Thursday, December 26, 2019

Nearly Every State In The U.S. Has Adopted A Set Of...

Nearly every state in the U.S. has adopted a set of educational standards known as Common Core State Standards, or C.C.S.S. (Shanahan, 2015), put into place in hopes of improving America s educational system. We have finally recognized the need for our educational system to evolve with our economy and how vital it is to promote college and career readiness in school-aged children; but, are we going about it all wrong? Uniform Standards are not what our educational system needs to evolve, and have shown no evidence in improving education in America; in fact, we may be struggling more now than we ever were before. The C.C.S.S has promoted excellence and advancement in common core classes but has also proven to fall short on their†¦show more content†¦Money can buy you a lot of things in America, and a good education is one of them. The lack of funding in public school systems also leads to underpaid and often undereducated teachers. These teachers are often never given the tools to succeed when such changes like the C.C.S.S. come about. When we fail to continue the education of those who educate our young, we, therefore, fail to succeed academically as a society. States are not merely missing academic criterion because they have low expectations or no motivation, but because we are failing to provide them with the necessary tools and resources to educate children at an acceptable level. By promoting standardized testing, we are essentially setting our children and our future up for failure. Standards lay out the major goals that must be accomplished without indicating all the underlying skills or knowledge that must be gained to reach those goals (Shanahan, 2015). Although the C.C.S.S outline their goals, they do not provide a plan on how to achieve them, in turn creating huge problems for educators nationwide. We cannot possibly expect teachers to be able to meet such high standards when we are giving them so little to work with. There are no government incentives or potential rewards associated with C.C.S.S, neither the president nor the DepartmentShow MoreRelatedThe Charlotte Mecklenburg School System1187 Words   |  5 Pagesapproved by the District Court in 1965, at the commencement of this litigation. In 1968, petitioner Swann moved for further relief based on Green v. County School Board, 391 U.S. 430, which required school boards to come forward with a plan that promises realistically to work now, until it is clear that state-imposed segregation has been co mpletely removed. 3. The District Court ordered the school board in April 1969 to provide a plan for faculty and student desegregation. Finding the board s submissionRead MoreHow Should Teachers Salaries Be Evaluated? Essay1477 Words   |  6 Pagesthat we make to further our education or encourage a desire in us toward a future career. We remember these teachers and often hope that we will encounter more teachers like them along our educational journey. The discussion of teacher tenure and salary has been in news headlines for the past decade. It has stimulated several political debates, but the question remains: Is this an efficient way to retain effective teachers in an education system that some might say is failing our children? TeacherRead MoreWho Is An Asian American?1566 Words   |  7 PagesWho is an Asian American? The name â€Å"Asian American† holds different meaning to people. According to Tamura (2003), â€Å"Asian American is a relatively recent term that was first used by non-Asians and then adopted by Asian American themselves during the late 1960s in the heyday of ethnic and political activism† [†¦] (Tamura, 2003). The simplest definition of an Asian American is an American with an Asiatic background. Therefore, making assumptions about an Asian would be absurd because the term is broadRead MoreEssay On Stop Common Core1108 Words   |  5 Pageswhenever you open your garage doors to take your car out every morning. Our core mission is to: Foster communication and collaboration  among activists striving to Stop Common Core in Illinois Educate the general public about our concerns regarding Common Core Collate the latest news and information in one convenient place Work with the media to shine a spotlight on Common Core and related issues Share our experiences in Illinois with other state and national organizations    What are the concerns?Read MorePunitive Expedition in Mexico, 1916-1917 Essay1420 Words   |  6 Pagesborder town were unknown by the detachment of U.S. soldiers from the 13th Cavalry Regiment guarding the post. History Just a year after the Mexican revolution started relations between Mexico and the United States became tense after the resignation of the president Porfiro Diaz in 1911. The United States was seeking opportunity to take advantage of Mexican oil and mineral resources. Mexicos problems were not only associated with the United States. Great Britain and Germany had collective interestRead MoreThe Trial On The Sentencing Process1865 Words   |  8 Pagesregarding the life and history of the defendant. If the judicial panel is responsible for sentencing, the sentence must be determined by a minimum two thirds vote. Incarceration can range anywhere from period 6 months to 15 years. The death penalty has been abolished, but major crimes are punishable by a life sentence. An array of violent crimes must be punished by incarceration for unspecified lengths of time. German judicial and prison systems concentrate deeply on the rehabilitation of criminalsRead MoreImproving Student Achievement Through Integration Of Technology Into The Classroom1758 Words   |  8 PagesTechnology has significantly evolved within the past decade. There are many users who are eager to explore all the new devices, which have slowly worked their way into the classrooms of students in America. â€Å"In 1994 the Educate America Act was adopted; this Act authorized state planning for improving student achievement through integration of technology into the curriculum† (Goddard, 2002, p.19). Almost two decades later in 2010, the Obama Administration announced The National Education TechnologyRead MoreThe Equal Pay Act For Women And Women Working Under The Same Employer2361 Words   |  10 PagesIn 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed into effect a landmark legislation that would guarantee equal pay to both men and women working under the same employer. Howeve r, to this present day, women still only make, on average, 77 cents to every dollar that a male earns. This paper focuses on some of the underlying problems as to why there is still such a large gender pay discrimination over half a century later. More specifically, some of the policies maybe could be put in place and the positiveRead More Future of the U.S. Essay1882 Words   |  8 PagesFuture of the U.S. America has always been viewed as the richest and freest nation in the world. America has grown from thirteen self-governed states, to a nation with a strong central government of power and wealth. The change in society has allowed the U.S. to grow into what it is today. Without the change in views and the responsibility of the citizens the economy would have never grown to be strong and wealth. The nation is effected by many different variables. One variable effects the otherRead More The Typical Progression a Child Makes through a State Welfare System4032 Words   |  17 PagesChild Makes through a State Welfare System The paper and diagram below describe the typical progression a child makes through a state welfare system. Each figure in the diagram below links to a specific decision point described in the paper, which begins immediately after the diagram. This chart provides a model, which highlights typical decision points on a childs journey through the current foster care system. Although the format is based on federal and common state law and practice, nevertheless

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Gardenia Marketing Plan - 7095 Words

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Executive Summary 5 Company Introduction 5 Gardenia’s Mission Statement 6 Marketing Objectives 6 Qualitative Objectives 6 Quantitative Objectives 6 Market Overview 7 Market Structure 7 Market Potential 7 Market Size 9 Marco Environment 10 Demographic 10 Economics 10 Socio-cultural 11 Micro Environment 11 Marketing Intermediates 11 Media 11 Competitors 12 FairPrice 12 SunShine 13 Internal SWOT Analysis 14 Gardenia 14 Strengths 15 Weaknesses†¦show more content†¦There are 79 vending machines located at residential areas and school in Singapore currently.† Gardenia is still having a very healthy reserve revenue of SG$19.5millions for the financial year 2009 compared to SG$15.4 million in 2008. This allowed Gardenia to continue operating with stability in the bakery market Gardenia’s Mission Statement QAF is the parent company of Gardenia and its mission is to be the leading importer and distributor of a wide range of international food brands. We are committed to enhancing shareholder value by strengthening our market position, expanding our operations and distribution networks, providing consumers with quality healthy food options, and developing strategic core businesses. Marketing Objectives Our group’s goal is to make wholemeal bread become a staple food by turning it from a want into a need by consumers. Therefore the company plans to, Qualitative Objectives Encourage young adults to not skip breakfast and that having a nutritious breakfast improves their well-being. Choosing our wholemeal bread gives them extra perks. Instill deeper brand recognition in such that consumers are subconsciously aware of our brand when using our product. Quantitative Objectives Convert non-wholemeal bread consumers, specifically white bread consumers to wholemeal bread consumers with a 20% increase inShow MoreRelatedGardenia Bakeries Case Study1177 Words   |  5 Pagesreport This is a strategic marketing plan for Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd to sell their product â€Å"Auntie Rosie’s Natural Pandan Kaya† to the country â€Å"Australia† in the state of â€Å"Sydney†. 2.0 Overview of Gardenia Bakeries Sdn Bhd 2.1 General Information of Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd In 1969, an American named Horatio Sye Slocumm was sent by International Executive Service Corporation (IESC) to East Malaysia to start a bakery. Gardenia was then born. Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd rolledRead MoreMarketing and Gardenia3892 Words   |  16 PagesCHAPTER 2: ANALYSIS OF MARKETING MIX STRATEGIES (4 P’s) 2.1 Product Strategy Product Classification The Gardenia main product is the Gardenia Sandwich Bread which contains high protein flour and enriched with essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, C and various minerals. It is zero Transat and cholesterol free white bread. The Gardenia Bread is classified as consumer products under product classification since the breads are product that bought by ultimate consumers for personal consumptionRead MoreFinancial Projections And Its Impact On Business1489 Words   |  6 Pagespromote women’s health. Gardenia Blossom will be sold in China in the city of Shanghai for the launch of their skin care products. Shanghai is the most populated city in China located on the eastern part of China on the water. It is the most expensive city in China to live in and is referred to as the â€Å"showpiece of the booming economy of China† because of its beautiful skyline of skyscrapers, historic buildings and museums. This area of China is very attractive for Gardenia Blossom’s target marketRead MoreNature of Business of Kfc2393 Words   |  10 PagesGROUP ASSIGNMENT amp; EXERCISE QUESTIONS PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING amp; INTRODUCTION TO MARKETING SEPTEMBER 2012SEMESTER Week 1 - overview | 1. Discussion on Course Plan 2. Forming a group: Principles of Marketing (3-4 in a group) Introduction to Marketing (4-5 in a group) Week 2 - Topic 1: Foundations of Marketing | Instructions: Read Harley Davidson case Discussion questions Few brands engender such intense loyalty as that found in the hearts of Harley-DavidsonRead MoreCashew Bread: a Feasibility Study6936 Words   |  28 Pagesdistribution of the finished product, Cashew Bread, will be exclusively circulated throughout the city. Only people ages 20 and above are being considered as the target market of the researchers. CHAPTER 2 Management Aspect It is always necessary to have a plan before any endeavour no matter how simple the undertaking is. This chapter includes the basic consideration concerning the organization of the feasibility study. It includes the form of ownership, personnel qualifications and responsibilities, organizationRead MoreInternational Marketing Swot Analysis8581 Words   |  35 Pages1.0 Executive Summary The main objectives of this marketing plan is to evaluate the possibilities for May Soap to enter into the new market- Philippine. There are three possible market entry strategies, which are indirect exporting, direct exporting and joint venture. Direct exporting is more favourable as it provides greater control and this is important for expanding the business in future. Most-Likely, for Lam Soon to enter into a new market like Philippine, may incur loss of around RM 25,000Read MoreMarketing Report for LOreal6541 Words   |  27 PagesLancà ´me Paris, Garnier, Mabelline, Softsheen Carson, Matrix, and Biotherm. LOreal invests heavily into its research and development which gives them competitive advantage over its competitors. We as a group are going to produce a strategic marketing plan for LOreal. PART 1A PEST Analysis for LOreal Political Factors Ââ€" The political challenge is that LOreal should conform to all the different government leadership styles in various countries it operates within. LOreal faced a declineRead MoreMarketing Mix8932 Words   |  36 PagesMarketing Mix Decisions IE 153—WSWX Marketing Mix The term â€Å"marketing mix† became popularized after Neil H. Borden published his 1964 article, â€Å"The Concept of the Marketing Mix†. Borden began using the term in his teaching in the late 1940’s after James Culliton had described the marketing manager as a â€Å"mixer of ingredients†. The ingredients in Borden’s marketing mix included product The Marketing Mix planning, pricing, branding, distribution channels, personal selling, Source: http://wwwRead MoreMarketing Mix8923 Words   |  36 PagesMarketing Mix Decisions IE 153—WSWX Marketing Mix The term â€Å"marketing mix† became popularized after Neil H. Borden published his 1964 article, â€Å"The Concept of the Marketing Mix†. Borden began using the term in his teaching in the late 1940’s after James Culliton had described the marketing manager as a â€Å"mixer of ingredients†. The ingredients in Borden’s marketing mix included product The Marketing Mix planning, pricing, branding, distribution channels, personal selling, Source: http://www.quickmbaRead MoreItc Ltd. a Full Case Study10991 Words   |  44 Pages This transformational strategy, which has already become the subject matter of a case study at  Harvard Business School, is expected to progressively create for ITC a huge rural distribution infrastructure, significantly enhancing the Companys marketing reach. The company places computers with Internet access in rural farming villages; the e-Choupals serve as both a social gathering place for exchange of information (choupal means gathering place in Hindi) and an e-commerce hub. What began as an

Monday, December 9, 2019

Global Sustainability Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Question: Discuss about the Global Sustainability Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Answer: Introduction: Logistics management is one of the most important components of a supply chain management. It has to play multiple roles while managing the internal and external logistics supply of an organization. Internal logistics is responsible for transporting parts and material from tier 1 supplier to the OEM whereas outbound logistics is responsible to distribute vehicles from the plant to the dealers. The report examines the logistics management at the world renowned brand Toyota. It includes all the essentials activities undertaken by Toyota in order to manage their supply chain (Myerson, 2012; Voortman, 2004). Toyota is the global market leader in the sale of hybrid electronic vehicles and a firm supporter of mass market adoption of hybrid automobile. The Japanese automotive company has its headquarter in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. The multinational organization has more than 300,000 employees worldwide. It was the first type of company to manufacture more than 10 million vehicles per year across the globe. The logistic system of Toyota is known across the globe for its efficiency. The process is established carefully by the logistics team in order to reduce the risk associated while carrying vehicles from one place to another. Inbound Logistics The inbound logistics system of Toyota includes two different operations. The first operations deal in transporting parts of the vehicles from the local supplier to the plant. The second part of the system is known part of the operation deals in global inbound logistics. This efficiently transports the parts from Japan to the North America and to the European plants. It is due to the inbound logistic system that the operational model in North America is similar to Europe (Stock Lambert,2001). The success of Toyota largely depends upon the lean supply chain which emphasize on supply of the parts in an efficient manner from the supplier. The company focus on developing a limited number of partnership with other party in order to deliver logistics service. The company has the best logistics network that focus on timely delivery of goods. Most of the supplier is distinguished based on the geographic location. Different parts are picked from one place and are transported by trucks. Different parts are picked up from the different places and delivered to the regional cross dock. The parts are unloaded and staged for the pickup which is delivered to the Toyota plant. All the incoming parts order is being synchronized in an efficient manner to ensure a robust inbound logistics system (Schnsleben, 2016). Network logistics The network logistics model of Toyota enables them to operate the inbound logistics operation in an efficient manner. It depicts the network of the logistics at Toyota. The entities at Toyota are connected through a continuous flow of truck that is used to move container from one place to the other. The Toyota plant is known to assemble plant but also component various engines and transmission. There strategy is to deliver goods in small lots. It is the daily duty of the supplier to provide goods in an efficient manner on daily basis to the plant(Schnsleben,2007). It is necessary to analyze the location in order to create a distinguished supply chain model. The idea behind managing an efficient inbound supply chain is to reduce the idle hour and to reduce abnormal cost associated while shifting goods from one place to another. The course of event in that situation plays an important role. The truck has to deliver the parts to the nearest cross-dock which is supplied to the assembly-p lant (Rushton, Croucher Baker,2014). The advantage of network logistics is to allow Toyota to pick up goods efficiently from the supplier. The network is complex but hence managed carefully by the team in order to enhance the overall productivity. The size of the company has enabled to supply the goods in a systematic manner while closely keeping a heck over the various different activities associated with the network. The shared transportation system enables the overall productivity of the plant on daily basis. This not only helps in attaining the smooth logistics management but enhance the capacity of the plant (Fernie Sparks, 2014). Route planning It is necessary for Toyota to ensure that route planning is efficient enough. It is conducted every month before putting forward the production plan of the plant. This type of planning forms to be an efficient part of the production plan and depends upon the ordering cost associated with the product (Christopher,2016). It is necessary to keep a logistics plan in order to derive the overall capacity associated with the plant. The logistic route helps in easy and smooth transportation of different part from various suppliers. This helps in understanding the location of the plant, supplier, cross-dock etc. Moreover it is necessary to understand the procedure to align various containers in order to attain high level of productivity. It is more critical to analyze the road route to transport the parts which are managed through the integrated computerized system (Snyder, et al,2016). Outbound logistics This logistics technique is used for product distribution. There duty is to distribute the final product from the plants to the retailer. Toyota follows a comprehensive overview of supply chain in order to manage the flow of product from one place to other. The outbound logistics suppliers are known to be there partners who have dedicated themselves to Toyota. However Toyota relies on the common carriers, railroads and trucks to supply the vehicles to the dealers. This transportation channel helps in efficiently achieving the objectives. The logistics supply chain is efficient enough to manage the outbound procedure to deliver the cars to the final consumers. Toyota has managed a pact with the trucking partner in order to deliver the vehicles in time. This facility has helped Toyota in gaining popularity on an international level. The purpose of the company is to deliver vehicles on-time i.e. within 48 hours of the entitled time. This will help in attaining futuristic goals by the co mpany (Waters Rinsler, 2014). Effectiveness of current order cycle The current order cycle at Toyota is managed efficiently by the logistics manager. They have already divided the inbound and outbound procedure in order to attain maximum result. The reason of efficient logistic model is due to the fact that the company is managing both inbound and outbound logistics in a better manner to attain high degree of efficiency. The plant is assembled at one place and sends to the plant which is assembled and sends to the retailer. The current order cycle is effective as proper attention is paid to each and every individual segment in order to procure effective result. The specialty of the whole process is due to division of the inbound and outbound process. The delivery of goods is conducted through the rail and road route within 48 hours (Chopra Sodhi,2014). The efficiency in the model is attained due to variety of factors by adopting the latest model which has helped in achieving sustainable results within a said limit. The company even holds a logistic s meeting with the entire logistics provider to understand the loopholes or the top performers associated with the project. The effectiveness plays a vital role in attaining a distinguished result within a stipulated time period. This will not only help in achieving desired set of goals but help in minimizing the excess cost associated with the supply of the vehicles. Inventory management It is the duty of the logistics manager to manage the availability of the goods at the plant sight. The inbound supply chain system looks after the needs and requirements of the plant in order to keep a check over that the plant is efficiently working or not. The inventory management is a process through which the logistic manner checks the overall reorder cycle and manages his plan accordingly. This has become necessary for an automotive organization like Toyota to look forward into the matter by understanding that the plant continuously works without any outer interference. Managing an efficient supply chain is a duty of a logistic manager in an organization (Dekker, Fleischmann, Inderfurt, Wassenhove,2013). Recommendations In a large sized organization like Toyota which operates in various different countries it has become important to understand the strength and the weaknesses associated with the logistics supply chain in order to understand the overall productivity. The logistic manager has to imply various theories in order to procure an efficient result by focusing on every distinguished feature that includes reinforcing the various defaults that are associated with the goods. The main purpose of the theory is to re-emphasize on the various factors that are associated with a product. In a large sized company like Toyota it is necessary to focus upon the re-order cycle associated with the product which will help in attainment of desired outcome, the theory are necessary for the organization to procure the desired result which is associated with the flow of goods in the supply chain management process (Fawcett, Ellram Ogden, 2014). There are various logistic management theories which form an important base of an organization. All these approaches help in smooth flow of inventory and goods within a regular time period. These theories need to be adopted by the large sized organizations carrying out huge projects. This mechanism helps in managing the internal and external strength of the organization(Fernie Sparks,2014). Toyota functions in almost every country and it has become important for an organization like this to maintain a regular supply chain in order to maintain a regular availability of the vehicles. Toyota has developed a proper inbound and outbound logistics management chain. Under such a multi-dimensional function it has become important to implement the most appropriate theory out of the available one. This will provide a competitive advantage over the other companies and will enhance the overall productivity. There are various approaches adopted by Toyota while managing a consistent supply chain. The company has adopted a network perspective approach in order to manage an efficient supply chain. The purpose to adopt this approach is to take care of the inbound logistics in the company. Building a cohesive network in an organization will help in managing the difficult situation (Mangan, Lalwani Lalwani,2016). Total quality management is related to managing quality of the goods while transporting vehicles from one place to other. It is the duty of the logistic manager to develop an efficient logistic management system to reduce the loss (Carter, Rogers Choi,2015). The logistic manager has a duty to develop an efficient supply chain management process in order to retrieve maximum result. Toyota has a multi-diversified work environment and it has become essential for the company to adopt the best approach in order to retrieve the maximum result (Heizer Barry, 2013). Conclusion The report includes all the necessary supply chain management practices adopted by Toyota in order to achieve sustainable result. AS a logistics manager it has become important to implement the theories in order to attain the desired result. Logistic supply chain management helps in attaining desirable result. This will not only enhance the productivity but will help me providing desired result. The company has developed an efficient inbound and outbound logistics system that has helped in attaining desirable goals within the time-period. Toyota is known across the world for its efficient supply chain management. The reason is due to the company cohesive network that has helped in achieving sustainable results. The company has adopted various logistic management theories in order to retrieve the efficient results as motioned in the mission goals. The logistic chain system not only helps in reducing the excess cost but provides the vehicle within time. They have adopted various approa ches that include network perspective, total quality management theory in order to achieve sustainable results. Material logistics management system helps in providing a regular supply of material. All these approaches will not only help in managing a proper logistics management in order to attain growth. References Carter, C. R., Rogers, D. S., Choi, T. Y. (2015). Toward the theory of the supply chain.Journal of Supply Chain Management,51(2), 89-97. Chopra, S., Sodhi, M. S. (2014). Reducing the risk of supply chain disruptions.MIT Sloan management review,55(3), 73. Christopher, M. (2016).Logistics supply chain management. Pearson UK. Dekker, R., Fleischmann, M., Inderfurth, K., van Wassenhove, L. N. (Eds.). (2013).Reverse logistics: quantitative models for closed-loop supply chains. Springer Science Business Media. Fawcett, S. E., Ellram, L. M., Ogden, J. A. (2014).Supply chain management: from vision to implementation. London: Pearson. Fernie, J., Sparks, L. (2014).Logistics and retail management: emerging issues and new challenges in the retail supply chain. Kogan Page Publishers. Heizer, R., Barry, R. (2013).Operation Management, Sustainability and Supply Chain management(Vol. 11). Pearson, UK. Mangan, J., Lalwani, C., Lalwani, C. L. (2016).Global logistics and supply chain management. John Wiley Sons. Myerson, P. (2012).Lean supply chain and logistics management. Colombus: McGraw-Hill. Rushton, A., Croucher, P., Baker, P. (2014).The handbook of logistics and distribution management: Understanding the supply chain. Kogan Page Publishers. Schnsleben, P. (2016).Integral logistics management: operations and supply chain management within and across companies. CRC Press. Schnsleben, P. (2007).Integral logistics management: Operations and supply chain management in comprehensive value-added networks. CRC Press. Snyder, L. V., Atan, Z., Peng, P., Rong, Y., Schmitt, A. J., Sinsoysal, B. (2016). OR/MS models for supply chain disruptions: A review.IIE Transactions,48(2), 89-109. Stock, J. R., Lambert, D. M. (2001).Strategic logistics management(Vol. 4). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Voortman, C. (2004).Global logistics management. Juta and Company Ltd. Waters, D., Rinsler, S. (2014).Global logistics: New directions in supply chain management. Kogan Page Publishers.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Jang Nara A Cosmopolitan Artist in a Globalized World Essay Example

Jang Nara: A Cosmopolitan Artist in a Globalized World Paper Today’s Korean pop music scene is rich with new talents that bring entertainment to consumers and money to the music producers (Dorian et al.164). Korean pop, abbreviated as K-pop, has its own unique flavor that people from South Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand and other countries in South East Asia absolutely love. K-pop also has a sizeable following in the West, especially the United States, home to many Korean-Americans. Out of the many Korean pop idols that burst out of the pop scene, Jang Nara is a standout.Jang Nara is a Korean actress and singer. Jang showed early interest in music and performance arts. She spent her childhood in Seoul, her birthplace. Her interest in music and performance arts was sparked when she acted with her father in a play of Les Miserables in primary school. Eventually, Jang became an advertisement model for CF commercials when she was just in high school. She went through formal training in the Department of Theate r in Chungang University in March 2000.Jang broke into the music scene with â€Å"Burying My Face In Tears,† the title song of her first album (Hongbowon 34). The album sold an astounding 300,000 copies after its release. Fans and critics loved the song because of its harmonic native melody and Jang’s native vocals. The song was written by Won Tae-yeon, a poet, and it describes the heartache and pain felt after a romantic relationship fails.Another song from the album entitled â€Å"Confession and the April Story† achieved high ranks in a lot of music charts. The album itself artistically combines RB with medium tempos with native Korean melody and some Spanish flavor. Jang’s popularity after these hit songs surged in South Korea, resulting in Jang landing a live music performance in the camp of MBC music. Despite Jang’s combination of native Korean music and RB, her style as heard on her song, â€Å"Burying My Face In Tears† is still very m uch within the expected characteristics of K-pop hits. K-pop has many similarities to American pop music. Hit songs are usually dance, hip-hop, and RB or a mixture of these genres (Mitchell 25). Jang’s hit album contained many such tracks which Korean people absolutely loved.The lyrics of Jang’s song are also similar to many mainstream songs. While the song was written by a poet, the lyrics are very much straight to the point and typical of romantic ballads or pop songs. For example, the lyrics of the song read, â€Å"Do it for me/Truly, I need you, but when I called you, you weren’t there/There are no tears, but the day I gave up, I cried.† These lyrics are easily interpreted by listeners so they easily get attached to them along with the song’s catchy beat. It is evident in this example that Jang’s hit, in terms of the message conveyed, is not that new and is in fact, expected by consumers. Romantic pop songs are the most profit-making pro ducts of K-pop and Jang contributes to this system by her hit album.Jang Nara, like many Korean pop artists, also has an acting career. With her cute image, personality and packaging, Nara landed a role in a TV sitcom entitled â€Å"New Nonstop.† She acted with Yang Dong Geun and Park Kyung-lim, young Korean stars that are famous in the film industry. Jang also appeared in a hit TV drama series with Jang Hyuk entitled â€Å"Successful Story of a Bright Girl.† The drama series hit record-breaking ratings and was popular all throughout South Korea (Hongbowon 36).â€Å"Successful Story of a Bright Girl† is a typical Korean romantic drama with bits of comedy here and there. In the story, Jang is a cute, naà ¯ve country girl who always daydreams of getting rescued by her prince. Jang Hyuk accidentally falls into Jang’s bathtub one day while she’s taking a bath. Both of them were angry about the matter and they started arguing and disliking each other.A s the plot unfolds, it is revealed that Jang’s parents had huge debts, so she had to move into the city to work. Jang Hyuk hires her as a house servant and Jang begins to teach him some manners because he’s a spoiled brat. The comedy and drama in the series comes from the interaction of Jang’s down-to-earth character and Jang Hyuk’s arrogant and spoiled character. Jang Hyuk’s character is a very proud man who gets to inherit his father’s business. He is later betrayed by his uncle and cousin which almost ruined his life. Jang, being used to simple ways of life, is able to help Jang Hyuk get back on his feet and return to being successful.Jang Nara fits the role exactly because of her cute and simple looks. The character fits her packaging as a Korean artist with native sensibilities. The story however, is very typical of Korean romantic comedy drama series which usually has the male lead character representing wealth and success, but the lac k of knowledge on the simple ways of life that goes with this lifestyle, and the female character representing poverty and unpleasant manners, but also the sensitivity to intangible virtues that this lifestyle brings (Erni and Chua 7). Audiences easily get attached to this typical Korean TV series plot because of the conflicting forces of urbanization and tradition in the country. South Korea’s economy has been the second-fastest growing economy in the world for more than four decades (Borer 83). The country’s GDP in 1957 was only comparable to Ghana, but by 2008, it was already seventeen times as large as Ghana’s. In fact, the swift transformation of South Korea’s economy is so remarkable that experts have called it â€Å"Han River’s Miracle† or the â€Å"Asian Tiger.† Today, developing countries all around the world are trying to follow South Korea’s strategies to also become developed and rich.This rapid increase in the coun try’s wealth, however, together with the booming local businesses and the incoming international investments have pushed the native way of life into the background. South Korea is heavily influenced by the West, particularly by the United States, and so tradition daily gets erased from the minds of the people. The simple ways of life are replaced by the ambition to make it big in the largest cities. Competitive attitudes replace traditional values in the minds of people and there’s a certain nostalgia for the time when living is so much simpler (Borer 85).Jang Nara with her packaging as a modern artist incorporating native sounds in her music is perfect to play sweet, naà ¯ve and traditional roles on screen. Her fans can associate her type of music to the role that she plays on screen which makes her identity consistent to the public. Jang Nara became an embodiment of the nostalgia for the simple South Korea of the past, and consumers are more willing to avail of prod ucts with her name on it.Jang’s popularity has also spread from South Korea to China. She stars in a Chnese drama series entitled â€Å"Bratty Princess.† Lots of Chinese-speaking fans admire Jang for her role as a playful, free-spirited lady. Once again, we can see here that Jang’s role is consistent with her presentation as a cute artist with a cosmopolitan appeal. Her character’s attitude in this drama series is also similar to her role in â€Å"Successful Story of a Bright Girl.†Perhaps what sets Jang Nara apart from other K-pop artists is that she has a huge following in China. Jang released has released CDs in Chinese language in the country. Her first album in the Chinese language was a hit in China. The album featured Korean songs that she released previously all translated into Chinese. Among the songs that became very popular in China were the Chinese versions of â€Å"It’s Probably Love,† â€Å"I’m After All A Woman (I’m a Woman Too),† and â€Å"Sweet Dream.† These songs have frequent and wide airplay in China, gathering more fans for Jang.It was easy for Jang to break into the Chinese pop music scene, also known as C-pop, because the Chinese pop music industry has many similarities to its Korean counterpart. C-pop is composed of a variety of musical styles, but mainly rock, hip-hop, ballad, and RB. The big difference in K-pop and C-pop is probably the fact that rock bands are not popular in Korea while they have a fairly large following in China. C-pop RB was mainly developed by the artist Alex To back in the 1990s and was later refined by Chinese artists such as Lee-Hom Wang, Khalil Fong, David Tao, and Jay Chou. Jang Nara’s RB style with Korean lyrics translated into Chinese is not far from the works of these Chinese artists, so it was relatively easy for her to score hits.Many Chinese and Korean fans in China follow Jang Nara, which helped made her concerts in the country successful. She performs both Chinese and Korean songs in her concerts, which the diverse audience appreciates. She also released another album in the Chinese language entitled â€Å"Kung Fu.† Interestingly, the music video of this song featured Jang wearing a scarlet qipao, a Chinese traditional dress for women. The music video had her fighting various villains and dancing with a panda. Jang is so popular in China that she even sang with Chinese artists in the song â€Å"Beijing Welcomes You† for the 2008 Beijing Olympics (Hongbowon 36).Jang’s successful crossing into the Chinese pop music scene is a good example of how globalization has made the music industries of different nations able to connect with each other more easily. Although different cultures still prevent each music industry from completely merging with another, the familiar themes expressed in songs of different languages allow people of different ethnicities to better appreciate these p roducts.It’s not that easy to merge one musical genre with another though, especially if the song or the artist is from a different country of origin. In Jang’s case, it is clear that her producers and managers tried their best to bridge the gap between Chinese audiences and Jang’s music. They did this by painstakingly translating Jang’s Korean songs to the Chinese language. It seems that they assumed that the messages in Jang’s songs are familiar enough to people, so they decided to use the original songs instead of making new Chinese songs. Jang’s RB songs are mostly about romantic love, so audiences of different nationalities can easily relate with this universal theme (Mitchell 30).Another feat worth mentioning is Jang’s ability to sing in Chinese. Many K-pop artists only sing in Korean so they have a more restricted audience. Jang’s talent to sing in two Asian languages makes her more cosmopolitan. It also helps that she i s already famous in Korea before she released her Chinese CDs. This way, Chinese audiences know that she is not a completely new artist with little experience in music. In other words, Jang has built herself a credible musical background in her homeland that Chinese and audiences of other nationalities can delve into if they want to know more about her.Perhaps the best example of the effort to sell Jang to the Chinese audience is the video of her song â€Å"Kung Fu.† Visual stimulation is generally stronger than auditory stimulation. Presenting Jang wearing a qipao in her video instantly establishes a connection between her and Chinese audiences. The qipao is a one-piece traditional Chinese dress that hugs the body. This dress was made fashionable in the city of Shanghai in the 1920s by upperclass and socialite women. Today, however, the qipao is a very recognizable Chinese dress that often appears in mass media, like movies and TV shows. Jang’s wearing of the qipao is like sending a message that she is not different from her audiences, and that her songs contain meanings that are relevant to Chinese people.Another factor that might have helped Jang in her success in China is her overall packaging as an artist. Jang is often depicted in the media as cute, sweet, and with native sensibilities. China itself is also a country that has been undergoing rapid economic development (Chow 181). Like Korea, old customs are being replaced by the capitalist virtues of competition and salesmanship. Jang’s Korean TV series also have some airplay in China, so some Chinese fans are already familiar with her sweet image. Her association with tradition and the simplicity of life through the shows she starred in has certainly helped her gain a wide audience in a rapidly developing Asian country like China.Today’s Korean artists are also subject to scrutiny of their personal lives by their fans. What makes Jang stand out as an artist is the consistency of her personal life with her image presented in her music and on her TV shows and movies. Jang does plenty of charity work, like sending powdered milk to North Korean children suffering from starvation and malnutrition. She is also collaborates with the FHI Charity organization to do more charity work. Through these personal efforts to provide solutions to basic human problems, Jang has solidified her trademark cute image with native sensibilities. She is seen as morally good by her fans not only through her music and shows but also through her personal life.Jang also combines her music with her personal charity work. Consistent with her good and popular image in China, she has held a fund-raising concert for young patients of leukemia in the country (Kellner 1). The Jang Foundation resulted from the money that was raised during a meeting of her fans’ club at her concert held in Beijing. The concert was held to mark the fifteenth year of diplomatic relations between China a nd Korea. About twelve hundred seats in concert were sold out and Jang entertained the huge crowd by singing her Korean and Chinese songs. Due to the success of the concert and the clear message of goodwill between the two nations sent, a large Chinese charity organization asked Jang to be their goodwill ambassador, which made her the first foreigner ever to receive such an honor.The success of Jang Nara as a Korean singer and actress is mainly due to the consistent presentation of her cosmopolitan image in the media. She is identified by people all over Asia as an artist who is cute, kind, and sensitive to her local tradition. Through her music that combined modern beats with native sounds, and her shows that presented her as a character who promotes the simple ways of life, Jang was able to capture the heart of a wide range of audiences. She is a flexible artist that is very appropriate for the globalized world, and she may yet achieve more things in the future. As long as she mai ntains her image in the media, she’ll continue to make money for the K-pop industry and entertain fans in Asia.