scheme and Karachi Circular Railway are major project deemed to relieve the congestions on the roads of the city. Only Urban Bus Scheme, however, has yet shown considerable activity on part of public transport planning and implementation. This system lacks inter-modal integration and sustainability due to which this system has failed to cater to the growing commutation demands of masses. This research study aims to investigate the demand and supply gap of the sector in light of institutional capacity to develop and maintain. Also, this study attempts to compare public transportation system of Karachi with comparable metropolis like Mumbai, Delhi and Beijing. In last, the study attempts to explore socio-economic reasons behind delay of Karachi Circular Railway. The study has adopted descriptive and thematic analysis approach to achieve the objectives. All the analysis, hereon, are done on secondary data gathered for the purpose. This study concludes that an integrated, multi-modal and sustainable public transportation system can only be achieved by giving a holistic approach to planning, execution and capacity building of the sector. 1. 1Population Overview During the last 50 years, Pakistan’s population has increased from 33 million to 152. 3 million in FY 2005, thus, making Pakistan the s1- LITERATURE REVIEWeventh most populous country in the world (Karachi Mega Cities Preparation Project, 2005). According to the 1998 Census Report, Karachi had a population of 9. 2 million in 1998 compared with 5. 2 million in 1981, a growth rate of 4. 5% per annum. In 1998 the National population was 130. 5 million, and that of the Sindh province 30. 4 million. Growth rates since 1981 were 2. 61% and 2. 80% respectively, indicating rapid urbanization in Karachi, which was also much higher than the national average growth for urban areas of 3. 5% and also for that of Sindh at 3. 52%. On this basis population in 2015 for Karachi would reach 20. 7 million and 26. 4 million in 2020. (Karachi Mega Cities Preparation Project, page 4, 2005) Karachi, the capital of Sindh is the commercial hub and the gateway of Pakistan. It generates approximately 53. 38% of the total collections of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR Report, 06-07). The city handles 95% of Pakistan’s foreign trade; contributes 30% to Pakistan’s manufacturing sector; and almost 90% of the head offices of the banks, finan cial institutions and multinational companies operate in Karachi. The country’s largest stock exchange is Karachi-based, making it the financial and commercial center of the country. It also comprises about 40% of the total banking and insurance sector of the country. Karachi contributes 20% of GDP, adds 45% of the national value added, retains 40% of the total national employment in large scale manufacturing, holds 50% of bank deposits and contributes 25% of national revenues and 40% of provincial revenues. Karachi Mega Cities Preparation Project, page 3, 2005) The CDG (City District Government) of Karachi is divided into 18 zones or towns. These towns are governed by the town municipal administration. Each town administration is responsible for infrastructure and spatial planning, development facilitation, and municipal services (water, sanitation, solid waste, repairing roads, parks, street lights, and traffic engineering) in a town, except those functions which are retained within the CDG. Intra-city transport now falls under the Local Government. Karachi Mass Transit Cell, City District Government, 2006). Apart from in-migrants from Pakistan’s provinces, a large number of migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries have settled in the city. With an average monthly household income of Rs. 15000, there is considerable variation in income distribution. Roughly 75 percent of the households fall in the category of poor and low income groups, and 25 percent constitute the middle and high income groups (Karachi Strategic Plan 2020, 2007). It is no longer possible to overlook the urban decay in Pakistan. Streets are littered with waste, drains are overflowing with sewage, low-lying communities are inundated after rainfall, traffic congestion is ubiquitous, and the violent crime in urban centers is on the rise. The State either has divested from, or is no longer able to offer, reliable mass transit, good quality and affordable primary education, and healthcare. This has given the opportunity to the private sector to take up ome of these roles (Vision 2030, 2006) 1. 2Transportation – Facts And Figures The population of Karachi City District relies almost entirely on the road network for urban transportation. There is currently no mass transit system per se, although many commute using the network of bus routes. There are nearly 13. 5 million mechanized trips made each day within the CDGK area, of which 52 percent are made by public and 48 percent by private transport. There are 1. million registered vehicles in Karachi (almost 50 percent of the national total) and private vehicles – mainly motorcycles and cars – now constitute 83 percent of total registered vehicles while buses and min-buses constitute only 1. 5 percent (Karachi Mega Cities Preparation Project, page 14, 2005). In 2002 the total registered vehicles and cars were growing at twice the growth rate of the population while the vehicle fleet is dominated by cars and motorcycles, which account for 92% of the vehicles as compared to 6% for para-transit vehicles and 2% for public transport vehicles. The buses/minibuses are the most important mode of public transport in Karachi and better transport management strategies, service, accessibility, and affordability can help reduce the use of private vehicles (Urban Transport and Sustainable Transport Strategies, 2007). The intra-city road network has a radial pattern, consisting of a series of arterials, a few circumferential roads with inconsistent links and a disproportionately large number of local and collector roads. In terms of connectivity, the network is deficient in secondary roads that provide feeder service to major thoroughfares. The weakness has basically arisen from the piece-meal development focused on residential schemes in the past (Karachi Strategic Plan 2020, 2007). The availability of public transport has not grown at the same rate as the population in Pakistani cities (Sohail et al. 2006). With growth rates for private vehicles at over 9 percent, there are now over 280 new vehicles added to the streets of Karachi each day (Karachi Mega Cities Preparation Project, page 14, 2005).

Every Child Is Special

In   this   world,   children   exist   with   exceptional   behaviors.   Their   behavior   is   hard   to   accept   for   the   society.   Teachers   play   a   very   vital   role   in   making   them   educated.   First   of   all   teacher   should   be   trained   to   work   in   the   school   where   there   are   children   with   exceptionalities.   Sometimes   it   becomes   very   hard   for   the   teacher   to   react   in   a   right   manner   when   they   teach.   The   students   with   behavioral   issues   needs   extra   of   teaching   and   attention. The   small   classes   would   help   a   lot   in   teaching   them   effectively.   Also   there   must   be   a   room   for   visiting   faculty   to   come   and   take   extra   sessions.   This   not   only   comes   out   to   be   beneficial   for   children   but   also   is   a   help   to   the   teachers.   There   could   be   a   new   technique   of   teaching   or   handling   the   students   and   could   be   advantageous.   The   visiting   faculty   proves   out   to   be   change   for   the   students. The   good   teacher   is,   who   emphasize   on   child's   ability   not   disability.   The   disability   must   be   removed   but   without   depressing   a   child.   A   child   must   know   about   his   disabilities,   but   he   must   also   that   he   has   abilities   which   are   more   in   number   than   his   disabilities.   A   teacher   must   teach   with   a   mentality   that   every   child   has   some   incapacities.   Teacher   should   help   a   child   in   bringing   up   his   abilities   and   should   curb   the   disabilities   silently.   Expectations   should   be   high,   because   every   child   can   achieve   some   position   in   a   society   according   to   his   potential,   but   this   needs   assistance. Environment   of   class   should   be   positive   and  Ã‚   friendly.   This   depends   on   a   teacher   that   how   she   maintain   the   environment.   Because   the   positive   environment   boost   the   learning   capabilities   of   a   child.   Also   the   behavior   of   a   child   depends   on   his   surroundings.   If   a   child   feels   threatened   by   something   then   it   is   obvious   that   his   behavior   would   change.   Sometimes   it   become   very   important   for   a   teacher   to   know   about   child's   likes   and   dislikes. Every   child   has   an   individual   goal,   so   from   time   to   time   teachers   should   keep   themselves   updated   that   how   far   he   has   progressed.   The   grade   does   not   tell   everything   about   what   the   child   has   learned   so   far.   The   emphasis   on   grade   should   be   low.   Teacher   should   know   what   he   has   learned   so   far   or   in   which   field   is   he   lacking   behind. This   also   boosts   up   the   confidence   of a   child. The   whole   learning   process   makes   a   child   tired.   This   not   only   effects   their   learning   abilities   but   also   distracts   them.   Therefore   a   teacher   should   employ   proper   techniques   for   relaxing   in   a   class.   A   child   with   attention   disorder   gets   mentally   tired   soon.   There   should   be   proper   relaxing   techniques   like   listening   to   soft   music   or   playing   games.   Playing   games   not   only   ease   a   child   but   also   keeps   them   healthy. The   first   thing   a   child   should  Ã‚   learn   is   to   take   care   of   himself.   They   should   be   made   self   dependent.   Taking,   basic   example   a   child   must   learn   to   tie   his   shoe   laces.   The   dependent   child   always   has   a   low   confidence   level.   There   must   be   short   extra   sessions   to   teach   the   students,   how   to   take   care   of   themselves,   or   how   to   be   more   organized. There   should   be   also   be   sessions   to   prevent   behavior   issues.   Sometimes   teacher   takes   a   child   as   a   normal   child,   she   does   not   lay   stress   on   the   behavior   problems.   But   she   does   not   know   that   the   lack   of   attention   by   a   teacher   encourages   the   problem   in   a   child. But   sometimes   these   session   proves   out   to   be   futile   as   students   continues   to   misbehave,   then   it   is   necessary   to   know   that   they   are   misbehaving   because   of   these   sessions.   Because   the   sessions   does   not   fit   to   their   needs   every time,   and   they   wait   for   someone   who   can   help   them   in   personal. In   case   of   higher   education   there   are   many   faculties   who   are   taking   a   single   class.   The   coordination   between   these   faculties   is   a   must   so   that   the   students   does   not   get   confused   between   all   the   faculties.   A   teacher   has   its   own   style   of   teaching   and   if   another   teacher   comes   and   teaches   them   in   totally   different   style   it   becomes   hard   for   the   students   to   know,   which   one   they   should   follow.   Therefore   all   the   faculties   teaching   a   particular   class   should   know   about   each   other   teaching   styles,   it   becomes   easy   for   a   student   to   learn. Teacher   should   make   sure   the   behavioral   improvements   and   achievements   generalize   to   other   situations.   They   should   make   sure   that   what   they   teach   should   apply   in   most   of   the   real   world   situations.   The   generalized   teachings   proves   out   to   be   more   beneficial   to   the   students,   as they   come   to   know   the   particular   thing   that   they   have   learned   can   apply   in   the   most   of   the   problems.   This   type   of   teaching   method   proves   out   to   be   very   beneficial   because   students   can   learn   more   things   with   less   stress   on   their   brains. Students   should   learn   to   socialize   with   other   students   who   may   or   may   not   be   disable   like   them.   The   interaction   with   other   students   should   be   started   at   the   beginning   of   their   year.   Their   should   be   learning   centers   that   promote   social   interaction   for   these   children’s.   Necessary   social   skills   should   be   taught   in   the   learning   centers.   If   the   school   is   finding   it   difficult   to   start   learning   centers   then   skills   should   be   taught   in   the   lunch   time   or   in   the   free   period. Literature   Review:- Teaching   strategies   for   attention   deficit   hyperactivity   disorder:– Unable   to   pay   attention,   hyperactivity,   impulsive   are   the   signs   of   ADHD.   There   are   about   three   to   five   percent   of   the   students   in   United   States   who   are   suffering   from   ADHD   (   American Psychiatric Association, 1994   ).   The   students   suffering   from   ADHD   fail   to   finish   their   homework   and   are   careless.   Older   students   with   ADHD   are   less   communicative   and   react   spontaneously.   The   main   symptoms   are:– 1)   Restlessness 2)   Unable   to   concentrate 3)   Difficulty   in   following   instructions 4)   Losing   things 5)   Doing   little   mistakes 6)   Great   deal   of   mood   swings Teacher   should   start   with   evaluating   the   child's   needs   and   strengths.   The   assessment   should   be   done   on   the   behavior   and   academic   needs.   After   evaluating   all   their   needs   appropriate   practice   should   be   chose.   The   selected   practice   should   gain   the   attention   of   the   child   and   is   appropriate   to   their   age.   It   should   be   kept   in   mind   that   the   practice   that   is   selected   should   be   a   additional   benefit   to   the   students   who   do   not   have   ADHD.   After   selecting   all   the   practices   they   must   be   wrapped   up   in   a   single   program. After   the   conclusion   of   each  Ã‚   lesson   the   selected   practice   should   achieve   its   goal.   The   lessons   must   be   presented   in   a   different   manner.   Teacher   should   prepare   the   lesson   and   the   activities   planned   in   advance.   The   review   of   the   previous   lessons   also   proves   out   to   be   beneficial   for   the   students.   Teacher   must   identify   all   the   materials   needed   in   the   classroom,   because   sometimes   it   becomes   very   difficult   for   the   children   to   identify   the   materials   on   their   own. It   is   very   hard   for   the   students   with   ADHD   to   change   from   one   topic   to   another.   Therefore   revision   of   the   previous   lecture   is   a   must.   The   use   of   audiovisual   materials   helps   the   students   a   lot. Describe   how   students   can identify   and   correct   their   own   mistakes.   For   example,   remind   students   that   they   should   check   their   calculations   in math   problems   and   reiterate how   they   can   check their   calculations;   remind   students   of   particularly   difficult  Ã‚   spelling rules   and   how   students   can   watch   out   for   easy- to – make   errors. If   the   teacher   tries   to   lower   the   noise   level   in   the   classroom   it   helps   a   child   in   maintaining   his   focus. Teaching   strategies   for   students   with   emotional   behavioral   disorder:- For   teaching   the   students   with   EBD   teacher   should   encourage   the   positive   learning   techniques.   The   objectives   of   the   lesson   should   be   presented   before   which   helps   in   predictability.   The   presentation   should   be   exciting,   and   if   the   students   performs   well   he   should   be   given rewards.   This   helps   a   lot   in   dealing   with   the   students   with   EBD.   The   vocabulary   used   in   the   presentation   should   be   lucid   and   the   feedback   should   be   given   immediately. The   lessons   should   be   started   with   the   interesting   items   or   questions.   It   should   be   kept   in   mind   that   if   a   teacher   wants a   child   to   be   excited   about   learning   then   teacher   should   be   excited   about   teaching.   While   taking   up   the   lessons   students   should   know   that   they   are   learning   and   making   progress.   After   completing,   the   lesson   must   be   revised   and   the   students   should   be   prepared   to   move   to   next   lesson.   The   long   presentations   must   be   cut   into   short   presentations,   so   as   in   case   of   long   assignments.   Extra   time   should   be   given   to   students   for   completing   their   work. The   environment   of   a   class   should   be   healthy.   Rules and   regulations   should   be   made   and   teach   them   to   act   in   accordance   with   the   rules.   The   environment   of   a   class   should   be   quiet   as   well   active.   Adequate   materials   should   be   provided   to   them   so   that   they   do   not   feel   shortage   of   resources   in   between   the   lecture.   There should   be enough room   for   the   students   to   move   in   the   classroom   without   disturbing   each other   and   adequate   space   must   be   provided   to   them   for   their   personal   belongings.   The   classroom   rules should   be   less   and   positive.   They   should   emphasize   more   on   like   what   students   must   do   in   class. Teacher   should   communicate   with   a   child   in   a   non   threatening   manner   and   should   show   the   personal   interest   in   a   child.   This   makes   a   child   feel   good   and   boost   up   his   confidence   level.   Proper   gestures   and   body   language   is   very   important   in   communication.   The   gesture   given   should   be   holding   longer   than   normal.   Speaking   slowly   and   clearly   are   also   very   important.   Proper   wait   time   should   be   included   because   some   students   are   slow   learners. Managing   behavior   is   very   important   in   dealing   with   the   EBD   students.   Sometimes   it   proves   out   to   be   very   beneficial   to   ignore   the   negative   behaviors,   because   sometimes   a   child   behaves   negatively   in   order   to   grab   the   attention.   Punishment   should   only   be   used   in   a   case   when   the   behavior   of   a   child   is   harmful   for   other   students. There   must   be   a   social   problem   technique,   which   effectively   identifies   the   problems   and   provides   the   best   solution   for   it.   Anger   management   is   the   main   problem   with   the   child   suffering   from   EBD.   Anger   is   natural   so   it   useful   to   teach   anger   control   techniques   rather   anger   elimination   techniques.   The   first   step   in   anger   management   is   to   convince   a   child   that   he   should   change,   teaching   relaxation   techniques   helps   a   lot. Teaching   strategies   for   the   students   having   learning   disabilities:- Learning   disabilities   is   a   problem   in   which   a   child   finds   difficulty   in   organizing   received   information,   remembering   them,   manipulating   them.   But   with   the   effective   learning   strategies   they   can   be   taught   effectively.   The   common   symptoms   are   difficulty   in   learning,   poor   memory,   difficulty   in   remembering   facts,   confusion   among   the   basic   words,   spelling   and   reading   errors,   impulsive   behavior   etc.  ·      The   course   load   should   be   low,   because the   course   load  Ã‚   will   make   them   even   more   poor   learners.  ·    Questions should   be   asked   in   a   clarifying   manner,   the   language   used   must   be   easy   to   digest.  ·      The   key   points   of   the   chapter   must   be   told   before   the   beginning   of   the   chapter.  ·      While   writing   on   the   board   verbalize   what   is   being   written,   the   audio   and   video   effects   in   teaching   boost   up   the   learning   capabilities.  ·      The   environment   of   the   class   must   be   peaceful   so   that   the   students   do   not   feel   diverted.  ·      The   assignments   should   be   given   in   oral   form   as   well   as   in   written   form.  ·      They   should   be   given   more   time   to   complete   difficult   assignments.  ·      The   pace   of   teaching   should   be   kept   in   accordance   with   their   learning   abilities.  ·      Using   plenty   of   examples   in   the   presentation   makes   their   understanding   level   high.  ·      Encourage   them   to   borrow   the   classmate’s   notes   if   required.  ·      Colored   apparatus   must   be   used   for   high   visual   recognition. Group   discussion   helps   a   lot   for   the   students   having   learning   disabilities,   for   them   group   discussion   is   fun   as   well   as   is   beneficial   in   learning.   Encourage   them   to   ask   questions   during   or   after   the   lecture   to   make   sure   that   they   have   understood   completely.   Teacher   must   pay   individual   attention   towards   every   child.   Frequent   sessions   with   a   child   for   proper   assessment   should   be   conducted.   Using   large   fonts   make   their   processing   fast. Give   individual   conferences   to   guide   students   with learning   disabilities   to   monitor   progress   and   understanding   of   the   assignment   and   of   the   course   content. Examples   of   science   role   models   with   disabilities   should   be   given   to   them   frequently   so   that   they   do   not   feel   depressed.   Encourage   them   to   ask   for   help   whenever   needed. It   would   be   wrong   to   assess   the   potential   of   a   child   on   the   basis   of   test   scores.   Every   child   has   its   own   strength   and   weaknesses. Summary:- The   main   aim   of   teaching   is to educate   individuals   who   are   active   members   in   the   society   at   it’s   various   levels. Teachers   are   very   important   in   our   society   because   we   need   them   to   provide   our   youth   with   the   knowledge   and social   experiences   they   will   need   to   improve   their   future   and   the   future   of   the   entire   planet. While   teaching   students   with   exceptionalities   teacher   should   keep   in   mind   that   every   child   is   special.   Teacher   should   not   run   from  Ã‚   their   responsibilities,   they   can   change   the   life   of   these   children’s.   Every   child   likes   different   environment,   so   it   better   for   a   teacher   to   try   to   educate   them   keeping   in   mind   their   likes   and   dislikes. Teachers   can   apologies   to   the   government   to   issue   the   policies   which   are   in   pure   favor   of   these   children’s.   Like   in   maximum   countries   reservations   are   made   for   these   children. The   teachers should   motivate   the   society   around   them   to   take   care   of   these   children.   We   should   all believe   that   there   are   hopes   for   those   children’s   and   we   can   do   something   for   them.   These   children   have   their   own   qualities   like   others   and   they   can   help   our   society   uprising.   No   one   should   take   it   as   taken   for   granted   because   this   can   happen   to   any   body,   what   if  Ã‚   they   got   suffered   with  Ã‚   the  Ã‚   same.   The   society   will   surely  Ã‚  Ã‚   turn   their   face   around   from   those   children.   But   if   we   all   together   work   for   them   then   changes   can   be   there. Questions:— 1)   Did   you   ever   felt   frustrated   in   teaching   students   with   exceptionalities? 2)   What   are   the   important   strategies   adopted   by   you? 3)   How   you   will   handle  Ã‚   the   disputes   between   the   students? 4)   Any   special   apparatus   is   required   for   teaching   them? 5)   What   are   the   methods   you   have   implemented   to   provide   social   exposure? 6) According   to   you   what   kind   of   environment   do   you   think   is   best   suited   for   them? References Adelizzi,   Jane U.   &   Goss,   Diane B.,   (2001),   Parenting   children   with   learning disabilities,   Greenwood Publishing  Ã‚   Group,   ISBN: 0897897722 Dockrell, Julie,   & McShane, John   (1993), Children's   learning   difficulties:   A   cognitive  Ã‚   approach,   Blackwell Publishing,   ISBN: 0631170170