Jhon Barleycorn by Jack London Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Jhon Barleycorn by Jack London - Essay Example a dimension which is free from any rules or obligations. Probably the one who is under the influence, sees things clearly, well at least from a different angle. This angle is far from the norm or what people are used to. The way first chapter of the book begins, it speaks volumes about the mental state of the man. He is going to vote for something very important and he’s drunk. Probably logic doesn’t do justice when it comes to voting. He votes for women suffrage amendment. The popular vote is probably a fabrication, a concoction, and people who craft the ballet box and the election system, design it in such way so that it gets picked up by the majority. It is equivalent to giving a person a set of choices and when he’s done choosing his favorite, he feels liberated as he used his freedom of choice to get what he liked but little does he know that all choices were acceptable by the person who gave him the choice. The interesting thing about the state of mind (of the protagonist) is when he’s under the influence, he gets more indignant while explaining or talking about something. He explains why he voted for the woman suffrage amendment. Although he claims that he was not under the influence but probably he was. He gives his reason that he ride his way back from the polling station on the back of the wildest horse. No one can ride it drunk, that’s why he couldn’t be drunk. Nice explanation but it doesn’t prove he wasn’t under the influence. People consider Jack’s book his autobiography. There is no doubt that he was an alcoholic himself. And this book probably is a preaching book towards alcoholism. What a man feels when he’s drunk is something a man can’t understand unless he’s drunk. Some strange wisdom, which is â€Å"beyond life’s wisdom† starts flowing as the rum goes in the body. The question is what kind of explanation is that? On the surface it might seem

Applied Criminal Justice Ethics Essay Example for Free

Applied Criminal Justice Ethics Essay My interviewee was Commander Hamry, of the Milton police department in Washington. When interviewing Commander Hamry, I found the following to be his impressions of the police force in general: Why are ethics and character so important in the field of law enforcement? Because we represent everything we believe in, not only in local and state law, but the Constitution of the United States. We are part law enforcement, lawyer, priest, counselor, mother/father figure etcat any given moment. We have a nano-second to decide whether or not to shoot whereas everyone else has months/years to decide if that action was proper or not. Due to an elevated level of training and discipline, we are held to a higher standard. This includes: morals, ethics, actions/decisions which the public has entrusted its care to us which go back to the issues when the tea was first thrown into the harbor. Do the interviewees feel that police are more ethical today, or were they more ethical ten years ago? Due to immediate access of public information and technology, the magnification of the microscope has been increased. However, that is something that evolves with public perception, the legal system, etc where something that was common place and ethical 100 years ago would not be considered today. People are basically good and the basic Judeo/Christian principle upon which our system is founded has remained, for the most part, unchanged. Why do police officers become involved in misconduct? To over simplify the answer, because they are human. They make mistakes like anyone else or experience temptations in which they cannot or choose not to handle. No different than the clerk who pockets a dollar when no one is looking. Do the interviewees feel that there is enough training offered in ethics at the police academy level? If not, why is that? Ethics are like character building and/or common sense. It evolves with experience and upbringing. How would you teach common sense or character? However, a strong emphasis IS placed on ethics in the law enforcement academies, but the basic concept and belief in such values has to be present to start with. Those that dont develop the concept strong enough should be weeded out during the background phase of the hiring process. People can change and develop a stronger sense of ethics (I believe) as to the examples set by those they are influenced by or choose to be influenced by. Should ethics training be offered as an ongoing process for law enforcement officers? Yes, and I believe it will remain an integral part of the basic academy program. Do the interviewees feel that education and/or training in ethics would reduce incidents of police corruption? Yes and No. The elevated awareness may make them think about it more. But it is also a lifestyle and belief in the basic system that we work within. This is no different than being asked to go out and enforce laws that we do not either believe in, or question. We dont make the laws, we merely enforce those that the people have asked to be on the books and thus should act the same. Being within law enforcement is like living in a fish bowl. You are always under the scrutiny of the public perception on and off duty. You are judged by how your kids act in school, to how you look or what you do when you go to town.

The Impact of Ophelia on Shakespeares Hamlet Essay examples -- GCSE E

The Impact of Ophelia on Hamlet      Ã‚   Michael Pennington in â€Å"Ophelia: Madness Her Only Safe Haven,† elucidates the character of Ophelia in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet:    This is the woman she might have become – warm, tolerant and imaginative. Instead she becomes jagged, benighted and imaginative. . . .Ophelia is made mad not only by circumstance but by something in herself. A personality forced into such deep hiding that it has seemed almost vacant, has all the time been so painfully open to impressions that they now usurp her reflexes and take possession of her. She has loved, or been prepared to love, the wrong man; her father has brought disaster on himself, and she has no mother: she is terribly lonely. (73-74)    This essay hopes to touch on many aspects of Ophelia’s character as she is victimized by circumstances and characters around her.    The protagonist of the tragedy, Prince Hamlet, initially appears in the play dressed in solemn black, mourning the death of his father supposedly by snakebite while he was away at Wittenberg as a student. Hamlet laments the hasty remarriage of his mother to his father’s brother, an incestuous act; thus in his first soliloquy he cries out, â€Å"Frailty, thy name is woman!† Ophelia enters the play with her brother Laertes, who, in parting for school, bids her farewell and gives her advice regarding her relationship with Hamlet. Ophelia agrees to abide by the advice: â€Å"I shall the effect of this good lesson keep as watchman to my heart.† Thus Ophelia must initially bend her will to please her brother. After Laertes’ departure, Polonius inquires of Ophelia concerning the â€Å"private time† which Hamlet spends with her. He dismisses Hamlet’s overtures as â€Å"Affection, puh!... ...fe Haven.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from â€Å"Hamlet†: A User’s Guide. New York: Limelight Editions, 1996.    Pitt, Angela. â€Å"Women in Shakespeare’s Tragedies.† Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Excerpted from Shakespeare’s Women. N.p.: n.p., 1981.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html    Ward & Trent, et al. The Cambridge History of English and American Literature. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1907–21; New York: Bartleby.com, 2000 http://www.bartleby.com/215/0816.html    Wilkie, Brian and James Hurt. â€Å"Shakespeare.† Literature of the Western World. Ed. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992.

Against Tobacco in Movies :: Tobacco Nicotine Smoking Cigarettes

Tobacco is detrimental to people’s health and if there were more restrictions on the exposure of tobacco in the media, it would reduce tobacco use. Movies that depict tobacco should be rated R in order to prevent teens from the exposure of tobacco. R rated movies show violence, inappropriate language and sexual situations, circumstances that teens should not be allowed to see. The rating system went into effect in order to prevent kids from seeing inappropriate behaviors, since tobacco is also an inappropriate behavior, it should also be categorized in the R rated section of movies. Dangers of tobacco are well documented and researched. Researchers have spent billions of money on research regarding the risks of smoking long term and even the risks associated with second hand smoke. Time and money has gone into the research, and it is time that this research is used in a beneficial way to help the youth stay away from harmful behavior. The rating system went in effect on November 1, 1968. It got started after people complained about inappropriate language in movies that they did not want their children exposed to. In April 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutional power of states to prevent the exposure of children to films that could not be denied to adults. It took around six months to decide how the movies would be rated before the rating system went into effect. Almost half a year was spent in order to move towards a system that would satisfy both children and adults. The purpose of movie ratings is not to critically mark the movies as poor quality movies, which is a critic’s trade, but in order to offer parents some advance information so that they can decide what they want their children exposed to. The movies are rated by a Rating Board which consists of 8-12 adults who are qualified based on their maturity level and their ability to place themselves in the role of a parent. There are fiv e categories that the movies are divided in: G, PG, PG13, R and NC17. A G rated film contains no nudity, no drugs, no sex scenes, etc. and is appropriate for all children. PG rating may contain some material that is inappropriate for children, so the Rating Board would advise the parents to view this film prior to letting their children watch it. A movie that is rated PG13 is strongly cautioned by the Rating Board to have the parents view the film, the material that is depicted in a PG13 film may be inappropriate for children under the age of thirteen.

Is Music is purely for relaxation Essay

â€Å"Music is purely for relaxation.† Do you agree? In every corner of the world, people play and listen to music. † Music is everywhere is man has ears.† Music so often defies definition. Music is often considered as one of the two most precious gifts from God. For the sake of clarity music is often defined as the organisation of sounds and silences into interesting and meaningful patterns. Music is ubiquitous and has existed since time immemorial. Man simply cannot imagine life without this divine gift. But to say that music is purely for relaxation is very lopsided. This is so because music has a multitude of functions. Music is a sine qua non in a man’s life and has an amazing power. It works miracles on the human psyche. Music has the ability to alter the brain chemistry. That’s why music is important for our psychic equilibrium. We have various types of music to appeal to various people who have various temperaments. Music has a soothing effect on man. After a hard day of work, music brings a welcome relief. Music has the ability to relax both our mind and muscles. Also, music is used in therapy as it has a therapeutic value. Music relaxes patients and it’s a way for them to get over their pent up feelings. Altogether, music plays a central role in the way we relax. Lots of people go to nightclubs and discotheques to have a break from humdrum life as music and dancing make us feel refreshed. Though lots of people consider music as a medium of relaxation, it is often used for human solidarity. Music is not an end in itself. It is a means to an end. Music is the best way to demonstrate human solidarity. Musicians use music to raise funds for laudable purposes and also to sensitise the world on the sufferings of other fellow earthlings. Some examples if great music for such causes are: ‘heal the world’ for children’s right; ‘imagine’ by John Lennon for world peace and lately, ‘ live for love united’ written by Desmond Child and Pascal Obispo and sang by well known footballers to raise funds for the combat of aids. Likewise, music plays an important role in mass consciousness. Music is used as a vehicle to vent out human misery. The jazz composed by the black  people; the reggae of Bob Marley is a way for the black to express themselves in the teeth of white domination. There is the Sega by the slaves and now the ‘ Sega engage’ a way to denounce and fight social and political injustices. Furthermore, music is used to reinforce religious faith. In the England church’s music and songs are used to remobilize believers. In Mauritius, Father Grà ©goire shows the way of God through music. Even the pope once symbolically displayed a guitar just to show that music has a spiritual dimension. All religion in the world has a distinct type of music. An example is the Gregorian. Gregorian chant is the a cappella liturgical chant of Occidental Christian churches. Moreover music is associated with patriotism. Each country in the world has its own national anthem. Music has its place in the sports world and fathers international goodwill. In some sports disciplines like ballet dancing, ice-skating and synchronised swimming music is of great importance as music together with such sports disciplines express human grace in its best form. The Olympic committee even has its own music and so does the champion’s league. Football team like Liverpool has its own music which is † you’ll never walk alone.† The film industry has gone a long way since the silent movie. Nowadays, music and film making go hand in hand. India is the biggest producer of films and music occupies a fundamental role. As a great Indian producer once said that action, love and the most important of all music forms part of all Indian films. Also he added without music Indian film would have been simply boring and this industry would not have lasted long. In Bollywood, A.R.Rahman is one of the best music composers. Also the film ‘Taal’ which means ‘beat’ is based on music and this film is simply extraordinary. In Hollywood, the music directors are extremely professional because music becomes part of the movie. Films like Saturday night fever; Grease and Dirty dancing are magnum opus. Films and songs together help each other to become hits and the most lately appropriate example is Titanic with the song ‘My heart will go on’ by Celine Dion. Nevertheless, music is also used for evil purposes. Martial music is written especially to mobilise troops before going in a battle and to incite soldiers. This type of music helps and makes them mentally strong to face their enemy. Also music is a vehicle for propaganda. In U.S.S.R music was used to brainwash people in order to make them believe in communism as religion. With the help of music, musicians can express their hatred. Eminem usually express hatred in his songs for gays and lesbians. Music is a gift of God and has become part and parcel of the human life. We simply cannot imagine life without it. It is everywhere and without it, we all would surely die of boredom. Its incredible effect is beautifully summarised by Congreve when he said: â€Å"Music hath the charm to soothe the savage beauty, to smoothen the rock and to bend the knotted oak† and Shakespeare: † If music is the food of love, play on.†

A Brief History of Manchuria

A Brief History of Manchuria Manchuria is the region of northeastern China that now covers the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning. Some geographers also include northeastern Inner Mongolia, as well. Manchuria has a long history of conquering and being conquered by its southwestern neighbor, China. Naming Controversy The name Manchuria is controversial. It comes from a European adoption of the Japanese name Manshu, which the Japanese began to use in the nineteenth century. Imperial Japan wanted to pry that area free from Chinese influence. Eventually, in the early 20th century, Japan would annex the region outright.   The so-called Manchu people themselves, as well as the Chinese, did not use this term, and it is considered problematic, given its connections with Japanese imperialism. Chinese sources generally call it the Northeast or the Three Northeast Provinces. Historically, it is also known as Guandong, meaning east of the pass. Nonetheless, Manchuria is still considered to be the standard name for northeastern China in the English language.   The Manchu People Manchuria is the traditional land of the Manchu  (formerly called the Jurchen), the Xianbei (Mongols), and the  Khitan  peoples. It also has long-standing populations of Korean and Hui Muslim people.  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹In total, the Chinese central government recognizes 50 ethnic minority groups in Manchuria.  Today, it is home to more than 107 million people; however, the vast majority of them are ethnic Han Chinese. During the late Qing Dynasty (19th and early 20th centuries), the ethnic-Manchu Qing emperors encouraged their Han Chinese subjects to settle the area that was the Manchu homeland. They took this surprising step to counter Russian expansionism in the region. The mass migration of Han Chinese is called the  Chuang Guandong, or the venture into the east of the pass. Manchuria's History The first empire to unite nearly all of Manchuria was the Liao Dynasty (907 - 1125 CE). The Great Liao is also known as the Khitan Empire, which took advantage of the collapse of Tang China to spread its territory into China proper, as well. The Manchuria-based Khitan Empire was powerful enough to demand and receive tribute from Song China and also from the Goryeo Kingdom in Korea. Another Liao tributary people, the Jurchen, overthrew the Liao Dynasty in 1125 and formed the Jin Dynasty. The Jin would go on to rule much of northern China and Mongolia from 1115 to 1234 CE. They were conquered by the rising Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan. After the Mongols Yuan Dynasty in China fell in 1368, a new ethnic Han Chinese dynasty arose called the Ming. The Ming were able to assert control over Manchuria and forced the Jurchens and other local people to pay tribute to them. However, when unrest broke out in the late Ming era, the emperors invited Jurchen/Manchu mercenaries to fight in the civil war.  Instead of defending the Ming, the Manchus conquered all of China in 1644. Their new empire, ruled by the Qing Dynasty, would be the last Imperial Chinese Dynasty  and lasted until 1911. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Manchuria was conquered by the Japanese, who renamed it Manchukuo. It was a puppet empire, headed by the former Last Emperor of China, Puyi. Japan launched its invasion of China proper from Manchukuo; it would hold on to Manchuria until the end of World War II. When the Chinese Civil War ended in a victory for the communists in 1949, the new Peoples Republic of China took control of Manchuria. It has remained a part of China ever since.

Summary of the Battle of Stamford Bridge

Summary of the Battle of Stamford Bridge The Battle of Stamford Bridge was part of the invasions of Britain following the death of Edward the Confessor in 1066 and was fought September 25, 1066. English Army Harold Godwinson7,000 men Norwegian Army Harald HardradaTostig Godwinson7,500 men Battle of Stamford Bridge Following the death of King Edward the Confessor in 1066, succession to the English throne fell into dispute. Accepting the crown from the English nobles, Harold Godwinson became king on January 5, 1066. This was immediately challenged by William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada of Norway. As both claimants began building invasion fleets, Harold assembled his army on the south coast with the hope that his northern nobles could repel Hardrada. In Normandy, Williams fleet gathered, but was unable to depart St. Valà ©ry sur Somme due to adverse winds. In early September, with supplies low and his troops obligations expiring, Harold was forced to disband his army. Shortly thereafter, Hardradas forces began landing at Tyne. Aided by Harolds brother, Tostig, Hardrada sacked Scarborough and sailed up the Ouse and Humber Rivers. Leaving his ships and part of his army at Riccall, Hardrada marched on York and met the Earls Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria in battle at Gate Fulford on September 20. Defeating the English, Hardrada accepted the citys surrender and demanded hostages. The date for the surrender and hostage transfer was set for September 25 at Stamford Bridge, just east of York. To the south, Harold received news of the Viking landing and attacks. Racing north, he gathered a new army and arrived at Tadcaster on the 24th, after marching nearly 200 miles in four days. The next day, he advanced through York to Stamford Bridge. The English arrival caught the Vikings by surprise as Hardrada had expected Harold to stay in the south to confront William. As a result, his forces were not prepared for battle and much of their armor had been sent back to their ships. Approaching Stamford Bridge, Harolds army moved into position. Before the battle commenced, Harold offered his brother the title of earl of Northumbria if he would desert. Tostig then asked what Hardrada would receive if he withdrew. Harolds reply was that since Hardrada was a tall man he could have seven feet of English earth. With neither side willing to yield, the English advanced and began the battle. The Viking outposts on the west bank of the River Derwent fought a rearguard action to allow the rest of the army to prepare. During this fight, legend refers to a single Viking berserker who single-handedly defended Stamford Bridge against all odds until stabbed from below the span by a long spear. Though overwhelmed, the rearguard provided Hardrada time to assemble his forces into a line. In addition, he dispatched a runner to summon the rest of his army, led by Eyestein Orre, from Riccall. Pushing across the bridge, Harolds army reformed and charged the Viking line. A prolonged melee ensued with Hardrada falling after being struck by an arrow. With Hardrada slain, Tostig continued the fight and was aided by Orres reinforcements. As sunset approached, both Tostig and Orre were killed. Lacking a leader the Viking ranks began to waver, and they fled back to their ships.   Aftermath and Impact of the  Battle of Stamford Bridge While exact casualties for the Battle of Stamford Bridge are not known, reports suggest that Harolds army suffered a large number of killed and wounded and that Hardradas was nearly destroyed. Of the approximately 200 ships the Vikings arrived with, only around 25 were needed to return the survivors to Norway. While Harold had won a stunning victory in the north, the situation in the south was deteriorating as William began landing his forces in Sussex on September 28. Marching his men south, Harolds depleted army met William at the Battle of Hastings on October 14. In the battle, Harold was killed and his army defeated, opening the way for the Norman conquest of England. Resources and Further Reading UK Battlefield Resource Centre: Battle of Stamford BridgeBritain Express: Battle of Stamford BridgeBattle of Stamford Bridge

Snapdeals Journey from Deal-a-Day Site to India Essays

Snapdeals Journey from Deal-a-Day Site to India Essays Snapdeals Journey from Deal-a-Day Site to India Essay Snapdeals Journey from Deal-a-Day Site to India Essay Snapdeal’s Journey from Deal-a-day Site to India’s Largest Online Marketplace E-commerce, in the popular sense, can be defined as: the use of the Internet and the Web to conduct business transactions. A more technical definition would be: e-commerce involves digitally enabled commercial transactions between and among organizations and individuals. Ecommerce differs from e-business in that no commercial transaction, an exchange of value across organizational or individual boundaries, takes place in e-business. E-business is the digital enablement of transactions and processes within a firm and therefore does not include any exchange in value. E-commerce and e-business intersect at the business firm boundary at the point where internal business systems link up with suppliers. For instance, e-business turns into e-commerce when an exchange of value occurs across firm boundaries. Introduction Snapdeal is an ecommerce company headquartered in New Delhi, India. This online retail firm was founded by Karun Bahl, a Wharton graduate and Rohit Bansal, alumnus of IIT Delhi, in February 2010. Their website Snapdeal. om features a wide range of products and services from thousands of national, international and regional brands with a wide assortment of products across categories like mobiles, electronics, fashion accessories, apparel and footwear, kids, home and kitchen, sports, books, restaurants, entertainment and spas amongst others. Snapdeal has become a shopping destination for millions of online users across the country. Snapdeal enables small and medium sized retailers to cost effectively acquire hundreds of customers by offering discount deals at their establishments through its online e-commerce platform. This leads to cost savings on the marketing side and leads to more brand awareness. History Snapdeal was started in February 2010 by Karun Bahl, a Wharton graduate and Rohit Bansal, alumnus of IIT Delhi. Snapdeal. com started as a daily deal platform. It was essentially a Group buying or crowd bargaining site which offered deals and discounts on restaurants, spas, car wash, etc. Snapdeal charged a marketing fee from the retailer for every deal sold on the portal. Bargain Website Model The services are usually for registered customers, who are informed of the deals through emails and text messages every day. The system works like this. A local store, a fashion chain or a restaurant approaches the bargain website with its best deals, and the bargain website in turn offers or sometimes auctions them to its members for a nominal amount to be paid upfront through a debit or a credit card. Customers get their coupons either through email or in the form of a text message or both. The retailers pay a stipulated amount - or a commission - for every redeemed coupon to the website. Group buying sites benefit from a relatively simple minimum number of buyers. The limited time period creates a sense of urgency, prompting impulse purchases. All interested buyers must provide their credit card information, but are only charged if the deal goes live. Little money is locked up in working capital because the group buying website either bills the entire amount of the purchase upfront and retains a commission before passing the rest of the payment onto the merchant, or charges a token amount and directs the user to pay the rest at the merchants site. If the deal does not materialize, the group buying site isnt stuck with any back inventory because the discounted service or item is sourced at the participating business. Buyers receive vouchers for their purchases via e-mail or text message and they have anywhere from one to three months to redeem the offer. Snapdeal’s idea was to give consumers a better price through deals if they purchase in greater numbers; and that was the basic premise of group buying websites that had emerged in India and in other parts of the world. According to Bahl, Jasper-owned group buying sites in general accumulated 350,000 registered users in just over six months of operations. This was proved right when Googles DoubleClick advertising arm posted the number of unique visitors for Indian group buying siteSnapDeal as 290,000 for the end of August 2010. IT for Differentiation In an effort to drastically improve the customer experience of its 4 lakhs subscriber base Snapdeal launched a revamped website which was far superior in terms of technology and performance. The new website, which was built on the latest technologies like Servlet 3. 0, had enhanced security and was highly scalable. The website load time is less than 2 sec. While being extremely advanced technologically, the website continued to be a user friendly interface, which helped it break the clutter among the otherwise similar looking group buying websites. This helped Snapdeal in becoming the largest group buying website with 65% transactional market by September, 2010, reaching a remarkable milestone of selling one coupon every minute on their website. The seven-month-old ventures revenues were increasing at 150 per cent month-on-month. Offering discounts of up to 95 per cent, SnapDeal. com used to its advantage the huge pile of distress inventory accumulated by retailers. It featured more than 2,000 retailers such as Ferns amp; Petals, Indiahikes, Fitness Studio, Bikanervala, Future Bazaar and XtremeSports Bar. The company received2,000 vouchers from one merchant in a day sometimes and was able to offer one new deal a day from each of the 30 cities it has a presence in. Each deal stayed on the site for not more than three days. According to Mr. Bahl, retailers of these services suffered from distress perishable inventory of as high as 80 per cent, and it worked for them to give heavy discounts to be able to offload the inventory within the expiry period. By the end of November 2010, the e-commerce phenomenon in India had a new Poster boy from obscurity 9 months back to becoming one of Indias most visited site Snapdeal. com had come a long way in a short span. By December 2010, Snapdeal was offering deals in four areas including dining, personal care, entertainment and travel. There was a tremendous response from various merchants as well. 90% of the service providers who had been featured on Snapdeal. com wanted to use the service again to attract customers. For the local retail services, it acted as a powerful performance based marketing channel to acquire new customers, while reaching out to a large base of prospective customers, without spending anything upfront on branding or advertising. And this channel was not restricted to small businesses alone. For instance, Carnation, which is Mr. Jagdish Khattars one-stop-shop retailer for cars, acquired 5000+ customers through SnapDeal in a span of 3 days. Many other merchants have had similar experiences. The e-commerce platform had worked wonders not only for Snapdeal, but also for many of its clients who were able to attract a huge set of new customers. In less than one year, it reached a subscriber base of 1 million attracting a $12 million investment round, led by Nexus Venture Partners and Indo-US Venture Partners. And the subsequent round of funding a few months later helped it raise another $ 40 million. Mobile commerce also proved to be an asset for Snapdeal. Another reason for the site’s rapid growth in 2011 came from its recently launched products deals business, in which Snapdeal sold branded lifestyle products, like fashion accessories, electronics, apparel, etc. at significant discounts. The products business was doubling each month and within three months accounted for 15 percent of Snapdeal’s total business. Its big idea was to move into products by taking its existing experience in local deals and combining it with a wide array of personalized product deals, especially in lifestyle e-commerce. This was the first step for Snapdeal towards the transformation to an online marketplace. In 2012, Snapdeal announced its foray into the ‘brand stores’ concept in which the company aimed to be an enabler for the thousands of local retailers who couldn’t reach out to the growing masses buying online. Each store had a login and a password for managing the assortment. Brands were able to decide the look and feel of their page, customize product selection, and manage promotions and exclusive launches. The Snapdeal platform was akin to multiple single-brand stores, many of these international. Regulatory issues would not apply to Snapdeal, as it was a marketing platform like eBay, and transactions carried out here were between merchants and customers; hence, following a ‘Zero Inventory’ model. The company also broadened its 200-category strong product portfolio - from one with mobile phones and laptops to one that offers fashion apparel as well. Now, it had moved from being India’s largest group buying website to being a competitor of the Indian online retail major Flipkart. What is an Online Marketplace? Market: An interaction mechanism where the participants establish deals (trades) to exchange goods and services for monetary payments (i. e. quantities of standard currency). Marketplace: In fundamental terms, a marketplace is nothing but a group of markets. Technically, a marketplace is the space (actual, virtual or metaphorical) in which a market operates. Online marketplace (or online ecommerce marketplace) is an ecommerce website. The product and is provided by the third parties, and the transactions are processes by the marketplace operator. Online marketplaces are the primary type of multichannel ecommerce. The transactions are delivered and fulfilled by the participating retailers or wholesalers. An online marketplace offers products from a wide array of providers. Hence, the selection is usually wider, availability is higher, and prices are more competitive (compared to vendor-specific online retail stores). SnapDeal’s Marketing Strategy In the beginning, the only form of marketing for Snapdeal was through social media, mainly Facebook, Twitter and various blogs. By the end of 2010, using radio, TV and even sponsorships, Snapdeal had managed to warm the hearts of an otherwise hard-to-sell internet-wary society. Snapdeal plans to drive marketing through ‘Analytics’ in order to move from mass media campaigns and focus more on data driven marketing techniques that ensure every rupee of marketing spend is measured. This helps them to analyze the buying behavior of the consumer and pitch a product to the target consumer accordingly. Latest Developments at Snapdeal Traffic Rankings According to Alexa the web traffic analytics company Snapdeal is 37th most popular website in India and 557th in the world as on July 2013. Most of the users are male aged between 18 to 26 years. Company is eying sales growth of over 2000 crore in 2013-2104. Snapdeal Vs Flipkart Snapdeal from the start of 2013 is catching up with India’s most popular ecommerce website Flipkart. Page views per user the metric which tells user engagement with the website is around 5. 5 for Snapdeal (increase of 1. 5 pageview per user from 2012) if we take last 6 months average, same is around 8 for Flipkart. Average time spent per user on website has also increased from 5mins to little over 6 mins which is a positive sign. There is good amount of competition between Flipkart and Snapdeal and users usually visit both of these website before making a decision to buy. Logistics They also have a shipping platform called Safeship, which has integrated large number of local and national courier companies so that there is no burden on the sellers to find a courier service. Sellers can track and manage movement of product by themselves. SnapDeal provides Cash on Delivery and EMI options which has got lot of favour from Indians as lot of them don’t have credit/debit cards, and those who have are sceptical of using them online. With the advent of interest free EMI option lot of Indians who don’t have immediate cash can use this option to pay principal and the interest in easy instalments. Snapdeal on Mobile Snapdeal has launched its mobile app both on GooglePlay for free. Through this app user can easily see mobile version of website as an app on their smartphones, improved search lets you narrow down search using sort and refine. Snapdeal hopes to increase its customer base as more and more people are using tablets and smartphones now days. App can identify user location and give customized deals for user of that city. Snapdeal User Reviews for Products Buyers can now review products by adding comments and stars against the items they purchase. Pros, Cons, and average rating lets the prospective buyers decide on various parameters before the make the purchase. Comments also engage buyers as they feel the part of the system and Indians are always good at reviewing. Social Media Integration Users can now share the products they like or buy on their favourite social networks like Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter. These external links provide fresh web traffic to Snapdeal. TrustPay TrustPay protects customers with a 100% moneyback guarantee if there is any issue with product quality, size or delivery. Trustpay payment system can be used by other online retailers to connect to global payment systems of Visa/Mastercard. Snapdeal has filed for intellectual property protection for Trust pay because of the potential it has. Zero Inventory model Company does not hold inventory which has become important for any company operating in India as India has large supply side, which gives Snapdeal opportunity to collaborate with this unorganized and large supply side without making investments in Inventory. Also for large inventory one needs to hire thousands of people. Large logistics area, and high operating costs are incurred. Marketplace model also benefits when a seller wants to sell his unsold items quickly, which otherwise on retail malls can take considerable time. Most Lovable City: Online Campaign Snapdeal initiated mylovecapital campaign where people voted for their most loved city on the eve of Valentine’s Day of 2013. Voting for the event began on February 4 and the website recorded votes from people across the country. Delhi emerged winner with 53,174 votes followed by Mumbai with 49,010 votes and Srinagar with 29,047 votes from all over India on its website mylovecapital. com. It was an endeavour to bring back positivity and love for ur country, cities and its people. To publicize the event various videos were also uploaded on youtube. Anshuman, actor and singer campaigned for Chandigarh and Delhi, while stars such as Saniamirza campaigned for Hyderabad. Some major achievements for SnapDeal. com Snapdeal Buys Sports amp; Fitness Equipment E-com Startup eSportsBuy E-commerce firm Jasper I nfotech Pvt Ltd, which runs the daily deals and now horizontal e-com site Snapdeal. com, has acquired  eSportsBuy. com, an online retailer of sports and fitness equipment and accessories. eSportsBuy was started in 2011 by IIT Delhi alumni  Prateek Agarwal  and  Amit Monga. Snapdeal already stocks some sports equipment but these are not showcased as a separate category (we found badminton racquets featured in the ‘Kids amp; Toys’ category). So eSportsBuy would certainly help boost Snapdeal’s vendor relations for those products and also help expand the product catalogue in that segment. For eSportsBuy, it would mean a bigger platform to be associated with and that can help it bargain harder with vendors, at least as long as it maintains the site independently. It could also draw synergies in operations, especially at the backend. For Snapdeal, this is the second acquisition to build out its business. In 2010, it had acquired group buying site  Grabbon  and that site now redirects to Snapdeal. com. Snapdeal also has the means to take the inorganic route to expand quickly. Last year, it had risen over $50 million in two rounds of funding – from  Bessemer Venture Partners and Nexus Venture Partners  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ as well as from the existing investor Indo-US Venture Partners. Indias Top 10 Buzziest brands In February 2012, Snapdeal. com was ranked 7th in India in the Afaqs annual poll for buzz making brands, that the consumers found exciting enough to talk about. Online shopping site Snapdeal to increase headcount Snapdeal increased its headcount by adding 500 people by the next six months starting from March 2012. Snapdeal earmarks $20 mn for acquisitions Snapdeal. com has earmarked $20 million (around Rs. 100 crore) to make up to four acquisitions by 2012. Snapdeal set to enter music, movies and books segment In June 2012, E-commerce company Snapdeal. com ventured into music, movies and books segment one of the most lucrative segments for online retailing. Way Ahead Taking note of the way SnapDeal. com is expanding its reach and winning hearts, the future definitely looks very bright for the brand. Apart from geographic expansion, Snapdeal. om has forayed into new categories which have shown excellent traction in the brief period since launch. The two new categories introduced were – products and travel. The product categories include very attractive deals, typically 50 per cent off on products such as mobile phones, electronic gadgets branded fashion products, sunglasses wallets, an d among others. In the case of travel, SnapDeal. com features the best leisure and business travel destinations across India at national best prices. Competition for the brand though on face seems to be growing with the emergence and existence of other websites like ebay, tradus etc.

Advantages of the UK Membership in the EUass Assignment

Advantages of the UK Membership in the EU - Assignment Example The statement â€Å"There is little persuasive evidence that membership of the EU has been beneficial to Britain over the past 30 years† is 100 percent false. The main purpose of the formation of the European Union is to create a single market economy. In comparison, each European Union member state which includes the United Kingdom is likened to each state which includes California. Also, the European Union is likened to the United States. The United Kingdom economy has increased as a result of the single European Dollar’ replacement of the different currencies of each state. Tony Blair took the lead in encouraging the ministers to accept a single European Union currency.There are many advantages to joining the European Union, First, manufacturers and retailers will be able to increase their customer base. First, with the single European Union currency called the European Dollar, companies in the United Kingdom can now sell their products and services to other members of the European Union more easily. Since the single European dollar is used in more states in terms of land area than the United Kingdom sterling, the United Kingdom will be able to increase its sales by expanding its product lines and work into Germany, France, Netherlands and the like   (Grice, 1999).   Second, all European Member states are implementing strict privacy of communication laws unlike in the United States where data is generally freely given. EU privacy law translates to eliminating delicate employment questions like age, military service, religion, and marital status when applying for a new job.

Reflective assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Reflective assignment - Essay Example The project has lasted for about 4 months, i.e. for October 2012 up to January 2013 and focuses on the provision of important guidelines in regard to the use of Glo-bus, a critical software tool for managing data. Initially, I considered this learning project as a rather easy task, having the impression that I would have to deal with issues easy to handle. However, the challenges appeared during the development of the process have been several. The use of a framework, such as the Reflective Analysis, has helped me to realize that I could use these challenges for improving my responses to similar problems in the future. 1. Introduction The participation of an individual in a group activity can significantly help towards the development of personal skills and competencies. However, in order for such target to be achieved it is necessary for the individual to clearly understand his performance in regard to the particular activity, meaning his ability to respond effectively to the tasks assigned to him, as a group member. The use of theories and concepts related to the reflective analysis has been proved particularly helpful for understanding the role and the experiences of individuals as members of groups. The potential use of reflective practice techniques for analyzing the personal experiences, as a member of a Glo-bus team, is explained in this paper. Glo-bus is a tool for managing a large volume of data, mainly through the use of grids that can be quite complex (Glo-bus 2013). The literature published in this area has been employed for analyzing a series of critical incidents that have occurred while developing the particular project, meaning the 4 months learning project in which the above team has participated. It is proved that these techniques can be particularly effective in analyzing and evaluating such incidents but under the following terms: that the analysis of each incident is backed by appropriate theory so that no doubts can appear as of the explan ations given. 2. Reflective Analysis – Academic theories and concepts Reflective Analysis is a framework for evaluating the personal performance in regard to a specific activity/ task. Reflective Analysis is commonly involved in the use of a series of techniques, known as reflective practice techniques that can secure the high performance of individuals in a series of activities, at the level that these practices help the individuals to identify their weaknesses and eliminate them by appropriate plans of action. The use of reflective practice techniques is critical in order for the learners ‘to capture and enrich learning’ (Billett 2011, p.211). These techniques are based on the following rule: knowledge is transferred to learners not just through the delivery of theoretical material but, especially, through practice (Billett 2011). The practice, as part of these techniques, refers to the development of tasks that are related to a specific sector, the one in whic h the learners are willing to work (Billett 2011). Reflective practice, as part of Reflective Analysis, has a particular target: to reveal the areas in which an individual should focus so that his performance in regard to one or more activities is significantly improved. From this point of view, Lowenstein and Bradshaw (2004) note that reflective practice is often described as ‘the process of exposing the contradictions in practice’ (Lowenstein and Bra

Account for the widespread failure of democracy in Europe between the Essay

Account for the widespread failure of democracy in Europe between the two world wars - Essay Example The inter period between the World Wars in Europe was a trademark of different regimes ruling Europe at a dark time(Pratchett 44). The casualties were far more terrible than anyone had foreseen, and international conflict was without a doubt filled with consequences. Hence, the failure of democracy to spread to Europe between the World Wars can be attributed to various reasons. One of the primary reasons why democracy failed to spread in Europe between World Wars was because no country had enough desire or power to enforce democracy in their own nation. At the time of World War I, this triumphant ideology of an expansionist democratic republicanism was simply clear. Under Wilsons administration, the European war became an ideological mission, which was to make the world safe for democracy and free of corrupt rulers(Jeffries 66)..   The Allies were being urged to think of their motive to enter  war  Ã¢â‚¬Å"to make the  world  safe for  democracy,† and the Germans, on their side, were correspondingly encouraged to visualize the  war  as a struggle of â€Å"culture† against â€Å"barbarism.†Ã‚  Wilsons false vision of democracy was disillusioned because it gave rise to more conflict(Parkingson 22).. Democracy failed in the post-World War I mainly because it was unable to allow for economic reliability. Germany for example, was in total economic collapse as inflation continued to plague their economy. During the Weimar Republic many anti-democratic political groups sprang up from angry war veterans, including the Communist, Socialist, and the Nazi party(Siedentop 45)..   For Germans, democracy meant turmoil, revolution, and poverty. Many Germans longed for the stability of the kaisers empire. Democracy is based on a strong foundation of social system in which the economy is prosperous. However, these conditions did not prevail in Europe between wars especially after the Great Depression. Numerous nations were created in Europe post World War I, which

Allergen cleaning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Allergen cleaning - Assignment Example Much emphasis is kept on sanitizing surfaces in contact with food because undeclared allergens pose a risk to people’s lives. However, it is essential to understand that this method does not remove residues containing allergen proteins. In product purge, the product is passed through a series of processes to remove the residue left in the prior production. This is the best method used to clean enclosed surfaces and areas that are not easily accessible. Wet cleaning is the most efficient method of eliminating allergenic residues in food processing equipment. However, there are situations where water is incapable of cleaning. In such occasions, the best methods involve dry cleaning. b. Summarize the creation of an allergen cleaning SOP including validation (include an explanation of validation vs. verification).   Choose a specific allergen and cite its critical limit to determine "absence".   What type of sampling and assay would you use for validation of this protocol? In order to create a good allergen cleaning SOP, it is necessary to carry out risk assessment tests to establish the best management measures. It is crucial to create an allergen process flow table or a map. This will enable the facilitator understand where the foods and allergenic ingredients exist in the factory and where they ought to be introduced in the cleaning process. It is also essential to create an Allergen Control Plan to each processing facility. Lastly, it is crucial to review and update if necessary the Allergen Control Plan on a regular basis especially when new processes, protocols or ingredients are changed. Depending on the risk being assessed, effective cleaning and sanitizing measures for validation and verification of the equipment and areas in contact with the allergen should be implemented effectively. The main aim of validation is to ensure that the cleaning process used is capable of removing the concerned allergen. Immunological screening methods are

Substandard Patient or Health Care Delivery Paper Essay

Substandard Patient or Health Care Delivery Paper - Essay Example discussed in this paper will relate to the issues of poor communication, resulting in substandard care, and failure to follow basic hygiene guidelines in an Emergency Room (ER) setting. Experience: A few years back, I went to the ER in a large city hospital with a friend who had fallen and broken her wrist. It was only midday, but they were very busy and the receptionist told us we would wait for around 30 minutes to see a triage nurse. Once this happened and a history and details of the accident were taken, we were told to wait to be called to see the doctor. The nurse gave no indication as to how long we would wait. There seemed to be no regular order in place, and at no time did any staff member apologize for delays, ask how people were doing, or announce a waiting time. After two hours, another nurse called us to a treatment cubicle. We waited a further half hour and during that time, I noticed the condition of the cubicle. There was a dirty, used paper towel under the sink, other paper on the floor, and on one wall, there were splashes of dried blood. More worrying, was that when the doctor came in, he straight away began to examine my friend’s wrist, w ithout washing his hands or putting on gloves. His manner was friendly but brusque; he was moving from patient to patient as fast as possible. He told us that bloods and x-rays would be taken, and the nurse came and sent us back to the waiting area. After an hour, we were directed to x-ray and while waiting there, somebody took blood tests. During this time, she was in pain, but because of the need for test results, no pain relief was offered. After 30 more minutes, the x-ray results came back and at this point, the wrist was put in plaster and a sling attached. We could not leave until the bloods results were available. Everybody was polite and efficient, but no apologies for oversights and delays were offered, and we left before the results came; my friend had to sign a disclaimer for doing

Allergen cleaning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Allergen cleaning - Assignment Example Much emphasis is kept on sanitizing surfaces in contact with food because undeclared allergens pose a risk to people’s lives. However, it is essential to understand that this method does not remove residues containing allergen proteins. In product purge, the product is passed through a series of processes to remove the residue left in the prior production. This is the best method used to clean enclosed surfaces and areas that are not easily accessible. Wet cleaning is the most efficient method of eliminating allergenic residues in food processing equipment. However, there are situations where water is incapable of cleaning. In such occasions, the best methods involve dry cleaning. b. Summarize the creation of an allergen cleaning SOP including validation (include an explanation of validation vs. verification).   Choose a specific allergen and cite its critical limit to determine "absence".   What type of sampling and assay would you use for validation of this protocol? In order to create a good allergen cleaning SOP, it is necessary to carry out risk assessment tests to establish the best management measures. It is crucial to create an allergen process flow table or a map. This will enable the facilitator understand where the foods and allergenic ingredients exist in the factory and where they ought to be introduced in the cleaning process. It is also essential to create an Allergen Control Plan to each processing facility. Lastly, it is crucial to review and update if necessary the Allergen Control Plan on a regular basis especially when new processes, protocols or ingredients are changed. Depending on the risk being assessed, effective cleaning and sanitizing measures for validation and verification of the equipment and areas in contact with the allergen should be implemented effectively. The main aim of validation is to ensure that the cleaning process used is capable of removing the concerned allergen. Immunological screening methods are

Fire Truck Pumps and Operations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fire Truck Pumps and Operations - Essay Example Unlike a Positive Displacement Pump, a centrifugal pump may be described as a rotodynamic pump which facilitates a rotating impeller to increase the pressure of the fluids. The fluid would enter the pump impeller close to the rotating axis and is accelerated by the impeller, flowing radially outward into a diffuser or casing. The main purpose or aim of the centrifugal pump is to provide the required pressure to move liquid at the desired pace. Centrifugal Pumps can further be subcategorized to include; end-suction pumps, in-line pumps, double-suction pumps, vertical multi-stage pumps, horizontal multi-stage pumps, submersible pumps, self-priming pumps, axial-flow pumps and regenerative pumps. Despite the differences between these types of pumps, both of them complement each other in order to get the job done. Characteristics of the Positive Displacement Pump include; the ability to pump air, they have a small amount of slippage and also have a fixed displacement of water. The advanta ges of the Positive Displacement Pumps are the disadvantages of the Centrifugal Pumps which cannot pump air and are capable of 100% slippage. Fire trucks may be defined as specifically designed vehicles responsible for fire extinguishing and performing rescue attempts. This vehicle is equipped with all the required resources/materials needed to aid in fire extinguishing. There are a variety of uniquely engineered fire trucks which come in all shapes, colors and sizes. The Emergency-One (E-One) pumper/tanker was engineered with its own uniqueness. Kevin Bonsor, author of ‘How fire engines work’ (n.d.) declared that the main function of the... The researcher aims to discuss the structure and mechanism of fire engines, that can carry their own water supply or be able to pump their own water. This essay describes a positive displacement pump and a centrifugal pump which complement each other. The positive displacement pump is one that primes and has high pressure. Positive displacement pumps fall into three main categories; reciprocating, metering and rotary pumps. These pumps are operated by forcing a fixed volume of fluid from the inlet pressure section of the pump into the discharged zone of the pump. Frequent in hydraulic systems-these pumps can reach maximum pressure of 5000 psi and positive displacement pumps recon to be larger than equal capacity dynamic pumps. Usage of the pumps on the pumper/tanker engine is very straight forward. Upon the scene of the fire, the first and most thing the pump operator will perform is to make sure that the valve between the tank and pump is open. This is done by flipping a switch whic h is located on the right side of the pump. Then, the operator will check to ensure which lines have been pulled off the fire engine by the firefighters, and the operator will discharge those lines. To make it easier the lines are color coded so the operator knows which lines to discharge and the color of the line corresponds to a plate below each lever on the pump panel. The process of discharging is controlled by a built-in electronic device, called a mastermind. As such, it automatically controls the pump, and runs the pressure up or down.

Meaning of Life and Success Essay Example for Free

Meaning of Life and Success Essay Success is a person or thing that desired aims and achieves or attains fame or any form of accomplishment which will always make them proud or happy at the end of either the day, month or year. The word success was originated in the mid-16th century from a Latin word successus and a verb succedere meaning come close after. When I hear of the word success there are two things that come in mind, hard work and determination. Hard work is one of the main and most important building blocks in my success foundation. Working hard is one of the best and most accurate ways to think about being successful. Success cannot be earned unless you strive and work hard for it, because it is a word that comes with work and if work is not done then the meaning of the word can’t be accomplished. Like Einstein said â€Å"If A is a success in life then A equals x plus y plus z. work is x; y is play and z is keeping your mouth shut† for instance to me as an athlete working hard and in playing hard rather than running my mouth are the best way of being successful in game point stands in my career. Determination is a very critical and important aspect when it comes to success. To be determined to achieve any goals or aims is a very important choice of being successful. Bertrand 2 Determination can to be physically, spiritually and emotionally which all combines with hard work and if you combine both hard work and determination together you will always get a good result of success. Being successful in life can be one of the precious and happiest moments in life that can last for a long time if and only if you do what is expected of you to keep the success going on. Success can be advantageous in many ways; Accomplishing a goal, moving on to a new goal, brings happiness and fulfillment, set new and personal records, inspire, motivate and give you strengths to aim high and set bigger goals. But it’s not always everybody that’s successful that is happy or satisfied with their success. The isn’t that much difference being successful than being a failure, like the good old quote that say â€Å"the difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength not a lack of knowledge, but rather the a lack in will† this quote is very simple and well understood and the quote’s point is clearly pointed out, which state the main difference between a successful person and others which is the will to be the successful person that they are. To be successful person there should be some sought of guidelines to help you achieve or attain success. Thinking about success also brings about the thought or idea of failure â€Å"In order to success your desire for success should be greater rather than your fear of failure†. An important and inspiring quote as this from one of the favorite, idol and inspiring actor in the movie industry and in the society should and is been considered by a lot of fans to be very important in achieving success rather than having the fear of failure because his path of success has given or got him to where he is at the moment.

Cross Cultural Communication: Case Study of IKEA

Cross Cultural Communication: Case Study of IKEA 1: Introduction Management Communication is considered as the critical element in the overall performance of an organization internally, externally and in the corporate world of stock market and public image as argued by Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes (2003)[1]. This is naturally because of the fact that the elements associated with the communication not only strive to communicate the management intentions to the audience but also to win their support in order to effectively improve the organization’s performance thus gaining competitive advantage in the target market. The management communication is also treated as the overall element that comprises of the marketing communication, shareholder communication, supplier relationship management and above all establishing corporate identity in the real world as argued by Richard Lynch (2003)[2]. In this report a critical analysis on the cross-cultural communication and the role played by management in terms of effectively achieving the cross-cult ural communication strategy to increase performance is presented to the reader. Examples from the success of IKEA – the leading furniture and household retailer from Sweden in China are presented to the reader. The analysis strives to provide evidence to justify the importance of management communication in the cross-cultural scenario to the reader. The research first presents an overview on the cross-cultural communication describing the critical elements that influence and contribute for successful cross-cultural communication. Then an analysis on the cross-cultural communication in the light of the Chinese market is presented to the reader. This section presents the application and nuances specific to the Chinese markets. This is followed by an insight on the application of the concepts discussed in the light of the IKEA and its performance in China as the research focus is on the cross-cultural communication in china. Finally the research will conclude with a brief summary on the overall importance of cross-cultural communication and its role in the chosen geography and company. 2: Cross-Cultural Communication Geng Cui et al (1998)[3] argue that in a cross-cultural communication situation, the management not only faces the challenge of effectively communicating to the audience but also to ensure that the audience’ reciprocation is supportive to the organization. In order to ensure that the cross-cultural communication by the management achieves the goals of the organization, Geng Cui et al (1998) identify the following as the key ingredients for the communication. Social Interaction is one of the major elements that can influence the overall performance of an organization in the given target geography as argued by Geng Cui et al (1998). This is not only because of the fact that the increase in the visibility of organization to the target audience will create the familiarity but also increase the overall acceptance of the organization by the people in the target geography. Frances Brassington and Stephen Pettit (2003)[4] further argue that the communication element is the critical factor that influences the overall effectiveness of the organization in the target market. In the light of the aforementioned, the social interaction effectiveness of the management will increase the visibility to the target audience thus communicating a positive image on the organization’s position towards the society in which it is intending to perform business. Another interesting element with the social interaction is the fact that an organization trying to gain market share in a new geography requires the efforts of the senior management to push the presence of the organization as a positive element in the overall business of the economy in the target geography as argued by Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes (2003). Hence from a strategic perspective, it is essential for the social interaction to create a positive image about the organization to increase its presence in the market as a potential competitor. Another interesting element with the social interaction and the management communication is the fact that it involves the people associated with the communication and the social interaction demands face-to-face conversation thus making it clear, a positive approach from the organization to present itself as potential new entrant in the market will strengthen its corporate identity. The social interaction also provides the opportunity for the organization to appreciate the self-esteem and other subtle elements of the people in the target market that will help forge better stakeholder relationship as argued by A.M.M. Rad and M. Yarmohammadian (2006)[5]. Cultural Empathy is described as one of the major critical success factors for an organization to gain visibility in a new target market as argued by Miranda Y.P. Lee and Daniel W.C. So (2007)[6]. The apparent reason for this is the fact that an understanding of the culture of the target market’s culture and the big-picture of the target geography itself, the new-entrant organization can efficiently identify the potential customers in the target market. This process is further justified as the key to successfully forging the stakeholder relationship in case of managing projects involving the change and development of an organization in new target demography. Whilst social interaction is considered as a corporate identity element, cultural empathy is considered as both a critical success factor to devising the product lines for the target market as well as communicating to the customers in the target market as argued by Miranda Y.P. Lee and Daniel W.C. So (2007). Another interesting element associated with the cultural empathy and the cross-cultural communication is the fact that the parent organization being a new entrant to the target market, it is critical to appeal to the target audience’ (customer, suppliers and stakeholders alike) cultural background to justify their contribution to the development of the society in terms of the business development strategies of the organization itself. This is argued as one of the succ essful as well as complex strategies as argued by Richard Lynch (2003) since the entering organization faces the challenge of winning the customers to their organization’s benefit. Alongside, it is also essential for the understanding of the cultural factors associated with the target market for a new entrant in the market because of the natural tendency of the customer to rely on the seller who can understand the needs of the customer (Richard Lynch, 2003). In order to accomplish this strategy, it is thus essential to understand the customer requirements from a customer perspective, which apparently demands the understanding of the cultural factors associated with the target market. Ethnic Communication is a term that has gained popularity with the increasing success of the deployment of appealing to the ethnic factors associated with the target geography as argued by Guilherme Pires and John Stanton (2000)[7]. The subtle difference between the cultural empathy and the ethnic communication is the fact that the cultural empathy provides information and educates the organization to address the target market whilst the ethnic communication is the actual strategy put in action to reach the customers in the target market. In addition, the increasing competition due to globalisation and the threat of new entrants from competing organizations entering the chosen target market justifies the need to create a long-lasting impression among the customers about the products and services of the organization. The ethnic communication strategy is considered as the successful element to increase the visibility of the organization in the chosen target demography and the target ma rket. Alongside, Geng Cui et al (1998) argue ethnic communication as an acceptable strategy for an organization’s effectiveness in designing its communication plan in order to reach its audience in the new geography. The audience mentioned include, the customers, shareholders, supplier and the general public to whom the management communicates on a day-to-day basis. This makes it clear that the ethnic communication element is a critical success factor for the overall effectiveness of the organization. Also, it is important to understand that the cross-cultural communication is not a unidirectional process and must involve the overall interaction of the target audience and the organization that is establishing itself in the target new geography as argued by Geng Cui et al (1998). This makes it clear that the interaction is one of the critical elements that is achieved through the ethnic communication that helps create a positive image for the organization among the target audience. Local Knowledge Local knowledge is commended as a critical success factor for an organization that is trading in different geographical locations across the world as argued by Thomas Brenner (2007)[8]. Thomas Brenner (2007) further argues that the local knowledge is predominantly gained through the continuous social interaction with the target audience mainly because of the fact that the tangible knowledge value is not gained from a mere understanding of the culture behind the target audience. In the case researched in this report, the tangible knowledge on the target geography (i.e.) China is a critical element and understanding of the culture through public resources is not ample for efficient trading in China as argued by Peter Williamson and Ming Zeng (2004)[9]. They further argue that multinational organizations entering China for trading face four fundamental handicaps in building competitive advantage in the chosen target market of China. These are Poor supporting infrastructure that often prevents an organization from utilizing its advantage in the new target market in terms of management effectiveness, technological advances, etc., Supply chain management also faces a critical issue in the Chinese market mainly because of the poor infrastructure and managerial effectiveness along with the inherent disadvantage of communication gap due to lack of local knowledge. The inability to reap the economies of scale and lack of flexibility to spread the higher fixed costs imposed through the need to integrate operations in China. Finally the organizations face the early development stages in most of the Chinese markets thus making market penetration with high-end goods unsuccessful. From the above mentioned constraints it is clear that the cross-cultural communication can not only provide advantage through local knowledge but also bridge the communication gap thus allowing the organization to strategically position itself in the target markets and identify the market development stage to introduce innovative product lines as argued by Peter Williamson and Ming Zeng (2004). Communication Competence Peter Williamson and Ming Zeng (2004) argue that the communication competence is a critical element in the overall success of the organization in a new target market because of the fact that the cross-cultural communication factors like social interaction, ethnic communication, cultural empathy and local knowledge are demonstrated in the communication competence of the organization. This makes it clear that the senior management representing the organization in a new geography must be able to communicate effectively in the local language embracing the aforementioned in order to gain competitive advantage. This also makes it clear that the communication competence in the cross- cultural communication strategy of a management is the final element that represents the overall strategy in action. Hence it is essential for the organization to ensure that their management staffs facing key audience in the new target market are competent in the local language thus ensuring strong relationshi p with the customers, suppliers, stakeholders and the general public. Peter Williamson and Ming Zeng (2004) further argue that the major disadvantage for an organization entering China is the lack of the knowledge on the local language that is necessary for competence in communication for negotiation and sales. Thus it is clear the communication competence is the primary element that supports the overall strength of the strategy thus leveraging competitive advantage for the organization. Finally, it is interesting to note that the Chinese market for the furniture market is not only developing but also increasing in demand with the increasing awareness among the customers in the target market on the fashion and trends in the west as argued by Ann Priest (2005)[10]. The company that is under analysis (i.e.) IKEA – is one of the leading conglomerates in the retail of flat packed furniture and house wares (Company Profile, 2006[11]). A detailed analysis on the company’s performance in China and the role of cross – cultural communication is presented in section of the report. 3: Measures of Success Management communication is argued as the critical strategic element for the effective performance of an organization in the chosen area of business (Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes, 2003). The role of cross – cultural communication in an organization’s success are focused on three critical segments of audience in the target market as argued by Miranda Y.P. Lee and Daniel W.C. So (2007). They are customers, supplier and stakeholders of the senior management. The application of cross- cultural communication for the abovementioned three audience groups in the Chinese markets is presented to the reader. 3.1: Customers The customer is the ultimate audience to an organization due to the obvious reason that the purchasing from the customers is the driving element for the overall business as argued by Richard Lynch (2003). In the Chinese market, the demand from the customers depend mainly on the costs (i.e.) the pricing strategy of the organization and the ability of a seller to produce innovative products reflecting the Chinese culture as argued by Miranda Y.P. Lee and Daniel W.C. So (2007). This is apparently because of the fact that the Chinese markets are still in the development phase and hence the sales of high-end products in the retail shop floor is not a successful strategy as argued by Xueming Luo et al (2004)[12]. Hence effective marketing communication is a critical element in the successful promotion of the product lines of a new entrant in the target market. From a strategic perspective, the marketing communication is the key for the effective promotion and strong positioning of the product lines in the target market as argued by Philip Kotler and Kevin Lane Keller (2005)[13]. The marketing mix which is argued, as the critical element in the overall promotion of the products and services to an organization is the key area where cross – cultural communication approach must be applied to reach the customer effectively as argued by Xueming Luo et al (2004). Xueming Luo et al (2004) further justify that the efficient application of the 4Ps of marketing along with the application of the cross – cultural communication strategy to ensure that the marketing communication appeals to the target market’s culture as well as reflects upon the product innovation to meet the demands of the customers is the key for devising a successful marketing promotion plan for a product line. From the above-mentioned it is clear that the traditional marketing strategies are applicable to a given target market but the ingredient of the cross – cultural communication that bridges the communication gap between the customers and the new entrant seller in the market is the key for increasing sales and productivity in the target market. Alongside, it is also interesting to note that the effectiveness of the marketing communication is only through the understanding of the cultural factors and the local knowledge of the target demography as argued by Philip Kotler and Kevin Lane Keller (2005). Alongside, the marketing communication takes different forms right from the face-to-face interaction with the customer at the shop floor up to advertisement through media as argued by Frances Brassington and Stephen Pettit (2003). This makes it clear that the cross –cultural communication effectives is the critical element for the overall success of the marketing strategy itself in an organization. Besides, the marketing communication targeted towards developing markets where the market development is in its early stages in most areas, the success of a new entrant is dependant upon the communication factor as argued by Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes (2003). 3.2: Suppliers Suppliers in the Chinese market are not only an essential element for continued production and promotion of products but also essential for the effective cost reduction and production profit management strategies as argued by Xueming Luo et al (2004). This is because of the fact that the increasing competition in the Chinese retail markets both from the domestic competitors as well as the new entrants from the west, has increased the need for cost efficient supply chain strategies to ensure that there is better profit margin for the organization. Alongside, the increasing demand for innovative product lines and the continuous requirement to procure new raw materials as well as reduce the lead time associated with the procurement, production and supply; it is thus essential to maintain effective supplier relationship. The bargaining power of the supplier which is one of the five forces that affect the business growth in a given target market (Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes, 2003) is evident in the aforementioned case where the need to forge strong supplier relationship with domestic suppliers in China is a critical element for continuous growth of an organization. The cross – cultural communication in terms of the fluency in host language (i.e.) Chinese and the ability to understand the business process methods of the suppliers to ensure strong relationship are critical success factors for the overall success of the organization itself. Alongside, Malcolm J. Sanders (1997)[14] argues that the reduction in the supply chain delays and ensuring strong supplier relationship is the key for effective management of the production in an organization. Thus through exercising effective control over the supply chain, an organization can quickly respond to a change in the market demands. This will eventually increase the productivity and sales for the organization. In the light of the aforementioned, it is clear that the conversation skills of the management as well as the key supply chain staff is essential for the effective management of supply chain in the Chinese retail markets as argued by Xueming Luo et al (2004). 3.3: Stakeholder management Xueming Luo et al (2004) say that the strategic positioning of an organization in the Chinese markets requires the continuous support of the stakeholders in the local geography. This is because of the fact that partnership or partial acquisition is deemed as one of the successful strategies in the market development strategy of an organization entering a new market as argued by Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes (2003). Hence the efficient communication with the stakeholders through fluency in the local language and understanding of the cultural demands are the critical elements to ensure their continuous support. In the light of the aforementioned it is thus clear the cross – cultural communication is a critical element to win the audience’ support for the continuous business development and sustainable competitive advantage in the Chinese retail markets. 3.4: Human Resource Management   The management of the workforce and strong working relationship with the staff members and management are argued as critical success factors by Derek Torrington and Laura Hall (2003)[15]. In the light of the aforementioned, addressing the Chinese retail market, it is clear that local workforce is one of the critical elements to reduce the cost overhead associated with staffing for a new entrant. Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes (2003) further argue that the streamlined communication between the management and the staff is the critical element for increasing the productivity of the organization. This makes it clear that the cross – cultural communication is necessary in the form of fluency in local knowledge and understanding of the working culture of the Chinese labour market in order to increase the sales and gain sustainable competitive advantage. Alongside, the labourers being part of the overall general public, the strong human resource relationship demonstrated by the mana gement will forge a positive corporate identity for the new entrant in the Chinese markets. 4: IKEA and China Briefly, IKEA entered the furniture retail market of China in 2003 by establishing the first store at Shangai, China (Company Profile, 2006). This was followed by further development of the business into other popular geographies of China including Beijing and Hong Kong. In this section the use of the cross – cultural communication discussed in sections 2 and 3 by IKEA is presented to the reader. 4.1: Customer Relationship The company’s strategy in utilising the services of one of the leading Chinese advertising agencies Saatchi Saatchi Beijing as well as other advertising agencies in the local geographies of china has increased its ability to reach the customers in the target market effectively (Media Asia, 2006[16]). Alongside, the company’s adherence to the understanding of the host culture through providing innovative product lines that appeal to the customer demands as well as the culture of the target demography is one of the critical success factors in establishing strong customer relationship. Another interesting element is the focus on the wider geography as well as specifically targeting the Western residents in the target markets (Company Profile, 2006) demonstrates the effective use of the cross-cultural communication strategy in marketing to forge strong customer relationship. The success of IKEA as the top loyalty brand in Hong Kong (Media Asia, 2006[17]) justifies the role played by the cross-cultural communication by the management to increase sales. 4.2: Supplier Relationship The procurement strategy of IKEA in the Chinese market is mainly through encouraging the local channels and small scale industries that produce specific product lines and made to order product lines (Company Profile, 2006). This demonstrates the effective cross-cultural communication by IKEA and its ability to maintain effective supplier relationship to increase productivity. 4.3: Human Resource Management The company utilises the local workforce in all levels of the organization, which is evident from the store manger positions held by the Chinese national in Shangai. The concept of cross-cultural communication and appealing to the staff culture apart from the traditional methods of human resource management is evident from the aforementioned. Alongside, the effective management of the human resource is also evident from the company’s rewarding strategy that is not only intended to motivate the staff but also introduce the overall organizational culture among the staff members in the Chinese branches. This approach motivates the staff members and is successful because of the local knowledge exercised by the organization. Alongside, the key measures in terms of management and staff relationship were queried with IKEA’s sales team in the UK. The results prove that the sales staff shop floor have the following key skills irrespective of the geography they are deployed. Understanding host culture Participate to resolve the host social issues Have friendly relationship with the host In the Chinese retail market, the aforementioned are demonstrated as follows The advertising and promotion strategy of the organization using the services of the local advertising agencies to appeal to the cultural factors of the demography justifies the understanding of the host culture by IKEA, China The organization’s innovation strategies like its contribution to the space problems in the Hong Kong target market (Lee Michele, 2002[18]) are a classical example for the organization’s ability to participate and resolve the host social issues. The company’s top score in the brand loyalty and customer loyalty in the Hong Kong and Beijing markets justifies its ability to forge friendly relationship with the host. 5: Conclusion Thus to conclude the research it is clear that the cross – cultural communication effectiveness is a mandatory element in the success of an organization in a new geographical location. The increase in the globalisation and the need for business development have increased the need to reach Far Eastern nations for potential markets which justifies the need for efficient cross – cultural communication. The analysis on IKEA further justifies that only through the effective cross – cultural communication it is justifiable for an organization to develop business and sustain growth in the target market. References A.M.M. Rad and M. Yarmohammadian (2006), A study of relationship between managers’ leadership style and employees’ job satisfaction, Leadership in Health Services Vol. 19 No. 2, 2006 Ann Priest (2005), Uniformity and differentiation in fashion, International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology Vol. 17 No. 3/4, 2005 Company Profile, (2006), IKEA Group, Datamonitor Derek Torrington and Laura Hall (2003), Personnel Management – HRM in Action, FT: Prentice Hall Frances Brassington and Stephen Pettit (2003), Principles of Marketing, FT: Prentice Hall Geng Cui et al (1998), Cross – Cultural Adaptation and Ethnic Communication: Two Structural Equation Models, Howard Journal of Communication, 9:1, 69-85 Gerry Johnson and Kevan Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes (2003) (2003), Exploring Corporate Strategy – Texts and Cases, Prentice Hall Guilherme Pires and John Stanton (2000), Marketing services to ethnic consumers in culturally diverse markets: issues and implications, Journal of Services Marketing, 2000, Vol. 14 Issue 6/7 Lee Michele (2002), Ikea plays up space solutions in HK burst, Media Asia, 10/4/2002, p4 Malcolm J. Saunders (1997), Strategic Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, Financial Times – Prentice Hall Miranda Y.P. Lee and Daniel W.C. So (2007), Corporate-slogans of corporations operating in Greater China, Corporate Communications: An International Journal Vol. 12 No. 1, 2007 News Article (2006), IKEA plays up more in mega stores opening, Media Asia, 15621138, 4/7/2006: Business Source Premier News Article, IKEA tops loyalty brand survey in Hong Kong, Media Asia; 10/6/2006, p11-11 Peter Williamson and Ming Zeng (2004), Strategies for Competing in a Changed China, MIT Sloan Management Review, Summer2004, Vol. 45 Issue 4 Philip Kotler and Kevin Lane Keller (2005), Marketing Management – 12th Edition, Prentice Hall Richard Lynch (2003), Corporate Strategy, FT: Prentice Hall Thomas Brenner (2007), Local Knowledge Resources and Knowledge Flows, Industry Innovation, Jun2007, Vol. 14 Issue 2 Xueming Luo et al (2004), The Effects of Customer Relationships and Social Capital on Firm Performance: A Chinese Business Illustration, Journal of International Marketing, 2004, Vol.12 Issue 4 Footnotes [1] Gerry Johnson and Kevan Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes (2003) (2003), Exploring Corporate Strategy – Texts and Cases, Prentice Hall [2] Richard Lynch (2003), Corporate Strategy, FT: Prentice Hall [3] Geng Cui et al (1998), Cross – Cultural Adaptation and Ethnic Communication: Two Structural Equation Models, Howard Journal of Communication, 9:1, 69-85 [4] Frances Brassington and Stephen Pettit (2003), Principles of Marketing, FT: Prentice Hall [5] A.M.M. Rad and M. Yarmohammadian (2006), A study of relationship between managers’ leadership style and employees’ job satisfaction, Leadership in Health Services Vol. 19 No. 2, 2006 [6] Miranda Y.P. Lee and Daniel W.C. So (2007), Corporate-slogans of corporations operating in Greater China, Corporate Communications: An International Journal Vol. 12 No. 1, 2007 [7] Guilherme Pires and John Stanton (2000), Marketing services to ethnic consumers in culturally diverse markets: issues and implications, Journal of Services Marketing, 2000, Vol. 14 Issue 6/7 [8] Thomas Brenner (2007), Local Knowledge Resources and Knowledge Flows, Industry Innovation, Jun2007, Vol. 14 Issue 2 [9] Peter Williamson and Ming Zeng (2004), Strategies for Competing in a Changed China, MIT Sloan Management Review, Summer2004, Vol. 45 Issue 4 [10] Ann Priest (2005), Uniformity and differentiation in fashion, International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology Vol. 17 No. 3/4, 2005 [11] Company Profile, (2006), IKEA Group, Datamonitor [12] Xueming Luo et al (2004), The Effects of Customer Relationships and Social Capital on Firm Performance: A Chinese Business Illustration, Journal of International Marketing, 2004, Vol.12 Issue 4 [13] Philip Kotler and Kevin Lane Keller (2005), Marketing Management – 12th Edition, Prentice Hall [14] Malcolm J. Saunders (1997), Strategic Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, Financial Times – Prentice Hall [15] Derek Torrington and Laura Hall (2003), Personnel Management – HRM in Action, FT: Prentice Hall [16] News Article (2006), IKEA plays up more in mega stores opening, Media Asia, 15621138, 4/7/2006: Business Source Premier [17] News Article, IKEA tops loyalty brand survey in Hong Kong, Media Asia; 10/6/2006, p11-11 [18] Lee Michele (2002), Ikea plays up space solutions in HK burst, Media Asia, 10/4/2002

The Impact of Computers on Society :: Essays Papers Technology Essays

The Impact of Computers on Society Computer technology not only has solved problems but also has created some, including a certain amount of culture shock as individuals attempt to deal with the new technology. A major role of computer science has been to alleviate such problems, mainly by making computer systems cheaper, faster, more reliable, easier to use. Computers are forever present in the workplace. Word processors-computer software packages that simplify the creational and modification of documents-have largely replaced the typewriter. Electronic mail has made it easy to send messages worldwide via computer communication networks. Office automation has become the term for linking workstations, printers, database system, and other tools by means of a local-area network. An eventual goal of office automation has been termed the 'paperless office.' Although such changes ultimately make office work much more efficient, they have not been without cost in terms of purchasing and frequently upgrading the necessary hardware and software and of training workers to use the new technology. Computer integrated manufacturing is a relatively new technology arising from the application of many computer science sub disciplines to support the manufacturing enterprise. The technology of CIM emphasizes that all aspects of manufacturing should be not only computerized as much as possible but also linked together via a computer communication network into an integrated whole. In short, CIM has the potential to enable manufacturers to build cheaper, higher-quality products and thus improve their competitiveness. Making a telephone call no longer should conjure up visions of operators connecting cables by hand or even of electrical signals causing relays to click into place and effect connections during dialing. The telephone system now is just a multilevel computer network with software switches in the network nodes to route calls get through much more quickly and reliably than they did in the past. A disadvantage is the potential for dramatic and widespread failures; for as has happened. The downside of this technology is the potential for security problems. Intruders can see packets traveling on a network and can perhaps interpret them to obtain confidential information. Computer technology has had a significant impact on retail stores. All but the smallest shops have replaced the old-fashioned cash register with a terminal linked to a computer system. The terminal may require that the clerk type in the code for the item; but more and more frequently the checkout counter include a bar-code scanner, a device that directly reads into the computer the UPC printed on each package.

The Dropout Rate In Americas Colleges Essay -- essays research papers

The Dropout Rate in America's Colleges In 1992, the dropout rate in America's colleges was almost twenty-four percent! Therefore meaning that nearly one out of every five students that head off to college in the fall, drop out by the first semester. In addition, about one out of every three remaining students do not return for their second year. This statistic may seem outrageous, however, it is true. Furthermore, a study has shown that if the dropout rate continues at its current pace, it will reach thirty percent by the turn of the century. Although the reasons, or excuses, for dropping out are endless, the majority of dropouts can be linked to the following: home sickness, environment, and cost.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first cause, home sickness, is not a big problem for most. However, there are many teenagers that have never been out of their state, and in few instances, out of their city. For these select few, it is extremely hard for them to leave. The first day of college can be the hardest. In particular, registering for classes. So many people are all trying to do the same thing at once. For some, this can be enough to walk to the car and go home. However, most will make it through this part of their new life. Usually the one thing that will really bother a person, is living in a small room, with at least one other person, sometimes two. Often, living with strangers will make a person uncomfortable, and wishing they were back home. This is when many will...

Jack Daniel Market Entry Strategy

Market Entry Strategy for Jack Daniels (Brown-Forman) to Germany Products Being Exported Consumer: Jack Daniels Old #7 Whiskey Industrial: Jack Daniels signature Whiskey Barrels International Business Policy 490 By: Market Entry Strategy for Jack Daniels (Brown-Forman) to Germany Brown-Foreman Company The Brown-Forman company who is the owner of the Jack Daniels brand since 1956 was founded in 1870 by George Gavin Brown, a young pharmaceuticals salesman in Louisville, who had the then-novel idea of selling top-grade whiskey in sealed glass bottles.Since then it has grown into a company that in fiscal 2006 had sales of 2. 4 billion dollars. The Brown family controls more than 70% of the voting shares. â€Å"This isn’t a History Lesson, This is Jack Daniels† â€Å"Was it simply his lucky number? Some say that Jack Daniel had seven girlfriends or the #7 train carried his barrels. Only Mr. Jack knows the real reason. † Jack Daniels was founded in 1863, at age 13 Jack Daniel owned his first whiskey still. The United States licensed its first ever distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee in 1866. This site is where Jack Daniels whiskey is still produced, today.Jack Daniel’s whiskey has become the top-selling whiskey in the United States due to few safety concerns involved in the distilling process. Also, prioritizing quality was Jack’s other focus, he said, â€Å"Every day we make it, we’ll make it the best we can. † Market Overview Germany is politically as well as economically one of the most important countries in Europe and the European Union. Due to its geographical position, its good infrastructure and its legal certainty, Germany is the first choice for many foreign companies when establishing a Representative Office or a subsidiary for their entry into the European market.The German economy is the world’s fourth largest and accounts for more than one-fifth of the European Union’s Gross Domestic Product. The United States largest European Union trading partner is Germany, also, being the sixth largest market for United States exports. Germany’s economy follows free market principles with a considerable degree of governmental market regulations and generous welfare programs. Germany has a welcoming attitude towards foreign direct investment (FDI). The German market is open for investment in practically all industry sectors, and business activities are free from regulations restricting day-to-day business.German law makes no distinction between Germans and foreign nationals regarding investments or the establishment of companies. The legal framework for FDI in Germany favors the principle of freedom for foreign trade and payment. There are no restrictions or barriers to capital transactions, currency transfers, real estate purchases, repatriation of profits, or access to foreign exchanges. Economic Data Year| Average Unemployment rate| Annual Inflation rate| 2008| 7. 8%| 2. 6% | 2009| 8. 1%| 0. 4%| 2010| 7. 7%| 1. 1%| 2011| 7. 1%| 2,3%| 2012| 6. 7%| 2,1%|Consumer: The largest consumer market in the EU is Germany, with a population of over eighty-two million. Enormous amounts of trade are conducted in Germany. Germany’s geographic location in the middle of the 27-member EU makes Germany a favorable gateway for many US companies to build their global expansion strategy. With Germany being the largest consumer market it gives the opportunity for Jack Daniels to gain a high value in market share. Industrial: A recent study conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce highlights the positive regard, in which the German usiness environment is held by US companies. US companies indicated that for the industrial market, 73 percent of participating American companies named Germany as their first choice for market entry; followed by Eastern Europe (57 percent),and Western Europe (33 percent). This is a good statistic for Jack Daniels because it shows that o ther companies are doing the same which opens up competition and for an easier market entry. Market Challenges The following information must be present on the label: Product type (Trademarks, brand names or fanciful names may not substitute the generic/product name, but may be used in addition to the product name) * List of ingredients proceeded by the word â€Å"Ingredients†; must show all ingredients (including additives) in descending order of weight as recorded at the time of their use in the manufacture and designated by their specific name. In the case of those products that may contain ingredients liable to cause allergies or intolerances, a clear indication should be given on the label by the word â€Å"contains† followed by the name of the ingredient.However, this indication will not be necessary provided the specific name is included in the list of ingredients. * Net quantity in metric units (liter, centiliter, milliliter) * Date of minimum durability not re quired for wine and beverages containing more than 10% alcohol by volume * Special conditions for keeping or use (if applicable) * Name or business name and address of the manufacturer, packager or importer established in the European Union * Country of origin or provenance * Alcohol content for beverages containing more than 1. 2% by volume * Lot identification with the marking preceded by the letter â€Å"L†.REQUIRED DOCUMENTS The following is a list of the documents that are required and/or recommended when importing alcohol beverages into Germany and/or any other EU member state: * Commercial invoice * Customs Value Declaration * Freight Insurance * Freight documents * Customs Import Declaration (SAD form a common import declaration form for all EU Member States; must be drawn up in one of the official languages of the EU) * Packing List * Certificate of Origin * Insurance certificate * Simplified Export Certificate IMPORT PROCEDURES An import declaration is required for goods from third countries such as the U.S. When goods are imported into Germany, it is the responsibility of the importer or his authorized agent to declare them to Customs. A Single Administrative Document or SAD is used for this purpose. This is the approved form for the import declaration process. * The Single Administrative Document (SAD) may be submitted to the Federal Customs Administration, either through physical means or through an electronic declaration. * Goods are released from Customs for â€Å"free circulation† once the pertinent documents have been filed and payment of tariff duties has been completed.After paying the value added tax (VAT) and any other applicable excise duty, goods are also released for consumption and ready to be marketed TAXES/TARIFFS * Value Added Tax (VAT) is an indirect tax on goods and services which is borne by the end consumer and applied to the value added at each stage of the supply chain. * In Germany, it is called Umsatzsteuer. Co nsumer: Germany’s relatively high marginal tax rates and complicated tax laws may constitute an obstacle, although deductions, allowances and write-offs help to move effective tax rates to internationally competitive levels.The Germany industrial market is one of many fluctuations throughout the years. The real German GDP expanded by 1. 7 percent in 2008, after a contraction of 0. 1 percent in 2007. Forecasters predict that the economic growth would slow to 1 percent in 2009. Sluggish consumer demand, weak investment spending and the persistent crisis in the construction sector continue to exert a dampening effect on recovery. The German economy continues to suffer from structural problems, including inflexibility and over-regulation in labor markets, taxation and business establishment, as well as high social insurance costs.This might slow the demand for Jack Daniels number 7 whiskeys due to it being a higher end drink. The German culture might not justify spending the 30 d ollars on a bottle of Jack Daniels when you can get Evan Williams for half the price. Industrial: With the exception of participation in the EU Common Agricultural Policy, Germany presents few formal barriers to U. S. trade or investment. Germany has pressed the new EU Commission to reduce regulatory burdens and promote innovation in order to increase the EU member states’ competitiveness.Germany's government regulation is often complex and may offer a degree of protection to established local suppliers. Safety or environmental standards, not inherently discretionary but always applied, can complicate access to the market for U. S. products. American companies (Jack Daniels) interested in exporting to Germany should make sure they know which standards apply to their product and obtain timely testing, certification (CE), and all the different regulatory compliances. Also the use of free trade zones and bonded warehouses might be a way to cut costs by assembling the barrels the re instead of beforehand.German standards are especially relevant to U. S. exporters because, as EU-wide standards are developed, they are often based on existing German ones. Market Opportunities For companies in the US, the largest EU market to enter is Germany. Germany is an important element to Jack Daniels Old Whiskey #7 and the signature Oak Barrels’ exporting strategy into Europe. With the high costs of doing business in Germany come, high levels of productivity, a first-class infrastructure, quality engineering, highly skilled labor force, and a location at the center of EU.This in turn makes Germany a very appealing country to export Jack Daniels brand into. U. S. Exports and Imports to Germany Year| Exports to Germany| Imports from Germany| Balance| 2008| 54,505. 3| 97,496. 6| ? 42,991. 3| 2009| 43,306. 3| 71,498. 2| ? 28,191. 9| 2010| 48,160. 7| 82,429. 1| ? 34,268. 4| 2011| 40,837. 0| 80,616. 8| ? 39,779. 8| 2012| 44,983. 6| 99,299. 3| -54,315. 7| Between Germany and its eastern European neighbors, the labor cost gap has been significantly reduced. In fact, Germany has gained the labor-cost edge in recent years.Since 2002, wages have risen in most European Union countries, with the growth rate averaging 3. 1 percent. While some countries; particularly those in Eastern Europe experienced a rise of more than seven percent. Germany recorded the lowest labor cost growth within the EU at just 1. 6 percent. This has been another decisive argument in favor of Germany as a premium market entry spot in the European Union Main Exports and Imports by Commodity with Germany 2010 Commodity| Imports from Germany| Exports to Germany| Apparel| USD 115. 6 million| USD 142. 3 million|Chemical goods| USD 7. 1 billion| USD 7. 2 billion| Electric Equipment| USD 9. 5 billion| USD 11. 4 billion| Beverages| USD 611. 9 million| USD 426. 2 million| Machinery| USD 15. 4 billion| USD 6. 8 billion| Cars and car parts| USD 25. 4 billion| USD 5 billion| Consumer: For the consumer product Germany’s excellent workforce is decisive to the country’s high productivity rates. It comprises over 40 million people, making it the largest pool of ready labor in the EU. Germany’s world-class education system ensures that the highest standards are always met.More than 80 percent of the German workforce has received formal vocational training or is in possession of an academic degree. For the productivity rates and workforce size, it shows good potential for Jack Daniels to gain market share and higher employees that will work hard and grow the company to the German standards. Industrial: Industrial market entry is all about efficiency and margins. Germany’s logistics infrastructure is among the best; its companies are also global logistics leaders. In fact, the world’s leading logisticsservices provider is a German company Deutsche Post DHL.Deutsche Bahn operates Europe’s largest rail network and Lufthansa Cargo is one o f the world’s leading global air freight companies. Annual revenues of over EUR 220 billion in 2011 make Germany Europe’s logistics leader. No other EU country comes close to Germany’s market size. This enables transportation of goods and services to be much more efficient, and cost worthy due to convenience. Product Description Consumer: Jack Daniel's Black Label, also known as Old Number 7 or more commonly as JD is one of the best-selling whiskies in the world.Made in the Tennessee Sour Mash style, it is very similar to bourbon with the additional step of dripping the fresh make spirit through a vat of sugar maple charcoal to â€Å"mellow† the whiskey before going into barrel. The result is a smooth, versatile whiskey that is true to its country roots. Whether drinking it neat, on the rocks or in a Jack and Coke or perhaps a Lynchburg Lemonade, Jack Daniels Black Label delivers a consistent, quality product that pleases imbibers around the world. It has been diluted from its original 45 percent alcohol content.Every drop is filtered through sugar maple charcoal in large wooden vats also referred to as sugar mellowing. Industrial: (Jack Daniels Barrels) The Brown-Forman Cooperage is the only barrel making facility exclusive to one distiller. Formerly the Blue Grass Cooperage Company, the cooperage was renamed in 2009 to the Brown-Forman Cooperage. The scale of the facility is massive, including an aging and storage facility for the wood that goes into making the barrels that has over thirty million dollars’ worth of lumber stored in it.Jack Daniel’s barrels are all made from American Oak. Wood is sourced from a number of regions, including the Ozarks, Appalachia, and a â€Å"Northern Region† that includes and surrounds Minnesota. The wood from the various regions is milled and then delivered to the cooperage. Fresh cut oak, or â€Å"green wood,† is 85% water, so to be used for barrels it needs to be drie d and aged. Drying wood too quickly can create splits, cracks, and checks (microscopic cracks) which cause a barrel to leak, so the wood needs to be slowly aged outdoors to abide by the jack standards.Also the barrel can only be used once so the demand is always constant for the American oak wood throughout the world. Fun Fact: In addition to gradually drying out the wood, exposing the wood to the elements also helps determine flavor. Green wood is high in tannic acids (as much as 12%), which translates into the bite you get when drinking the whiskey. When you dry wood outside and it gets drenched with rain and then dried by the sun, this helps reduce and â€Å"tame† the levels of tannic acid which makes for a smoother taste experience.One of the things you realize when reading the steps for a Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Barrel being built is how natural a process it is. While there’s a fair amount of machinery that goes into the process, but the process all is focuse d on shaping and preserving the natural qualities of the wood. â€Å"Each barrel is as individual as one of us,† Jack Daniels always said. But this is why they are in such demand for all the different countries (i. e. Germany) for trying to produce and make the Jack Daniels brand.Brown-Forman announced plans today for a new cooperage to craft barrels in Decatur, Alabama, in order to meet growing worldwide demand for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. Brown-Forman officials said the tremendous growth of the Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands both domestically and internationally necessitated building the new cooperage . Brown-Forman and Jack Daniel’s officials joined with Alabama Governor Robert Bentley in Montgomery, AL, to make the formal announcement today. The Jack Daniel Cooperage is expected to be operational in May 2014, and it will eventually employ approximately 200 workers.It will be the second cooperage owned by Brown-Forman, which operates another fa cility in Louisville, KY, and will double the company’s barrel-making capacity. â€Å"Barrels are more than a container for our whiskey; they’re an important ingredient,† said Jeff Arnett, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. â€Å"All of the color of Jack Daniel’s and more than half of our whiskey’s flavor is derived from the barrel. We believe in the importance of the barrel in making our whiskey so much that we are the only major distiller that makes its own barrels. Product PricingConsumer: Jack Daniels Old No 7 goes for roughly $23. 99 per 750ml. This is your average price but since this Whiskey is being exported into Germany the rough price in Euros is 18. 47 with the conversion rate but then you must factor in the fact that alcohol is sold in different amounts in Europe. For 700ml it is 19. 61 euros roughly. So it is cheaper to get whiskey abroad then it is here. The Germany price is also taken into account that their currency is rated di fferent than ours in the fact that their Yen purchases different amounts then the US dollar.Also the prices of alcohol are different from the US in the fact that every country has their own regulations and tax rates. The age of the drinking age is also another factor which might cause the price to be lower due to younger adults usually having less income. Industrial: Most sales forces don't sell in a manner that yields the most profit. Relationships, of course, are important. But to garner the highest price, your sales force needs to confidently produce why your product offers the highest value compared to rivals. Value always doesn't mean lowest price.Instead, it is the offering that provides the best â€Å"deal† (most benefits for the price) for clients. Do to these different factors or pricing the whiskey barrels will be sold at prices compensated by exchange rates and currencies. * US: $160. 00-$200. 00/Per Barrel * Euro: Eu123. 04-Eu153. 80/Per Barrel These prices will a ccount for a 20% profit margin and take care of any costs that are gained through the export process. It makes sure that the company (Jack Daniels) has the right amount of cash coming in so there barrel manufacturing is up to full productivity potential. Product PromotionConsumer: Although, Jack Daniels Old #7 generally meets the criteria as straight bourbon, the company disavows this classification and simply just markets it as a Tennessee Whiskey. Old Senator Roger Motlow, believed in ‘stomach to stomach advertising. ’ â€Å"If you can get them to taste the whiskey, you won’t need any advertising. † Its target audience is mainly AB, male, 34-55; conservative people, with a strong personality based on the sense of effort and a life of tradition and strong values. The Jack Daniels drinker is an anti-conformist consumer, often like music especially rock music or country music especially in the States.Basing on the facts that 55% of whiskey drinkers use bour bon whiskey with a mix and that the majority of the people who mix a whiskey with a Cola or other substances are likely to use it in a bar or a club, assumptions can be made suggesting Jack Daniels drinkers are likely to be slightly younger than other type of whiskey drinkers. Furthermore marketing strategies conducted by Jack Daniel’s in the last five years suggest a reposition of the brand to appeal a younger audience. Sports sponsorship and music-related associations will attract a 24-35 years old type of audience, with an interest to expand the target to a female audience too.Industrial: The most successful market entrants are those that offer innovative products featuring high quality and modern styling (Jack Daniels Whiskey Barrels). Germans are responsive to the innovation and high technology evident in Jack Daniels whiskey barrels. The German market is decentralized and diverse, with interests and tastes differing dramatically from one German state to another. Success ful market strategies take into account regional differences as part of a strong national market presence which Jack Daniels had done very well.The experienced representation is a major asset to any market strategy, given that the primary competitors for most American products are domestic firms with established presences. Jack Daniels can overcome such stiff competition by offering high-quality products, services at competitive prices, and locally based after-sales support. Jack Daniels whiskey barrels are one thing that is unique and that is needed to produce the special Jack Daniels taste. The German culture is one that approves of the brand which also is a huge advantage. Conclusion Consumer: As shown below Jack Daniels is growing worldwide daily.Germany is no exception that it is an important part to conquering the global market for whiskey the fact that they are considered in their own category as Tennessee Whiskey helps because of how their whiskey is processed through the ba rrels is different to other ‘bourbons. ’ They do have a competitive edge in that regard since their product is considered more regal than other brands since they are in a category of their own. Germany is the perfect export country for the Jack Daniels Company and should use the market to their advantage. Industrial: As Jack Daniel's has grown from a U.S. brand to a global one, so the Jack Daniel's marketing team has grown from a small number of people to a global marketing organization. For Jack Daniels whiskey barrels, Germany is politically as well as economically one of the most important countries in Europe and the European Union for the Jack Daniels business. Due to its geographical position, its good infrastructure and its legal certainty Germany should be the first choice for any foreign company when establishing an office or a subsidiary for their entry into the European market. 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