Should Divorced Parents Remarry?

OUTLINE I. Introduction Thesis statement: divorced parents should not remarry for the following reasons. II. Body A. Divorced parents remarry which will have negative impacts on their children 1. Children will be placed in a complex situation. 2. Parents’ remarriage will give children pernicious influences on their behavior and study. B. Divorced parents will face complex relationships when they remarry 1. Stepparents will get into troubles with stepchildren. 2. Stepparents have to face unresolved issues related to the first marriage. C.Counterargument and refutation. 1. Counterargument. a. Children might have a perfect family with both mother and father which help them mature. b. New spouses in stepfamilies may have strong and harmonious marital relationship. 2. Refutation. a. Remarriage has negative effects on children. b. There are many conflicts happening in stepfamily. III. Conclusion Because of the above reasons, it is better for divorced parents not to remarry. Should d ivorced parents remarry? Remarriage of divorced parents is always a controversial issue in our modern society.Some of divorced parents choose remarriage as another chance or hope with a new family while many others decide to become a single parent. As making the decision to remarry, divorced parents have to choose a new partner who is suitable not only for them but for their children as well. Havemann and Lehtinen (1990) quoted a sociologist, ‘the difficulty which remarried family must wrestle may be tremendous’ (p. 280). Divorced parents can get into big troubles which people in first marriages will never foresee.In our opinion, divorced parent should not remarry for some rationales. Firstly, divorced parent remarriage is mainly responsible for children’s stress, depression, severe behaviors and bad schoolwork. Children not only can be the unwitting victim of a network of jealous and angry people but also suffer from conflict of loyalty. A study cited by Lutz (a s cited in Strong, Devault & Sayad, 1998) showed that many children felt stressful and worried because they were put in difficult predicaments. For example, a teenage girl felt heavily stressed.Although she lived with her mother and stepfather, she had to spend her weekends with her maternal grandparents and her paternal grandparents. She was always asked to report what happened at the other place and guard secret about it (R. H. Lauer & J. C. Lauer, 2007). Moreover, Visher and Visher (as cited in Devault et al. , 1998) see that many children in the stepfamilies who suffer the conflict of loyalties and loss of love from their parents can be in a state of great anxiety, confusion and they could behave unpredictably.In addition, according to Wallerstein and Kelly (as cited in Schwartz & Scott, 1994), remarriages of divorced parents not only cause children’s tension but also affect their study. The boys, for instance, had negative attitudes and did not concentrate on study in sc hool because their father and stepmother refused to send their biological mother money (Havemann & Letinen, 1990). Secondly, remarried parents will face stepchildren’s disputation and unresolved issues related to the first marriage.Children at any age tend to oppose and begrudge their stepparent, a newcomer in their family (Lauer & Lauer, 2007). In fact, they usually show their distrust, suspect, and resentment toward their stepparent. Even when stepmother try her best to be closed to stepchildren and satisfy their needs, the stepchildren still do not accept her as their real mother since they think that she is trying to replace their biological mother (DeVault, Sayad & Strong, 1998). By any cost, children try to â€Å"drive a stepparent out of the home† (Havemann & Lehtinen, 1990, p. 82). As a result, remarriages indeed have been devastated and disrupted by teenage stepchildren (Havemann & Lehtinen, 1990). Besides, not only stepchildren but also ex-spouses can be a co mplicated problem with remarried couples. Especially, former marital habits have a negative impact on the rapport between new spouses (Schwartz & Scott, 1994). A woman in her 30s, for example, told some troubles about her remarriage. Her husband bought her a nice nightgown, however he had a ritual of buying small size which fit his ex-wife but it did not fit her.Similarly, she also had a mistake that she called her current husband by her ex-partner’s name (Havemann & Letinen, 1990). In addition, keeping in touch with ex-spouses is inevitable. For instance, Sager and his associates reported that Mrs. Prince was annoyed because her husband has some calls continuously with his ex-wife many times a day for problems involving his biological children (Lauer & Lauer, 2007). Opposing people may claim that divorced parent remarriages may help the children to recover from emotional trauma of their parent’s divorce.Furthermore, on account of becoming older and more experienced th an in the first marriages, new spouses in stepfamilies might have strong and harmonious marital relationship. However, as stated previously, parent remarriages put the children in a problematic position and cause their emotional troubles. For stepdaughters, both Hetherington and Joshua Fischman (as cited in Schwartz & Scott, 1994) found that they experience more depression and have more negative behaviors.Besides, there are many conflicts happening in a stepfamily, which affects new spouses’ harmony like stepchildren’s disagreement and relationships with ex-spouses. Children’s behaviors have negative effects on the marital rapport, namely they act against stepparents and make a resentful atmosphere (Schwartz & Scott, 1994). Furthermore, stepsibling relationship is also one of the biggest problems in stepfamily because it can lead to stepsibling rivalry (Schwartz & Scott, 1994).As a result of such disharmony, â€Å"it is often difficult for remarried family to f eel like a real family† (Schwartz & Scott, 1994, p. 389). In conclusion, complicated problems with stepchildren and ex-spouse and negative impacts on children are two most severe issues in remarriage. Both the quality of the marital relationship and the stability in remarriage are poor. The statistics indicate that divorce people who remarry have a higher divorce rate than those in first marriages (Schwartz & Scott, 1994).Therefore, to our view, it is better for divorced parents not to remarry, which benefits both them and their children. Words: 852 * References DeVault, C. , Sayad, B. W. , & Strong, B. (1998). The marriage and family experience (7th ed. ). Belmont, Wadsworth publishing company. Havemann, E. & Lehtinen, M. (1990). Marriages and families (2nd ed. ). Englewood cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Lauer, R. H. & Lauer, J. C. (2007). Marriage & family (6th ed. ). New York: Phillip A. Butcher. Schwartz, M. A. & Scott, B. M. (1994). Marriages & families. Englewood cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Landscape Architecture

BUILD ENVIRONMENT The term built environment refers to the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging in scale from buildings and parks or green space to neighborhoods and cities that can often include their supporting infrastructure, such as water supply, or energy networks. The built environment is a material, spatial and cultural product of human labor that combines physical elements and energy in forms for living, working and playing. It has been defined as â€Å"the human-made space in which people live, work, and recreate on a day-to-day basis†.The â€Å"built environment encompasses places and spaces created or modified by people including buildings, parks, and transportation systems†. In recent years, public health research has expanded the definition of â€Å"built environment† to include healthy food access, community gardens, â€Å"walkabilty†, and â€Å"bikability†. Early concepts of built environments w ere introduced thousands of years ago. Hippodamus of Miletos, known as the â€Å"father of urban planning†, developed Greek cities from 498 BC to 408 BC that created order by using grid plans that mapped the city.These early city plans eventually gave way to the City Beautiful movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s, inspired by Daniel Hudson Burnham, a reformist for the Progressivism movement who actively promoted â€Å"a reform of the landscape in tandem with political change†. The effort was in partnership with others who believed that beautifying American cities would improve the moral compass of the cities and encourage the upper class to spend their money in cities. This beautification process included parks and architectural design. Modern built environmentCurrently built environments are typically used to describe the interdisciplinary field that addresses the design, construction, management, and use of these man-made surroundings as an interrelated whole a s well as their relationship to human activities over time (rather than a particular element in isolation or at a single moment in time). The field is generally not regarded as a traditional profession or academic discipline in its own right, instead drawing upon areas such as economics, law, public policy, public health, management, geography, design, technology, and environmental sustainability.Within the field of public health, built environments are referred to as building or renovating areas in an effort to improve the community’s well-being through construction of â€Å"aesthetically, health improved, and environmentally improved landscapes and living structures†. Urban planning The term â€Å"urban planning† indicates that much of the environment we inhabit is man-made and that these artificial surroundings are so extensive and cohesive that with regards to the consumption of resources, waste disposal, and productive enterprise, they are similar to organi sms.Public health In public health, built environments refer to physical environments that are designed with health and wellness as integral parts of the communities. Research has indicated that how neighborhoods are created can affect both the physical activity and mental health of the communities’ residents. Studies have shown that built environments that were expressly designed to improve physical activity are linked to higher rates of physical activity, which in turn, positively affects health.Neighborhoods with more walkability had lower rates of obesity as well as increased physical activity among its residents. They also had lower rates of depression, higher social capital, and less alcohol abuse. Walkability features in these neighborhoods include safety, sidewalk construction, as well as destinations in which to walk. In addition, the perception of a walkable neighborhood, one that is perceived to have good sidewalks and connectivity, is correlated with higher rates of physical activity. Assessments of walkability have been completed through the use of GIS programs.One such program, Street Smart Walk Score, is a walkability assessment tool which determines distances to grocery stores and other amenities, as well as connectivity and intersection frequency using specific addresses. Assessments such as Street Smart Walk Score can be utilized by city and county planning departments to improve existing walkability of communities. Public health also addresses additional components of built environments including â€Å"bikeability† and healthy food access such as proximity to grocery stores and community gardens.Bikeability refers to the access that an area has granted to safe biking through multiple bike paths and bike lanes. Both walkability and bikeability have been cited as determinants of physical activity. Access to healthy food is also an important component to the built environment. A higher density of convenience stores has been associ ated with obesity in children. In contrast, improved access to community supermarkets and farmer’s markets is correlated with lower overweight status. Specifically in low income neighborhoods, the presence of a local grocery store is correlated with lower BMI/overweight risk.Community gardens are also considered a part of the built environment, and have been shown to increase fruit and vegetable intake among gardeners. Scholars say that community gardens have also been shown to have positive social and psychological impacts that lead to lower levels of stress, hypertension, and an improved sense of wellness, affecting the overall health of the individual and the community. The intersection of public health with other disciplines is evident in the design process of built environments which includes environmental planning, policy development and land-use planning.Research suggests that people are more active in mixed-use communities or those that incorporate retail and resident ial and densely populated areas as well as those with good street connectivity. Those who preferred to walk and live in walkable environments often have lower obesity rates and drive less over those who preferred living in auto-dependent environments. The strength of the evidence for reducing obesity through environment has been highlighted by the Center for Disease Control in its Common Community Measures for Obesity Prevention Project, which includes measures of healthy food access and physical activity environments.Landscape architecture In landscape architecture, the built environment is understood to mean a human-made landscape, as distinguished from the natural environment; for example, a city park is a built environment. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally[->0] on Earth[->1] or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species. The concept of the natural env ironment can be distinguished by components: Complete ecological[->2] units that function as natural[->3] systems without massive human[->4] intervention, including all vegetation[->5], microorganisms[->6], soil[->7], rocks[->8], atmosphere[->9], and natural phenomena[->10] that occur within their boundaries.  §Universal natural resources[->11] and physical phenomena[->12] that lack clear-cut boundaries, such as air[->13], water[->14], and climate[->15], as well as energy[->16], radiation[->17], electric charge[->18], and magnetism[->19], not originating from human activity.The natural environment is contrasted with the built environment[->20], which comprises the areas and components that are strongly influenced by humans. A geographical area is regarded as a natural environment. It is difficult to find absolutely natural environments, and it is common that the naturalness varies in a continuum, from ideally 100% natural in one extreme to 0% natural in the other. More precisely, we can consider the different aspects or components of an environment, and see that their degree of naturalness is not uniform.If, for instance, we take an agricultural field, and consider the mineralogic composition[->21] and the structure[->22] of its soil, we will find that whereas the first is quite similar to that of an undisturbed forest soil, the structure is quite different. Natural environment is often used as a synonym for habitat[->23]. For instance, when we say that the natural environment of giraffes is the savanna[->24]. PLANT STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS The â€Å"Typical† Plant Body The Root System (Usually underground)  §Anchor the plant in the soil  §Absorb water and nutrients  §Conduct water and nutrients Food Storage The Shoot System (Usually above grounds)  §Elevates the plant above the soil  §Many functions including:  §photosynthesis  §reproduction & dispersal  §food and water conduction TYPE OF PLANTS Cacti (Cactus) Cactus plants are well ad apted to hot and dry weather by storing water in their succulent stems. They are also known for their spines, for which they are famous. Flowers Flowers are the reproductive part of angiosperms, also known as flowering plants. Herbs Herbs are used for culinary, medicinal and spiritual uses. In cuisine, the leaves of the herb are normally the only part used.All parts of herbs are used in various medical or spiritual practices. Shrubs and Bushes Usually under 6 m tall, shrubs and bushes are categorized as woody plants. Shrubs have multiple stems and many are covered with flowers of all shapes and sizes. Trees Trees are everywhere in the world. Trees are tall, large and some are very old. Trees are important in fighting soil erosion and responsible for the clean oxygen we breathe. Vegetables The term ‘vegetable' is not actually a scientific classification of a plant, but rather strictly a culinary term.Vegetables are parts of plants (flower buds, seeds, stems, fruits, etc) that a re edible and used in culinary dishes. PLANT Plants, also called green plants (Viridiplantae in Latin), are living organisms of the kingdom Plantae including such multicellular groups as flowering plants, conifers, ferns and mosses, as well as, depending on definition, the green algae, but not red or brown seaweeds like kelp, nor fungi or bacteria. Green plants have cell walls with cellulose and characteristically obtain most of their energy from sunlight via photosynthesis using chlorophyll contained in chloroplasts, which gives them their green color.Some plants are parasitic and may not produce normal amounts of chlorophyll or photosynthesize. Plants are also characterized by sexual reproduction, modular and indeterminate growth, and an alteration of generations, although asexual reproduction is common, and some plants bloom only once while others bear only one bloom. Precise numbers are difficult to determine, but as of 2010, there are thought to be 300–315 thousand speci es of plants, of which the great majority, some 260–290 thousand, are seed plants.Green plants provide most of the world's free oxygen and are the basis of most of the earth's ecologies, especially on land. Plants described as grains, fruits and vegetables form mankind's basic foodstuffs, and have been domesticated for millennia. Plants enrich our lives as flowers and ornaments. Until recently and in great variety they have served as the source of most of our medicines and drugs. Their scientific study is known as botany. [-;0] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Nature [-;1] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Earth [-;2] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ecological -;3] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Nature [-;4] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Human [-;5] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Vegetation [-;6] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Microorganisms [-;7] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Soil [-;8] – http://en. w ikipedia. org/wiki/Rock_(geology) [-;9] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Atmosphere [-;10] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Natural_phenomenon [-;11] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Natural_resource [-;12] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Physical_phenomena [-;13] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Air -;14] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Water [-;15] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Climate [-;16] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Energy [-;17] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Radiation [-;18] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Electric_charge [-;19] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Magnetism [-;20] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Built_environment [-;21] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Mineralogy [-;22] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Soil_structure [-;23] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Habitat [-;24] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Savanna

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Thought Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Thought Paper - Essay Example â€Å"The general terms "high context" and "low context" (popularized by Edward Hall) are used to describe broad-brush cultural differences between societies† (Beer). These are the things that we discuss in the next section. High context societies or groups are observed to have close connections over a long period of time. In this context, we see that â€Å"many aspects of cultural behavior are not made explicit because most members know what to do and what to think from years of interaction with each other† thus a family is a fit example for this (Beer). On the other hand, â€Å"low context refers to societies where people tend to have many connections but of shorter duration or for some specific reason. In these societies, cultural behavior and beliefs may need to be spelled out explicitly so that those coming into the cultural environment know how to behave† (Beer). Conflict resolution will differ according to the level of context the group has. Conflict in a low context group might might resort to adherence to certain rules in resolving conflict. This means a strict or rigid written rule. On the other hand, conflict in a high context group such as the family, can be resolved with under standing and patience. This does not necessitate an arbiter or a written code but patient and compassionate understanding of others’ faults. The key concepts, such as honor, shame and saving face will also differ across cultures. Honor can be of varying level according to culture. For some like the Japanese, authorities are regarding with highest honor so that submission easily follows from the subordinates. More liberal countries such as America or even the Third World country such as the Philippines encourage citizen’s freedom thus authorities are ostracized such as done during mass rally and political revolution. Resolving with authorities in a culture such as Japan would necessitate paying much honor to the authorities. On the other hand, â€Å"shame is a common form of

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China and Globalization Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Benefits Management Plan for the Perth Arena Project Case Study

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Ideological Relations between Mao Zedong and Nikita Khrushchev Essay

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Euroland Foods Essay Example for Free

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Strengths Weaknesses: In replacement and expansion of the truck fleet, the company can increase the number of goods hauled on the truck and this could reduce the transportation costs in the long run, further it could possibly have a greater market coverage but it is very costly to go for this option as Klink is not doing any experiment and going directly for 100 new trucks. The acquisition of new plant is although a good option but yet it is not very useful option as the investment in the entire plant can be risky and can put a lot of burden on the entire company’s budget, it is suggested that the company should buy a warehouse to support the growing needs of the customers for ice cream and yogurt. Another problem would be related to the labor hiring which would result in more costs. The expansion of the plant is a good idea as the market needs are completely growing and cannot be supported by any other plant, the plant capacity would increase by 20% but the drawback is that it is supporting those products that are not having the highest share i-e mineral water and fruit juices. Morin has come up with a good suggestion as the processing of dried fruit and its launch would enhance the company’s portfolio and also it would be a brand extension, it has got a fair possibility of growth as Europe is a cold region, the IRR is also expected to be higher than the required but then again it is requiring company to spend much more then it should spend. Also it can take the company out of budget as the company’s current concern should be about the stability of its current activities. Leyden has come up with a good idea of plant automation and conveyer system, this could reduce the need of the labor and the threats of lawsuit due to any injury that may take place because of the old plant. The company cannot only reduce the labor requirements but also may increase the market penetration as the units would be produced more efficiently now. The drawback is again related to the high costs and further the company may disappoint the labor which could be unethical and can bring agitation in labor against the company. The effluent water treatment at four of the plants is again good action since it is categorizing the Euroland foods as environmental friendly. This would add itself as strength to the company as now company would be working ethically in many ways. The drawback is related to the issue of investing in a non-functioning area, which would not bring any profits. Ponti has although suggested to expand the market to southwards and eastwards, but it is dependent on many conditions such as if proposal of earlier plant extension would not accepted then it is possible for the company to incur greater costs for reaching those newly recognized areas, further it is not suggested to go for them because the company has already got itself in other hassles and it should look at those points which could further strengthen it position in the current positions. Morin has come under the pressure of competitors and is thinking about the company’s well being, but yet there lies the problem with such a heavy investment, the company should always test market the product. Although it would be the product development to some good extent but at the same time it can cause the company to loose big money in something which it is not sure about. Klink has come up with a wonderful suggestion of networking, these days the markets are based on programs such as SAP which can control every activity of the company, if the efficiency would be there then the company may take more initiatives as it would think ahead. The weakness is again related to the increased responsibility which can cause disturbance and further it can result in unemployment as many of the activities would be performed with the help of networking. Humbolt has given a solution which suits his nature and he has again provided the company with something that could increase the liability of the company and further create more complexed problems for it. However, it seems to be very lucrative but it is all about the management capability of the company which is not appropriate in relation to such extension. Ranking the Proposals: According to my analysis, proposal 3 (plant extension) should be ranked first as it has a fair possibility of increasing the market share for those products that are stable from a period and are not growing (mineral water, fruit juices). Proposal 4 (snack foods) should be ranked second as it has got a fair possibility of market acceptance due to weather condition in Europe. Proposal 5 (Plan automation) should be ranked third as it can reduce the number of employees and other threats and can bring more profits in. Proposal 10 (Networking) should be ranked fourth as it can increase efficiency and so can reduce the number of positions in the company. Proposal 6 (Effluent water treatment) should be ranked fifth as it is environmental friendly and â€Å"good ethics is good business†. Proposal 1 (Truck fleet) should be ranked sixth as it is requiring a direct investment for 100 trucks where as the company should look for such changes in a slow manner. Proposal 9 (Sweetened yogurt) should be ranked seventh as it is very risky as it would take a lot of research and can distract the firm from its other stability objectives. Proposal 2 (new plant) should be ranked eighth as it would associate exceeding costs with it such as new labor, transportation and many other costs. Proposal 7 8 (market extension southward and eastward) should be ranked ninth and tenth as it is again distracting the company from its current objectives and its too risky as the entering market characteristics are opposite and against the company’s favor. Proposal 11 (Schnapps) should be ranked eleventh as it is completing out of the scope of the company’s feasibility. Effluent Water Treatment: Since the effluent water is just something the company is willing to acquire as a mean to have good public relations and to be able to contribute to the environment. It is just something which cannot bring company the profits, it would cost 6 million Euros if the facility equipment would be purchased now but later on it can be costly and government at times does affect the company’s investing powers. So it is better to buy this equipment before the government makes it a mandatory for the company to buy it. Conclusion: The ranking shown above is itself suggesting what should be done. According to the analysis, proposal 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 should be given utmost importance as it is feasible for the company to get them done within the allocated budget, so Mr. Verdin should give them more importance and recommend them to the board. They can also make the current position of the company stable and perhaps make it more efficient. Other projects have their own importance but they are not triggering the initial need of the company which is stability. The mentioned proposals would make the base of the company’s structure sounder and so it can look forward for other proposals in the future time period with more ease.

A Marketing Plan For Etihad

A Marketing Plan For Etihad The report presented here is a marketing plan for Etihad which is planning to launch an airline service in India, one of its Asian destinations in Business and First class segment. The potential of India for Etihads new destination in Asia is because of its biggest and fasted growing Middle class. The country and over a billion people living in her and most of them belongs to middle class. This also raised the purchasing power of the people here and too the need of luxury. The country has over 70 domestic Airports and nearly 12 International Airport. Indian aviation market has a number of domestic players. These include Indigo Airline, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Air India, Cathy Pacific, Kingfisher, British Airways etc. Talking about the business class segment, only few players like Kingfisher, Indian airlines are there from domestic side and rest all are foreign players. The competition in luxury segment is less as compared to low cost service. One dimension in which Etihad can give a great image to its service/ brand is by establishing itself as a luxury brand. For distribution strategy, the firm can utilize any of the existing channels in India as they provide services as a third party to all airlines. Other aspect include tie-ups with corporate so that a minimum customer base can be assured. Talking about the promotional strategy, the promotional techniques suggested includes voice call, newsletter and participating in social functions etc. The estimated budget for the plan is 35.5 million US $. Current Market Situation: Introduction: Asian aviation market is very competitive. The number of players in Asia includes more than 50 domestic and international players. The dominant players in Asian aviation sector are Air Asia, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airlines and foreign players include French airways, British airways and Cathy Pacific airlines. A number of Airlines from UAE too have presence in Asia which include Air Arabia, Emirates Airways and similar. The potential of the market is huge. Asia includes China and India which are the biggest economies in the world in terms of economic growth. Out of the potential destination for Etihad in Asia, we have chosen India; the study will focus on Indias market only. (Avaition, 2010) Market Description India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The potential of India for Etihads new destination in Asia is because of its biggest and fasted growing Middle class. The country and over a billion people living in her and most of them belongs to middle class. This also raised the purchasing power of the people here and too the need of luxury. The country has over 70 domestic Airports and nearly 12 International Airport. The facilities here are not equal to the world standard but the economy is rapidly expanding and the needs are getting higher too. All these points favor India as an attractive destination for Etihads new market in Asia. Talking about first class and business class segment of India, the growing population and high earning of people provide enough customer bases for the market. The target Market for Etihad will be people of annual income over Rs. 10 lacks. In India, around 7% of the total population falls in this category as considering the size of population in the country, 7% gives a huge customer base for first and business class segment. The market requires following benefits from Business class flights. The below is the table which shows the benefits of product Feature Benefit Extremely comfortable seats, more space Business class is meant for comfort and thus these seats and extra space will add to the comfort. Delicious food As the business class segment people are travelling paying high prices, they expect high quality food too. Comparative low cost Indians do not like to spend much and thus the cost of travelling should not be high. The future prediction about India is as follows: US$ 32 billion+ for developing and maintain the airport infrastructure in the country Passenger traffic for different types of sectors is estimated to grow over an estimated CAGR of over 14% in the arriving few years. A huge amount of 110 billion dollars investments is foreseen in next 10 years The Civil Aviation would grip around 280 million travelers by the year 2020 (India G. , 2010) Product Review Product line: The product we are concerned here is business and first class segment. This segment is used by people of high earning group. The segment requires high quality of services, extremely comfortable seats, more space and other luxury facilities as are provided in expensive hotels. Type of customers and market: The customers of the products are business executives and high earning families who can afford heavy ticket price. As our selected destination in India, the product must be looked as Indian perception. In India, the per capita income is increasing but the concern is its still not comparable to that of European or Middle East. So, if Etihad wants to launch first and business class services in India, the cost of the product must be kept low. If we look at the competitors product in the segment concerned, we will find that competitors service is not at all comparable to that of other first class services in the world. This shows that one aspect where Etihad can exploit an advantage is to provide luxury at the same of comparable price. Services: The service is needed to be served with tasty food and this must be insuring that veg. and non-veg, food are cooked separately. The customers also want less time travel between destinations. Also, internet connectivity and entertainment sources like small TV screens should also be provided. Competitive Review Indian aviation market has a number of domestic players. These include Indigo Airline, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Air India, Cathy Pacific, Kingfisher, British Airways etc. Talking about the business class segment, only few players like Kingfisher, Indian airlines are there from domestic side and rest all are foreign players. The foreign players involved first class and business class segment include Cathy Pacific, French Airways, Singapore Airways etc. Till now, these airlines capture most of the customer segment of first class. Talking about competitors in AD to India route, airlines such as Air India, Paramount Airways are there. Etihad too have a run on this route with other operators like Air Arabia. The carriers here are few and this will encourage the business idea for Etihad as well. (India M. o., 2010) The key stragey of Indian airlines in business segment is less cost in business segment. Talking about French Airways, Singapore Airways and other foreign players in the segment, their key strategy is providing great hospitality experience in business class segment. Channels review Channels for any firms (distribution channels) are critical to its success. Marketing channels include logistics and other mode for moving goods in and out of the firm. In context of the first class business we are concerned; channels in India are well formed and structured. There are number of providers like Jet airways, Spice Jet, Indigo airlines etc which work on sharing of distribution channels. In such sharing, the distribution channel in a separate entity different from the business. It can be looked as a third party service provider which provides the service to the airlines. Only Air India is the one which has its own service channels but the performance of its service is not up to the mark. Talking about these channels individually, Jet airways provide very time efficient logistics. Air Indias distribution channel is vast and has more services but is not reliable in terms of consistency. So, for Eithid, the firm can utilize any of the existing channels which are been used by Jet or other airway. As these channels are experienced in the business, the airline may not have to worry for receiving comparable channel services as that of Indian competitors. SWOT analysis The analysis is carried out in terms of strength of Etihad airline keeping in mind its plan to enter the business class services in India. Strength Strong brand image in luxury sector on the global scale, so will be able to attract the Indian First class customers too. Experience in maintaining regular communication with customers. This will help in maintain customer base for first and business class. Increasing hold on luxury segment in other Asian destinations too. Four of the globes longest continuous commercial flights, these continuous flights will advantage in business class segment as they take less time to travel between destinations. A large fleet of planes including the new Airbus 380, these planes have a good image in terms of providing comfort essential for business class. (Avaition, 2010) With the increasing infrastructure, high regional GDP (Indian) and a huge demand in various regions, providing First class services will prove a new unexplored market. Weakness: The market we are concerned about has a specific segment to focus on. The First class segment requires heavy initial investment and thus entering directly to first class segment would be a risky business. Less growth in business class in Indian aviation industry. Limited desired costumer volume in the segment. Most of the earnings are coming from a single segment Hold on economical class and cargo facility market is not that good Opportunities: In India, most of flights between destinations are two long. The airlines here, to reduce cost extend the routine route to cover more number of destinations. But the people who fly from business class are worried about time (as they are already spending high on ticket price). So an opportunity exists in terms of attracting business class customers by operating on direct routes. (Airways, 2010) India has a number of low cost airlines. Etihad, to reduce business risk and overtake any one of them and convert to first class services. Exploit Indian presence to explore new hubs like Russia and South-East Asia-Pacific in business class segment. Present destinations can be increased. The Airline can start service to other Indian destinations too like Madras, Kolkata etc. Boeing and Airbus has reduced the cost of the aircrafts Threats: The other reason of threat for Etihad is that all the newly merging airline companies are in a spree to capture the market by making a strong reputation. Once they come up with price fares lesser than Etihad then even the best of advertising would fail. Constant increase in number of aviation services in business class segment. Economic crises and sadness in Indian aviation market because of high debt. This has hammered the volume of people travelling from business class. The aviation ministry and put an upper limit on fairs and is constantly increasing rules and regulations to restructure the industry. Objectives and issues The objective here is to construct a marketing plan for Etihad to enter a new destination in Asia (which is selected as India) while considering the launch of First class and business class service by the company. The key issues (measureable) are: Increasing the market hold to at least 10% (business class segment) Based on the responses of the customers on initial routes of the company, to start operations on other routes too Increasing service and facilities in the business class segment. Marketing Strategy Positioning Positioning statement: Feel the luxury As identifies from market analysis, people of India for their business class travel, desire for extremely luxury services. So the positioning is targeted on luxury only. Taking into account the huge competition in the market for different airline companies in India, for example Cathy pacific, British airways, Singapore Airlines etc, there have to be something that has a unique image about the brand. One dimension in which Etihad can give a great image to its service/ brand is by establishing itself as a luxury brand. The Company to be positioned in the market will be done as an innovator in hospitality hemisphere. Thus in rapid developing and competitive Indian aviation sector, this innovator image will benefit in long run as India is growing and too the luxury need of the people here. Individuality and image require being eminent. Individuality is the way a corporation aims to identify or place itself or its manufactured goods. Image is the technique the community perceives the corp oration or its goods. An effectual individuality does three things: It sets up the products nature and worth proposal. It expresses this nature in a characteristic mode. It brings touching authority further than a psychological image. The individuality we are talking about, Etihad can address this concern by benchmarking the luxury in business class. For the individuality to labor, it must be expressed through every obtainable message means of transportation and product get in touch with. The company should show in every aspect of work that it cares for the passengers time and is pioneer and experienced in proving high end flight services. (Avaition, 2010) Product Strategy First concern here is to aim the service. Etihad here is concerned only on the Business and first class segment, so according to the traditional model shown below; the company should focus on higher ends passengers who fall in high earning group. Another thing is degree or quality of the service. Etihad want to enter in First class segment which falls in most facilitated level of product development as explained by Kotler. Kotler defined the development of a product in following manner. If we talk about the economy class, that falls in core product but first class and business class are included in augmented product segment. But there is a potential drawback in directly attacking the augmented product, the heavy cost of product building and then risk of non-acceptance by the market. One strategy that Etihad can make out and choose suitable new features by examination of new purchasers and then manipulative customer value versus company cost for each possible feature. The corporation should also think how many public want every feature, how time-consuming it would get to bring in every feature, and whether contestant could with no trouble duplicate the feature. Corporation must also believe in terms of feature bundles or correspondence. Auto companionship often produces cars at more than a few trim levels. This lowers developed and record costs. Every corporation must make a decision whether to present feature customization at a superior price or a few normal corresp ondences at an inferior price. (Avaition, 2010) Distribution Strategy Channel for the company is not going to be new in India. As we stated earlier too that there are separate entities that provides services to airline companies in India, Etihad too can take distribution services from any of these services. Another suggestion is to construct own ticket selling units so that a differentiation in terms of customer attraction. The way suggested is a level two distribution channel which looks like as follows: Consumer Retailer Wholesaler Manufacturer By following this model, the service information can be gained by an individual through the information available on the companys website and also by contacting any of the local retailers. The service can be ordered through the online booking and the payment can be made through credit or debit card, in this case the product will be delivered to the home of customer. Channel Involved in distribution: Two channels are there for this product: Wholesaler: One wholesaler is there for one state. In the case of no wholesaler in particular sate than two sates is handled by single wholesaler. Wholesaler will look after all the retailers under its domain. Retailer: Retailers are located in prime cities of the state and they will be direct contacting the single wholesaler of that particular state. Out of the various retail store some stores would be discount store. (India G. , 2010) Marketing communication or promotional strategy Integrated market communication stands for communicating rather making stakeholders believe that product is really reliable and will lead for a better profit for these stakeholders too. There is a difficulty in getting stakeholders in an easier way if there is large competition in the market for the same product and thus efficient promotion is a must. Market communication stands for several promotion techniques and the personal relation with the stake holders. Some of the suggested techniques for Etihad are as follows: Voice mail services: Voice mail can be a very efficient source of the information about the service to the concerned segment. If the people are interested in taking the product, they will definitely want to have all the information that is the correct information about the product. There could a very good option for it that is the voice mail system. There should be voice mail which will be telling all the necessary information about the product which will include the net rates and all the exciting features and offers with the product. Forums, Newsgroups, Bulletin Boards, and Web Communities: On-line buyers not just consume the product but increasingly create product information internet interest groups by sharing product-related information. Online marketing can be done by using forums, newsgroup, and bulletin board related to health care services. (Avaition, 2010) Several promoting Events: As the firm is addressing to higher end costumers only, the company can offer few organizations a kind of tie up so that special discount could be given employees of the organization if they travel from Etihads flight. Alliances: Take the time to join a professional or business organization. These organizations usually have very knowledgeable people who are willing to help you out. It also increases your personal network and allow for larger opportunities. Newsletters: As the concern here is also at maintain the existing clients, sending out newsletters to established customers, new customers, friends, family, and any group you think would be interested in companys product or service (Avaition, 2010) Actions Program The overview of action plan looks as follows: The first step is to consturct an augumented service based on the values and demand in Indian market. This include: Keeping low cost Launchig new aircrafts like Boing 747 and Airbus etc Next Step would be launch separate route that do not exist in Indian market. As we found out from SWOT analysis, the company can see an opportunity in launching fast services which provide non-stop service between important destinations. Next would be to enter the contract with an existing distributor. Next is promotion by TV, Newspaper, and sending of newsletter to existing customers. Coordination with different departments: The step one would be consulted with finance department (to allocate budget) and with operations (to ensure that the services desired in the product are there in the augmented product). For next step, that is launching services on few routes; marketing department will identify the target routes to start with. For entering in contract with distribution channel, operation department holds the right to select the channel which best suits the need of the department. The last step would be addressed by PR department. Budget Tentative budget in the activities are as follows: Activity Estimated Price (US $ per annum) Augmented Product 5 million Additional cost for nonstop services 7 million Distribution services 15 million TV ads 2 million News letter 0.5 million Relationship building (discounts/ tie-ups) 6 million The tentative budget which comes out is around $ 35 million. This is quite affordable price for Etihad. The profit in first year of operation would be less and will increase with course of time as product development, distribution services will costs less in later years. Controls A tight control strategy would be implemented which would be based on customer feedback, sales data analysis, performance evaluation and similar quality management aspects. The key performance indicator would be sales figures and brand equity of the company. The company will maintain close look on both of these aspect to keep itself near to the performance norms.

Analysis of Pepsi Co in India

Analysis of Pepsi Co in India PepsiCo is the largest snack and non alcoholic beverage manufacturing company in the world. Its product range includes grain based snacks, carbonated and non- carbonated beverages and foods. It operates through four operating segments: Frito-Lay North America (FLNA), PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA), PepsiCo International (PI) and Quaker Foods North America (QFNA).It sells its products in 200 countries with major operations in the US, Canada, Mexico and the UK. It distributes its branded products through multi channels such as direct stores, broker warehouses, food service centers and vending machines. PepsiCo in India PepsiCo entered India in 1988 and concentrated on three focus areas soft drink, snack foods and food processing. PepsiCo got permit to import cola conecnterate and to sell soft drink under Pepsi label in Indian market and in return to export juice concenterate from Punjab. Main objective put forward was To promote the development and export of Indian made and agro based products and to foster the introduction and development of PepsiCo products in India. Pepsico entered in India in the form of joint venture with PAIC holding 36.11%, voltas 24%, PepsiCo holding 36.89%. ISSUES: PepsiCo was coupled with the punjab card. They made certain commitments to Indian cental government.PepsiCo specifically supported national priorities in area like export and agriculture. Some of the commitments are as follows: 1) the project will create employment for 50000 peope nationally, including 25000 jobs in Punjab alone. 2) 74% of total investment will be in food and agro processing. 25% will be in manufacturing of soft drinks. 3) PepsiCo will bring advanced technology in food processing and provide thrust by marketing Indian products abroad and giving them global market. 4) 50% of total production will be exported. 5) an agro research center will be established by PepsiCo with ICAR and PAU. 6) no foreign brand name will e used for domestic sales. 7)export import ratio will be 5:1. FAILED COMMITMENTS: Within few years pepsi was recorded as one of non compliance companies that did not fulfill the commitments it made to Indian government. The company nowhere met its obligations. On September 4,1991 george fernandes said that Pepsi co has failed to meet its commitments and the company became a challenge to the government. The failed commitments are as follows: 1)EMPLOYMENT COMMITMENT: Employment generated by PepsiCo 1990-91 1991-92 direct indirect direct Food processing 169 9903 170 Administration 117 432 179 Bottling 497 15115 560 Total 783 25450 909 Source: data taken from balance sheets of pepsi foods ltd. Pepsico by 1996 increased the employment figure to 2400 which was just 3% of the commitment made. Branch name commitment Pepsi committed not to use its brand name pepsi in india. During first year pepsi used Indian brand name Lehar pepsi bt with the introduction of new policy in 1991 pepsi immediately changed its drink name from lehar pepsi to pepsi. Export commitment: Pepsi commited that 50% total product will be exported but instead of exporting its own products it exported basmati rice, tea, leather products Agro research center: No agro research center was established. PepsiCo, Inc., SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Strong Growth Prospects Efficient Use of Resources Expanding Operating Margin Declining Market Share in Sector Overdependence on Few Customers Geographical Concentration Opportunities Threats Huge Potential in the Emerging Markets Increasing Bottled Water Market Growing Organic Foods Market Highly Competitive Market Private Label Brands Gaining Momentum Global Economic Conditions PepsiCo, Inc. PepsiCo, Inc.- Financial and Strategic Analysis Review Reference Code: GDCPG35119FSA Page 2 PepsiCo, Inc. SWOT Analysis SWOT Analysis Overview PepsiCo, Inc. (PepsiCo) is one of the leading snack and beverage companies in the world. Dominant market position and diversified brand portfolio are its strengths. Further, the rising demand for bottled water and strategic acquisitions could ensure a strong future. However, poor profitability and overdependence on a few customers are areas of concern to the company. Highly competitive market and growing demand for private label products coupled with global economic slowdown could also impede the companys growth. PepsiCo, Inc. Strengths Strength Strong Growth Prospects The company was trading at a price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.16 at the end of fiscal year 2009. This was above the SP 500 companies average* of 9.2. A higher than SP 500 companies average P/E may indicate that the company may have high growth prospects which is reflected in its stocks premium pricing. Investors may be expecting higher earnings growth in the future compared to other companies in the SP 500 index. Strength Efficient Use of Resources The companys return on equity (ROE) was 35.4% for fiscal year 2009. This was above the SP 500 companies average* of 12.9%. A higher than SP 500 companies average* ROE may indicate that the company is efficiently using the shareholders money and that it is generating high returns for its shareholders compared to other companies in the SP 500 index. Strength Expanding Operating Margin The companys operating margin was 18.61% for the fiscal year 2009. This was above the SP 500 companies average* of 14.7%. A higher than SP 500 companies average* operating margin may indicate efficient cost management or a strong pricing strategy by the company. The companys operating profit was USD 8,044.00 million during the fiscal year 2009, an increase of 15.59% over 2008 while the net profit was USD 5,946.00 million, an increase of 15.64% over 2008. The operating margin has increased 252 basis points (bps) over 2008, which may indicate managements high focus on improving profitability. Strength Strong RD Activities PepsiCo has a strong RD arm that focuses on various activities, which could help the company in cost reduction and process improvement, quality assurance, process control, and system development. The company also places emphasis on developing new manufacturing methods, improving on the existing manufacturing processes, new product developing and improving the existing products. For the fiscal year 2008, the company spent USD 388 million on its RD initiatives, against USD 364 million in 2007. Thus, such a strong focus on RD activities provides the company with an edge over its competitors in generating higher operational performances. New product and technology innovations also strengthen the companys innovating capabilities and provide a source of future revenues for the company. Strength Diversified Brand Portfolio PepsiCo boasts of a broad brand portfolio in the beverages and snacks categories, which helps it cater to the diverse needs of its customer base. The top 18 brands of the company generate USD 1 billion or more each in annual retail sales. Some of the major brands offered by the company include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Diet Pepsi, Gatorade, Tropicana Pure Premium, Aquafina water, Sierra Mist, Mug, Tropicana juice drinks, Propel, SoBe, Slice, Dole, Tropicana Twister and Tropicana Seasons Best. This diversified brand portfolio of the company provides it with the economic stability and an edge in attracting and retaining a diverse customer base. It also helps the company to mitigate the risks associated with overdependence on a particular brand or product category. Strength Dominant Market Position PepsiCo enjoys a leading market position that helps it attract and serve a diverse customer base. The company is one of the leading snack and beverage companies in the world. It is engaged in manufacturing, marketing and sale of a variety of salty, convenient, sweet and grain-based snacks, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages and foods. The company sells its products in more than 200 countries. It is the market leader in the US savory snacks market with a market share of about 39%. It is also the leader in the US liquid refreshment beverage category with a market share of 25%. Furthermore, the company occupied 52nd position in the Fortune 500 rankings in 2009. The Frito-Lay brand is the worlds leading manufacturer of snacks. This dominant market position helps the company diversify its risks associated with the cyclical nature of most of these markets and puts the company at an advantage over its rivals while expanding its product lines. PepsiCo, Inc. PepsiCo, Inc.- Financial and Strategic Analysis Review Reference Code: GDCPG35119FSA Page 3 PepsiCo, Inc. Weaknesses Weakness Declining Market Share in Sector The companys compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for revenue was 7.34% during 2005-2009. This was below the SP 500 companies average* of 11.1%. Further, the company reported revenue of USD 43,232.00 million during the fiscal year ended December 2009, a decrease of 0.04% from 2008. A lower than SP 500 companies average* revenue CAGR may indicate that the company has underperformed the average SP 500 companies growth and lost market share over the last four years. The companys underperformance could be attributed to a weak competitive position or inferior products and services offering or lack of innovative products and services. Weakness Overdependence on Few Customers Overdependence on a few customers has been a major area of concern to the company. A significant portion of the companys revenues are generated from few customers. For instance, in 2008, sales to Wal-Mart and Sams West, Inc. represented 12% of the companys net revenue. The top five retail customers represented about 32% of its 2008 North American net revenue, of which Wal-Mart (including Sams) accounted for about 18%. The loss of one or more of the top customers in any of these segments could have a material adverse effect on the results of these segments. Due to overdependence on a few customers, the company may not be able to find suitable alternatives to sell its products in time if any of these customers is unable to buy the products on terms favorable to the company. Weakness Geographical Concentration PepsiCos overdependence on the US market for its revenues exposes the company to various risks associated with geographical concentration. Though PepsiCo has operations in various geographic regions, a majority of its revenues still comes from the US. During the fiscal year 2008, the company generated 52% of its total revenue from the US region. Further, during the fiscal year 2009, PepsiCo generated over 71% of its revenues from North America. This dependence on the US could impact its operational and financial performance in the event of any economic, political or climatic change. It also could restrict its market share and growth opportunities. PepsiCo, Inc. Opportunities Opportunity Huge Potential in the Emerging Markets The company could benefit from the growing markets in the Asia Pacific region. According to the World Bank, the GDP growth rate of high income countries came down from 2.6% in 2007 to 0.4% in 2008. The economies of these countries are expected to have contracted by 3.3% in 2009. Despite the global economic slowdown, the emerging and developing economies recorded a GDP growth rate of 8.1%, 5.6% and 1.2% during 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. Growth in the East Asia and Pacific region (especially China) as well as in South Asia (especially India) has been resilient. This was mainly due to the massive fiscal stimulus package in China and Indias skillful macroeconomic management. Chinas GDP grew at 9% in 2008 and 8.4% in 2009, while Indias grew at 6.1% and 6% respectively, during the period. The growing economy in these countries has generated new employment opportunities for the residents and has provided a boost to their earnings. Rise in disposable income has changed their buying behavior. Now more and more people are buying luxury and lifestyle goods unlike in the past when they used to confine their spending to basic necessities. Customers in the emerging countries are becoming more brand conscious and prefer to buy branded goods. With competition at its peak and markets getting saturated, the company can look out for new growth avenues in these regions. Opportunity Increasing Bottled Water Market The strong growth in the bottled water market is emerging as a major boon for the company. The global bottled water industry has been witnessing strong growth over the past few years, especially in the US. Bottled water is sold mostly in the industrialized countries where it costs between USD 500 and USD 1,000 per cubic meter, compared to USD 0.50 for municipal water in states such as California, US. With the strong profitability offered by the segment, many players have started foraying into the bottled water business. The demand for bottled water has also been on the rise in emerging countries. PepsiCos established presence in the bottled water segment, along with its strong brand image puts the company at a competitive edge over its rivals in attracting and retaining a loyal customer base. The strong distribution network also helps the company to cater to a geographically diverse customer base. Opportunity Growing Organic Foods Market The company has a significant opportunity to grow as the demand for organic food is set to rise by an average of 18% in the US by 2010, according to the Organic Trade Association (OTA). Rising Health consciousness in the US has made the organic foods segment one of the fastest growing segments in the food retailing industry. Though, the organic food segment represented a mere 2.8% of the US food and beverage market, the organic food market in the region generated USD 21.2 billion in 2007. According to a recent report from the OTA, the global demand for organic products has been growing at USD 5 billion a year. PepsiCo offers its all natural and organic product line under the Tropicana and Quaker brands in the US. The company can thus capitalize on its distribution network and organic food offerings to increase its market share and revenues. PepsiCo, Inc. PepsiCo, Inc.- Financial and Strategic Analysis Review Reference Code: GDCPG35119FSA Page 4 Opportunity Strategic Acquisitions Strategic acquisitions offer a strong growth opportunity for the company, especially while foraying into new markets or launching new products or services. The company has grown over the years by acquiring or merging with some of the major brands like Frito Lays, Quaker Oats, Gamesa and Sabritas. Further, in October 2009, the companys Pepsi Bottling Ventures, LLC signed a Letter of Intent to acquire the assets of Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Conway-Myrtle Beach, Inc., the Pepsi-Cola franchise bottler based in Conway, South Carolina. Earlier, in August 2009, PepsiCo Inc. entered into definitive merger agreements with its two largest bottlers, The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. (PBG) and PepsiAmericas, Inc. (PAS). Under the agreement, PepsiCo will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of these two bottlers. Currently, the company owns 33% and 43% of the outstanding shares of PBG and PAS respectively. During the same period, the company also announced an agreement to acquire Brazils largest coconut water company, Amacoco Nordeste Ltda. and Amacoco Sudeste Ltda. (Amacoco). Earlier, in April 2008, PepsiCo acquired the UK based vitamin water brand, V Water. These mergers and acquisitions offer a steady revenue source, apart from geographical expansion for the company. PepsiCo, Inc. Threats Threat Highly Competitive Market Growing competition could impact the business operations of the company. The company faces stiff competition from the various companies that are in the business of beverages, snack and food products. Key competitors include General Mills, Inc., Groupe Danone, Hershey Foods Corporation, Nestle S.A., Coca-Cola Company, The Procter Gamble Company, The Kraft Foods, Inc., National Beverage Corp., Jones Soda Co. and Kellogg Company. Apart from the established players in the developed countries, the players from emerging countries too are competing hard to garner maximum market share in their respective regions. If the company fails to maintain product quality and consumer loyalty, this intense competition could reduce the sales volume of the company, thereby hampering its market position. Threat Private Label Brands Gaining Momentum The growing demand for private label products has been a major area of concern to the company. According to a report by the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA), there is a shift in the consumer spending towards private label products. Also, it is observed that the private label products have reached as high as 48% in traditional retailers and 94% in discounters. In the UK, almost all the top 30 retailers witnessed an increase in the private label share in 2008. Private labels may become even more popular due to the current economic slowdown. Apart from low prices, the increasing quality of private label products has been driving away the sales of branded products. Thus PepsiCo faces a major challenge from these private label manufacturers in sustaining its growth. Threat Global Economic Conditions The company faces a major challenge in sustaining its revenue growth due to the slowdown in the global economy, especially the US. The banks have tightened their credit lending process thereby affecting the consumers shopping ability. Even the market volatility concerns have made them shop only for basic and essential goods, thereby creating a major challenge to the goods manufacturers whose sales have been on the decline. According to The World Bank, overall global GDP contracted by 2.2% in 2009, with 1.2% growth rate in the developing economies well below the 5.6% growth rate in 2008. In 2009, the GDP growth in the US weakened to -2.4% while in the Eurozone, GDP contracted more sharply by 3.9% from 0.5% in 2008. Further, the global output is expected to expand by 2.7% in 2010, and 3.2% in 2011 still below the 5% generated in 2007. Thus, adverse economic conditions could adversely affect the demand for the companys products, which poses a major challenge to the company in sustaining its revenue growth. Growth strategies Transforming its beverage portfolio PepsiCo sought to transform its beverage portfolio by increasing the health and wellness quotient of its products through RD. It has strengthened. its carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) segment, comprised of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and Mountain Dew. In 2007, it launched Diet Pepsi Max in the US. It is a zero calorie energy drink and targets young men. It also introduced the high caffeine Mountain Dew Game Fuel in 2008, aimed at video gamers. PepsiCo has also introduced new carbonated juice drinks such as Izze, which is free of caffeine, refined sugars and artificial ingredients and is naturally sweetened with fruit juice. Izze fruit juices primarily targets carbonates customers who want alternatives to artificially sweetened soft drinks. Growth through partnerships PepsiCo concentrates on partnerships and joint ventures to expand its operations. In 2007, it extended the scope of its partnerships with Starbucks and Unilever on RTD beverages, and is expanding into other categories through acquisitions. In January 2008, it announced plans to acquire Penelopa nuts and seeds in Bulgaria, and in 2006, it purchased Duyvis nuts business. Also In 2006, the company entered the salted snacks business in New Zealand with the acquisition of Bluebird Foods, and expanded its snacks business in Brazil with the purchase of Lucky snacks.

Aristotles Reform of Paideia :: Paideia Artistotle Philosophy Essays

Aristotle's Reform of Paideia ABSTRACT: Ancient Greek education featured the pedagogical exercise of dialectic, in which a student defended a thesis against rigorous questioning by an instructor. Aristophanes’ Clouds, as well as Plato and Aristotle, criticize the practice for promoting intellectual skepticism, moral cynicism, and an eristic spirit - the desire to win in argument rather than seek the truth. I suggest Aristotle’s logic is meant to reform the practice of dialectic. In the first part of my paper, I defend the thesis that Aristotle’s syllogistic is an art of substantive reasoning against the contemporary view that it is a science of abstract argument forms. First, I show that Aristotle’s exclusive distinction between art and science makes syllogistic a techne for the higher forms of knowledge, science and practical wisdom. Then I argue that Aristotle’s treatment of demonstrative and dialectical syllogisms provides rigorous standards for reasoning in science and publi c debate. In particular I discuss a) the requirement that a demonstration use verifiable premises whose middle term points out a cause for the predicate applying to the conclusion; b) how his analysis of valid syllogisms with a "wholly or partly false" universal premise applies to dialectical syllogisms. Aristotle’s logic is a major achievement of Greek paideia, valued and preserved continuously even in dark ages following its commitment to writing. Here I look at its role in reforming Greek education. The mission of Greek paideia, Aristotle argues in the Politics, is to enable members of a community to discuss with each other serious matters of common interest requiring joint decisionmaking and action. A political organization requires "a method of deciding what is demanded by the public interest and what is just in men’s private dealings" (Politics 1328b2ff).(1) He also stresses the essential function of education to promote the intellectual excellence of the student. A distinctive feature of Greek education in Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s Lyceum was dialectic – an intellectual exercise in which a student took a position on an issue and defended it against rigorous questioning from an instructor or another student. The origin of dialectic is So crates elenctic mode of inquiry. Socrates asked a willing or unwilling citizen to put forward a definition of an ethical notion, such as justice, then engaged in a cunning and often baffling conversation with him. By a circuitous route the colloquy ended with the student making an admission inconsistent with his original postulate.

Horror and Self-punishment in Sophocles Oedipus Rex Essay -- Oedipus

Horror and Self-punishment in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex An ancient plate portraying Oedipus listening to the riddle of the Sphinx. Oedipus Rex is a play whose qualities of inscrutability and of pervasive irony quickly come to complicate any critical discussion. It is a play of transformations in which things change before our eyes as we watch; where meanings and implications seem to be half-glimpsed beneath the surface of the text only to vanish as we try to take them in; and where ironical resemblance and reflections abound to confuse our response. The play encourages us to make connections and to draw out implications that in the end we are forced to reassess, to question and perhaps abandon. The play's meaning through two oppositions is defined by its stage action and its language, are parallel and complimentary to each other. The play is, in a way that determines our response to its meaning, a sequential experience. Our response is shaped through the duration of its performance. The opening of the play presents us with a gathering, the old and the young, no women, no fully adult males, so that Oedipus is, at once, magnified and isolated. His calm authority is overwhelming and majestic. But on what does Oedipus' authority rest? There is a crucial uncertainty here. The opening scenes present us with an image of Oedipus as a political figure, a human king whose power derives from the community he rules, whose perceptions and whose feelings are indissoluble bound up with the experience of the men of Thebes, whose language he speaks and where he belongs. We are swept aside as a gathering panic occupies Oedipus' mind at hearing mention of a place he remembers, where he once killed a man. If that man was Laius, Oedipus s... ...e vain attempts of mankind to escape the evil that threatens them. There is an unmistakable indication in the text of Sophocles' tragedy itself that the legend of Oedipus sprang from some primeval dream-material that had as its content the distressing disturbance of a child's relation to his parents owing to the first stirring of sexuality. At a point when Oedipus, though he is not yet enlightened, has begun to feel troubled by his recollections of the oracle, Jocasta consoles him by referring to a dream, as she thinks, it has no meaning. It is clearly the key to the tragedy and the complement to the dream of the dreamer's father being dead. The story of Oedipus is the reaction of the imagination to these typical dreams. And just as the dreams, when dreamt by adults, are accompanied by feelings of repulsion, so too the legend must include horror and self-punishment.

Hercules: 12 Labors Of Hercules :: essays research papers

Hercules: 12 Labors of Hercules Hercules, in Greek mythology, was a hero known for his strength and courage and for his legendary adventures. Hercules is the Roman name for the Greek hero Heracles. He was the son of the god Zeus and a human mother Alcmene, wife of the Theban general Amphitryon. Hera, Zeus' jealous wife, was determined to kill Hercules, and after Hercules was born, she sent two great serpents to kill him. Hercules, while he was still a baby, strangled the snakes. Hercules conquered a tribe that had been demanding money from Thebes. As a reward, he was given the hand in marriage of the Theben princess Megara and they had three children. Hera, still filled hatred of Hercules, sent him into madness, which made him kill his wife and children. In horror and remorse at what he did, Hercules was about to kill himself. But he was told by the oracle at Delphi that he should purge himself by becoming the servant of his cousin Eurystheus, king of Mycenae. Eurystheus, urged by Hera, planned as a punishment the 12 impossible tasks, the "Labors of Hercules." The Twelve Labors The first task was to kill the lion of Nemea, a lion that could not be hurt by any weapon. Hercules knocked out the lion with his club first, then he strangled it to death. He wore the skin of the lion as a cloak and the head of the lion as a helmet, a trophy of his adventure. The second task was to kill the Hydra that lived in a swamp in Lerna. The Hydra had nine heads. One head was immortal and when one of the others was chopped off, two grew back in its place. Cancer, one of the Hydra's guards, bit Hercules on the foot when he came near, and was crushed by Hercules, but she was rescued by Hera. Hercules scorched each mortal neck with a burning torch to prevent it from growing two heads and he buried the immortal head under a rock. He then dipped his arrows in the Hydra's blood to make them poisonous. Hercules' next labor is to capture alive a stag with golden horns and bronze hoofs that was sacred to Artemis, goddess of the hunt. The fourth labor was to capture a great boar in Mount Erymanthus. Hercules used the poison arrows with the Hydra's blood to shoot at the Erymanthian boar. One of the poison arrows wounded Hercules' friend Cheiron, an immortal centaur, half-horse and half-man. Cheiron feared the poison arrow would hurt him for eternity, but Zeus rewarded him for his service to the gods by Hercules: 12 Labors Of Hercules :: essays research papers Hercules: 12 Labors of Hercules Hercules, in Greek mythology, was a hero known for his strength and courage and for his legendary adventures. Hercules is the Roman name for the Greek hero Heracles. He was the son of the god Zeus and a human mother Alcmene, wife of the Theban general Amphitryon. Hera, Zeus' jealous wife, was determined to kill Hercules, and after Hercules was born, she sent two great serpents to kill him. Hercules, while he was still a baby, strangled the snakes. Hercules conquered a tribe that had been demanding money from Thebes. As a reward, he was given the hand in marriage of the Theben princess Megara and they had three children. Hera, still filled hatred of Hercules, sent him into madness, which made him kill his wife and children. In horror and remorse at what he did, Hercules was about to kill himself. But he was told by the oracle at Delphi that he should purge himself by becoming the servant of his cousin Eurystheus, king of Mycenae. Eurystheus, urged by Hera, planned as a punishment the 12 impossible tasks, the "Labors of Hercules." The Twelve Labors The first task was to kill the lion of Nemea, a lion that could not be hurt by any weapon. Hercules knocked out the lion with his club first, then he strangled it to death. He wore the skin of the lion as a cloak and the head of the lion as a helmet, a trophy of his adventure. The second task was to kill the Hydra that lived in a swamp in Lerna. The Hydra had nine heads. One head was immortal and when one of the others was chopped off, two grew back in its place. Cancer, one of the Hydra's guards, bit Hercules on the foot when he came near, and was crushed by Hercules, but she was rescued by Hera. Hercules scorched each mortal neck with a burning torch to prevent it from growing two heads and he buried the immortal head under a rock. He then dipped his arrows in the Hydra's blood to make them poisonous. Hercules' next labor is to capture alive a stag with golden horns and bronze hoofs that was sacred to Artemis, goddess of the hunt. The fourth labor was to capture a great boar in Mount Erymanthus. Hercules used the poison arrows with the Hydra's blood to shoot at the Erymanthian boar. One of the poison arrows wounded Hercules' friend Cheiron, an immortal centaur, half-horse and half-man. Cheiron feared the poison arrow would hurt him for eternity, but Zeus rewarded him for his service to the gods by

Determinants of Intelligence Test Scores

Determinants of intelligence test scores Heredity Is the passing of traits to offspring (from its parent or ancestors)? This is the process by which an offspring  cell  or  organism  acquires or becomes predisposed to the characteristics of its parent cell or organism. Through heredity, variations exhibited by individuals can accumulate and cause some  species  to evolve. The study of heredity in  biology  is called  genetics, which includes the field of  epigenetic. Social Refers to a characteristic of living  organisms  as applied to populations of humans and other animals.It always refers to the interaction of organisms with other organisms and to their collective co-existence, irrespective of whether they are aware of it or not, and irrespective of whether the interaction is  voluntary  or  involuntary. Education In its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people sustain from one generation to the next. [1]  Generally, it occurs through any experience  that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts.In its narrow, technical sense, education is the formal process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated  knowledge,  skills,  customs  and  values  from one generation to another, e. g. instruction in schools. A right to education has been created and recognized by some jurisdictions: Since 1952, Article 2 of the first Protocol to the  European Convention on Human Rights  obliges all signatory parties to guarantee the right to education. At the global level, the  Nations’ International  of 1966 guarantees this right under its Article 13.Maturation Maturation is the process of learning to cope and react in an emotionally appropriate way. It does not necessarily happen along with aging or physical growth, but is a part of growth and development. A situation a person must deal with at a young age prepares them for the next a nd so on into adulthood. Maturation does not stop when physical growth ends – it continues through adulthood. An adult who loses a parent, for instance, learns to cope with a new emotional situation that will affect the way he or she deals with ituations that follow. physical factor A factor in the  a biotic  environment that influences the growth and development of organisms or biological  communities. Personality psychology Is a branch of  psychology  that studies personality and individual differences. Its areas of focus include: * Constructing a coherent picture of the  individual  and his or her major psychological processes * Investigating individual differences—how people are unique * Investigating  human nature—how people are alike Personality† can be defined as a dynamic and organized set of characteristics possessed by a person that uniquely influences his or her  cognitions,  emotions,  motivations, andbehaviors  in vario us situations. The word â€Å"personality† originates from the  Latin  persona, which means  mask. Significantly, in the  theatre  of the ancient Latin-speaking world, themask  was not used as a plot device to  disguise  the identity of a character, but rather was a convention employed to represent or  typify  that character.Personality may also refer to the patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors consistently exhibited by an individual over time that strongly influence our expectations, self-perceptions, values and attitudes, and predicts our reactions to people, problems and stress. In a phrase, personality is not just who we are,  Gordon Allport  (1937) described two major ways to study personality: the nomothetic and the  idiographic. Nomothetic psychology  seeks general laws that can be applied to many different people, such as the principle of  self-actualization, or the trait ofextraversion.Idiographic psychology  is an attempt to u nderstand the unique aspects of a particular individual. The study of personality has a broad and varied history in psychology, with an abundance of theoretical traditions. The major theories include dispositional (trait) perspective, psychodynamic, humanistic, biological, behaviorist and social learning perspective. There is no consensus on the definition of â€Å"personality† in psychology. Most researchers and psychologists do not explicitly identify themselves with a certain perspective and often take an eclectic approach.Some research is empirically driven such as dimensional models based on  multivariate statistics  such as  factor analysis, whereas other research emphasizes theory development such as  psychodynamics. There is also a substantial emphasis on the applied field of personality testing. In psychological education and training, the study of the nature of personality and its psychological development is usually reviewed as a prerequisite to courses in abnormal or clinical psychology. Abilities associatedSpatial visualization ability  or  Visual-spatial ability  is the ability to mentally manipulate  2-dimensional  and  3-dimensional  figures. It is typically measured with simple  cognitive tests  and is predictive of user performance with some kinds of  user interfaces. Verbal fluency tests  are a kind of  psychological test  in which participants have to say as many words as possible from a category in a given time (usually 60 seconds). This category can be  semantic, such as animals or fruits, or  phonemic, such as words that begin with letter  p. 1]  The semantic fluency test is sometimes described as the category fluency test or simply as ‘freelisting'. The COWAT (Controlled oral word association test) is the most employed phonetic variant. [2][3]  Although the most common performance measure is the total number of words, other analyses such as number of repetitions, number and length of clusters of words from the same semantic or phonetic subcategory, or number of switches to other categories can be carried out. 4][5] Verbal comprehension  is the ability to understand the  meaning  of  verbal stimuli. This may involve  listening comprehension,  reading comprehension  as well as  sentence comprehension  . Inductive reasoning, also known as  induction, is a kind of  reasoning  that constructs or evaluates general  propositions  that are derived from specific examples. Inductive reasoning contrasts with  deductive reasoning, in which specific examples are derived from general propositions.