Case Study Problems Perrier Essay

1. Identify the key elements of the resistance to change described in this situation. To identify the key elements of the resistanceto change described in this situation, one may make use of the six Change Approaches of Kotter and Schlesinger.[1]The model prevents, minimizes or descreases resistance to change in organizations. According to Kotter and Schlesinger (1979), there are four reasons that why people resist change, three of which are applicable to this case: The Parochial self-interest occurs when people are concerned with the impact of the change on themselves and how it may affect their own interests, rather than considering the effects for the success of the business. The union suggests this of Nestles. Jean-Paul Franc, head of the CGT at Perrier, sees the situation differently. In regard to the company’s plan to cut 15 percent of its workforce he protests: â€Å"Nestle can’t do whatever it likes† He says, â€Å"There are men and women who work here†¦ Morally speaking the water and the gas stored below this ground belong to the whole region.† [2] Misunderstanding which evolves through communication problems or inadequate information. Management of a company could not agree to a decision, perhaps due to a lack of information of the real problem. Relating to this case it is not very clear what is causing the lower production at this plant. According to Nestle CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, â€Å"We have come to the point where the development of the Perrier brand is endangered by the stubbornness of the CGT. Where else according to Jean-Paul Franc, head of the CGT at Perrier as mentioned before, â€Å"In regard to the company’s plan to cut 15 percent of its workforce he protests, â€Å"Nestle can’t do whatever it likes.? He says, â€Å"There are men and women who work here†¦ Morally speaking the water and the gas stored below this ground belong to the whole region.†[3] Different assessments of the situation occurs when employees disagrees on the reasons why the company has to change and on the advantages and disadvantages of the process of change. This applies to the above differences in assessment of the problem and solution by the Nestler’s CEO and the union head. 2. Construct a change management strategy for dealing with this situation. In so doing, identify what approach (es) to managing resistance you recommend and provide a clear justification for your choice. Kotter and Schlesinger set out six change approaches to deal with resistance to change. In the following we make use of four of the approaches: [4] 1. Education and Communication There is a lack of information or inaccurate information and analysis. Instead of discussing directly with the employees, that sales were dropping, the manager used a form of manipulation in form of placing the competition’s bottles water e.g. Badoit Rouge in the factory cafeteria, which further antagonized workers. This action was opposed to the intended motivation. One of the best ways to overcome resistance to change is to educate people about the change effort before change occurs. Up-front communication helps employees to see the change effort. This reduces incorrect rumors concerning the effects of change in the organization. 2. Participation and Involvement This approach is useful when that the initiators do not have all the information they need to design the change and where others have considerable power to resist. This is the case at Perrier, where an identification of the real problem is essential. When using this approach it allows including the employees in the problem definition as well as potential solutions. It encourages open communication. The union and Nestles need to set the same goals. When employees are involved in the change effort, they are more likely agree with the change rather than resist. This approach is likely to lower resistance and those who merely acquiesce to change. 3. Negotiation and Agreement Someone or some group may lose out in a change and where that individual or group has considerable power to resist. This would be effective in dealing with the union at Perrier. This can be done by allowing change resistors to veto elements of change that are threatening. Another way is that change resistors can be offered incentives to leave the company through early buyouts or retirements in order to avoid having to experience the change effort. This approach is appropriate where those resisting change are in a position of power, like the CGT. 4. Explicit and Implicit Coercion This is a last resort approach where speed in change is essential. Managers can explicitly or implicitly force employees into accepting change by making clear that resisting changing can lead to losing jobs, firing, transferring or not promoting employees. Working together with CGT, Nestles can negotiate a projected percentage of increased production or otherwise the suggested number of layoffs (15%) will be required.

Openess and Assistance in Workplace

What recommendations would you offer the CEO to encourage a culture of honesty, openness, and assistance? When It comes to encouraging a culture of honesty, openness, and assistance, there are several things that can be done. According to Long, the first thing that needs to be done is for the upper management to set the example (2013). You cannot expect the employees to be honest If management Is dishonest. Management needs to promote open and honest communication between them and the employees. If an employee has a problem with their supervisor, there has to be a way for them to deal with the situation without fear.Also, If there Is not open communication, If someone knows about something dishonest going on, they are less likely to report It. Management needs to communicate the Importance of addressing mistakes as soon as they are realized (Long, 2013). It does not matter who made the mistake, it needs to be corrected as soon as possible. Everyone makes mistakes. It is part of being human. But if a mistake is not corrected it can be detrimental to the company. Next, when someone displays any negative or unethical behavior, it must be dealt with immediately (Long, 2013).If negativity or unethical behavior is not nipped in the bud, t can spread throughout the company. It will breed more and more negativity and unethical behavior. If it is dealt with swiftly and Justly, it will keep others from trying to get away with it as well. The last thing that you could do to promote a culture of honesty, openness, and assistance is to recognize those who show honest behavior (Long, 2013). This recognition could be as simple as extra vacation days or a pay raise. If a person is honest and works for years at the same company and is never recognized for their work, they will burn out and begin to resent the company.That is when most of the fraud ends up happening, especially in small companies. Do you think that a culture of honesty, openness, and assistance can exist as sugg ested by Ms. Moore? Or is it a utopian idea with no understanding of how human nature works? I do think a culture of honesty, openness, and assistance can exist as suggested by Ms. Moore. But it has to start from the top down. Also, If someone Is being dishonest, It must be dealt with swiftly. If employees see that the management takes honesty seriously they are more likely to respond In the same way.But we must also member that there will be people who will be dishonest no matter what. But you cannot Judge everyone by those few. References Long, N. (2013). How to Create an Atmosphere of Honesty In the Workplace. Retrieved from http://seamlessness. Chronic. Com/create-atmosphere-honesty- workplace- 10098. HTML Creating Atmosphere of Honesty, Openness and Assistance in Workplace By Tattoo When it comes to encouraging a culture of honesty, openness, and assistance, expect the employees to be honest if management is dishonest. Management needs with the situation without fear.Also, if t here is not open communication, if someone knows about something dishonest going on, they are less likely to report it. Management needs to communicate the importance of addressing mistakes as soon Ms. Moore. But it has to start from the top down. Also, if someone is being dishonest, it must be dealt with swiftly. If employees see that the management takes honesty seriously they are more likely to respond in the same way. But we must also Long, N. (2013). How to Create an Atmosphere of Honesty in the Workplace. Retrieved from http://smelliness's. Chronic. Com/create-atmosphere-honesty- workplace-10098. HTML

Immunizations are safe for children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Immunizations are safe for children - Essay Example Going by the first definition of safety, there is no immunization that is safe. According to Baggs, Gee, Lewis et al. (2011), in vaccines are generally safe and effective even though they may be associated with rare and long term adverse effects. Apart from these potential long term effects, a majority of them cause pain, tenderness or even redness during injection. For instant the pertussis (or whooping cough) vaccine can cause persistent, inconsolable crying, high fever or seizures connected to fever. Though some of these side effects can be severe, they are not permanent (Offit 2013). In real sense, no activity in this world is 100 percent safe, and most of the things considered safe do possess hidden danger. For instance in the United States, 350 people die from shower or bathroom related accidents, 200 people get killed due to food getting stuck in the wind pipe and 100 people die due to lightening strikes every year (Offit 2013). Despite these risks, very few people consider taking a bath, eating food or walking outside in the rain as dangerous activities (Offit 2013). The other definition of safety is hinged upon preserving from real danger. Going by this definition, the danger (infection or disease) is leads to a graver consequence as compared to the protective measure (vaccine) against the danger. In other words, the benefits of having an immunization are clearly greater than the risks of not having one (Offit 2013). Baggs, Gee, Lewis et al. (2011) note that the safety of vaccines is assured by the rigorous assessments they are subjected to during their pre -licensing clinical trials. To better examine the safety of immunization for children, benefits of immunization must be looked into. One of the best ways to protect children is through immunization as this has the ability to protect their lives against ailments that are associated

Corporate governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Corporate governance - Essay Example However, with tightening the belt on the expenditure Stamford International could realize a fruitful financial year as the previous year. With a successful previous financial year, the company has been reluctant to ensure that all expenditure and incomes in the company are appropriately analyzed. The company needs to streamline all the departmental heads. The departmental head should ensure all expenses in the departmental are tightened in order to provide extra cents in value in the earning per share. The effort the staff had displayed did not continue. We had achieved more than the company’s expectations. This made all staff members relax. If this continues, the earning per share may reach a record low value of 3 cents per share. Regardless of the internal conflicts a company has; the investors and stakeholders should not be dragged to the mud. The current situation may result to stakeholders selling their shares at a lower price. In this first quarter, the value per share i s at 47 cents. This is a 5 cent deficit from the previous year’s first quarter earnings. If all departments could maximize their efforts, the company would even be able to exceed the value of 52 cents per share. The earning 52 cents per share in one quarter shows the potential of this organization. In the board meeting we had after the first results of this quarter, all the shareholders had recommendations and corrections they would have implemented. These recommendations would enable the organization to add the value of its share. From the meeting, I realized the company was not operating at its full potential and with adjustments department head could increase the output of the company. It was also generated from the board meeting that investors would abandon the company if we do not register I higher share value in the second first quarter. Additionally, if this scenario does not change, shareholders may opt to sell their shares at lower prices in order to avoid getting ve ry low dividends. This meant that the second quarter of this financial year would be the determinant of whether or not the company will retain its shareholders and investors. The move to start streamlining the company from the departments is the fact that some departments played a significant role in the declining in the value of the company’s shares. For instance, the procurement department contributed to a 2 cents loss per share. This loss was generated from bad inventory the department had received. The negligence of this department made the company incur expenses in replacing the bad inventory. This expense could be avoided if the department was under proper management. In my opinion, the public presentation of the earning per share should be increased in figures. However, these adjustments should be made in consideration of what the earning peer share could be if all expenses remained constant in all quarters (6). The company should also use forecasts in planning the adj ustment. However, forecasted figures developed should be accurate. The agreement should also be jointly be reached upon by the management and board members. In my opinion, the management should consider increasing the earning per share by 5 cents. In adding 5 cents on the current 47 cents per share, the value will rise to 52 cents per share. Since we are at the first quarter, 52 cents earning per share will portray a good progress among the stakeholders. This will also lead

All Worthwhile Learning Occurs in Educational Institutions Essay

All Worthwhile Learning Occurs in Educational Institutions - Essay Example This knowledge base takes a person through a variety of life experiences to help him or her practice a profession, meet people and basically, make a life. This paper discusses the fact that the process of worthwhile learning is not limited merely to educational institutions. The paper has been constructed in terms of a discussion of the determinants as outcomes of worthwhile learning outside the educational institutions. From there, it goes into finer details as far as aspects of those determinants of cognitive development are concerned. These aspects have to do with general and other competencies. Before launching into a discussion of the same, I have separated informal and formal learning so as to better understand the basis on which the determinants of worthwhile learning have been taken. ... It could be argued that any learning that contributes to the overall shaping of a person's cognitive development for positive interactions within their various spheres of operation are the de terminants of what learning is 'worthwhile learning'. Also, it is decided from his or her social position which affects the criteria of people of what is worthwhile due to the different needs and potentialities that exist in each social class. This fact raises some social issues about the inequality between people to gain access to privileged education (e.g. the notion of 'elite' universities) that will not be analyzed in this essay. So, the definition of worthwhile learning is a subjective view as according to Johnson: "One person's useful knowledge was another's useless ignorance" (see Johnson, 1988, p.23). But how do experiences structure any kind of learning Usually, it has been believed that the education system begins at home, for example involving the learning of specific sets of values. To begin with, the role of experience and learning from the same in one's life is one that fulfills the need to belong (Byram and Morgan, 1994). This sense of belonging rises from one's immed iate environment where there is focus on the values that one is born into and more characteristics of culture, region, and terrain. It should, of course, be acknowledged that not all learning in the home will necessarily be helpful as sometimes children can learn behaviors from parents that are not acceptable in a wider society like to be racist or sexist. The experience offers people first-hand knowledge of a variety of symbols (example) like judgment calls, decision-making process, and others, that one comes to associate with a place.

Discuss the theme of Aunt Granny Lith using the topic of Lilith Research Paper

Discuss the theme of Aunt Granny Lith using the topic of Lilith - Research Paper Example The story then takes us back more than 20 tears when Beth and Casey married. Beth was the third wife of Casey, and the first two having died under mysterious circumstances. Their deaths are hereafter attributed to the work of an old granny, Lith who Casey supposedly proposed to long before he married the first wife. Although in a rare joke, the granny is likely to have taken the proposal seriously and just like the Lilith in the mythical biblical story of Adam, the old woman was ready to ensure that he got married to the man who proposed and that no other woman was to come close (Schwartz, 93). The theme, Lilith augurs well with the story, â€Å"Aunt Granny Lith† in a number of ways. First, the first two wives of Casey died out of the jealous of a woman who Casey proposed to. Their deaths are a manifestation that the old ready, as in the myth was not ready to share a husband with another woman. It is out of this fear that Casey even carry a gun and a knife with him. Having revealed the story to Beth, Beth’s mother Nomey uses her knowledge on the old lady and advises the young couple on low to avoid the wrath. The bravery of Beth, as that of Eve in the Lilith myth is seen when she follows her mother’s advice, and even convinces Casey to do the same and at the end the two get rid of the danger and the fear. The victory of human over the forces of evil is also seen in the symbolism of Lil. Besides the name being significantly symbolic of the same force that was with the old woman and Lilith in the myth. After Beth’s marriage, the woman appears to Beth â€Å"†¦.saw someone scurry into the woods†¦. trailed the person to the head of the hollow† (Offutt, 136). The fight that results over Casey is an indication of the evil that has to be overcome by Beth and her husband to live safely. However, in this case, Beth effectively protects her marriage and does not need any help from her

The Brand Crash Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Brand Crash - Essay Example As part of this swing toward making everything an aspect of the brand, companies were beginning to recognize the power of the building to promote the brand itself. One of the companies to key into this idea early was The Body Shop, which expanded by as many as 50 stores per year beginning in 1988, even during the years of the recession. â€Å"Most baffling of all to Wall Street, it pulled off the expansion without spending a dime on advertising. Who needed billboards and magazine ads when retail outlets were three-dimensional advertisements for an ethical and ecological approach to cosmetics? The Body Shop was all brand† (Klein, 2000, p. 20). However, there has often been difficulty in getting business executives typically focused on the ‘bottom line’ to understand the significant assets architecture and design can be in developing the corporate brand, which, in turn, works to establish the company’s ultimate success. â€Å"While statistical analysis and e conometric techniques have been used to evaluate the trade-offs between alternatives, features, and prices for products, there has not been a tool to inform the design process of architecture, environmental graphic design, and the built environment. However, the ‘fixed assets’ of built environments, especially those of retail and consumer service sectors, are integrally linked to brand identity and equity† (Taylor, 2004). Investigating the roles of the architect and designer in relation to architecture and design to both promote the brand and foster cultural interaction with the public reveals various ways in which postmodernism reflects a cultural response to social and technological change.

Branding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Branding - Essay Example In fairly competitive product/service market, product branding is an essential marketing tool for building consumer trust and loyalty on a product (Aronczyk and Devon 75). The concept of branding would is a marketing principle that is used by companies both in the product and price competitive industry. However, depending on the nature of competition in the market place, the effectiveness of branding is determined by either price or commodity nature of competition. In a price-competitive market economy, product branding is rendered ineffective since it is cost-ineffective. This is because consumers are price elastic, therefore, they are more sensitive to price differential property that to building image and brand loyalty. This implies that in a price competitive market, unlike product competitive market, consumers’ purchasing parity and choices are highly influenced by their ability to buy and hence product insensitive (Aronczyk and Devon 56). Advertising or any product promotional methods aimed at winning consumer’s trust and building product image among the consumers is uneconomical in a price competitive market but effective in a com modity competitive

Managing resources in a business context Assignment

Managing resources in a business context - Assignment Example Employment Tribunals and UK Fleming (1992) pointed out that forming a tribunal can help employees to seek justice from legal authority which can protect their interest. According to common employment law rule, employers or companies are vicariously liable for any sort of torts they have applied on employees. But, definition of employment tribunal covers large areas such as physical harassment, payment delay or no payment, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, racial discrimination etc. In such context, Brodie (2007) has given the example of the case Hamlyn v. John Houston & Co [1903], where court has given the verdict that employers should bear equal responsibility for losses or profit made by employees. Weekes (2004) gave the case example of Kooragang Investments Pty Ltd v. Richardson Ltd [1984]; wrongful act of employees can even cause harm to reputation of the organization. It is evident from the above argument that role of Employment Tribunals is hotly debated topic among res earch scholars. In UK, employees can go to Employment Tribunals only for three reasons such as 1- unfair dismissal of the employee, 2- any kind of discrimination conducted by the employer on employee and 3- unfair deduction of payment (UK Government, 2013a). Lee (2001) and Selmi (2000) pointed out those issues like sexual harassment or gender based discrimination have been long ignored by Employment Tribunals. Same is the condition with UK Employment Tribunal where there are no separate provisions for gender based discriminations. However, the tribunal uses following procedures to settle down disputes between employee and employer. Claim Presentation & Response Employees need to submit the completed claim form to tribunal office located in England and Wales or Scotland. Location of the tribunal office is decided as per the location of the business or employer which has violated the legal norms regarding employee management. Tribunal office can reject the claim of the employee or nul lify the validity of the dispute if the claim has not made through claim form or the claimant fails to provide information regarding his/her identity (UK Government, 2013b). After receiving the claim, the tribunal office sends the response form to claimant in order to specify detail description of the dispute and the claimant has to return back the response sheet within four weeks. Case Management & Decision There are various steps before the dispute proceeding reaches the stage for case management phase but discussion of these cases is beyond the scope of this paper. During case management phase, judges in the Employment Tribunal ask lawyer for employee and employer to bring evidences which can substantiate their argument. Both employee and employer get 14 days prior notice to appear in the tribunal panel. Employment Tribunal has the authority to disclose any document regarding the case and has the authority to remove false evidences or irrelevant parties from the case (UK Governme nt, 2013b). It is duty of the employee to report about wrongdoings of employer within 90days of the incident otherwise the claim will be rejected. Number of hearing in the case management phase is decided by the judges in the Employment Tribunal. However, at the end of the case hearings, judges of the tribunal announce the decision regarding the case. The decision of the Employment

Article summary Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Summary - Article Example Researchers are working on those questions and hypotheses because there are only few studies that have demonstrated broad transfer from training to performance on untrained cognitive abilities, training paradigms lacked pedagogical foundation and was difficult to apply in non-laboratory setting or long-term behavioral change, link between music and language is unspecified, and lack of sufficient testing to support the evidences (Moreno, et al., 1-2). In testing the hypotheses, various techniques were used such as: using short, intense series of training sessions measuring intelligence with two subtests from the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence–Third Edition; measuring executive function using a go/no-go task that records behavioral performance and event-related potentials (ERPs); and review of previous studies showing increase in amplitude of P2 after music training (Moreno, et al., 2). Children aged 4-6 years old were test in the study. There are 71 childr en recruited but due to drop-out reasons, WPPSI-III data were available for 64 children, 32 (18 girls and 14 boys) who received visual-art training and 32 (20 girls and 12 boys) who received music training (Moreno, et al., 2). In addition, 16 participants were not included in the study because of uneasiness with the procedure and noise in the ERP signal. Therefore, the final sample size is 48 participants, with 24 participants in each training group. Moreno et al. found out that: there was no difference on visual-art training and music training on intelligence measures in the pretest session; significant improvement in intelligence scores marked by improvement only on verbal test were noted only on the music group after training; from pretest to posttest, more than 90% of the children in the music program improved their verbal score; music group outperformed the visual-art group at posttest; group performance has not been mainly affected but revealed significant effect of session on ly in the music group; N2/P3 complex groups have no significant differences but P2 component showed significant differences between groups; after training, the music group showed significantly larger peak amplitudes in the no-go trials whereas the visual-art group did not; and researchers found a significant positive correlation among music group only (4-5). Implications of the study are relevant to the education sector as evidence showed that WPPSI Verbal IQ is highly predictive of academic achievement plan and that there is a strong relationship between IQ evaluated at age 5 and in later life. In addition, computerized tutorials would make it easier for educational environments to implement training (Moreno, et al., 7). The study of Moreno et al. addressed neuroeducation and neurorehabilitation using computerized technologies. Context The findings of the study interest me because of the significant

Theoretical Paradigms Essay Example for Free

Theoretical Paradigms Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Theoretical paradigms allow sociologists to analyze effectively virtually any dimension of society.   It is a set of fundamental assumptions that guides thinking and research.   Two among the three paradigms in sociology that I want to compare and contrast in terms of their strengths and weaknesses of their explanatory value for social inequalities are the Conflict Approach and Functionalism Approach. The Conflict Approach is a theoretical framework based on the assumption that society is a complex system characterized by inequality and conflict that generate social change. This approach complements the functional approach by highlighting not integration but social division.   This approach strength is that it guides sociologists to investigate how factors such as social class, race, ethnicity, sex, and age are linked to unequal distribution of money, power, education, and social prestige.  Ã‚   Therefore, rather than identifying how social structure promotes the operation of society as a whole, this approach focuses on how these patterns benefit some people while being harmful to others.   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On the other hand, the functionalism Approach is a framework for building theory based on the assumption that society is a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability. The functional approach strength is that, it makes two assertions.   The first holds that society is composed of social structures, meaning relatively stable patterns of social behavior.   Social structures range from broad patterns, including the family and religious systems, to face-to-face behavior like waving hello.   The second is that each social structure has a social function, or consequences for the operation of society as a whole (Marx, 1984).   Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Moreover, the functionalism approach has long been influential in sociology.   The positivist root in this approach is the tendency to see the social world as stable and orderly.   The job of sociologists, from this point of view, is to employ scientific research to learn how society works. Despite its strong influence on the discipline of sociology, however, recent decades have revealed the weaknesses of this approach.   By assuming that society operates more or less â€Å"naturally,† critics point out, the functionalism approach tends to overlook how social patterns vary form place to place and change over time.   Thus, the notion that any particular arrangement is natural seems hazardous at best.   By focusing attention on societal unity, critics point out, functionalism tends to overlook divisions based on social class, race, ethnicity, and gender, and to downplay how such division can generate tension and conflict. In addition to its weaknesses, functionalism emphasis on stability and tends to minimize important processes of social change.   Further, by emphasizing social integration, the functionalism approach tends to pay less attention to divisions based on social class, race, ethnicity, and gender and to downplay how such divisions often generate tension and conflict.   Overall, then, this approach takes a conservative stance toward society. The conflict approach, on the other hand, has developed rapidly in recent decades.   Yet, like functionalism, it has a number of weaknesses.   One, this approach highlights power struggles, it gives little attention to social unity based on functional interdependence and shared values.   Another, the conflict approach advocates explicitly political goals in its drive for a more egalitarian society, thereby giving up claim to scientific objectivity.   Supporters of this approach counter that all social approaches have political consequences, albeit different ones. An additional weakness, which applies equally to both the functionalism and conflict approach, is that they paint society with broad strokes, describing our lives as a composite of â€Å"family,† â€Å"social class,† â€Å"gender,† â€Å"ethnic group,† â€Å"race,† and so on. Hence, both functionalism and conflict approach share a macro-level orientation, meaning a concern with large-scale patterns that characterize society as a whole.   They take in the big picture, as one might investigate a city from the vantage point of a helicopter high above the ground, noting how highways facilitate traffic flow from one place to another or the striking contrasts between rich and poor neighborhoods. These approaches limit their attention to large-scale structures and processes while overlooking the details of everyday life (such as the interactions that occur in a particular bar on a particular day at a particular hour).   Macro-level orientation takes various forms: those who adopt a conflict approach see large-scale social patterns in terms of how they impose themselves on the behavior of individuals.   That is, they try to describe characteristics of society as a whole in ways that illuminate patterns of interaction among individuals. Those who adopt a functionalism approach ask how the large-scale patterns of society as a whole contribute to the integration of society. Conflict sociologists find that the distribution of people among position (or statuses) affects decisions even as â€Å"personal† as the choice of a marriage partner.   Tepperman Curtis (2004) use two characteristics of society—heterogeneity and inequality—to predict rates of intermarriage (that is, the frequency of marriage involving people from different racial, ethnic, or religious groups).     Ã‚  Heterogeneity refers to the level of sameness or differentiation within a population:   heterogeneity is high if a population is divided into many different racial, ethnic, or religious groups; it is low if most of the people are the same in these respects. Inequality refers to the distribution of valued resources such as wealth or education.   In a society with high inequality, such resources are concentrated in the hands of the few, while the majority has very little left to divide among themselves; inequality is lower when these resources are divided more evenly among people in a society.   According to Tepperman Curtis, higher rates of heterogeneity and inequality encourage people to interact with people different from themselves, and this interaction in turn increases the rate of intermarriage.    It follows that higher rates of heterogeneity and inequality generally promote rather than discourage intergroup relations of all kinds.   The behavior is predicted from the structure of the society itself rather than from the beliefs and attitudes of individuals.   The level of integration of a society is a consequence of the distribution of people among social positions (that is, of the amount of heterogeneity and inequality). The functionalists take a different perspective on the large-scale integration of society.   These sociologists see society as composed of specialized institutions: patterned behaviors and status/role relationships that fulfill basic societal needs.   For example, economic institutions are responsible for mobilizing scarce resources in order to produce and distribute goods and services that people need.   Dissimilar institutions are held together in an ordered whole because each is assigned the task of satisfying a particular societal need; each contributes to the overall functional integration of the society itself.   Without families, for example, new generation would not be socialized to the dominant values and norms of the society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a conclusion, both the Conflict Approach and Functionalism Approach envision society in abstract terms, which sometimes seem quite distant from our everyday experience. References Marx, K. (1984).   Selected Writings in Sociology and Social Philosophy. T. B.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bottomore, Trans.     McGraw-Hill, New York. Tepperman, L. Curtis, J. (2004).   Sociology: A Canadian Perspective. Oxford   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   University Press, Canada.