Interviews with Consumers - 714 Words

Consumer Interviews Consumers from each of the three age groups of 18 25 year olds, 26 45 years old, and 45 years or above were interviewed over the last week with regard to their purchasing online. The goal of the interviews was to understand what they purchase more of line, books or software. Including in these discussions where which websites they are the most brand-loyal to, what types of games and books they purchased, and how they made trade-offs of going into a bricks and mortar store versus buying online. One mentioned that they appreciated how WalMart is making it possible to purchase online and go into the store and pick up the game they had ordered. Interview with an 18 year old student The young woman interviewed is starting her first year of college, and is in her first semester right now. She speaks of time as more valuable than money, and seeks to find ways to get more done in less time. She shops on Amazon for both books she needs for class and also for books she reads for entertainment and personal growth. Shes not purchased a hardcover book from Amazon in over a year, as the Kindle she has is more agile and easier to carry around from class to class. Amazons expertise in creating an exceptional shopping experience for book buyers has led to their electronic titles outselling their print-based versions for the first time in 2011 (Kumar, Eidem, Diana, 2012). As the books are delivered electronically and in real-time she doesnt have to contend withShow MoreRelatedHealth Care Consumer Interview : The Elderly1556 Words   |  7 PagesHealth Care Consumer Interview In a health care system beset by inequality, excessive spending, and average outcomes, one segment of the population in particular presents a variety of problems and opportunities that need to be addressed: the elderly. Individuals over the age of sixty-five in the United States utilize a disproportionate share of medical services compared to the rest of the population, and the growth of this demographic means that any concerns associated with it will only continueRead More2.7 Summary It would appear that fast fashion has had a detrimental effect on the role of the self1200 Words   |  5 Pagesperhaps lessened consumers’ levels of attachment to items; this will be a point of research within this dissertation as convincing consumers to value their clothing would be the initial stage in adapting disposal behaviours. Consumer attitudes towards disposal are currently mostly divided between sending items to landfill or to the charity shop, these methods appear to have been chosen mostly out of convenience, (Birtwistle and Moore 2007) therefore the next stage to alter consumer behaviours wouldRead MoreA Study On The Luxury Hotel Industry1724 Words   |  7 Pagesand why it is the chosen method for the study. Then, after, it details the process of data collection. Qualitative Methodology The research question of this study concerns how the luxury hotel industry can adapt to Chinese conceptualizations and consumer behavior. As the study focuses on culture and values, and how they are represented in Chinese actions and expectations, qualitative methods were determined to be the best process to understand the issue. We find cultural studies are thoroughly groundedRead MoreThe Selection And Purchase Of Beef Essay1105 Words   |  5 PagesConsumers have an increasing number of choices when selecting meat at retail. Therefore, it is important to understand factors that limit the selection and purchase of beef. A series of three surveys of beef retailers evaluated the level of assistance provided, retailer perception of consumer beef purchasing priorities, and retailer perception of where consumers obtain information about beef. Results suggest that consumers make more informed choices when they have higher levels of assistance. ExtensionRead MorePerceptions And Perceptio ns Of Consumer Behavior Essay1467 Words   |  6 PagesIn attitude-behaviour relationships, the Theory of Reasoned Action states that consumer behaviours are constructed by their attitudes, and the attitude itself is the result of the consumers’ perception (Fishbein Ajzen, 1975). With regards to greenwashing, research has found that this attitude-behaviour relationship could manipulate the perception of consumer (see table 2 for perceptions and explanations), for instance, perceived deception (Newell et al., 1998), perceived scepticism (Albayrak etRead MoreInterview, A Licensed Social Worker And Write An Experience Paper About The Interview Essay1624 Words   |  7 PagesFor Mrs. Hewes the Introduction to Social Work class we were asked to interview a licensed Social Worker and write an experience paper about the interview. Finding a social worker to interview wasn’t very hard for me because many of my mother’s friends got their masters in social work, but no t many of them actually got their license except for one of them. The licensed social worker that I interviewed goes by the name of Tanya Hill. Tanya got her Masters of Social Work at Florida State UniversityRead MoreConsumer Perception Of Consumer Behavior Essay1488 Words   |  6 PagesConsumer Perception Consumer behaviours are constructed by their attitudes, and the attitude itself is the result of the consumers’ perception (Fishbein Ajzen, 1975). This construct is explored in the Theory of Reasoned Action, where Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) state this in regards to attitude-behaviour relationships. When it comes to greenwashing, research has found that this attitude-behaviour relationship could manipulate the perception of the consumer. The consumer perceptions when it comesRead MoreThe Importance Of Greenwashing As A Marketing Strategy1490 Words   |  6 Pagesstandard of confidentiality was adhered to. The transcript from the interview does not hold any identifying factors, only those involved directly with the research can access any identifying particulars about the interview participant. Findings and Discussion Interview Findings From the research interview it was established that greenwashing as a marketing strategy is effective because there is an increasing amount of consumers concerned about the state of the environment and this creates a legitimateRead MoreConsumer Perceptions Of A Product Essay1496 Words   |  6 PagesConsumer perceptions with regards to products can be explained by: perceived distrust, which is an unwillingness to have confidence in a product, this can stem from an expectation resulting from a lack of credibility and/or environmental performance (Chen Chang, 2013); perceived risk, which is connected to possible consequences of a wrong decision (Peter Ryan, 1976), and; perceived confusion, which arises as a result of consumers failing to acquire accurate perceptions of various aspects of aRead MoreM.A.C Brand Analysis1703 Words   |  7 Pagesdemonstrating M.A.C is one brand corporation. To determine if M.A.C has a strong market positioning within the women’s cosmetic indust ry particularly with their lipstick product both secondary research (trade publications) and individual â€Å"depth† interviews were conduct (see Appendix A ), and will be used for evaluation and conclusion. 3.0 Analysis The tools/models used for determining M.A.C’s market position were T.C.B IDU models. The T-C-B model was used as a baseline for a serious of questions

Phonological and Writing Systems of English and Thai Free Essays

In the second language and foreign language (FL) classroom literature, it has been claimed that several variables related to the interface between L1 and L2/ FL, i. e. psychological aspects, contribute to language learners’ perception and production of a foreign language. We will write a custom essay sample on Phonological and Writing Systems of English and Thai or any similar topic only for you Order Now A study of these variables could have important implications for the teaching of foreign languages. More recently, the role of spoken and written L2 input (e. g. Bassetti, 2008; Moyer, 2009) has been studied in greater detail, and there is an abundance of such studies. In this chapter, the relevant literature will be illustrated and critiqued, with particular attention to the works on phonological systems and writing systems across languages and the interaction between the two systems. In addition, the influence of affective factors on the productive skills of Thai learners is reviewed. The first section of the chapter is a discussion of the relevant literature on the differences between phonological and writing systems across languages and the resulting language learner output, followed by a review of the framework to be used in this study. The final section is a review of the effects of the affective factors on the learners’ language achievement and language performance as well as on language learning. 1. The related literature The findings reported in the literature that the majority of Thai learners of English demonstrate a low degree of proficiency, especially in the productive skills (speaking and writing) reflect the fact that â€Å"English language pedagogy in Thailand †¦ is still in its infancy† (Wongsothorn, A. , Hiranburana, K. Chinnawongs, S. 2002; Laopongharn Sercombe, 2009, among others). As reported in the national survey (1999) conducted by the Office of Educational Testing of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (in Khamkhien, 2010), â€Å"high school sstudents’ productive skills were generally below 50 per cent, i. e. below average, leading to the recommendation in the report for immediate improvements of writing ability in all educational institutions in the country † (Wongsothorn et al. , 2002: 112). There are several factors that could prevent Thai learners of English from aining a sthrong command of productive skills in English. In terms of the phonological system, Yangklang (2006) investigated the improvement in pronunciation of English final [l] in 40 Thai sstudents in Matthayom Suksa 4 at Assumption Convent Lamnarai School who had used the Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) programme she was testing. The CAI in the study, as described by Yangklang: â€Å"contained drill and practice exercises. Drill and practice activities aimed to provide learners with adequate practices and also to review items that were new to learners. The goal of the drill and practice activities was to teach sstudents to pronounce words with final /-l/ accurately and automatically. † These practices and exercises were, therefore, provided by the computer programme as part of the post-lesson activities. The participants were divided into two groups according to their competence of pronunciation of English, one with good pronunciation and the other with poor ability. Prior to the experimental task, each participant had taken a placement test to classify their pronunciation competence. Subsequently, they all took three pronunciation post-tests every week for three weeks. It was found that both groups of sstudents improved their pronunciation significantly after they used the CAI programme. In general, both groups had positive reactions to the use of the CAI programme for improving their pronunciation. Obviously, the programme helped the participants improve their pronunciation, given that they had intensive training on pronunciation practice of specific English consonant sounds, and the post-test of pronouncing the sound was administered immediately after the programme training. As Graham (1997) and Macaro (2006), among others, have pointed out, effective language learning is about mastering communicative skills, i. e. speaking, writing, listening, and reading. This indicates that the more learners practise, the better their communicative performance in a language. In line with this, the results did not show anything unexpected. The point at issue, which I shall leave for future study, is how can accurate pronunciation, e. g. of the /l/ sound, be maintained after short-term, intensive training? In Yangklang’s findings, the English consonant sound /l/ which constitutes the coda, i. e. word-final ending in /l/, (see Figure 1 below) could be realised as [l], [n], and [w] by the participants. The participants with good pronunciation appeared to produce the [l], whilst the participants from the poorer group appeared to generate [n] and [w] instead of [l] or [? ]. The [n] was produced more frequently than [w] by these participants, however. Yangklang did not discuss why [n] and [w] constitute allophones of /l/. In the study, it was the poorer group who produced such allophones, and it was reported from interviews that the participants had not yet been exposed to an environment where English is used as a medium of communication. In the word list, part of the research instrument which consisted of pronunciation tests contained words like ‘ball’, ‘mile’, etc. which are English loanwords. I assume that there is some force of segmental alternation with regard to English loanwords. As /l/ is not available at coda position, the notion of final consonant phoneme alternation appears plausible. That is to say, [n] and [w] appear to be alternatives. Paradis (1996) in Kentowicz Suchato (2006), claimed that the location of such segments in feature geometry and prosodic structure was relevant in dealing with segmental alternation in loanwords. Based on the data, /l/ and /n/ fall into the same natural class, in that both of them are sonorant consonants, which can be represented by the feature matrices How to cite Phonological and Writing Systems of English and Thai, Papers

A Tale Of Two Cities Analysis Essay Example For Students

A Tale Of Two Cities Analysis Essay ResurrectionMultitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2). This is basically the definition or example of what resurrection is. This was shown when the Lord told this quote to Daniel. Although in A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, resurrection isnt literally used as being awoken from the dead, but certain areas of this resurrection are certainly related. Not only is resurrection shown to the reader on a physical level as the Bible shows it, but it is also shown through spiritually and mentally. Several characters are examples to these three different parts of resurrection. Charles Dickens uses resurrection in his novel, A Tale of Two Cities, to give the reader enlightenment and break, due to the horrible time period and bloody nature, during the revolutionary time period, the novel takes place in. Many individuals will say that resurrection is another word for being Recalled to Life, a s in the title of book one. Being Recalled to Life, can be shown on a mental, physical, and spiritual level, just the same as resurrection. Dickens gives the reader a taste of being Recalled to Life, right off the bat, when Mr. Lorry, in his stagecoach, is set out for Dover to bring Dr. Manette back to England, sends Jerry Cruncher to Tellsons Bank with the message, Recalled to Life. Then as the coach lurches on towards its destination, he falls asleep and dreams. After such imaginary discourse, the passenger inhis fancy would dig, and dig, dig, now, with a spade, now with a great key, now with his hands-to dig this wretched creature out (p.47). Not only is the term Recalled to Life used towards the beginning of the book, but the term is also used threoughout the novel.Due to Dr. Mannettes rescue, he is a definate example of being Recalled to Life. He has been in prison for nearly eighteen full years of mental torment and when he got out, he was asked the question, you know that you are recalled to life (p.46). Due to Manettes mental and spiritual resurrection from his imprisonment, he no longer calls or refers to himself as 105 North Tower (p.73). Although he knew he had a daughter, he never had a relationship with her. He is spiritually resurrected with his daughter when they first meet. She, Lucie Manette, forms a relationship with him, which makes Dr. Manette never want to leave her. The Doctor was in his best condition, and looked specially young. The resemblence between him and Lucie was very strong at such times, and as they sat side by side, she leaning on his shoulder, and he resting his arm on the back of her chair, it was very agreeable to trace the likeness (p.130). Not only does Lucie spiritually resurrect her father, but she also mentally resurrects him. Throughout the novel, Dr. Manette has gone through several mental tragic time periods. It seems that the only one to revive him to his normal health was his daughter Lucie. In the novel, Dickens uses Jerry Cruncher to give the reader some laughter. He is taken as humorous character, which gives the readers a definate break in the Victorian Times. Jerry, a man with not too many feelings, he, at first, has his own way of resurrection. To be physically resurrected would be to actually be taken by hand and be removed from the dead, and this is exactly what Jerry does. Dickens refers to Jerry as-a man that digs up bodies for a living-as being a Resurrection Man. Dickens refers to him as a Resurrection Man because during the Victorian Times, when the revolution took place, people who dug up graves would be called Resurrection Men. To Jerry and his son he is only going, so called fishing, at midnight. What Jerry is actually doing is resurrecting dead individuals physically by hand. Due to being a poor man, this is the only way he can make his money. He takes all the rich valuables from the graves and sells the bodies to scientists to work on. Calcium Element EssayAs one can see, the revolution was a harsh and horrible experince to go through. Several deaths took place, which seemed, in those days, the center of attention. Every time there was a death sentence case, it seemed that, a cloud of blue-flies were swarming about the prisoner, in anticipation of what he was soon to become (p.97). Dickens uses the theme resurrection to give the reader a break in the tragic story of violence. Since Dickens is a Christian man, he felt he had to give the reader a touch of the Bible throughout his writngs of A Tale of Two Cities. A Tale of Two Cities Analysis Essay Example For Students A Tale of Two Cities Analysis Essay A Tale of Two Cities has long been one of Charles Dickens most favored books. This book opens in the year 1775 by contrasting two cities: Paris, France and London, England. Throughout this story various characters are recalled to life, meaning that they have had a new chance at life. Dr. Manette is clearly mad after being in prison for eighteen years. When Lucie, the Dr.s daughter, and Mr. Lorry eventually nurse the doctor back to a healthy state and out of his insane state they had recalled him to life. Dr. Manette was nursed from an insane state with no real life to a sane one with a very functional life. In doing this Lucie and Mr. Lorry, in a way, gave Dr. Manettes life back to him or recalled him to life. Another instance in which someone is recalled to life involves Charles Darnay. Charles Darnay is on trial for treason in EnglandBook 2, Ch.2-4. C.J Stryver and Sydney Carton are representing Darnay in this trial. Sydney Carton saves Darnay from death in this trial with his miraculous wits. Through this Darnay is given another chance at life ,and therefore was recalled to life. The last and most significant instance of someone being recalled to life is found in the last chapters of this book. Sydney Carton has recently switched places with his look alike, Darnay, and is awaiting the guillotine. While Sydney awaits his death he thinks, It is a far, far better thing that I do, then I have ever done, it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known. Through these words Sydney recognizes that by sacrificing his life for Darnay, a loved one of Lucie, he will be doing the best thing that he has ever done and can do. Sydney is finally satisfied with himself, he is no longer a drunken fool, but a hero that now can live or die with himself. By dying, and saving Darnay for Lucie, Sydney Carton is recalled to life. Throughout this book recalled to life has been the most important theme. Almost all of the main characters in this novel were recalled to life. This theme was the most important because it allowed us, the readers, to see the characters trates being used by them and to understand how much a character would do for another. When Carton represented Darnay on trial and saved his life we saw how smart Carton was. In the last instance of recalled to life we saw how much Carton really felt for Lucie when he saved Lucies husbands life in return for his own. The theme recalled to life is seen throughout this novel and should be recognized as one of the most important.

Analysis of Theoretical Framework free essay sample

Analysis of Theoretical Framework EDUC 701: Theories and Research in Educational Psychology February 24, 2013 ? Introduction Teachers are required to teach reading and comprehension skills to students and help them be able to read and comprehend materials from the past and present. Dr. Constance L. Pearson (1990) writes a dissertation entitled The Comparison of the Effects of Three Prereading Advance Organizers on the Literal Comprehension of Fifth-Grade Social Studies Materials in this paper he is trying to see if the use of a prereading advanced organizer would help build the fifth grade students comprehension and knowledge skills. During this stage of students learning development it is very important to start working on their reading and comprehension skills. Analysis The theoretical framework for this dissertation is using fifth-grade social studies materials and having a prereading strategy of an advanced organizer to see if it would increase comprehension and knowledge in the children while they read their textbooks. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Theoretical Framework or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The advanced organizers that are being used are visual, graphic and problematic situation approach. The advanced organizers are being used to help the students with any concepts that they are not familiar with. By using these organizers strategies would be developed to help assist in learning the material. There were two research questions to validate the theory that is being used. The first question related to reading comprehension and how it affects students when they are given a prereading activity while using one of the advanced organizers. The second research question relates to the reading comprehension of the other two advanced organizer approaches when they are given a preading activity. It is believed that students reading comprehension can be increased from the use of the advanced organizers for their particular subject area. The purpose of this research was to determine if one of the prereading advance organizer strategies would carry distinction from the other two approaches. During the research many factors had to be considered and one such factor were students not being able to derive meaning from what they read in content area textbooks. One reason that the reader may have a problem with content text is that the material is written on a higher reading level then the intended reader. As a result the writers have tried to simplify the terminology and shortened the sentences. They did not take into consideration factors that inherent in the reader such motivation, reading ability and interest. There is one human factor that has the most influence on comprehension and that is schemata. Comprehension of the material is being determined by the knowledge that the reader brings to the selection. The more schemata the reader has for the topic the more they will understand the topic. Content materials especially in the area of social studies seek to develop many concepts; students often do not have the framework to attach new knowledge. Students must have an understanding of the concepts in order to comprehend the material they are reading. In chapter two of the dissertation Pearson explains how the research and literature that relate to the relationship of advance organizers to reading comprehension. He discusses the history of the study of reading comprehension and advance organizers. The schema theory is discussed as it relates to the study of advance organizers. Before 1970 reading comprehension was viewed as a process solely activated by the text itself. The views on reading comprehension have since changed and now text has been determined to be only the framework for meaning. The reader must be able to construct an internal conceptual representation of what is being read. Conclusion Therefore, through research it was determined the usage of advance organizers before the materials were read, did bring about some remembering by activating important concepts that were already present in the children’s cognitive structure. The usage of advanced organizers should reinforce the importance of the new materials by providing the framework of previous learning materials. To determine if the usage of advanced organizers remain effective you should upon its ability to support new ideas from the student’s previous ideas. The prereading strategy of advanced organizers introduces how students can attach concepts to new learning materials Reference Pearson, C. L. P. (1990). The comparison of the effects of three prereading advance organizers on the literal comprehension of fifth-grade social studies materials. (Doctoral Dissertation). University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.

Scotland Culture essays

Scotland Culture essays Scotland is a foreign region in the United Kingdom with much culture and heritage. The history of Scotland goes back many years and can be looked at as an evolved system where culture is the foundation of all of society. Because culture is the learned set of practices, beliefs, values, and rules for proper conduct and material objects that are shared by members of society, one can only want to look further into what makes the Scottish culture so unique. There are eight regions withing the Scotland territory. These include Aberdeenshire and Grampian Highlands, Central Scotland, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Highlands, Orkney and Shetland Islands, South West, and West Coast. The land mass of Scotland is about 78,133 km2. The weather in Scotland is the main topic of conversation from January until December from one end of Scotland to the other. Rumors abound that it is always raining, always below freezing and always under seven feet of snow. However, one thing you can be sure of is the weather is changeable and local to the extreme - it can be raining at the front of a house and not in the back. There is a local saying that says if you don't like the weather just wait 'a wee whiley' and it will change. Basically December, January and February is winter. The spring months of March and April can still be cold but generally not too bad. Summer comes early and June gives Scotland dark for just one or two hours between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., and then the sun is out again. July and August can be very hot, sometimes too much so and misty and humid. By September things cool down and it is usually quite warm enough to head to the beaches. Autumn is generally excellent weather for walking right through t o November. However, a word of caution - dark comes very quickly on the mountains and what starts off as a walk up a mountain can turn into a lesson in survival very quickly. For most, family in Scotland was the only sense of s...

Analyse the nature of risks in healthcare and critically discuss the Essay

Analyse the nature of risks in healthcare and critically discuss the role of managers in minimizing and managing risks - Essay Example These risks can be mitigated in a number of different ways. Every health organization needs a system of risk management – they need to be able to identify the risks, quantify the risks, prioritise the risks, then mitigate and manage these risks. Management needs to be able to delegate risk management to experts, because management tends to try to do too much. They need analysts who can help them with this, and these analysts need to be within the management flow. At the individual level, management needs to be able to coach, mentor and motivate; at the group level, the management needs to be able to build teams and resolve conflicts; and at the organizational level, the management must be able to build culture. Building culture is important, because if an organization has a culture of risk management, then this organization will be ahead of the curve on risk management – this means that risk management permeates every aspect of the organization. Because organizations th emselves can have risks, as opposed to personal risks, and this is where the very organization encourages risky processes either inadvertently or on purpose. The role of the manager might be to encourage the culture of the organization to adopt risk management, provide support for risk management practices which identify weaknesses and resolve them, or to mentor the individuals to lessen the individual risks regarding risk management. This paper will explore these aspects of risk management. What Is Risk Management? The first part of the risk management process, according to Carter et al. (1994) is the identification of the risks. The identification process of risks may be approached by a combination of methods, including intuitive management; using department experts; using standard questionnaires and checklists; using expert computer-based systems; using structured interviews; through brainstorming sessions; or using outside specialists/consultants. The second process is risk quan tification, and this means that the impact and probability of a each risk is estimated for each risk. After that, the estimate is quantified by using a spreadsheet which estimates timescales and costs. The next process is risk prioritising and filtering,which means that the important risks are recognized and controlled, and risks are prioritized according to whether they care a Category 1 risk (cost effect only); Category 2 risk (contingency plans and costs affected); or Category 3 risk (programme contingency and cost affected). The Category three risks are the higher priority, and the risks are prioritized from there. The fourth part of risk management is the processing and presentation of risk data, and this means the risk data is put through the spreadsheet with different variables. After the risks are identified, quantified, prioritized, and presented, the next four steps identified by Carter et al. (1994) are focused upon mitigating and managing these risks. Mitigating strategi es include avoiding the risk altogether by removing the cause of the risk; transferring the risk, which means that the risk is passed to somebody capable of handling that particular risk; reduction of the risk, which would consist of investing in insurance or some other up-front investment; management of the risk, which means that the risk is managed continuously until it is managed out; and contingency, in which funds are produced for the risks which are

Obamas 2008 Cooper Union Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Obamas 2008 Cooper Union Speech - Essay Example Obama, in 2008, had a plan to renew America by forcing penalties on poor and greedy corporate leaders, giving consumers housing-related tax credits, and create new regulations that make sure financial institutions do not take on high levels of risk, however, this renewal strategy has not been fully effective. Â  Obama saw that tighter regulation would prevent financial institutions from taking opportunities away from regular, middle-class citizens. He felt that a deregulated environment had been a reason to why investment companies and commercial banks took on far too much debt and there was no system in place to make sure they had enough capital reserves. This is because risky asset-backed securities and derivatives were off-balance sheet transactions. He wanted a crackdown on market manipulation that was causing many companies to experience fast drops in their stock values when short-sellers were using unethical methods to drive down stock prices for their own gain. Â  Obama also saw that building a type of best practice risk management system for banks and for the general economy would renew America. He sees that this change in risk management and a change of corporate leadership attitudes would reshape the economy for the 21st Century and give middle-class consumers more protection against another financial crisis. Many regular citizens lost their jobs and lost their wealth as a result of unregulated investment institutions and Obama saw renewal as a means of putting these stakeholders first. Â  He seems to see that the division between the wealthy and the less-advantaged is taking away the American dream. Therefore, by making sure that corporations and investment firms are held accountable for their actions, it will make sure that middle-class consumers can again seek the American dream without being victimized by an economy damaged by greed and poor government oversight.