Quality Of Education State And Federal Involvement

Quality of Education: State and Federal Involvement Ekaterina Hall Santiago Canyon College Introduction The world today is globally competitive and education is at the center of it all. John F. Kennedy, a former U.S. President, once stated, â€Å"A child miseducated is a child lost.† The importance of education has been hammered and embedded into our minds from the first day of school. We are constantly told education is the key to life. This is because education is â€Å"the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life (Dictionary.com).† Therefore, if a child is not educated at all or simply improperly educated than he or she has very little skill in judgment, wisdom, and reasoning. Without these skills it is difficult to be intellectually mature. In a society that is constantly changing and expanding there is much competition. In order to be a participant of change, children must be educated or they just simply become the watchers and not doers. The entire nation cannot all be watchers or the nation will fall. In order to be a successful accomplishing nation, it is crucial we are educated on different subjects of life or weShow MoreRelatedThe American Education System Is Important For National Prosperity And Individual Success1424 Words   |  6 Pages4, 2015 The American Education System In an intelligence-based economy, education is important to national prosperity and individual success. Huge achievement gaps and opportunities must shrink to non-existence, and every student must receive a well education that prepares them for college and careers in the world as it is today. Comparing the United States education system to other countries shows that the United States scored lower than nineteen other counties and education systems in reading inRead MoreHow Student Loans Have Affected The Cost Of Tuition964 Words   |  4 Pagessame mediocre education from the last three decades; the cost of tuition has more than tripled for public universities and for private universities, it has gone up a staggering 85%. Canada holds an average educational cost of 5,974 and England follows with an estimated average cost of 5,288. In spite the tuition in the United States being more than twice that of its allies; the main problem contributing to the continuing rise of tuition are th e billions of dollars owed in both federal and private studentRead MoreThe Impact Of Finley School District : A Research Project On Student Achievement1314 Words   |  6 PagesFinley School District (FSD) works in collaboration with school staff to promote, develop and maintain social and emotional resources needed to ensure student progress and success. These programs and services are funded through Title 1, local, state and federal sources, and are geared towards meeting the specific needs of varying student populations. This report will identify and elaborate on specific programs and services utilized within the schools in the District and how they influence student achievementRead MoreTemple University Fox School of Businessstakeholder Analysis Essay763 Words   |  4 Pages The Fox School Stakeholders are Government entities (State amp; federal government; governing board; board of trustees, buffer organizations; sponsoring religious organizations) Administration (Presid ent senior administrators), Employees (Faculty; administrative staff; support staff), Clienteles (Students; parents/spouses; tuition reimbursement providers; service partner’s employers; ï ¬ eld placement site), Suppliers (Secondary education providers; alumni; other colleges and universities; foodRead MoreEssay on Politics In Texas1564 Words   |  7 Pagesissues being the crisis in healthcare and in education. Not only are we lacking in these areas as Texans, but also on the national level. The parties’ stance on these two major issues defines them, giving us insight into the mind and intentions of each. â€Å"Of the people, by the people, and for the people† heralds the Texas Democratic Party. As stated in their 2008 party platform, â€Å"we believe democratic government exists to achieve as a community, state, and nation what we cannot achieve as individuals;Read MoreFederal And State Laws Play Essay1202 Words   |  5 Pagesand involvement opportunities created by the school that build connections with parents. Creating and involving parents in meaningful roles within the school can strengthen this partnership. Opportunities for parents and students need to be created by educators that will allow parents to show their interest in their child (Amatea, 2013). California Department of Education advocates with policies and laws to support parent involvement to support student’s academic success. Federal and state lawsRead MoreThe Swiss Education System902 Words   |  4 Pages The Swiss education system is federally structured, with the entire school system responsibility lying within 26 cantons or educational systems. Swiss cantons are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. (Criblez, 2007a). Federal law as it relates to Swiss education is very limited and mainly refers to vocational education. These cantons vary according to size and number of schools. Some have 20 schools, others have more than 400 schools (educa, 2010). Each canton establishes theirRead MoreTheu.s. Bush s No Child Left Behind1378 Words   |  6 Pagesreform has been a top priority in the United States. For years, federal and state governments have been working together on legislation that would improve education standards. Many systems have been created in that time period with President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB) being one of the most recent reforms. NCLB seemed insufficient over time and led to the most recent reform in education, Common C ore Standards that were released in 2010 by state governors and superintendents. Since itsRead More Students and the Civil Rights Movement During the 1960s Essay1036 Words   |  5 Pagesand political upheaval. In the United States, many movements occurred by groups of people seeking to make positive changes in society. During this decade, the Civil Rights movement continued to gain momentum. The black community was continually persecuted and discriminated against by prejudice white individuals and figures of authority. Blacks everywhere struggled to end discrimination. They demanded the right to vote, to receive quality education, and to become respected individuals inRead MoreThe Reauthorization Of The Elementary And Secondary Education Act948 Words   |  4 Pages Every Student Succeeds Act was a new law that was signed into legislation in 2015 by President Barak Obama. ESSA is a biparty educational reform law was designed from several aspects of No Child Left Behind. The United States Department of Education (2015) stated that ESSA focuses on factors such as, advancing equity for the nations disadvantaged students by investing more in preschool programs, local innovations, reporting student progress on all high stakes assessments to all stakeholders

Economic, Political, and Social Factors Related to Aids in Africa Free Essays

Without a single doubt, one can say politics has been the main driving forces in the spread of this disease. Once the â€Å"triple cocktail† was discovered by doctors, it managed to signal an era in which AIDS was no longer a fatal disease. Nevertheless, the high costs of this drug meant that it was unaffordable to patients from the undeveloped countries where stigma and desperation flourished. We will write a custom essay sample on Economic, Political, and Social Factors Related to Aids in Africa or any similar topic only for you Order Now Additionally, patients in developed countries such as America were incapable of being introduced to this remedy if they were incompetent in affording health care. Patients felt defeated, restless, isolated, and accepted that there is a social disorder accommodated with this disease. There was a political conflict in subordinating the expenses of this medicine in countries such as Brazil where health care is guaranteed for all its citizens. South African government further encountered a tragic failure in battling with this epidemic that was overwhelming its country. President Mbeki came into power with an unconventional message and promised solutions for AIDS. When Mbeki was leading a nation with more infections than any country in the world, he affirmed throughout his speech that HIV is not the causation of AIDS but an environmental or social condition such as poverty, and banned the cocktail claiming it was toxic for the population. Hence, the fundamental proposition that arose was if HIV doesn’t cause AIDS, then how would anti-HIV drugs lead to such dramatic improvement in one’s well-being and how does AIDS get passed on to a child from a mother who is infected with HIV. This evidently proved that denial and neglect in African government for covering the cost burden of these drugs in order to save the lives of its citizens. Indubitably there is a monumental controversy regarding the funding for AIDS drugs globally. If our mission is to reach equity and justice in our society, we must ensure funding for AIDS drugs and also ensure practical preventative factors are provided for all our citizens regardless of their socioeconomic status. How to cite Economic, Political, and Social Factors Related to Aids in Africa, Papers

Air Bud Essay Example For Students

Air Bud Essay Air Bud is not like any other kids movie. With a touching story line and clever effects, Air bud is a movie anyone can enjoy regardless of age and gender. Symbols play a surprisingly interesting role in the movie, Air Bud. One case of symbolism is the church courts representation of Josh. When Josh primarily discovered the church court shortly after moving into the area, the church court was chaotic and disordered, similarly to Joshs feelings. After transforming the church court, Josh thrust down the fence and broke through his own barriers. Josh rediscovered something hidden under layers of leaves-himself. Within himself, or rather, the church court, Josh also found his father and Buddy. Joshs father was always watching over Josh even though the body wasnt there physically, and Buddy filled gap left by the father in Joshs life. In the church court that symbolizes Josh, Josh found not only himself but his dad and Buddy. The first identification of the dog that Josh found in the church court, the piece of cloth, became a symbol of Buddy. The cloth was dirty and torn when Josh found it in a bush. However, by the time Joshs mom found it, the cloth was clean. This corresponds to how Buddy was dirty and unwanted when Josh first found him, but under the care of Josh, Buddy became clean and loved. The love is evident when Joshs mom put the clean cloth beside the picture of Josh with his dad. Buddy was a part of their family. Similarly to Joshs dad, Buddy was also forced to leave for a period of time. Josh mended the cloth which symbolizes Buddy, a member of Joshs family. One aspect of Buddy that Josh could not completely heal was Buddys fear, shown through newspapers. Buddys deep fear and distrust in humans resulted from being abused with newspapers in the past. In an attempt to hide his fear, Buddy buried the newspaper each morning. Fear, however, returns regardless of how well you hide it. The source of fear-Norm Snively-appeared after Joshs mom found the buried newspapers. Therefore, instead of continuing to avoid fear, Buddy surpassed his fear at the end of the movie when he tore apart Norms newspaper. The newspaper symbolizes the fear Buddy learns he cant avoid. The church court, the piece of cloth, and the newspaper are some symbolism effects from the movie, Air Bud. The director produced the movie with impressively decisive and insightful details. Watching Air Bud once is not enough to understand the full depth of the movie.

Japanese Work Ethics free essay sample

The work ethic of Japanese Work Ethics could not be more different to the work ethic of American. Japanese culture is very different from the American. All aspects of Japanese life, especially business relations, are governed by strict rules of etiquette. A foreign business person who is either ignorant or insensitive to Japanese customs and etiquette needlessly jeopardizes his companys prospects in this country. It goes without saying that the Japanese work ethic and culture greatly affect doing business with other nations in this way. In the following, the most important features of Japanese culture and work ethic will be discussed, and the consequences of neglecting those features as an American business person will be analyzed. A very important part an America has to understand when entering the Japanese business market is the Uchi-Soto? Â ¦ (Us and Then) concept. The Japanese have been brought up to think of themselves as part of a group, not individuals, and their group is always dealing with other groups. We will write a custom essay sample on Japanese Work Ethics or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Interacting with Japanese on a one-to-one basis usually comes very easy to foreigners, but dealing with Japanese as a group can be a different matter altogether. And no matter how nice you are, or how good you’re Japanese might be, a foreigner will always be treated as an outsider. Many westerners see Japanese as aloof, shy, and always walking on eggshells. There is a lot of truth in that Japanese are extremely sensitive to what others might think of them and are very hesitant to do something new, different, or independent. Being ostracized is one of the worst things that can happen to Japanese, who is raised to be part of a group and depend on others. Therefore, when making requests, it can often take more time then what we might be used to since the person asked usually consults others in the group to reach a consensus. As a American, one might get really frustrated and annoyed about this attitude where groupthink and group consensus have first priority.

Cuckoos Nest Analyst essays

Cuckoos Nest Analyst essays Thesis: R.P. McMurphy falsifying himself to become classified insane. Transferred from a correctional facility to a psychiatric ward, McMurphy is a sane as you can be. However, he is rather lazy and content with himself being in an asylum to escape physical labor. Not only is he an unmotivated worker, he also has a small gambling problem, which is very much identified in the book, and Im a gambling fool, (Kesey, 11) says McMurphy as he introduces himself to the patients, staff and whomever. If it was a matter of pride, McMurphy has none. Unless his life was taken away for some injustice he did and he knows that he will either spend the rest of his life working in fields all day, or sit around in little groups taking about everybodys mental dysfunctions. Thats one of the only reasons I can assume. There is a small issue dealing with control in the beginning of the book. McMurphy insinuates that he will be in control of this ward. I never thought it was a big deal until I realized that a control freak is a social dysfunction, not necessarily insane though. I figure, you see, buddy, to be sort of a gambling baron on this ward, deal a wicked game of blackjack. So you better take me to your leader and well get it straightened out whos gonna be boss around here. (Kesey, 18) This brings up another point. The gambling problem McMurphy brings to the ward. He wins other patients smokes, money and maybe even personal items. Although gambling is an addiction, a problem and there are groups for that, McMurphy is actually proving how swift and cunning he is. McMurphy even proves himself to be an entertainer, far from being shy like the other patients on the ward. His antics bring patients into laughter and fun like teaching the Chief how to block and score in basketball, getting some members liquored up, and just amusing the members of the asylum. ...

Case study of demonstrating learning in practice

Case study of demonstrating learning in practice The purpose of this assignment is to provide evidence that will demonstrate my learning in practice. It will contain four reflective accounts that will display my ability to meet the learning outcomes of this module. Amulya (no date) describes reflection as a process of exploring your own actions and experiences, and further states that the purpose of reflection is to develop learning. Johns (2004), expands on this and describes different layers of reflection, for example reflection in action. This type of reflection occurs at the time of experience, pausing to make sense of the situation and proceeding to a desired conclusion. I will be reflecting on experiences, which is defined by Johns (2004 p 50) as â€Å"learning through experiences†, thus changing perceptions of myself, practice and gaining new insights. Benner (2001) supports learning from experience and states that through experiences it enables the nurse to move from, competent to proficient, further stating that th e proficient nurse will be able to hone in on the most important problems. These learning outcomes will be addressed in turn, discussing what I have learned and highlighting areas for future development. Further evidence can be viewed in Section 2, Appendix’s 1 to four and Section 3; these documents are my learning contracts from the placement I completed. Learning outcome 1 is to recognise and explain the inter-related nature of aetiology, pathophysiology and clinical features of named conditions that cause health care problems. The appropriate evidence based management required and the anticipated outcomes. Campbell (2006) states an understanding of physiology and pathophysiology is deemed necessary in the understanding of treatment and the management of patients, thus improving patient care. Dunning (2003) supports this view and says the nurses understanding of pathophysiology and classification of the disease process such as diabetes improves the care they provide. This i s a reflective account, of an episode of care, which I was involved in. My patient had been admitted for ketoacidosis. Diabetes UK (no date) describes ketoacidosis as acidity of the blood caused by excessive amounts of ketones. Johnson (2004) expands on this and states it occurs from the lack of glucose entering the cell which is used as energy. As a result the body then uses its own store of fat as an alternative for energy and this use of energy produces an acid known as ketones. Dunning (2003) describes clinical features as hyperglycaemia, which is a result of decreased use of glucose by the cells and the increased glucose produced by the liver; dehydration and electrolyte loss resulting from polyuria and lastly acidosis is due to the breakdown of fatty acids and production of ketones. They go on to say that symptoms include, increased thirst, this is the bodies attempt to flush out the ketones; fatigue, abdominal pain, kussmauls breathing and tachycardia. As the ketones rise the person may also start to vomit, however vomiting reduces the urine output thus reducing the flushing out of ketones. As a result a coma will develop and this if left untreated can be fatal. Diabetes National Service Framework: Standard (2002) states treatment for ketoasidosis , consists of the administration of insulin, potassium and fluids. Brunner & Suddarths (2004) says fluids are given intravenously to manage dehydration, insulin would be given as a 5 unit bolus every hour, however the amount of insulin to be administered is calculated by the amount of glucose detected in the blood. This is what is referred to as an insulin sliding scale, the set amounts are shown on the insulin recording documentation. Potassium is also given to manage the electrolyte loss.

The beauty of customer service Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The beauty of customer service - Essay Example In some cases, they will carry out related functions during a sale. The nature of success is determined by the aspect of interaction facilitated by the employee, which is based on modifying their behavior and response in accordance to the various customers that they must deal with. In the case of sales engineering, customer service is quintessential in the role of a firm’s ability to increase sales and revenue. In this case, customer service should be integrated as part of the company structure as a measure of improving the overall system. An experience regarding the customer service can be used to improve a customer’s perspective on a firm. There have been a number of arguments relating to quality and the level of customer satisfaction. It is estimated that the level of customer service has decreased over the years, which can be blamed on the inadequate level of customer support as well as understanding the different levels of management in a corporation. Another factor is the customer service policy(s), which may not suit or satisfy a customer regarding their requirements from a given firm (Turban, 21). In order to address this element, companies are implementing various methods that would allow or improve customer satisfaction. Establishing Customer support is a major strategy being applied to eradicate the declining rate of customer satisfaction. It includes training, upgrading, trouble-shooting, installation, disposal and planning of a product. The strategy is developed to provide the essential components that address customer satisfaction and ensure that the customers or consumers are impressed by the organization. Customer service can be provided by an individual (sales representative), or by an automated system. An example of automated systems is Internet sites. A significant advantage by using an automated system is that it increases the ability to implement a 24-hour service on a daily basis, which

Evaluation of Banking Competition between 2 countries Essay

Evaluation of Banking Competition between 2 countries - Essay Example This set of statistical methods aids in the instrumentation of a unique symmetric and unbiased estimator to calculate the central moment for a given distribution. For instance, the estimator h can be evaluated as: 1. Both the countries are members of the developed world. Sufficient data is available to carry out the required estimation over an extended period of time. For example, CL, NA, OBS, DEP, etc. were available for Antwerps Beroepskrediet (which is a Belgian cooperative bank) over the years 1998, 2001 and 2004. In the case of Denmark too, similar variety and quantity of critical data were available. 2. The countries are important members of the EU. Both of them share the compact regional economy of the Western Europe. Apart from availability of data, the Belgian and Danish banks are facing several challenges due to expansion of the EU. 3. Both the countries have advanced following the capitalist model of development. The geographical vicinity between them might have caused mutual influence and serious undercurrents in the bilateral relationships. In the sphere of analysis of banking competition, J. A. Bikker and J. W. B. Bos have eloquently remarked, â€Å"In observing trends, we distinguish original causes, subsequent changes in banking behavior and in the structure of financial markets, and final consequences, aware all the while, that this classification may be somewhat arbitrary.† (Bikker, J. A. and Bos, J. W. B., 2008) In this way, country specific banking behaviour can be put in correlation with financial markets which are profoundly influenced by the bond markets and the quantity of national assets. With the lapse of time, apart from qualitative analysis, quantitative methods too have emerged as tools of critical importance in modern financial research (McCrary, S. A., 2010). The Panzar-Rosse revenue test to estimate the competitive circumstances and parameters in the realm of banking depends on certain empirical

What do you find most effective in Hardys technique Essay Example for Free

What do you find most effective in Hardys technique Essay What do you find most effective in Hardys technique as a writer of short stories featuring the supernatural? Give consideration to his portrayal of character and his use of narrative development. By: Zahrah Macci Throughout literature history writers have made use of peoples fascination with the macabre. Hardy like many other Victorian writers enjoyed writing short stories which have a lot to do with his fascination with the supernatural. He was an eminent writer who wrote in different types of genres. Two of the famous novels written by Hardy are The Return of the Native and Jude the Obscure. The word supernatural is defined as things that cannot be explained according to natural laws the Withered Arm is full of inexplicable events such as Rhodas vision and Conjurer Trendles way of intuiting that Gertrudes ailment was the work of an enemy. The withered arm like many of Hardys stories has an unexpected ending mainly due to complex relationships between the main characters. Hardy tries to convey the idea of Wessex as a historical landscape by using personification and thereby comparing things to the human anatomy. For example Rhodas cottage which has channels of depressions which are reminiscent of the skin of an aged person. The simile the thatch above a rafter showed like a bone protruding through the skin gives the impression the rafter is rather like a human being. Egdon Heath is a brooding and mysterious place; it has an un-hospitable landscape, very few people choose to live there. The dark countenence of Egdon heath seems to look down on the main characters. Although many would describe Casterbridge as an enlightened city it is the exact antithesis of what we would expect from a so-called civilised place, where hanging is a form of entertainment. It is every bit as barbaric as the old fashioned and superstitious country side. In a good short story there is usually one narrative thread and a focus on 2 or 3 main characters and themes. The three main characters in The Withered Arm are Farmer Lodge, Rhoda Brook and Gertrude Lodge. There are complicated love affairs which lead to retribution. Hardy introduces protagonists through the conversations of pirifial characters. He also tries to raise some questions in the readers mind as to what will happen next. Hardy presents Rhoda Brook as a woman who was once beautiful but has aged prematurely. The milkmaids with whom she worked with made her feel ostracised. She was a social pariah due to her illicit liaison with Farmer Lodge twelve years previously which caused her to become pregnant and have an illegitimate son. Her home was apart from the other milkmaids, it was above the water meads. Rhodas incipient jealousy manifests itself when she asks her son to spy on his step-mother so she can compare herself to her; she wanted him to report back to her about his step-mothers deminior. Gertrude Lodge is a complex character with facets to her personality which transpire as the story progresses. Hardy uses a number of techniques to convey her character. He uses the gossip and rumours spread by the minor characters. From the conversations of the milkmaids we find that Gertrude Lodge is a rosy cheeked, girl with a tisty tosty little body. Gertrude is years younger than farmer Lodge. There are passages of conventional character description of her external appearance, her face too was fresh in colour, soft and evanescent. Hardy employs the narrative device of Rhodas son as a spy to convey more information about her; he reports to his mother about his impression of Gertrude, his description of her suggests she is a lady complete with lightish hair and a face which is as comely as a live dolls. Hardy emphasizes the way Gertrude has a personal impact on other major characters, she has a deep impact on Rhoda when they first meet, she made a favourable impression and Rhoda reproached herself for ever being malevolently jealous in the first place. Gertrudes own actions imply much about her personality at the beginning of the story. She is philanthropic in her attitude towards the poor. She gives things away; she even gave Rhodas son better boots. There are also direct authorial comments which leave us in no doubt as to Gertrudes virtues. Hardy describes her as an innocent young thing who, was so indescribably sweet. Therefore, the initial impression we have as a combination of all these techniques is of an innocent, virtuous young women who is the victim of Rhodas jealousy. However Gertrudes character changes significantly as the affliction on her arm deteriorates. Consequently she becomes involved with the world of superstition and witchcraft. The condition of her had bought up question marks on her marriage to farmer lodge especially when she suggests her husband could have struck her there which demonstrates an element of physical abuse Gertrude receives from farmer Lodge. After visiting Conjuror Trendle with Rhoda she had began using wizardry hoping it would cure her arm after having visited the conjurer for a second time he told her a remedy which was infallible he said she must touch with the limb the neck of a man whos been hanged, as it will turn the blood and change the constitution because of this Gertrudes character changes incredibly as she begins to pray for no reprieve which shows how evil she has become. Conjurer Trendle, another interesting character created by Hardy, lives alone, well away from society in general. His house is five miles away from Holmstoke and it is in the heart of Egdon heath he is reputed to be able to cure illnesses that are the work of the devil. He is described as an exorcist who has infallible powers. The atmosphere in the location where he lives is sinister. Egdon Heath is reminiscent to the heath in king Lear with its associations with insanity thick clouds made the atmosphere dark though it was as yet only early afternoon. The conjurer does not like his business to be well known or given any kind of publicity. He did not profess his remedial practices openly after he had cured something he would always say perhaps its just chance. He makes a living by selling local products his direct interests being those of a dealer in furze, turf, sharp sand he can deal with ailments that are beyond the reach of ordinary medicine, he has the power to make watts miraculously disappear he does not accept any financial remuneration. He has a distinctive appearance, he is a grey bearded man, with a reddish face as soon as he examines Gertrude there is a suggestion of his paranormal powers, and he is able to tell immediately it was the work of an enemy. The intensification of Rhodas jealousy of her rival in love culminates into a night-marish vision. Rhodas dream occurred a fortnight after Gertrudes return with farmer lodge. She went to bed with a picture of Gertrude in her head. She had a vision of her enemy, it was so vivid she was unsure weather it was real or a dream. She saw Gertrude holding her left hand out mockingly to show Rhoda her wedding ring to make her feel jealous. Gertrudes face changed dramatically. Her features were shocking, distorted and wrinkled by age she was sitting upon Rhodas chest as if she was trying to suffocate her. Rhoda then swung out her right hand and threw the figure of her by grasping the left arm and whirled it backward to the floor Gertrude also had a night marish vision at the same time as Rhodas. As a result of this vision the discolouration on Gertrudes arm had appeared it corresponded exactly to what Rhodas hand would look like. At this point hardy creates a sense of ambiguity in that the reader is not sure as to whether or not Rhodas vision was real or a dream. At the end of the story hardy brings together the three main characters in a tragic denouement. Attentive readers would realise Gertrude turns into a vicious person. As anticipated there is a twist in the tale, the victim of the execution is Rhodas son, which creates a tragedy for the three main characters. Rhoda cursed Gertrude after seeing her near the corps of Rhodas son she said this is the meaning of what Satan showed me in the vision! You are like her at last! Gertrude did not know the identity of the victim this was partly because she had not attended the execution, the shock of touching the corps turned her blood but it affected her so profoundly, it was too much for her constitution to take, Gertrude unfortunately passed away 3 days later due to the previous events. All the lives of the main characters were blighted because of their belief of superstition. After the hanging farmer Lodge becomes a benefactor to young boys such as his son by giving up the farms in Holmstoke and selling it. The money gained he left for young boys and Rhoda however Rhoda did not accept the money. According to some people Hardy is the master of short stories. Most of these short stories have a focus on one main narrative thread. The Withered Arm is mainly about Gertrude Lodge and when she became involved with the supernatural. The three main characters in the Withered Arm are, Farmer Lodge, Gertrude Lodge and Rhoda Brooks. Short stories have limited amounts of characters as this builds up to the unexpected endings. Hardy uses various techniques to arouse the readers sense of intrigue and thereby compel the reader to its natural conclusion. At the time the Withered Arm was written, women in this rural society were either tied to the land like Rhoda or to their husbands like Gertrude. Furthermore, women had relatively few rights of property and movement and therefore enjoyed rather little freedom. The story reveals the life, beliefs and values of a countryside community. In Hardys time there was no access to the modern media which resulted to oral tradition which was the art of story telling. Stories which include supernatural tales, such as this one were popular with the reading public in late Victorian Britain. Personally I enjoyed reading the Withered Arm mainly because of the situation of Rhoda Brooks which grabs attention due to her illegitimate son. I particularly found it interesting because of Gertrudes beliefs in the supernatural. I thought it was worth reading to the end of the story.

The Politics of Contemporary Approaches to Shakespeare Essays -- Postm

Abstract Postmodern performance of Shakespeare, particularity in film, is characterized by a subjective experience within the play not an objective experience from the play. Under postmodernism, Shakespeare undergoes theorizing, deconstruction, displacement or death of the author, textual criticism, and cultural and political relativism but fails to produce solid answers. Postmodern Shakepseare does not offer new meanings but new and more possibilities for contemplating meaning. This fails both the traditionalist who relishes in reviving universal meaning, and the progressive who relishes propagating their political diatribe. Traditionalists can give a sigh of relief that Shakespeare thrives in the postmodern age by way of a growing number of Shakespeare troupes and festivals, the reconstruction of the Globe Theater, websites, stage productions and film (Worthen 2). -----------------Paper begins here------------------- A number of years ago, Arizona State University denied tenure to the head of the graduate theater program because of his commitment to teaching acting through the classics, most prominently through the plays of William Shakespeare. The professor under controversy, Professor Jared Sakren, hailed from Juilliard. ASU had recruited him primarily to build a graduate acting department. An equation for success turned into a recipe for disaster. The feminists in the department had purposed to "kill off the classics." Sakren was told to stop teaching the "sexist" works of Shakespeare or to revise the ending to such plays as The Taming of the Shrew in order to appease women (Alexander). Accompanying these recommendations, Sakren was also asked to reduce the academic rigor of his program. His office was searched and... ...ristopher, Klooss, Wolfgang. Tier, Germany: Wissenschaftlicher, 2000. 185- 199. Makaryk, Irene. R. Encyclopedia of contemporary literary theory : approaches, scholars, terms. Toronto: Univeristy of Toronto Press, 1993. Neilson, William Allan and Charles Jarvix Hill, ed. The Complete Plays and Poems of William Shakespeare. Cambridge: The Riverside Press, 1942. Reinfandt, Christoph. "Reading Shakespeare Historically: 'Postmodern' Attitudes and the History Plays." Historicizing/Contemporizing Shakespeare: Essays in Honour of Rudolf BÃ ¶hm. Eds. Bode, Christopher, Klooss, Wolfgang. Tier, Germany: Wissenschaftlicher, 2000. p 73-89. Shaughnessy, Robert. "The Last Post: Henry V, War Culture and the Postmodern Shakespeare." Theatre Survey. 39:1 (1998): 41-61. Worthen, W.B. "Shakespeare and Postmodern Production: An Introduction." Theatre Survey. 39:1 (1998): 1-5.

Guna Fibres Case Analysis Essay

Problem Statement The problem that the firm Guna Fibres is facing is that they lack sufficient cash flow from operations to meet their day-to-day financial obligations. Guna Fibres has become dependent on a revolving line of credit from the All-India Bank & Trust Company and due to increasing operating expenses and costs of good sold Guna Fibres is no longer able to remain solvent based on their current financial practices. Situation Analysis Guna Fibres is a textile manufacturing company located in India that is subject to seasonal swings in demand as well as an increasingly competitive environment. Guna Fibres has historically utilized a line of credit from All-India Bank & Trust to finance the purchases necessary to fulfill the spike in demand that occurs each summer. Historically, Guna Fibres would zero out the balance on this line of credit in October, per the banks policy. At the end of 2011, Guna Fibres found themselves running a balance on their line of credit beyond October and was subsequently denied any more credit until the firm could demonstrate solvency to pay the balance off. To examine their company’s financial position Malik and Kumar created a financial forecast for the month-to-month operations of the company in an attempt to demonstrate to the bank that they firm could indeed pay off the loan. Analysis of the monthly forecast based on the assumptions of Guna Fibres current operating practices revealed that Guna Fibres would not be able to pay off the line of credit by the end of the year and in fact would owe a balance of 3,858,000 Rupees to the bank by December 2012. Based on the information contained in Malik’s forecast it is certain that the bank will not be willing to extend any more credit to Guna Fibres as currently there is no clear plan for the firm to pay its short term debit obligations. Examining Guna Fibres financial statements and business practices yields  some insights into possible sources of the firm’s cash flow problems. First, by looking at Guna Fibres historical income statements one can clearly see several trends that are concerning. While gross sales have increased from 2010 to 2011, Guna Fibres has seen the firm’s cost of goods sold out pace gross sales. Additionally, due to managerial decisions to increase quality control and expand relationships with other firms, operating expenses have increased as well. The end result for Guna Fibres is that despite their sales growth the firm experienced decreasing EBIT and decreasing new profit. At the time of this analysis Kumar and Malik have also been presented with several proposals that could possibly ameliorate the company’s current financial woes by addressing policies that are currently creating financial strain on the company. By taking closet look at Guna Fibres forecast several other concerning trends reveal themselves. Due to historically significant lag times in shipping product, Guna Fibres typically carries 60 days worth of inventory creating a storage problem in the company’s warehouse as well as a balance sheet problem as a significant portion of the firms working capital is tied up in inventory. Compounding the inventory issue is that typical collection times for accounts receivable are over 48 days, with 40% collected in a month and the remaining 60% collected in 60 days. This gap requires Guna Fibres to rely on the bank to pay for the inventory on hand. Guna Fibres has 2 cash management policies that could be impacting their ability to pay back the bank loan. As a matter of policy Guna Fibres pays out a 500,000 Rupee dividend to shareholders each quarter, the organization’s philosophy being that the cash is safer with shareholders than with the firm. Additionally, Guna Fibres keeps 750,000 Rupees as cash on hand. Looking at the financial forecast for the beginning of 2012 one can clearly see that Guna Fibres is expected to be running at a net loss for the first quarter yet still pays a dividend and continues to maintain the same cash balance. At the same time Guna Fibres projects that it will be necessary to increase their financing needs from the bank. Addressing Guna Fibres current situation is of great importance as they  currently have a cash flow problem that will find them shuttered and unable to fund day-to-day operations. In each of the aforementioned areas there is room for improvement by changing some of the company’s policies and procedures. Major Strategic Alternatives Utilizing the monthly forecast financial statement provided by Guna Fibres, Exhibit 1, it is necessary to create a statement of cash flows to begin to assess how the company’s capital is being managed through the working capital accounts of the firm. Exhibit 2 shows the breakdown of cash flows on a monthly basis based on the forecasted information provided by Guna Fibres. There are several important insights to point to instability within Guna Fibres. The first trend that is concerning is that according to Guna Fibres forecast, they will require a positive cash flow from financing activities through the month of June 2012 just maintain operations. Certainly, if this was to be presented to the bank there would be no chance that they would be willing to extend credit as Guna Fibres will not be able to zero out the debt balance in the coming months. Examination of Exhibit 3 shows the statement of cash flows for Guna Fibres for year ending in December 2012. Note the highlighted the cell that indicates the change in short term notes payable for the year in the amount of 2,704,000 Rupees. Based on the current projections not only will Guna Fibres not pay off the balance but also they will accrue a larger balance by the end of the year. Notice that while the total cash flows from financing is only 704K Rupees the reason for the decrease is that a dividend in the amount of 2,000,000 was paid to shareholders. In addition to the concerns about Guna Fibres reliance on the line of credit is the dearth of cash flow from operations, only 330k Rupees for 2012. Changes to Guna Fibres cash management policy could help to reduce the problems that Guna Fibres is currently facing. By examining Guna Fibres policy of paying shareholder dividends each quarter as well as their policy of keeping 750K Rupees on hand at all times one can begin to see where these policies place additional pressure on the firm to borrow. Examine Exhibit  4, which is Guna Fibres Statement of Cash Flows if they had decided not to pay a dividend. Notice the highlighted cell indicating that change in notes payable for year ending in December 2012 have decreased to 626,000. Overall, net change in Cash Balance remains essentially the same demonstrating that a large portion of Guna Fibres financing needs in 2012 are to fund paying a shareholder dividend. As stated by the firm, Guna Fibres believes that funds are more secure in the hands of the company’s shareholders. However, this assumption is likely based on the belief that dividends are paid out of net profit where the shareholders can earn a return elsewhere in the market place. In this case it is unlikely that the shareholders will find investments that return in excess of the 14.5% debit service that is being paid to finance their dividends in addition to the fact that the dividend payments are threatening to cause Guna Fibres to shut down, as they will no longer be able to finance operations. Guna Fibres could then draw cash from their cash accounts to begin to pay down some of the balance that remains on their notes payable. Similar to the issue with Guna Fibres dividend payments, even in months when Guna Fibres posts a net loss they maintain a cash balance of 750K. By utilizing Guna Fibres cash accounts to cover operating expenses in months where Guna Fibres suffers a net loss this would reduce Guna Fibres reliance on outside funding even more as can be seen in Exhibit 5. Please note the highlighted change in change in notes payable down to 275K Rupees as a result of covering net loss with cash as opposed to financing. Examination of Guna Fibres forecast as well as looking at some of the proposals regarding changes in operations elucidates another solution that would not require Guna Fibres to make such drastic changes to its dividend and cash balance policy. According to R. Sikh, improvements have been made to Guna Fibres shipping operations so much so that it is no longer necessary to carry 2 months of inventory. The implication for R. Sikh is that carrying 30 days less inventory will free up space in the warehouse; however, due to Guna Fibres current financial situation this change could have a great impact on the firm as a whole. Note the highlighted sections on Exhibit 6. Exhibit 6 models the impact that moving to a policy of only  holding 30 days of inventory would have on Guna Fibres financials. Note the yellow highlighted row, which indicates the new inventory levels versus the levels present in Guna Fibres original forecast (exhibit 1). As a result of the decrease in carried inventory, t he orange highlighted section indicates a decrease in total assets, as total assets are in part a product of inventory levels. Finally, the decrease in total assets results in a greatly reduced reliance on the line of credit from the bank as less capital is tied up in inventory at any given time, this effect can be seen in the green highlighted row. Note 2 very important effects: 1. That changing to Sikh’s shipping plan for the month of January would allow Guna Fibres to zero out the balance of their notes payable for 30 days as required by the bank, and 2. That based on the forecast Guna Fibres will be able to return to their expected cycle of zeroing out the credit line by the end of 2012. Due to changes in the shipping policy Guna Fibres will need to modify their ordering policy as demonstrated by the purple row. Here the purchases in period (t) are determined by the forecasted gross sales in (t+1). Feasibility of Sikh’s plan seems to be high as he indicates in his memo that new inventory procedures could be put in effect for January. Guna Fibres is also considering a proposal from L. Gupta that was originated on direction from Kumar to determine the efficiency impact of switching to a level production method. According to Gupta, under level production Guna Fibres will need to purchase a consistent INR5 million per month. Gupta suggests that this will provide several benefits to the firm, it will ease labor unrest and employee dissatisfaction by creating a stable workforce, decrease the risk associated with machine downtime during the peak-manufacturing season, and finally Gupta indicates that level manufacturing will decrease manufacturing costs by 5%. While the benefits described by Gupta are significant, modeling the impact on Guna Fibres financial forecast reveals some concerns. Note the highlighted sections on Exhibit 7 with the yellow indicating the new level purchasing quantity and the adjusted Direct Labor and other Manufacturing costs indicated with blue. Concerns arise when looking at inventory in the months of July and August where both of these months will see Guna Fibres stocked out of product during their peak-selling season. Additionally, it is important to note the  purple row indicating the balance of Guna Fibres line of credit. Not only does it not zero out the balance in 2012 under the new manufacturing system, but is also ends the year with a balance of more than 10 million Rupees. Decision Criteria In deciding which course of action Guna Fibres should take in response to their current crisis it is first important to determine the top priorities to maintain operations. Secondary to that Guna Fibres should make a determination as to which alternative yields the outcome that will be the most sustainable. As a result of the current crisis that Guna Fibres is facing, the first priority in determining a course of action is to implement the plan that will satisfy the bank immediately. Due to Guna Fibres reliance on their line of credit this must be restored for operations to continue. Specifically, the plan chosen must satisfy 2 conditions: 1. It must allow Guna Fibres to zero out their balance with the bank as soon as possible so that the bank will be willing to continue to extend credit as Guna Fibres prepares for the next season, and 2. Guna Fibres must demonstrate that they will be able to consistently meet their obligations to the bank in the future, ie. be able to zero out the balance in October 2012. Tertiary concerns are related to the sustainability of the business over the long term, as such looking at how changes in policy could make Guna Fibres more susceptible/resilient to labor problems, shipping delays, etc. Analysis of Alternatives Analysis of strategic alternatives one involves looking to see how eliminating dividends in 2012 as well as utilizing Guna Fibre’s cash balances to cover net losses each month would allow the firm to fulfill the primary criteria identified above. Referring to exhibit 8 note that the values have been adjusted as such that Guna Fibres is no longer paying a dividend and that cash is being used to cover net losses, adjusting Guna Fibres policy of keeping their cash balance at a INR 750K. Examining the yellow highlighted row one can see that these changes improve both the monthly balanced carried on the line of credit as well as improve on the year-end balance, (see highlighted section exhibit 5). Unfortunately, even  the implementation of both of these measures is unlikely to satisfy the bank. First, the models do not show that Guna Fibres will be able to zero out the balance on the account either in the short term or at any point next year. While the model shows a comparatively incremental increase in notes payable at years end, it shows that Guna Fibres is still unable to meet their debt obligations and the bank will be unlikely to extend any further credit. As far as the secondary criteria, this does not seem to be a solution for the long term for Guna Fibres. While it slows some of the bleeding in the coming year, the fact remains that the firm cannot meet their financial obligations and will likely find themselves in a deeper hole next year these are the only changes implemented. One benefit of the proposed changes to cash management would be that it could be accomplished without major procedure overhaul and could provide an immediate benefit to the firm. Conversely, ceasing dividends and spending the company’s cash balance would indicate to shareholders and employees that the company in bad financial health and could create a morale problem. Sikh’s proposal to capitalize on improvements in shipping times to improve inventory tracking had some unintended consequences that could be very beneficial for Guna Fibres. By carrying only 30 days worth of inventory at a time Guna Fibres is able to dramatically reduce the amount of capital that is invested in their inventory. In turn this reduces total assets and as a result lowers the necessary borrowing from the bank. Implementing Sikh’s plan immediately would satisfy both of the banks necessary conditions. As can be seen in Exhibit 6, the change in inventory policy would allow the balance of notes payable to be satisfied in the month of January and that Guna Fibres will be able to pay zero out the balance again in the fall as historically expected. Additionally, due to the improvements in shipping it is likely that this plan can be implemented in a manner that is sustainable and not simply a â€Å"Band-Aid† solution to deal with symptoms of the underlying pr oblem. Finally, there are benefits and drawbacks of this plan that need to be acknowledged. As it relates to the tertiary criteria mentioned above. The greatest benefit beyond the ability to continue operations is that doing  so will not compromise the company’s dividend payments or cash balances. This should have a positive effect on company morale and continued shareholder and employee engagement. One of the possible drawbacks is that the 30 day inventory policy will reduce some of the slack in the system and the incidence of a mechanical or raw materials delay could result in stock outs for Guna Fibres. Additionally, moving to a just in time inventory system will require Guna Fibres to have very accurate projections for the next periods demand as the firm will want to avoid stock outs. While these concerns will need to be taken into account, they are subordinated to the primary need, which is to demonstrate a viable financial model that will satisfy the bank. The final proposal to shift Guna Fibres to level production fails to satisfy the immediate needs of the bank as well as the long-term requirements of being able to zero out the line of credit. Exhibit 7 clearly shows that this policy will create an increased reliance on the bank’s line of credit to maintain operations as well as create inventory stock outs during the busy season for Guna Fibres. This proposal may yield some insights for the long term for Guna Fibres as Gupta is able to demonstrate decreases in manufacturing expense as well as benefits to morale and resilience to labor and manufacturing problems. However, at this time, this plan does not satisfy the immediate need of Guna Fibres. Comparing the three proposed plans it is clear that adopting Sikh’s new inventory management system is the ideal solution as it is the only plan that is likely to satisfy the bank. Additionally, Sikh’s plan is sustainable and does not involve the firm treating symptoms and actually addresses the underlying issue. Recommended Solution Based on the given analysis of the proposed solutions, Guna Fibres should implement the inventory management plan that was proposed by Sikh. Based on Sikh’s memo inventory procedures can be implemented immediately and this course of action should be chosen. Even in the presence of minor delays or transitional problems, the sustainable nature of this plan should be enough to persuade the bank that Guna Fibres will be able to pay their debit obligations going forward. The biggest area of concern will be the  importance of accurately projecting demand for the next period as having 30 days less inventory will eliminate Guna Fibres ability to rely on extra stock when demand exceeds their projections. Efforts to address these concerns could include developing a more communicative relationship with the distributors that Guna Fibres sells to gain better information for making their projections. An additional concern that needs to be addressed are how the change in inventory policy will impact Guna Fibres suppliers and if they will be able to accommodate the changes to the firms ordering policy. It is also important to keep in mind that if Guna Fibres implements this policy they still have the flexibility to cut their dividend or reduce their cash balance to cover and periodic cash flow problems. By demonstrating that new inventory plan to the bank with the additional contingency of potentially cutting cash or the quarterly dividend, Guna Fibres should be able to resume operations and a relationship with the bank.

Brighter Sunnyday

Of all the movies that I’ve seen, only â€Å"A brighter Summer Day† was the longest hours film of them all, a very large project for the Chinese-language film. This film was directed by a Taiwanese director, Edward Yang who made it all possible to direct 100 actors to portray different roles. â€Å"A Brighter Summer Dayâ€Å"was actually based on a true incident which happened during 1960. The story was also a mixture of Yang’s youth which can be seen in the film though there is a little variation from the original. In June 15, 1961, a Taiwanese high school male killed his girlfriend in Gulling Street without any reasons.â€Å"A Brighter Summer Day† was a personal vision which recalls both an actual street murder that shook the nation and Yang's own childhood at the same time. The story doesn’t mainly focused on the gangster’s street rival in Taiwan during 1960’s but it’s story goes behind a young man who was experiencing a ma jor upheaval in his own country in which he wants to overcome. This movie serves as an exploration of the novel which depicts the cultural identity of the Taiwanese. This film revolves around the life of S'ir, who was a high school student by then.The cast was filled with different characters which seem equally worrisome. His cast is filled with plenty of variables, but each character’s plight seems equally worrisome. His father was one of the Chinese mainlanders who went all the way to Taipei during the wake of civil uprisings in 1949. Since the film was set over the course in 1961, it gave a printed introduction which explains that state is now in uncertainty where gangs thrive on the streets so they should be careful about their children and keep them safe and under control at all times.The narratives of Yang jumps back and forth with different subplots which made it difficult to track, especially the shots that was taken from medium to long shots. Given that, the story te lling skills of Yang made it possible to recognize some cues for each sequence which lets the audience trail the story. The most memorable scenes that revolve around the gangster’s school-age girlfriend have been smitten with him. They wind up next door, while they cut classes, and get easily attracted with the looks of the girl.Upon forming an endearing bond, Si’rs friends warned him about being close to the girl and should not let her become the cause of any bad blood. This part is very thrilling, and mysterious enough to watch since you really want to know what the story behind the murder is as if you are really seeing how it happened. Yang sensed that when the dark historical moment happens, driving and being driven become one. I think that because of this feeling, it made a narrative filmmaking that creates a new genre of modern experience.Literary, this film had hypnotically built a single act of violence when it reaches and end of one’s life which is inev itable and shocking at the same time. â€Å"A Brighter Summer Day† emerged as one of the finest film made in Taiwan. Even though the cast were all non-actors, the film was still beautifully made- shots were good, houses especially the interior were great, even the schools and the dance clubs brought a real effect that happened in the countryside during summertime. The film also created a good effect by inserting violence and serenity alternately.The film is a rhythmic and poetic evocation of a particular era. Its ironic title (in that there is no â€Å"brighter summer day† for these characters) is taken from an Elvis song that one of the kids sings at a nightclub. It is a truly exemplary modern masterpiece that got no distribution in the West but deserves to be hunted out at all costs by those who love and cherish the film art. You can also see other characters with singing careers that has been the source of frustration and source of income of the gangsters.The song w hich was entitled â€Å"Are You Lonesome Tonight† was the source of the movie’s title a song by Elvis song which was sung by some nightclub kids. This song was one of the artifacts that appear in the movie though it did not originate from Taiwan. The song captures the audience through its melodic sound and its giving such goose bumps effect when you hear it while it plays as a particular scene was shown. There were also several important props in the film particularly the samurai sword, radio a flashlight and a tape recorder as well.Older characters appear to be strictly adhering to Taiwanese’s tradition or to something else like Christianity. The older characters, when they appear, either stubbornly adhere to Taiwanese traditions or have grabbed onto something else, such as Christianity while other older Taiwanese seemed to be powerless and weak. Children somehow understand this but perhaps cannot dig dipper to comprehend it and despite the murder that was insp ired by a true to life incident, this film sees a light of hope.S’ir’s father here was a civil servant with a high-ranking job and the accomplishments of his daughter. He often attends the best government-sponsored college and was very proud. If his son disappoints him, he butts his head against bureaucracy, hoping that he would get personal favors the system which he believes to have fair and firm regulations. Yang simplifies things by tossing a metaphor into the stew which made it so confusing in general when he narrates about the operation of the government against the people.The backbone of the narrative structure was formed by S’ir’s shifting morality when the tragedy befalls him seems to be heartbreaking which made the entire nation moved by it. The strain has been weighed down on him and at that time, his family seems to be epidemic in the country. According to my research, the film took over several years to finish because its preparation needed t o be meticulous on its construction as well as the feelings that community might have. Because the length is almost four hours, it definitely shows a remarkable film which gave an epic quality of the film.Since the there are more than hundred speaking parts in the film, you should really focus in watching so that you’ll keep on track of what was going on with the story, which is a good strategy on capturing the audience attention. Without looking into the contradictions that it may bring in a political discourse, Yang personalized the politics and its complexities. The style of the film creates a paradox. He used I little bit of close-ups, which keeps it far away from his subjects but not so far in order for the viewers to judge them objectively and doesn’t’ lose the grasp on their concern.The main accomplishment of Yang focused on the narrative that he made, as well as the political and emotional chaos. Familiarity arose from the running time that goes on with the consistent political attitudes which was evident in the script assures that audience concern were given focus where Yang wants it. This happens without using too much cinematic language which in turn prompts the viewer to barely identify the protagonists. Yang was never intimidated throughout the film although he made as a very expansive scope of a messy autobiographical of such territory.Attached with the film is a nostalgia but not to the point of intelligence. Yang created a manifesto which obviously shows conflicting attitudes about the history of his country. We can see in the film that it was seemingly limitless to examine the country’s lamentation which a storyteller like Yang has done to probe the history of a nation’s developing country and its progress. For me, â€Å"A Brighter Summer Day† sure stands as a monumental achievement, and could probably be the greatest film among all modern Taiwanese cinema.

Lord of the Flies Book Report Profile

Lord of the Flies Book Report Profile Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, was published in 1954 by Faber and Faber Ltd of London. It is currently published by The Penguin Group of New York. Setting The novel Lord of the Flies is set on a deserted island somewhere on an island in the tropics. The events of the story occur during a fictional war. Main Characters Ralph: A twelve-year-old boy who, at the outset of the boys’ ordeal is elected leader of the group. Ralph represents the rational and the civilized side of humanity.Piggy: An overweight and unpopular boy who, because of his intellect and reason, becomes Ralph’s right-hand man. Despite his intelligence, Piggy is frequently the object of scorn and teasing by the other boys who consider him a misfit in glasses.Jack: Another of the older boys among the group. Jack is already the leader of the choir and takes his power seriously. Envious of Ralph’s election, Jack becomes Ralph’s rival eventually wresting control completely away. Jack represents the animal nature in all of us which, unchecked by the rules of society, quickly degenerates into savagery.Simon: One of the older boys in the group. Simon is calm and peaceful. He acts as a natural foil for Jack. Plot Lord of the Flies opens with a plane full of British schoolboys crashing on a deserted tropical island. With no adults surviving the crash, the boys are left to themselves to try to stay alive. Immediately a sort of informal society springs up with the election of a leader and the setting down of formal objectives and rules. Initially, rescue is foremost on the collective mind, but it is not long before a power struggle ensues with Jack attempting to sway the boys to his camp. Possessing different goals and vastly different sets of ethics, the boys divide into two tribes. Eventually, Ralph’s side of reason and rationality gives way to Jack’s tribe of hunters, and the boys sink deeper and deeper into a life of violent savagery. Questions to Ponder Consider these questions as you read the novel: 1. Examine the symbols of the novel. What is the symbolism of the face paint adopted by Jack’s tribe?What does the conch shell represent?Who or what is the â€Å"Lord of the Flies? Consider the origin of the phrase as well as its significance to the story.How does Golding use disease to extend the allegory in the novel? Consider Piggy’s asthma and Simon’s epilepsy as examples. 2. Examine the conflict between good and evil. Are people inherently good or bad?How are the values of the children painted to align them with a specific side?How is this novel an allegory for society as a whole? 3. Consider the theme of the loss of innocence. In what ways do the boys have their innocence stripped from them?Are there any characters that seem to possess no innocence from the outset and what is their purpose in the novel? Possible First Sentences Lord of the Flies is an allegory for society at large.Innocence is not stripped, it is surrendered.Fear and control are often found together in society.Is morality an innate feature of personality?

Organizations growth Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organizations growth - Research Paper Example If the firm can maintain an adequate level of cash and other resources, it can swiftly move to acquire undervalued firms to actually create an opportunity to deliver more value to the shareholders of the firm. (Damoiseau, Black, & Raggio, 2011) In order to expand globally, firms therefore have to manage whether they want to grow organically or through expansion. In either way firm has to manage certain issues which will be discussed below in order to be successful at global level. Cultural Profile Culture plays important role in the overall success of the organization at the local as well as the international level. The management of change within an organization clearly demonstrated the need for having a clear analysis of how the culture of the organization will be changed and reshaped in a manner which is more suitable for the firm. In order to successfully operate in countries like India, it is therefore important that the cultural assessment must be done. The overall cultural pro file of India would suggest that India is a developing country with established historical and cultural roots. The same has been transferred into the management style of the firms operating in the environment too. Over the period of time, India however, is making a transition towards a global corporate culture which is required for fostering of the global management culture within the organization. India is a country which is dominated by masculine culture which is based upon traditions and family businesses. The Tata Group started as a family business and is still is a family business despite the fact that it is now an international conglomerated. Indian culture therefore is focused upon family businesses where bosses and managers are considered like father figures. Communication Issues Another important role of the leader in managing change is to communicate across a shared vision for the change and the future of the firm. Providing a clear and vivid communication across the whole firm therefore makes it clear for each one of the employee and other stakeholders to basically know what their roles and responsibilities are and what the firm actually expects from them. Such an approach therefore ensures that the leaders inculcate the vision across the whole organization through effective communication across all the channels. One of the ways through which leaders manage change is to ensure the stability during the change process as change is not being viewed by every person in same manner. Like Tata Group which remained an organization where culture was not so conducive and employees worked as if they were working in a public sector organization. In such situation, the productivity was relatively low and as such complacency developed across all the companies working under the banner of Tata Group. As a leader, Ratan Tata therefore has to ensure that the painful transition of the organization takes place as quickly as possible in order to take advantage of the re lative opening of Indian economy to the international world. One of the key requirements therefore first is to initiate that change required to make the firm to advance and meet the future requirements of the market. (Ahn, Adamson, & Dornbusch, 2004). This was only achieved through effective communication because change at the global level requires effective communication of the changes. Communication within a particular cultural group can however, become

Impact of Technology on Society (Automobile) Essay

Impact of Technology on Society (Automobile) - Essay Example The automobile technology has had far reaching effects on the society. The advent of technology in the field of automobile has led to the design and production of high quality features of the automobiles used in the industry. The technological progress in the field of automobile has led to development in the cooling systems of engines, increased fuel efficiency of cars, advanced suspension and emission systems, increased horse-power, etc (Volti, 2004). The use of technologies has however, impacted the society by bringing about changes in the socio-economic lives of the people and also affecting the environmental conditions. Functions of society prior to use of technology The functions of the society prior to the invention and use of technology was primitive in nature. The people of the society were accustomed to undertake huge efforts in doing works like gathering of food, travelling from one place to another, sending messages for communication. The works of the society were done over longer period of time. The wooden chariots pulled by animals like horses, cows, buffaloes, etc. was used for moving from one place to another. The poorer sections of the society even had to walk long distances for the purpose of travelling from one place to another. There were several limitations in the modes of transport and long distance travel was done only cases of high need. The people of the society depended on the natural resources and the animals for maintaining their livelihood. The functions of the society before the use of technology was highly dependent on the natural and the natural resources were worshipped as Gods and Goddesses for securing their liveliho od. The functions of the society changed as they learnt to convert the natural resources into beneficial elements for their use that would help to lead to attain improvement in the style of livelihood. The invention of the wheel, motor, steam engine and mechanical engines gradually changes the function of the society as they could achieve their goals with much lesser efforts than before. Functions of the society after adoption of technology The functions of the society changed drastically with the adoption of technologies. The discovery and application of technology increased the efficiency of several modes of communication and transport. The use of automobiles in the society that incorporate complicates and sophisticated technologies were able to provide faster and smoother ways of communication all over the world. The people of the society could travel longer distances with the help of fuel efficient and high horse-power driven automobile engine used in cars and aircrafts. The bar riers of communication were reduced and people could not travel farther distances within their national boundaries but could also cross international borders with ease. The reduction of these barriers with the wide-spread adoption of technology helped in fostering social and cultural exchange between the nations. The various meeting and conferences held across the world from people of society in different corners of the globe were part of daily routines. This brought about economic changes in the lives of the people as the increase in business activities with the spread of technology and world-wide exchanges of culture, ideas and businesses led to the advent of globalization which reshaped the functions of the

Busines Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Busines Strategy - Essay Example Strategy Safari presents ten schools of thought which according to Mintzberg are classified into two broader areas of Descriptive schools as well as Perspective schools. Under these two broader areas, there are ten different categorization of the various schools of thoughts. Perspective schools of thoughts are those which consider that the companies based on their assessment of their current situation and resources attempt to formulate strategies whereas under descriptive schools of thoughts, organizations tend to take a historical view of the events which has caused the companies to reach at their present status and position. The ten schools of thoughts than are discussed according to their individual characteristics as well as assumptions in order to accurately define the respective schools of thoughts. This essay will attempt to critically analyse the underlying assumptions, perspectives as well as the paradigm stance of the Design School of Thought as discussed in Strategy Safari by Henry Mintzberg. Before discussing the design school of thought, it is of great importance that we must first attempt to initiate a debate on the concepts of resources and capabilities and how both the concepts have been utilized in the literature and their link with the design school of thought. Apparently, the strategies... Outside In perspective of the strategy formulation look at the market and the external situations as the major influence over the strategy making process within the organization and is largely opportunity driven while working on Positioning approach. This approach also allows firms to be more responsive to the changes taking place outside and convert them into opportunities. However continuous repositioning by the firms may keep their focus away from their distinctive competencies. However on the other hand, the inside out perspective of strategy formulation tend to take into account the resources of the firms and not the market as the chief source of strategy making within the organization. The focus of this approach has been on resources and capabilities of the firm and not on the external forces such as market. This approach is basically strength driven based on the internal capabilities of the firm with more emphasis on delivering and achieving more internal competencies. This approach also allows the firm to tap the opportunities in much better way as compared to the firms working on the basis of outside in perspective. The inside out perspective is what the key perspective of design school of thought is basically. Design School of Thought In its essence, Design school of thought see strategy as a conceptual process. It attempts to match the internal resources of the firm to the external environment in order to find a best strategic fit between the organisational resources and organisational strategies. The historical roots of this school of thought can be traced to the Harvard Business School as it appeared in the work of Selznick in 1957 when he first coined the word of

Cruise Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Cruise Industry - Essay Example This therefore, divides the market into different influential spheres. The fragmented industry allows all its players to create niches and the market shares where each one of them can work in, unlike in the consolidated industry where there little or no niches for the small players (Enz' 514). Q.2 In the cruise industry the cruising market is a single and segmented entity where products are differentiated mostly by the preferences of consumers and the assumption is that there is an increase in the overall sustainability and completion. Therefore, the cruise industry can be characterized as an oligopoly. The market structure of the Cruise industry is noticeable by the fact that there are few large firms such as the Carnival Corporation, which dominate this market, which all offer identical services that have a significant barrier when making entries in this industry. The cruising industry is widespread in the world and diverse in all ways. It dominates most of the modern landscape tod ay and the economics. Each of the firms in the cruising industry keep a close eye on what other firms in the industry are doing. Thus, a firm’s success in the cruising world is not entirely dependent as a sole entity. The cruising industry can also be classified under the oligopoly as the prices are mostly rigid and competition is not involved through the change in prices. Q.3 Carnival Corp brands are the most recognizable in United Kingdom, North America, among other states. The brands offer numerous customer base products which are highly based on customer cultures, languages and other preferences. Numerous brands that are operated by Carnival Corp usually have synergies (Enz' 516). A synergy is a merger of two or more firms and produces an effect. For example, if one of Carnival Corp’s brands has excellent services and products but has poor distribution channels, and the other brand has an excellent channel of distribution but offers poor services and products, the two could form a synergy and benefit from each other. The firm’s brands range from the carnival cruise lines, Cunard line, Princess Cruises and the Holland American Line. A combination of these brands forms a synergy that is usually more than the sum of the sum value of these brands. Forward-looking statements of Carnival’s annual costs savings can be identified through the estimates made on synergies and the cost of time that is taken to implement the synergies in the brands. Q. 4. Brand strategy: The existing customer information can influence the brand strategies at Carnival Corps in the future by increasing the firm’s profitability and stock price. Customer information promotes the use of effective brand strategies for up-coming organizations. More information influencing the brand strategies is a guarantee of the future ability of Carnival Corp to compete strongly in this competitive market. Additionally, there is a guarantee that the firm will not introduc e any defective products to its customers, thereby reducing the risk of making of future losses. Information from the customers predicts on the firm’s future performance and increases the chances of the firm identifying its faults. Information from regular customers who have cruised in the same routes may remind Carnival Corps that they have to provide new port destinations and products (Enz' 516). Q. 5.Carnival’s existing customer perceptions of its brands: Carnival

Consumer Packaged Goods In The Following Six Segments Marketing Essay

Consumer Packaged Goods In The Following Six Segments Marketing Essay Procter and Gamble is a global multinational company, headquartered in Cincinnati Ohio Proctor and Gamble Wikipedia 2012. It manufactures through internal and third party manufacturers (3PM) consumer packaged goods in the following six segments (Beauty, Grooming, Healthcare, Pet Care, Fabric and home care, Baby family care) as per its 2011 Annual report. Closely linked to its current product portfolio of products, PGs vision is: Be, and be recognized as, the best consumer products and services company in the world whereas its mission statement is: We will provide branded products and services of superior quality and value that improve the lives of the worlds consumers. As a result, consumers will reward us with leadership sales, profit and value creation, allowing our people, our shareholders, and the communities in which we live and work to prosper. (PG Annual Report) It was not only until 2011 that the Pringles brand was under the PG umbrella. PG sells a myriad of products with multiple segments, target consumers and specific positioning. It is so mind boggling that it could range from a Duracell battery to SKII a premium skin care product manufactured in Japan. In Australia, a bottle of 75ml facial treatment essence- one of its more popular SKUs sells for AUD100. The beauty segment offers cosmetics, female antiperspirant and deodorant, female personal cleansing, female shave care, hair care, hair color, hair styling, pharmacy channel, prestige products, salon professional, and skin care products. The Grooming segment provides electronic hair removal devices, home small appliances, male blades and razors, and male personal care. The Health Care segment comprises feminine care, gastrointestinal, incontinence, rapid diagnostics, respiratory, toothbrush, toothpaste, water filtration, and other oral care. The Pet Care segment offers pet care products. The Fabric Care and Home Care segment includes laundry additives, air care, batteries, dish care, fabric enhancers, laundry detergents, and surface care products. The Baby Care and Family Care segment consists of baby wipes, diapers, paper towels, tissues, and toilet papers products. (PG Profile, Yahoo! Finance) PGs vision of the best consumer products and services company in the world seems realistic and attainable as its consistently ranked as one of the as one of the Most Admired Companies in the Fortune ranking (CNN Money, World most admired companies); earning top spot in the consumer products industry and No 9 overall on the 2012 list. Over the recent years, PG has consistently earned the top spot within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry while ranking in the top 10 of the overall list. Whereas PGs mission statement is in tandem with its actions as its currently the CPG in the world based on sales revenues; and continues to strive for sustainability in its business actions. It is currently the worlds largest producer of household and personal products by revenue standing at USD82billion for 2011. PGs products reach 4 billion people worldwide and have 22 brands with over USD1billion in annual sales with another 19 brands generating over USD500 million in sales. The USD1billion brands include Tide, Pampers, Gillette, Pantene, Bounty, Oral B etc. With marketing spend of nearly $10 billion a year on TV, print and online advertising, PG is the worlds largest marketer. (PG ad spending hits $9.3 billion, Marketwatch 2012) However, the company has recently discovered the benefits of cost effective social and digital media and is gradually gaining traction in that arena which is mostly they believe was more cost effective and equally efficient as compared to traditional media. In the competitive Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, PGs brands are important to the company. It has spent a great deal of time and money to establish its brand image by developing superior products through extensive Research Development (RD), innovative packaging, ensuring its on shelf availability and backing it with engaging integrated marketing communications and reliable service. However, the company seems to suffer from the fame of its company rather than its brands as compared to say its close competitor Unilever. Many people do not know of the company Unilever but have heard of its brands like Lipton, Magnum, Dove, Knorr etc. Whereas for PG, many people have strong associations and recognition of the company but when you ask people to mention its billion dollar brands, people normal stumble over that. Because of the competitive landscape, PG is takes the initiative to reach out to the voice of the consumer through multiple consumer insight activities. They have realized that at the heart of their success will be a successful marketing strategy. PGs products are based on a sound understanding of who their customers are. This of course doesnt imply that the company manufactures products to meet the whims and fancies of every consumer. However, PG aggressively exploits opportunities in the market to their advantage and are continuously vigilant in the monitoring of those opportunities. Customer knowledge is thus important to PG which studies both end consumers and trade partners through continuous market research and intelligence gathering. As proof of their commitment, PG currently spends more than $100 million no small change on over 10,000 formal consumer research projects annually and generates more than 3 million consumer contacts via its email and phone center. It also emphas izes getting its marketers and researchers out into the field, where they can interact with consumers and retailers face to face in their natural environment. (PG kisses up to the boss, Advertising Age) PGs market oriented strategy continues to play a vital role in the company with the economic downturn and the onslaught of private label brands and consumers increasing demanding low price and good quality products. At this moment, PG brands still dominate the premium end of most of the categories in which they compete in and while their aspirational qualities resonate with consumers, PG will have to stay at the top of the game in the fickle consumer goods market. Issue 2: PGs leading market position (Top 3) in almost all its categories provides it with significant competitive advantage. However, with the economic slowdown and consumers starting to penny pinch, it is increasing difficult for branded product manufacturers like PG to maintain their sales volume and revenue growth while preventing discounting which dilutes brand image. Looking at the SWOT Analysis (Datamonitor), we can identify the current PG position: Strengths Strong RD and innovation culture. Spends more than twice on RD compared to its nearest rival Unilever. Leading market position in most categories Diversified Product Portfolio Strong brand portfolio- 24 USD1 billion brands. Weaknesses Increasing instance of product recall thus implication of poorer manufacturing quality Dependant on Walmart and few other major retailers for majority of its revenues Too many products, easily to get overextended, fight for capital amongst brands Opportunities Expansion in developing and emerging markets in Brazil, Russia, India China(BRIC) Mexico, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey(MIST) Future growth plans and new segments Threats Regulatory environment Slowing global economic conditions Raw material cyclical prices Counterfeit goods or rip offs of innovation by Chinese manufacturers Other competitors like Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Essentially PG is its own competitor. Its strength of having such a diversified product portfolio is also its weakness because with so many products, its easy for PG management to get distracted, what more so its consumers who might be confused with too many choices. One of its main weaknesses is over-reliance on Walmart for majority of revenues. To increase distribution choices, PG could consider selling via its own website considering the popularity of ecommerce. Although, since this is not its core competency, it might not be a feasible strategy with some market research and feasibility studies. Its main external threats are controlling its cost base and also stiff competition between other FMCG giants. To control cyclical raw material prices, PG could work out long term deals with raw material prices and it needs to focus on improving its value proposition to its customers to prevent price wars. Customers: PGs customer base is unique. Because not only would PGs customers include those in the modern and traditional trade. They also encompass the end consumers both you and me. Modern trade refers to retailing at large format stores whereas general trade refers to retailing at the thousands of independent retail, wholesale and mom and pop stores. Some examples of its customer would include Walmart, Carrefour and Tesco who are more prevalent and dominant in the developed world. Whereas, the smaller mom and pop stores are the distribution channels of choice in developing economies like India or Mexico where consumers buy sachets worth a few cents with higher frequency than a large retail store. PGs biggest customer is Walmart, contributing more than 16% or revenue in 2011 down from 20% in the early 2000s.(Wikinvest) In this case, customer power with Walmart is very strong and PG normally has to concede to Walmarts request for certain promotions or price discounts. At this moment, PG has not yet discovered any alternative to Walmart and might have to yield to their demands. On the other hand, PG could use this to their advantage, using the judo move and utilizing the clout of Walmart and sell more products with sustainable profits. In terms of end consumers, end consumers are fickle and are subjected to Moments of Truth. The best known is the First moment of Truth (FMOT), coined by PG where in just 3-7 seconds, a shopper encounters a product on the store shelf and decides in those short moments whether to buy it. If the consumer does not find the product, she moves on to a competitors product. There is basically little consumer loyalty when it comes to soap and shampoo. The Second Moment of Truth (SMOT), is the moment when a consumer uses the product and is another powerful marketing opportunity but it is harder for the manufacturer to control because this is when the consumer uses the Pantene shampoo and decides whether she likes the texture, smell or after results of the shampoo. Then it progresses to the Zero Moment of Truth (ZMOT) where consumers are going online using blogs, facebook or twitter to find inspiration for their own looks and get tips and tricks from experts or take cues from a favorite celebrity. Because of this progression and the influence of the internet of consumer behaviors, PG has started to re-evaluate the brands true FMOT and is looking to shift to focus on the notion of store back which means that ad agencies need to start formulating ideas at the retail store, working backwards to outside the store. This also means that marketers need work on their pull marketing strategies which gets demand forecast from consumers, not only the traditional push strategies and find ways to match the two. PG puts on its priority list the importance that the end consumer always has a consistent and positive experience from ZMOT to point of purchase and beyond, and has strived to get in front of the consumer with the right brand message upstream in the process of discovery and to continue staying there. Collaborators: PG has many collaborators. They would include direct and indirect material vendors like: raw material suppliers, advertising agencies, marketing research firms, independent product testing laboratories, logistics partners, communication companies, banks and financial institutions, travel agencies and hotels etc. Of special mention would be its supply chain partners which would include warehousing, transportation, software providers and carriers as PG has one of the worlds best supply chain. In the 2012 survey, it placed in the Top 5 just behind Apple, Amazon, McDonalds and Dell. PG has showcased its ability to make efficient decisions across the supply network. It is a consistent challenge to ensure the right forecast demand and that shelves are filled, but PG has managed to find the right balance. With its best in class, open innovation platform, combined with an impressive new product operational capability that synchronized with its clockwork run supply chain, it taps a deep well of understanding its consumers, aligning to their ZMOT and FMOT, to continue to deliver new products on time and on demand. (The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 2012) In order for all cogs to move in sync, PG has to maintain a win-win partnership with its collaborators to create sustainable competitive advantages. Competitors: Due to PGs diverse product range, there is no one for one direct competitor with this behemoth. Some of PGs competitors include other FMCG multinationals like Unilever, Clorox, Kimberly Clark, Johnson Johnson (consumer division) and also Japanese FMCG companies like Kao, Lion etc. It faces strong competition from its competitors and has to constantly innovate, cut cost to maintain its position as the market leader. Its closest competitor would be the Anglo Dutch company Unilever but even then, Unilevers sales revenue is only half of PGs. PG also possess a higher operating margin than its competitors at 20.3% versus Unilever at 14.8% in the year 2010. Although PG has many competitors, it has established itself as a market leader and is thus well positioned to ward off competition or make necessary acquisitions of smaller companies. Its last notable acquisition was in 2005 of Gillette, forming the largest consumer goods company in the world and placing Unilever in second place. This added brands such as Gillette, Duracell, Braun and Oral B to their stable. Therefore, for new start ups to the consumer goods industry, they would find the barriers to entry pretty high. Whereas for the existing competitors like Unilever, Colgate Palmolive, they have to continue to play the catch up game, in terms of market share. Context: A PESTLE analysis will be conducted to examine the current situation for PG in the global market. Political: With local operations in more than a hundred countries, based in different time zones and continents, PG has to manage the complexity of different political regimes, rules and regulations and political trends influencing its business operations. On one hand, PG has to adapt and thrive to the changing political pressures in different nations, yet on the other hand, due to its scale and size, it plays integral roles to cooperate and affect local government policy with its clout and manufacturing size. Therefore, It has considerable clout due to its ability to move and shift hundreds of jobs out of a country. Economic: The world economy is having shorter cyclical patterns and PG is seeing market share stagnant or decline in the developed areas like US and Europe. However, world demand is forecasted to grow in the next few years due to growing populations and development of economies in the developing continents like Latin America and Asia. Due to the different nuances and different cultural and consumer habits, PG has to be attuned to the changes in order to continue to grow and thrive and it must take note that developments in the different markets and nations will cause an uneven growth situation in different regions. It might thus have to focus its marketing firepower on previously neglected upon nations. Social: PG has to place great attention and importance to the different social norms when expanding overseas due to various cultural backgrounds in different market in order not to step on any taboo landmines. For instance, due to the changing masculinity trends, we have the advent of the metrosexual and the demand for men grooming is seen as a growth area for the FMCG market. Or for example, due to the increasing drive towards being socially responsible, PG needs to source its raw materials like tomatoes or palm oil from sustainable sources or face wrath from watchdogs like Greenpeace of other tree huggers. Because of this sustainability trend, PG has committed to developing USD50billion worth of products that have a sustainable impact. Technological: As the overall market of fast moving consumer products is very large and diversified, PG has invested significantly to gain technological advantage in order to maintain and expand its market position. As a result, technology investment in product formulation, packaging, product design is heavy and development is fast. PG has its own RD function reporting directly to the CEO and based on 2010 numbers; PG invested nearly USD2billion in RD up from USD1.95 billion in 2008. Legal: PG has to obey and comply with different legal and tax requirements on its products, manufacturing process and business operations. With the rising prices in commodities, FMCG companies would like to raise prices but are contained by certain price ceilings by governments and thus PG has to battle with price ceilings yet remain profitable. For example, it tried to raise prices but suffered mandated price cuts in Venezuela and import curbs in Argentina. Ethical: Because personal products are daily essentials, the quality and safety of the products are extremely important for the brands. Any scandals or rumors about the product can lead to significant and unconceivable damage on the image. For eg the recall in 2011 for their Oral B products due to Microbial contamination in Canada, China, Chile, Columbia and Mexico caused dissatisfaction amongst consumers in the way that it was handled where in China consumers who wanted a refund had to send the empty product bottles, receipt and a copy of their bank account passbooks to the companys Guangzhou office which caused ire amongst the consumers as it was unreasonable for consumers to keep the bottle after they consumed the mouth wash. Issue 3: PGs former CEO A.G Lafley who retired in 2010 coined a strong and simple message that the Consumer is Boss and PG followed his mantra and tried to get the true opinion of its consumers with the belief that the closer they get to the customers, the better it was for them. (Innovation Machine PG: 1 Billion $ for Consumer Insights. 2012.) PG spends more than USD400 million annual in external consumer insight activities. In those activities, they touch base with more than 5 million consumers spanning 100 countries. They also conduct over 20,000 individual research studies every year, all this time and money spent is to understand the consumer a little bit more better to better identify opportunities for segmentation, product innovation and how to create a better overall service delivery to the consumers. (PG.com Core strengths) Apart from external sources, one famous platform that is created in-house by PG is TREMORà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ in 2001 under which it created the website www.vocalpoint.com which is a website for a community of mums to share knowledge and exchange opinions. Tremor is the word of mouth marketing organization developed by Procter Gamble that combines PGs wide-ranging marketing expertise with key learnings from cognitive science. (Tremor) It was founded for a dual purpose: market research tool and Word of mouth (WOM) advertisement. On vocalpoint, it connects about 600,000 mothers and these mothers have an average of 25-30 touchpoints with other women as compared to 5 for a usual mom. They share product information with other mums and this is key for PG as most household products are purchased by mothers or women in the household. They get samples and coupons to create a network effect. However, social media has changed the way in which companies gather information through traditional streams as consumers move to a digital age. It now gathers information about consumers through digital means like Facebook, twitter, launching apps that can be used on Smartphones etc and requires on website traffic and analytics to spot the next trend. In terms of competitor intelligence, PG definitely closely monitors its competitors through various online sources and probably outsources this research to external companies. In turn, this information is shared through the intranet about competitor intelligence and updates employees on what their competitors are up to. As there is no public information on this, I am assuming PG does the same if not more based on my work experience in Unilever. Competitors that currently represent a threat to PG would be Unilever, Colgate Palmolive, Clorox etc. The strategic group that PG is in would be the branded consumer goods section. However, PG isnt a direct competitor across all segments some of its competitors like Unilever still has a large portion of its revenue from its Food, tea and beverage business. Whereas Johnson Johnson not only consumer goods, but is also strong in medical and pharmaceutical industries. Its closest competitor in terms of direct product to product lineup in the household products market might be Colgate Palmolive. At this moment, PG is probably its own worst enemy. But in terms of its closest competitors that represent a treat, I would think that Unilever, Colgate Palmolive are two or its nearest competitors. One point to raise is the threat of private labels brands from supermarkets themselves. This is starting to be a threat especially during the economic recession when consumers dont differentiate between Shampoo Brand X and Shampoo Brand Y in terms of its value (reduces hair frizz) but on price alone. The in store brands by supermarkets like Coles or Woolworths compete in the same product category but obviously can afford to sell them at a lower entry price but higher profit margin. In order to mitigate this threat, PG has to spend more on branding and innovation to hopefully induce the willingness to pay for its products. The context of the FMCG industry is always dynamic. However, even though PG can probably use market research to stay abreast of latest developments, due to its size, it might not have the flexibility to react quickly to changes. It is clear in terms of the shift in power of the world economy; USA is the superpower of the past whereas Asia is the new superpower. With its headquarters still in Cincinnati Ohio, that in a sense is a constraint for PG as it is away from the business centers, away from the growth in the developing countries. PG needs the help of its collaborators to move to the next level as they are all part of the value chain activities. For example, it would needs its global logistics providers to ensure on time shelf delivery at competitive cost, it would need the 3PM to produce quality and competitively priced products, ad agencies to produce quality and engaging ads etc. In order to select the best collaborators, PG has balanced scorecards in terms of environmental sustainability to maintain its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint Issue 4: As one of the leaders in marketing, PG has spared no efforts in its marketing segmentation. For its paper products like tissues and toilet paper, it has household brands like Charmin, Puffs, Royale and Bounty. For its shampoo segment, it has famous brands like Head Shoulders, Vidal Sasson, Pert Plus, Ivory and Pantene, supposedly sufficient to cater to a wide range of hair: oily, dry, dandruff, coloured, split ends etc. For the laundry segment, one of its cash cows has in itself 8 brands for sale in the United States. This would include Ivory Snow, Dreft, Oxydol, era, Gain, Bold, Cheer and its crown Jewel Tide. Because PG also is based worldwide, it has many different specially created brands in each category to cater to different international markets. In Latin America, it sells 16 laundry product brands whereas in its EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) geographic segment, it has a whopping 19 different brands for choice. PGs marketing strategy has clearly shifted from mass market to target marketing. It is aware that consumers have different needs through its elaborate consumer research, it has been trying to develop a product for every type of need a consumer has, it seems that PG is trying to have a race with itself to develop new products for any kind of customer. We can understand the motivation as PG wants to use its economies of scale and brand name to push out its products and expand market share to new and existing loyal customers. With the enormous number of brands in PG, we would imagine that each brand manager is trying to fight for publicity and capital for its brand. It is merely a hypothetical question, but could the multitude of brands be more of an internal fight for importance rather than actually meeting consumer needs? However, clearly PG positions itself in the premium section of the FMCG market. Its products like Pantene, Vidal Sasson can command higher prices than a lower end shampoo brand like Sunsilk from Unilever. As mentioned, the multitude of brands is both the strength and weakness for PG. For one, the same laundry products for example will be competing with each other for limited and precious supermarket shelf positioning and space. The fact that PG introduces several brands in one category might be economies of scale but could also crowd out the market. It could perhaps concentrate its resources on a handful of main brands and focus their targeting on specific customer segments instead of spreading itself too thinly. Because of the multitude of PGs categories, we will just examine in detail its laundry brands in US. In order to breakdown laundry segments, PG first has to look at the job to be done segmentation. It did research and probably thought that apart from using detergents to get clean clothes, people also want other things from detergent. For example, mothers might want cheap detergent because with a family of three kids, there would be many dirty clothes and washing cycles to do in a week. Thus, they would want detergent that is economical and powerful to get rid of dirt stains. On the same demographics of mothers, you get mothers with babies, and they would want detergents with less (zero) chemicals catered to the sensitive skin of babies. On the other spectrum, you might have some working professionals or yuppies who have a higher willingness to pay and value detergents that had a nice fresh smell and are sustainable for the environment. Thus, it is no surprise that PG has launched 8 b rands in the US to cater to all the individual niches of customers. A quick check on www.walmart.com (Appedix A) and entering in the word Tide prompts 65 hits on the detergent in the household essentials segment. The fact is that Tide comes in three forms: liquid, powder, pod forms. It also comes in many shapes, scents and sizes. This results in a minimum of 65 SKUS for just one laundry brand. By segmenting the market for laundry across multiple detergent brands, PG seems to have covered all bases for consumer laundry needs and wants. As a result, PG is the unrivalled leader in the USD7billion US laundry detergent market. Tide alone is the market leader with a respectable 38% market share. When we combine all eight of PG laundry brands, it comes up to a 60% share of the market-2.5 times that of nearest rival Unilever and much more than any single brand could obtain by itself. However, does this mean that market share is due to the fact that PG has that many brands and is successful in its segmentation activities or is it because of the overall value proposition PGs detergents provide to its consumers. Could PG attain its market share of 60% by optimizing the number of SKUs by half? PG recognizes that they cannot appeal to all buyers in the marketplace or at least not to all buyers in the same way. Buyers are too numerous, too widely scattered, and too varied in their needs and buying practices. Moreover, PG itself varies widely in its abilities to serve different segments of the market. Rather than trying to compete in an entire market, sometimes against superior competitors, PG has identified the parts of the market that it can serve best and most profitably. Thus, PG is being more selective about the consumers that they wish to capture and retain. It has been a clear leader in moving from mass marketing, toward market segmentation and targeting-successfully identifying market segments after stringent market research and studies, selecting one or more of them, and developing products and marketing programs individually tailored to the specific niche. PG clearly believes the rifle approach is more effective rather than the shotgun approach. It has achieved previous success based on this approach, but would this strategy continue to work for the fickle and fussy FMCG market? It should however be noted that Apple -one of the best marketers of technology thinks differently, with the iphone is still managed as a mass marketing concept. Issue 5: PGs reputation as being the best in marketing is indisputable. They are known to be at least 5 years ahead of competitors in terms of how they go to market. They continuously train and invest in their employees at the beginning of their careers and like to promote from within. They spend enormous amounts of money training their people to become world class marketers and many of their people leave PG to lead other companies as their Chief Marketing Officer. PG clearly puts the consumer first. As such, their marketing strategy is based on deep consumer insights. This might mean their advertising probably wont be the most creative, but they will capture revenue and market share. This however, might prove to be a stumbling block with the changing demographics in the developing world. PGs marketing orientation makes business sense strategically. With a market orientation and micro marketing approach, PG can adapt to the 4Ps. In terms of Price, PGs premium pricing has shown that it can be moved with lower prices for the more cost sensitive developing countries. In terms of product categories, it competes in 35 product categories in US but only present in an average of 19 product categories globally. Therefore, PG is focusing on the launching more product categories in more countries, targeting expansion of the global average to presence in 24 product categories by 2014-15. With regards to place, PG currently distributes broadly through four channels: 1) supermarkets mass volume retail, 2) mom pop stores which are still prevalent in the third world countries especially when shops are inaccessible, 3) wholesale and 4) modern retail stores. As part of new channel strategy, PG also is focusing on expansion in the international pharmacy and e-commerce channels. This s hall contribute to PG products being available at more outlets. (PGs market share strategy set to pay off- Seeking Alpha) The PG brand plays a huge role in its marketing strategy as its one of the most recognized brands in the world. The PG brand is synonymous with premium pricing and quality. With the shift in the demographics, PG would need to shift to developing countries and the younger age segmentation. In terms of developing countries, it would be right on the ball to focus on India and China. At this moment, PG is definitely behind the curve for India as Hindustan Unilever is the clear leader in the CPG industry, however, PG does better in terms of brand penetration in China. The positioning in China is also very different as compared to India