Factors Influencing While Purchasing Tyres

Factors Influencing While Purchasing Tyres Abstract   In this project I have study of â€Å"factors influencing while purchasing tyres† JK tyres manufactured by Jk Tyre Industries. In this competitive era of marketing where the satisfaction of the customer towards the product is become first priority, it is therefore very important to analyze customer behaviour. Consumer behaviour can be looked upon as study of how individuals make decisions on how to spend their available resources like time, effort, money in various consumption related items. The understanding of customer needs and wants is one of the major underpinning construct of marketing. Without putting customer on the top company cannot get success, forgetting success every company should target customer, because market is totally customer oriented. This project evaluated which factors influence the customer most when he/she goes for purchasing tyres. Finally I have given some views and suggestions to the company with which they can satisfy the customer the most. Preface Inspite of theoretical knowledge gained through class room study, a person is incomplete if not  subjected  to practical exposure  of real corporate world. He may have to face hurdules, which will be difficult  to overcome  without any first hand experience of business. In this context, research program has been designed  to make aware of  happening of real business. The project entitled â€Å"Factors influencing  while purchasing tyres† with special refrece to JK tyres, has been done at New Delhi and Jalandhar as completion part of Msc International Business. In my work-based dissertation, we worked upon the analysis of the JK tyre industries in New Delhi and Jalandhar by customer attitude through  the personal contact and  questionnaires. During my work-based dissertation, I got opportunity to apply my theoretical skills and knowledge and meaningful concept to actual business condition and Familiarize  with the marketing activities of the products. All the work done on this  project is confined to my  broad objective. In today’s world of intense competition and rapid dynamism, all companies worldwide are tuning their focus on the customer. Suddenly, customer had succeeded in capturing all attention of the companies towards him, so much so, that maxim, â€Å"customer is god† has become so true and relevant today. There has been a paradigm shift in the thinking of these companies and none other than customer has brought this about. Earlier there was seller market, since the goods and services were in short supply and sellers use to call the shots. But ever since the advent of era of globalization there has been total transformation in the way of customers being perceived. Today, marketers are marketers are directing their effort in retaining customers and customer base. The customer importance has assumed imponderable proportion in today’s world because of inherent value that customers command. A customer can â€Å"make or break† the company. It is the responsibility of every company that to see all its customers are equally satisfied with them , for one single dissatisfied customer will tell at least nine other customer about the dissatisfaction and will spark off the chain reaction and spell doom for that company In the past customer were taken as ride, as there were not many players in the fields, not much importance was attached to product safety, quality, service and product appeal. The attitude of manufacturer was that of â€Å"Caveat-emptor†. Thanks to the government policies on liberalization, globalization and privatization, the market has changed today. Today customer has host of defence mechanism like customer protection laws, regulation of government, the powerful hands of organization, switching to or competitors. The maxim â€Å"Caveat-emptor† has been replaced by â€Å"Caveat-venditor†. In the past after sales service was consider as cost centre, companies were lethargic in attending the customer complaints. Availability of trainee service personal and quality genuine spare parts was serious problems. However, with rising competition, there could not be much product differentiation as product, quality was comparable and latest technology was with each and every company in the field.  Since there could not be much differential a tangible assets, the companies concentrated on the intangible assets normally service factor which served as major differentiator. Today after sales is considered as major aspect for every company and it is no more considered as cost centre but now it considered as profit centre Company profile JK tyre is only manufacturer of truck and bus tyres and second largest manufacturers of 4- wheelers. JK tyre and Industries in counted among the huge corporate entity which is the symbol of excellence, diversification and pioneering new technologies. Since its commencement it has been supreme in the value of technology which made it grow .JK tyre manufacturers and sells the tyres and tubes fot passenger car, truck, jeep, buses, multi utility vehicle,tractors and light commercial vehicle under its brand â€Å"JK tyre†. The company is the only manufacturer of ‘T’ ‘H’ high performance tyres in India. JK ranked â€Å"Highest in customer satisfaction with original tyres by J.D power Asia Pacific Study†. Its customers are mostly Replacement for four wheelers, entire Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in India along with state and defence transport units. Moreover JK have customer base across 45 countries and 6 continents.   Administrative Office: Link House, 3, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg,   New Delhi 110 002 http://www.jktyre.com/j-k-industries-limited.html Vision mission Vision â€Å"To be amongst  most admired companies in India committed to excellence† Mission  ·Ã‚  Be customer obsessed company  ·Ã‚  No. 1 Tyre Brand in India  ·Ã‚  Deliver enhance value to all stakeholders  ·Ã‚  Most profitable tyre company in India  ·Ã‚  Enhance global presence through acquisition  ·Ã‚  Motivated and committed  team development  for high performance  organization http://www.jktyre.com/j-k-industries-limited.html Key developments JK tyre industries Earning results for first quarter declared 30.06.09 For the first quarter company has reported  net profit of INR 40.75 crores or earnings of Rs 9.92per share on the Net Sales of INR 897.67 Crores In gross sales has been INR 964.58 Crores .The board [emailprotected] 27% dividend on equity shares for the financial year ended 31 march 2009 . Companies profit before tax had been INR 62.16 crores and operating  profit was INR 107.14 Crores. Performance  during the quarter has significantly improved on account of all round cost reduction measures, better operating  effeciencies, productivity, and richer product mix. First tyre company to receive ISO 14001. First and only tyre company to export passenger  car radial to Europe. World’s first tyre manufacturer to get QS9000 for its operation. India’s first to get ISO 9001. JK tyre is pioneer in promoting Rallying, karting, motor sports, JK tyre  pioneer of steel radial technology. Customer satisfaction JK tyre is the preferred choice of the all leading vehicle manufacturers in India like Maruti (http://www.jktyre.com/directors-report06.pdf) BEML (http://www.overdrive.in/story-news-general_news/jk_tyre_to_produce_otr_tyres-12662-0.html) Ashok Leyland (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/truck-tyre-mkt-on-road-to-radialisation/88811/) TATA Motors Mahindra Force motors Volvo (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/iw/2008/03/09/stories/2008030950701100.htm) JK Tyre meets ISO 9001, QS9000, ISO14001,E-MARK, DOT,IN METRO standards where ever applicable. JK Tyres efficient RD department is deeply involved in making improvements in the product performance, quality, and bring out new products. Company aims to give satisfaction to its customer by offering high quality and cost effective tyres and tubes. (http://www.jktyre.com/quality-policy.html) History of the company On 14 February 1951 JK organization was incorporated as a private limited company. Till 31 March 1970, the company was involved only in the business managing agency. After that, company took manufacturing activities and in February 1972 company obtained the letter of intent for production of automobile tyres and tubes. In 1974 company manufactured 4 lakh automobiles tyres and tubes per annum then on 1st April 1974 company was converted into public limited company. After this company promoted manufacturing project, it was done by J.K. Synthetics Ltd and straw Products Ltd. The company took international step by collaboration with General Tire Co.,U.S.A.,which was subsidiary of General Tire Rubber Co.,U.S.A. ,this collaboration was for the technical services which was for about 5 years and sales agreement for the supply of technical know-how, engineer and documentation for operation facilities for eight years. According to the agreement, J.K. tyre had right to use on its products the wording made in the collaboration with General Tire Co. Company renewed its technical collaboration agreement for further 5 years. In 1987 apart from 51 days strike as well as go slow from 14 October  the overall working resulted in substantial profits. Since the strike was resolved efforts were made to launch a new pattern in steel belted Radial tyres and it was introduced for Maruti Gypsy and Tata Mobile by the company in 1988. The company proposed install latest and sophisticated RD equipement by incurring expenditure of Rs 300 lakh.   Due to RD in 1989 company introduced several new pattern and sizes of tyres including a semi-lug Nylon Truck tyre, and got good response from the market. In 1991 Hidrive Finance Ltd., Radial Finance Ltd., Handeep Investment, J.K International Ltd., J.K Asia Pacific, Shivdham Properties, Pancham Investment ltd., became the subsidiaries of the companies. By 1992 company international division expanded its activities by opening its office in Moscow( Russia) apart from company’s subsidiaries already in U.K and Hongkong. Market well accepted the radial tyres for tractors launched previous year. In 1993 company introduced new brands of radial tyres ‘Brute’ and ‘Ultima’. After this compony started manufacturing steel belted radial tyres for the prestigious cars like Mercedes Benz, Peugeot,Daewoo race and Opel Astra. Market well received the new patterns developed for bus and trucks ‘PE-T8’. Despite of rise in inputs cost and cost of raw material and the competion company maintained its progress. Company attained higher capacity and all around cost reduction on both plants at Jaykaygra and Banmore. Many new generation cars accepted the J.K steel radial as T- rated ultima launched and was accepted by Daewoo’s ‘Cielo’ and then Mercedes benz india also choosed J.K steel radial  after this it G.M’s ‘Astra’. Then next were `Peugekot FIATs, `UNO and M Ms `Ford. After this company launched premium tyre to meet heavy load market which was ‘Jet Trak’-39 with this company launched new tractor rear tyre ‘SONA’ which was also greatly accepted by the market. During 1996 company launched car tyre JET Drive XS,and nylon car tyre for maruti along with semi-lug and heavy duty lug tyre for trucks. In radial category, Ultima XR Radial, a terrain tyre was introduced. All these tyres got good response from the consumers. Companies both the plants were operated at full capacity. In radial tyres units also launched dual contact high traction and high performance Aquasonic steel radial car tyre. As company had loan repayment of Rs 635 crores it proposed to reduced its debt by 125 crore in 2000. J.K tyre and the Indian oil corporation came  collaboration to install digital air pressure gauges and setting up sales out at IOC petrol station across the country. In 2001 managing director of J.K Industries Raghupati singhania was selected 19th chairman of ATMA (Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association). J.K Industries in 2003 got new Marketing Director as Mr. Ajay Kapila who was earlier  Senior-Vice President in Kinetic Engineering Ltd. J.K. tyres merged with Vikrant tyres along with the non tyre business, sugar and agriculture into separate companies which were J.K Sugar Ltd and J.K Agri-Gentics Ltd. On 2nd April 2007 J.K Industries Ltd changed their name to J.K tyre and Industries Ltd. (http://www.moneycontrol.com/stocks/company_info/company_history.php?sc_did=JKT01) History of JK Organisation JK Organisation owes its name to late Lala Juggilal Singhania, dynamic personality with broad vision. Inspired by the cause of Swadeshi movement of Mahatma Gandhi and driven the zeal to set up an Indian enterprise .Lala Kamlapat Singhania founded JK organization in 19 century ushering in new industrial era in India. The process of industrialization and diversification was worthily and successfully carried on by Lala Kamlapat’s illustrious sons –Sir Padampat, Lala kailashpat, Lala Lakshmipat, aided in no small measures by the Late Gopal Krishna son of Sir Padampat. (http://www.jktyre.com/founders.html) 1933- Juggilal Kamlapat cotton Spinning and Weaving Mills Co. Ltd was the first to manufacture calco prints in the country. In 1940 J.K iron and steel Co Ltd manufactured first time steel bailing hoops for jute and cotton with which country became self sufficient in meeting the entire demand. Then in 1944 they produced first time  aluminium virgin Metal from the Indian  Bauxite at  Aluminium  corporation of India Ltd, Jaykaynagar. There after J.K engineer files manufactures first time in India Engineering files in 1949. In 1959 they were the first one to set up a continuous process plant of Rayon.  In 1960 J.K Iron steel Co Ltd at Kanpur manufactured for the first time in the country a hydraulically operated cane crushing Mill for their sugar plant in Khandsari and then they completed their 100 ton plant. During 1961 J.K chemical set up world’s first plant for production Hydrosulphite of soda by the amalgamation process of sodium. Similarly in 1962 they their company J.K synthetics Ltd at kota produced first time nylon-6 with its own polymerised raw material in India. J.K Chemicals Ltd was the first one to produce sodium formaldehyde in India. In  1968 they produce T.V sets in India along with Metallic Cops for Synthetic Filament yarn  industries.  In 1969 J.K synthetics manufactured acrylics fibres in the country for the first time in the country and J.K synthetics Ltd developed Dyeable Nylon. In 1973 they were the first to the licence Synthetic fibre technology to third party and produce Synthetic Fibre Machinery. In 1976 they produce steel belted radial for the first time in india  for the trucks, buses and passenger cars in their tyre plant at kankroli and then they make steel belted radial tyres for three wheelers which was manufactured for the first time in the world. In 1984 they produced white cement in India for the first time in India  through dry process. Then J.K Synthetics produced Cathonic Dyeable fibre first time in India and nylon tyre cord based on Spin Draw Technology. In India J.K magnetic produced first magnetic tapes with cobalt technology.  In 1991 company set up a tyre palnt at Banmore with annual capacity 5.7 lakh tyres. Then in 1992 HASTERI RD centre was established bu the company after two years in 1994 they launched India’s first T-rated tyre and Banmore tyre plant crossed 100 TPD. Next year mecedez benz was launched on J.K tyres and they got the ISO 9001 which was given to first time in history to tyre manufacturer. In 1996  they introduced steel wheels and launched first time in India dual contact high traction  steel radial- aquasonic. Next was the big year for the compay they acquired Vikrant tyres ,awarded national export award for 96-97, first and the only tyre manyfacturer to get ‘E’ mark certification, they launched first H rated tyre and their research institute got ISO 9002.  In 1998 they were awarded capexil’s highest export award for 1997-98, got QS 9000. In 1999 Jk tyre was ranked world’s 16 largest tyre company, synergy with VTL in procurement, marketing and production flexibility, they got ISA-14000 certificate for environment and safety. In 2000 National Go-Karting  championships were introduced by the company. In 2001 company received CAPEXIL award and FOCUS LAC export award. In this year 2nd Go-karting championship was held by the company. (http://www.jktyre.com/milestones.html) Jk tyre acquisition of Mexican tyre company tornel JK tyre acquired Mexican based –company with the annual capacity of 6.6 million tyres ,this deal cost Rs 270 crores. This deal made the JK tyre No.1 tyre maker in the country as their annual capacity increased to 15 million units because they have surpassed Apollo tyres which was earlier No.1 with the capacity of 8-10 million. This acquisition not only gives JK tyres an additional tyres but access to the  lucrative market of Latin and North America. (http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=5hid=3[emailprotected]) The company is planning to sell both the brands JK and Tornel in U.S and Canada. They have planned to spend million more on the Tornel plants to add new shape to JK  brand and launch the JK radial and Tornel passenger and light truck brands  for U.S customers. (http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=10hid=101[emailprotected]bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bthAN=35120934)   JK tyre and motor sports It’s been two decades that the JK tyre is closely related to adventurous world of motor sports. JK tyre has been constantly  promoting motorsports not just only to discover several winners, but also using their awareness and knowledge of RD department  to develop tyres on which world can race upon. JK tyre realised the absence of the infrastructure, which is necessary for the accomplishment of the motorsports in India. Over the last five years, JK tyre has embarked over Rs 15 crore to support the motorsport in India. (http://www.jktyre.com/motorsports/jk-in-motorsports-history.html) Global presence Jk tyre along with its associates Vikrant Tyres Ltd is the leading exporter of tyres from the country which counts roughly 26% of exports. JK tyre is the world’s first manufacturer of tyre to receive ISO 9000 along with QS 9000 for its operations. Across the world only JK tyre has received has certificate of QS 9000 for its multilocation operations. In the country it is only JK tyre was the first company to receive ISO 14001 in recognition of its environmental management systems. Nowadays, products manufactured by JK tyres compete with international players in the international market across the world. The products are exported to to more than 55 countries and in 6 continents. The company has robust and well developed distribution network for exports and the distributors get the full support from technical team for the product development so that they can meet the market requirements. JK tyre products are internationally certified in Europe, US, Middle East and South America. For commitment of offer in superior quality , standards and path-breaking breaking innovation the company has received numerous awards for exports for  last years.in 1999-00 JK being the largest tyre exporter to Latin America it was acknowledged  by the Indian trade promotion organization (ITPO).  In 200-01 company was honoured with ‘The Special Export Award’ from Capexil, with this company made its fourth consecutive award from India’s premier industrial association. JK tyre is constantly making any eefort to deliver value to customerswith along with sound marketing strategy forms which are establishment consistent performance in international market.   To develop new products of excellent and distinguished products so that they can compete in the international market, JK tyre had had maintained its marketing and distribution strategies for export market. This credit goes to India’s biggest in-house RD centre, HASTERI (Hari Shankar Singhania Elastomer And Tyre Research Institute). This centre is well equipped with latest testing facilities which helps in getting excellence by evolving technologies for superior product performance and it also reduces waste and thinks about the consumer needs. All over JK tyre has obtained many milestones. Despite of , bencjmarking customer sevice and plans to bring in several pioneering technologies there, a lot which will roll out in future in JK tyre’s winning path. (http://www.jktyre.com/global-business.html) JK tyres in North America In Mexican based company Tornel, JK tyre bought 100% stake. By this move JK tyre got access in the markets Of US along with this company can entered into the markets of South America. Tornel has total three manufacturing units with total capacity of 6.6.Million tyres per annum (http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=319837) Technology at JK tyres Error proof Computer Aided Design Analysis JK tyres use updated tools and techniques which help them to figure out  and annihilate failure at the drawing board only. World class manufacturing on Automatic Machines Manufacturing of radials is done at air-conditioned plant fitted with the finest machinery to provide customer consistent good quality. Rigorous Testing Before the JK tyres reach the market it has to go through tough validation tests, both indoor and outdoor. Jk is one of the few companies that test their tyre so rigorously. Network of JK tyre Marketing Steel Wheels With the objective of meeting customer demand s and bringing best products and services form the customers, JK tyre established franchised chain nationwide retiled outlets as JK tyre steel wheels. It is considered to be one stop solution for the problems of and requirements of tyres and their services. In these they provide facilities like computerized wheel alignment, automated tyre changing, wheel balancing, air care, tyre rotation with the high technology and trained personnel guidance. Dial-a-tyre JK tyre has started delivering the tyre at the customer’s door. With this JK trained technician will deliver and fit the tyres at a pre-appointed time. In this wheel changing, balancing, and alignment is including. This step is user friendly to make the customer comfortable and for his convenience. AD-Campaigns JK tyre launched different types of ad campaigns to promote the product and the brand. The company publicized its product by placing its information in the media. Following are some of the ad-campaigns of JK tyres. Products JK tyre is leading manufacturer of tyres in India. It manufactures tyres  for entire segment of Truck/Bus, LCV, Passenger and Farms. Truck/ Bus-: JK Tyre is the leader in the segment of Truck/ Bus tyres. It has 70% market share in the truck and bus tyre segment. However this is very small sector Indian market but it is expected to grow in near future. They make Bias and radial types of tyres for this segment.   LCV-: In LCV segment they manufacturer such type of tyres and this they provide Bias and Radial. JK is the second largest  market share . Corporate social responsibility initiative by JK tyres J.K tyre believes that they get numerous inputs from the society, it adds value to these and offers the needed products and services to public at large. The profit which company makes is the enhancement by the public for value added. The purpose of CSR is enhance the government efforts by helping the citizen of the country, with which they can lead life which is prosperous, healthy, happy and more meaningful. It is believed that it is not only the job of the government to do the needful to the extent needed. That’s where the role of corporate citizen comes. In fact, it is helping ourselves because inputs and outputs comes from society and go back to society. So it is long run. J.K tyre and Industries undertook three major initiatives, 2004 onwards, as per deliberation in the central HRD Committee, presided over by Shri Hari Shankar Singhania, where all presidents and all time directors are members. Adult Literacy In 1950 the condition of china and india  was same i.e 18% of literacy. If the so huge population is illetrate then it is very difficult to imagine society making scientific progress and citizen leading purposeful and meaningful lives. From1950 there has been progress in this issue. China has got illiteracy 95% but our country got stuck at  65%. Looking at this J.K group took initiative, started  in may 2004  has made 6900 citizens of the country literate. Today, another 700 are participating in learning session in 30 groups at 10 different locations  in different six local languages viz. Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Gujarati Hindi, under the guidance of our plants local management. The company has target for the year 2009 which 3000 plus.  The various place where classes are taken are J Central Pulp Mills at Songadh in Gujarat], Lakshmi Cement in Sirohi Rajasthan, J K sugar nr. Barielly, Fenner [ Hyderabad Madurai], J K agri in Hyderabad. For this company use the software developed by M/s TCS at the locations. The photograph shows a class in progress in a village near Hyderabad, organized by J K agri.K Tyre [ Banmore nr. Gwalior, Vikrant in Mysore, Kankroli in Rajasthan], J K paper [Rayagada in Orissa Prevention Of Hiv / Aids : Focus on Outside Community Mainly truckers and their helpers who are highly attacked by the disease HIV/AIDS. Looking at this scenario J.K tyre started in November 2005, and is supporting three clinics in situated at National Highway at Indore, Dhanbad, and Vishwa karma Nagar. J K Tyre supports the work being done by Melinda Bill Gates Foundation in collaboration with TCI Foundation. Awareness is the main objective of the project so that people should use preventive measures. In ‘Infotainment Melas  which are held near the clinics company also participate , in these mela’s entertainment is combined with spreading message. Despite of 3 clinics run by TCI foundation and supported by JK tyre , one clinic named â€Å"JEEVAN KIRAN† which is fully financed by JK tyre has been opened in Nov 2007 at Transport Nagar, Jaipur and 2nd clinic at shahpura on NH-8, which 70 Km short of Jaipur on way from Delhi on 25th May 2008. It’s day-to-day operations are controlled and managed by NGO called, â€Å"Vatsalya†. Till now , in all five clinics more than 39000 persons have been attended to for ailments, of which 9590 were treated  for STI’s [sexually transmitted infection] and rest for general ailments. Suspected cases were  referred to government centres. Prevention Of Hiv / Aids : Inhouse , Focus on Our Employees JAN 2008 = MOU signed ; between ILO [Internationaal Labour Organization] for helping us in this endeavour ; also a 2 hr presentation was made to group of Sr executives by ILO. March 2008 = J K TYre HIV /AIDS POLICY was announced has been widely disseminated. Four pillars of this policy are : AWARENESS, NON-DISCRIMINATION, CONFIDENTIALTY CPOLLABORATION. APRIL 2008 = among employees a survey was carried out at all the location to assess the level of knowledge on the subject by an outside agency. MAY 2008 = among the employees training of 31 master trainers  by ILD took place who will address the other employees for 2 hour awareness session at all location. By the starting of July 2008, approximately 7000 employees took part in the  2 hour awareness program addressed by the Master trainers/Peer Trainersand this was highly appreciated by the workers and unions. HIV / AIDS, As additional initiative in 2008 for Observing WORLD AIDS DAY ON 1st  December 2008 Company joined  TCI foundation in observing the WORLD AIDS DAY at 13 locations across India [Delhi, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Agra, Varanasi, Jaipur, Indore, Nagpur, Pune, Dhandbad, Jamshedpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore] The function called Truckers ‘Utsav was attended by 22000 truckers which combined awareness generation  with entertainment. Many invitations went out in transport community with J.K tyre logo. JK tyre also facilitates their products and banners and speaks few minutes about the company on the mike. (http://www.jktyre.com/corporate-social-responsibility.html) What is tyre? Review of literature What is Tyre? â€Å"A tyre is just black and round with hole in the middle. Actually, it’s a complex piece of high technology that is essential for the passenger safety and the efficient running of the vehicle. It’s a composite product. A tyre is a composite product that is, an inseparable assembly of materials with very different properties, whose manufacture demands great precision.†Ã‚   (http://www.michelin.co.uk/michelinuk/en/car-van-44/what-tyre/20070301111326.html) Structure of Tyre  ·Ã‚  Tread is that part of which comes into contact with road. It provides high grip, longer life durability  and protects carcass.  ·Ã‚  Steel belt also protects carcass and provides stiffness to tread.  ·Ã‚  The work Spiral layer contributes to high durability and manoeuvrability.  ·Ã‚  Shoulder being thickest part of the tyre it saves the carcass from outer shocks and damages.  ·Ã‚  Side wall being most flexible protect the carcass and provides comfortable ride to the driver.  ·Ã‚  Main body of the tyre is ply cord, it’s that which manages inflation pressures and endures load and road shocks.  ·Ã‚  Bead filler contributes in the high durability as well as manoeuvrability.  ·Ã‚  A bead wire is that part which hold tyre on rim.  ·Ã‚  Heat generated due abrasion of bead and rim flange id protected by chafer. NOTE: Construction of tyre may vary with size and pattern. (http://www.bridgestone.co.in/tyre/tyreknowledge/radialtyre.asp) Maintenance of tyre Maintenance of tyres is very essential to obtain the best performance. Following steps should be followed for proper maintenance of tyres-: Proper tyre mounting and de-mounting  ·Ã‚  New tube should be used with new tyre.  ·Ã‚  It should be kept in mind that tyre and tube are of same brand.  ·Ã‚  Combination of tyre and rim should always be correct.  ·Ã‚  Rim should be dirt and rust free and no bend should be there on the rim.  ·Ã‚  It should check that rim valve is smooth and round.  ·Ã‚  Before the tube is placed in the tyre, it should be cleaned the properly.  ·Ã‚  Mounting machines should used as much as possible and use of hammers and chisel should be avoided.  ·Ã‚  Ensure that before mounting and de-mounting tyre beads are lubricated.  ·Ã‚  Before inflating the tyre, ensure that tyre beads are seating correctly on rim or not. Tyre balancing An un-balanced tyre may cause vibration. So it is very important. Balancing  of tyre should be done under following circumstances-:  ·Ã‚  When vehicle covers 5000 Km  ·Ã‚  If vehicle is coming across any vibration  ·Ã‚  Mounting/de-mounting Tyre rotation Tyres must be rotated if any defect is found or vehicle have covered the distance of 5000 Km. First tyre  rotation is very important as it sets stage for long and even for tyre wear. Wheel alignment  ·Ã‚  Proper wheel alignment should be maintained of the vehicle.  ·Ã‚  It should done when ever required or after every 5000 Km. Daily tyre check Every morning before starting the vehicle, tyres should be properly checked. If the damages are exposed in the tyre, it should be cha

The Coronation Ceremony :: Essays Papers

The Coronation Ceremony The earliest accounts of a coronation ceremony in England date back to around the 750à ­s A.D. Spanning the last thousand years, the English coronation ceremony has remained almost unchanged. During the fourteenth century, the kings of England were crowned in a lavish and complicated ceremony involving special clothes, rituals and oaths. These aspects of the ritual displayed, in some ways, the chivalric mindset of the times when the coronation process was first being developed to its fullest meaning and formality. Honor, prowess, loyalty, religiosity, and largess, all aspects of chivalry, were all displayed and dispersed throughout the entire event. Before the actual observance took place, the prince rode from the Tower of London to Westminster Abbey. There he was bathed and dressed in lavish clothing made from rich cloth of gold and silk. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who conducted the ceremony, then instructed the prince to clear his conscience before the holy anointing. The prince, Abbot of Westminster, and monks then made a procession from Westminster to the Church of Westminster. The will of the people was then questioned concerning the kingà ­s coronation. After the completion of the task, the anthem "Ffrimenteur manus tua" was sung. The will of the people was not the only will tested. The prince had to show his submission to God by lying in front of the altar several times during the rite. He then made an oath at the altar then fortified that oath by taking the sacred sacrament at the same altar. This part of the ceremony is when spiritual chivalry became involved. Inspired by love for God, the king, by lying at the foot of the altar, showed his submission and obedience. The king was then anointed by holy water in five different places on his body. He was stripped of his clothes save his shirt, which was worn open, and his coat. He was also barefoot. The kingà ­s hands, breast, between his shoulders, at the break of his arm, and on his forehead, the sign of the cross was made. The oil was then wiped clean with a linen cloth, and the Kings clothes were replaced. The kingà ­s sword also played a part in the ceremony. Symbolizing the warrior, the sword was blessed then girded on in front of the bishops. Later in the ceremony, the king offered his sword to God, and only the most loyal of earls carried the naked sword to the altar.

Electronically Mediated Communication Essay

Our everyday communication involves talking to friends, lovers, family members, acquaintances, co-workers and people in service positions. We do this routinely, usually without much thought, unless some problem occurs or the relationship starts to take a turn for the worse. Then we become painfully aware of the poor communication we have had with another. We’ve probably all had relationships that slipped away because we couldn’t talk to each other or didn’t bother to try. In this chapter we will look at the mundane, yet remarkable, process of dyadic (one-on-one), Electronically Mediated Interpersonal Communication. We’ll take a topical approach to the subject of Electronically Mediated Interpersonal Communication, examining a broad array of topics studies done on the subject at hand. We will begin with an examination of cell phone usage processes and then spend time on the role of communication in the formation, maintenance, and dissolution of relationships of all types. You will learn new terms and theories and how they can apply to your own relationships and communication abilities using Electronically Mediated Interpersonal Communication. Cell phones Cell phones are becoming an integral part of our daily lives. It is no surprise that a ground breaking study just released says mobile technology has permanently changed the way we work, live, and love. Commissioned by Motorola, this new behavioral study took researchers to nine cities worldwide from New York to London. Using a combination of personal interviews, field studies, and observation, the study identified a variety of behaviors that demonstrate the dramatic impact cell phones are having on the way people interact. The study found cell phones give people a newfound personal power, enabling unprecedented mobility and allowing them to conduct their business on the go. Interesting enough, gender differences can be found in phone use. Women  see their cell phone as a means of expression and social communication, while males tend to use it as an interactive toy. Some men view the cell phone as a status symbol – competing with other males for the most high tech toy and even using the cell phone to seduce the opposite sex. The study found two types of cell phone users- â€Å"innies,† who use their phones discreetly, and â€Å"outies,† who are louder and less concerned with the people around them. The report, titled On the Mobile, has labeled today’s teenagers â€Å"The Thumb Generation.† Cell phones are often used by the younger generation to send text messages by typing with their thumbs on the phone’s keypad. Believe it or not, this has had a profound effect on the way teenagers use their thumbs. Thumb dexterity has improved so much that some teenagers now point and even ring doorbells with their thumb instead of their forefinger. The use of these two-way text messaging devices has also resulted in â€Å"generation text,† a language of abbreviations that is understood by the young all over the world. Yet cell phones are not just for the young. The cell phone has made long distance communications easy. GSM phones that place calls worldwide have turned the universe into a global village. They are helping people from all generations cross cultural and physical borders. Mobile technology, specifically the use of cell phones, has become an internal part of today’s life all around the globe. Cell phones have become so second nature in our society that the daily answering of your cell phone when having a face to face interaction with a friend, spouse, or acquaintance becomes a first priority (Kelly calls me) and is no longer viewed as an interruption, but rather seen as a status symbol. This is also problematic because it has made our conversations become public for all to hear no longer having those intimate private talks, now anyone who is around you can listen in and become part of our conversations.. There currently over 170 million users in the United States and growing by 1  million every month. Cell Phone Usage In a June 2000 Cellular One survey of college students [6], the students reported the following as the most important reasons for purchasing a cell phone: – Emergencies (47%) – To contact significant others (44%) – To keep in touch with family members (58%) – To coordinate social activities (32%) In the same survey students reported that the reasons they actually used their cell phones were: – Optimize time — make calls while walking or driving (56.6%) – Emergencies (35.5%) – Coordinate social activities (7.0%) Juanita gives example of cell phone use. Participation Question: How do you react to someone using there cell phone in a public place? For instance when you are seating down in the theater getting ready to see the movie and someone’s cell phones goes off? What doe you do? What’s your reaction? Have them write down answer then share with class. E-mails Another form of Electronically Mediated Interpersonal Communication is the Internet. Electronic communication is usually transmitted via the internet. Which is an international electronic computer network made up of smaller computer networks. The internet is an information management system made up of information providers and information seekers. This idea of linking computers came to fruition in the mid 1960’s. In 1983 this network became known collectively as the internet. The World Wide Web is part of the internet where information is presented. Here are some terms that are associated with the internet. Go online to show examples. * Webpages- are somewhat like pages in a book that include both pictures and text. * Websites- Are a collection of webpages belonging to the same organization or person. * Home page- Is the first page of a website. * Browser- Is a program that enables you to search millions of websites otherwise known as surfing the net. These programs include Netsacpe, Explore, just to name a few. * Uniform resource locator or URL- The path name of a domain. * Bookmark- Stores favorite sites that you would like to re-visit. * Search engines- Identifies websites and corresponding URL’s like google and yahoo. Give some stats on internet usage in the United States. Write on board (Kelly). Internet usage among Americans are as followed: Women use the internet 67% Men use the internet 69% more that women Now we will also break down internet usage by age: 18-29 84% 30-49 80% 50-64 67% 65+ 26% As you can see the usage is cut drastically as we move into the older generation. The older generations did not have the accessibility to these new electronic mediated forms of communication. Younger generations have practically been raised with these devices in place and are part of their everyday lives. Another part of being online is emails. This is a written form of communication sent via the internet. Email is the largest application of internet technology. In the early 90’s email was an option available mostly for interoffice communication. Only a small number of people were experimenting with emails as a general means to communication. Today of the 75% of teens online, email accounts for most of their one on one contacts. Email has two major advantages: one its fast and two its unlimited. But unlike traditional mail, email is public and not private. People can intercept and read nearly any message sent using the right software. So once again privacy is no longer an objective, but convenience has become the number one priority in our lives. This is seen in the way we communicate in emails. So fast paced has our lives become that we now abbreviate words and  thoughts into mere letters, like B.F.N. which stands for BYE FOR NOW. Not only has communication become shorter, but also less meaningful. Over 36 billion emails are sent on a daily basis worldwide. We must remember that emails are forms of communication and should be treated as any other form of public interaction, that is respect. Here are some skills that should be kept in mind when using this form of electronically mediated interpersonal communication: SENDER SKILLS 1. USING PRECISE, CONCRETE WORDS– Since tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures and other nonverbal means we use to communicate are virtually nonexistent in cyber communication, you need to be especially careful with the words you use when writing to another person. â€Å"What do you say we get together sometime† does little more than express an interest in meeting, but say you were to include times you are available, and a potential date for meeting, the other person will be more likely to accept an invitation to meet because they see it as a possibility rather than an abstract idea. 2. PROVIDING DETAILS AND EXAMPLES – Once again, it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Being too short in an email to someone could likely cause miscommunication. However, providing details and examples can help to clear up any confusion. 3. DESCRIBE YOUR FEELINGS – Clear content (ideas, details, explanation, feelings) helps the receiver understand not only what you’re talking about, but how the subject at hand makes you feel. If I were to email someone and tell them â€Å"I ran out of gas today, smashed my toe on the wall, and got to work late†, they would have assume that I was not having a good day, but wouldn’t be able to tell how it had made me feel. Now if I were to say â€Å"I had a horrible morning. I smashed my toe on the wall while I was running out of the house, ran out of gas on the way to work and showed up 20 minutes late. I’m feeling so stressed and upset!† the receiver of my information would definitely get a clear picture of how the morning made me feel. 4. PRESENT YOUR IDEAS POLITELY – When we’re online there’s a tendency to separate ourselves from the person we’re talking with. Sometimes this leads to saying things in a way that others will perceive as offensive. Say Kyle and Chris got in an argument a few days ago. Rather than simply saying â€Å"Chris I want to talk about what happened the other day†, Kyle may want to say â€Å"Chris, when you get a chance, I think we should talk about the other day. I really value our friendship, and was wondering if you would want to get together to clear the air†. Now Kyle is letting Chris know that he doesn’t intend on letting the friendship get ruined because of one argument, but he also doesn’t want to have any hostility going into the reconciliation. RECEIVER SKILLS 1. LISTEN TO WHAT THE PERSON HAS SAID – a tool one can use when reading an email is to say it out loud, not just skim through it. You are now adding the nonverbals that the simple words on the page are lacking. 2. BE SENSITIVE TO THE PERSON’S FEELINGS – Even if the printed message may not capture a person’s feelings as well as we’d like, we must still try and be in tune with them. Someone we are closely involved with may expect us to empathize with them when they are sending us a message. So rather than simply reading the words, we must try and imagine how those words make the sender feel by thinking about that person in general. In some cases, we may still be unclear about the meaning of a certain message, and this is when perception checking comes in handy. We must ask the person to try and clear up what they meant when a message is ambiguous or vague. 3. PARAPHRASE KEY IDEAS BEFORE YOU RESPOND – DUH! Perception check. If someone emailed you saying â€Å"I spoke with my manager the other day and he said he’s laying off my closest friend here†, you may respond â€Å"I get the sense that you are upset with your manager for his decision to lay off your friend, and also feel bad for your friend about the possibility of him losing his job – am I right? The person can then respond letting you know if you got the message right. 4. BE SUPPORTIVE WHEN A PERSON IS SHARING GOOD NEWS – Regardless of how a person has phrased their message, they expect their message to be fully understood. If someone shares good news with you, they expect you to respond in a positive manner. 5. PRAISE A PERSON’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS — kinda self explanatory. 6. TRY TO COMFORT A PERSON WHO’S HURTING – People who are close to us seek comfort. Because of the lack of sharing the same personal space with the person whom we are communicating, we may not feel inclined to get involved in the issue with which that person is struggling. But remember, a person would not say anything unless they were seeking comfort. So if your friend emails you and says â€Å"I’ve been having a bad week. My dog is sick, I’m behind on homework, and I haven’t been myself lately†, you musn’t ignore that person, but provide some sort of support. Responding with â€Å"Man, that sucks† is NOT a good way to comfort someone. However, responding with, â€Å"Wow, I’m so sorry. I really hope your dog is okay, and if you need any help with getting organized, let me know what I can do. I’m here for you, and you can call me if you ever need to just vent† is a better way of showing the person that you care about them and their current situation. Participation question: How often do you use your email account on a weekly basis? Write down answer and then share with class. Other interactions that can take place using the internet is newsgroups and chat rooms. Everyday millions of people chat online with friends, colleagues and strangers. Teens use this form of interaction the most amount of time. Many teens engage in internet chat because they can be themselves more oppose to face to face interactions. This is due to them not being afraid of how people will judge them. One unique characteristic of being online is that your real identity is usually kept secret. Most people adopt a cyber identity or persona. In this make believe world you can become anything or anyone you want. This can be  somewhat problematic because so can everyone else. Here are a few definitions on the topic: Newsgroups- Is an electronic gathering place for people with similar interests. (Online example) Chat- Is an online interactive exchange between two or more people. (Online example) Lurking- Listening in on newsgroups or chat conversations. (Online example) Flaming- A hostile or negative respond to what you’ve written. (Online example) Participation question: Does anyone belong to a Newsgroup or likes to chat online? How often? Thomas gives example about chat rooms. Thanks to advances in technology, people are introduced to others they have  never seen through chat rooms and internet dating services. These people mostly meet in a room where they talk about a certain subject. The people who meet online are likely to try and develop these Electronically Mediated relationships (or EM relationship) into a personal relationship. They will meet in a chat room, and if an interest in someone sparks the desire to â€Å"meet† in a private chat room, they may do so. From here, people are able to communicate one-on-one and may then find out they have more than one thing in common. If the interest continues to grow, they may talk over the phone, and eventually meet in person. The result could be just a friendship, or an intimate relationship. Statistics show that 23.7% of the people in a study of a certain newsgroup  or chatroom communicated with their partner 3-4 times a week, and 55.4% communicated at least on a weekly basis. These EM relationships are attractive to some people with busy lifestyles who claim they have no time to â€Å"do the bar scene†. Other people who have a face-to-face relationships use EMC to sustain that relationship. E-mail was originally designed as a tool for conducting business, but is now used widely by friends, family, and lovers to maintain close connection that might be difficult to sustain when there is a lack of time, or there is great distance between the two parties. Instant Messaging is one of the most widely used tools for sustaining or developing relationships. My brother lives with me, yet when we are at home, we get the most  talking done while using Instant Messenger from separate rooms in the house. This is not to say our relationship wouldn’t last if we didn’t communicate via the internet, but it is a good way to catch up on each others’ lives while still working on what needs to get done like homework, and obviously communicating with others as well. EMC is less fruitful than face to face communication, because text messages are  primarily verbal. We have talked about the loss or lack of intimacy in EMC, and this is mostly because the way we say our words means more than just what is said. Ms. Mallard used the example of â€Å"I Love You† in class. Typing â€Å"I love you†, while getting the message across, does not necessarily reflect the emotion and intent behind those three words. We refer to our EM encounters as â€Å"talking to people†, but the words we write seldom carry out as much meaning as we think. Only with videoconferencing is the full range of nonverbal messages available. After all, communication is at its most effective when there are verbal AND  nonverbal messages being carried out EMC, conducted via keyboard entries, is slower paced than face-to-face conversations. We think faster than we can  type (unless you’re  Super-Secretary). Although this slower rate may provide a person more time for thought, this slower transmission reduces the spontaneity that is an important characteristic of face-to-face interaction. EM communicators are perceived to be less supportive. As stated before, short messages may be interpreted many different ways, and are more often seen as very impersonal. In face-to-face communication, anywhere from 33% to 100% of the meaning depends on how the message was stated. Many people are attracted to EMC as a means of developing or maintaining relationships if they have had difficulty cultivating strong interpersonal relationships in person. Because EMC is planned, some people are able to show verbal skillfulness and humor in their writing, but lack those skills in face to face settings. Some individuals report that EM relationships are more satisfying than face-to-face relationships. Now is this because we have advanced so far in the technological field that more and more people are online, thus providing us with a greater range of people to meet, or is this because people are losing the ability to â€Å"hold their own† in a face-to-face encounter. Americans used to go to clubs or bars to meet people, but are now staying home on Friday nights to talk to their online partner because they are more comfortable suppressing their need for group interaction in a less threatening atmosphere. Think about it, it is easier to talk to someone you are interested in online because the things you would have trouble saying in person simply roll right off your fingertips when using the internet. The awkwardness in a first conversation is virtually  non-existent. You feel more connected to that person, and relationships tend to develop faster this way. Role of Electronic Communication in Building Relationships Today communication technologies are changing the way we building and maintaining relationships. Prior to 1990, people became more acquainted mostly with those with whom they had personal physical contact. At the same  time, dating services advertised that they can get people in the same community acquainted with each other within a week. Today, people are able to make acquaintances with people around the world within seconds. From Online to In-Person Relationships In face to face relationships, trust is built over time. In EM relationships, making a trust evaluation is more difficult. Some of the media through which relationships are developed are very â€Å"opaque.† Kelly gives example about Justine (trust factor). The dark side of Electronically Mediated Communication There are three main problems with EMC EM communication to form relationship and acquire information has a number of risks and abuse. ( Abuse of Anonymity) Write on board—- One type of abuse in Internet- based relationships stems from the common practice of assuming a fictitious online persona. (Dishonesty) Write on board—–A second risk in cyber relationships lies in the ease with which one can be deceived. In cyberspace, people commonly lie about their sex and physical attributes, and create fictitious careers, homes, and so forth. Unfortunately, some people use cyberspace to prey on others. When we develop in-person relationships, we usually have independent ways of confirming that the people are what they are representing themselves to be. Because we don’t know our EM partners in person we are severely limited in our abilities to independently confirm what we are told. Abuse of anonymity and dishonesty are of special concern for EM relationships formed by children. In 1998, seventeen million children ages two to eighteen were online. That number is expected to grow even higher. This is of some concern as well due to the growing numbers of Addiction. (Addiction) Write on board—– A third potential problem for children and adults alike is technological addictions, defined as non chemical (behavioral) addictions  that involves human machine interaction. People who are addicted spend inordinate amounts of time online and begin to prefer their cyber relationships to their real ones. So in conclusion technology has made some great strides in bringing the world closer, meaning we literally have the world at our fingertips. We can communicate with someone in Ireland at the press of a button. The effectiveness of Electronically Mediated Communication as it relates to inter-personal communication lies solely in how we choose to use it. EMC, if used incorrectly can drastically deteriorate the level of human intimacy and can take away the private aspect of communication with loved ones and has in turn made it into a public affair.

Preparing for a Skype Grad School Interview

For many graduate programs submitting your application is just the first step in seeking admission. Graduate school admissions interviews are common in many fields. Interviews offer an important opportunity let faculty and members of the admissions committee get to know you, beyond your application materials. Interviews, however, are expensive and time-consuming, especially if you are applying to graduate programs that are far from home. Many, if not most, graduate programs expect applicants to pay their own travel expenses.   Because of this, grad school interviews are often described as â€Å"optional.† However, optional or not, it’s in your best interest to make the trip and interview in person. Fortunately, many graduate programs are moving towards conducting interviews by video conferencing via platforms like Skype. Skype interviews permit graduate programs to interview students cheaply and efficiently – and perhaps even squeeze even more applicant intervi ews in than they would in real life. Skype interviews pose special challenges. An interview for admission to graduate study, regardless of whether its on campus or by Skype, means that the admissions committee is interested in you and is your opportunity to demonstrate your fit to the faculty and graduate program. The standard advice about interviews applies, but a Skype interview entails unique challenges. Here are 9 tips to avoid some of the technological and environmental problems that arise during Skype interviews. Share Phone Numbers Share your phone number and have the number for the graduate department or someone on the admissions committee on hand.   Should you have difficulties logging in or other technical problems, such as a malfunctioning computer, you’ll want to be able to contact the admissions committee to let them know that you haven’t forgotten about the interview. Otherwise, they may assume that you are no longer interested in admission or that you are unreliable and therefore not a good fit for the graduate program. Consider Your Background What will the committee see behind you? Pay attention to your background. Posters, signs, photos and art can detract from your professional demeanor. Don’t give professors an opportunity to judge you on anything other than your words and persona. Lighting Choose a well-lighted space. Do not sit with your back to a window or light because only your silhouette will be visible. Avoid harsh overhead light. Place a light in front of you, several feet away. Consider using an additional shade or placing a cloth over the lamp to dilute the light. Camera Placement Sit at a desk.   The camera should be level with your face. Position your laptop atop a stack of books, if needed, but be sure that it is secure. Do not look down into the camera. Sit far enough away that your interviewer can see your shoulders. Look into the camera, not at the image on the screen – and certainly not at yourself. If you look at the image of your interviewers, you’ll appear to be looking away. Challenging as it may seem, try to look at the camera to simulate eye contact. Sound Be sure that the interviewers can hear you. Know where the microphone is located and direct your speech towards it. Speak slowly and pause after the interviewer finishes speaking.   Sometimes video lag can interfere with communication, making it harder to interviewers to understand you or making it appear as if you are interrupting them. Dress Dress for your Skype interview just as you would for an in-person interview. Don’t be tempted to just dress â€Å"on top.† That is, don’t wear sweatpants or pajama pants. Don’t assume that your interviewers will see only the top half of your body. You never know. You might have to stand up to retrieve something and then suffer in embarrassment (and make a poor impression). Reduce Environmental Distractions Keep pets in another room. Leave children with a babysitter or family member – or don’t interview at home. Eliminate any potential sources of background noise, such as barking dogs, crying children, or insensitive roommates. Technological Interruptions Charge your laptop. Preferably, plug it in.   Turn off your cell ringer and any other phone in the vicinity.   Log out of messaging programs, Facebook, and other apps with sound notifications. Mute notifications in Skype. Make sure that you will not be interrupted by any sounds on your computer.   Whatever you hear, your interviewers hear.    Practice Do a practice run with a friend.   How do you look? Sound? Are there any distractions? Are your clothes appropriate and professional? Skype interviews share the same purpose as old fashioned in-person interviews: An opportunity for the graduate admissions committee to get to know you. Preparing for the technological aspects of video interviews can sometimes overshadow the basic interview preparation that will help you learn about the program and put your best foot forward. As you prep, don’t forget to focus on the content of the interview. Prepare responses to common questions that you might be asked as well as questions to ask.   Don’t forget that your interview is also your chance to learn more about the program.   If you’re accepted you’ll spend the next 2 to 6 or more years in graduate school. Be sure that it’s the program for you. Ask questions that are meaningful to you and make the interview work for you.