LOSING FAITH

There came a point in your life when you have too much to bear and your strength has waned, some things leave you thinking like nothing is happening in your life, the moment when you're losing grip and you're losing faith--and all you have left is silence and prayer because things get rowdy it crashed your spirit.

I am never a religious person.  I go to sleep and wake up everyday whispering the same prayer, "Thank you, Lord" despite any circumstances I feel ungrateful about. I console myself with a single thought that good things are infinite. 

CULTURE FREE MANAGEMENT AND TEAM

Mainly, any business organization without management is hardly functional.  It is what keeps people working to attain the company's desired goals.  It's what keeps people motivated to do their respective tasks to maintain and improve the company's economic and human relations status and other systems necessary for the company's survival and progress.

Management as comprised of proficient executives generally administer the team.They work with the team and keeps the team going.  I think such thing is well visible to any organization we're working with.  As a worker overseas for quite a time, racism has become a natural thing you get to deal with.  Since you get to work with varied cultures, there are always certain cultures who feel superior above anyone else.  The good thing is, our management was able to deal with that ensuring we work not by our culture but by our capabilities and relationship with one another.  It is entailed in us that we complement each other in our team according to our different capabilities and that one is barely efficient without the other; and that each individual task is important in attaining our goal.

As time goes, each worker learned to appreciate each other's differences and capabilities.  Each of us learned that nothing is more easier if you work in harmony.  More importantly, attaining one specific thing is a lot easier because there's unity bonding the team discarding the thought of racism and enjoying a free-culture environment.

LEARNING BLOG 10: MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF SOCIAL MARKETING PROGRAMS

As the program continues to do its services, a Development Communication Specialist also keeps himself busy interposing the framework of the program.  Assessing how the program work is a deliberate task in the general phase of the program to assess the program, things to refrain from and affix.

Enforcing the method of monitoring and evaluation is crucial in any program activities to keep track of the activities that have been done, whether the staff members perform their roles correctly, and determine how close the program activities are to meeting the projected timeline and budget.  This mechanism will enable DEVCOM specialist identify any problems early.  Thus, also gives them early program adjustments to assure that the program keeps going towards its goals.

Such task requires a hands on type of character—a character WE, communication specialists should continuously develop to be of use to any programs we undertake.  This career is a mile-long journey I have greatly learned from.

LEARNING BLOG 9: SOCIAL MARKETING FOR SOCIAL MOBILIZATION

MARKETING TO MOBILIZE BENEFICIARIES

One thing about instituting a program is your knowledge about your target beneficiaries, their characteristics and profile, what you want them to do and how you can make them do what you want them to do.  Your connection with your beneficiaries is a radical thing in persuading them to adapt to a certain behavior you would like them to execute to attain your program’s behavior.  The tricky thing here is your competence in the craft of seduction or let’s say it in other terms (temptation, enticement, or allurement).  

This is knowing how to get a knack to add some sweeter to your product (program) suitable to your individual beneficiaries’ context by essentially activating their  “I want it” “I need it” mental state. 

One more thing in connecting with your beneficiaries is considering some ways how they will avail the product, the additional expenses, the possible conflicts it could make with their routines, what most likely your beneficiaries will sacrifice to avail the product (program).

MARKETING TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES

Identifying your resources (the things you need) and sources (the people who have the resources) before initiating the program are the most imperative things in accomplishing the movement’s goals.  

In resources mobilization theory, we are working towards bringing money, supporters, attention of the media, alliance with those in power, and refining the organizational structure. ¹  Because definitely any program will never emanate without the contribution with those from our needed sources.

References:

1.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resource_mobilization

LEARNING BLOG 8: PRODUCT POSITIONING

What greatly interest me in this module is the PRODUCT POSITIONING--the one essential thing in the marketing strategy.  Positioning mainly focuses on the customer’s perception about the product or company.  That’s why the goal of product positioning is to persuade customers to believe that the marketers’ offerings are way better and different than that of the competitors. 

Marketers should aim to successfully position the products in a way the target customers would realize they need the certain products being advertised.¹

According to kissmetrics.com, one of the strategies Steve Jobs is using to launch the Apple products is PUTTING THE FOCUS ON PEOPLE, NOT THE PRODUCT.  Rarely would you hear him talk about the Apple features because basically people can locate that on websites.  Instead, he highlights more how the products affect the people.  “He talks about how annoying it is to carry both a phone and an MP3 player and how, with an iPhone, you’re condensing them down to one easy-to-carry device. It’s about simplicity, productivity, style — all things he knows people are interested in.”²

They said it isn’t about what the product does but how the product is going to make the people’s life better.  What’s really important is how the product appeals to the customers’ emotions.

References:

1.http://www.knowthis.com/principles-of-marketing-tutorials/targeting-markets/product-positioning/

2.  http://blog.kissmetrics.com/product-launch-strategies/

LEARNING BLOG 7: ANALYZING THE BARRIERS AND BENEFITS OF THE DESIRED BEHAVIOUR

Finally, it’s module 7 and we are more than halfway to the final module.  These months-length of learning Social Mobilization led me to new discoveries, which surely had been very helpful with my job as well.  

At any respective campaigns are particular goals we would like our program to achieve.  However, the way to our goals isn’t trouble-free as we thought.  There could really be coarse situations at any point and we should expect the unexpected.  It’s why analysis on the barriers and benefits of the preferred behavior (product) and the current behavior (competition) is necessary to develop tools and strategies.

Understanding the possibilities of the certain program, what to avoid, and what to improve is one of the ways to lessen the interferences that may come on the way.  Analysis is also a proactive role a DEVCOM should adapt to prepare any problem encounters concerning the behavior a program is aiming for. 

MODULE 12: DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION AND POLICY

The major consumer groups in the Philippines have bonded together to lobby for a policy that prohibits the advertising of tobacco products on radio and television.

ACTIVITY 12.1  STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS POLICY

STAKEHOLDER	STAKEHOLDER’S BENEFITS AND CONFLICTS IN THE PROJECT	STAKEHOLDER’S ROLE IN THE PROJECT	POTENTIAL STRATEGIES FOR OBTAINING SUPPORT OR REDUCING OBSTACLES
Government Officials	Society’s approbation for the new policy associated with development promoting health and well-being of everyone; but hostility from tobacco companies.	Very important	Preliminary communication by mail informing the project planned and request for approval on face-to-face meeting.
Radio Stations	Aversion from huge supplies of tobacco companies; source of income will be affected; but its role played will be helpful to the active smoking folks and non-smoking ones alike.	Very important	Preliminary communication by mail informing the project planned and request for approval on face-to-face meeting.
Television Stations	Aversion from huge supplies of tobacco companies; source of income will be affected; but its role played will be helpful to the active smoking folks and non-smoking ones alike.	Very important	Preliminary communication by mail informing the project planned and request for approval on face-to-face meeting.
Medical Professionals	Be able to practice his/her portion of expertise informing the dangers of smoking.	Fairly important	Preliminary communication by mail informing the project planned and request for approval on face-to-face meeting.

 ACTIVITY 12.2.  PROBLEMATIQUE ANALYSIS

 

PROBLEM:	UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
SUPERORDINATE INFLUENTIAL FACTOR:	Improper garbage disposal, air pollution caused by smoking, air pollution caused by gas emission from vehicles and factories.
SUBORDINATE INFLUENTIAL FACTOR:	Society’s unclean habits, no strict rules for smokers informing designated areas for smoking, no strict policies governing the change of technological system of vehicles and factories, and lack of education about cleanliness and healthy lifestyle.

 

ACTIVITY 12.3.  One-paged policy brief enumerating:  your stakeholders; the result of your policy analysis; and your recommendations.

BACKGROUND:

Unhealthy environment caused by smoking has been the common issue ever since.  Society’s well-aware of the dangers it could cause to one’s health.  However, habitual smokers hardly stop their habits and government along with the media put less effort about it.  Below is a statement on the importance of the government officials and media’s roles on the smoking issue.

STAKEHOLDERS:

1. Government Officials

2.  Radio Stations

3.  Television Stations

4.  Medical Experts

POLICY ANALYSIS:

Government officials’ approbation on the new policy on refraining smoking advertisements on television and radio stations is a starting point to a healthier environment.  With the radio stations, television stations, and medical experts major participation in promoting a healthy lifestyle and shunning dangerous smoking habits, society will be more likely inclined to live in good physical shape.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Government officials and media should work together more importantly regarding the issue.  Government to set up a strict policy for smokers like being fined a certain amount if they get to smoke in undesignated or public areas and to refrain the media from advertising tobaccos and instead encourage them to advertise healthful practices.