Processes of Individualization and Responsibilisation in the Risk Society

To a large extent, the future development of humankind is defined by the way young generations view the world and shape it accordingly. Youth, or adolescents, are characterized by a peculiar state of transition between childhood and adulthood, when physical and psychological immaturity does not allow functioning as complete members of society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Processes of Individualization and Responsibilisation in the Risk Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At the same time, during the period of youth, adolescents are in a constant state of becoming somebody: â€Å"becoming an adult, becoming a citizen, becoming independent, becoming autonomous, becoming mature, becoming responsible† (Kelly 2001, p. 30). Since the youth are generally considered not to possess sufficient wisdom to make the right personal, social, educational and other choices, they are guided by more credible educatio nal authorities. Especial attention is paid to the so-called youth ‘at risk’, who are governed through a range of official interventional measures widely debated in modern debate on educational policies. The notion of risk plays one of the key roles in modern society that views risk as anything that prevents a normal functioning of individual within the accepted social institutions. The ways people define the course of their lives is through making choices, and it is only through the right choices that a socially accepted life is possible. Risk results from making wrong choices; therefore, individual decision making is extremely significant since it forms the basis for absence or presence of risk (Kelly 2001, p. 26). One of the major risks for the youth within the educational system is seen in failing to complete senior secondary education (te Riele 2006, p. 134). The number of risk factors that leads to this failure is vast and comprises, inter alia, such factors as pe rsonal or individual qualities, family situation, social background, and school peculiarities (te Riele 2006, p. 134). However, according to Kelly, governmental attempts at managing youth ‘at risk’ are based on the idea that the youth and their families should be held responsible for their decisions in the first instance (Kelly 2001, p. 30–31). The special category of youth ‘at risk’ is viewed as resulting from ‘risk families’ (Tait 1995, p. 2). Accordingly, governmental management of youth ‘at risk’ is carried out through standardization and responsibilization of the youth and their families classified as ‘at risk’. Attempting to determine the significance of risk in modern society, Peter Kelly views risk as a â€Å"technique† for governmental control (Kelly 2001, p. 23). Labeling a part of society as ‘risk’ brings forward the necessity of managing such ‘at risk’ social group by official governmental interventions.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More By dividing society into ‘at risk’ and non-risk government gets the opportunity for creating a powerful concept of deviance, incompatibility, and non-conformity that should be eliminated through immediate action. The abstract concept of risk thus penetrates in everyday life of youth ‘at risk’ and serves as a â€Å"technique to regulate the behaviors and dispositions of young people† (Kelly 2001, p. 25). As such, it appears that risk discourses lead society to imposing certain limitation on the representatives of youth ‘at risk’ so that the latter conform to the standard requirements of social life. This process of limitation and restriction is carried out via recognized social institutions, such as schools, and basically aims at bringing youth ‘at riskâ€℠¢ in compliance with the general requirements, or at standardization of youth ‘at risk’. In connection with standardization, government treats the problem of transition to adulthood by youth ‘at risk’ by employing the process of responsibilization. Since risk results from improper decision making, youth ‘at risk’ should be aware of the right and the wrong choices available, as well as they should recognize the possible consequences of wrong decisions. Once youth are viewed as those who shape the future, youth ‘at risk’ are accordingly considered as those jeopardizing that future by their wrong choices (Kelly 2001, p. 30). In order to diminish the risk situations possibly brought about by youth ‘at risk, government considers it necessary to conduct the so-called responsibilization of youth ‘at risk’, so that the latter recognize their significant role in shaping the future. The process of responsibilization of you th ‘at risk’ involves both youth and their families, and thus there are two social components responsible for emergence or absence of risk in society: youth and their families (Kelly 2001, p. 30). Responsibilization of youth and their families is viewed as a means of normalizing and stabilizing the youth ‘at risk’ â€Å"as rational, choice-making citizens (to-be), who are responsible for their life chances through the choices they make with regard to school, career, relationship, substance use, etc.† (Kelly 2001, p. 30). Therefore, as a result of such responsibilization as an â€Å"inclusive technology of government†, it is expected that youth ‘at risk’ enter the realm of collective security based on social responsibility (Kelly 2001, p. 27). The debate on the aforementioned ways of governance over youth ‘at risk’ emphasizes, that the vision of youth ‘at risk’ and the means of managing them are not as tra nsparent and comprehensive as it may seem. On the one hand, risk discourses suggest that youth ‘at risk’ constitute a deviant minority of society, whereas real life practice shows it is rather a social majority (te Riele 2006, p. 129). Therefore, the marginalization of youth ‘at risk’ by risk discourses distorts the true state of affairs. On the other hand, risk discourses emphasize the necessity for intervention with the youth ‘at risk’ and their families as the major source of misbalance and possible deviance. However, there exist a big number of other risk factors that may influence the behaviour of youth ‘at risk’.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Processes of Individualization and Responsibilisation in the Risk Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, the necessity for governmental intervention into family matters appears as â€Å"blaming the vi ctim† rather as an act of help (te Riele 2006, p. 138). Instead of tackling the objective side of the issue, risk discourses lead to practicing a one-sided marginalizing and stigmatizing approach to youth ‘at risk’. The politics of social regulation suggested by modern risk discourse appear to be incomplete and to focus on only one of the possible reasons for emergence of youth ‘at risk’. Governmental attempts at preventing the possible future risks through dealing with the personal and familial issues of youth ‘at risk’ should be reconsidered so that the problem is tackled from another point of view. Rather than adjusting the youth ‘at risk’ to the existing educational system, it could prove more reasonable to reconsider the education itself. The result of such flexible policy would be satisfying the requirements of modern youth, of which youth ‘at risk’ constitute a convincing majority. Once government recogniz es that youth ‘at risk’ are not a marginalized minority, the problem of eliminating social risks can be solved more efficiently. Reference List Kelly, P. (2001) Youth at Risk: Processes of Individualization and Responsibilisation in the Risk Society. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 22(1), 22-33. te Riele, K. (2006) Youth ‘At Risk’: Further Marginalizing the Marginalized? Journal of Education Policy, 21(2), 129-45. Tait, G. (1995) Shaping the At-Risk Youth: Risk, Governmentality and the Finn Report. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 16(1), 123-43. This essay on Processes of Individualization and Responsibilisation in the Risk Society was written and submitted by user Molly Flores to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization Essays

Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization Essays Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization Paper Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization Paper Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization Name University of Phoenix MKT / 421 April 18, 2011 Instructor Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization In 1998 Kathy Kudler, who specializes in gourmet foods, founded Kudler Fine Foods; opening the first location in La Jolla California. Later Kathy opened two additional locations; in 2000 Del Mar and in 2003 Encinitas, California. Kathy had an idea to offer a shopping atmosphere for those people who cook gourmet style. Kudler Fine Foods would carry a variety of seafood, meats, produce, dairy, cheeses, and wines. For the convenience to the customers, Kudler Fine Foods has separate departments; meat and seafood, bakery, produce, cheese and dairy, and wine. Each department shows advertisement to draw the attention of the customer. Kudler Fine Foods mission is to offer a large variety of selections, expertise, and knowledgeable staff giving the customer a joyful shopping experience. Kathy has a marketing background from working for a large defense contractor (University of Phoenix,  2010). Developing the marketing background experience, Kathy can move the company forward and expand services. Kathy goal will to identify any areas of weakness and creating a marketing strategy, which will entail competitive intelligence and analysis. Marketing Research Marketing indicates the actions engaged in the progress of products and services from manufacturer to consumer. The development starts with establishing the wants and needs of the consumer. Kudler Fine Foods should create products to please the consumer’s wants and needs. Kudler Fine Foods must make certain the desired products are available that the company knows when and where customers want them and Kudler Fine Foods informs potential customers of their availability. Marketing also includes financing the behaviors that facilitate the exchange of products and services. Marketing is a key notion in business and every person involved can participate. Marketing helps to promote Kudler Fine Foods products offered to the consumer. Market research involves the collection and analysis of data relating to consumers and his or her buying behavior. Market research attempts, among other things, to define trends in sales and sales potential for specific products or services, to identify those customers who are the most likely purchasers of the Kudler Fine Foods products, and to identify which factors motivate consumers to buy certain products. Market research also assists in determining how and where a product is purchased, thus enabling Kudler Fine Foods to develop the appropriate channels of product supply. One of the most important determinations to be made in market research is who buys Kudler Fine Foods products, that is, who may benefit from his or her purchase and why. Demographics play a significant role in the research process. Demographics refer to population characteristics, such as geographic distribution, age, sex, family structure, and income. Marketing Weakness Weaknesses in a business is have the lack of marketing experience, area of the business, poor quality of products, or a poor reputation. As with any competition Kudler Fine Foods must have knowledge of the competitors weaknesses, including their own, is an important aspect in building a successful business. Kudler Fine Foods should observe the competitors to see if they are keeping up with the current trends. Kudler Fine Foods would have an advantage to visit the competition to acquire a thorough understanding of the development, menu plans, pricing, promotional information, and class instruction periods. If neighboring competition is not present, marketing researchers must venture out to observe the similar competition to compare information with his or her business. Much can be learned in other areas that could be worked into the day-to-day business functions. An in-depth investigation is required to decide if reduced cost actions can be put into practice. At this time, Kathy herself order the products needed for each of her stores, requiring her to work seven days a week and constantly move from location to location. By observing the purchases made by the customers, and examine the contracts with the distributors, Kudler Fine Foods could cut down on the frequent ordering of products, giving Kathy more time to concentrate on other functions of the business. Competitive Intelligence and Analysis Competitive intelligence and analysis is an important part of a business. Competitive intelligence is the art of defining, gathering, analyzing, and distributing intelligence about products, customers, competitors, individuals, concepts, information, ideas or data needed to support executives and managers in making strategic decisions for a business. This includes a broad array from government intelligence to market intelligence to business intelligence (Competitive Intelligence,  n. d. ). Competitive intelligence can include competitor analysis, knowledge management, market research, and business strategy and business research. Competitive intelligence can be used as an everyday business tool to analyze stocks or look for weaknesses in the competitor (Competitive Intelligence,  n. d. ). If Kudler Fine Foods is trying to figure out what it means for a small business it is seeing where or how the competition advertises. Kudler Fine Foods should receive the competitors distribution list or sign up for any e-newsletters they may be sending to see what they are saying and what additional things they are doing to create relationships in the local area. If the competitor is a retail location, an employee of Kudler Fine Foods should visit it, see how the window displays are created, what kind of people are in the store, how much traffic do they receive, is the competition displaying any brochures, postcards, etc. hat promote other local businesses (MRC World ,  2009). When researching the competition ethics plays a large role. Information obtained must be done legally. Obtaining information from an insider is acting unethically. Kudler needs to obtain information collected through the Internet, store visit, or customer surveys. The majority of the information should be collected by shopping the competitor; this will help to see how displays are created, store layout, special offers, products offered, et c. Conclusion Kudler Fine Foods has created a strong marketing plan covering a strategy and tactics to build a stronger business. Kudler Fine Foods present marketing strategy has improved with creating a customer survey asking opinions and suggestions from the customers to help make his or her shopping experience more convenient. Kudler Fine Foods has also researched what the competitors are doing to keep up with the trends. Kudler Fine Foods is a growth oriented business that prides itself in constantly reaching the customers with honesty and integrity. The companys continual success and rapid development is due in part to the motivation to offer the customers with the quality products and service that he or she desires in a timely manner. Kudler Fine Foods are on their way to building a successful business. References Competitive Intelligence. (n. d. ). Competitive Intelligence. Retrieved from competitiveintelligence. com/ MRC World. (2009). Marketing Question. Retrieved from mrcworld. com/marketing-question/ University of Phoenix. (2010). Kudler Fine Foods [Computer Software]. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, Simulation, MKT 421 website.