Pepsi Total Reward

Business Ethics Business ethics is a topic that is often on the forefront of media and journalism reports in the United States of America today. To someone that doesn’t have a background in business, or a general understanding of the business world, these reports can be cumbersome and hard to follow. One must first understand what business ethics actually are. Dictionary. com defines business ethics as the study and examination of moral and social responsibility in relation to business practices and decision-making in business (dictionary. com). Once one understands the meaning of business ethics, they often wonder what major companies do to stay ahead of the curve, and excel in the area of business ethics. Sadly, it seems as if the general media is only interested in companies with poor business ethics and practices. Media outfits are able to sell more papers, and gain more viewers, and honest companies such as PepsiCo never get the positive publicity that they deserve. Ethics and compliance are present in PepsiCo’s day to day operations. PepsiCo also has procedures in place to ensure ethical behavior for both their employees, and the company as a whole. Next, one must take a look at processes within the organization PepsiCo employs to comply with SEC regulations. Finally, the financial statements of PepsiCo will be analyzed with the intent of looking into the trend for different ratios and what it tells investors, and the public alike about the organization’s financial health. In a world that is filled with unethical companies that are lying to their investors, employees, and the public, it is encouraging to still have companies like PepsiCo that are both ethical and compliant. PepsiCo goes to great lengths to attain economic success while still complying to the unwritten laws of business ethics. PepsiCo does this based on three main elements of influence: environmental, talent, and human sustainability. PepsiCo offers consumers a wide array of products from health conscious foods, to comfort foods, to athletic drinks. PepsiCo’s financial stability is greatly influenced by the decision to offer so many products. By doing so, PepsiCo gets to appeal to a variety of consumers, as opposed to just one type. When PepsiCo speaks of environmental sustainability, they are talking about their efforts to â€Å"go green† or lessen their environmental footprint. PepsiCo is planning on taking the necessary steps toward reducing their electrical consumption by 20% and reducing fuel consumption by 25% by the year 2015. In 2007, PepsiCo saved nearly five billion liters of water, and nearly five-hundred million kilowatt hours of energy worldwide in 2007 when compared to their use in years past (PepsiCo, 2009). PepsiCo is looking out for the best interests of the environment, an ethical and admirable decision made by the company. PepsiCo is also an equal opportunity employer and they are often praised for the diverse workforce that they develop. When PepsiCo speaks of talent, they are talking about their diverse workforce. PepsiCo also believes in equality, they show this by offering employment to individuals without worrying about gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. PepsiCo was named one of Business Ethics Magazine’s â€Å"100 best corporate citizens†. PepsiCo shows loyalty to their employees by trying to promote from within. They also participate in various surveys to prevent any issues, and to address any problem areas. The current CEO of PepsiCo is a woman by the name of Indra Nooyi; since she took over in 2006 she has promoted workplace diversity. PepsiCo’s workplace policies are available in thirty different languages to accommodate many ethnic groups. PepsiCo also does their best to try to spend as much as they could with minority owned businesses, while still looking out for the company’s best interests. (PepsiCo, 2009). PepsiCo is extremely ethical and compliant when looking at their hiring practices. Human sustainability at PepsiCo is their vow to offer more healthy choices for consumers. PepsiCo is dedicated to their consumers, and is focused on creating and innovating new products that will offer less sugar and staying away from â€Å"empty calories†. PepsiCo has been partnering with the World Health Organization to find new ways to improve the diets of consumers while promoting physical activities. When looking at PepsiCo’s promotion of human sustainability, it is evident that PepsiCo values their consumers, which is valued and ethical. PepsiCo much like any other well respected company, complies with the regulations that are determined by the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). PepsiCo demonstrates their SEC compliance through their hiring of an independent registered public accounting firm. PepsiCo utilizes the well-known and respected accounting firm Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler which is more commonly referred to as KPMG. KPMG is one of the largest professional services firms in the world and one of the Big Four auditors. The Big Four auditors are KPMG along with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, and finally Ernst and Young. KPMG’s global headquarters are located in the Netherlands . By employing an outside source, PepsiCo allows the auditing firm KPMG to clearly analyze their numbers, ultimately making independent judgments for the soft drink company. KPMG complies with the laws and guidelines that are set up by the Securities and Exchange Commission through a published report to the SEC that is created quarterly and annually for PepsiCo. The reports that are then created by KPMG offer the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as shareholders, and anyone else interested detailed information on what and where the company is spending money as well as on what and where the company is receiving money. Near the end of PepsiCo’s annual report, there is a statement that speaks of the honesty and integrity of the report. This statement reads: â€Å"Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we conducted and evaluation of the effectiveness of our control over financial reporting based upon the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on that evaluation our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 26, 2009 (PepsiCo, 2009). † Based on that quote, one must believe that PepsiCo is both ethical and compliant with respect to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Despite the worldwide economic turmoil that companies have been forced to deal with, PepsiCo has done their best to rise above the state of the economy, and still post good numbers. PepsiCo’s current ratio for 2008 came out to 1. 23 and the current ratio for 2009 was 1. 35. This means that PepsiCo can pay back its short-term liabilities (debt and payables) with its short-term assets (cash, inventory, receivables) 1. 299 times in 2008 and 1. 435 times in 2009. To properly compute the current ratio for each year an individual would divide the current assets by the current liabilities. The 2008 current ratio for PepsiCo can be calculated by dividing 10,806 by 8,787. This comes out to 1 . 23. The 2009 current ratio for Pepsi is calculated the same way dividing 12,571 by 8,756. This equates to 1. 435. PepsiCo improved their current ratio year over year. A debt ratio is a ratio that indicates what proportion of debt a company has relative to its assets. Thus having a lower percentage would be ideal. PepsiCo’s debt ratio for 2008 was 23%. This can be computed by taking the total debt, which was $ 8,227 and dividing that by the total assets which were $ 35,994. In 2009 the total debt was $7,864 and the total assets were $ 39,848, giving PepsiCo a debt ratio of 19. 7%. Return on equity is known as the amount of net income returned as a percentage of shareholders equity. It can be calculated as the net income divided by common equity, and a higher percentage is favorable. In 2008 the net income was $ 5,166, which is divided by the common equity $ 12,203, this comes out to 12%. In 2009 the net income was $ 5,979 and the common equity was $ 16,908, meaning that the return on equity was 35%. Again, PepsiCo shows improvement year over year. Finally, comes the days receivable. The days receivable are a measure of the average time a company's customers take to pay for purchases. The days receivable are equal to accounts receivable divided by annual sales on credit times 365. In 2008 PepsiCo’s accounts receivable came out to $ 4,683, annual sales on credit were $ 20,351, meaning that the days receivable in 2008 equated to 83. 99, or simply 84 days. In 2009 PepsiCo’s accounts receivable came out to $ 4,624, annual sales on credit were $ 20,099, meaning that the days receivable in 2008 equated to 83. 97 or 84 days as well. Year over year, it seems as if PepsiCo remained constant in the area of days receivable. In closing, PepsiCo establishes itself on the forefront of ethics and compliance. PepsiCo also has procedures in place to ensure ethical behavior of employees and shareholders. Finally, PepsiCo has processes that they utilize to comply with SEC regulations. PepsiCo seems to have improved financially year over year between 2008 and 2009. In a world that is filled with unethical companies that are lying to their investors, employees, and the public, it is encouraging to still have companies like PepsiCo that are both ethical and compliant. References Business ethics. (n. d. ). Dictionary. com's 21st Century Lexicon. Retrieved September 27, 2010, from Dictionary. com website: http://dictionary. reference. com/browse/Business ethics PepsiCo. 2008 Annual Report. Purchase, NY: PepsiCo, 2008. Annual reports. September 27, 2010. http://www. pepsico. com/Investors/Annual-Reports. html PepsiCo. 2009 Annual Report. Purchase, NY: PepsiCo, 2009. Annual reports. September 27, 2010. http://www. pepsico. com/Investors/Annual-Reports

Capital Market Essay

~ Capital market is the market for leading and borrowing of medium and long term funds. ~ The demand for long-term funds comes from industry, trade, agriculture and government (central and state). ~ The supply for funds comes from individual savers, corporate savings, banks, insurance companies, specialized financial institutions and government. *SIGNIFICANCE: ~ A sound and efficient capital market is extremely vital for the economic development of a nation. ~ So, the significance of capital market has increased. ~ The following points clearly bring out the role and significance of capital market in India. i)CAPITAL FORMATION: ~ Capital market encourages capital formation as it ensures speedy economic development. The process of capital formation includes collection of saving effective mobilisation of these savings for productive investment. ~ Thus three distinctive inter-related activities i.e. collection of savings, mobilisation of savings and investment lead to capital formation in the country. ~ The volume of capital formation depend s on the efficiency and intensity with which these activities are carried on. ii) ECONOMIC GROWTH: ~ Capital market plays a vital role in the growth and development of an economy by channelising funds in developmental and productive investments. ~ The financial intermediaries channel funds into those investments that are more important for economic development. iii) INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT: ~ Capital market promotes industrial development and motivates industrial entrepreneurship. ~ It provides cheap, adequate and diversified funds for industrial purposes such as expansion, modernisation, technological upgradation, establishment of new units, etc. ~ It also provides services like provision of underwriting facilities, participation in equity capital, credit-rating, consultancy services, etc. vi) MODERNISATION AND REHABILITATION OF INDUSTRIES: ~ Capital markets also contribute towards modernisation and rehabilitation of industries. ~ Developmental financial institutions like IDBI, IFCI, ICICI, etc provide finance to industries to adopt modern techniques and new upgraded machinery. ~ They also participate in the equity capital of industries. v) RIVIVAL OF SICK UNITS: ~ Commercial and financial institutions provide adequate funds to viable sick unit to overcome their industrial sickness. ~ Bank and FIs may also write off a part of the loan or re-schedule the loan to offer payment flexibility to weak units. vi) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: ~ The financial intermediaries in the capital market stimulate industrial entrepreneurship by providing technical and advisory services like preparation of feasibility reports, identifying growth potential, and training entrepreneurs in project management. ~ This promotes industrial investment and leads to economic development. vii) DEVELOPMENT OF BACKWARD AREAS: ~ Capital markets provide funds for projects in backward area and facilitate their economic development. ~ Long-term funds are also provided for development projects in backward / rural areas. viii) EMPLOYMENT GENERATION: ~ Capital markets provide Direct Employment in capital market related activities like stock markets, banks and financial institutions. ~ Indirect Employment is provided in all the sectors of the economy through various funds disbursed for developmental projects. ix) FOREIGN CAPITAL: ~ Capital markets make it possible to generate foreign capital by enabling Indian firms to raise capital from overseas market through bonds and other securities. ~ Such foreign exchange funds have a great impact on the economic development of the nation. ~ Moreover, foreign direct investments (FDIs) also bring in foreign capital as well as foreign technology that leads to greater economic development. x) DEVELOPMENT OF STOCK MARKETS: ~ Capital markets lead to development of stock markets by encouraging investors to invest in shares and debentures and to trade in stocks. ~ FIIs are also allowed to deal in Indian stock exchange. xi) FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: ~ Financial institutions play a major role in capital markets. ~ They provide medium / long term loan to industrial and other sectors and also undertake project feasibility studies and surveys. ~ They refinance commercial banks and rediscount their bills of exchange. ~ They provide merchant banking services. ~ They subscribe to equity capital of the firms. xii) INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY: ~ Capital markets provide various alternative sources of investment to the people. ~ People can invest in shares and debentures of public companies and earn good returns. xiii) INVESTMENT IN INDUSTRIAL SECURITIES: ~ Secondary market in securities encourage investors to invest in industrial securities by providing facilities for continuous, regular and ready buying and selling of these securities. ~ This facilitates industries to raise substantial funds from various sectors of the economy. xiv) RELIABLE GUIDE TO PERFORMANCE: ~ Capital market serves as a reliable guide to the performance of corporate institutions. ~ It values companies accurately and thus promotes efficiency. ~ This leads to efficient resource allocation and economic development. *CONCLUSION: ~ Thus we can say that capital markets play a crucial role in the economic development of a nation. ~ A sound and efficient capital market is one of the most instrumental factors in the development of a nation.

Lymphedema

Lymphoma Lymphoma is known as lymphatic obstruction, this condition can and will cause fluid retention and tissue swelling. This is caused by a compromised lymphatic system. The 1st incident of lymphoma noted on the records was by Sir William Osler for William Mildly, an American physician, who described a case in 1892, though It was first described by Rudolf Birch In 1863. It Is also known as Mildly disease, None-Mildly-Image syndrome and hereditary lymphoma.In later years any other causes were found such as cancer surgery where nodes were removed resulting In the term secondary lymphoma. In the last few years with genetic testing we have found mixed deemed such as the person who has the genetic tendency for lymphoma but didn't have It In childhood but who had trauma or surgery and developed It later In life, which Is a primary lymphoma patient with secondary causes Lymphoma Is something I have come well familiar with due to my boyfriend has primary Allemande. He was diagnosed -In 2 007 but for 4 years no one knows what was wrong with him.Now that he has been diagnosed we are working to control the fluid and the growth. With his condition it has affected his left leg. This condition has changed his whole life. He had to change his diet, clothing, his fluid intake, travel and even his soap. This is a condition that he may have to live with the rest of his life. I say may b/c I believe there will be a cure or if not a cure and plan to protect this condition from taking over the body the way it does. With having Lymphoma you need to do therapy at least 3-5 days a week depends on what yourDoctor puts you on. Therapy consist of massaging the lymph nodes starting from the neck to the shoulders to under the breast to the armpit down to the waist to groin to the inner to outside portion of the thighs and work your way down to the knee to the ankle. The progress is repeated starting from the ankle to the neck once you complete one side if the body you will start on the other side. Once the massage is complete for the whole body is now time to wrap the affected portion of the body (the leg) with bandages. The bandages are applied to retain reduction.There are efferent types are bandages one type is foam which works better for my boyfriend so he can bend is leg. When you are wrapped you are constricted to movement. I do believe with all the research taking place now there will be a cure or an evolution In the development or care and medicine. Thankful all for you time If you have any questions I will answer to the best of my ability and I also have websites and some brochures about the condition though it was first described by Rudolf Birch in 1863. It is also known as Mildly resulting in the term secondary lymphoma.In the last few years with genetic tendency for lymphoma but didn't have it in childhood but who had trauma or surgery and developed it later in life, which is a primary lymphoma patient with secondary causes Lymphoma is something I have come well familiar with due to my boyfriend has primary Lymphatic. He was diagnosed -in 2007 but for 4 years believe with all the research taking place now there will be a cure or an evolution in Thank you all for you time if you have any questions I will answer to the best of my ability and I also have websites and some brochures about the condition

Compare and contrast Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastranism Essay

Compare and contrast Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastranism - Essay Example To begin with, it must be noted that all three religions in question are monotheistic (Fisher, 2014). Indeed, it must be noted that several thousand years ago, the majority of religions that were spread in the world were polytheistic; that is why faith in one God should be seen as a rather progressive worldview. Thus, in the set of religious coordinates, Ahura Mazda is the supreme God that people should worship. In the view of Judaism, there is also one God that freed this nation from slavery in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land. Finally, Christianity is also monotheistic religion; however, it features the so-called Trinitarian monotheism which stands for one God in Three Persons. So, one might suggest that the first feature that these religions share is belief in one God. The second aspect that should be taken into account is the afterlife. Thus, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity believe that after death the soul of a person does not disappear, but goes to a different world. According to the former religion, the conditions in which a soul will find itself after death are determined by the manner on the early life. As one can clearly see, there is a similar aspect in Christianity when our deeds determine our afterlife. It must be noted that the position of Judaism on the issue of afterlife is not fully determined, but it would not be a mistake to suggest that as a religion it fully rejects it. That is why the existence of afterlife is another point that these religions share. Finally, the common ground of Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity may also be found in what is usually referred to as the Golden Rule. In spite of the fact that I may be formulated in different ways, the original message behind it is similar: one should treat others in a way one wants to be treated. There is no doubt that this is a rather

Extracurricular activties Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Extracurricular activties - Essay Example However, some of the private schools make extracurricular activities mandatory so as to create a more â€Å" well rounded student† (Allen 56-58). This seems to contradict the main definition of extra-curricular activities which are meant to be voluntary, but it is also an obligation for all the students to participate in an extracurricular activity of their choice. Extra curricular activities have positive effects on the student’s creativity, behavior and enhanced racial and economic diversity, but technology has negatively impacted student participation and some of the students feel left out of these activities. There are numerous benefits that students can get from extracurricular activities. These are the activities that students participate in but do not fall into the realm of normal curriculum activities. The extracurricular activities are totally voluntary so students that do not want to participate in them to not have to. They allow students to apply the knowledg e that they have learned and acquire new concepts from these activities. The positive effect of extracurricular activities includes good behavior, better grades in school and positive attitude towards life. Students who participate is extracurricular activities have reduced behavior problems. ... Extra curricular activities offer an open opportunity for anybody to portray his or her own skills in any the clubs that they enroll in. The students who indulge in such activities come from different ethnic and racial backgrounds. It is through in this platform that these people are able to interact with each other so that they can share some of their cultural background with one another (Barbieri 45-48). For example, a football team can have players who come from different ethnic and racial backgrounds but are able to play together as a team. Extra curricular activities helps to embrace cultural diversity as people from different cultures are able to enjoy the one thing that brings them together. The extracurricular activities that may be offered at a certain school may require the students who participate to meet certain requirements (Rugg 34-35). For example, to be able to join the debate club, you need to be a good orator, to be able to join football or rugby or football, you ne ed to be physically fit and masculine : these are just but of the few extracurricular activities that require the participants to meet certain standards. This makes some of the students who would want to join this clubs but not meet the requirements needed feel left out of some of the extracurricular activities and are forced to be spectators. Conversely, some of the students who join some of these clubs may face discrimination or ridicule and end up giving up any extracellular activities. The technological advancement that has been witnessed around the world is phenomenal. Virtually, every student has frequent access to the either a computer device or the internet. However, this has greatly affected the

Design your own Healthcare Organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Design your own Healthcare Organization - Essay Example Recruiting healthcare providers for rural health facilities is a very difficult endeavour. Rural areas evaluating these attempts confront further problems, such as availability of sufficient time for recruitment and inadequate financial resources to offer premium services. They usually have inadequate knowledge of potential healthcare delivery alternatives (Vetter-Smith et al., 2012). Thus, I will design a new rural health care unit that will address these abovementioned concerns. The name of the organization is County of Newell Primary Care (CNPC). The type of unit is a rural health clinic. Rural communities are experiencing scarcities in healthcare providers due to having a larger number of elderly locals simultaneously with the increasing number of retiring healthcare providers. According to Glasser and associates (2003), the Urban and Rural Health Chartbook reports greater health inequalities confronting rural populations. Young adults and children in rural areas have the highest rates of mortality, and rural inhabitants have the largest number of fatalities due to accidents and vehicle-caused damages. Rural males are mostly prone to heart illnesses and suicide; rural females are mostly at risk of obesity; and rural populations are more susceptible to smoking (Glasser et al., 2003). Most of the time rural residents, especially the elderly, have to travel far to obtain medical services. Thus, it is important to form adequately staffed and premium healthcare clinics in rural areas. Mission Statement and Values The mission of County of Newell Primary Care is to offer inexpensive, inclusive, and efficient primary healthcare to individuals in the County of Newell, Alberta. CNPC is dedicated to enhancing the education and training of healthcare providers by developing educational programmes for healthcare delivery. The vision for the CNPC is to be the leading health care facility in the County of Newell which provides comprehensive and integrated primary care ser vices involving mental health, preventive care, nutrition, dental procedures, and medical practice. To be the leading health care facility in the County of Newell we are highly educated, trained, and experienced in patient management and are known for providing premium, inexpensive, compassionate, courteous health care services for everybody. In essence, our behaviour and activities give reality to our mission. As a rural health care clinic, we are committed to supporting the population by offering services derived from the following values: affordability—provision of reasonably priced services, and performance of activities that give support to vulnerable individuals; accessibility—provision of accessible, inclusive services; integrity—every action or operation will be performed based on ethical standards; quality—provision of premium, modernised health care services; patient-oriented services—patients will be encouraged to take part in the decisi on making process with regard to their care. The objective of the County of Newell Primary Care is to enhance the quality of patient care, interaction, problem-solving skills, and retention of rural nurses. The programme was based on a specific set of values. Nurses gain knowledge of and become skilled at rural nurse practices when they establish objectives and evaluate results; when the rural nursing field is acknowledged and understood; and when familiarised and engaged into the facility and the community. Organizational Chart Numerous

Develop Pro and Con Arguments on the Issue Research Paper

Develop Pro and Con Arguments on the Issue - Research Paper Example The disturbing thing is that guns (whether legal or illegal) is being used to create problems in the society. The long-term policy is to educate the citizens of values and caring. In the short-term, a highly controlled licensing statute should be implemented in an effective manner. Review of literature shows that a total ban on gun ownership is not practical in the short-term. Introduction: In most organized societies, there exists some form of law and order in order to protect its citizens from both internal and external threats. In the modern context of what can be defined as a society, a set of statutes and laws which is administered by the legal department and controlled by the government exists. Apart from the legal angle, the military is formed to protect the country from external threats. There is normally an internal security force, namely the police department to protect individuals from crimes and threats within the country and society. But the extent to which citizens can take law and protection into their own hands can be questionable and even controversial. Some societies (and countries) have liberal laws regarding self-protection. The United States is one country which has such liberal laws. While the law does allow citizens to own guns and firearms, there has been a negative aspect to this stand. Misuse of owning arms which has resulted in wanton killings and attacks have been reported in the media over the years. As a presidential candidate and taking the above factors into consideration, this presentation reviews both sides of the argument – one that allows easy ownership of guns and the other that restricts its sales. Ownership of firearms, if it is not misused, could be a means of self-protection and could even ease the burden of law enforcement agencies. But on the other hand, emotional outbursts, personal vendetta, and criminal intents could result in unwanted violence that could create unrest and lack of security in the society. It is hoped that no personal bias and opinions will appear in this presentation. The intention is to present an unbiased review of literature before coming to a conclusion regarding the topic. Before moving on to the main topic under study, a definition of key terms will be provided so that the reader will be informed about the different aspects that influence this debate. Definition of key terms: The Second Amendment: It is assumed that one of the most important factors that allows citizens to own arms is the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. The wordings are as follows – â€Å"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed† (Scaros, 2010, 390). Militia: Militia does not mean owning arms for offense. According to one definition, militia comprises â€Å"of all males physically capable of acting in concert for the common defense† (Pollock, 2009, 379). This indicates that owning licensed arms is legal, but only for protection and not for offense. Hence any hostile or violent act against another individual can be considered to be a legal offense. Guns or firearms: â€Å"Any weapon that will or, that may be readily converted to, to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other propellant, and

Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Essay Example The situation was similar to the initial years of World War II when Germany was annexing one country after another without any equitable resistance. Had not America dropped the two atomic bombs, in all likelihood, the war could have continued for weeks or months, adding to the miseries worldwide. Except for Russia, European powers had almost come to a standstill. The involvement of Russia in Japan had America not dropped the bombs, could easily have made the conflict bloodier and more widespread. It is debatable whether so many lives could have been lost had Russia invaded Japan. However, it is certain the conflict could have dragged on longer in such an eventuality. While other powers of the Axis viz, Germany and Italy had been vanquished, the battle with Japan was far from over. Japan was holding to ransom the rest of the world through its brazen show of power. Nothing seemed to hold the Japanese march. In spite of suffering reverses, Japan held on and was in no hurry to surrender. The Japanese juggernaut was so strong that it held most of Far East Asia. However, at the closing stage, Japan was losing its grip although it was not ready to admit defeat. Japan was given enough time and incentive to surrender. The Potsdam Proclamation issued on July 26, 1945, was very clear about the ramifications in the event of no surrender. The ultimatum declared, "We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction" (Bill Gordon, 2000). But Japan did not surrender. The Japanese, or those at the helm in Japan, were in no mood to listen. They may have been materially demolished, but mentally they had enough capacity to fight on. It took two atomic bombs and a week later, Japan surrendered and that too on the prompting of the emperor. I am not condoning the horrors of the atomic bombs. America had other alternatives besides the atomic bombs. But it is debatable if these alternatives could have worked and produced the same results that the atomic bombs did. The alternatives were these: "(1) use in manner most effective from a military point of view to bring about prompt Japanese surrender while minimizing the loss of American lives, (2) give military demonstration to Japan with opportunity for surrender before full use of weapon, (3) give experimental demonstration in this country with opportunity for surrender before full use of weapon, (4) do not use militarily but make public the experimental results, or (5) maintain as secret as possible and refrain from using the bombs in the war. President Truman chose alternative 1, even though only 15 percent of the scientists supported it" (Bill Gordon, 2000). President Truman's choice of alternative 1 was at best akin to mercy killing. However beastly this alternative might have appeared, it is difficult to fathom the efficacy of any other alternative. Japan needed a live demonstration. Even after the atomic bombs were dropped Japan dithered on the decision to surrender. It was only at the intervention of the Japanese

Questions for second reading Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Questions for second reading - Term Paper Example Despite the fact that they may be speaking English, these different races may not understand each other due to integration of English with their own culture leading to different forms of slang. It is, however, vital to note that the statement above makes â€Å"autoethnographic work appears anomalous and chaotic. Autoethnography simply means that the researcher views society through his own personal experiences. This, therefore, means that since culture is distinct and monolingual people of different races would, therefore, interpret culture differently. Every culture would, therefore, have their own definition and interpretation of culture. This leads to misunderstanding and miscommunication. On the other hand, Guaman Poma’s text may be considered heterogeneous due to the manner in which people live in current society. Improved transport and technology has narrowed the divide that was there between the different cultures. The development of cities and towns in which different cultures meet has led to the integration of culture. This transculturation does not occur over night and is normally occurs due to the nature of humans to resolve their conflicts over time. This bringing of societies together is mainly due to the fact that a compromise has been reached between the different cultures. This is mainly due to interracial marriage, ethnic conflict, war, and racism. A perfect example of a group in which the different cultures participate in as a community is school. Education has been a key factor in bridging the divide between the various cultures. This is because schools bring the different types of races in a single setup in which they learn the very same things. It has led to the development of friendships between the people of different races and this enhances transculturation. Schools can, therefore, be thought of as a contact zone. This is because schools allow for people of different culture to meet in a single setting without

Soda Ash Experiment Essay Example for Free

Soda Ash Experiment Essay To determine the efficiency of a titrimetric and potentiometric method while determining the carbonate in soda ash, both a t-test and f-test were performed. The t-test proved accuracy between methods and the f-test proved no difference in precision. Introduction Soda ash is a white anhydrous material that be found in either powder or granular form and it contains 99% sodium carbonate when shipped[i] (1). Soda ash serves a purpose in the manufacturing of many economically important products such as the manufacturing of glass, chemicals, paper, detergents and other products. Soda ash has been used dating all the way back to 3500 BC by the Egyptians. The Egyptians were able to utilize soda ash then in the production of glass and then as an ingredient in medicines and breads by the Romans (1). Today, the majority of the world’s soda ash comes from trona ore, which is mostly found in the Green River Basin, formerly known as the Gosiute Lake, located in southwest Wyoming. The Green River basin is actually a prehistoric alkaline lakebed that supplies this vast amount of trona ore (1). With glass manufacturing being the largest application of soda ash, it erves very high importance in the production of containers, fiberglass insulation or flat glass for housing commercial building and automotive industries[ii] (2). Not only is the use of soda ash in glass manufacturing important, but it is also used to clean the air and soften water (2). With all of the new arising concerns with the environment with emissions in the atmosphere, the demand for soda ash h as increased. This is so because soda ash can be used to remove sulfur dioxides and hydrochloric acid from stack gases present in the atmosphere (2). Since sodium carbonate has a strong base, it is commonly used to neutralize acidic effects so when a photographer were to develop film, he would use soda ash to stabilize the alkaline condition or a person who owns a pool would use it as an additive to chemically neutralize the water since chlorine makes the pool acidic (1). Soda ash has a high pH in concentrated solutions and can irritate the eyes, respiratory tract and skin. It should under no circumstance be ingested because soda ash can corrode the stomach lining (1). In the experiment that was conducted Na? CO? eacted with 0. 09356 M hydrochloric acid. Methods In the first part of this lab, roughly 1. 855g of sodium carbonate was weighed and put in the oven to dry at a temperature of 110 degrees Celsius for 2 hours. In part B, a 1 L solution of 0. 1 M HCl from 12. 0 M concentrated HCl was made to serve as the titrant for the lab. Do not discard the solution because it is used for both parts of the lab. Perform a rough titration of the dried standard Na? CO? with 0. 1M HCl to standardize the solution. The size of the sample weighed out should be enough to neutralize about 25 mL of 0. M HCl. On an analytically weighed balance weigh one sample of the dried primary standard sodium carbonate into a 125mL Erlenmeyer flask. Dilute the sample with 25mL of de-ionized water and then add roughly 4-5 drop of indicator Methyl Orange and titrate the solution to a point prior to the endpoint. Gently heat the sample solution on a hotplate in the fume hood until condensation appears around the neck of the flask to expel dissolved CO? from the sample. Cool the solution in an ice bath and finish titrating the roughly 0. 1 M HCl into the sample. A small amount of titrant is needed to reach the endpoint. Based off of the R value obtained from the rough titration, accurately weigh three more samples and repeat the titration. This data will be used to calculate the exact concentration of the HCl solution. In part C, titrating the unknown, accurately weigh about 0. 2g of dried unknown into a 125 mL Erlenmeyer flask and then add 25mL of de-ionized water and 4-5 drops of indicator (same as used in the rough). With the same procedure used in the standardization, titrate to just before the endpoint. Based off the R value from the rough titration of the unknown, accurately weigh 3 more samples and repeat the titration. In the second part of this lab, use a pH meter to titrate the unknown sodium carbonate. The instructor will help in setting up and calibrating a Vernier pH meter. The pH meter is calibrated with two buffer solutions with a pH of 4. 01 and the other with a pH of 10. 00. Based off of the calculated R value from part C accurately weigh two samples of the dried unknown sodium carbonate into two 150mL beakers. Add 25mL of de-ionized water to the first sample and place the electrode in the solution as well as a teflon stir bar and glass stirring rod and place on a stir plate. Record the initial volume of the HCl in the buret and carefully titrate with HCl until the pH is between 6. 0 and 6. 5. Be careful because the pH meter tends to lag. Once the target pH is achieved stop adding HCl and record the volume of the buret. Remove the sample beaker from the stir plate and put the electrode in a beaker filled with warm water. Warm the solution for a few minutes on a separate hot plate to expel dissolved CO?. Cool in an ice bath and return to the stir plate. Record pH, first data point, and continue to add increments of HCl until a pH of 2. 5 is achieved. Be sure not to add any de-ionized water after the first pH point is recorded. When completed there should be 30-40 data points. Repeat for the second sample. Results Table 1: Mass of the unknown Na? CO? to determine carbonate in soda ash based off titrimetric method (Part C) Titration |Starting mass of weigh bottle and unknown Na? CO? | |46. 848% Na? CO? |51. 933% Na? CO? | |46. 5879% Na? CO? |50. 564% Na? CO? | |46. 7083% Na? CO? | | |47. 0692% Na? CO? | | |46. 6548% Na? CO? | | |46. 7396% Na? CO? | |

Innovation and Change Management: Banqer

Innovation and Change Management: Banqer This study will focus on an online financial education software which is based in New Zealand. The study will highlight its mission, vision, objectives and its external environment. It will also outline impact of the internal environment and will lastly recommend certain new types of innovation that can be used by the company. History Banqer evolved out of the extensive rise of the financially illiterate children of the society which has ramifications with it. Banqer is a simulated online banking for classroom that provides helps on ecology for the kids in order to make them creative, curious and confident with money. It pays the students for providing positive behavior and completing the tasks that are assigned in the classroom (Banqer, 2017). With the students, they explore budgeting as they educate themselves with the valuable skills of their life by the management of their desks receiving payment for the privileges of the class. Students aging from 2 to 8 explore various topics that range from savings, interest, and tax to the insurance. Products and services Banqer allows the students to gain knowledge about the financial literacy responsibility in an extremely engaging and an immersive manner. As far as the product is concerned it is an online software which is concerned with education which the teachers and the students prefer (Banqer, 2017). Mission, Vision, objectives The mission lies in improving the financial capabilities of the entire world. Thus making the students well aware of the financial aspects. The vision statement is associating the teachers in order to make Banqer the best. The objective is to improve Banqers space within the domain of where they are positioned now and collaborating with certain movers and shakers in order to understand the worth and the potential of Banqer. Their goal lies in gaining direct experience in terms of education, technology, finance and design (Banqer, 2017). In the year 2016, the main focus of Banqer was in building partnerships both in the financial services as well as in the allied industries. The students in this industry were capable of buying and investing in the virtual properties as they might need to mortgage and earn rental income in order to pay off the amount they have borrowed. Political factors New Zealand has a stable government. Chances of success are huge. Special Education policy. Inclusive education system. Economic factors Resources are available abundantly due to the population of the country. The rate of unemployment is high against 99% literacy. Banqer promotes educational software by hiring skilled staffs. Social factors It is dependent on other countries for business. Spends a minimal amount on research and development. The banking system is strong. Technological factors Educational system is effective. Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES) to provide licensed software IT technology and the usage of Internet. Legal factors The government changes after every three years. Education Legislation Amendment Act 2016 to support digitalization in education sector Education Act 1989 beneficial universally Environmental factors The country has a unique ecological system. Latest technology has been adopted to keep the surrounding clean. Steps created to pollution free country Political factors When a certain company begins its business in this country, it takes into consideration political system, the economic stability along with the law and order of the country so that it can provide the economic strength to the trade and business. As New Zealand has a stable government so there is a huge chance of success due to the impactful rules and the regulations. Hence, the chances of Banqers success is immense. The New Zealand government had conducted changes in the education administration and introduced special education policy along with other policies (Ministry of Education, 2017). The policies and political stability of New Zealand would promote Banqer as the country aims to achieve inclusive education system (Banqer, 2017). Economic factors The economic condition of New Zealand is excellent with 3.5% GDP growth as in 2014 (Tradingeconomics, 2017). Due to the huge population of the country the resources are abundantly available. The products are economical in nature and are easily afforded by everyone. The unemployment is quite high at 3.5% in spite of literacy rate of 99% in the country. Banqer can easily appoint skilled staffs who are willing to work. The company would be able to promote the educational tool in the country to further literate children and decrease unemployment. Social factors The social system of New Zealand is such which is dependent on business with the other countries.As it depends on other countries for technology so it makes them spend quite an amount on the work of research and development. As the banking system is extremely strong so allows foreign direct investment in the country (Banqer, 2017).   Banquer would be impacted by the social status of New Zealand as education imparted using technology would ensure welfare of the country. Technological factors The country has an effective educational system. With the help of the technological advancements it has introduced IT and the use of Internet which has helped Banqer in the provision of its service in this country (Richard, 2012). Due to the various online education facilities it has increased the rate if literacy to almost 99% which is more than most of the countries. Ministry of New Zealand had also launched a program named Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES) to provide licensed program for software which is beneficial for Banqer (Dashper, 2017). Legal factors As the government changes after every three years so there is an establishment of new laws and regulations (Moskovitz, 2016). The Education Legislation Amendment Act 2016 and Education Act 1989 positively impacted Banqer as educational institutes abide by the laws and plan and digitalized their educational status using software (Martin, 2016). Environmental factors People of New Zealand are well aware of the unique ecological system. People have adopted the latest technology in order to cope up with the garbage and helps to not pollute the atmosphere (Crossley, et al., 2015). Certain initiatives are taken in order to make the country free from pollution and dust which is also abided by Banqer. The SWOT analysis is an effective framework to understand how a company in sector compare its internal and external conditions within an industry. Banqer as a startup has been effective in simulating financial exercises and helping students to gain literacy in the topic and subject. The following contains a brief discussion about its various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Strengths The major strength of the start-up has been to understand the key to develop STEM (Science and Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) among school kids. In this regard, the company has tried to the bridge the gap that was noted in the endeavours to focus on these subjects in Australian and New Zealand school systems. Another major strength of the company has been word-of-mouth marketing that helped built its credibility, mostly because the teachers who had tried the system understood its ingenuity and efficiency (startupdaily, 2015). The company has also grown on the basis of its partnerships with renowned firms like those in real estate to develop modules for students and attract more kids who would be more interested in such subjects. What has also worked for Banqer is their simple pay model which starts at free of cost for the initial trial period after which 3.5 dollars are charged per student per semester, which can reduce down to 2 dollars if the student signs up for multiple semesters (stuff.co.nz, 2015). It has also partnered with Kiwibank in order to provide better flexibility to students who cannot support their subscription fees. Weaknesses One of the major weaknesses can be noted is the lack of diversification in the kinds of services that are offered. At present, the company is only focussed in the financing subject which could pose problems for the company. Another problem that can be noted is to rope in the appropriate investor for the project. The company is looking to reach a high saturation point before entering into other markets. In this regard, it is looking for investors who can form part of the team but also who need to understand the basic concept of the start-up and not meddle with the inherent strategy of the company. Another initial challenge that had proved to be a weakness in the past was to change the attitude of the schools and parents. While expanding, such a challenge can also be felt in other countries as well. Opportunities: The opportunities for the company have already been identified by one of the co-founders, Kendall Flutey. She has noted that the opportunities lie in expanding the services on a global scale starting with Australia and moving on to the United States. She has also noted that since United States place emphasis on financial based learning, it would be profitable for the business to consider expanding there (Robson, 2016). While finding investors can be an issue while expanding, crowd-funding might also be looked into as a possible source of investment and finding the right of investors who are as motivated on making education convenient rather than making profits. Threats The biggest threat is possibly the over-dependence on the online medium as with the various technological advances, there are several ways, nowadays, in which hackers might interrupt and pose problems for the company and the novelty which had made it successful in the first place. The novelty that has worked for Banqer can also change quickly as more companies see the profit generating capabilities and develop their own versions and certainly with technological advances, there might be better options as well. Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Focus on bridging the gap. Valuable partnerships Earning credibility through word-of mouth Lack of diversification in the product range. Getting like-minded investors. Different approach to education can prove to be problematic Expansion Crowd-funding. Over-dependence on the online medium Technological advances Replication by other companies. With the considerable advances in the technological aspects and the ways in which communication is being impacted all over the world, it would be particularly relevant for the company to administer certain changes and develop modules that are more student specific. One of the recent developments that have been made is the CV writing and application process that the company is providing within simulated environments (McNicol, 2016). What is really interesting to note in this regard is the emphasis on student-teacher interaction which is the value of this innovation to the organization. However, the modules and the courses can be noted to be developed on a comprehensive level, and probably it would be hugely beneficial if specific modules are created keeping in mind the specific abilities and needs of the students. Another important aspect has been the developments in the curriculum innovation that is changing the education on global levels. What had been considered to be the most important subjects in school are now being regarded as auxiliary to the main subjects. So, it would be a naturally evolutionary process to incorporate the various developments that are being made all around the world in order to stay updated with the recent developments. The most effective strategy to motivate the innovation would be to develop a basic plan that is flexible in order to incorporate the changes that are being made on a daily basis. In this context, it can be recommended that the company regularly set up meetings with the schools and the educational experts in order to gain a more comprehensive knowledge about the developments that are being made on a global scale. Also, in order to incorporate the changes that are required to be made in terms of providing personal assistance, it would probably be recommended to set up one-to-one sessions with the students in order to understand their personal lacks and how those can be overcome through effective sessions. The task might be tedious at first, but the whole process can be streamlined if teachers are integrated within the system and involved. Banqer has been one of the most efficient online programs in the recent past that has sought to redefine financial literacy for the students. It has been successful in the New Zealand market and hopes to expand. However, the threats of replication can be major problem. In this regard, the company can start innovating and customize their modules to suit the needs of the students.

Renault Nissan The Paradoxical Alliance Marketing Essay

Renault Nissan The Paradoxical Alliance Marketing Essay Individual Essay Contrary to common belief recent research suggests that, most often it is not poor strategic that causes mergers and acquisitions or alliances to fail but poor implementation. Common mistake can be identify in, for instance: lack of trust and communication, insensitive management, power struggles, slow execution or a leadership void following the deal. In this assay we will explain the points that have made what on the beginning was announced as a marriage of desperation is now considering one of the most successful alliance. The most fundamental challenge of any alliance or merger is cultural: if only one does not believe that something can be learned from new partners, the venture is doomed to fail said Carlos Ghosn. Renault-Nissan gave attention of the cultural people aspect, in fact Ghosn (Nissan and Renault CEO) created a specialize team combine both nationality together, in addition they chose a common language (English) and a common vocabulary, for some misleading words, with the purpose to avoid misunderstanding. A drive change, for the company has been the transparent valour and the strong leadership of the CEO; in addition a common vision, based on the Nissan Revival Plan, with the main purpose to be profitable in only three years, that has given a common point to reach for both the companies and what it is more the perfect goals to achieve. In this way, Ghosn had reinforced the value inherent in the organizations view and expressive a clear and appealing vision, such as using expressive, strong form of communication, show strong self-confidence and self-assurance in the attainment of the vision. Moreover, they transferred high expectations to the group and confidence in their abilities, showed role-modelling behaviours that emphasized and reinforced the values inherent in the vision and in this way empowering people to achieve the vision. From my point of view since the first meeting they create an alliance based on partnership and trust, rather than power and domination. The two companies utilize common synergies in numerous areas, apart from sharing the platforms on which vehicles are built; they also exchange research and technological innovation (transmission engineering, fuel and cell research, and state-of-the-art engines). In order to facilitate coordination and improve performance, they create a cross-cultural teams and functional task team, in fact some employee were working on the same time in Renault-Nissan alliance even though they continue to stay in their original company. Another important aspect is that the Renault-Nissan alliances have joining together people of various national cultures and different corporate society into one company. Moreover, the leader had capitalized on the cultural differences between employees and he minimized firstly the stereotype and secondly the psychological distances between them. Furthermore the company since the beginning invested a lot of money for training 1500 Renault employee about the Japanese culture and 400 Nissan staffs about the French culture. This one the first good step for create a cross-cultural alliance, studying the opposite company culture, habit and background, both Japanese and French could understand better the opposite point of view, in order to avoid misunderstanding and play together for a common plan. When Carlos Ghosh arrived to Nissan, he plan to cut 21,000 jobs (from 147,000 to 148,000) by March 2003, so basically in three years, in addition he closed five factories and interrupted the historical supplier rapport with the Keiretzu. He did all of these actions in order to give a strong signal to the company and reduce to the minimum redundancy and cost. Another important aspect that Carlos completely change was the management process, before he came to Nissan a younger employee could not managing and old colleague because of the age and the seniority, in fact promotion were related to the sonority of the employee. He creates a completely new promotion rules, based strictly on performance, without any relation between ages of the employee. In this way he creates common rules between the two companies and on the other hand he motivates young and not members of the team to work hard. This was completely different from the Japanese culture, but after a while, when the Japanese emplo yee understood the benefits of this action, it was easier for them accepted and gave them also, a huge motivation, because of the egalitarian style. Moreover, he established nine cross-functional teams; each was led by two executive members and headed by a pilot. Further, team members were selected by the leaders and the pilot. The purpose was to create a cross functional and international team, in order to share competencies, experiences and see the company as whole together. Moreover, Carlos Ghosn in 2001 hired a high-profile female Japanese executive for heading Nissan communication department; in fact she was the first woman to lead an important function inside the company. This new person did not create any contrast inside the company, because of the new mentality that step by step the CEO was trying to build inside the Nissan-Renault company. In the past, in Japanese culture an act likes that could create problems or just loose of power from the manager, but because of the lon g training and the new cross-cultural vision, what in the past would be a conflict, now it is a new benefit. Undoubtedly, there were some radical cultural differences between the two companies, Japanese culture is more collectivistic, as oppose to the French one that on the workplace is more individualistic. This two particular aspect of cross-cultural were explained by Hofstede before and Trompenaars later, even if with some differences. As a matter of fact, the former conceptualize the differences between individualism and collectivism as general differences between cultures. The author point out that on a scale of 50 different countries, with values between 91 and 6, the IDV value for France people are 71 so pretty high, as oppose to the Japanese with only 41, which show a more collectivistic culture instead on individualistic. The latter, on the other hand emphasis more frequent reference to managerial implication, even though the general sense is really close to what Hofstede set out. This last aspect can be a practical point that Renault and Nissan managers and employee had studied du ring the first months training, with the purpose to avoid problems inside the cross cultural team and colleagues indeed. Moreover, Hofstede explained the different point of view that some countries have about masculinity and femininity, in fact based on the authors fourth dimension, he underlined that the Japanese country is the first country for masculinity, such as competiveness and performance, with a score of 95 out of 5 and France only 45 out of 5, definitely with more femininity values, for instance relationship and a concern for the quality of life. This shows a huge difference between the two countries, but due to the high Japanese masculinity, for Carlos Ghosn (Renault-Nissan CEO) was the perfect synergy, in fact Nissan employees found a strong new management, which gave to the alliance new rules, with a continue demand of high performance and even more hard competiveness than before, because more egalitarian. On the other hand, we can find in Hofstede also same synergy; the first one is with the power distance, in fact following the author research France (68/104) is slightly more hierarchical than Japan (54/104) which is more equalitarian, even though the substantial difference with the two countries is really minimal. The second possible common point is with the last Hofstede dimension the uncertainty avoidance, where both countries show a closer score (92/112 France and 86/112 Japan), which underline a predisposition for the roles; which definitely prove an important aspect for a strong alliance. As Trompenaars and Hampden -Turner (1997, Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business) identified and analyzed seven different dimension, one in particular is the neutral/emotional dimension, where they describe the cultural contrast between countries where emotions are masked and others where emotions are exhibit openly, also inside a business situation. Moreover, the two authors emphasis the cultural differences between south European and Japan, the former in general tend to exhibit without any separation between emotion and reasoning. The latter, on the other hand, demonstrate that the 74% of Japanese do not want to express inside a workplace strong emotions. The points just mention above are absolutely a cultural difference, which can create discontent and fracture inside a new alliance, if the respective company do not know that it is more a behavioural aspect rather than a value in itself. Furthermore, Trompenaars and Hampden -Turner also wrote about the role of societal culture at the organization level, believing that corporate culture is shaped not only by technologies and market but by the cultural preferences of leaders and employees. This is another important point that links the two authors with the new Nissan-Renault vision. A common aspect that both Hofstede and Trompeenars mention in their studied is the negotiation aspect, in some cases if the two parts do not know the opposite habit respect the understanding and agreement phases, these can create some misunderstanding and emphasis the difference between a Middle East country and European or Western Countries (USA). Indeed, during Renault- Nissan negotiation the two CEO (at that time were Schweitzer and Hanawa) met dozen times, with the purpose to learn, trust and understand each other and in this way imagine a future alliance between their companies. Therefore, the second step was to put together for six months (before the alliance) some of the top executives, with the aim of forging a formal alliance between the companies. After that Schweitzer and Hanawa chose 100 engineers and managers from both companies to work together, with the intent to joint team study and without any formal objective and free from cultural stereotypes. Both companies have i nvested time, resources and money for a long period negotiation with the purpose to discover the possible synergies without pay attention to the economical aspect. According to Schwartz researches, the two core bipolar dimensions identified were: Self-transcendence/ self- enhancement and Conservatism and Openness to change, the last one is the first link for the two companies, in fact, even though in different way, both have been opened to change. Nissan had completely changed management structure, part of the company vision and it become more transparent and communicative; on the other hand, Renault brought to Nissan important key people (CEO C.Ghosn, product development P. Pelata and finance T. Moulonguet), in order to give to the alliance strong brick for the companys revival. Moreover, both companies since the beginning have been opened to share engineers, idea and platforms. The second point correlated with Schwartz (2000) studies is with the three indices and in particular with Mastery and Harmony, where according to the authors research the Japanese culture appear more focus for control and change the natural and social environment. On the Renault- Nissan alliance this has not been a problem, because of the common vision focusing to restore Nissans company. According to Hall (1990) search he point out in his model the difference between high and low context societies. In the high context societies are often stress the importance of establishes good social relations based on trust and respect, this is an useful link with the point already mention before about the negation period coped with the two associates. Further, Hall identify three distinct categories: High- context, Medium- context and Low- context. Japanese culture reflect for the author more a high-context model, as opposed to France culture which result more on the medium-context categories; some of the points mention of this model could create inside the Renault-Nissan alliance some problem, because of the different way to think and manage the situation. According to Hughes and Weiss (Harvard Business Review, 2007) -The number of corporate alliances rises 25% a year. And those partnerships account for nearly 33% of many companies revenue and value. Yet the failure rate for alliances stays close at 60%-70%, that is because too many firms trust too much on conventional advice for managing alliances- -such as Focus on defining a business plan or Minimize conflict. The idea in practice from my point of view is that companies need to focus not only on the business plan but also on the partnerships working relationship and, rather than suppressing disagreements, exploring conflicts to find sources of value in partner companies differences. Therefore, the authors recommend five different practices in order to managing alliances: Develop the right working relationship Peg metrics to progress Leverage differences Encourage collaboration Manage internal stakeholders. The suggestion for the first one is to define exactly how the companies will work together. For example, clarify what mutual trust and respect mean to each of the corporations. Articulate how they will make decisions, allocate resources, and share information. The second point is to Peg metrics to progress,  alliances require time to pay off financially and alliance does not reach significant result in the first period, (month or even in the first year). Third points that the authors underline are the Leverage differences,  companies can share advantage from partners different, for instance: know-how, markets, customers, and suppliers. Yet other types of differences (such as contrasting cultures) can direct to uncomfortable conflict. Instead of hiding conflict, surface it and find ways to use your differences to create value. Another important practical point is to Encourage collaboration in fact if a problem come up, rather than prejudge someone or something, it is always better try to analyse of how both parties contributed to it and what each can do to improve it. The last one is to Manage internal stakeholders, in a practical way most of the external alliances depend on cooperation from internal units in each company. The purpose i s to be sure that all internal players are involved in supporting the alliance and committed for the success. From my point of view, the two authors express some important guide for making a good alliance, such as encourage collaboration, uses the differences for create value or create inside the company mutual trust and respect, all the points mention before are well express also inside the Renault-Nissan alliance, as some of the core value of the alliance. In addition, Carlos Ghosn definitely represents a strong figure for the alliance, probably a part of the heart of the company. He begun Nissan COO in 1999 and with the Nissan Revival Plan (NRP) gave to the alliance immediately clear qualitative and quantitative targets, with the aim to achieve all of them in no more than 3-4 year. He imposed a common restructuring, with tangible but challenging mission and a share vision The return to profit. Nevertheless, the NRP as mention before Ghosn gave a lot of importance about cross-cultural team, link both of companies with the same rules, since the first moment he always tried to avoid cultural stereotype and created work teams with both nationalities together. Carlos is a charismatic business man, but is also a clever CEO, who knows that he could not overcome or transcended cultural differences, only with is personal quality. Therefore, he mixed both leadership quality and cultural synergies with the intention to create the perfect allianc e. J. Collin and W. lazier (Beyond 1992) wonderful explain the role of a Leader, all the first chapter of the book Entrepreneurship (turning your business into an enduring company) is dedicate in leadership style. The two authors identified a guide for an effective leadership function and style; for the former they specified that the purpose is catalyze a clear and compelling vision that is shared by the group and is acted upon. For the latter, they recognized seven common elements for consider an effective leader style, plus the individual personality characteristics: Authenticity, Decisiveness, Focus, Personal Touch, Hard/soft people skills, Communication Ever forward All the points mentions above are decisiveness for build a strong leadership; as a matter of fact most of them are easily connected with Renault-Nissan alliance. The first share aspect is that Carlos Ghosn gave immediately an authentic vision for the new alliance and he carries this authenticity out to the major strategic decision made by the company. Moreover, he is a role model of the value and beliefs through his day-to-day actions, in this way all the company should be a role model of its philosophy as exemplified by its major decisions. The second point is absolutely the decisiveness , in fact Carlos showed immediately the ability to decide what it was better for the alliance and what not ( an example could be the historical supplier Keiretzu that he cut off, without any doubt, because not anymore essential for the company). Other important point already amply discuss before are be focus, Personal Touch and hard/soft people skills for instance, He creates a completely new promot ion rules, based strictly on performance and new cross- cultural teams, with the purpose to used the common synergies and learn from the future conflict. Communication is a crucial point for this alliance, because Carlos Ghosn has completely changed the way of how to communicate inside Nissan, in fact he establish an absolutely transparent, open, precise and functional communication inside the company but also outside such as the media. The CEO believes that if people do not know the priority, do not understand the strategy, where the company is going, which one are the critical objectives. For his point of view confusion is the first sign of trouble; with large amount of different cultures and countries, it is important to be precise and factual, in order that people can see and measure. To sum up, more or less ten years ago Renault-Nissan was considered an impossible alliance, there were apparently too many economical problems, cultural and organizational differences. However, during these eleven years the two companies have become the number four and five profitable largest car manufacturer companies on the world. Therefore, I would like to emphasize the last element of effective leadership style: ever forward mentality. Since the beginning, Carlos Ghosn has always moving forward progressing- before as an individual and later transmitting this new values to the alliance. This new open-mind way of how to think, collaborate, cooperate between teams and share ideas, combine two cultures and languages together, broken any kind of stereotypes and avoid cultural shock. With the aim to achieve an unique common goal be profitable again and create a longevity alliance. Renault-Nissan from my point of view is the perfect example of the effective power of a strong and well establish cross-cultural alliance. Doriana Carlucci S00402667

The Presentation of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

The Presentation of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Willy Loman is presented as both a tragic hero and an unconscious victim in "Death of a Salesman". "Death of a Salesman" is very much based upon the American Dream, and whether we are slaves or conquerors of this dream. This is an idea that the playwright Arthur Miller has very passionately pursued both through Willy's own eyes, and through his interaction with the different characters in the play. Firstly, the definitions of a hero and a victim very much influence the way that Willy is viewed by the audience. Miller has not used the play to suggest that Willy Loman is an ordinary hero, but more a tragic hero. A tragic hero, simply by definition means that the reader already begins to see Willy in a more sympathetic light. A tragic hero is somebody who cannot forget his past, and so is destroyed by the consequences of his own actions. In order to picture Willy as a victim, again one cannot think of a regular victim, but of an ignorant victim. This would mean that Willy was completely unaware of his role as a victim in the play. It would also imply that Willy was not in control of his own fate. From the beginning of "Death of a Salesman" we see Willy playing the very victimised role of the conformer. Near the end of the first scene, as he speaks to his sons in one of his flashbacks he says: "the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead." This sounds very much like a typical business ideal, and one cannot help but feel at this stage that Willy is taking on ideas from other people ... ..., because he still thinks that he can solve Biff's problems with money. On the other hand, wrong answers do not, and should not disqualify a man from being a tragic hero. If we see tragic heroes as being those ruled by lust, ambition or jealousy, and fully respect these forces; why not neurotic awareness? In some ways, don't we ourselves live by the rules of Willy Loman - that "liked" is very different to "well-liked"? Every ordinary person is a potential 'watered down' version of Willy. Arthur Miller is neither blaming this solely on society, nor is he presenting a pathetic creature who is the author of his own misfortunes. Bibliography: Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Seventh Edition. X.J. Kennedy, and Dana Gioia. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., 1999

Character of Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarle

The Character of Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚   In Hawthorne's classic, The Scarlet Letter, the pathetic, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is fully aware of the means by which he must liberate his soul from his grave sin. Yet, throughout the story his confession remains an impediment, constraining him, from then onwards, to a life of atonement. Reverend Dimmesdale attempts to divest himself of his guilt by revealing it to his parishioners during services, but somehow never manages to accomplish the task. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is clearly both a coward and a hypocrite    For the most part, Dimmesdale's story is one of a lonely man who has given into temptation and desire. His carnal craving is looked upon with ignominy. The matter is further convoluted by Hester's marriage, and his unwillingness to mar his reputation among the villagers as the faithful and innocent priest. He is now stranded at a crossroad, not knowing whether to confess or carry on a life of self-punishment. The sin begins to gnaw away at his sanity. As a form of penance he partakes in late night vigils, starvation, and self-mutilation. His acts of penance were severe and drained him of much of his life force. Finally becoming fed up with his prolonged misery, he walked unsteadily to the podium to expose his secret, but his confession was ambiguous and inconclusive, and people thought he was speaking about the sins of humanity.    Throughout The Scarlet Letter, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale has many opportunities to confess.    One of the very first moments available to Dimmesdale to confess was on the scaffolding in the beginning when Hester was publicly humiliated in front of the townspeople. Dimmesdale was preaching to her for hou... ...can be rectified. Some sins are everlasting, and there are no shortcuts to salvation. Sometimes the weight of the sins must penetrate one's soul for eternity.    Works Cited and Consulted:    Baym, Nina. Introduction. The Scarlet Letter. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York City: Penguin Books USA, Inc. 1986.    Clendenning, John. "Nathaniel Hawthorne." The World Book Encyclopedia. 2000 ed.    Griswold, Rufus Wilmot. "The Scarlet Letter." The Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors. Ed. Charles Wells Moulton. Gloucester, Massachusetts: Peter Smith Publishing, 1959. 341-371.    Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Penguin Books USA Inc., 1986.    Smiles, Samuel. "The Scarlet Letter." The Critical Temper. Ed. Martin Tucker. New York City: Frederick Ungar Publishing Company, 1962. 266.    Character of Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarle The Character of Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚   In Hawthorne's classic, The Scarlet Letter, the pathetic, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is fully aware of the means by which he must liberate his soul from his grave sin. Yet, throughout the story his confession remains an impediment, constraining him, from then onwards, to a life of atonement. Reverend Dimmesdale attempts to divest himself of his guilt by revealing it to his parishioners during services, but somehow never manages to accomplish the task. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is clearly both a coward and a hypocrite    For the most part, Dimmesdale's story is one of a lonely man who has given into temptation and desire. His carnal craving is looked upon with ignominy. The matter is further convoluted by Hester's marriage, and his unwillingness to mar his reputation among the villagers as the faithful and innocent priest. He is now stranded at a crossroad, not knowing whether to confess or carry on a life of self-punishment. The sin begins to gnaw away at his sanity. As a form of penance he partakes in late night vigils, starvation, and self-mutilation. His acts of penance were severe and drained him of much of his life force. Finally becoming fed up with his prolonged misery, he walked unsteadily to the podium to expose his secret, but his confession was ambiguous and inconclusive, and people thought he was speaking about the sins of humanity.    Throughout The Scarlet Letter, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale has many opportunities to confess.    One of the very first moments available to Dimmesdale to confess was on the scaffolding in the beginning when Hester was publicly humiliated in front of the townspeople. Dimmesdale was preaching to her for hou... ...can be rectified. Some sins are everlasting, and there are no shortcuts to salvation. Sometimes the weight of the sins must penetrate one's soul for eternity.    Works Cited and Consulted:    Baym, Nina. Introduction. The Scarlet Letter. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York City: Penguin Books USA, Inc. 1986.    Clendenning, John. "Nathaniel Hawthorne." The World Book Encyclopedia. 2000 ed.    Griswold, Rufus Wilmot. "The Scarlet Letter." The Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors. Ed. Charles Wells Moulton. Gloucester, Massachusetts: Peter Smith Publishing, 1959. 341-371.    Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Penguin Books USA Inc., 1986.    Smiles, Samuel. "The Scarlet Letter." The Critical Temper. Ed. Martin Tucker. New York City: Frederick Ungar Publishing Company, 1962. 266.   

Natural Resources of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is largely ethnically homogeneous. Indeed, its name derives from the Bengali ethno-linguistic group, which comprises 98% of the population. Bengalis, who also predominate in the West Bengal province of India, are one of the most populous ethnic groups in the world. Variations in Bengali culture and language do exist of course. There are many dialects of Bengali spoken throughout the region. The dialect spoken by those in Chittagong and Sylhet are particularly distinctive. In 2009 the population was estimated at 156 million.Religiously, about 90% of Bangladeshis are Muslims and the remainders are mostly Hindus. Bangladesh became one of the large nation states in 1971when it seceded from Pakistan. Prior to the creation of Pakistan in 1947, modern-day Bangladesh was part of ancient, classical, medieval and colonial India. Since independence, the government has experienced periods of democratic and military rule. The founding leader of the country and its first president was S heikh Mujibur Rahman. His daughter Sheikh Hasina Wazed is currently the prime minister, as leader of the Awami League.Physical features of Bangladesh Location & size Bangladesh is situated in southern Asia, on the delta of the 2 largest rivers on the Indian subcontinent—the Ganges and Jamuna (Brahmaputra). It borders with India in the west, north, and east, with Burma (also known as Myanmar) in the southeast, and with the Bay of Bengal in the south. The country's area is 144,000 square kilometers (55,598 square miles), and it is divided into 6 administrative divisions (Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal, Rajshai and Sylhet) and 4 major municipal corporations (Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi).Comparatively, the territory of Bangladesh is slightly greater than the state of New York. Bangladesh's capital city, Dhaka, is located in the central part of the country. Bangladesh occupies the eastern part of the Bengal region (the western part of the region is occupied by the I ndian state of West Bengal), which historically was part of the great civilizations in the northeast of the Indian subcontinent. Climate of Bangladesh Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon-type climate, with a hot and rainy summer and a dry winter.January is the coolest month with temperatures averaging near 26 deg C (78 d F) and April the warmest with temperatures from 33 to 36 deg C (91 to 96 deg F). The climate is one of the wettest in the world. Most places receive more than 1,525 mm of rain a year, and areas near the hills receive 5,080 mm ). Most rains occur during the monsoon (June-September) and little in winter (November-February). Bangladesh is subject to devastating cyclones, originating over the Bay of Bengal, in the periods of April to May and September to November. Often accompanied by surging waves, these storms can cause great damage and loss of life.The cyclone of November 1970, in which about 500,000 lives were lost in Bangladesh, was one of the worst natural disasters of the country in the 20th century. Bangladesh has warm temperatures throughout the year, with relatively little variation from month to month. January tends to be the coolest month and May the warmest. In Dhaka the average January temperature is about 19Â °C (about 66Â °F), and the average May temperature is about 29Â °C (about 84Â °F). Surface water inflow and river system of Bangladesh Surface Water made up of rivers, streams, lakes, beels and ponds.In other words, all waters on the surface of the earth including fresh and salt water, ice and snow. In Bangladesh, rainfall and trans-boundary river flows are the main sources of surface water. Bangladesh has an average annual surface flow of about 1,073 million acre feet (MAF), of which about 870 MAF (93%) are received from India as inflow and rest 203 MAF (7%) as rainfall. This water is enough to cover the entire country to a depth of 9. 14m. About 132 MAF (65% of rainfall and 12% of total) are lost in evaporation (114. 30 cm) and the rest flows to the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh has about 700 rivers ncluding tributaries and distributaries, which crisis-cross the landscape and creates about 98,000 ha of inland water bodies and more than 24,000 km streams or water channels. Of these, 54 rivers, including the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, originate from India and 3 originate from Myanmar. About 93% catchment areas of these 58 rivers are beyond Bangladesh, while only 7% is in Bangladesh. During the dry season when irrigation is necessary, these rivers either flow at their lowest levels or become dry in the Bangladesh portion, due to upstream barrages, built in the upper riparian region.The principal rivers of Bangladesh are the Padma, the Megna, The Jamuna, and the Brahamaputra. The Dhaleswari and the Karnafuli. Besides, there are many small rivers like the Buriganga, the Sitallakya, the Gumti, the Tista, the Atrai, the Kortoa, The Mohananda, the Madhumati and many others. They have tributaries as well. Improta nce and usefulness: The rivers are of great help to us. Our agriculture depends on the rivers. The rivers supply water and make the land fertile by depositing silt. Thus they help to produce paddy, jute, wheat and many other crop. The rivers also help our irrigation.Our rivers are a great source of wealth. The rivers abounded in fishes. Fish is an important food of our country. Many people earn their livelihood by catching fish in the rivers. Our rivers are important means for transport too. Boats, launches, steamers ply through them in all seasons. They carry passengers and goods from one place to another. These rivers also help our trade and commerce. Pattern of agriculture Bangladesh is primarily an agrarian economy. Agriculture is the single largest producing sector of economy since it comprises about 30% of the country's GDP and employing around 60% of the total labor force.The performance of this sector has an overwhelming impact on major macroeconomic objectives like employme nt generation, poverty alleviation, human resources development and food security. Agricultural holdings in Bangladesh are generally small. Through Cooperatives the use of modern machinery is gradually gaining popularity. Rice, Jute, Sugarcane, Potato, Pulses, Wheat, Tea and Tobacco are the principal crops. The crop sub-sector dominates the agriculture sector contributing about 72% of total production. Fisheries, livestock and forestry sub-sectors are 10. 33%, 10. 11% and 7. 33% respectively. Bangladesh is the largest producer of Jute.Rice being the staple food, its production is of major importance. Rice production stood at 20. 3 million tons in 1996-97 fiscal year. Crop diversification program, credit, extension and research, and input distribution policies pursued by the government are yielding positive results. The country is now on the threshold of attaining self-sufficiency in food grain production. Types of forest Forestry is a sub-sector of agriculture in Bangladesh, which m akes a contribution to the national economy and is supposed to promote ecological stability. Although Bangladesh is amazingly green, it is a forest-poor country.Most of its public forestlands are located in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, greater Khulna district, greater Sylhet district, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Tangail districts. Half of Bangladesh does not have public forests at all. Homestead forests seen around almost all households are important for the rural communities. They meet a significant portion of fuel wood need and house construction materials, among other things. Although it is estimated that Bangladesh has approximately 6% of its land covered with public forests, actually very little of natural forests is left today except for those in the Sundarbans in Khulna.The plantations are not to be considered as forests. The three main types of public forests are: (i) Tropical evergreen or semi-evergreen forest in the eastern districts of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, and the Ch ittagong Hill Tracts region; (ii) moist or dry deciduous forests also known as sal (Shorea robusta) forests located mainly in the central plains and the freshwater areas in the northwest region; and (iii) Tidal mangrove forests along the coast – the Sundarbans in the southwest of the Khulna and other mangrove patches in the Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Noakhali coastal belt. Mineral resources Although Bangladesh is a small country, it has a number of mineral resources such as natural gas, oil, coal, hard rock, limestone, white clay, glass sand and mineral sand. At present, natural gas is the only mineral commodity significantly contributing to the national economy. More than 90% of the country’s energy needs are met by gas, total reserves of which are 21. 35 trillion cubic feet (TCF) and 12. 43 TCF, respectively.Huge reserves of hard rock (granodiorite, quartzdiorite, gneiss) and coal in northwest Bangladesh will help, in the near future, to meet the growing demand for construction materials and energy for the ever-growing population. Total coal reserves are 1753 million tons (MT), the market value of which is more than US$110 billion. Hard rock reserves are 115 million tons, valued at over US$3 billion. Fully fledged extraction of these resources would help to alleviate the country’s poverty through industrialization.It is expected that coal will soon be extracted on a commercial basis, of which 70 to 80% will be used in power generation. The mineral resources so far found in Bangladesh are meagre in comparison to its high population. To meet the growing demand of the population, more mineral resources need to be discovered and developed, otherwise sustainable development cannot be achieved. However, it is difficult for developing countries like Bangladesh to carry out the necessary activities for exploration and exploitation of hidden mineral resources without foreign assistance. This is a major drawback for Bangladesh.To progress towards an endurable sustainable society, a nation such as Bangladesh must give priority to the development of its existing mineral resources, which can play a major role in helping to reshape the country’s socio-economic infrastructure. Industrial set up In 1972, the year after its establishment, Bangladesh nationalized most of its industries and set up nine corporate conglomerates to oversee the state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The lack of commercial orientation inhibited investment and growth, including in the traditional jute industry, and the emerging leader, the garment industry.From the mid-1980s, the government shifted to encouraging private investment, but the industrial sector remained closely regulated. In 1991, in the post-Cold War international environment, and with the end of military rule, the government inaugurated a new Industrial Policy planning investment liberalization, the interim restructuring of several large parastatals, as well as the gradual privatization of public enterprises in all but the airways, railways, and mining sectors.Political resistance to privatization was very strong, and in the early 1990s restructuring resulted in some output decline. With a new government, in the period 1996–2001, 33 SOEs were sold by the state, but the Economist Intelligence Unit reported that these were smaller operations, and that the divestments did not significantly lessen the government's dominance of the industrial sector. Recent discoveries of large natural gas reserves and plans for new power plants throughout the country were slated to boost industrial growth in 2000 and beyond.However, as of late 2002, plans for the development of natural gas resources continue to be delayed by political rows over the participation of foreign companies. Density and distribution of population In 2010, Bangladesh was estimated to be one of the ten most highly populated countries with an estimated population of just fewer than 160 million. This makes th e population density of about 875 people per sq km (2,267 people per sq mi) higher than other countries.Most of the population is young with about 60 percent under the age of 25, with only about 3 percent over the age of 65 (life expectancy is 61 years). Twenty percent of the population was deemed to be urban in 1998, making population of Bangladesh predominantly rural. Bengalis make up the majority of population of Bangladesh. They are descendants from immigrant Indo-Aryans who came from the west and intermarried with various Bengal groups.The minority in Bangladesh is comprised of several groups, the Chakma and Mogh (Mongoloid people who live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts District), the Santal (migrants from India) and the Biharis (Muslims who came from India). Conclusion Though Bangladesh is a small country but it has great prospects. It can use its vast population as human resources. It is a beautiful country. It can make an effective use of it to attract tourists. To overcome o bstacles to gain success in all sectors all people and govt. should be cooperative. Corruption, political resentment, indiscipline, dishonesty should be reduced by applying laws.

Woman for President

I think a woman should be president of the United States because it greatly shows that a woman can do anything a man can do. I think unless you give a woman a chance to be president you won’t know if a woman could make a good president or not. I believe if a woman became president it could lower the discrimination of women throughout the world. I also feel if a woman became president it could increased equality between men and women. If a woman was president I think if there was a problem she could talk about it and make a good decision to handle it.A woman should be president because discrimination against women could change a lot. It would show a great deal of people that a woman is capable of running a country. It could show people throughout the world that if a woman can run a developed country like the United States, a woman can do anything. I also think it would be a positive change throughout the entire country. It would be a big change because normally you would see a man doing such a high power job.This proves that if a woman is president more women would be less worried to do a job because of getting discriminated against. A woman should also be president because it would increase equality between men and women. It could start to reveal that men are more accepting of women and vice-versa. This doesn’t mean that men and women will get along happily ever after but it does mean that men and women can try to get along much more easily with a for woman president.This proves that if a woman is president this could improve men and women getting along for the better of the country. A woman should be president because a woman could be more understanding to people in need. A woman for president could do more in giving people what they want in a fair matter. I think if faced with a problem and woman would think and talk about it much more thoroughly than a man would. In recent years male presidents have resulted into poor decision-making when faced with a problem, such as war, and violence.This proves that if a woman is president she could handle problems in a less violent and better way. Overall I think a woman should be president. I think a woman could run the United States of America much better than a man. A woman for president could decrease discrimination of women by showing that a woman can do anything a man can do. A woman for president could increase equality between men and women. A woman as a president can affect the United States in a positive way. Overall I think a woman should and can be president if she has the right qualifications.

Havaianas

Our marketing case study refers at the develop of the Italian market of Havaianas flip-flops Description of Product In Brazil Havaianas product is well known (second only to Coca Cola). It’s a mass market product, a commodity Flip-flops features: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Comfortable Durable Out of time Practical Aesthetically beautiful Cheap Two Mains Markets A traditional segment like beach, leisure and sport A niche segment, the surf market Main Marketing Problems In Italy among consumers only 12. 5% indicated Havaianas as first brand of flip flops designed Find the right market segment considering the competitors Convey to consumers the important attributes, technical and emotional, of the product Targeting The product is suitable for everyone, but especially for consumers aged from 16 to 40 In this range we have identified three main consumers categories †¢ Trendy: †¢ Functional: †¢ Not interested: 10% 75% 15% Swot Analisys OPPORTUNITY – Width of the target – Ability to create authentic connections with a product rich in meanings – Ability to enter niche marketsSTRENGTHS – Versatility of the product – High Quality (natural materials) – Wide range of models -Possibility of limited Editions Product THREATS -Competition indirect and parallel importation of products with low cost (China) -No barriers to entry -Risk of becoming a passing fashion brand -Existence of direct competitors that also produce clothing lines WEAKNESSES – Poor presence in some markets – Low brand awareness – It’s absent the perception of the quality of the product by the consumer – Seasonality – It is not considered a technical productTraditional Market Positioning Market Positioning-Competitors †¢ Reef, the market leader, has a marketing strategy aimed at consumers increasingly sophisticated which seem to communicate a feeling of continuous research and ne ed of something more distinctive †¢ Sundek leverages its production of summer clothing to also sell footwear and flipflops †¢ As flip-flops for the pool, locker room and sports in general brands such as Nike & Adidas provide an higher level of technicality If we consider the Havaianas as a sandal for a night out or generally for living the city, then the competition is with brands such as D&G, Gucci, Prada Market Positioning-Havaianas Havaianas is on the market in a position straddling Functionality and Fashion (impossible for Reef) to a point less â€Å"evolved† of its direct competitor The fashion factor for Havaianas is the ability to sell a cheap product that capture the customers with the history, the sense of freedom and the possibility to express yourself which are the guidelines that, since the beginning, distinguish this productSurf Market Market PositioningCompetitors The competitors, althougth with different placements, stands on the left side of the tabl e aiming to attract customers with their ability to perceive the technical characteristics of the product There are also in this context brands such as Cool that are oriented more to products of high quality and technically suitable for sport Others (in the area at the bottom left) that link instead, quite indistinct between them, to follow the fashion even at the expense of the more technical characteristics Market PositioningHavaianasHavaianas instead focuses its strategy in being able to exploit the high degree of involvement that surfers reserve to this brand and this is the main feature that differentiates it from competitors In the surfing world Havainas is an â€Å"object of worship† now deeply rooted in the tradition and attractiveness of this sport and it is from this that the brands draws its market power Marketing Goals Create an emotional bond with the brand and its history Provide more popularity to the brand so that potential buyers can easily associate the bran d with various modelsBrand Philosophy Extraordinary capabilities that this product has to create a bond between the user and Brazil, the place of origin of the product and always destination of dreams of Italians Havaianas is a product that can be considered â€Å"true†: a long history, a great deal of continuity (the characteristics have remained largely unchanged over time) Natural materials and a process that has within it elements almost â€Å"craft† (examples of this are the molds made ? by hand) that make it meaningful and rich of story to tellMarketing Initiatives Havaianas Disco-Bus Twinsbros & Havaianas Surf Team Website Website At the heart of our proposals for Havaianas there is the transformation of the current website in order to create a direct relationship with the consumer and a sense of membership Build a section dedicated to events and parties with a photogallery which shows all connected to the world of Havaianas and itsâ€Å"lifestyle† Websit e â€Å"Party on Havaianas. it† †¢ The user, in order to participate in various competitions, must enroll communicating his e-mail.This will allow the company to create a large agenda of contacts through which it can communicate the dates of events, promotions and news of any kind in order to create a direct line to the most loyal. For people registered, there will be a further advantage: will be sent by e-mail invitations for the various parties that will be printed and presented at the entrance for a chance to enter for free â€Å"Testimonial for Havaianas â€Å" †¢ The consumers will send their photos with the more strange use that they can make with their flip-flops.The most bizarre and original will be published on the site, with the possibility to be commented on by all users, and the winning photo will become the icon for the communication campaign of Havaianas in the following year â€Å"Twinsbros & Havaianas Surf Team† The TwinsBros Factory has its headquarters in Livorno(Italy) and is structured specifically for the production of high quality surfboards The first goal of the collaboration is to create a set of surfboards and material competition sponsored Havaianas The second one is sponsor a team of surfers who will turn Italy to participate the races of the Italian circuit Twinsbros & Havaianas Surf Team† Return in terms of visibility: †¢ Will be published a banner Havaianas. it on the homepage of the site twinsbros. net †¢ Will be published a banner of TB & Havaianas surf team on the two main Italian surf portals (surfdome. it & surftolive. com) †¢ Will be published articles accompanied by photographs on the same portals above and magazines like Surfer Magazine, SurfUP & SurfNews †¢ Strong visibility in the audience present at the competition with the distribution of gadgets Havaianas Disco-Bus† The project consists of a disco-bus which during the summer will turn to the most famous locatio ns of the italian summer nightlife (Riccione, Milano Marittima, Porto Cervo, etc. .. ) It will be deprived of the seats and designed with the logo â€Å"Havaianas† in and outside so as to produce a strong visual impact on the observer The atmosphere will be tipically brazilian with theme-parties, music, cocktails and various kinds of gadgets provided