Aspects of Cultural, Leadership and Shareholder Differences in a Research Paper

Aspects of Cultural, Leadership and Shareholder Differences in a Merger - Research Paper Example Cultural difference was defined by the American Heritage English Dictionary as â€Å"The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions and all other products of human work or thought† (Barrett and Eneroth, 2012). This signifies that when a group of people work together or spend time together, they develop a pattern of habits that become the culture of an organization. Now when another company merges to form a joint venture, the human resource of both the companies have to work in coordination with one another, although they are used to different ways of working or spending time. This is where diversity or difference arises in an organization. Culture in case of private companies are usually quite random and is highly influenced by the decisions of the senior managers, while in case of public companies, group dependability is higher. In such cases, cultural difference is considered to be an obstacle to the success of the alliance (DeChesare, 20 13). In a survey conducted by CFO Research Services in 2004, it was found that among every five respondents, one of them considered cultural clashes to be the primary reason for alliance failure. This raises a question in the minds of readers about the true perception regarding cultural difference during joint ventures or mergers (Chanlat, Davel and Dupuis, 2013, P. 250-251).     Vebego and Risse successfully drove this joint venture for a span of two years. However, the problem had started with the entry of a third party called Westrom Group, which was a similar company like, The Risse Group. The intention of a public-private joint venture was to bring in the knowledge and experience of the public company and since private companies are good at handling business aspect, they can take care of marketing and administration segment carefully. However, the issues were created after the entrance of the third party because the existing companies made the new organization responsible f or many significant decisions, but only the support staffs were considered within the joint venture to handle the operations. The policies and framework for including a third partner were not rightly decided which had augmented the challenges for the joint venture. In this scenario, the cultural transformation tool (CTT) developed by Richard Barrett would be the best way to discuss the lesson learned from this situation, thereby stating the probable recommendations in this context. The CTT assist in the cultural evolution of the organization, which further helps the leaders to manage the operations. Barrett introduced a consciousness model with seven levels, which are evolutionary in character. He did some modifications to Maslow’s Hierarchy model. In 1998, he had developed a model, which was also called CTT. As can be seen in Figure 1 below, there are seven levels of consciousness such as service, making a difference, transformation, cohesion, self-esteem, relationship and s urvival (Barrett Values Centre, 2009a).

Problems and Prospects of Theatre Entrepreneurship Essay Example for Free

Problems and Prospects of Theatre Entrepreneurship Essay Taiwo Okunola (Department of Theatre Film Arts, University of Jos, Nigeria) Abstract The business of theatre management is business of management. It is a culmination of the directive principles, canons and protocols governing theatre and management together to form a formidable team which thus makes a theatre entrepreneur. Being a theatre entrepreneur in Nigeria entails many dilemmas, challenges and hurdles. Thus, this paper seeks to address the problems and prospects facing theatre entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Introduction Theatre management that requires a diligent entrepreneur to handle is a necessarily and inevitable aspect of the theatre. For instance, Innocent Ohiri in his article elaborately outlined the role of the theatre carried out by the theatre entrepreneur in this depressed economy. The management function of the manager becomes inevitable if the theatre is to be sustained and vibrant in this 21st century. However, theatre management or theatre entrepreneurship involve two principal words that needs to be broken down in order to really vista the concept in ditto. Zulu Sofola, one of the progenitors of the Nigerian theatre considers theatre as a medium of artistic expression where societal happenings are mirrored in a dynamic, living form. A metaphorical image of reality, it reflects the total cosmic, moral and metaphysical order of the life of the people. It is an arena where human beings are presented in a cosmic totality, acting and reacting to forces around them and within them, perceiving and being perceived by those interacting with them, and by those in the audience who experience with them the enigma that is the common lot of humanity.

To Kill A Mockingbird: Prejudice In Maycomb :: essays research papers

To Kill A Mockingbird: Prejudice in Maycomb Two major people in To Kill A Mockingbird are prejudged; Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. One man is the victim of prejudice; Atticus Finch. These men are mockingbirds. For a mockingbird has never hurt anyone, and neither has Atticus Finch, Boo Radley, nor Tom Robinson. . Boo Radley is prejudged because he chooses to stay in his domicile. While Tom Robinson is prejudged because of his color. Atticus Finch becomes a victim of prejudice due to his valiancy to help a innocent black man; Tom Robinson. Boo Radley and Tom Robinson and prejudged; but because prejudice is so inclusive, even those who help the â€Å" mockingbirds†, Atticus, become victims of prejudice. Maycomb people gossip about Boo Radley because he chooses to stay in his house, while Tom Robinson is stereotyped by Maycomb because of his skin color. Rumors are spread about these men because most of Maycomb is guilty of prejudice. Boo Radley is generally gossiped about by Miss Stephanie Crawford. Miss Stephanie recounts to Jem about rumors spread about Boo Radley. â€Å"So Jem received much of his information from Miss Stephanie Crawford...†( Lee, TKAM 11 ). Miss Stephanie explains a erroneous rumor about Boo. â€Å"As Mr. Radley passes by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent's leg...† ( 11 ). Tom Robinson is prejudged by many people, some include: Scout, Mr. Gilmer, and Bob Ewell. For example, when Scout says, â€Å"Well, Dill, after all he's just a Negro† (199). Maycomb people are the sin of all prejudice in Maycomb. Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are mockingbirds. Both of these men are victims of prejudice. To take advantage of these men would be a sin, just as it would to kill a mockingbird. â€Å"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy...that's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird (90).† Tom Robinson is taken advantage of by the Ewell family. Tom had nothing against anybody, especially the Ewells'. He would help Mayella with her chores, and the part of it that made him a mockingbird, is that he did not want anything in return. â€Å" Were u paid for these services...No suh, not after she offered to give me a nickel the first time (191).† What makes Boo Radley a mockingbird is that he has never really never hurt anybody, he minds his own business while watching over his children. The Ewell family and many other people in Maycomb have sinned, distinctively Bob Ewell, because they took advantage and prejudged to innocent men; Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. People who help the mockingbirds also become victims of prejudice.

Mythology in the World :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How did the world begin? Have you ever wondered this most likely yes. Everyone has been asking this question for millions of years. The explanation of this is called Mythology. By looking at What Mythology is, the categories of Mythology, the regions of major myths, some of the key players of myths, and finally the similarities of the cultures. With that I will start my paper and by the end of it you will have a more in depth knowledge of Mythology.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mythology meaning the study of Myths. Myth comes form the Greek word Mythos meaning speech or discourse later meaning fable. Myth is defined as a story of forgotten origin, it is religious or supernatural. It seeks to explain the creation of the universe, everyday phenomena and everything in it. The different regions of the world all have a different story and set of characters they use to explain this. Now that you know what exactly what mythology is we will look at the different categories of mythology.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The different categories of mythology are explanatory myths and adventure myths. Explanatory myth will break down into smaller sub divisions called Cosmogony, nature myths, and eschatological myths. Explanatory myths these are myths that nature or certain events and customs of different cultures. Cosmogony is a big word for creation myths. Creation myths explain the origin of the universe. They use primal gods and animals to tell the story. There are different types of creation myths as well. The first is the single stage creation where a god existed ex nihilo. Which means a god existed in a vast space and created the universe out of nothing. The other is multi stage creation. In this the universe is created by one god. His children then continue to create the rest of the world. Nature myths have to do with animals and everyday phenomena like the rising and setting of the sun. The last explanatory myth is eschatological. This tells how death and other bad things c ame into the world and how the world is going to end. The next category of mythology is adventure myths. These are myths that involve humans. These are stories of major events in history that parts have been embellished or forgotten and made up. Now that you know the different categories of mythology we will look at the different regions where the stories came from.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The different regions of mythology are Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

Are we too dependent on technology? Essay

Our ever-advancing technological world is subjected to both amazement and criticism. Technology has manifested itself into a form like a virus imprinted into us. As a result of which a question is posed to all of society, or those mainly in use of technology, are we too dependent on technology? There are those who believe that technology has taken over our daily lives, those who think that it only stands to benefit us and some who don’t think or care about its effects. The consensus that we are becoming too dependent on technology is one not so unbelievable. We all know for the most part that technology has integrated itself to just about everything that we do. For example, how many times do you check your phone, or go online to check your email or even play a video game. These are common examples of things we do daily without even realizing that these technologies have taken over our lives. Read more: People Have Become Overly Dependent on Technology Technology can be viewed as a beneficiary to our lives rather than monster waiting to bear its fangs. It goes without saying that technology has both greatly improved our lives by making it simpler. Yes, technology has deprived us of some skills such as doing simple chore but the benefits outweigh its cost. For instance, the invention of the phone has revolutionized the way we communicate with others worldwide. Technology is only meant to make our lives easier. Being on the fence is a simple concept to understand, simply just can’t pick a side or don’t. Simply there are those who enjoy the use of technology, those who find it deprives us of mental growth and those who don’t care what happens when it’s used. Though technology can have a strong grip on our lives we aren’t stupefied without it. The matters of whether technology controls us or benefits us shouldn’t make a difference on how we live. We choose to live life like this and may or may not have known what might have happened, but once chosen there is no turning back. Overall, society today has accepted all technologies in one form or another.

buy custom My Consumption and Me essay

buy custom My Consumption and Me essay Introduction Every day we consume or us things that have impacts either to us or to the environment that we live in. All that we care about is the utility that we get from the things that we consume but there are no a single time that we have asked ourselves how the things we consume are processed? How they reach us? Whether they are sustainable or not? Do they have any economic, environmental and cultural effects to us and other people? These questions are based on our lifestyles and how it affects our surroundings and other people (Cororaton 46). Every person is supposed to conduct a research in his or her consumption in order to determine whether they lifestyles are sustainable and environmental friendly or not Research topic The research My consumption and me gives a clear indication that the study is about my own consumption and or my lifestyle in general. From the study it is clear that my lifestyle, just like some of you, is not sustainable and changes are necessary in order to promote ecological balance (Woolman, 280). As the topic states, my fact sheet is about my consumption and how it affect the environment. The research involves a factual study of my wardrobe and even clothes that I no longer wear. It involves the analysis of the type of the clothes that I wear, how they are manufactured, who manufacture them, how they are shipped to my destination and the availability of the resources that make them. On the other hand, clothes that I no longer wear are also evaluated in order to determine their impacts to the environment after disposal. The intention is to determine whether they decompose or remain for long time to the environment. What are their impacts to the environment? Are they friendly or not? The fact that I smoke cigarettes and take alcohol on weekends also has some impacts in my lifestyle that I cant ignore in my fact sheet. Generally, as the research topic states, the fact sheet is about my personal consumption with more attention given to the clothes that I wear and their impacts to ecological balance. Methodology The research involves qualitative research methods whereby I have to analyze all the clothes that I wear by through observation in order to determine my lifestyle. I have also included pictures of my clothes in order to make the fact sheet more illustrative and easy to understand. I have also conducted a literature review concerning the type of the clothes that I wear in order to determine their sustainability in terms of production, and disposal after use. This includes accessing the information available in the manufacturers website, fashion magazines and other articles and books about cloths, lifestyle and environment. After the study, there is a critical analysis on the findings in order to determine the impact of my lifestyle to myself and the environment in general (Woolman, 280). What I normally buy It should be noted that I am a 22 years old man and I normally work in an office during week days. Therefore most of my clothes are official ones which include suits, slacks, ties, and nice shirts. On the weekends I normally wear casual clothes especially when at parties or in the local bar taking some beer. These include fitting jeans, t-shirts and sweaters if the weather is chilly. Due to my lifestyle, especially my drinking and smoking habits, most of my clothes are not bright to avoid stains and dark spots in case a spark from the cigarette accidentally falls on my clothes. On the weekends, I normally drink little unless in times when there is an occasion with my friends. On the other hand smoking is like an addiction to me because on average I smoke a packet of 24 sticks every day. Generally most of my clothing is cotton and buy them from Bank clothiers and HM stores in New York US. This means that I have to drive to these stores any time I need to change my wardrobe. However I do not do shopping frequently and I replace my clothing once they are worn out. Since most of the stores that I go shopping are situated in New York and I do not live in town, I have to drive there which means that my lifestyle involves consumption of petroleum to run my cars engine too. Consequently, there is smoke, though little that is emitted which causes pollution to the environment and irritation to other people. However the impact is minimal since most of my clothes are long lasting and I am not a frequent shopper. However, I mus admit that the amount of clothes that I buy anytime visit the stores have increased tremendously due to changes in my lifestyle such going to work which has increased my need for more and pretty clothes. This has also shortened the duration that I take in order to replace my clothes. My shopping routine Generally my shopping routine revolves from smart official clothes to casual clothes that I wear on the weekends and other days that I am not at work. My shopping list includes fine material trousers and shirts that are mostly made cotton or a mixture of cotton and some polyester. I also buy plenty of fine long sleeved shirts together with their matching ties. I also have few suits that I wear on special occasions. I have buy jeans trousers and t- shirts to substitute my official clothing whenever I am not at work or during parties and weekends. When it comes to shopping, I normally buy what I necessarily require but, like any other young person, sometimes I find myself buying other things that are new in market as long as I they are pleasing to me and I have money. Generally I normally shop for new clothes twice in a year unless there are few replacements making it at most three times in a year. I normally shop for my official clothes from Bank clothiers stores since they are known for making excellent office attire for men (Jos A. Bank Company). When it comes to casual clothes, I prefer HM stores since their jeans and t-shirts are long lasting and affordable (HM clothes company). Most of my clothing last for one to two years since I wear them frequently and any time they are worn out I normally throw them away together with garbage or burn them. This is due to the fact that there are no places to donate or recycle clothes in the place where I live and keeping them is not only unnecessary but also makes my wardrobe to look congested and untidy. Fabrics that constitute my wardrobe Most of my clothes are cotton expect few nylon shirts, polyester shirts and woolen sweaters. For instance, almost all of my official shirts are cotton made or a mixture of cotton and polyester threads. All these clothes I normally buy then from the manufacturers outlets across the city which are Bank Clothiers and HM. These companies normally manufacture they clothes from the raw materials and then distribute the readymade clothes to their stores for sale. Manufacture and effects to the environment Generally, cotton clothes are made from cotton which is harvested from cotton plants that grown in many parts of the world where temperatures are moderately high. When cotton is harvested, it is normally taken to the ginneries where it is prepared into threads that are used to make fabrics that then are sewed together into various clothings. Most of the jeans that I wear are 100% cotton although there are few blends of polyester. The synthetic indigo dye is used in dyeing in order to achieve the favorite color. The belt loops, waistband, back panel, pockets, and leggings of a pair of blue jeans are all made of indigo-dyed denim. Other features include the zipper, buttons, rivets, and label. Rivets are made of copper, but the zippers, snaps and buttons are usually steel. Some have designers' labels that are made out of cloth, leather, or plastic, while others are embroidered on with cotton thread. On the other hand, most of my t- shirts, shirts and materials trousers are made of cotto n too unless few which are made of polyester and or the mixer. I also have jersey T-shirts which are made from knit fabrics. Woolen sweater are made from wool that come from animals such merino sheep and other hairy animals (Woolman, 280). During the manufacturing process, the fabric is normally treated with several chemicals in order to achieve the required color, durability and comfort. However, in every process of finishing cotton fabric, by products which are mostly biodegradable are released. For instance, by products of Denim manufacture includes pollutants such as starch and dye which are harmful to the environment. However, these by products are normally treated through biological methods other than dumping them into streams or lakes where they end up polluting the environment and taking life from these waters due to their high requirement of oxygen for decomposing. The manufactures use biological process to break these by products into compounds that are less or not harmful to the environment. Polyester comes from petroleum which is a non renewaable resource that mining and processing cause immense pollution to the environment. Countries of origin that show in my wardrobe Though most of the clothes that I wear are made here in the US, the raw materials come from different parts of the world. There is high probability that most of the cotton that is used in manufacturing most of my clothes comes from either US, Australia or Egypt. This is due to the fact that the amount of cotton produced in the US and Europe is not adequate to meet all the local requirements. Although Bank Clothier is situated in America, there is high likelihood that most of the cotton that it uses to manufacture cloths comes from other parts of the world thousands of kilometers away. On the other hand, HM Company is a Sweden based cloth making company that has several factories all over Europe and Asia. Since HM is not situated in America, a lot of cost is also incurred during importation of cotton for making clothes and in shipping of clothes to the companys stores in the US where I buy them. Petroleum that is used in the manufacturing of polyester comes from Asian countries whereb y it is shipped to the countries where clothes I wear are made or these companies import read made polyester fabrics for making clothes (Roberts, 65). Effects of shipping and manufacturing to human populations All these processes involved in making of clothes that I wear have both positive and negative impacts to the human population at large. First of all, manufacturing and shipping processes create income earning opportunities to many people resulting to economic growth. Manufacturers and ship owners get income out of their businesses while those who work in these industries are paid some money too. Local governments in the countries where these activities take place get revenue too in for of tax and other levies such a trading license fees. In other words, growth in transport systems and manufacturing industries result to growth in global markets which in term enable individual to access goods and services that are not produced or locally available in the countries (Roberts, 211- 212). Considering my personal scenario, shipping and manufacturing of cloths and clothing making raw materials have enabled me to have clothes that match with my taste any time I want them. However according to environmental theory, we only change one thing and then it leads to other things. Consequently, manufacturing and shipping activities involved have contributed to negative effects to human population too. The processes have resulted to pollution that arises from the byproducts of these industries and shipping trucks, trains and ships. Pollution on the other hand has ruined peoples healthy due to increase of diseases that are caused by exposure to contaminated environments. Alternatives and their differences Considering the effect that use of non biodegradable and other non sustainable raw materials have to the environment, it is the high time that companies involved in manufacturing of clothes should go green. This means that these companies should reduce use of raw materials or manufacturing processes that are harmful the environment. Manufacturing companies should consider making cotton and woolen cloths which are friendlier to the environment. Though cotton is not completely green, it is more environment friendly than other fabrics used to make clothes (Woolman, 280). Bearing in mind sustainable means not affect the ecological balance, it is evident that my clothing and lifestyle are not completely sustainable. For my clothing to be more sustainable, I need to completely change my wardrobe to cotton made clothes that are locally available. I also need to strictly buy clothes that I am in need and not because I have money or certain clothes are pleasing to my eyes. When it comes to disposing of my old clothes, I need to stop disposing them through burning since this is a loss because these clothes can be recycled or donated to those in need. On the other hand, smoke produced when burning these clothes is toxic to human beings and results to environmental pollution (Gow, 112). My life style too especially smoking and drinking of alcohol are no necessities and its the high time to d away with them since they are harmful to my health and expensive to maintain. Smoking causes irritation to other people and results to environment pollution too. By doing so, I will able to have a sustainable lifestyle. Buy custom My Consumption and Me essay

Internet Cafe Ban in manilenos minor Essay Example

Internet Cafe Ban in manilenos minor Essay Example Internet Cafe Ban in manilenos minor Essay Internet Cafe Ban in manilenos minor Essay Background of the Study: School is where students develop skills that help them interpret and adapt to a changing world. This is the place where they are developed and save from vices. Unfortunately, due to the inclusion of technology, students particularly minors, are addicted to the computer games that cause to the cutting classes and worst drop out. Almost everywhere you can see internet Cafe that allow rent computers to anyone. Computer Gaming is one of the main attraction in computer shops that cause addiction to the users or players. This was known as Computer Addiction. Due to the increasing number of minors that are skipping in the class, the government make an action to solved this problem. The Manila City Council passed an ordinance that will prevent the minors in entering to the computer shops with in am to pm, weekdays. The ordinance was created by Executive order no. 14 and City Ordinance no. 8168 on 2007 by Former Manila Mayor Alfred S. Limit. This is intensified the drive against computer shops that allow accessing the students during class hours. This authorizes the parents and teachers to inspect computer shops and internet cafe, if they allow minors inside the shop. But only officers of accredited parents and teacher association are assigned to inspect and monitor the shop. They have the authority to take pictures and get the names of the minors, the owner of the shop and the names of the parents. The reports are then goes to the mayor and upon approval of the mayor the license of the shop to operate will be revoked. On the other hand, the identities of the minors are keep safe, for confidential purpose. This ordinance also erred every computer shop to attach No to Pornography and Gambling sign to every computer and that there should be no cubicle or no enclosed separating each computer. There should also be sign on the door stating that Minors and Students are not allowed to enter during Class hours. The implementation of the ordinance aims to give managements of internet shops some rules that will save the youth from computer game addiction that could affect their social well-being, morality and most especially their education. This ordinance is within the Jurisdiction of the City of Manila only. This is a great steps for the decreasing of the number of drop outs and skipping of classes of the minors and student. Here also stated in the ordinance that there is a penalty in breaking the elementary schools are established. This research is conducted for the purpose of identifying the effect of this ordinance in promoting the education of the minor students and to avoid the to the computer addiction that will affect their Studies. For academic purpose the research focus on the locality of selected barraging in Sample manila. V. Theoretical Framework: This study has described a Grounded approach to the design of programs to strengthen hybrid Justice systems that is attuned to local needs and opportunities. Five key steps were proposed: (l)understand the historical and contemporary political and policy context of formal and customary Justice systems; (ii) analyze the strengths and weaknesses of formal and customary legal systems; (iii) identify entry points for strengthening hybrid Justice systems based on an analytical framework of institutional change; (iv) realistically assess the opportunities for engagement on the entry points; and (v) ensure a flexible and long-term commitment to implementation. V. Conceptual Framework: The implementation of the Ordinance no. 168 in Manila City, prohibits the minors in entering in computer shops during school hours. The parents and teacher association are task to inspect the computer shops if they allowing minors to access the computer they own. This is for the promotion of the education of the minors and to save the minors from computer addictions. VI. Paradigm of the Study: VI. Objectives of the Study: MUST: To Identify the effects of the ordina nce no. 168 to the education of the minors. WANTS: To know the purpose of the ordinance. VIII. Statement of the Problems: (General Statement of the Problem): The study focus on the effects of ordinance no. 8168 to the education of the minors in sample manila. (Specific Problems): 1 . What was the characteristics of minors, in terms of: a. Age b. Sex c. Etc. 2. Does the Parents and Teachers Association are educated or knowledgeable to the 4. What are the effects of the implementation of ordinance no. 8168 to the education of the minors? X. Hypothesis: Ha: There is significance between the Ordinance no. 8168 to the education of the minors. Ho: There is no significance between the no. 168 to the education of the minors in Sample Manila. X. Research Design: The Method of research used in this study is Descriptive Method. This Method describes and interprets the present situation and practices in society. Descriptive research Describes and interprets what is. That is concerned with the prevailing practices (Best). In this Research, the intended to be interpreted is the implementati on of the City ordinance 8168. This study will primarily determine the effects of banning the minors in computer shops or internet cafe in the Academic performance of the students of . X. Significance of the Study: The researcher hopes that the result of this study would contribute to the better learning of the minor students. The following are the sectors that affected and gain significant information on this study: 1. To the Minors = this will provide them an information on how important is the Ordinance to their Studies. 2. Parents and teachers association = this is important for hem because it can give them a feedback on how well they are performing the ordinance. 3. To the City Council= For them to evaluate the law, and serve this as their basis in upgrading improving the ordinance. 4. To the Future Researcher: this will serve as their related study in conducting their research. This will also provided information to them on how important is the Ordinance in the academic performance of the Minor students. 5. To the Readers= this will provide them an information to increase their awareness on the ordinances exist in Manila for the welfare of the Minors.

Make a Slushy Instantly With Soda and Supercooling

Make a Slushy Instantly With Soda and Supercooling Cool off and amaze your friends by making any soft drink or soda turn into a slushy on command. Heres how to do this fun and refreshing supercooled science project. Instant Slushy Materials Soft drinkFreezer Any soda or soft drink works for this, but it works especially well with 16-ounce or 20-ounce carbonated soft drinks. Its also easiest to use a beverage in a plastic bottle. If you dont have access to a freezer, you can use a large container of ice. Sprinkle salt on the ice to make it extra cold. Cover the bottle with the ice. Make a Soda Drink Slushy This is the same principle as supercooling water, except the product is more flavorful. Heres what you do with a carbonated soda, such as a bottle of cola: Start with a room temperature soda. You could use any temperature, but its easy to get a handle on how long it takes to supercool the liquid if you know your approximate starting temperature.Shake up the bottle and place it in a freezer. Do not disturb the soda while it is chilling or else it will simply freeze.After about three to three and a half hours, carefully remove the bottle from the freezer. Each freezer is a little different, so you may need to adjust the time for your conditions.There are a couple of different ways to initiate freezing. You could open the cap to release pressure, reseal the bottle, and simply turn the soda upside down. This will cause it to freeze in the bottle. You could gently open the bottle, releasing pressure slowly, and pour the soda into a container, causing it to freeze into slush while you pour. Pour the drink over an ice cube to get it to freeze. Another option is to slowly pour the soda into a clean cup, keeping it liquified. Drop a piece of ice into the soda to initiate freezing. Here, you can watch the crystals form outward from the ice cube. Play with your food! Try other drinks to see what works best for you. Note that some alcoholic drinks dont work for this project because the alcohol lowers the freezing point too much. However, you can get this trick to work with beer and wine coolers. Using Cans You can make instant slush in cans, too, but it is a bit trickier because you cant see what is going on inside the can and the opening is smaller and harder to crack without jarring the liquid. Freeze the can and very gently crack the seal to open it. This method may take some finesse, but it works. How Supercooling Works Supercooling any liquid is chilling it below its normal freezing point without turning it into a solid. Although sodas and other soft drinks contain ingredients besides water, these impurities are dissolved in the water, so they dont provide nucleation points for crystallization. The added ingredients do lower the freezing point of water (freezing point depression), so you need a freezer that gets well below 0 degrees C or 32 degrees F. When you shake up a can of soda before freezing it, youre trying to eliminate any large bubbles that could act as sites for ice formation.

Why Do Students Cheat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Why Do Students Cheat - Essay Example The major factors that have been highlighted by researchers as amongst the major causes of cheating are limited time available to students, the prevailing culture that encourages cheating, weak regulations and punishments that discourage students from cheating in future as well as getting the opportunities to cheat. These causes have been explored in greater depth and their strength in leading students towards cheating has been highlighted. Cheating, often termed as academic dishonesty, is a frequently reported academic crime by various colleges and universities. According to the statistics by Duke University, approximately 10% of students in their graduating year had been guilty of cheating (Conlin). Further research in this area has explained the fact that cheating is not the story of just one college or university; it is the story of most universities and colleges across the globe. So much is the frequency of cheating that it has been defined as â€Å"rampant† according to one study (Simkin and McLeod). Statistics have depicted a continuous rise in the percentage of college students who have cheated, from 60% to as high as 86% (Whitley). The phenomenon of cheating is a matter of great concern not only to academic institutions today but also employers because it has been observed that cheating at the college level translates to immoral behavior at the workplace. Researchers have found a link between cheating and unethical practices at work (Thompson). Cheating is, thus, rooted in individuals’ attitudes towards dishonesty and is less a superficial practice and more of a serious issue. Thus, dishonesty in academics translates to dishonesty at work. A less obvious form of cheating is the practice of individuals who, for a large fee worth several dollars, take the test for an individual (Simkin and McLeod). A significant cause of cheating is the access to technology, particularly the internet that has encouraged the practice of cheating. The interne t has boosted options for students to cheat; it provides various channels through which students can view solution manuals, test banks and quizzes (Simkin and McLeod). Exchange of solutions to future test questions amongst students is another major aspect of cheating. The mobile technology has also been used to take images of test papers as well as text the correct answers to students during exams. However, this has raised questions as to what are acceptable practices and what are not. If individuals are to succeed in managerial positions, they have to engage in sharing of information and resources as well as team work. According to some individuals, the practice of getting one’s exam written by someone else is seen as a sign of creativity on the part of students who look for new ways of succeeding (Conlin). According to these individuals, what matters is the concern that students have for getting the work done correctly, not the means through which it is done. Those who are against the practice of cheating, however, argue that cheating is looked down upon because it degrades the reputation of institutions, reduces the value of the degrees given to students, and results in dissatisfaction of employees who find that their employees are unable to perform the tasks that are depicted by their majors (Knowledge). In an interesting study regarding cheating in business schools, it was pointed out that business schools struggle to encourage ethical principles in students so that they display ethical behavior at workplace. This goes along with the expectation that business schools will put special effort to encourage ethical principles in students such that they will display true professionalism at work. The concern for cheating is especially high for business

Genetic Engineering and Conservation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Genetic Engineering and Conservation - Essay Example Today, most species face stress factors ranging from global warming, habitat destruction to conflicts and poaching leading to the great reduction in numbers of some species. Conservationists are seeking the help of modern science for designing interventions to control these losses. Genetic engineering is the science of altering one's gene by introduction of a foreign gene for beneficial purposes such as adaptation. Genetic engineering has already contributed to the growth of the agricultural sector making the Genetically modified seed sector alone worth $ 15 million (Thomas et al,2013). However, genetic engineering is not considered a modern strategy since it was used even decades back to make plants more tolerant to certain conditions such as temperature and pest attack, thereby making the genetic tool a reliable tool. Genetic engineering could be used to introduce lost genetic diversity among a threatened population to enable stabilization. For example, in Florida, the population of Florida Panther increase by 100% after members of another closely related species-Puma concolor stanleyana was introduced which worked by decreasing inbreeding (Thomas.et al,2013). Genetic engineering would play an important part in refining this methodology. Another way in which genetic engineering could aid conservation is by recognizing certain beneficial genes and introducing them into vulnerable species. Aquaculture researchers recognized an allele in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that made them withstand high heat. These genes could be introduced through modern tools into the genomes of fish eggs to make them more tolerant of changing conditions.

Finance Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Finance Management - Essay Example A rising profitability is a good business feature whereas a falling profitability is a bad one. The net profit margin shows the profit that a business is able to generate after meeting the various expenses and costs (Gitman, 2007, p.32). For the four divisions of Jools Furniture Industries Ltd this margin reflects mixed signals. In the case of Quality products division the net profit margin has improved over the last three years. In 2007 the profit margin of this division was -9.90%. In the next year the management of the division was able to cut down on the unnecessary expenditures pushing the profit margin in the positive territory. This further improved to 3.36% in 2009. For the Kitchen and Office division the net profit margin reveals a declining trend. ... The ROI generated by all the divisions has been more than 10% for the last two years. Quality products division reported the highest ROI for the year 2009 at 18.99%. The division reported a negative ROI of 14.9% in 2007. Kitchen division reported a ROI of 12.75% in 2009. This figure was higher in 2007 at 17.97% and it dropped to 12.87% in the following year which is a fall of nearly 5%. Despite an increase in the turnover of the division the divisional management failed to sustain the profitability margin of the previous year. Bedroom division generated the second highest ROI for 2009 at 14.63%. The return generated by this division was even better in the previous years at 16.62% and 18.18% for 2007 and 2008 respectively. Office division reported the third highest ROI of the company at 13.48%. Even for this division the return generated has dropped as compared to the last few years. Efficiency- The asset turnover ratio is an important indicator of management efficiency. A high ratio implies that the company management has been able to utilise the asset base efficiently i.e. it has been able to generate more sales (Nelson, 2008, p.370). For Kitchen division this ratio has remained over two for the last three years. In 2007 this ratio was 2.14 and it increased to 2.19 in 2009. This shows that the management of this division has used the available asset base judiciously and efficiently. With the rise in the asset base in 2008 the management reported a higher turnover i.e. the division made optimal utilisation of the available resources. In the case of Office division this ratio has improved steadily over the last three years. It increased from 1.68 in 2007 to 2.10 in 2009 which is quite impressive. This suggests that the divisional managers are continually

Health Care Reform to Address Access Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health Care Reform to Address Access - Essay Example Indeed, as one of the most developed nation of the world, America has failed to provide a universal health cover to its people. The healthcare reforms of Obama administration have, therefore, been hailed as major initiatives that cater to the welfare of the people at large. The federal health reform legislation enacted in 2010 addresses the crucial areas: accessibility to quality healthcare; rein in its cost; and promote uniform plans that cuts across gender, age and persons with pre-existing diseases. The reform proposes to enforce stringent measures to control wastage, fraud and abuse in Medicare in order to make it more cost effective. Moreover, the austerity measures along with saving would ensure that medical care is extended to wider segment of population covering vulnerable segment. The administration has allotted $630 billion in the budget of 2010 for the healthcare reforms over a period of ten years (WhiteHouse, 2012). Indeed, the reforms are intended to make it universal and the recent Supreme Court verdict has strengthened Obama’s plans for making healthcare universal. I believe that the basic value for underlying this approach is to curb corruption, especially Medicaid and Medicare frauds, which lead to substandard healthcare services. The commodification of market driven health insurance have become major obstacle for accessing quality care at affordable prices. Harrington (2008) strongly believes that poor health status of people is due to limited access to healthcare services, especially for the poor, uninsured and vulnerable segment like aged and disabled. The present reforms promote health insurance cover to people who cannot afford. It has also made provisions to protect people with pre-existing condition by creating national ‘high risk’ pool. The special team of experts would watch over the waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicare. These are effective measures that would help rein in cost and enhance accessibility

Business Codes of Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Codes of Ethics - Essay Example A well designed code of ethics will help highlight the resources available to achieve various goals set at the personal and corporate levels. A good code of ethics document will inspire confidence in all business associates – like suppliers, clients and employees. The rest of the essay will critically analyze the codes of ethics of two accounting firms and evaluate their merits in the process. The two firms chosen for the exercise are KPMG and Grant Thornton (Budd, 2007). â€Å"At KPMG, our promise of professionalism to each other, our clients, and the capital markets we serve, compels us to align our culture of integrity with our values, words, and actions. By setting high standards for ourselves, and our clients, our commitment to upholding KPMG’s values is clear: There is never a situation when compromising our standards is either expected or acceptable. To support our culture of integrity, KPMG has further developed a robust ethics program that includes our Code of Conduct, as well as the Ethics and Compliance Hotline†. (Budd, 2007) The above passage captures the essence of what KPMG stands for as an organization. The language is unambiguous and the sentences are well structured – two essential qualities for business writing. It also makes it clear how imperative ethics are to the firm – not compromising their standards in any situation. Keeping pace with the times they have developed a easy to use Ethics and Compliance Hotline, which can be availed by all business associates. So, in this regard, KPMG adheres to international standards of maintaining ethical business conduct (Shearer, 2002). â€Å"Being at the cutting edge of professional development is vital for an accounting and advisory organization operating in a dynamic business and regulatory environment. By taking an active role in entities that liaise with regulators, promoting high-quality professional standards and insisting upon high standards of ethical behavior, senior

Health Care Reform to Address Access Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health Care Reform to Address Access - Essay Example Indeed, as one of the most developed nation of the world, America has failed to provide a universal health cover to its people. The healthcare reforms of Obama administration have, therefore, been hailed as major initiatives that cater to the welfare of the people at large. The federal health reform legislation enacted in 2010 addresses the crucial areas: accessibility to quality healthcare; rein in its cost; and promote uniform plans that cuts across gender, age and persons with pre-existing diseases. The reform proposes to enforce stringent measures to control wastage, fraud and abuse in Medicare in order to make it more cost effective. Moreover, the austerity measures along with saving would ensure that medical care is extended to wider segment of population covering vulnerable segment. The administration has allotted $630 billion in the budget of 2010 for the healthcare reforms over a period of ten years (WhiteHouse, 2012). Indeed, the reforms are intended to make it universal and the recent Supreme Court verdict has strengthened Obama’s plans for making healthcare universal. I believe that the basic value for underlying this approach is to curb corruption, especially Medicaid and Medicare frauds, which lead to substandard healthcare services. The commodification of market driven health insurance have become major obstacle for accessing quality care at affordable prices. Harrington (2008) strongly believes that poor health status of people is due to limited access to healthcare services, especially for the poor, uninsured and vulnerable segment like aged and disabled. The present reforms promote health insurance cover to people who cannot afford. It has also made provisions to protect people with pre-existing condition by creating national ‘high risk’ pool. The special team of experts would watch over the waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicare. These are effective measures that would help rein in cost and enhance accessibility

Placement Experience and Personal and Professional Development Essay

Placement Experience and Personal and Professional Development - Essay Example In addition, I was also assigned with the responsibility to handle queries of customers who are already in the middle of a tour or those who are about to go on a tour. Queries were mostly related to payment, travel tickets, travel documents, immigration and local guidance. My duty was also to process the queries and delegate them to my superiors in cases where handling those queries were beyond my capability as well as authority. Another major responsibility was to notify clients of any modifications in the tour plans and other updates related to date of departure and arrival (such as, notifying any flight postponement or delay). Alongside that, my job role required me to gather feedback from our customers regarding quality of products and services offered by us. Thereafter, I was supposed to deliver the feedback to my superiors as well as manager in order for them to identify area of strengths and improvements. Lastly, I provided assistance to my manager so as to finish the day†™s task.DiscussionBeing the sales representative in Hino Travel Limited, my major responsibility was to attend customers who come for consultancy and provide them with all necessary information regarding products and services that we had to offer. In such a situation I had to use my presentation skills combined with a positive attitude in order to persuade them to choose the deals that we had on offer. I was able to do so by developing an exhaustive picture of needs and expectations of the customers.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay Example for Free

The Picture of Dorian Gray Essay Dorian Gray is a wealthy and incredibly handsome young Englishman. He meets Basil Hallward, a great, well-known artist during his time at a social gathering. After their meeting, Dorian decides to have his portrait painted by Basil. Basil is greatly taken by the magnificence of Dorian’s physical appearance. As an artist, Basil becomes inspired, to great extent, by Dorian’s seemingly exceptional exquisiteness. Dorian becomes Basil’s â€Å"muse†. This results in Dorian sitting for quite a few portraits by Basil. A friendship also ensues because of their frequent encounters. (Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 2007) Through his portrait sitting sessions with Basil, Dorian Gray meets Lord Henry Wotton. Lord Wotton is a very close friend of Basil’s. He is a nobleman and is quite the intellectual. A very articulate, witty and interesting conversationalist, Dorian Gray is instantly taken by Lord Wotton’s charm. Lord Wotton’s ideas are radical and endeavor to challenge the widely-accepted conservative concepts of truth. Lord Henry Wotton’s thoughts and theories reveal that he is a staunch believer of self indulgence. He is an exponent of the quest for both proper and immoral life experiences. However, his lifestyle reveals the opposite. He takes part in the social activities of London high society but he is careful enough to not involve himself in distasteful conduct. He is eager to take Dorian under his wing and teach him the principles of â€Å"new hedonism†. Basil confides in Lord Wotton that he finds Dorian’s Gray’s physical attributes enchanting and overpowering. (Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 2007) Upon hearing Basil’s confession, Lord Wotton sought to influence Dorian by his ideals. In one of their encounters, Lord Wotton seeing Dorian’s portrait by Basil leaves a distressing message to Dorian that youth and beauty are fleeting. Dorian, the vain person that he is, is greatly trouble by this statement. He agonizes over the preordained fact that his handsomeness, which he considers his best trait is vanishing as each day goes by. Dorian unknowingly puts a curse on his portrait, wishing that he could change places with image in the painting. He hoped that the painting would grow old and he would stay the same, vibrant and youthful. Basil gives Dorian the portrait to calm him down. (Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 2007) Dorian falls in love with Sibyl Vane, a young, poor actress. In spite of her brother, James’ warnings that a relationship with Dorian will not do her any good, she still persisted. She gets engaged with Dorian. One night, the raving Dorian proudly brings Lord Wotton and Basil to the theater to watch Sibyl. As the play unfolded, the two guests openly disapprove of Sibyl’s acting prowess. It is Dorian’s nature to be overly concerned of other peoples’ thoughts about him and his choices that he takes the criticism to heart. His guests try to console him that it does not matter if Sibyl is a good actress or not as long as they love each other but instead of calming down, he asks them to leave. Dorian tells Sibyl about this and the young and promising Sibyl who is swept away by her feelings for Dorian decides to abandon her love for acting for Dorian. In return, Dorian ruthlessly breaks off their relationship. This leaves Sibyl heartbroken and greatly distressed. (Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 2007) Upon returning home, Dorian gazes at his portrait and he observes that the expression on the portrait’s face had changed from a calm expression to a scornful look. Seeing this, he feared that his wish to change places with the image on the portrait had come true and that his transgressions will be documented on the canvas. He decides to reconcile with Sibyl the next day. Unknown to him, Sibyl had taken her own life. The next day, Lord Wotton tells Dorian the news of Sibyl’s suicide. When he first heard of the terrible news, Dorian was distraught. To console Dorian, Lord Wotton advises Dorian to see Sibyl’s death in a different light. Lord Wotton counseled Dorian to treat Sibyl’s death as rather, a creative feat by being the epitome of tragedy and put this misfortune behind him. Simply put, Lord Wotton advised Dorian to consider Sibyl’s death as just another case of life imitating art. Dorian hides his portrait for fear that someone else would see the changes in the portrait. (Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 2007) Given the conduciveness of the situation, Lord Wotton decides to take his â€Å"mentorship† with Dorian further by giving Dorian the ‘yellow book’ containing the exploits of the book’s hedonistic lead character. The book becomes Dorian’s ‘bible’. Dorian’s obsession with the book and hedonism signals the start of his corruption. (Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 2007) After many years, Dorian’s appearance remains the same but his corrupt reputation precedes him by stories of his scandalous deeds and immoral exploits that hound his persona in London’s high society. A direct opposite of his physical appearance, his portrait by Basil had change considerably. The person in the portrait now looks repulsive, unbeknownst to many. When news of Dorian’s reputation reaches Basil, he decides to confront Dorian about his behavior. During the confrontation, Dorian shows the now hideous painting and the terrified Basil entreats Dorian to repent. In a fit of rage, Dorian kills Basil. This is followed by other atrocious deeds until one night, Dorian, overcome by fear and guilt tries to destroy his portrait. In his struggle to do so, he collapses on the floor and his servants are baffled to see the dead body of a disfigured, old man, a knife in his heart, in the place of their master. (Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 2007) Homoerotic love This novel is replete with instances that show homoerotic love. Both Basil Hallward and Lord Henry Wotton are vying for Dorian Gray’s attention. (Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 2007) Basil is instantly won over by Dorian’s physical attributes during their first meeting. He becomes so obsessed over his physical attraction to Dorian that it is expressed in his portraits. Basil was so drawn to Dorian to the point where he said â€Å"as long as I live, the personality of Dorian Gray will dominate me†. Basil is very much concerned over Dorian’s behavior and his reputation. This is very evident in the scene where he confronts Dorian in hopes to get him to repent from his wrongdoings. In the novel, Dorian does not reciprocate Basil’s feelings. (Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 2007) Lord Henry Wotton senses Dorian Gray’s adoration of his sophistication and radical ideals starting from their first meeting. This sparks an attraction where Lord Wotton coached Dorian in the ways of hedonism. (Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 2007) Dorian Gray’s fascination towards the hedonistic ideals of Lord Henry Wotton overshadows his other relationships. His obsession reaches to the point that he is easily influenced by the mere words that Lord Henry Wotton speaks. He is greatly affected when Lord Wotton expresses disapproval in any aspect of his life. One particular case in point is his reaction when Lord Wotton and Basil Hallward openly criticized the acting skill of Sibyl, the woman with whom he was once engaged. Lord Wotton’s twisted stamp of approval became Dorian’s measure of success. Dorian’s idolization of Lord Henry Wotton and the principles of hedonism eventually led to his downfall. (Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 2007) Works Cited Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. (2007, November 6). The Picture of Dorian Gray. Retrieved November 9, 2007, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/The_Picture_of_Dorian_Gray#Homoeroticism

Evaluation Of Business And Strategy Analysis Burberry Group Marketing Essay

Evaluation Of Business And Strategy Analysis Burberry Group Marketing Essay INTRODUCTION: BURBERRYS STRATEGY: The groups strategy is marked by leading market position combined with strong franchise in established countries along with usage of emerging countries platforms to drive earnings growth and volumes. The group also focuses on meeting ever changing consumer demands through continuous innovation and expand the product portfolio, directly operated stores network, selective wholesales distribution channels and enhance operational capabilities, which resulted in healthy growth in the recent years. Groups is in a better position to optimize the high growth prospects in Asian regions for that reason Group announced an amendment to its apparel licence in Japan. Group is continued to evolve and enhance its products and brand span over all consumer-facing platforms. In stores, the Group continued to roll out the Burberry Experience, a comprehensive sales and service programme. Group strategy is to bring greater clarity to the brands segmentation and focus on operational improvements, which has allowed greater speed and responsiveness in delivering products to consumers, pointing the way to a further evolution of the Burberry business model that will provide fresh merchandise to stores and online with greater frequency. Groups strategy to involve in digital and web world like live streaming and social media where its gets social platform, successfully creating the new communities of interest. The core purpose of the Burberry brand is to protect, explore and inspire which are at the heart of Burberry, its culture and behaviour as a company. Group is now Shift company culture and processes from a static wholesale model to a dynamic retail model. Retail-led growth refers not only to the operation of Burberrys own stores, but also to a fundamental shift in the Groups operating structure. Burberrys strategy formulation under Resource Based Theory: The resource based theory advocates the efficient and effective use of resources and capabilities. One of many facets of this view is the acquisition of already working entities in the regions in which the company is planning to enter (Jay B. Barney, 2007). In a resource-based view, Burberry has strong excellent world-class talented people worldwide. As the business grows and the demand for expertise and ability across the organization increases, Burberry is ensuring that it develops a robust pipeline of talent throughout the Group. Burberry unique brand have more than 150 years history which broad consumer appeal across genders and generations; a unique demographic positioning within the luxury arena; and broad global reach that allow Burberry to charge premium prices gives Burberry a competitive advantage. Burberry rare activities which doesnt follow by their competitor is everything the consumer sees is developed centrally under Chief Creative Officer, Christopher Baile. It is actively embracing digital and social media to extend the reach and appeal of the brand, especially to the luxury customer of the future. Besides resource based theory, the strategic capabilities of Coca Cola Hellenic may also be evaluated through PEST analysis. PEST analysis of Burberry to evaluate strategic capabilities: The PEST analysis looks into the Burberrys exposure to Political, Economical, Social and Technological factors, which may affect its strategy formulation capabilities. The following factors may be considered in this regard (Wetfeet, 2008): Political: (Kluyver, 2010) The Group operates in many countries including the emerging markets. These countries subject to changes in laws and regulations, including accounting standards, taxation, (tax rates, new and tax laws) and environmental laws in domestic or foreign jurisdictions particularly in times when public sector debt is high and tax revenues are falling. Burberry faces intense competition from developing countries due to cheap copies of his brand where no copyright law exist. Political conditions like civil unrest, unstable governments historically and have been subject to political instability and restrictions on the ability to transfer capital across borders. Ability to penetrate developing and emerging countries, which also depends on economic and political conditions, and how well they are able to acquire or form strategic business alliances with local fashion trends and make necessary changes which also affects the luxury brand of Burberry The Burberry has strong luxury brand, which is only feasible in some geographic environments and demographics. Economical: (Griffin, 2006) The global economic downturn affected the level of consumer spending on discretionary luxury items. Increased regional competition by other international as well as local brands. Customers (in particular Middle Eastern, Russian, Japanese, Chinese and other Asian customers) who purchase products while travelling either overseas or domestically generate a significant proportion of the Groups sales. As a result, shifts in travel patterns or a decline in travel volumes could materially affect trading results. As economies develop, is for staple items such as food and clothing to lose their relative importance in the typical household. Social: (Grant, 2005) Social environment of countries also affect the Burberry because different cultures, different lifestyles. Dress codes have reflected social attitudes of people .Dress are integral to how they regard themselves. Technological: (W. Glenn Rowe, 2010) The effectiveness of company is advertising and marketing is crucially changed due to latest technological trends in advertising. New uses of internet and television that incorporates special effects for advertising may make some products look more attractive to consumers. Introduction of digital world and web in the world effect the way of doing business. Burberry live streaming allowed consumers to purchase runway items for expedited delivery -another first for the luxury sector Through use of technology Burberry, creating a platform of social media, which helps in, opens new ways of communities of interest. Group also launched artofthetrench.com; a social media website that introduces the iconic trench coat to the digital generation and is attracting the new, younger luxury customer to the brand may give a competitive advantage. SWOT analysis of Coca Cola Hellenic: Strengths: (Bohm, 2009) Strong brand: Burberry has iconic of trench coat, which linked to Authentic British heritage and its Unique democratic positioning within the luxury arena .This gives the company a strong brand standing. Globally recognized icon portfolio: the trench coat, trademark check and Prorsum horse logo. Burberry stores are among the best vehicles to communicate the full brand message to consumers. Global Reach: Burberry has broad geographic portfolio including Europe including Spain accounted for 44% of sales, Americas 27% and Asia Paci ¬Ã‚ c 24%. Emerging Markets, which spans across all regions and includes China, India, Russia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, contributed 10% to retail and wholesale revenue. Multi-category competency: womenswear, menswear,non-apparel and childrenswear with innovative outerwear as the foundation. Channel expertise in retail (including e-commerce),wholesale and licensing. Burberry as the leading employer in the luxury sector Weaknesses: (Fine, 2009) Lack of expertise in the field of supply chain in the target market Local competition and lack presence in particular areas of the world. High luxury brand The product segmentation of Burberry is weak between men,s and womens appral lines. Opportunities: (Fine, 2009) Group has the opportunity to amend its largest license agreement in Japan market where challenging consumers conditions available. There are opportunities for Burberry group in the heritage menswear business; the young children swear division, or quickly developing shoe category. While emerging markets such as China offer great excitement, excellent potential remains in all geographic regions. Burberry have opportunity in Spain integrating the market with global Burberry is in the long-term best interests of the brand. Non-apparel continues to be a key driver of growth for the Group and have more potential to grow. Strengthening of brand image through advertising. Threats: (Nadine Pahl, 2009) Competition from local brands. Imitation: Cheap copies of brand are available in the developing countries. In developing countries where customers are getting more sophisticated and price conscious. This may shift the demand from luxury products to cheap products, which is not the core product of Burberry. Politics and economies are primary sources of threats to a brand in the fashion industry. Number of key product categories Burberry is reliant on a small number of suppliers which threat to its brand. APPRAISAL OF PERFORMANCE SINCE 2009 The global luxury goods market had grown by around 8% per annum before the great economic downturn in l2008. In 2009, it is estimated that the global luxury market declined by around 9%, as consumer confidence and buying powers of peoples fall. Industry analysts expect the sector to show some recovery in 2010, although not as high as the 8% seen prior to 2008. The deteriorating economic environment and unemployment rates have their impact on aggregate demand throughout fashion industries. Sales revenue has been increase by 7% from 2009 to 2010 in a highly uncertain consumer-spending environment, which shows a remarkable achievement of the management of Burberry. In 2009/10, the dramatically slowed consumer environment pressured both gross margin and expense structure with a management entered the year emphasizing profitability over revenue growth. In a luxury market, Burberry achieved revenue of  £1.3bn, 7% reported. Operating profit increased 22% to  £220m, Retail/wholesale gross margin increased from 52.1% in 2008/09 to 59.7% in 2009/10.while diluted EPS increased 16% to 35.1p. After-tax return on capital remained strong at 28. The Group generated  £254m of cash, resulting in a  £262m year end cash balance. Relative to luxury products Burberrys performance was among the best in the sector during 2009/10 The Greek Economic Crisis: The Greek economic crisis had a massive impact on Coca Cola Hellenics results. Lower customer confidence, rising unemployment rate (15% at the end of June 2010) and pressure on the tourism sector are still deteriorating Hellenics volume and channel mix in Greek markets (which accounted for approximately 8% of the groups total volume during 2009). As a response to higher pricing competition, Coca Cola Hellenic has increased its promotional and marketing activity in the country, which will have a resultant negative impact on the groups profit margins. Management expects this steep trend to persist until at least towards the mid of 2011. Additionally, the Greek government has initiated austerity measures, which are impacting negatively on consumers wages (the government is currently considering increasing VAT on soft drinks to 23% from 11% and/or increasing excise duties) and affecting Hellenics results. Among these government measures was the implementation of an Extraordinary Social C ontribution Tax which led to a charge of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬21 million in 2010 and which the government has indicated will prevail until the end of 2012. Meanwhile, the government is also considering a new tax on distributable profits of companies operating in Greece, which may force Hellenic to provide shareholder returns via means other than dividends (Yasmina Serghini-Douvin, 2010). Exposure to Currency Movements: Due to diverse internal market, Burberrys profits are highly exposed to foreign currency rate exposures. The Group has the Group has a policy of hedging foreign currency denominated transactions by entering into forward foreign exchange contracts , resulting in a  £7.3 million negative impact on its 2010. Overall, Burberrys Gross margin in 2010 was 59.7%, which higher as compared to the 52.1% in 2009, the groups operating profit margin increased from 9.8% to 11.6%, largely due to gross margin benefits and savings from the global cost efficiency programme (Yasmina Serghini-Douvin, 2010). Returns to Shareholders: The financial structure of Burberry comparatively stable over recent years Board has recommended a 17% increase in the full year dividend to 14.0p worth  £52.5 million at the end of 2010. Porters generic forces Cost Leadership: It explains gaining of competitive edge by having the lowest cost in the market. Burberry not a following cost leadership because its deals in luxury items. Differentiation: Burberry luxury brand has iconic figure in the fashion world which show company follows the differentiation strategy. There may be several approaches to differentiation: Different design Brand Image New technology Number of features Product Quality Focus or Niche Strategy: Burberry may as well get into niche of focus markets. Such move may result in firm growth in those particular niches. Burberry and Ansoff Matrix: Ansoff matrix describes various moves a company can adopt in the market to gain a competitive advantage. It describes four different situations which are enumerated in the form of a table as follows (Griffin, 2006): Existing Product New Product Existing Market Market Penetration Product Development New Market Market Development Diversification Market Penetration: Market penetration can be achieved by Burberry in three ways: by getting competitors customers, improving the product Attracting new users or persuading current users to use more through marketing etc. For example, Management successfully executed the  £50m cost efficiency programmed announced in 2008/09. Approximately half of the gains were driven by supply chain and corporate process efficiencies. Cost reductions, including rationalization of internal Manufacturing, showroom closures and intensive expense and headcount management, accounted for the remainder.The company plans to re-invest these savings to assist future growth in market share in recent years to come. Market development: Market development is defined as opening up new markets for products .For Burberry; these consist of China, India and the Middle East. All distribution channels (retail, wholesale and licensing) are used to optimize these opportunities. Burberry added a net 20 stores in Emerging Markets, of which 13 stores were in China and six were in the Middle East. Of the total, 97 are operated under franchise, 12 by the Burberry Middle East joint venture, and two by the Burberry India joint venture. In North America, which Burberry has also identified as an underpenetrated market, underlying retail and wholesale revenue increased by 2% in 2009/10, with an improved performance in the second half (up 10%).Japan non-apparel joint venture is established to build the brands non-apparel business in Japan, the worlds largest accessories market, the joint venture became fully operational during the year. Product development: Product development means launch of new products in existing markets. This may help to maintain consumer awareness, drive growth and increase profits and its only beneficial when company have strong brand name, strong research and development and strong design team. As an example, Burberry focus on and invest in under-penetrated non-apparel categories to further leverage Burberrys unique positioning, design and merchandising expertise and iconic branding through investment in product development, marketing and supply chain. Non-apparel continues to be a key driver of growth for the Group. For the third consecutive year, it was the fastest-growing product area within Burberry, and continues to offer scope for further gains across a number of under-penetrated categories like (Large leather goods, mens non-apparel, Soft accessories and Shoes). Burberry continues to grow outerwear by continued product innovation. Diversification: Diversification means selling new products in new markets. There are two types of diversifications are related or horizontal diversification and conglomerate diversification (non related). Both diversifications are achieved trough acquisitions. We have already seen that Burberry has a rich history of entering new markets and introducing new products. Burberry also benefits from a great degree of product and brand diversity, Diversified offering which leads the Burberry brand has broad consumer appeal. The business is balanced between non-apparel (36% of 2009/10 revenue), womens wear (35%), menswear (24%) and the smaller but high potential childrens wear division (5%). Outerwear, which is the core of the apparel offer at over half of sales, is the category in which Burberry is top of- mind among consumers. Another key strategy is to grow non-apparel where revenue increased by 10% underlying in 2009/10. BCG Matrix (Kluyver, 2010) Stars: Stars are those products, which have a high relative market share and high market growth. It is market leader In case of Burberry, Growth has been primarily due to in non-apparel products, now the largest product category, increased by 10% underlying, with good growth across all product categories. Large leather goods accounted for half of non-apparel retail sales and grew by 30% in retail, with particular strength in Asia. Further design and product development expertise benefited shoes. Cash Cows; these products have high market share but low growth market possibly going into negative. Because it have high market share it is the market leader, which help him to earn cash. In the case of Burberry their women wears have strong market share with but have little growth Burberry will use his higher full price sales and increased awareness driven by artofthetrench.com. Question marks: Those products that have relatively low market share in high growth markets. Childrens wear grew by 37% on an underlying basis, which is 5% of the revenue but have high potential market. Burberry aims to drive children swear to 10% of total Group sales over time. Dogs; these products have low market share in low and static market that is not a market leader. Dogs might lose money and more cash used to earn something. In the case of Burberry Mens wear have low and decaling market share with low growth it benefited from benefited from continued innovation in styles, fit and fabric. In retail, the relabelling of Burberry Brit contributed to good volume and value growth in all product categories, especially in Asia. POTENTIAL FUTURE STRATEGY: Agreements: In October 2009, the Group announced an amendment to its apparel license in Japan which gives better positions to optimize its presence in Japan and the high-growth Asian region over the medium term. The restructuring of the Groups business in Spain integrating the market with global Burberry is in the long-term best interests of the brand. This arrangement would help to support the strategic and operational alignment, and would provide a stable shareholding base in the coming years. Porters Diamond: (Griffin, 2006) Factor conditions: Burberry should look into different markets to gain the advantage of demand factors like cheap pool of labour with skills in industry, government subsidies, low cost raw material etc. Burberry has favourable factor conditions like excellent network of transports and telecommunications in UK. In Japan the conditions is not favourable for Burberry because of shortage of land which leads companies to develop just in time system. Demand conditions: In developing and emerging counties, the higher level of competition affected by lower-value cheap brands. A new joint venture in India was announced in November 2009, combining the strengths of the Burberry brand and organisation with the expertise of a local partner to address this young, exciting luxury market. Burberry is in fashion market where customers expectations and demands always high which forced to create new brands and innovative fashion lines. Related and supported industries: the existence of large number of related industries edge should be sought in the future like purchase raw materials and fabrics from developing countrie.high quality RD strong links with firm gives Burberry innovation in the field of production which also very supportive in UK. Firm strategy, structure and rivalry: Burberry is highly exposed to developing and emerging territories. At the highest level, the Groups primary objectives are the continued elevation and building of the Burberry brand, and ensuring the Company remains firmly on a path of sustained. Burberry faces a strong competition from their rivals because the fashion industry ever changing environment where every time new things come to the market. However, the wide range of countries in which Burberry operates lessens the underlying associated risk.

A child Called It by Dave Pelzer Essay -- essays research papers

One Child’s Courage to Survive: â€Å" A Child Called It † Abstract This is one of the best, yet saddest books that I have ever read. There are so many bad things out there that are happening to good people. We just have no idea. You never know what is going on behind closed doors. I am so lucky not to have experienced anything like this growing up. There is so much reality in this book, but I never knew that reality was ever this awful. It brought me to a realization that I have never known before. It is extremely sad that something like this really did happen to such a sweet little boy. Summary A Child Called â€Å"It† is a story based on a real life little boy’s tribulations with his mothers shocking abuse. The first part of Dave's life was idyllic in his memory--he says his family was "the Brady Bunch"--a loving mother and father with whom he enjoyed wonderful holidays and a happy trip to the Russian River. Everyone on the outside thought that David’s family was perfect. No one in their neighborhood would have suspected anything was wrong. All that changed when Dave was in first grade. For no known reason, his mother singled him out from his siblings and began abusing him. The abuse began relatively mildly. When he and his brothers did something wrong, Dave was the one to receive punishment--at first simply banishment to the corner of a bedroom. Then, his mother began spending her days watching TV and drinking beer. Easily irritated, she yelled at Dave for the slightest reason, or sometimes for no reason at all. Soon, instead of making him go down to the basement, Mrs. Pelzer smashed Dave's face against the mirror, then made him repeat, over and over, "I'm a bad boy! I'm a bad boy!" He was forced to stand for hours staring into that mirror. Dave's father soon joined The Mother, as David called her, in her drinking. He, too, knew David was a "good boy." He did not join in the abuse, but he did not to stop it, either. David was treated like a slave in his own home. His mother treated him as if he wasn’t even a member of the family like a nobody or an â€Å"It†. She first referred to him as, â€Å"The Boy, then it quickly changed to It†. Nobody at his school liked him, they called him "Pelzer Smelzer" because his mom never washed his clothes and made him wear the same thing every day. After school, o... ...er of the Year. In 1993 Dave was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA), joining a distinguished group of alumni that includes Chuck Yeager, Christopher Reeve, Anne Bancroft, John F. Kennedy, Orson Wells and Walt Disney. (Dave Pelzer Biography 2002, Para. 2) In 1994 Dave was the only American to be selected as one of The Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP), for his efforts including child abuse awareness and prevention, as well as for instilling resilience in others. During the Centennial Olympic games, Dave was a torchbearer, carrying the coveted flame (Dave Pelzer Biography 2002, Para. 2) References American Psychological Association. (2001) Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed). Washington, DC: McLaughlin & Reinking A Child Called It. (1995). Health Communications, INC. Deerfield Beach, FL: Dave Pelzer The World of Psychology. (2002). A Pearson Education Company. Boston, MA: Samuel Wood & Ellen Green Wood p. 593 Dave Pelzer Biography. (1997-2002) Book Browse LLC, Davina Morgan-Witts, CEO. San Jose, CA. (para.2). Retrieved 04/29/02 from http://www.bookbrowse.com/index.cfm/author/authorID/145.htm

The Nature of Love Explored in A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay

â€Å"The course of true love never did run smooth,† comments Lysander of love’s complications in an exchange with Hermia (Shakespeare I.i.136). Although the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream certainly deals with the difficulty of romance, it is not considered a true love story like Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare, as he unfolds the story, intentionally distances the audience from the emotions of the characters so he can caricature the anguish and burdens endured by the lovers. Through his masterful use of figurative language, Shakespeare examines the theme of the capricious and irrational nature of love. As the play opens, Theseus, Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, his fiancà ©e discuss their upcoming wedding. With the introduction of Theseus and Hippolyta, Shakespeare presents the backdrop for the multi-faceted love relationships which take place in the play. In an effort to celebrate the occasion with â€Å"pomp, triumph and reveling†, (Shakespeare I.i.20) Theseus instructs Philostrate, Master of the Revels, to â€Å"stir up the Athenian youth to merriments† (Shakespeare I.i.13) as well as to provide entertaining distractions for him and Hippolyta until their wedding. These simple, innocent instructions for merriment and entertainment set the stage for Shakespeare to intricately weave the young lovers, the fairies and the rustics into the story. Introducing the main conflict, Egeus, an Athenian citizen seeking the wise counsel of Theseus, arrives. Egeus’ complaint is against his daughter, who refuses to wed Demetrius, the suitor he has chosen. Although Demetrius loves Hermia, she has given her heart to Lysander and therefore refuses to obey her father and Athenian law. Interestingly, Demetrius not too long ago professed his love for Helena,... ...ss of love. The audience must wonder if Demetrius will have another change of heart or if he has truly matured. Thomas Marc Parrott asserts of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, â€Å"It is his use of language, as in so much else in this play, that Shakespeare shows himself the master† (Kehler 22). Through Shakespeare’s intricate weaving of figurative language throughout the play, he leads the audience on an imaginative, melodramatic, and enchanting parody of exploration into the complexities of love. As Parrott contends, Shakespeare’s true expertise lies in his artful handling of the complexities and subtleties of both the written and spoken word. Work Cited Shakespeare, William. â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream.† The Norton Shakespeare: Based on the Oxford Edition, 2nd ed. Eds. Greenblatt, Stephen et al. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2009. Print.

Mill’s View of Lower/Higher Pleasures

Mill is a utilitarian philosopher who lives by the Greatest Happiness Principle, in which there is a clear distinction between both lower and higher pleasures. Though thoroughly explained, one must also question the justification of these pleasures. Many of these beliefs leave the reader hanging on the edge, with further questions that need to be answered. What is the exact distinction between the lower and higher pleasures? And how are higher pleasures measured as most valuable? How clearly is Mill’s view of lower and higher pleasures justified? Mill, unlike some utilitarians (Epicureans), believes that there is an immense distinction between higher and lower pleasures. Lower pleasures, according to Mill, are those based off of sensations. â€Å"Few human creatures would consent to be changed into an of the lower animals for a promise of the fullest allowance of a beast’s pleasures†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Mill, Self-Love 506) Both humans and animals are capable of experiencing these pleasures, but what Mill believes is that only Humans are capable of the higher pleasures, and therefore no intelligent human being would chose to become an animal incapable of these more valuable pleasures. The lower pleasures are based off of sensations in which include things such as our five senses: taste, hearing, touch, sight and the sense of smell. One will experience these pleasures multiple times daily, thus reducing the amount of satisfaction one feels when experiencing a lower pleasure. Mill believes that animals and human beings both share similar experiences when it comes to the lower pleasures, but that only human beings are capable of the higher pleasures. How one measures the justification of the distinction between the lower pleasures and the higher pleasures is based mostly on opinion. It does make sense that since human beings are most definitely superior in the intellectual field that in order to achieve a greater value of happiness one must experience the higher pleasures, but who says that animals are not capable of any of the higher pleasures? â€Å"†¦to the love of power, or the love of excitement, both of which really do enter into and contribute to it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Mill, Self-Love 507) Now, I know for a fact that my dog is very capable of being excited. All he does is run around the entire house multiple times after showing him five seconds of love. So if the love of excitement contributes greatly to a higher pleasure with a greater value of happiness, then at least some inferior species must be capable of experiencing these higher pleasures. â€Å"It is better to be a human being satisfied than a pig satisfied. † (Mill, Self-Love 507). Mill has never experienced the life of one of the â€Å"lower animals†, and therefore cannot be one hundred percent sure of his opinion. The only way to justify Mill’s answer would to conduct an experiment in which involves observing the animals’ actions and reactions. Did you know dogs have around 100 facial expressions? Now if a dog is capable of having more facial expressions than a human being, how can one come to the conclusion that dogs are incapable of any of the higher pleasures? â€Å"If I am asked what I mean by difference of quality in pleasures, or what makes one pleasure more valuable than another, merely as a pleasure†¦. Of two pleasures, if there be one to which all or almost all who have experience of both give a dedicated preference, irrespective of any feeling of moral obligation to prefer it, that is the more desirable pleasure. (Mill, Self-Love 506) What he is trying to explain is that if one of the pleasures takes precedence for the majority of the people who experienced both pleasures, without being chosen because of certain natural feelings and/or based off of the person’s morals, then that is the pleasure in which holds the greatest value. One question a critic might ask would be why not trust your moral obligat ions or your feelings? And what instinct are we to base our decision off of if we are not to trust our own feelings or morals? Mill’s view on the greatest valued pleasure is clear, but he does not explain what one should base his or her decision on. â€Å"†¦the pleasures of intellect, of the feelings and imagination, and of moral sentiments, a much higher value as pleasures than to those of mere sensation. † (Mill, Self-Love 506). Basically, only human beings have the overall brainpower to experience these â€Å"higher pleasures†. These higher pleasures do not occur as often, which then indicates that higher pleasures are more valuable, as their occurrence are significantly more rare than the lower pleasures. Most utilitarian writers, including Mill, place supremacy in mental pleasures over bodily pleasures because of their circumstantial advantages, and in regards to safety are much less risky when it comes to injury and whatnot. But one must consider the following: What about athletes? Models? Stuntmen or professional weight lifters? An individual who is perusing a career in which is physically dominated might consider physical pleasures and achievements to be of a greater value of happiness than mental pleasures. One would only assume that Mill and other tilitarian writers consider pleasures of intellect to be of greater value, they are philosophers. What they enjoy doing is exploiting their thoughts into words to share with the rest of the world; that is what keeps their motor running strong each and every day. â€Å"A being of higher faculties requires more to make him happy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Mill, Self-Love 507). Mill in his eyes is justified by this due to the fact that he believes t hat humans are the only living beings capable of higher pleasures on Earth, so therefore a human being must have these higher pleasures because of their need for a greater value of happiness. But on the contrary, if a being of a lower faculty requires less to be happy, then the lower pleasures should be just as valuable to the inferior species as the higher pleasures are to the more capable beings. Who says that the other animals on this planet are inferior beings to humans anyways? How does one measure superiority? It all depends on the individual’s opinion. Someone like Mill might believe that mental capability and capacity are the most accurate units of measurement when it comes to who is the top dog. But just because human beings are more capable than animals mentally, it does not mean that we are the superior beings. If one were to measure superiority in the aspect of happiness, then one would have to believe that the lower species are most superior. Every living being on planet Earth is on the pursuit of happiness, and if lower species receive more satisfaction from the lower pleasures, then the beings we think to be inferior are much better off than we are. Since human beings are so much more capable mentally, then they are also more prone to be unhappy, as the lower pleasures are taken for granted since they do not provide enough happiness for one to be as satisfied as the other animal species. Mill believes in a clear distinction between the â€Å"lower and higher pleasures†, and that only humans are capable of the higher pleasures. One must question just how justified Mill is in his beliefs, as he has never experienced life as a â€Å"lower animal†. Who says that the higher pleasures only include those associated with the mental world?

Dominoes vs. Pizza Hut Essay

The Indian domestic pizza market is growing rapidly with number of foreign brands entering into the sector to seek business opportunities. In the current scenario, Indian consumers are increasingly shifting towards varieties of Pizza offered by the well-known brands. Further, huge untapped potential in rural and semi-urban areas, quick investment recovery, simple equipment and small investment to open a pizza outlet also contributes to the development of domestic pizza industry in India. Thus, the domestic pizza market in India is estimated to grow with a CAGR of around 26% during 2011-2014. The two main contenders in this highly competitive market segment is Domino’s and Pizza Hut. Until 1996, Pizza in India was synonymous only a bready dough base slathered with some ketchup. Since 1996, there was a proliferation of ‘high-priced branded’ pizzas in the market, with the entry of international pizza chains. Domino’s and Pizza Hut, the two big US fast food chains entered India in 1996. Each claimed it had the original recipe as the Italians first wrote it and was trying desperately to create brand loyalty. Domino’s and Pizza Hut – tried to grab as large a slice of the pizza pie as possible. Domino’s and Pizza Hut expanded their market ever since they entered India. Domino’s had grown from one outlet in 1996, to over 500 outlets in April 2012. Pizza Hut too, which began with just a single outlet in 1996 has over 200 outlets in 2012. Domino’s entered India in 1996 through a franchise agreement with Vam Bhartia Corp. 3 The first outlet was opened in Delhi. With the overwhelming success of the first outlet, the company opened another outlet in Delhi. By 2000, Domino’s had a presence in all the major cities and towns in India. Pizza Hut entered India in June 1996 with its first outlet in Delhi. Positioning to customer needs. When Domino’s entered the Indian market, the concept of home delivery was still in its nascent stages. It existed only in some major cities and was restricted to delivery by the friendly neighbourhood fast food outlets. Eating out at ‘branded’ restaurants was more prevalent. To penetrate the Indian market, Domino’s introduced an integrated home delivery system from a network of company outlets within 30 minutes of the order being placed. However, Domino’s was not the trendsetter so far as home delivery was concerned. Delhi based fast food chain; Nirula’s was the first to start free home delivery in 1994. But where Domino’s stole the market was its efficient delivery record. GouthamAdvani, Chief of Marketing, Domino’s Pizza India, said, â€Å"What really worked its way into the Indian mind set was the promised thirty minute delivery. † Domino’s also offered compensation: Rs. 30/- off the price tag, if there was a delay in delivery. For the first 4 years in India, Domino’s concentrated on its ‘Delivery’ act. For its delivery promise to work, Domino’s followed an 11-minute schedule: one minute for taking down the order, one minute for Pizza-making, six minutes oven-time, and three minutes for packing, sealing and exit. Pizza Hut, on the other hand, laid more emphasis on its â€Å"restaurant dining experience. † It positioned itself as a family restaurant and also concentrated on wooing kids. Its delivery service was not time-bound. A company official said, â€Å"The Pizza making process takes about 20 minutes and since we don’t usually deliver to places which are beyond the reachable-in-half-an-hour distance, customers can expect home delivery within 45 minutes. † Moreover, analysts felt that Pizza was something that just was not meant to be delivered. Said Vivek Sure, Projects Manager, Pizza Express, â€Å"If you don’t eat pizza fresh, it turns cold and soggy. † However, Domino’s seemed to have overcome this problem through its delivery pack called ‘Domino’s Heatwave. Localizing the Menu Since its entry into India, Domino’s introduced nine new toppings for Pizzas to cater to the local tastes. Different flavours were introduced in different parts of India. Advani said, â€Å"The Indian palate is very definitive – people are extremely finicky and choosy, not too willing to experiment. Food tastes vary from region to region. To capture the market, we had to localize flavours. † Thus, Deluxe Chicken with Mustard Sauce’ and Sardines were confined to the East, Mutton Ghongura and Chicken Chettinad to the South and Chicken Pudina to Mumbai. Butter chicken, MakhaniPaneer and the ChatpataChana Masala were confined to the North. Very soon, Pizza Hut followed Domino’s and offered customized Spicy Paneer and Chicken Tikka toppings. Apart from this, it also opened a 100% vegetarian restaurant at Ahmedabad, a one-of-its-kind worldwide. The restaurant also offered a special Jain menu, which did not have a single root-based ingredient to fit in with the food habits of Jains. Another city-specific adaptation of its menu by Pizza Hut was the restaurant in Hyderabad, (Andhra Pradesh) which offered Halal meat and chicken only with no beef and pork products in the menu. MARKETING MIX 1. PRODUCTS PIZZA HUT a. Product differentiation: Worldwide and in India pizza hut has come to become synonymous with the â€Å"best pizza’s under one roof†. this is because at pizza hut the belief is that every pizza has its own magic thus making it a destination product which everyone seeks. It is this belief that has ignited the passion to create , innovate and serve the finest product the industry has to offer while setting standards for others to strive to replicate. Pizza hut is committed to providing uncompromising product quality, offering customers the highest value for money and giving service that is warm, friendly and personal. A critical factor in pizza hut’s success has been its unique dining experience. Crew members at pizza hut strive each day to provide ‘customer mania’ the kind of service that ensures that every visit of the customer is a memorable one. b. Pizza Features: Pizza hut has many unique features of their product due to which it attracts the customers. The product is classified into non-durable goods as it is a food item. Pizza hut differentiates itself with its competitors with respect to their wide range of offerings (menu items) one can find besides pizzas, range of pasta’s appetizers, cakes deserts etc. There are a large number of items to choose from. Some of the items are: * Pizza’s * Pasta and salads * Appetizers * Deserts * Beverages c. Mass Customisation: The main advantage of customisation is that one can customize his/her own pizza by selecting the bread and loading it with his/her choice of toppings. This creates variety in the customers mind and thus one can enjoy whatever he/she can imagine pizza hut can offer. The most unique feature is that there is ‘pan 4 all’ scheme where one can select 4 different types of vegetarian/no-vegetarian combination of pizza. This is a unique way of offering as there are many customers who come in groups where someone in the group may have different preferences. d. Conformance quality Pizza Hut products have high conformance quality all the products produced are identical and meet the promised specifications. e. Style Pizza is delivered in hot pans and served in style. The toppings are also dressed in a good fashion thus having ‘food in style ‘defines pizza hut experience. f. Service Differentiation * Dining: Once one enters a restaurant immediately the attendants initiates the ordering process by providing the menu. All associates are well trained in English and can take order from any type of customer. Pizza hut’s style of delivering the pizza is quite an experience. The restaurant is aesthetically designed. All the staff members are uniquely dressed, managers dressed specially. Also the tables and menus are all placed in a good manner. All orders placed are served within 15-20 minutes. * Delivery and takeaway:They have the concept of hot-dot in case of delivery, which means that the package is guaranteed to be delivered hot. There is a dot on the cardboard box that serves as a checking point as to whether the hot-dot status has been met or not. Also they place a tripod on top of the pizza at the centre so that the ceiling does not touch the toppings. DOMINOS a. Product Differentiation Domino’s pizza India has maintained its position in the market with its constant product innovation and maintenance of stringent service standards. More importantly it has established a reputation for being a home delivery specialist capable of delivering it’s pizza’s within 30 minutes to its community of loyal customers from its entire chain of stores around the country. As the name suggests ‘the pizza delivery experts’ customers can order their pizza’s by calling their hotline. Domino’s believes strongly in the strategy of ‘ think local and act regional’ . Thus time and again Domino’s has been innovating toppings suitable to the taste buds of the local population and these have been very well accepted by the Indian market. Also they have their promotional campaign ‘ hungry kya ? ’ which means call up Domino’s at any time of the day 24/7 whenever you are hungry and have the food in 30 minutes. b. Pizza Features. Dominos has many unique features of its product due to which it attracts its customers. The product is classified into non-durable goods as it is a food item pizza hut differentiates itself with its competitors with respect to their wide range of offerings (menu items) one can find besides pizzas , range of pasta’s appetizers, cakes deserts etc. There are a large number of items to choose from. The ‘chicken wings’ item has specially struck a chord with a lot of customers as such a kind of item is not available at any other pizza outlet. * Veg pizza * Non Veg pizza * Veg II pizza. * Non Veg II * Garlic breadsticks * Soft drinks (600 ml) * Chicken Wings * Choco Lava Cake * Butterscotch Mousse Cake c. Mass customisation The main advantage of customisation is that one can customize his/her own pizza by selecting the bread and loading it with his/her choice of toppings. This creates variety in the customers mind and thus one can enjoy whatever he/she can imagine domino’s can offer. The most unique feature is that ‘single slice pizza’ scheme where one can select any veg/non-veg pizza at a lower cost. This is a unique way of offering as there are many consumers e.g. Student segment who cannot always afford the premium price. d. Conformance quality Domino’s products have high conformance quality all the products produced are identical and meet the promised specifications. e. Style Pizza is delivered in paper boxes and served in style. The toppings are also dressed in a good fashion thus having quick service justifies the domino’s tagline. f. Service Differentiation * Dining: Though domino’s is mainly concerned with takeaway and home-delivery, to suit the Indian market it allows dine-in facilities as well. One can enter the restaurant and immediately place their order at the service kiosk and they would be provided with a token number and there is a led screen with indicated which order is ready for service. It’s mainly a self-help facility. Also pizzas are delivered in same cardboard boxes as in case of delivery, no such differentiation is there which is in stark contrast to that of the dine-in experience that customers enjoy at the more expensive pizza hut restaurants. * Home Delivery: Home delivery facilities in Domino’s are world renowned and super-efficient. The persons attending the customer calls are helpful in selecting the best economical orders as well. Also the delivery system is very efficient and very rarely has anyone complained about quality of delivery times. Also it is open 24/7 and this standard is maintained throughout India regardless of the livings standards of that place. 2. PLACE It is very important to decide where the marketer can deliver the value to the customer. This is done through effective marketing channels that make the product available to the consumer. India in 1996, with its first outlet in Delhi, has grown into over 101 outlets spread across 24 cities. In India, the majority of Domino’s outlets are delivery-based with only about 25% of the outlets being both delivery and â€Å"sit-down†. This is quite different from other retail food chains. Pizza Hut made its foray in India with a dine-in restaurant in Bangalore in June 1996. Starting with six restaurants in its first year, Pizza Hut has expanded to 73 restaurants in 19 cities and plans to scale up to 100 restaurants by end-2004 * At presentDomino’s has149 locations across India and (8,500). Worldwide * Dominos projection call for 500 stores by 2010 * The company has tied up with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to set up pizza outlets in the latter’s petrol bunks and in the process save on real estate costs * The pizza chain will open such drive-in-drive-out outlets in around 100 IOC petrol stations in 16 different cities. It intends to invest around Rs. 40 crore to expand its network. Pizza Hut has 134 locations across India (and 13,000 worldwide); * Pizza hut projections call for 300 stores by 2012. † 3. PRICE. In India dominos is trying to attract not only the upper but also the lower and middle class people. So, it has a more widespread network of outlets even in suburban areas, whereas pizza hut is only present in major cities. These targeted customers are interested to spend on pizza but at a low price. They are eager to go for outing in any festival and as a cheap family restaurant dominoes will be most preferable. They do not need high class ambience or amusement in the restaurant So the establishment cost is low for the dealers and the price of the pizza is very reasonable for the customer. Company Price Range (Rs) Domino’s 39-265 Pizza Hut 75-350 Some of Dominos’ very successful pricing campaigns are * Fun meals for 4 @ 180 * Pizza mania @ 39 * Non-veg singles/doubles at 69/120 However pizza hut is not too far behind in targeting the lower income groups. The weekday meal @99 has been a major hit all over India attracting office goers and teenage students alike. However the main target segment for pizza hut is the rich and higher middle class people. They are offering an organised restaurant system with great ambience and for these demanding a higher price for pizzas. 4. PROMOTION DOMINO’S * Dominospizzas have decided to focus on the take-away market. * To give value to the customer Dominos came up with Rs 50 pizza * Dominos gave away a lot of free pizzas. Even today they give close to 1000 pizzas free during a week. * Dominos kept their promise of free pizza if it was late beyond 30 minutes. The company bore the cost * In November 2006 Dominos came up with double cheese crunch pizza. And it increased sales by 45 per cent * Besides that Dominos did a lot of ground activities in terms of alliances, radio advertising, etc. Dominos also have this program called the Rolex challenge. It’s a program run by Domino’s international where store managers are awarded a Rolex watch if the achieve a certain sales level in specified time. PIZZA HUT The advertising strategy for Pizza Hut is two-fold. Firstly, laying emphasis on it being an international brand with an Indian heart, Pizza Hut’s communication is reflective of family values, family bonding, etc. * Pizza Hut’s arranged marriage commercial in Indian settings, and the Palat pizza commercial in Hinglish. * Secondly, highlighting the premise that the pizza is a catalyst that brings people together ensures that this is a brand that connects with the Indian consumer. * The ‘Palat’ concept was launched in 2002, with the launch of Pizza Hut’s innovative range of ‘Stuffed Crust’ pizzas * An unconventional and fun product, the ‘Stuffed Crust’ pizza has a crust that is filled with a ring of mozzarella cheese that magically transforms the crust edge, compelling one to eat the pizza backwards – i. e. , crust first or ‘Palatke’. * Pizza Hut claims as much as 50% of sales from delivery in some stores, and ten of its outlets are takeout only. SEGMENTATION PIZZA HUT 1. Geographic Region: Pizza hut outlets in different parts of Indiaare a way of segmenting their markets according to region and finding out potential markets. City: They also segmented the cities as class I, classII, metros and small towns 2. Demographic Age: Under 10, 10-18, 18-25, 25-40, 40+ Family income: Middle class, upper middle class, high class Dual income earners: Yes/No 3. Psychographic Socio economic class: Urban 4. Behavioural Occasions: Birthdays, corporate lunches, parties, receptions Loyalty status: Low, medium, high User status: First time, regular, non-user DOMINO’S 1. Geographic Region:Domino’soutlets in different part of India are a way of segmenting their market according to region and finding out potential markets. City:They also segmented the cities as class I, class II, metros and small towns 2. Demographic Age:Under 13, 13-21, 21-35,35-50, 50+ Family income: Lower middle class, middle class, upper middle class, high class 3. Psychographic Socio economic class: Urban 4. Behavioural Occasions: Birthdays,parties,receptions,festivals, small office parties Loyalty status:Low,medium, high. User status:First time,regular,non-user TARGETING PIZZA HUT * In geographic segment they targeted countries where there were no pizza hut outlets. Initially opened in class 1 cities and then have now moved to sub-urban. * In demographic segment main target is young adults ranging from 25-40 and also dual-income earners. They basically aim the upper middle class and high class income segment. * In psychographic segment they targeted urban socio-economic classes. * In behavioural segment they targeted occasions such as birthday bashes and corporate lunches. They also targeted the first time users as they felt that the quality and taste would automatically make them a loyal customer. DOMINO’S * In geographic segment they targeted countries where there were no domino’soutlets. Initially opened in class II cities and then have now moved to class I, metros and smaller towns. * In demographic segment main targets are teenagers and college students ranging from 13-21yrs and young adults ranging from 21-35 yrs. They basically aim the upper middle class and middle class income segment. * In psychographic segment they targeted urban socio-economic classes. * In behavioural segment they targeted occasions such as festivals, hostel parties. They also targeted the first time users and also the regular users. SWOT ANALYSIS PIZZA HUT Strengths:1. Strong Universal image that customers easily recognise. 2. Successful customization3. Low competition in eastern part of the world4. Strong network with its franchisees| Weaknesses:1. Lack innovation2. High competition in western world3. Fixed overhead cost| Opportunities:1. Pizza as family dining option2. Pizza is a fast growing niche market3. Services on mobile and other electronic devices| Threats:1. Socio Demographic changes2. Consumers being price sensitive3. Competition from other brands| DOMINO’S Strengths:1. Worldwide Presence2. Leader in pizza delivery industry3. Strong brand image4. Strong network with its franchisees| Weaknesses:1. Declining in-store sales | Opportunities:1. Growth opportunities in developing economies2. Services on mobile and other electronic devices| Threats:1. Competition in the pizza delivery industry2. Increase in health awareness3. Increase in labour and food prices| CONSUMER PREFERENCES Primary Research Results RECOMMENDATIONS PIZZA HUT: 1. High quality personnel: Total cooperation of its employee’s thereby increasing productivity, beating competition and enhancing consumer satisfaction. 2. Pay more attention to untapped segment of Senior citizens. 3. Maintain the product quality by continuous innovations. 4. Emphasis on development of â€Å"Home Delivery† Network. DOMINOS: 1. Make more coupons available to customers: Offer specials for certain times or seasons 2. Improving online ordering procedures. 3. New products specific to location. 4. Customized pizza.