The Pictorial Presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Pictorial Presentation - Essay Example As the paper highlights because of these reasons, Darren was feeling that it is highly unethical to change the artwork of a country, change the tradition (involving men whereas traditionally it’s being done by the females) and satisfy them by just paying a handsome amount. Traditions and artifacts mostly represent the people of country, their rituals, history, important events etc. Changing the artifacts and traditions means changing the base of the country. This study outlines that generally, ethics are considered important for the success of any business. Basically ethics and seven step model recommends the concept of righteous of action. Righteous of action means that any task you do for any one it should be trustful. It should meet all required obligations. Every thing or deal made should be crystal clear.   One should make decisions regardless of differences of religion, age, sex and position. Ethics highly recommend the fair decisions, sense of responsibility of each other. Thus, ethical decisions should be made by keeping these all facts in mind. According to the seven step model, an organization should be trustful with its customers, internal and external members of the organization. If the company does not do this; it would be ethically wrong. Here, Darren should be trustful with Puna Native American’s. He should tell them the pros and cons of doing this commitment with the Artifacts, LTD i.e. tell Puna Native Americanà ¢â‚¬â„¢s that societies, countries became weak when their basic cultural symbols are change. Whereas, he did not did that as his boss wanted him to do so for the Fredrick and the profit of the company. According to the model Darren should motivate Fredrick and her boss to think on some other idea or plan.

Kierkegaard's account(s) of faith Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kierkegaard's account(s) of faith - Essay Example His philosophy states that infinites passion is capable enough of overriding the seemingly impossible. It goes against the seemingly uncertain and the unlikely Even if there is objective uncertainty, infinite passion has the power to bring about change and make things happen. On the other hand the account of faith discussed by Johannes de Silentio in Fear and Trembling, through Knight of Faith, resides on the premise that through belief in the absurd, even the impossible can be made possible. This is intrinsic faith. We all believe in the absurd. What is absurd? It could be God, it could be the â€Å"universe conspiring for you to connect you with your goal, it could be a holy spiritual energy, it could be coincidence or anything which defies reason. Intrinsic Faith is a concept or a practise that can be cultivated through belief and conscious conviction about a thing happening or an event taking place successfully despite the mammoth obstacles in front. In case of Knight of Faith, he has resigned to the fact that he will never get the princess, but through faith, it is possible to get to his desired destiny. The power of faith is at its fullest application in connecting the Knight of Faith with his goal. ... These two philosophies of faith are different. According to the writer Pojman, the difference in the two account’s of faith, that of Kierkegaard and that of Johannes Climacus is perspective. Their perspectives are different. Kierkegaard writes with an insider-point of view about Christianity, whereas Climacus writes about it from the outside. However both agree on how one becomes a true Christian and on the matter of Christianity. (Sands 17) If a situation or a circumstance or an event is foreseen with infinite passion and belief in the absurd, it gathers positive energy from the ‘doer’ or ‘wisher’ as well as spiritual energy from the unknown power – God. If anything had to happen beyond predictable turn of events, defying reason it had to happen through positive belief in the divine power and through infinite passion. . (Sands 25) What objections might be made to Kierkegaard’s account(s) of faith, and how might he answer them? The objec tion that can be made to Kierkegaard’s account of faith is that by writing from the view-point of an unbeliever, Kierkegaard hoped to ‘beguile’ readers into recognising their own necessity to convert into Christianity. . (Sands 17) Another objection raised against Kierkegaard’s account of faith is â€Å"Kierkegaard's treatment of religious belief is that it fails to distinguish between someone who has a justified belief and someone who is insane.† (Philosophy of Religion 1) To this objection Kierkegaard would say that like existence itself, religious belief has no ultimate rational justification and therefore there is no way to distinguish it from reality. Kierkegaard would say that stage of infinite resignation is the last stage before faith. Therefore, anyone who has not made this movement,

Strategic Marketing Management of Nestle Analysis

Strategic Marketing Management of Nestle Analysis The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate the impact of organizational strategy in developing a marketing plan and to evaluate the component parts of a marketing plan. For this purpose a marketing plan for Nestle pure life (Bottled water by Nestle in Pakistan) is developed for understanding different components of marketing plan. Impact of Organizational Strategy on Market Plan It is very critical in todays highly competitive market to develop and adapt an approach that supports the organizations resources and nature of business. The strategy should be developed by keeping in mind all the available resources and should be so powerful that the product or service can outsell the competition. If the available resources are not considered while designing the strategies then it is quite possible that those resources will not be able to convert the inflow of customers in to profitable long term relationship. So it is very important to have a strategy that supports the resources and the expertise to implement it. Different organizations have different types of strategies, however most common are five significant strategies that affect the marketing plan of the organizations. Market Leadership Strategy If an organization has to maintain the position of market leadership then the marketing plan will be focused towards two main factors. First is to increase the market share and second is to keep intact the existing customers by providing them value to their money they are spending to buy the companys products of services (Kathryn, 2010). Market share can be increased by finding the new markets in other demographics or expanding in to the new locations. Another way to increase the market share is to attach the competitors market share through variety of strategies. Offering several value added services helps to keep the customers intact with the organization. In this case the marketing plan will focus towards the augmented features of the product or service. Market Challenger Strategy If the organizations strategy is to be a market challenger then the marketing plan will be focused towards the small unmet needs of the customers. The marketing plan will be very aggressive and the focus will be to increase the market share in small chunks and to target the customers by promoting those features which are fulfilling their unmet needs (Kathryn, 2010). Market Follower Strategy If an organization is following market follower strategy then the marketing plan will not be very aggressive (Dibb, 2001). The markets are already identified and researched by the competitors and the market plan will target those weak points which are left by the competitors and the better solutions will be provided to the customers. Market Niche Strategy Organizations can also divide the market in to small segments/chunks and prepare the marketing plan for each segment. This allows the organization to influence the customers more deeply with the marketing campaign as the focus is on a particular segment. For instance the marketing plan of a cosmetic can target the women between the age limit of 20-25 years. Alliance Strategy The organization can also form strategic alliances to increase the impact of the marketing plan. The strategic alliances enables the organization to offer new products or value added services to the customers and the marketing plan focuses on promoting the benefits of the alliance of the organization to the customers (Kotler, 2003). Component Parts of a Marketing Plan Marketing plan refers to that document which outlines the actions and details that are required to be undertaken in order to achieve one or more marketing objectives. Marketing plan can either be for a brand, or for a product or service or even for a whole product line. Marketing plans can cover the marketing objectives of up to five years and the marketing objectives are aligned with the organizational objectives. Following are the main components of a marketing plan. Situation Analysis Situation analysis is very important and initial part for developing a marketing plan. It explains and clarifies the current position of the organization in the market. This analysis should be done fairly by the organization as exaggerating the current market position in front of the management will ultimately give a failure at the end of marketing campaign. Situation Analysis involves external, internal and customers analysis (Ward, 2010). SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is another major part of the marketing plan as it identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the organization and the opportunities and threats for the organization. It also helps to determine the current state of the organization, but it also adds the opportunities and threats to the organization which can be focused in the marketing plan (Dibb, 2001). Marketing Goals and Objectives After SWOT analysis the organization is in much better position to set the marketing objectives and goals. Goals are the overall accomplishment that is likely to be achieved by the organization and the objectives are the benchmarks which enables the organization to meet those goals (Ward, 2010). It is very important the goals and objectives should be realistic and should reflect the mission of the company. Marketing Strategies In marketing strategy the marketing mix and the target market is discussed. Product features, placement, pricing and distribution are the four main aspects of any product or service and the marketing plan contains the blend of these strategies and marketing strategy is designed keeping in mind the target audience (Kotler, 2003). Implementation Implementation planning is another important part of the marketing plan. At first it is described that what is required to be done internally in order to get success such as employee training, employees empowerment etc. for the success of market plan. Secondly, a month-by-month marketing calendar is prepared that guides the marketing activities. Evaluation and Control Evaluating the marketing plan is very important, as this helps to identify that what is to be done in future and what not. If the marketing plan is of 3 to 5 years then periodic evaluation is necessary as changing market conditions can be costly while sticking with the old techniques. Evaluation also helps to identify whether the plan is implemented properly. Threat to Nestle Pure Life Different threats and weaknesses for Nestle pure life are identified in the marketing plan, however, the most critical threat and weakness for the product is the current economic and political condition in Pakistan. This threat is for every business operating in Pakistan, however, Nestle pure life has direct affect to the economic situation of Pakistan. As the target market of Nestle pure life is upper and middle class and due to increasing ratio of unemployment and poverty the people are moving towards the usage of simple or boiled water as spending Rs. 35 for water is becoming unaffordable for majority of middle class people. Moreover, there are several other local brands which are not up to the mark, but they sell the brand to the local market by assuring them about the quality and purity which decreases the demand of high quality product like Nestle pure life. This causes a serious threat to the brand in near future (Rosemann, 2005). Nestle Pakistan Limited Marketing Plan Nestle Pure Life Executive Summary Its manufacturing facilities are located in Sheikhupura, Kabirwala, Islamabad and Karachi, Pakistan. Nestle provides mineral water to the customers with an objective to provide value to the customers. The companys main target market is those people who believe that tap water is not hygienic. The company enjoys the highest market share in the mineral water industry of Pakistan however Pepsis Aquafina has been giving tough competition to nestle pure life. 1 year Marketing plan for year 2011 is developed distributing each activity in different months. Situation Analysis Company Profile Nestle Pakistan Limited is a subsidiary of Nestle SA, a Switzerland based company, aimed to build a based on sound human values and principles. In 1992, Nestlà © was the first company to dare to launch a mineral water, in five different countries at once. Nestle Pakistan is engaged in the processing, manufacturing and sales of products such as dairy, culinary, confectionary and beverages. The major companys products include NIDO milk, NESVITA milk, MILKPACK milk and ice-cream, Fruit yogurt; Everyday creamed tea, Cerelac and Nestle mineral Water (Nestle pure life). Mission Statement Nestlà © believe that research can help to make better food so that people live a better life. Objectives This marketing plan considers the following objectives of organization for its product Nestle pure life: To maintain the position as Market Leader. Increase the Market share. Exceed customers expectations both in terms of product quality and service. Create awareness of benefit of PET bottles and approach in rural areas. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis helps to understand the ability of the organization internally and externally (Lyndsay, 2010). Blow is the SWOT analysis of the company: Strengths Strong distribution channel Skilled Labour Educated Staff Large number of Offerings Strong Brand Name Strong Background of the company Easy to approach Weaknesses Small Target market Lack of awareness among the target market Dependency of other government and sponsors for the arrangement of events Opportunity Favorable weather conditions (Summer most of the time) People love to enjoy eating ice cream Few and Weak competitors Threats Major players may enter in the market Legal and ethical issues Local mineral water manufacturers Economic slowdown and bad political conditions Competitors Analysis Nestle Pure Life introduce the bottled water culture. No doubt Nestle pure life is currently a dominant leader in Pakistan market in Mineral water Industry. Nestle Pure Life is currently dominating more than 80% of bottled water market share (Rosemann, 2005), when Nestle Pure Life start its bottled water business in Pakistan way back in 1998 on that particular time AVA was the major competitor in the market, but after a time period of one year AVA was acquired by the Nestle Pure Life and now currently AVA is in the business of bulk water. There are different brands of bottled mineral water but the most famous are: Nestle Pure Life Aquafina Sufi Kinley For manufacturing and distributing mineral water in Pakistan the company has to obtain licenses and have to follow the rules and regulations of Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). Particular in Lahore, gourmet is giving a very tough competition to Nestle pure life as their price is less than Nestle pure life. Moreover, gourmet is approaching the other cities and rural areas of the country and possibly will emerge as a strong competitor of Nestle pure life in near future. There are also other competitors found within a local market which include Sparklet, Acqacare, Pure, Aafi, Oura, Aabshar and many other local brands, but their market share is very low as compare to the Nestle Pure Life. Macro Environmental Analysis The Macro-Environment forces, which include political, Social-Cultural and Economic forces, affect the overall performance of the brand (Kotler, 2003). Political instability always matter in a market situation, there should be an investment security. PSQCA has approved Nestle Pure Life; Nestle Pure Life is also promoting the culture of humanity and higher labor as many people from Pakistan have got job in the different parts of the world in Nestle Food. No doubt Nestle Pure Life is a market leader, but some of the government policies affecting the marketing strategy of Nestle Pure Life as government closed many several companies by saying that they are producing un approved water for the people of Pakistan in the name of mineral water, but such kind of situation doesnt affect any marketing strategy of Nestle Pure Life because it is producing a water according to the standard which is approved by World Health Organization WHO. As far as Social and Cultural forces are concerned now the people are realizing the need of bottled water especially in cities, as they are more health conscious as compare to the people of rural areas. But now the trend is changing gradually the people live in countryside they also realizing the need of Safe and Clean water, they know that health is wealth, as Nestle is a dominant factor so they are using Nestle Pure Life as their first choice. Target Market On the consumer side the Target Market is: People who believe that tap water are not hygienic People traveling by road on highways, railways and by air Tourists or foreigners Middle, Upper Middle and Elite class Students of school, college or universities On the Business side target market is High ways, Motorways, railway Stations Airports bus stops hotels etc. Educational Institutes of the city, where students might interact Shopping centers and Market places Departmental stores and bakeries, General stores and others etc. Restaurants and hotels Marketing Mix Product Nestle Pure Life offers not only pure water but also pure Life because water is life and also purity is life Nestle has always been the symbol of purity. Nestle pure water provides a balanced mineral formula (on Average 150-170 mg per liter) Price Another strategy for success may be applied by lowering the price of bottles including bulk water bottles to attract more and more customers who may switch to its direct or indirect substitutes 0.8 liter Rupees 18 1.5 liter Rupees 35 Placement Distribution should be done not only in urban areas but also the rural areas of the country. Distribution in small cities of the country is also one of the distribution strategies of Nestle Pure Life. Promotion Nestle Pure Life is using integrated marketing communication. The Company has adapted both Push and Pull strategies and using mass marketing by Advertising i.e. using different types of Medias like TV, radio, magazines, Sales Promotion i.e. sponsoring different events, using billboards and involves in different social activities. Implementation This action plan will carry out the marketing strategy and achieve the main Objectives of Nestle Pure Life through a variety of Scheduled programs. Following activities will be held during the year 2011 to promote the Nestle Pure Life. Activities Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Invoices Income Recovery Incomes Trade sale Promotion Regional Offices Lucky draws Free Offers Research Advertising Data Analysis Educate Dealers Concept for bottled water Implementation Press and pour Offer New Stores Commitment Award Specific promo Contingency Planning There is variety of risks involved in the marketing plan. Following are some of the risks and their mitigation strategies for the marketing plan of Nestle pure water. Wrong Market Information In Pakistani markets the availability of complete and authentic data is very difficult. There are very few government sources which provide the market information, but those also cannot be relied upon as the data collection is not known. In case the data or information taken from the governmental sources is found to be incorrect then the company will rely upon the data collected from surveys and past trends. Outsourcing If the internal resources are not able to meet the growing demand of the customers then the production will be outsourced, but the quality will not be sacrificed in any case. Mismatch of Projections If there is a mismatch of the financial projection then the efforts will be re-doubled and the focus will be on direct marketing. However, the other marketing expenses will not be cut down as it is very necessary to keep conveying the message across the target audience. Nestlà ©s Organizational Objectives and Marketing Plan The organizational objectives of Nestle Pakistan are aligned with the marketing plan. However the change in the market conditions result in the change in organizational objectives which also reflects the marketing plan. The marketing plan discussed above tries to meet the following organization objectives. Market Leadership Nestle pure life is holding a market leaders position at the moment in Pakistani bottled water market. The marketing plans objective is also to maintain this position and to increase the market share by targeting the rural areas along with the urban areas. For this the distribution network is planned to be stronger in small cities and villages. Safety The objective of the organization is to provide the customers with safe drinking water. Nestle brand provides the customers reassurance which they demand for fulfilling their most basic and important need. Marketing plan of Nestle pure life also focuses on educating the dealers and consumers directly about the benefits of mineral water. Healthy Product The formula developed for Nestle pure life contains minerals such as calcium, which is essential for bone development and promotion of this benefit through media and direct marketing team reflects in the marketing plan and fulfills this organizational objective. Affordable Mineral Water Another objective of the company is to provide the mineral water to the target customer at affordable prices. The prices of all the formats of the mineral water bottles are very affordable for the target market and that is the reason Nestle pure lifes market share is highest in Pakistan. Convenient availability Nestlà ©s objective is to make the mineral water available to the consumers almost everywhere. Marketing Plan of Nestle pure life target the customers at different location like railway station, schools, colleges, airports etc. which fulfills the product availability objective of the organization. Publicity and Promotion Strategy for Nestle Pure Life Nestle is using different strategies for the promotion and publicity for Nestle Pure life. Below is the brief description of all the strategies used by Nestle Pure Life. Push Strategy The company is using push strategy by using the sales force and promoting the product to the wholesalers and dealers. The Nestle cooler is one of the example in this regard as the dealers sells and provide the coolers with Nestle pure life brand and that promotes the product. This type of strategy is mostly used for the corporate clients like different companies, banks etc. in which the Nestle Pure Life branded coolers are placed and the bottles are refilled by the dealers/company representatives periodically. Pull Strategy The company is also using pull strategy by directly communicating to the consumers through high advertisement through different channels. This results in the walk-in of the customers in the outlets and other distribution channels asking for the product. Above the Line (ATL) Company advertise above the line by using different TV channels, radio, newspapers, billboards etc. Below the Line (BTL) Company advertise below the line as well by distributing the fliers, through internet (Facebook), placing outlets at roadsides etc. Mass Marketing The company is also using Mass marketing where the whole market is communicated the same product. The company through different media channels communicates to all the market of Pakistan by ignoring the segments and target market as being human beings all the people are the potential customers of the product. Integrated Marketing Communication The company also assures that all the features and benefits of the product are communicated to the customers. Through advertisement campaigns the company conveys a message of purity and safety to the customers and also explains the ingredients of the product which are beneficial for the human body.

Abortion Essay - Roe v. Wade and Morality -- Argumentative Persuasive

Roe v. Wade and Morality   Ã‚   Michael Pearce Pfeifer in "Abandoning Error: Self-Correction by the Supreme Court," states the impact of Roe v. Wade on morals:    Seldom, if ever, has a single Supreme Court decision so decisively transformed American constitutional history or so altered the relationship between law and morals - both public and private. Roe v. Wade established within the Constitution a doctrine that has entirely legitimized what had previously been almost universally condemned: the practice of abortion on demand throughout the nine months of pregnancy. Such precedent setting decisions are usually derived from the social, economic, political, and legal philosophy of the majority of the Justices who make up the Court, and also represent a segment of the American population at a given time in history. Seldom has a Supreme Court decision sliced so deeply into the basic fabric that composes the tapestry and direction of American law or instigated such profound changes in cherished rights, values, and personal prerogatives of individuals: the right to privacy, the structure of the family, the status of medical technology and its impact upon law and life, and the authority of state governments to protect the lives of their citizens.(3-4)    The far-reaching impact of Roe v. Wade derives from one cause: Every abortion involves, either surgically or chemically, the destruction of a human zygote or a human fetus, and the subsequent removal of that human life from his/her mother's womb. Therefore, every single abortion ends a human life.    There are many who say that the preborn child is just a mass of tissue, a part of the woman's body. If this were the case, then no one would have any reason to o... ...oks, 1981. p.213.    Pfeifer, Michael Pearce. "Abandoning Error: Self-Correction by the Supreme Court." Abortion and the Constitution: Reversing Roe v. Wade Through the Courts. Horan, Grant, Cunningham, eds. Washington,D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1987.    Reinis, Stanislaw and Jerome M. Goldman. The Development of the Brain. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas Publishers, 1980.    Rockwell, P.E.,M.D. Director of Anesthesiology, Leonard Hospital, Troy, NY, U.S. Supreme Court, Markle vs. Abele, 72-56, 72-730, 1972. P.11       The Silent Scream. Cleveland, OH: American Portrait Films, 1984.    Tanner, J.M. and G.R. Taylor, Time-Life Books. Growth, New York: Life Science Life, 1965. p.64.    U.S. Congress. Subcommittee on Separation of Powers to Senate Judiciary Committee S-158, 97th Congress, 1st Session 1981. p.7

Course Work Essay

Choose a type of advertisement (newspaper, magazine, outdoor, radio, Internet, and so on) to research, and then answer the following questions. a. Find the Web site for a company that sells this type of advertisement (such as newspaper, magazine, outdoor, radio, Internet, or another type of ad). What is this company’s name? (0. 5 points) Google adwords. b. Describe at least one type of advertisement you can purchase from this company, including any details about the size, length, color, or other features of the advertisement. (2-6 sentences. . 0 points) You can buy online advertisement. You can do a couple of sentences. It is pay per click. c. How much does this type of advertisement cost? (1-2 sentences. 1. 0 points) It will cost around 16 cents per click d. Do you think this type of advertisement would be effective for your company? Why or why not? (2-5 sentences. 2. 0 points) No I don’t. The amount of people who actually clicks it would be low and the amount who buy are lower. 5. Choose a different type of advertisement to research, and then answer the following questions. . Find the Web site for a company that sells this type of advertisement (such as newspaper, magazine, outdoor, radio, Internet, or another type of ad). What is this company’s name? (0. 5 points) Yuma sun b. Describe at least one type of advertisement you can purchase from this company, including any details about the size, length, color, or other features of the advertisement. (2-6 sentences. 2. 0 points) They have newspaper ads and you get photos and words c. How much does this type of advertisement cost? 1-2 sentences. 1. 0 points) it cost 22 dollars. d. Do you think this type of advertisement would be effective for your company? Why or why not? (2-5 sentences. 2. 0 points) Yes a lot of people like to support local efforts. 6. Describe at least 2 features of your product or service. (2-4 sentences. 2. 0 points) We create fun and immersive games. Inexpensive and high quality. 7. Describe at least 2 benefits of your product or service. (2-4 sentences. 2. 0 points) It will allow you to spend hours in one game.

Aflac Essay

In your opinion, will the campaign stay effective for the foreseeable future? I think the campaign will stay effective because people like the duck. They introduced the duck in 2000 when they hired the advertising agency the Kaplan Thaler Group. The duck has done very well for the company, for many years. I think if they were to discontinue the duck in advertising, their rates would go down 3. What makes AFLAC ads so effective? Is it something more than their entertainment value? If so, what else contributes to their success? Aflac’s duck has done more than generate impressive sales numbers. The mascot has been a feather in the company’s cap in terms of making it one of the most recognizable names in insurance. Nearly 90% of Americans now recognize Aflac’s name, the company said, largely because of the duck campaign, which takes a humorous approach to insurance while sending the serious message for its need. The duck was born after Aflac Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Amos and his advertising steering committee decided it was time to create a campaign that differentiated the company’s ads from other insurers, while increasing the company’s Advertising Principals 3 ame recognition. In addition, because the company name was often mispronounced, Aflac wanted to create a mnemonic device that would reinforce name awareness and recall. Nearly everyone has seen the white, sassy Pekin duck with a bright-yellow beak waddle into a variety of situations–ranging from an ice arena to the Grand Canyon–to tout Aflac insurance. In m ost scenarios, the feathered icon belts out its signature quack to unsuspecting passersby as individuals converse about insurance. The taglines–â€Å"Without it, no insurance is complete† and â€Å"Ask about it at work† –have added to the ads’ fame. Advertising expert John Malmo, president of Koening Inc. , said in an article that Aflac has â€Å"great advertising because its concept emanates from the brand name. † Financial management 3 * Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA): FINRA represents and regulates all stock and bond brokerage firms and their employees. More than 4,750 firms are members, with 634,000 employees registered to sell securities. It also administers background checks and licensing exams, regulates securities trading, and monitors how firms comply, and provides information for investors. Treasury bond market regulation Treasury bonds are slightly different from corporate bonds. They’re issued by the U. S. government, so regulation is handled by the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Public Debt, with additional oversight from the SEC. Derivatives market regulation Derivatives markets have their own regulatory bodies, but they match the format and hierarchy of stock and bond market regulation. The organizations may not be household names, but their functions will seem familiar. * Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): The CFTC is a government agency that oversees market activities in agricultural and financial commodities. It ensures that the markets are liquid and that both parties on an options or futures transaction are able to meet their contractual obligations. It also provides oversight to the markets by ensuring that the exchanges and self-regulatory organizations have sufficient regulations in place, and that those regulations are enforced. * National Futures Association (NFA): The NFA regulates 4,200 firms and has 55,000 employees who work on the different futures exchanges. It administers background checks and licensing exams, regulates futures trading, and monitors how firms comply, and provides information for investors. Trading in options on stocks is regulated by the SEC and FINRA, but trading on options on futures is regulated by the CFTC and the NFA. As the lines between derivative products blur, you may find a lot of overlap, and many in the industry predict that the SEC and CFTC will merge at some point. Foreign exchange (forex) regulation Because it’s the largest, most liquid market in the world, many day traders are taking up trading in foreign exchange, or forex. However, here’s the rub: These markets are not well regulated. There’s nothing to stop someone from exchanging U. S. ollars for Canadian dollars; tourists do it every day, often at a hotel desk or retail shop. There’s no paperwork, no hassle — and no oversight. Oversight isn’t necessary for someone at a convenience store buying a tube of Smarties with U. S. bucks and getting Canadian loonies in return. Unfortunately, this has allowed some firms to misrepresent forex trading today traders, ca using some day traders to get badly burned. * Options and futures on currency: Most currency is traded in the spot; traders exchange one currency for another at the current exchange rate. The spot market is not regulated. But many trade currency using options and futures. Options and futures on currency are regulated as derivatives through the CFTC, the NFA, and the relevant futures exchanges. * Banks and oversight: Banks are responsible for most forex trading, and banks are heavily regulated. This means that the Federal Reserve Banks and the U. S. Treasury Department are paying attention to forex markets, looking for evidence of manipulation and money laundering. Both are problems — under-regulation and over. However, often, the problem is not in the regulation but in the way it is enforced, or not enforced. I think regulation should be focused on areas that markets do not do well and not on simply regulating for the sake of what regulators feel need to be done. I do not think you should hold the Innocent shareholders responsible for what management does. I think if the management was held accountable for their actions there would be a lot less fraud in the system. I think there needs to be separate entities for each section of regulation; there is a huge amount of companies out there and only a small group that regulates it.