Reaction Paper Essay Example

Reaction Paper Essay On the 9th of February, I visited the Ayala Museum with the company of my mother and a friend, in the hopes that I could see some extraordinary things from our country’s (and as well as some parts of Asia’s) past – things that we do not see inside the classroom. To get this show on the road, I think it would be best to begin by saying that I was not at all disappointed. Starting from the grand lobby of the building, we made our way up to the fourth floor, where the exhibits that the teacher had required us to see are located.Stepping out of the elevator and passing through the automatic glass-doors, we were greeted by a dark room, with a huge screen, much like what we see in theaters. It was showing a video about the Gold of Ancestors. Very few people were inside, fellow students from other schools, I expected. But I did not dwell on that area. Truth be told, the Gold of Ancestors was not what I was looking forward to. I was actually very keen to see the exhibit on the Austronesian Theory. I will admit that before I went for my visit to the museum, I made a small research on the Austronesian Theory, the people and which exact parts did they dominate back then.I could not stand the wait that I had to check what I was getting myself into. Not that I was not trusting the museum to thoroughly explain the theory that I had to check the trusted Wikipedia. I was merely excited. What I did find out was that the creation of Indianized kingdoms Srivijava, Melayu, Majapahit and the founding of Hinduism and Buddhism were because most of the Austronesian people that populated in Maritime Southeast Asia traded goods with India and China and that the sea was the basic tenet for the Austronesian people. That said, their main means of transportation was boating.In addition to that, something from the Austronesian Filipinos, Mummification was found among the country’s highland. Those facts among others. After going through my tour at the Austronesian exhibit at the museum, I found out that my advance research was accurate, quite the same with what I saw there. I walked further inside and there, I saw: pieces of gold behind glassed cases, one section different from the other. They were, I must say, very nice, though some were nowhere near coherent that I really had to read the label below it to know its purpose. Some were diadems, cuff-links, bangles and many more.They more likely leaned onto the accessories department. And they were probably owned by the leaders back then. Almost every wall of the place bore glass-cases with pieces of gold, all of which had a brief description. And if not that, huge writings on the walls, explaining the exhibits. I walked further and then I saw a huge writing saying ‘Austronesian Migrations’. Instinctively, I made my way there. The writing stated that an archaeologist named Peter Bellwood did a research upon this study. The man claimed that about six thousand years ago, the Austrone sian populations began migrating south.In the Philippines, they set sail to it some four thousand five hundred years ago. Then after a thousand years, they dispersed southeast, through the Mariana Islands and eastern Indonesia towards Oceania. Later, they moved through Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula and southern Vietnam. Beside the brief summary of the Austronesian Migrations was a drawing of a map of the Southeast Asia. Lines connected one island to the other, stating where the Austronesian people came from and later moved to. After reading that, I walked through the back part of the room.Needless to say, more various kinds of gold were on display and more writings about other exhibits. I stopped on the left side. There, written on glass styled as a counter, were brief descriptions on another exhibit called the ‘Laguna Copper Plate’. Beside that was, once again, about Austronesian Migration. Only this time, it is a longer and more thorough description of the said topic. It was divided into sub-topics: Introduction The Austronesian-speaking people are ancestors of most populations in Malaysia, Indonesia and, of course, the Philippines. Also said in that, Homogeneity was big in the Austronesian family.To explain, Homogeneity, according to the Webster Dictionary, meant uniform; of the same element. Story of Movement, Survival, Colonization and Settlement As said in the museum, the Austronesian people’s main strength was sustaining settlement. Meaning they were at best when it came to coping with everyday life. As it seemed, they were intelligent, hardworking, resourceful and probably open-minded. Which, as far as I know, are what are you supposed to be if you want to keep the food on the table going and a roof over your family’s heads to shelter yourselves.It was also stated that they have plenty of sources of vitamins – protein, more like – that came from their crops, animals and fishes. Although there was no evidence of p lanting rice, they domesticated tubers. And in addition to that, they also domesticated pigs, dogs and chickens. Another essential to their everyday work were dug out boats with outriggers. This means of transportation enabled them to sail further for various purposes such as fishing and visiting other islands for trading. Cultures Flourished As I have said earlier, there were various accessories on display. Many of them were earrings in real gold.The Austronesian people had omega-shaped earrings as part of their culture. But the shape was not only known in earrings. The omega shape was also found in atopic materials not only in the Philippines, but also in Sarawak, Southern Thailand and Southern Vietnam. Another part of their culture was burial shroud woven with a backstrap loom. The earliest shroud was found in Romblon, Philippines. In a non-Neolithic site in Vietnam, a much older shroud was recently hollowed out. Betel leaves and Arecibo palm nit was used then and not to mention, now, as ingredients for popular chew preparations spiked with pounded lime.This cultural delicacy was called Manobo in Agusan, Mindanao. Evidences of Other Austronesian Links It was said that the Southeast Asian notions about the upperworld, underworld and the earthly realm have been linguistically traced back to periods before in contact with Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic and western systems of thought. Sculpted figures of birds are viewed as symbols of the upperworld, the nags or serpent as the underworld and a tree with high branches and deep roots connected the two realms made the tripartite universe to reaffirm. REACTION:As I walked out of the museum doors, I had about a dozen things in mind. Most of which were terms I had to add to the paper. I was already looking forward to writing them down so I will not forget. That was how much I had absorbed in my mind just by going through the exhibit and taking small notes on it. So when I got home, after some rest, I sat in front of the co mputer and began typing away. I still am – this paper, a work in progress. As I have said much earlier on, I was in high hopes of seeing historic artifacts and the museum did not disappoint me.I had admitted that I made an early research on the Austronesian Theory which was very much the same with what I saw in the museum, but the internet could never trump the museum. I had seen rare pieces of gold in pictures in the internet, yes. But seeing it solid and real, it was amazing. The Ayala Museum did not spare me on information. I had been in numerous museums before. From the yearly school trips that I had at elementary and high school to just for leisure and entertainment to, such as this one, a requirement by a teacher, in research for a paper.And remembering it now, when I was a kid, I did go to the Ayala Museum. Back then, I was seven years old, wowed by pretty much everything and forgetting about it when the next good thing came along. Needless to say, I mostly forgot what I appreciated at the museum during that visit. But now, on my second visit, after more than half of my life had passed, I was more aware of the things around me. The point that I am making is that, years have passed and the museum has, in a lot of aspects, changed.And now, it would be such a shame not to mention how I appreciated the high technology that the museum had offered. Something they did not had a lot of back then. From the automatic glass-doors to the video on little screens that automatically plays when a person walks below the censor. It gives you furthermore information other than what was written already. Like, for example, in the Austronesian portion on the room, a little screen was placed beside it that played a video the second I stood before it. Just as what I said, I really was not spared on information.I am very confident to say that it would be ridiculous to think that the money paid for the tickets was such a waste. During my second visit, while going through the pieces of gold, I could not help but feel pleased with what we get to call as our ancestors. My heart swelled with pride and appreciation. I was, still am, thankful to them for passing down these down. And also for the researchers and specialists for finding them and preserving their beauty so that it can last for years and years so that not only the present generation can see and appreciate it but also for the many generations to come. Another thing that caught my attention was the fact that the Austronesian people were really good at sustaining settlements. The most important, is what it was. Food and shelter were the main things they sought for. Survival skills were an essential to daily living. You could just tell that they had worked hard and most likely faced different challenges every day. Anyone should admire how they coped with that and the fact that that was what they did best. Fancy, I must say, the gold was, but to top that, it was very much exquisite, very transcend ing.Not that I am attracted to the worth of the gold, it was never about that. It was the hard work behind it. With the obvious lack of high technology at that time, it was very difficult to achieve things without perseverance and incessant hard work. They had to find the means to make the gold to put them to use. Beautiful it was, but that was not its symbol. It was a sign of character; it showed that the Austronesian-people did indeed had perseverance, hard work and to top it all, dedication because it was an achievement to create such things.Which, hypothetically, were the real treasures that they had passed down. Those strong aspects – they were much more appreciated than the gold. To the gold, it was the professionals’ job to preserve them. But to these characterizations, it was ours – the descendants’ – job to preserve them. The professionals undergo much study on how to do their job. But for us descendants, we find our own means how to do it . We work harder, stick together, be there for each other and most importantly, we share what we have to the others.We pass down treasures worth keeping so that we are not the only ones who can benefit from them but all the generations to come. Just as what our ancestors did for us. Not only the gold, knowledge or story that our ancestors passed down to us, but their views in life and what they believed in as an individual and a member of a group of people striving for endurance through various of trials everyday, as well – which, if you ask me, is better than any other treasure. We value it, preserve it and pass it down for next descendants to do the same. An endless cycle, really.

Power Generation from Radio Wave Technology

Power Generation from Radio Wave Technology Introduction Radio wave technology is the use of airwaves in transmitting and receiving information. It is the foundation of most of our communication in the present day. Radio waves fall under the group of waves termed electromagnetic radiation, which travel at the speed of light (3108 m/s).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Power Generation from Radio Wave Technology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These types of waves (including light, infrared, microwaves and x-rays) are classified based on their wavelengths and frequencies. The frequencies of radio waves lie between 300GHz to 3 kHz with wavelengths of 1mm to 100km. Some of the communication equipments that use radio waves include satellite dishes, radar, radios, television, mobile phones and wireless internet. The use of radio waves for powering electronic devices had not been exploited due to the nature of waves to weaken and dissipate as they spread du e to their interaction with other waves and matter. Recently, a growing interest in alternative sources of energy that could provide efficient power in remote and sensitive locations has led to research into radio wave power generation. This paper looks at the history of radio waves and how power can be generated from them and how it can be applied in electronic devices. History and growth of radio wave technology The history of radio waves as medium for transmitting information started way back in the 1860s when James Clerk Maxwell, a physicist from Scotland, envisaged the existence of the waves. His prediction was enhanced in 1886 by Heinrich Rudolph Hertz, a German physicist, who went a notch further to show how variation of electric current could be sent into space as radio waves (Bellis 3). He was able to generate and compute the first waves by using an oscillator for transmitting the waves and a metal loop for detecting them (Parker 3). In 1895 Guglielmo Marconi, from Italy, s ent a radio signal over a distance of 100m and received it. He used crafted antenna, transmitter, and condenser and had connections on the ground that could receive the signals. He also sent a wireless signal across the English Channel in 1899(Bellis 5), a distance of 3.5 miles. In addition, Nikola Tesla helped in developing and enhancing wireless radio transmitters.Advertising Looking for research paper on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ships started using wireless telegraphy for sending distress calls while at sea. In 1899, the U.S Army adopted the wireless system and in 1901, the Navy also adopted the system. Lee Deforest invented the space telegraph in the early 1900s where amplifiers were used to strengthen weak signals (Bellis 12). Marconi was able to transmit voice in 1914 over a distance of 50 miles (Bellis 12). Over time, many people aided in developing and enhancing radio wave communicati on and today we have 4G technologies that send information at very high speeds, besides audio and video streaming. Power generation using radio waves Electromagnetic radiation and photons Electromagnetic waves can be said to have an atomic structure and can either generate or expend energy (â€Å"Electromagnetic waves† par. 7). The electromagnetic radiation, in quantum terms, is said to have photons transporting energy (Joules). A single photon has energy equal to hf. h is Planck’s constant =6.62610-34 J s and f =frequency of photon v is the velocity of light= 3108 m/s and ÃŽ » =wavelength of photonAdvertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Power Generation from Radio Wave Technology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Collection of radio waves energy Radio wave energy can be collected and harnessed using various equipments and components. The generation circuit has components such as antenna, capacitors , diodes, transistors, inductors and resistors. The antenna is used for receiving the electromagnetic signal. This signal received is then rectified. The rectifying circuit is made of diodes. Once the signal has been rectified, it is boosted before being stored in capacitors. The power stored is used to drive a load or resistor via a switching circuit. Figure 1: Block diagram for ground circuit for capturing radio waves Figure 2: Circuit diagram for capturing and generating power from radio waves MOS transistors are used for switching or controlling the stored power to the load. The source of the MOSFET (for switching) is connected to the storage capacitor with the drain connected to the load. The link between the capacitor and load is created when the voltage of the stored charge is equivalent to the sum of the threshold voltages of both MOSFETs (Ishida et al. 4). Potential of radio wave harvesting Radio wave energy can be efficiently and sufficiently harvested if various facto rs are considered. These are:Advertising Looking for research paper on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Using powerful receivers which detect a wide range of frequencies as well as arresting a high concentration of the wasted waves Ensuring energy is obtained at low power density from sensors located far-off from the source for energy obtained varies inversely with distance (1/d2) Ensuring the voltage generated from the source is greater than 0.3V (1 milliwatt) for satisfactory conversion of all incoming wave Using high quality circuits and transistors Applications of the power generated using radio waves Power generated by radio waves is quite small ranging from a few microwatts to hundreds of milliwatts. The power generated can be used in devices such as: LED monitor lights Sensors LCD display thermometer Implants in the biomedical field Charging the battery for cell phones Safety hard hat Possibility of radio waves technology replacing batteries Nowadays, there is a high requirement for efficient energy sources. Furthermore, the sources should be mobile and flexible. Batteries are usually bulky, require regular maintenance and have a limited life and as such require constant replacement. With the rapid advancement in technology where electronic gadgets and devices are continually made smaller and efficient, their energy requirements have decreased over time. Proper harnessing of radio wave energy could provide an alternative source of energy for powering small electrical devices such as sensors. This is through capturing the electricity produced by the radio waves and is depended on how far the transmitter is and the magnitude of the power generated by the transmitter. The power that can be harnessed from these waves is in the range of microwatts to milliwatts which can be sufficient for powering the devices especially in remote locations. Thus, there is a possibility of radio waves technology replacing batteries. Conclusion and personal thought about radio wave technology application in future Energy harnessed from wasted radio waves is small. This energ y may not be adequate to power large electronic devices but technology has been changing very rapidly in the recent years. Many companies are developing gadgets that are very small, thus requiring less power. For example, the mobile phone industry has seen a reduction in the size of the phones but with more installed phone features and applications. Nokia has come up with a harvesting device embedded in a cell phone. This device is able to charge the phone’s battery (Dixon 3). This means that in the future, many miniature gadgets will have been developed which will totally rely on radio frequency energy. Furthermore, radio wave energy will provide a reliable source of energy since the use of cell phones, television, radios and other communication devices is on the rise. Bellis, Mary. The Invention of Radio. 2012. Web. http://inventors.about.com/od/rstartinventions/a/radio.htm. Dixon, Bryn. Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting. 2010. Web. http://rfenergyharvesting.com/. Electrom agnetic Waves. 2010. PDF file. 13 Nov. 2012. geo.mtu.edu/~scarn/teaching/GE4250/EM_wave_lecture.pdf. Ishida, Makoto, Kazuaki Sawada, Hidekuni Takao, and Minoru Sudo. Power Generation Circuit using Electromagnetic Wave. 7 Jun. 2011. Web. https://www.google.com/patents?id=1e3mAQAAEBAJprintsec=abstractzoom=4#v=onepageqf=true. Parker, Bev. The History of Radio. n.d. Web. localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Engineering/Electronics/history/radiohistory.htm.

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Marketing - Essay Example This paper will look at the Federal Reserve Bank’s organizational structure and its roles in governing monetary policy. The structure of the Federal Reserve Bank consists of Member banks, Reserve Banks, the Federal Open Market Committee, Board of Governors, and the congress and the President. Member Banks Member Banks refer to private banks, for example, Bank of America, which has the stock in any of the twelve local Reserve Banks. Every countrywide chattered bank must own stock in the Federal Reserve. In addition, state chartered banks or financial institutions may decide to own stock or not if they satisfy a number of conditions. The stock held by these banks cannot be traded or sold like ordinary stock and constituent banks get fixed amount of dividend every year on this stock (Arthur 417). Moreover, constituent banks have the dispensation of selecting a number of the officials in the board of their regional Reserve Banks. Reserve Banks   The operating arm of the Federal Reserve Bank is made up of twelve regional Reserve Banks. These regional Reserve Banks have the responsibility of regulating and supervising constituent banks. In addition, the regional Reserve Banks are charged with the responsibility of handing out coins and currency to affiliate banks (Arthur 418). Every Reserve Bank is made up of nine board of directors. ... The five individuals are New York’s Reserve Bank chairman and heads of any four Reserve Banks (Arthur 418). Officials from Reserve Banks operate on a rotary process, and only the official from the Reserve Bank of New York serves on a permanent basis. Board of Governors   The Board of Governors constitutes seven officials who are picked by the American President and approved by the American Senate. The Board of Governors also comprises a chairperson and a vice chairperson. Every official in the Board of Governors holds his position for up to fourteen years. Also, these officials cannot be reappointed after the expiry of their terms. The fourteen year term serves as a precaution for the Federal Reserve Bank to conduct its functions without any political interference (Arthur 419). The president picks two officials from the board, one of the officials become the Chairperson and the other becomes the vice chairperson. The two ranks last for four year duration. US Congress and the President   The president makes appointments and the Senate approve the Board of Governors members. Nevertheless, the Federal Reserve Bank functions on its finances. This safeguards it from the influence of the administration during the making of the budget every year. Congress can hold the Federal Reserve Bank accountable for its activities. In addition, Congress can control both the Federal Reserve Bank’s responsibilities and activities by law (Arthur 420). This means Congress can change the activities of the Federal Reserve Banks by enforcing new laws. The Federal Reserve Bank also has roles associated with governing monetary policy. The Board of Governors has the responsibility of establishing

Identify the main reasons behind the phenomenal success of Facebook Essay

Identify the main reasons behind the phenomenal success of Facebook. Evaluate whether the rapid growth of the last decade can be sustained - Essay Example The site has recorded tremendous growth since its inception, and this is owed to various factors as will be discussed in this paper. The success of Facebook mainly lies on the fact that the company has endeavored to improve the products it offers so that they meet the requirements of users (Walter, 2013). At first, the company did not dwell on making profits, but with the increased dependency of people on Facebook for various purposes it started making profits from advertising and selling data that was exchanged through the site. Facebook has developed to be one of the most popular sites since its inception in 2004 and continues to gather a following to the present day. Being the largest social media site, Facebook was started as a theory in 2003 by Zuckerberg, a Harvard student and was known as Facemash.com., at that time (Phillips, 2007). The site allowed Zuckerberg’s classmates to visit the site and compare how attractive people were, but was criticized and it did not become a success then. However, in 2004 mark launched the Facebook and within a day more than 1200 Harvard students had signed up and created a profile. In no time, word spread around, and the founders of the site saw it necessarily to open the site to other universities in the states. As at august 2005, the site was bought for 200,000$ and was now referred to as faceboo.com (Phillips, 2007). High schools in the United States were now allowed to create profiles and as at September the same year, it began to be known all over the world with the united kingdom universities being the first to know about the site after the united states. As word spread all over the world about the site, the network grew beyond being only used in schools but was now accessible to anybody who wanted to join and had an email address. The fact that the site was free to join made it easy for it to grow as more features were added to it to make user friendly. It made profits through

Twister Party Essay Example for Free

Twister Party Essay Do you have the game of Twister sitting on your shelf collecting dust or buried in your basement gathering cobwebs?   It’s time to dust it off and revive an old party classic.   Twister is back and better than ever if you have the right mindset and group of friends to play along.   With several newer versions of the old game now available, you can even learn to dance as you play this all time favorite.   However, if you haven’t even played the basic version of the classic game, here is all you need to do for you and your college buddies to have a fun and entertaining evening.    You need to get the right group of friends together, play the game correctly, have the right mindset! Twister players come in all shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common.   They all love to play the game. Find out which of your friends enjoy playing.   Those who say that they don’t, ask them to consider or at least to come over and watch and hang out while a group of more willing participants play.   By the end of the night, they should be hooked and ready to play.    If not, you at least have someone who can be the spinner, or if you have the dance version, the person who watches to see who messes up, â€Å"the judge†.   The right group of friends will enjoy playing whatever form of Twister you choose and will probably even be willing to come up with new twisted versions of the game.   Having a group of friends who are ready and willing to play is the first step in playing Twister.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Once you have your group of friends gathered, let the fun begin!   Playing Twister is very simple.   One player is the spinner, and he or she will spin the spinner.   The spin board has right hand, left hand, right foot and left foot on it with different colored circles, similar to the board.   Each player starts at a home row and then must do what the spinner calls out. For example, if the spinner lands on right hand and a red circle, the players must all place their right hands on a red circle.   You cannot share circles and sometimes circles are far away, so this game involves some stretching and sometimes compromising body positions and contortions. The first person to get stuck or who is not able to move or who falls down loses.   Players continue to â€Å"twist† their bodies all over the plastic mat until the best player is left standing, or rather sprawled across the board.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In order to fully enjoy your night of Twister, you must have the right mindset.   If it is a game of skill you seek, make sure you stretch before hand so you are nimble and able to reach those hard to contort to positions.   If you are using the dance version, brush up a bit before hand and make sure you’re warmed up before beginning, but remember, it’s all about fun   and skill, unless you’re in it for cash.   Then it’s cutthroat!   If you’re playing something more risquà ©, be sure you feel comfortable in such a position and that you are ready for this type of action.   You know that it get’s pretty close and tangled in a game of Twister!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The game of Twister is making a comeback, like many old toys and games.   This old classic is still a party favorite and you can revive it with your friends and have wonderful Twister parties if you have the right group of people, know how to play, and have the right mindset.

History And Culture Of Klutch Cultural Studies Essay

History And Culture Of Klutch Cultural Studies Essay History of Kutch Kutch has a very rich and vibrant history. People have migrated in and out of Kutch from countries like Afghanistan, Sindh, Britain and Africa for centuries and the various stone implements found by explorations in and around the place verify that it was inhabited from prehistoric times. In fact, traces of the astonishing Indus Valley civilization (3000 to 1500B.C.) have been discovered at Dholavira- Kutch. It was referred to by Alexander the great as `Abhir`, which means the shape of tortoise. It had always remained a place of a lesser population, especially in the 9th century. Kutch has also experienced frequent earthquake since medieval times. The earliest earthquake recorded in Kutch dates back to 16th June 1819. Since then, over 90 earthquakes of varying intensity have struck the region, but none as severe as the most recent one in 2001. Kutch in Ancient Period (3000 B.C to 920 AD) Rann was not an arm of the sea during the early days when Alexander the great visited these places in 325BC. The eastern branches of the Indus River emptied the most important channel into the Rann and Kutch was a kind of extension of Sindh on the other side of the larger freshwater lake, which could be easily crossed. The Mauryan Empire broke of the Gujarat, Kutch and Sindh provinces and passed under the rules of Greeks from Bactria in 140-120 BC. Bactrian rule over Gujarat, Kathiawad and Kutch was ended by Sakas in the 1st Century and ruled upto the 3rd century. After that Samudragupta attacked the Sakas and ended their rule. Kutch in Modern Period (1500 AD to 2001) Much of Kutch history in the 13th, 14th and 15th century has witnessed a lot of violence through massacres, plunder and arson. In 1510, Rao Khengarji I a successor of Odha, (second son of Rato Raydhan) assumed power with the full approval of the Sultan of Ahmeddabad. He thus became the founder of the dynasty that was to rule Kutch till its merger with the Indian Union in 1948. Khengarji I`s capital was Rahper. This was later shifted to Bhuj in 1549. After the Partition of India in 1947, the province of Sindh, including the port of Karachi, ended up in Pakistan. The Indian Government constructed a modern port at Kandla in Kutch to serve as a port for western India in lieu of Karachi. There was a dispute over the Kutch region with Pakistan and battle broke out just months before the outbreak of the Second Kashmir War. Architecture The architecture that is followed in the construction of the houses in the Kutch region, and Gujarat as a whole, is called Bhonga and is commonly found in the rural areas. It is a tent like structure which has been in use in Gujarat and the Kutch region for over 200 years now. It consists of a single cylindrical shaped room and has a conical roof supported by cylindrical walls. The durability, sturdiness and the reason that this type of architecture is well suited to the desert condition makes it a very common sight across this region. Also, failure of the Bhongas in the last earthquake caused very few injuries to its occupants in spite of their collapse. These Bhongas are similar to the normal mud houses and is usually inhabited by the poor people. Places of Importance Bhuj is the headquarters of the Kutch district and apart from its strategic and administrative importance, it is also a beautiful place famous for its amazing landscape. Mandvi is a port situated along the coast, which is a tourist destination famous for its handicraft, tie-dye, silverwork and interesting architecture like Vijay Vilas Palace. It also showcases a few houses which have a blend of Indian and European styles of architecture and a lighthouse. The Mandvi Beach is also a place of importance with Water Sports and other forms of tourism developing along its coast. White Rann, named so due to the huge salt content in the desert making it look like ice, is a very common tourist attraction and the picturesque beauty of the place has made it an integral part of many movies as well. The Rann Utsav, a cultural event, happens here in the greater Rann of Kutch every year in December. It is organised by the Gujarat tourism department annually and is an opportunity for visitors to attend folk dance and music concepts, watch artisans at work, visit handicraft villages, see the historical monuments in the state, and go trekking as well. The Little Rann of Kutch and its environs, the Wild Ass Sanctuary is the last home of the Indian Wild Ass. Other species that could be seen during wildlife viewing drives in the sanctuary are the Nilgai or blue bull antelope, Blackbuck or Indian Antelope, Chinkara or Indian Gazelle, the endangered Indian Wolf, Desert and Indian Foxes, Jackal, and smaller species characteristic of the desert habitat. At the edge of the Little Rann of Kutch are lakes and marshes that attract waterfowl in numbers beyond comprehension. Huge flocks of flamingos, pelicans, cranes, storks, geese and ducks can be seen in winter. The Little Rann is also one of the few places in India where the Lesser Flamingo is breeding successfully. The place Banni (meaning bani hui, or ready made) gets its name from its geological past, the land was formed from the sediments deposited by several rivers that flowed through the region over several thousand years. People say that prior to the earthquake of 1816, the river Indus flowed right through Banni and the local farmers reaped rich harvests. After the earthquake, the rivers changed course and the place now is almost featureless, arid grassland fed only by the seasonal monsoons with very few farms seen. Due to the high salt content of the soil the vegetation is sparse and plants we came across most were salt tolerant shrubs like Mesvak , Lana, Ooeyen, Lai and Sedge. Places of Worship Hazipir, Karodpir, Mata Nu Madh, Narayan Sarovar, Koteshwar, Godhra, Vaishnav Devi, Gundala, Ghadsisha, etc. are places which are of interest to one and many. Each of them have a story to communicate and they each hold historic and religious importance in their own respective ways. Economy and Industries: Indias fastest growing state in the last decade has been the state of Gujarat. The Kutch region of Gujarat provides investors with both resources and the benefits of investment. The most important feature of the Kutch region comes geographically with two major ports Mundra and Kandla located in the region. These ports are closest to the Gulf and Europe and major trade occurs through both these ports. Kutch is home to a lot of small truck drivers. There are also NRI industrialists and businessmen who contribute to the economy of the region. The Kutch region is also blessed with abundance of natural resources like lignite, bauxite and gypsum. Most of these minerals are used for electricity generation by the Gujarat Electricity Board. The industry scenario in the region can be best described as making rapid strides. Companies of TATA Power, Adani and Sanghi Industries Ltd are housed in the region. Ancilliaries and support systems are also developing in the region at a fast pace. Due to all these the demand for non agricultural land has gone up at an astounding pace thereby accompanied with sky rocketing land prices. An acre of land available for Rs. 500 just 7-8 years ago is now sold at Rs.5 Crores. Although these stories are unheard of in the land of Kutch since its inception, they are becoming the reality of today. Due to such explosion, poor peasants lifestyles have gone a dramatic change and they are consuming brands like lottery winners. There are so many cases in which many people have opted for retirement from their farms and have sold it off to these corporate for a fat price tag and are now enjoying the fruits of their ancestors hardwork. Traditional industries such as salt, manufacture of shawls, handicr afts and silver items still exist in the region. The People of Kutch Kutch due to its geographic location is inhabitated with people from various regions. People have migrated from neighbouring regions of Marwar, Afghanistan, Sindh (now Pakistan).There are several nomadic, semi-Nomadic and artisan groups living in Kutch. The major communities include Jadejas, Lohana, Nishars, Darbars, Khatris, Rabaris and Ahirs. The majority of the population of Kutch follows Jainism as religion the Vanki Tirth temple situated in Mundra district considered to be one of the most elegant temples for Jains attracts over thousands of pilgrims every year but Hindus and Muslims are also in sizeable number in this region. Especially the Banni region is home to a number of nomadic Sindhi-Speaking Muslim group such as Dhanetah Jaths, Hingoras and Samma. There are also Sikhs residing in this part of the state the gurudwara for whom located at Lakhpat in Kutch was the house that Guru Nanak stayed in during his journey to Mecca. A person from the region of Kutch is known as Kutchi. Most of the Kutchis are strongly connected to their roots. They have strong social and cultural values imbibed in them. They say a Kutchi is born with entrepreneurial skills and business acumen. This goes to show, as a large number of Kutchis are businessman in small or big way (Adani, Euro Group, Nilkamal, Everest Group, Prince Plastic, Amarsons, Premsons, Benzer and Anchor etc). They also give a lot back to the region where they hail from. They build schools, hospitals, dharma shalas (dormitories), temples, bhojnalaya (free meals for all). They also provide ample job opportunities for all the youth hailing from that place. They train them and also trust them with utmost responsibilities. This is without any merit or skill based and is purely on the basis of a CSR role that they play for the communities that they are born in. They are these big names which are the stones on which a whole village is developed. Kutchis follow a patriarchal system and the male child still holds an important position in the house, they believed if its a male child he will be part of family business and if its a female she will be married off soon. There is some difference as to how a girl child is brought up and a male child. Kutchis till early 2000 did not lay special emphasis on education. Now the mindset is changing with people moving to cities. They want their children to be educated; kids today have aspirations to become doctor, engineer, and cricketer. Education now is an important consideration even for girls and there are girl schools that have been constructed. But even in the 21st century a girl child is engaged in as early as the 8th standard and is taught how to run a house at a tender age. Although now things are changing and girls are getting equal importance in a lot of families. A Kutchi believes in maintaining relationship throughout his life. Relationship is as important to him as money is. Also customs and traditions are extremely important to him. There are set practices which he follows for every occasion, the places of worship are extremely important and many in numbers. People of Kutch are very welcoming to people from other communities. Due to a large population of Hindus, Muslims and Jains etc, all the festivals are celebrated with a lot of exuberance. Most people are very warm hearted and treat everyone equally. For their own community Kutchis have also created sanatoriums for people to come and stay as hotels cannot be built everywhere. This reflects in the warm hospitality which they offer to any stranger who walks into their house and is offered a cup of tea and bidi. They feel honored and privileged if they are offered a bidi in anyones house. These are 2 conversations starters and also customs around which the whole community revolves around. Entertainment, socializing, conversations, rituals, etc. are all an offshoot of the warmth that they infect people with. Post the earthquake there has been a lot of developmental work done in the region of Kutch. There have been several industries set up, power plants have been constructed. Job opportunities have been created for the people and due to this there has been increase in the purchasing power of people. Now they have more disposable income in their hands and they have also become brand conscious. Social Status Kutch is home to people from all strata of the society, there are large business houses which come from Kutch and there are also people who live on daily wages. The social status of people varies from SEC A to SEC E2. There are people who belong to the working class and house wife as a concept is predominant in Kutch. Kutchis have been following a joint family structure since a very long time but off late due to migration and other factors slowly the families have started moving into nuclear structure. Even if the families have moved into smaller units, kutchis are still a very closely knit unit, they look after each other and ensure that every member of the family at least gets his daily bread. Most of the employment opportunity is first passed on to family members then people from kutchi community and then to the outside world. Culture Kutchis pride themselves on their rich culture and heritage and reflect the same through their dressing, language and even food habits. Costume The people of kutch have unique set of costumes as against the conventional wear. They normally wear embroidered work .Mirror work is also an important part of their outfit. In different parts of Kutch you will see different set of designs on the outfit as the workmanship of each region differs. A particular community in Kutch can be recognised on the basis of the costumes they wear for example, a rabari woman will always be seen in a black open blouse or odhnis which cover her face, the Jat women always wear red or black Chunnis. Chaniya Choli is another important costume for the women of Kutch. In Rural areas women wear abhla(mirror work) chaniya choli. They wear kanjari which is a long blouse embroidered with mirror work and choli. The men in Kutch wear a white outfit, they wear a white dhoti (lungi) and a khami and a white jacket .Another traditional costume of the men in Kutch is the Kaidiyu which is again white in color. The bottoms of these people are tight at the feet so that no insects enter them while they are working on in their fields. Bandhani print of Kutch is really famous in Indian and abroad and is in huge demand across market. The bride and her family is supposed to wear a special kind of Bandhani called as Gharchoda. This is still prevalent in the cities where a lot of expat kutchis get married. Widows can be recognised by a typical Red saree which she wears without any ornaments as accompaniments. Music Kutch has a rich heritage of traditional folk music. Musical instruments are also related to origins of people in Kutch, their taboos, their style of worship etc. It allows us to understand social and religious traditions. Some of the musical instruments of Kutch include Bhorrindo: A folk instrument which is a simple vacant dirt ball or like an egg twisted with three to four holes Dak or Dhaku: Dak is similar to Damru and is made up of hour glass frame with vellum heads. The Cords are pressed hard and released in quick succession to give the effect Dholak: One of the most important instruments in the folk music of Kutch. which is played at all major occasions be it a small event or the navratri functions Jodia pawa: A pair of double flutes is also known as Alghoza. It is mainly played by the shepherds in the desert. It is used in folk dances. One of the renowned artist of the same is Musa Gulam Jat from Kutch Morchang: A simple device made out of brass .It has an outer frame fortuning the instrument and in the shape of a harp. Color Kutch is a place which is filled with a lot of vibrancy even if its known as land of desert. Be it the costume the people they wear or the color of their house they make use of bright colors such as blue, pink yellow and red. Rannoutsav, the combination of White Desert and vibrancy of Gujarat, is also a celebration of colors amidst the land of white sand. Language Predominant language is kutchi influenced by sindhi and gujarati owing to its geographical location. The script of Kutchi language has become extinct and so Gujarati script is occasionally used. Gujarati as a script and language has also become more popular because of people moving out and the schools being gujarati medium. Rituals festivity The Kutch Festival colorfully attired dancers, music concerts, Sindhi Bhajan performances, Langa Desert Music and shops selling embroideries and jewelry are the hallmarks of the Kutch Desert Festival Makar Sankranti  and Kite Flying Festival  (14 January) Uttarayan Significance Suns direct rays reach the  Tropic of Capricorn  to mark the end of winter season. It is celebrated by flying kites the threads are glass strengthened and the purpose of the fighter kites is to cut the other kites thread and be the winner. At night, kites with  Chinese lanterns  are flown and held aloft. Food Undhiya, sugar cane juice and local sweets to celebrate the day. The Rann Utsav The Rann Utsav is the annual cultural extravaganza of the region held in the months of December and January. The Rann Utsav seeks to bring out to the world the uniqueness and rich diversity of the region. Though focus has always been on traditional art and culture, this year it has evolved with the addition of dances and pageants. Most notably, visitors are made to feel a part of the programs and are invited to perform. The Rann Utsav though is mainly for the urban population and the rural crowd tend to shy away from the festival. Tourism has grown by leaps and bounds, more so with the roping in of Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador of Gujarat. Handicrafts Artistry Bandhani traditional handiwork of tie and dye. Bandhanis are very closely associated with deep rooted social customs. It is treated as a symbol of married life and is worn by Hindus and Muslims during their marriage. It is also worn during major festivals like navratri and diwali by women across caste and age. Decorative arts of pottery, embroidery, printed and woven textiles, wall paintings, jewellery and leatherwork Lodai (the potters are here are muslim and slip decoration executed by women is highly regarded) and Khavda ( clay bunga round hut made from mud and wood with a conical roof) important regions of districts known for clay crafts which are more than normal pot making Diverse embroideries   aari  embroidery carried out for the royalty and wealthy families. Traditionally women in rural areas do the embroidery for their dowries. Important resource centers for embroidery in the region are Shrujan, Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS), Kalaraksha and Women Artisans Marketing Agency (WAMA). Ajarakh printing a very complex hand printing technique using wooden blocks and  natural dyes. The printing is done by a lengthy process which can take up to a couple of months for the most complicates pieces. Ajarakh is being practised today in Dhamadka and Ajarakhpur villages in Kutch. Mud work Artistic wall pieces made with mud and mirror work are used to decorate homes. Leather artisans products like leather shoes, sandals, mirrors, small pouches, etc. The very high skilled artisans decorate the articles by doing embroidery or cutting various shaped windows in the leather. These artisans can be found in the villages like Sumarasar, Nirona, Zura, Bhirandiyara, Hodko,  Khavda, etc. in and around the Banni region. Handloom weaving shawls, yardage, jackets, etc. woven out of wool, cotton and acrylic yarn. Bandhani is carried out on the shawls in some cases. The biggest center for this is Bhujodi village near Bhuj. Food and Drink Jains,  Buldhmins  and some other caste perform strict vegetarianism making Kutch a predominantly vegetarian district. As for Jains they also refrain from eating  kandmool  food grown below the ground such as  potatoes, garlic,  onion,  suran, etc.  Beef is an ultimate taboo since Hindus consider the cow holy even though they might practice various levels of vegetarianism. The usually Kutchi Cuisine consists of Roti or Rotlas, Curd, Butter milk, Dal, Curry, Vegetables, Papad, Kachumbar. Dry rotlis or Theplas and Khakras and Sev (of Gram Flour) are made and stored as food during travelling etc.. Staple food Rotlas made of Bajri (millet)  which the local relish with Butter milk or Chhas, Butter and Jaggery or Gud.Khichhdi made of rice and dal (pulses). Beverages Tea  is the most popular drink in this region and is enjoyed irrespective of sex, caste, religion or social status.  Most people drink it with milk and sugar and like it sweet but strong. . Tea without milk is offered when people are visiting host to mourn death of relatives and is hence never served to guests on normal occasions. Delicacies Khaman dokla, Gathia, Undhia, Muthia, Raita, Dahi wada, Kachori, Bhajia, Bhaji made of brinjal, bitter gourd and ladys finger,etc. Snacks Dabeli, Puri Shak, Pav Bhaji, Bhakarwadi, Papdi, Kadak, etc. Desserts Adadiya, Gulab Pak, Son Papdi, Mohan thal, Pedas, Halwa, Gulab Jamun, Jalebi, etc. Seeds of Dhaniya or Dhana dal, Betal Leaf or Pan with Supari is served after food as mouth freshner. Consumer Insights Consumption Pattern in Kutch has seen a steady change in the past two decades with increase in media proliferation. More brands are targeting Kutch as a potential market owing to their considerable disposable income. Kutchis are becoming more and more aware of the brands available across segments. Companies such as HUL , PG, Pepsi, Parle, Brittania, LG, Samsung, Maruti are expanding their distribution channel to reach out to these consumers. Brand Awareness: It was important to study and understand the brand awareness level in the villages of the Kutch region. The most pertinent sector of consumption is the FMCG category. Hardly anyone in the villages of Kutch possesses an automobile, as a result of their economic status, but SUVs were common among the urban population of Kutch. It was fascinating and somewhat surprising to learn that young girls in the villages of Kutch know about brands such as Nissan Micra, although that was attributed to Ranbir Kapoor. The power of celebrity endorsements was there for all to see. In the household, the most common brands which were spotted were Bournvita, Nycil, Ponds and Salora among others. Most of them used the local brands when it came to cooking ingredients like milk, ghee, oil etc. According to the retailers, FMCGs in small packs sell better than large packs and Clinic Plus is a fast seller. Confectionaries like Cadburys Perk, Hide and Seek are some of the brands the kids consume. Apart from this though, there are also cases of selling of counterfeit and local brands which have similar packaging as that of the original brand. A few instances were noticed in the case of packaged drinking water, analgesics and FMCG products. Impact of advertising on consumer behavior: Upon interaction with the natives of the Kutch region, it was found that celebrity advertising had the maximum impact among the younger population. Also, after the 2001 earthquake in Bhuj, there was a marked change in the buying pattern due to higher disposable income. Consumer durables are a huge market in Kutch and television and refrigerator are some of the products which have started finding their way into every household. People have also started becoming brand conscious. Electronics stores such as LG have opened outlets in recent times. Media Consumption: Television is one of the major media vehicles. People of this region are mainly hooked on to the soap opera, Gulaal , which showcases the culture of the Kutch region. There are also different perspectives to this soap where one fraction believes that the Kutch region has not been depicted properly, while the other are happy with the serials depiction of the culture and practices of the region. There is also a slow trend in moving from traditional CRT TVs to LCD screens. Newspapers are also an important medium in the region. In the villages, mainly the regional newspapers like Divya Bhaskar and Sanj Samachar are circulated, while in the urban areas English dailies such as DNA and Times of India are widely read. The radio is used as a mass medium too. People are tuned into their favorite radio channels and communication is mainly through news, music or commercials. Impact of Social structure: The society is predominantly male dominated. The villages follow a structure where the village headman or sarpanch is the one who takes the decisions aided by his council. The villages in the Kutch region provide equal opportunities to women. As in case with most of the rural population of India, women are married off at a very young age, having barely finished school. How this structure impacts the buying behavior is seen from the fact that although the chief wage earner is the male (in most cases), the woman of the house buys the products for daily use.

Marketing Peter Pan Peanut Butter to Canadian Markets Essay

Many U.S. consumers are not aware that there are many products that are sold in our country but are not available to countries like China or Japan. A lot of products are only for sale in the U.S. and consumers in other countries have to find other ways of obtaining those products. Some products that use to be sold in Canada have now vanished while others have never been available for purchase so many consumers have to order those products online, if possible, or possibly get some family member or friend from the U.S. to buy and ship the product to them. Some Canadians are now surprised to learn that Coca-Cola Vanilla, or Vanilla Coke, is no longer available to purchase in the supermarkets and convenience stores located in Canada. Consumers on both sides of the border and other countries responded well to these products that were launched in 2002 by the Coca Cola Company. Canadians that now want this product will have to stock up the next time they visit the U.S. Meanwhile they may be able to look forward to other products that may reach Canadian markets. As Marketing Manager of ConAgra Food’s, Peter Pan Peanut Butter, I would like to market this brand available to Canadian markets by using a marketing plan that is the core of the business. The main reason for the marketing plan is that it provides a structured approach that forces the marketing manager to consider all the relevant elements of the planning process which might be missed if a more rushed approach is adopted especially when trying to market a product to foreign markets. Peter Pan Peanut Butter is brand of ConAgra Foods and was named after the J.M. Barrie character debuted in 1928. The brand was originally produced by the Swift & Company that at the time first called the peanut butter, â€Å"E.K. Pond.† Peter Pan PB comes in 10 different varieties which include Creamy, Whipped, Crunchy, Extra Crunchy, Honey Roasted Creamy, Honey Roasted Crunchy, Smart Choice Creamy, Smart Choice Crunchy, Plus 8 (vitamin enriched). Peter Pan has been on the market for many decades and when first packaged, was marketed in a tin can. But because of metal shortages during the second World War, changed its packaging to glass and plastic jars. The product’s tagline of not sticking to the roof of your mouth is one of the reasons, other than it being just plain good, that the Canadians desire Peter Pan so much. The first step in marketing this product to one of the largest Canadian food markets such as The Superstore, Sobeys, Metro, and Safeway, is to analyze the customer value equation. â€Å"Traditionally we think that consumers choose based on the quality of the product, while really the driver of all choice is the non-cognitive relationship that the consumer has with the brand, which is entirely channeled through the brand identity.† (Wegrzyn, 2011). The matter of finding a role of the brand within a consumer’s life comes after the brand identity has accurately addressed how the brand wants to be perceived. The question for prospective buyers in most situations is not whether to make a purchase in the product category, but which product or service to buy. When a product’s price exceeds its value-in-use, the offering’s net contribution, and inducement to purchase, is negative. The customer is better off not buying the product. Whatever the customer would gain from the product itself is more than offset by what she would have to give up in paying its price. In most situations, however, a very different situation exists. In most situations, the prices charged for products and services fall far below the values-in-use that customers expect to obtain from them. In many cases, because of competition, products’ use values are in multiples of 5 to 10 times the prices at which they sell. Customers buy products to fill unmet needs and because they expect to derive some value or utility from them. Products provide customers with four types of utility or benefit. These utilities and benefits are time utility, place utility, ownership utility and form utility. What is the time utility or value to the consumer of having Peter Pan Peanut Butter available at any convenient time within supermarkets? The time utility may be of critical importance because many families may depend upon this product to satisfy the needs of small children which may take this product to school for lunch, possibly. So it may be detrimental that it is always available on the shelves by making sure that the production of the product is timely. Secondly, place utility is important. This is the value to a consumer of having the product available in convenient market locations. It may be important that the peanut butter is available at many different supermarkets especially those that are located near schools where there is a high population of children that the product would be in demand to. Ownership utility may not be an important factor for this product as is the value of transferring the product’s ownership. Last is the form utility of the product. Form utility is the value to consumers from changing the composition of the product. The form utility of the peanut butter is also fairly high. Peanut butter isn’t just for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but is also used in Peanut butter chili, peanut butter broccoli, peanut butter ice cream and peanut butter cocktails. It can be eaten with chocolate, it can be eaten with jam, it can be smeared on chicken, and it can even be used in drinks and it seems that the uses for peanut butter are endless. Peanut butter has been known to be used as an excellent lubricator on rusty old blades, for animal medicine, a butter replacement, mousetrap bait, and price tag removal. When entering foreign markets it is essential to have a clear understanding of the economic conditions of the country in order to properly promote the product in the marketing process so that the development, execution and measure of the campaign for the peanut butter run smoothly. It is important that I visit the target market because on-site, I can talk to potential buyers in order to learn everything that I need to know about competition, local rules and distribution channels. By attending trade shows and events that are specific to the industry within Canada I can learn a lot of helpful information by taking notes on products, competitors, packaging and labeling of similar products. The marketing process can be tedious and stressful in starting the export operations. I will have to make sure that I have an export plan that is similar to a business plan but instead focuses on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that my company can face within foreign markets. My export plan will help me to define my objectives clearly in order to use the right tactics to reach my goals and gain more credibility. My plan states how I can make my product adaptable to Canadian markets and will aid in determining sales price and how much time will be required to mee t my objectives. The best way to enter the Canadian markets is through efficient entry strategies which involve selling directly to end users and foreign retail markets will buy directly from ConAgra Foods. In ConAgra’s consumer goods business, there is no one factor more important than brand awareness. We are aware that if a customer recognizes my brand, they are more likely to buy it which will increase the sales of the product. The product will be shelved on stores according to the popularity among customers or the most sales. The advertising campaign should increase brand awareness amongst some of our other products in order to get better placement in other Canadian markets as well. â€Å"An effective marketing mix also includes market segmentation, targeting and positioning the product for competitive advantage.† (Food Export Association of the Midwest USA and Food Export USA, 2011). â€Å"In international marketing, it may sometimes be useful to see countries as segments. Country level segmentation may be done on levels such as geography—based on the belief that neighboring countries and countries with a particular type of climate or terrain tend to share similarities, demographics or income.† (Pernerm, 2012). Income segmentation can be a bit tricky. This is because relative prices between the U.S. and Canada may differ significantly. This is based upon purchasing power parity that measures which greatly affects the relative cost of imported and domestically produced products. â€Å"Proper execution of these procedures requires quality research and consultation from export assistance providers, export service providers and customers in the foreign market.† (Food Export Association of the Midwest USA and Food Export USA, 2011). â€Å"The Marketing mix and the 4 P’s are the controllable elements of business.† (Food Export Association of the Midwest USA and Food Export USA, 2011). For instance a company has control over what product it makes, what price it sells the product for, how it wishes to place (distribute) the product and how it wishes to promote it. Introducing new products is a very good way of achieving differentiation and enhancing a retail identity in an over -subscribed retail market, but without corporate support new products may fail or go unnoticed. Because I want to expand Peter Pan, Peanut Butter to Canadian markets I need to perform an environmental analysis at the beginning of the marketing process as well as throughout it. Political and Legal forces, Economic forces, Socio-cultural forces and Technological forces are known as PEST factors of the micro-environment. â€Å"An examination of Canada’s political orientation and environment is part of the preliminary screening stage of market select.† (Zekiri & Angelova, 2011). I have to carefully study Canada’s government structure of the Canadian markets and their political system. In addition, I must perform efficient risk assessments because of high levels of uncertainty in terms of continuity of government policies, changing political philosophies that are evident in Canadian markets. Political risk factors are divided into 4 levels, general instability, expropriation, operations, and finance. If any of the levels uncovers risk, which may be deemed unacceptable, the firm should immediately reconsider conducting business within Canada. Barriers of entry will also have to be assessed because it can also be a factor that could possibly make it difficult to break into Canadian markets. Tariff and non-tariff barriers make â€Å"companies already in the market more valuable as they reduce the risk of new competition.† (Zekiri & Angelova, 2011). These â€Å"entry barriers are imposed by governments in order to protect domestic industry or to ensure that companies entering from foreign markets conform to trade relation’s arrangements with other countries.† (Zekiri & Angelova, 2011). â€Å"Barriers to exit are obstacles to market players who realize that they will not turn a profit and would like to quit the market.† (Zekiri & Angelova, 2011). â€Å"From an economic perspective, it makes sense to produce and sell an additional unit of product or service if the revenue generated covers at least for the variable costs.† (Zekiri & Angelova, 2011). Another important variable to consider because of impacts that court of law decisions may have upon a company’s globalization attempts is its legal environment. ConAgra could face a vast amount of problems in my efforts to develop a successful strategy. â€Å"Understanding the legal environment of target countries is considered of great importance in terms of market selection, due to the detrimental impacts court of law decisions related to issues such as foreign exchange rates, expropriation and intellectual property rights, jurisdiction, patents, trademarks, licensing, antitrust and bribery, etc.† (Zekiri & Angelova, 2011). I will also have to pay close attention to the economic development and performance of Canada. Canada’s stage of economic growth will have a great impact in my foreign strategies. â€Å"Economic growth affects a countries attitude towards foreign business activity, the demand for goods and the distribution system found within the country.† (Zekiri & Angelova, 2011). â€Å"So, a study of the economic climate is important especially to gain understanding with regard to developing countries and secondly in respect to market potential and market growth.† (Zekiri & Angelova, 2011). â€Å"The existing level of economic development allows the firm to estimate the degree of market potential as well as allowing them to prepare for economic shifts and emerging markets.† (Zekiri & Angelova, 2011). ConAgra’s direct competitors of packaged foods in the U.S.are the H.J. Heinz Company, Mondelez International, Nestl, Tyson Foods, and Smithfield foods. International competitors are Gordon signature, GFS, Markon, and Trade East. Many Canadian brands believe very strongly in marketing that it’s more than simply a service offering. They believe that it starts with a clear understanding of demographics and competitive landscape. Canadian brand managers are experienced, senior level professionals with combined sales and marketing backgrounds across an impressive range of tier-one companies within their industry. But as with most marketers ConAgra’s team has built collectively and individually, vast extended networks of highly specialized and talented marketers. As ComAgra’s landscape continues to change, they are committed to learning, understanding and working in new environments in order to ensure they reach the highest potential for all of their principals. Peanut butter is in 90 percent of households and most families with kids consider it a staple and kid-friendly food.† (Ashman & Beckley, 2006). If you were to ask many people to name their favorite brand of peanut butter you may get a few different answers such as Skippy, Jif and Peter Pan. The product largest consumer base comes from families with children, preschools and K-12 schools. â€Å"While today’s harried parents can choose from an array of prepackaged lunch options, the classic PB&J remains as convenient as it is healthy and tasty.† (Gidman, 2009). â€Å"This means that the three major peanut butter brands—plus several smaller ones—will have to employ successful branding to secure a place in the American lunch box.† (Gidmanm, 2009). â€Å"Manufactures are responding to consumers’ hectic lifestyles by creating packaging that assists convenience. Peanut butter comes in squeezable packages, with jelly and as a premade sandwich.† (Ashman & Beckley, 2006). In Peter Pan’s advertising campaigns from the 1950’s they showcased â€Å"Youngsters Prefer Peter Pan Peanut Butter† within their ad. The advertisement influenced mothers shopping for their children by using a charming little blonde haired boy enjoying a piece of bread covered with peanut butter because the advertising agency knew that showcasing a motherly figure or a mother, would get the mother to associate that child with a child of her own. They also printed the advertisement using calm colors that allowed the viewer of the ad to think relaxing thoughts. Good marketing ethics affect organizational success. Ethics are the principals a person or department uses when making a decision. The truth is, the advertising ad can be a little misleading because just because that little boy in the ad likes that peanut butter, this doesn’t mean that every little child will like it. â€Å"Misleading advertising is a common ethical dilemma. Although regulation provides formal boundaries of what an advertisement can and cannot say, marketers must consider the ethical boundaries.† (Okely, 2009). â€Å"Ethical behavior by the marketing department will make the department and even the company a more attractive place to work as the company’s good reputation will transfer to its employees. Motivated, proud employees will improve performance.† (Okely, 2009). â€Å"Bad marketing ethics will destroy a good reputations which is arguably much harder to build than sales numbers.† (Okely, 2009). Marketing plans are crucial to marketing managers in providing a more structured approach in marketing products to foreign markets. Market managers specialize in targeting different parts of a customer base to increase demand for a company’s product or matches customers and different market segments to the products the firm produces. Foreign marketing is a very broad subject is importance to a country and to individual companies. I have examined the broader aspects of international trade in terms of difficulties encountered when trading I foreign markets including how countries are structured in terms of their economic development and some of the world’s trading blocks. Many problems have also been considered from a company’s standpoint and in each of the elements of the marketing mix are considered in turn in the context of how it should be manipulated when dealing in foreign markets. References Angelova, J., & Zekiri, B. (2011). Factors that influence entry mode choice in foreign markets. European Journal of Social Sciences, 22(4), 572-584. Retrieved from http://www.eurojournals.com/EJSS_22_4_12.pdf Ashmanm, H., & Beckly, J. (2006, January 7). Educating consumers about peanut butter. Retrieved from: http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2006/258.html Food Export Association of the Midwest USA and Food Export USA, (2012). Compete and succeed in the international marketplace: The export marketing mix. Retrieved from: http://www.foodexport.org/GettingStarted/Content.cfm?ItemNumber=1288 Gidman, J. (2009, January 19). Peanut Butter brands go nuts. Retrieved from: http://www.brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=460 Okely, L. (2009, June 26). Common ethical dilemmas faced by marketing departments. http://www.helium.com/items/1496496-ethical-issues-faced-by-marketers Perner, L. Ph.D. (2012). USC Marshall: International marketing. Retrieved from: http://www.consumerpsychologist.com/international_marketing.html Wegrzyn, N. (2011, December 20). The consumer value equation. Retrieved from: http://popsop.com/52197

Strange Meeting

La’Monta Smith 11/19/12 AP Lit and Comp Strange Meeting By Wilfred Owen In Strange Meeting wrote by Wilfred Owen we enter this poem Owen seemingly escapes out of a battle with very little knowledge of where he is exactly at. After exploratory investigation among the many piteous men and surroundings he discovers he is in the pits of hell. Afterwards, we are drawn into a conversation between the narrator and a fellow solder.Here, we transfer from the narration and dialogue to the poems’ monologue where we begin to dig into the depths of the solder’s spirit. The solder claims that has reason to mourn because of the years he didn’t get to live and how he was cheated out of his future. He also points out that solders are taken for granted by the ones they aren’t in war, and are just content of the spoils of the solders brought them. Blood Boiling indicates that the men, most likely fellow solders , don’t feel accomplished in their voyages in war. The solder then begins to reminisce on who he was before the war, and what he could’ve and would’ve done Differently, but is brought back to reality that he is still in hell. Owen continues to embrace the solders thoughts as he briefly talks about his youth before he began marching the â€Å"retreating world† . A sense of regret is apparent when he says that he wish he could cleanse his soul by washing away the blood that he as spilled.He continues by claiming that he gave his all in war, but he did not expect the amount of death he is surrounded with . Nearing the end, the bond between the Owen and the solder is It is Important to pay attention to the word diction that this poem also has. With horror, the primary Speaker Realizes that it was he who took the man’s life and future away but then rationalizes with Him by stating they were put in an arena and their deaths were inevitable.

Natureview case Essays

Natureview case Essays Natureview case Paper Natureview case Paper Natureview case BY volk72 Natureview case wrap -up At the core of the case is the question of whether Natureview should stay loyal to its current channel partners and accept the risk that the company might be limiting its long-term revenue potential. Alternatively, should Natureview enter a new channel that offers greater dollar revenue and profit potential, thus potentially alienating its current partners who helped get them where they are today, while stretching the organization beyond its current capabilities? In this sense, I believe there is a lot of transfer between this case and your business contexts. Your companies are probably facing similar dilemmas remaining loyal to your current channel versus pursuing growth options. Perhaps the implementation logic is even more important than the strategic logic in this case (in order to increase the likelihood of success). Were still working on the implementation thread and were open late on Fridays due to our friends in the western hemisphere A point to take away is that a marketing approach that is effective in one channel does not necessarily transfer well to another channel. Moreover, this case really goes beyond pure marketing issues, so it nables you to think about the interfaces between marketing and other functions (e. g. , corporate strategy, supply chain management, consumer marketing). Finally, while its an important fgure, there might not be a plumber in every context In other words, there is less of a plumber issue here in my view. Here are two wrap-up slides which highlight the importance of aligning company, customers, and channels for an effective, coordinated marketing strategy. Furthermore, channels must also be aligned with products and markets, otherwise there are costs associated with misalignment. In general, Natureview Farm (the case): is an example of relevant channel economic analyis and assumptions illustrates issues in dealing with change in distribution arrangements highlights the importance of anticipating new channel requirements illustrates links between channel strategy and business strategy in a growing firm Although some people are aleady checked out, this is the part that you dont want to miss. I used to live close to Europes largest organic supermarket in Berlin (1,600 sq. m. of sales area and 18,000 organic products). Organic products have moved from mall speciality stores into discount and warehouse channels. Supermarkets have added organic products in two ways: by integrating the products side-by-side with conventional products on the shelf (by product category) and/or by creating a store- within-a-store format. Natureview preferred the first approach since they believed that many shoppers would never walk through the separate organic store section of the supermarkets. Natureview is a disguised name for Stonyfield Yogurt. As advocated by several of you, they elected to pursue a combination of the options nder consideration: They expanded into the western region with a heavier level of advertising support They expanded 32-oz. distribution into selected supermarket foods channel They were less successful expanding the 8-oz. han the 32-oz. size (the former being a much more competitive size). The multipack launch led to the launch of other multipack products. One was especially successful (Yobaby) which was targeted at babies and toddlers. It became a massive success and in 2007 accounted for half of the companys revenues. Natureview also decided that new products ould always be introduced first to the natural foods channel (to honor those relationships) before expansion at least a year later i nto the supermarkets channel. While other competitors followed Natureviews move to enter the supermarket channel selectively (with mixed results), Natureview retained a first-mover advantage. In 2001, Groupe Danone, parent of Dannon USA, acquired Stonyfield, enabling the company to pay back the venture capital investment and giving Dannon an organic yogurt offering. Dannon had tried earlier to introduce an organic 32 oz. product line but failed and never tried again (in the US).

Free Essays on Grandparents

When I hear friends complain about having to spend time with their grandparents it thoroughly upsets me because I know what a loss it is when finally you have them no more. They don’t seem to realize how special they are or the significant impact they will have on their future. My realization of this came all too late when the last surviving of my grandparents passed almost three years ago. As a child I was unbelievably close to the three living grandparents I was blessed with. I lived next door to my father’s parents from birth. My grandfather was a tall, full-bodied man with thick gray hair, a thin Clark Gable style mustache, and crystal blue eyes, which I inherited. As a deacon of the Catholic Church for almost 18 years, he taught me about god, patients, and most importantly about love and respect for others. He made the largest impact on my life. My grandmother, a small, strong-minded, witty, gray haired woman, taught me how to be a refined gentleman. She pushed man ners on me so that if one day I had the chance, I would be suitable for tea with the queen. The one saying of hers which stands out the most for me was â€Å"you’ll never have tea with the queen with manners like that†. She taught me how to properly set the dinner table. Also, that I should be overly appreciative for all of the provisions my parents sought for me because there was a million other children my age who weren’t nearly as lucky as I. Most importantly they taught me what a true loving relationship was all about. They would have been married for fifty-five glorious years if it hadn’t been for my grandmother’s death. On my mother’s side of the family I only knew her father since her mother passed on my first Christmas. My grandfather whom I called paw, was a full-blooded 2 American Indian with white hair and almost orange skin. His wrinkled skin and steel blue eyes told the story of a child who worked the fields to support his famil y and also the sto... Free Essays on Grandparents Free Essays on Grandparents When I hear friends complain about having to spend time with their grandparents it thoroughly upsets me because I know what a loss it is when finally you have them no more. They don’t seem to realize how special they are or the significant impact they will have on their future. My realization of this came all too late when the last surviving of my grandparents passed almost three years ago. As a child I was unbelievably close to the three living grandparents I was blessed with. I lived next door to my father’s parents from birth. My grandfather was a tall, full-bodied man with thick gray hair, a thin Clark Gable style mustache, and crystal blue eyes, which I inherited. As a deacon of the Catholic Church for almost 18 years, he taught me about god, patients, and most importantly about love and respect for others. He made the largest impact on my life. My grandmother, a small, strong-minded, witty, gray haired woman, taught me how to be a refined gentleman. She pushed man ners on me so that if one day I had the chance, I would be suitable for tea with the queen. The one saying of hers which stands out the most for me was â€Å"you’ll never have tea with the queen with manners like that†. She taught me how to properly set the dinner table. Also, that I should be overly appreciative for all of the provisions my parents sought for me because there was a million other children my age who weren’t nearly as lucky as I. Most importantly they taught me what a true loving relationship was all about. They would have been married for fifty-five glorious years if it hadn’t been for my grandmother’s death. On my mother’s side of the family I only knew her father since her mother passed on my first Christmas. My grandfather whom I called paw, was a full-blooded 2 American Indian with white hair and almost orange skin. His wrinkled skin and steel blue eyes told the story of a child who worked the fields to support his famil y and also the sto...

The Theme of Liberty to the People of America Essay

The Theme of Liberty to the People of America - Essay Example some of the people who came into America seeking freedom got the freedom they sought and this is evidenced by the American statue of Liberty. The statue is a gift from the people of France to the United States of America. It signified human liberty in America. However, things have progressively changed and over time, America has evolved as a society where people demanded: â€Å"Give ME Liberty.† The practice of democracy in the nation has become a lost art and Americans are becoming more desperate for the restoration nation. Many people have a general sense that the society is in disorder. The Native Americans and those who have lived there for the long feel that they have lost the liberty they originally had (Calloway 193) while recent immigrants feel that the liberty they had, sought or desired is not within their reach. Calloway (193) in this regard notes that at the end instead of idealistic notions that focused on the establishment of a new world, European imperial ambiti ons, institutions and patterns of settlement thrived. In an attempt to acquire and preserve liberty, Americans formed activist movements that advocate for their rights and liberties. This was mainly in the course of the 20th century, and these movements and groups achieved great social and civil changes. For example in 1920, The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was formed. This is a union in the US whose mission is to defend and preserve every right and liberty guaranteed to all people in the US. Walker (10) explains that in its history, the union was formed to protect the rights of contentious objectors.

Racial conflict Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Racial conflict - Research Paper Example The management of racial conflict has in the recent past turned out to be a severe challenge in the post-cold war era. Recent years has witnessed manifestation of racial conflicts in different ways including: intimidation, property vandalism, verbal threat, ethic/racial jokes, as well as physical violence. Racial conflicts have as well received infinite critics from various entities due to its long term harm to victims’ physical, psychological, social, and emotional wellbeing that is brought about by body mistreatment, verbal harm, and the impacts of consistent threats (Enrique189). It appears that, some of this racial unrest is brought about by inadvertent and intentional physical verbal and non-verbal actions. Racial conflict can be defined as a situation that explains either a misunderstanding or planned racial discrimination and harassment that leads to physical distress and interpersonal altercations in the affected population. Peaceful coexistence between different racia l groups is extremely critical for sustainable political, social, and economic development. Lack of peaceful coexistence amongst different racial group may lead to consistent racial tension, hostility, and conflicts that lead to destruction of properties and loss of lives. To necessitate global uniformed economic development and growth, maintenance of global peace is paramount and inevitable. All plays are therefore expected to step up and initiate mechanisms that can offset animosity experienced among different racial groups. Additionally, to realize the relevant change for social development, individuals ought to be committed toward bringing the required change in the society. The essay below therefore seeks to persuade individuals to take the necessary actions to actively defy racial conflict in the society. Due to racial conflicts, societies in different countries are divided; more that 20 million lives have so far been lost, future generation is as well at risk of extinction an d there is increased racial based hatred and fear in the world. Racial conflict has become a global economic development predicament that requires instant action to minimize its effect on the contemporary society. Based on the assessable global statistics, it is clear that, racial motivate conflicts occurs almost on daily bases in diverse social settings. In 2007, the world spent over $ 67 million to help racial conflict victims. In 2003, the United States of America’s Department of Justice received over 210,000 cases of racially motivated hate crimes in different states. The current statistics is a clear indication of elevating cases of racial conflict in a considerable number of the world society. Based on the current statistics, it is astonishing to understand that, a good percentage of modern racial instigated violence is more apparent among young people. For instance in 2005, the 21% of hate crime offenders in United States of America were under 18 years of age. Addition ally, most racial conflicts occur in learning institutions. Present statistics indicates that, over 64% of global conflicts in many learning institutions are motivated by nations of origin and race (Mitchell 621). By considering the fact , most of the racial conflict cases are common among young people, it is evident that, unless acute action is taken against racial conflict suspects, the menace is likely to be worse in the near future People vacating their homes due to racial conflicts in Italy Additionally, despite its daunting level, the accessible statistics may fail to present the actual cases of racial conflicts in different societies. This is due to the fact that, most of the available statistics is based on the reported cases. A good number of the affected