Effective Public Communication

Task 1 : Blog

Aims

This assignment require us to create a blog to show people the place we studying.It evaluates students’ academic writing skills. It also evaluates the student’s ability to research information to support the arguments proposed in the blog, to cite the sources of information and also to provide a list of references.  Additionally, it allows for increased feelings of ownership of knowledge and learning that supports realistic and authentic ways to participate in learning.

Reflective

Having completed the assignment, I learnt many new knowledges of Penang as we chose Penang as our area of study. I also learnt the way to research info to support arguments that we were proposing, it also improved my writing skills and citing skills. During the trip to Penang, we enjoyed ourselves and have a good time. I got to know my friends better!

Task 2 : Oral Presentation

Aims

This assignment evaluates oral presentation and speaking skills. It also evaluates the student’s ability to research information and present an effective presentation of his/her research. In addition, being a group assignment, each student will experience cooperating and collaborating with other peers as a team with a common goal.To demonstrate the principles of communication and behaviour in analyzing interaction with others, both at individual and at group levels.

Reflective

After finishing the oral presentation i was able to apply the principles of communication and behaviour in analyzing interaction with others.To be aware of the importance of cultural differences and respect cultural differences as well as to build healthy and positive relationships with fellow students.To communicate the relevant ideas in a clear, logical and appropriate academic English.

Task 3 : Comic Strip

Aims

To demonstrate the principles of communication and behaviour in analyzing interaction with others, both at individual and at group levels by creating comic strips and get the comic presented. The group project will demonstrate mastery of selected concepts from the course selected by Students. Mastery of these concepts be manifested by translating the selected concepts to the medium of a dialogue script or through graphics. Images, drawings, text and so on must be well edited, legible and composed.

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Reflective

I was able to differentiate the few different types of communication skills like non-verbal communication and many more and apply it correctly on the comic strip. It also improves our drawing and colouring skills.

Link to our blog : http://explorebeyondexpectation.blogspot.com/

Oral presentation

Comic strips

All the 3 assignments were done in a group. During the process of the 3 assignments, there were some argument between the group members but we were still able to overcome it and finish the 3 assignments. We divided our job so that everyone has their own part to do, we also helped each other when problem occurred and this trained our teamwork. Besides than teamwork, each of us also knew more about our own group mates and what is our special ties. So we manage to divide our job in a correct manner to increase working speed and get better output. 

Introduction to Business

Reflective Essay

              I was asked to write a reflective essay for the subject 'Introduction to Business'.  I found the topic 'starting a small business' quite interesting. It teaches us how to start a business, it states that small business is everywhere all around us, like food stall, construction , wholesaling and many more. Most of the business are  in the service industry. Small business is important to big businesses because they serve as distributors of product for the big businesses. Small business also act as suppliers for some big businesses,Small businesses are crucial in providing innovations or serving niche markets.Niche market are very unique and specific segment of a market. Small business are less bureaucratic so they are able to respond quickly to changes in market. Many people start their own small business because they want to be self-employed. We can start a business by scratch, buying an existing business or go franchise.  I think the topic that is applicable in our daily life would be 'business ethics and social responsibility' its teaches us to be ethic and responsible on what we do when doing business. I think that its is a good subject for student that want to own a business in the future as it teaches a lot of things that are use for starting a business.

         2 exercise that is given

        Exercise Topic 1

1.    Big corporations (e.g. Taylor’s College, Coca Cola and Maybank) are the only true businesses. True or false? Why?

False, there are also many businesses besides than the above.

2.    All businesses share something in common. What do you call an organization that does not have that purpose (assume such organization is not government–related)? Provide 2 examples of such organizations.

Non-profit organization, World Wildlife Fund and Community Recycle For Charity

3.    Haziq and C.J. have recently obtained a license to set up business. They are free to set up any business of their choice. In the end, they have decided to target a large retiree community and open a music store selling Rap CDs. Comment on their decision.

 Their decision is wrong because retiree wont want to listen to rap songs. They targeted the wrong customers.

4.    Businesses are good for the society. Discuss how they can contribute. Provide specific examples for each type of contribution.

Businesses provides people with employment, you need workers to work for your business. It also pay tax for the government so that it could be used for public goods, every company needs to pay a certain percentage of their profit to the government. It also creates innovation to enhance our standard of living, smartphones are now common and very useful.

5.    Define the term “barrier to entry”. Which type of business (goods-producing or service) has bigger barriers to entry? Why?

Barrier to entry means the obstacle for new business to get started or enter a new market. Good-producing business has bigger barriers to entry because it require a lot of capital assets.

6.    List 2 (other) types of barriers to entry and give one example for each type.

Intellectual property, example: Microsoft vista and Economies of scale, example: Nokia.

7.    Why are service businesses becoming more dominant in many countries? Research and discuss (any) 3 reasons.

The reasons are service business rely more on human resources than capital assets. Besides that, technology advancement has reduced the needs of labour and capital assets required. Lastly, good-producing business focusing on serving and supporting their customers, it hard to classify purely as either a good-producing or a service one.

8.    In which economic condition should a business lower the price of its product and services? Why?

A business should lower the price of its product and services if the economy is in a recession. Many people will be unemployed and cannot afford to consume product and services.

9.    Explain what a free market or capitalistic economy means? And a planned economy?

Free market means that businesses are free to set up, grown, sold or shut down. While planned economy relies on the government to produce the goods and services for its citizens.

Exercise Topic 2

1. What is a niche market? Can you give 2 examples (other than from the notes) of a niche market? Why would a business want to target a niche market?

Niche market is a very specific or unique segments of a market. Examples are wedding planning and stress management. A business would target a niche market because small business is less bureaucratic.

2. What are some of the reasons that motivate people to start their own business? If you were to start a business, what would be your main reason? Discuss.

Some people like the idea of being self-employed. If I were to start a business the main reason is to earn more. Working as employee will always have the same amount of salary, doing business is the faster way to earn money.

3. What is limited liability? Is this an advantage or a disadvantage to the business owner? How (i.e. illustrate with an example)?

The owner is personally responsible for all the debts of his business. This is a disadvantage to the owner as he or she has to pay the debt that still owing by the business personally.

4. What is a franchise? Why would the parent company of a franchise choose to sell licenses to franchisees instead of expanding their own chain of stores? Also, provide 2 examples of a franchise.

A franchise is a business operating under licenses issued by parent companies. Parent company would choose to sell licenses instead of expanding their own because it’s a bigger risk to open up a new branch than expanding. People who want to buy the licenses need to pay for a certain amount, besides that rental is given to the parent company.

5. Your family has owned a business as a private company for the last 20 years. Recently your father, the CEO and chairman, is rushing to take the company public, but you sensed that he has not thought through this decision properly. As his adviser, what reasons would you give to persuade to stay as a private company?

I would give the reason that public companies are companies whose shares can be bought and sold by anyone. People can even own the company by buying the shares.

6. How can internet help a recently-started small business?

Internet can help the recently started small business to advertise free and faster. Many people use internet rather than watching tv.

7. If you are a banker and, Gabriel, a potential business owner wants to apply for a loan for starting a business, under which circumstances would you be more likely to lend – a) he wants to buy an existing business or b) he wants to start a brand new business? Why?

I would more likely to lend him if he wants to buy an existing business because it is less risky compare to starting a brand new business.

8. Discuss (any) 2 pros and 2 cons of a partnership.

Partnership is easier to get capital due to more owners. As a result, banks are also more willing to lend money. Legal paperwork is simple and low cost.

9. What are shares? Where are shares traded in Malaysia? How is the price of a company’s share determined in a share market.

 Shares is a single unit of ownership in a cooperation, mutual fund or any other organization. Shares are traded at Bursa Malaysia. The price of a company share is determined through its market capitalization

Business Presentation Slides for Presentation

Topic : Social Network Service

                 

                              

Social psychology

We were asked to do our social psychology portfolio in a 'blog' form

Assignment 1 : Journal with psychology concepts that is involve in our daily life

Assignment 2 : Articles and advertisement that uses psychology concepts

Some advertisement and articles that we found :

This is the 'this is not all' concept

This is under aggression

Principle of Economics

Reflective Essay

I was asked to write an reflective essay for my portfolio for the subject 'principle of economics'. My favourite topic for economics will be economics principle that is under topic 1. I found it the most interesting compared to other topics because it teaches us what people get and lost when making a decision. There are 4 economic principles that is trade-off, opportunity cost, response to incentives and marginal cost and benefits. In trade-off principles, one has to give up another option to get what one wants. While opportunity cost is the option that one gives up, this sometimes makes people don't know which option to choose between the two options because we can't choose two option at once. Response to incentives is meant how people change their decisions that they made when something or someone that means a lot to them were added into the options. Lastly, marginal cost and benefits meant that doing more on the same action will gives you the same benefits. The most useful topic that is useful and applicable to our everyday life will be the economics principles too because it teaches us to think carefully before choosing an option and choosing the same option won't benefits us as time goes by. I think that we should learn more about this subject as it teaches us many things that we use in our daily life and we aren't aware of it, besides that is teaches us how economies work in a country or even household.

2 of the exercise given : 

Exercise Topic 1

1.    What is the definition of Economics?

The definition of economics is a study of how individual and economies make decisions about the use and allocation of their scarce resources.

2.    What is the meaning of scarce resource?  Provide 3 examples of scarce resource (other than time & money).

Scarce resource is a resource that has limits. The examples are oil, energy and water.

3.    Why is the management of scarce resource important?

So that scarce resource can be used wisely and won’t be wasted by inappropriate management.

4.    Identify and explain the 2 types of economics. Can you give one example for each type of economics?

Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Microeconomics is the study of how individual households and businesses function or behave. Example: How much oil u used up for a day. Macroeconomics is the workings of an economy (national, regional) as a whole. Example: Does the amount of money Malaysia owe other country increase or decrease?

5.    What are the 2 methods of studying economics? What does each method involve?

The methods are positive economics and normative economics. Positive economics attempts to understand how economic systems work or behave without making judgements while normative economics attempts to find out if an economic outcome or behaviour is good or bad, and whether they can be made better.

6.    What is an opportunity cost?

An opportunity cost is the second best choice that you give up when making a decision.

7.    For each of the following situations, describe the potential opportunity cost(s):

·         Studying for your economic test

Lesser time to hang out with your friends.

                         ·         Driving to Sunway Pyramid to buy a Wii Console and games

Lesser time to study .

                    ·         Buying a new car instead of taking the bus to work/study

Save fuel cost.

                         ·         A company spending an extra $10 million dollar for research

Less 10 million to invest in other field.

·         Asking girl/guy A out for a date.

                            Enable to ask girl or boy B out for a date.

8.    Draw a Production Possibility Frontier (PPF) graph with the Y-axis for product A, and X-axis for Product B. Designate 2 points (C & D) on the curve.

a.    What are the different quantities of product A and B produced at point C and D? What principle does point C and D illustrate?

b.    Please designate a point (E) to show resources being used inefficiently.  Give 2 examples how this inefficiency can occur.

c.    Designate one more point (F) outside of the curve. What does this mean? How can a firm’s PPF grow to that point? Give 2 examples.

d.    Draw a new PPF graph for a growing firm (over the years).

9.    One of the economic principles states that “People respond to incentives.” Explain this principle and provide a relevant example.

The principle that states “people respond to incentives” means that the opportunity cost has changed and it will motivate you to change the decisions u made. Example: You've decided to go for a party and you sacrificed your time for the party and failed to finish your homework, until you know that the marks for the homework u failed to finish will be add-on to the finals. So, you changed your mind and decide to miss the party and finish your work.

10. Explain what a free market (or capitalistic economy) means? Planned economy? What about a mixed economy?

A free market is a market system that people have the freedom to set-up, grow, sell or shut down their business. A planned economy is system that the government decides what to produce and sell. It controls all the factors of production. A mixed economy is a system that combines free market and planned economy. People have the freedom to set-up, grow, sell or shut down their business but controlled by government to whom you are doing business with.

Exercise topic 2

1.    The demand equation for strawberries in the Eden Village is expressed as Qd (in Kg per week) = 50000 – 5000 (p). Prepare a table to show how Qd changes as prices rise from $7 to $7.50 to $8 to $8.50. Then draw the demand curve for this product.

2.    Explain the law of demand.

Law of demand states that as the price of a product increases, the quantity demanded will become lower, and vice versa.

3.    What is the difference between an individual demand curve and a market demand curve?

The difference is that individual demand curve is only for an individual while market demand curve is the demand for the whole market.

4.    When you draw a simple downward-sloping demand curve, what assumptions are you making about the other factors (e.g. income of buyers, product popularity, etc.) that can affect demand?

Income of buyers will affect the demand curve because if the income of buyers are lower the lesser the product they will buy and this will affect the curve. If the product popularity is low the buyers will not buy the product and this affect the demand curve. 

5.    A higher price for the product induces a lower demand. Why is this so? Explain.

When a price of a product is high, buyers will choose to buy other product that has a lower price this induces a lower demand.

6.    For each of the situation below, identify the factors at play and draw the graph showing their effects on the demand curve of microwave meals:

a) Microwave meals become less fashionable.

b) The price of its substitute (say, fast food) increases.

c) Income falls and microwave meals is an inferior good

d) Consumer believe that the price of microwave meals are going to increase in the near future

e) The price of its complementary products (e.g. ketchup, salt, pepper) decreases.

7.    Explain the effect of number of buyer on the demand of a product.

The more the number of buyer the higher the demand of the product because everyone will be competing to get the product and this increase the demand of the product.

8.    What do you call goods whose quantity demanded rises when income increase and vice versa? Can you give 2 examples?

Those are called normal goods examples are branded fashion and cars.

9.    What are complementary goods? What happens to the demand of a product when its complementary good experience a price hike? Why? Can you give an example of complementary goods?

Complementary goods are goods that need to use with another product. The demand of a product will decrease when its complementary good experience a price hike because if they want to use the product they need to buy its complementary goods that its expensive. Example of a complementary goods are guns and bullets.

10.  What are substitute goods? What is the relationship between the demand of a product and the price of its substitute? Why? Provide 1 example of substitute goods.

Substitute goods are goods that can replace one another. The higher the demand of a product will be if the price of its substitute goods are higher then itself because people will choose to buy the cheaper good. An example of substitute good is beef and chicken.

11. Can you think of a product whose demand goes up as its price increases? Explain why does the law of demand does not apply to this product.

 Products like antics whose demand goes up as its price increases. Because antics are limited and there are no production of it.

Presentation slides for economics presentation

Topic : Smartphones

English 2

Task 1 : Project 1 Part 1 ( Compare/Contrast on one Movie Genre )

Aim :

This assignments is for students to understand the concept of a television genre and do a comparison/contrast essay of 5 paragraph 600-1000 word. Based on any two television series of the chosen genre. Lastly, for students to cite references, if any, according to the APA citation method accurately and effectively.

Reflective :

I have learned the ability to ‘read’ a television series to understand and interpret the chosen television series genre. I have found information to write an essay of compare/contrast from the chosen television program. I have learned to write an essay of relevant ideas in a clear, logical and appropriate academic English.


Task 2 : Project 1 Part 2 ( Compare/Contrast on Paintings )

Aim :
We were asked to form a group of two and go to a chosen art gallery and get information and study two of the paintings. Later on, we were asked to write a compare/contrast essay of 5 paragraph 600-1000 words based on what we have studied from the paintings.

Reflective :

I have learned the ability to ‘read’ a painting and demonstrate the ability to compare/contrast, analyse and synthesize information about the two paintings and explain them clearly and logically. I also learned to write an essay with ideas in a clear, logical and appropriate academic English.


Task 3 : Project 2

Aim : 
We were asked to form a group of 4 and choose a type of old business to do research on. Our group has chosen traditional chinese medicine as our topic. After that, we went to Klang to interview few tradisional chinese medicine shops. The targets for our research will be the shops that have more than 15 years history. After finishing the research papers for our research, we were asked to give a presentation for the topic we are doing on.

Reflective :

I was able to prepare questionnaires and interviews to obtain information about the topic. Besides that i was able to analyse the information and compile them in to the research papers.I was able to put in clear, logical and appropriate academic English into the research papers.Lastly, i was able to select and present information clearly and appropriately to one’s target audience.


Task 1 link : <iframe src="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByiWo-a7g0otenhXcGhlNlFleFU/preview" width="640" height="480"></iframe>

Task 2 link : <iframe src="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByiWo-a7g0otYVROd25KSU03dHM/preview" width="640" height="480"></iframe>

Task 3 link : <iframe src="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByiWo-a7g0otV2ZJdnRXMnBnZlU/preview" width="640" height="480"></iframe>


The first project was done individually while the other 2 were done in groups. During the process of the assignments, there were some argument between the group members but we were still able to overcome it and finish the assignments. We divided our job so that everyone has their own part to do, we also helped each other when problem occurred and this trained our teamwork. Besides than teamwork, each of us also knew more about our own group mates and what is our special ties. So we manage to divide our job in a correct manner to increase working speed and get better output.