Langston Hughes and Alice Walker Essay Example for Free

Langston Hughes and Alice Walker Essay Langston Hughes’ Still Here and Dream Deferred are two poems depicting emotions driven by frustrations in life. These literary works may appear simple, but they both depict the social and political conditions during the time these poems were written. Langston Hughes, a renowned writer during the Harlem Renaissance, is famous for his works on social class and race relations in America. His poem Dream Deferred, as the title suggests, describes various detrimental effects frustration can bring to a person. Literary tools used were imagery, similes, and metaphors in question form to suggest these detrimental effects. In the poem, effects are described as the raisin in the sun, like a sore that festers, like a stinking rotten meat, and like a heavy load. The two poems by Langston both expressed the social and political conditions in his time and its implications to the lives of the African-Americans, then. During Langston’s time, African-American exercised limited rights that may have hindered them from attaining their dreams in life. Langston sees that this problem has caused great pain to the unfulfilled person and to the people surrounding him. The short story Everyday Use by Alice Walker, on the other hand, discusses how culture and heritage should be valued and recognized, specifically that of the African-Americans. Alice Walker, an American writer, like Langston, also writes about race and gender relations. Her short story illustrated the conflict in appreciating the African-American culture by presenting the redefined and the practical ways of doing this. The writer made use of the quilt as the representation of the culture and heritage of the African-American. The quilt, seen as the product of quilting, is said to be the refined way of seeing its worth while knowing the process of quilting represents the practical way and more meaningful way of appreciating the culture and heritage. The story suggests that heritage and culture should not be equated to tangible things and should be understood thoroughly to see its worth. Langston and Walker, through their works, showed how African-Americans feel and what their personal struggles are in two different scenarios. Indeed, their works never failed to provide inspiration to those who can relate. References: Hughes, L. (1951). Dream Deferred. Retrieved May 5, 2009, 2009, from http://www. poemhunter. com/i/ebooks/pdf/langston_hughes_2004_9. pdf Hughes, L. Still Here. Retrieved May 5, 2009, from http://www. poemhunter. com/i/ebooks/pdf/langston_hughes_2004_9. pdf Walker, A. (1973). Everyday Use. Retrieved May 5, 2009, from http://xroads. virginia. edu/~ug97/quilt/walker. html

A Brief Background On Nestle Marketing Essay

A Brief Background On Nestle Marketing Essay In the 1860s Henri Nestlà ©, a pharmacist, developed a food for babies who were unable to breastfeed. His first success was a premature infant who could not tolerate his mothers milk or any of the usual substitutes. People quickly recognized the value of the new product, after Nestlà ©s new formula saved the childs life, and soon, Farine Lactà ©e Henri Nestlà © was being sold in much of Europe. In 1905 Nestlà © merged with the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company. By the early 1900s, the company was operating factories in the United States, Britain, Germany and Spain. World War I created new demand for dairy products in the form of government contracts. By the end of the war, Nestlà ©s production had more than doubled. After the war Government contracts dried up and consumers switched back to fresh milk. However, Nestlà ©s management responded quickly, streamlining operations and reducing debt. The 1920s saw Nestlà ©s first expansion into new products, with chocolate the Companys second most important activity Nestlà © felt the effects of World War II immediately. Profits dropped from $20 million in 1938 to $6 million in 1939. Factories were established in developing countries, particularly Latin America. Ironically, the war helped with the introduction of the Companys newest product, Nescafà ©, which was a staple drink of the US military. Nestlà ©s production and sales rose in the wartime economy. 1944-1975 The end of World War II was the beginning of a dynamic phase for Nestlà ©. Growth accelerated and companies were acquired. In 1947 came the merger with Maggi seasonings and soups. Crosse Blackwell followed in 1960, as did Findus (1963), Libbys (1971) and Stouffers (1973). Diversification came with a shareholding in LOrà ©al in 1974. 1975-1981 Nestlà ©s growth in the developing world partially offset a slowdown in the Companys traditional markets. Nestlà © made its second venture outside the food industry by acquiring Alcon Laboratories Inc.. 1981-1995 Nestlà © divested a number of businesses1980 / 1984. In 1984, Nestlà ©s improved bottom line allowed the Company to launch a new round of acquisitions, the most important being American food giant Carnation. 1996-2002 The first half of the 1990s proved to be favorable for Nestlà ©: trade barriers crumbled and world markets developed into more or less integrated trading areas. Since 1996 there have been acquisitions including San Pellegrino (1997), Spillers Petfoods (1998) and Ralston Purina (2002). There were two major acquisitions in North America, both in 2002: in July, Nestlà © merged its U.S. ice cream business into Dreyers, and in August, a USD 2.6bn acquisition was announced of Chef America, Inc. 2003 + The year 2003 started well with the acquisition of  Mà ¶venpick Ice Cream, enhancing  Nestlà ©s position as one of the world market leaders in this product category.   In 2006, Jenny Craig and Uncle Tobys were added to the Nestlà © portfolio and 2007 saw  Novartis Medical Nutrition, Gerber and Henniez join the Company.   Nestlà © is the worlds leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness company. We are committed to increasing the nutritional value of our products while improving the taste. We  achieve this through our  brands and with initiatives like the Nutritional Compass. Since Henri Nestlà © developed the first milk food for infants in 1867, and saved the life of a neighbours child, the Nestlà © Company has aimed to build a business as the worlds leading nutrition, health and wellness company  based on sound human values and principles. The Nestlà © Corporate Business Principles are at the basis of our companys culture. We have built our business on the fundamental principle that to have long-term success for our shareholders, we not only have to comply with all applicable legal requirements and ensure that all our activities are sustainable, but additionally we have to create significant value for society. At Nestlà © we call this Creating Shared Value. Our  Corporate Business Principles will continue to evolve and adapt to a changing world, our basic foundation is unchanged from the time of the origins of our Company, and reflects the basic ideas of fairness, honesty, and a general concern for people. Nestlà © is committed to the following Business Principles in all countries, taking into account local legislation, cultural and religious practices: Nestlà ©s business objective is to manufacture and market the Companys products in such a way as to create value that can be sustained over the long term for shareholders, employees, consumers, and business partners. Nestlà © does not favour short-term profit at the expense of successful long-term business development. Nestlà © recognizes that its consumers have a sincere and legitimate interest in the behaviour, beliefs and actions of the Company behind brands in which they place their trust, and that without its consumers the Company would not exist. Nestlà © believes that, as a general rule, legislation is the most effective safeguard of responsible conduct, although in certain areas, additional guidance to staff in the form of voluntary business principles is beneficial in order to ensure that the highest standards are met throughout the organization. Nestlà © is conscious of the fact that the success of a corporation is a reflection of the professionalism, conduct and the responsible attitude of its management and employees. Therefore recruitment of the right people and ongoing training and development are crucial. Nestlà © continues to maintain its commitment to follow and respect all applicable local laws in each of its markets. The Nestlà © Corporate Business Principles The ten principles of business operations Consumers; 1 Nutrition, Health and Wellness 2 Quality assurance and product safety 3 Consumer communication Human rights and labour practices 4 Human rights in our business activities Our people 5 Leadership and personal responsibility 6 Safety and health at work Suppliers and customers 7 Supplier and customer relations 8 Agriculture and rural development The environment 9 Environmental sustainability 10 Water Consumers Nutrition, Health and Wellness Our core aim is to enhance the quality of consumers lives every day, everywhere by offering tastier and healthier food and beverage choices and encouraging a healthy lifestyle. We express this via our corporate proposition Good Food, Good Life. Quality assurance and product safety Everywhere in the world, the Nestlà © name represents a promise to the consumer that the product is safe and of high standard. Consumer communication We are committed to responsible, reliable consumer communication that empowers consumers to exercise their right to informed choice andpromotes healthier diets. We respect consumer privacy. Human rights in our business activities We fully support the United Nations Global Compacts(UNGC) guiding principles on human rights and labour andaim to provide an example of good human rights and labourpractices throughout our business activities. Leadership and personal responsibility Our success is based on our people. We treat each other with respect and dignity and expect everyone to promote a sense of personal responsibility. We recruit competent and motivated people who respect our values, provide equal opportunities for their development and advancement, protect their privacy and do not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination. Safety and health at work We are committed to preventing accidents, injuries and illness related to work,and to protect employees, contractors and others involved along the value chain. Supplier and customer relations We require our suppliers, agents, subcontractors and their employees to demonstrate honesty, integrity and fairness, and to adhere to our non-negotiable standards. In the same way, we are committed towards our own customers. Agriculture and rural development We contribute to improvements in agricultural production, the social and economic status of farmers, rural communities and in production systems to make them more environmentally sustainable. Environmental sustainability We commit ourselves to environmentally sustainable business practices. At all stages of the product life cycle we strive to use natural resources efficiently, favour the use of sustainably-managed renewable resources, and target zero waste. Water We are committed to the sustainable use of water and continuous improvement in water management. We recognise that the world faces a growing water challenge and that responsible management of the worlds resources by all water users is an absolute necessity. Commitment of the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer Peter Brabeck-Letmathe Chairman of the Board We believe in the importance of a strong compliance culture that is fully embedded in our business. The Corporate Business Principles and the supporting documents reflect this commitment and thus protect the trust of our consumers and other stakeholders in the Nestlà © brand. Our internal rules not only require strict compliance with the law, they guide our actions even if the law is more lenient or where there is no applicable law at all. For Nestlà ©, upholding compliance goes beyond keeping checklists. It requires steadfast principles that apply across the whole Company, providing clear guidance to our people. As the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of Nestlà ©, we are committed to making sure that our entire Company is managed according to these principles and require adherence to them from all our employees around the world. We are also committed to continuous improvement and are open to external engagement regarding any area of our Corporate Business Principles. The Nestlà © Corporate Business Principles are at the basis of our companys culture, which has developed over the span of 140 years. Since Henri Nestlà © first developed his successful infant cereal Farine Lactà ©e, we have built our business on the fundamental principle that to have long-term success for our shareholders, we not only have to comply with all applicable legal requirements and ensure that all our activities are sustainable, but additionally we have to create significant value for society. At Nestlà © we call this Creating Shared Value. Although our Nestlà © Corporate Business Principles were first published as an integrated document in 1998, most had already been established in individual form many years before. While the Business Principles are firmly established, they also continue to evolve and adapt to a changing world. For instance, Nestlà © incorporated all ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact soon after their creation and continues to implem ent them today. This latest revision differs from the previous two versions in that it establishes Creating Shared Value as Nestlà ©s fundamental business principle. In addition, each principle is specifically linked to on-line copies of more detailed principles, policies, Standards and guidelines. This has allowed the statement of each principle to be more succinct, while providing more detailed implementing measures related to each one on the worldwide web. Also, for the first time, a map of the principles and an overview of related company measures is included at the start of the document. We believe in the importance of a strong compliance culture that is fully embedded in our business. The Corporate Business Principles and the supporting documents reflect this commitment and thus protect the trust of our consumers and other stakeholders in the Nestlà © brand. Our internal rules not only require strict compliance with the law, they guide our actions even if the law is more lenient or where there is no applicable law at all. For Nestlà ©, upholding compliance goes beyond keeping checklists. It requires steadfast principles that apply across the whole Company, providing clear guidance to our people. As the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of Nestlà ©, we are committed to making sure that our entire Company is managed according to these principles and require adherence to them from all our employees around the world. We are also committed to continuous improvement and are open to external engagement regarding any area of our Corporate Business Principles. MISSION STATEMENT At Nestle we believe that research can help us make better food so that people live a better life Marketing and sales Nestle is one of the worlds largest global food companies.    It has over 500 factories in 76 countries, and sells its products in 193 nations.    Only 1% of sales and 3% of employees are located in its home country, Switzerland.    Having reached the limits of growth and profitable penetration in most Western markets, Nestle turned its attention to emerging markets in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America for growth.    Many of these countries are relatively poor, but the economies are growing quickly.    Thus a consumer base capable of buying many Nestle products will develop over the next couple of decades. Nestle tries to enter emerging markets ahead of competitors, and build a substantial position in basic foodstuffs.    As income levels rise, the company progressively moves from these niches into more upscale items.    It very much focuses on developing local goods for local markets, however, and places relatively less emphasis on its global brands in emerging markets.    It also localizes its distribution and marketing strategy to the requirements of the local market.    When good opportunities are available, Nestle acquires local firms. Nestle is a very decentralized organization, with operating decisions pushed down to local units.    On top of this are both a SBU organization focused around food groups, and a regional organization that tries to help rationalize production and marketing among nearby countries.    Helping hold the organization together is a group of managers who rotate around the world on various assignments. During the year under review the company ach ieved sustainable profitable growth by capitalizing on the opportunity presented by a positive business environment. This became possible through successful marketing and sales strategies and focus on key initiatives. Innovation and renovation remained the key to development of new products. Because Nestle competes in a broad range of geographic areas as well as in a broad range of product categories, it faces competition from an equally broad range of companies. Some of its competitors are multinational organizations with similar product lines that cross regional bounds. These include Philip Morris, RJR Nabisco and Unilever. Other companies focus on a single product area in which Nestle competes. The result of this type of competition is that Nestle must compete vigorously across its international customer base. Since the product categories in which Nestle participates are no longer in the introductory or growth phase, there is increased price pressure, as well, which means that companies who do not focus on marketing and on competitive pricing can quickly lose large amounts of market share which can be difficult to recover. In some cases, smaller competitors have brought pressure on governments to help regulate the activities of Nestle; this is not different from compa nies in other countries. The acquisition of Source Perrier is a prime example of this. Although Nestle had acquired other companies in the past which had similar products to its own, the Source Perrier acquisition brought considerable critics. Nestle uses local brands in a wide range of local markets and focuses on trying to optimize ingredients and processing technology to local conditions. That is why, the company needs to be flexible and able to adapt rapidly to local demand and cultural differences. Doing business in different countries means different ethical standards, different business expectations, and different cultural norms. Nestle claims that it can reduce risks and concentrate its marketing resources by narrowing its initial market focus to just a few strategic brands. Its global strategy must be backed up with the necessary financial and human resources and knowledge management should be introduced to spread information throughout the company. Clearly, the entrance of a company into the global marketplace creates numerous challenges. Knowing that innovation and quality were key determinants, Nestle transferred these distinctive competencies to foreign markets. In Nigeria, for example, Nestle had to rethink i ts traditional distribution methods (operating a central warehouse), because the road system was poorly developed and there was much violence. This example shows, that the company was able to respond quickly to different local conditions. You are required to relate all your findings to Nestle. Task 1 You are required to compare alternative definitions of marketing. In your opinion what would be the appropriate definition for Nestle, justify your answer.(outcome 1.1) Definitions: alternative definitions including those of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the American Marketing Association, satisfying customers needs and wants, value and satisfaction, exchange relationships, the changing emphasis of marketing. Definition of marketing (4 is enough) a) which definition is more appropriate for Nestle. b) you can chooseyour own definition too. Task 2 Identify the main characteristics of a marketing oriented organization and how do u think Nestle fair in this. (outcome 1.2) Marketing concept: evolution of marketing, business orientations, societal issues and emergent philosophies, customer and competitor orientation, efficiency and effectiveness, limitations of the marketing concept. Main characteristic of a marketing oriented organization Link it to Nestle Task 3 Explain the various elements of the marketing concept. Relate your findings to Nestle (outcome 1.3) Marketing process overview: marketing audit, integrated marketing, environmental analysis, SWOT analysis, marketing objectives, constraints, options, plans to include target markets and marketing mix, scope of marketing. Marketing concept Relate to Nestle Task 4 You need to Identify and assess the benefits and costs of a marketing approach. Do you think Nestle has achieve this? Justify your answer. (outcome 1.4) Costs and benefits: benefits of building customer satisfaction, desired quality, service and customer care, relationship marketing, customer retention, customer profitability, costs of too narrow a marketing focus, total quality marketing. How to build customer satisfaction Desired quality are achieved Service and customer care Relationship marketing Customer retention Customer profitability Cost of 2 narrow and marketing focus Total quality marketing Relate this to Nestle Task 5 Identify and explain macro and micro environmental factors which influence marketing decisions. You need to do an analysis as to how Nestle is affected with micro and macro environment and how do they overcome the problems encountered. (outcome 1.5) Macro-environment: environmental scanning, political, legal, economic, socio-cultural, ecological and technological factors. What their news are? What happend? How they solve it? Task 6 Propose segmentation criteria to be used for two products in different markets. You are required to choose any two products of nestle and propose the segmentation appropriately. (outcome 1.6) Micro- environmental: stakeholders (organisations own employees, suppliers, customers, intermediaries, owners, financiers, local residents, pressure groups and competitors), direct and indirect competitors, Porters competitive forces. Segmentation: (e.g baby product/ health product) What is segmentation Why is it important? Relate it to Nestle What kind of market they are going to propose Task 7 Outline the factors which influence the choice of targeting strategy. As Nestle has wide range of products in many different countries you can choose any products and compare how the strategy differs in one country to another. (outcome 1.7) Buyer behaviour: dimensions of buyer behaviour, environmental influences, personal variables- demographics, sociological, physiological- motivation, perception and learning, social factors, physiological stimuli, attitudes, other lifestyle and lifecycle variables, consumer and organisational buying. What is marketing strategy all about? Why is it important? What is the benefit? Relate it to Nestle Task 8 You are required to explain how buyer behaviour affects marketing activities in two different buying situations. Relate your findings to Nestle. (outcome 1.8) Segmentation: process of market selection, macro and micro segmentation, bases for segmenting markets is geographic, demographic, psychographic and behavioural; multivariable segmentation and typologies, benefits of segmentation, evaluation of segments and targeting strategies, positioning, segmentation, evaluation of segments and targeting strategies, positioning, segmenting industrial markets, size, value, standards, industrial classification. What is buyer behaviour? Why doing buyer behaviour analysis? Relate it to Nestle

Strategy direction

Strategy direction â€Å"Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term: which achieves advantage for the organisation through its configuration of resources within a challenging business environment to meet the needs of markets and to fulfil stakeholder expectation†. Executive Summary: In the business industry, it is very difficult to seem companies are reach to the success. One day they have to be faced, other face of business, which is called ‘losses or ‘decline. Todays business environment going very critical because of recession, makes business down, Thats reason we can see that established companies are going down and out of business environment, they cant started on against environment. This challenging business environment pushing Supermarket to back of form market but some Supermarket and company still they are fighting and achieved succeed. Tesco, which is one of the successful supermarket because of they are applying strategy is entirely proved in business environment. Tesco is successful in environment because of applying analytical tools e.g. PESTEL, Porters 5 Forces, SWOT Analysis, on the basis of these analysis and they have proven to be success is this challenging business environment. Introduction: Johnson and Scholes have described that statement, which is said strategy is goal like path of business success. Where mention successful way and goal of long term of maturity level in business environment. Wheres through of using organisation resources achieved benefits and advantages of success in business. Perhaps full fill stakeholder needs and expectation of business and constantly make successful place in challenging Environment. It is argued that UK supermarkets are delivering a quite different offering to the marketplace from a simple ‘basket of goods with a specific price and quality. The issues of product range, innovation potential, and associated convenience factor are all part of the package. This leads to a consideration of the questions of what is competing with what? And who is competing with whom? The issue of comparing like with like. From there we arrive at the question of how competitions policy in this field needs to consider long-term innovation potential as well as short-term price issues. (Supply chain management: An International potential 2000) Why it is importance to understand business environment Todays very important to learn business environment, which proved to be become successful in the markets, they promote and help you to increase business profitability and protect you, form competitors. Because they are successful in the market, they understood the Business environment trends. Whos invested in business and make profits and constantly is a successful in the markets. What do we understand by business environment In a business organisation, peoples are investing input whichs consider e.g. Labour, material, Capital and place etc. These inputs are converting in output like Goods and services that is customer willing to buy. Difficult Evaluation strategy changes of business environment Tesco is using different strategy to become successful in the critical environment and proved that they achieved success in the challenging environment. Supermarket competitors; are always trying to be a best but couldnt succeed. Tesco is always understood business strategies and be a leader in Markets. Tesco is using one strategies called as PESTEL Analysis. Microenvironment would include competitors, suppliers, customers, intermediaries, financial community, local community, pressure groups and government. Customers: are important person for any business, for instance in a completive environment, no business grows without customers. Organisations should use an information gathering systems in order to update with changing needs and requirements of the customers and able to predict even the future on what the customers want next. Suppliers: are providers to an organisation of goods and services that the organisation transforms into value added product to customers, also when demand of a product increases suppliers are crucial to the success of an organisation to make available to them due to increase in demand, thus better relationship with suppliers increases the growth of businesses. Competitors: survival of organisation in todays recession in dealing with competition is extremely important, hence an organisation must keep a close look on its competitors on how they are changing towards the need of the customers, and example of competition would be mobile phones and soft drinks. Intermediaries: are people who provide a link between the organisation and its customers, large companies use intermediaries as they find it difficult to deal direct to their customers. Financial communities: are institutions they may currently support or support the organisation in the future. Share holders both private and institutional are important to the business as they reassure that the business will achieve it objectives. Expansions of many markets have failed because the companies did not consider the needs and expectations of potential investors. Local community: it is for organisation to enhance their image towards the society, through charitable contribution, sponsorship of local events and also been seen as a support to the local environment. (Fifth edition by Adrian Palmer and Bob Harley) PESTEL Analysis Tool uses on Tesco supermarkets 1.1) Political factors: Tesco makes strong infrastructure in globe, now they are operating six countries in Europe in additions in the UK. Tesco have high demand by UK, including the European Union (EU). Tesco follow employee govt. Legislation to provide variety in job, flexibility of jobs, lower paid higher paid, variety of demand, requirement of position like for student, under 18 ages, senior citizen. Tesco are implemented position for different requirement for full fill their needs and makes them constantly growth, thats why on the basis of needs. They recruiting people as part time, full time, contract, temporary, seasonable, get job done in limited period of time. http://www.tesco.com/talkingtesco/p/inc/TalkingTesco.pdf 1.2) Economical Factors: Economically we are in recession time but all supermarkets as well as same in problem. Tesco is faced difficult time this year but they made strategies thats result recession will not critical y overcome on Tesco. So simply we can say that competition like Sainsbury, Asda economically they are strong, but Tesco are selling product for different categories customer some time using offer like free parking and Tesco reward cards, offers etc. Thats reason Tesco always one step ahead of competitors. http://www.tesco.com/talkingtesco/response/?page=article9 1.3) Social / cultural factors: Tesco are always applying PESTEL strategies in business. That why they always consider on different factor like social life, which belong to the people. Economic changes are changing people living trends, now people like to live single family, which is differences in single person, aged citizen, competition of job, people like gives preference time consuming, it is means peoples dont want spend time to make food. Tesco is understood people demand and introduce micro able food in the market. This is gives to the Tesco customer more time saving, easy to full fill their daily needs. On the chaining environment, supermarkets must be alert and do research on changes of cultural and social. http://www.tesco.com/talkingtesco/p/inc/TalkingTesco.pdf 1.4) Technological Factors: Technological factor are makes great effort on environment, which gives great impact of Tesco business environment. Tesco recently started new technology like ‘Online Shopping which is makes people life easier and peace, they are also saying dont need to come to us just order from home by online and you will get your delivery on your door step ahead. Tesco has also made investment in Pollution control, that is support to the carbon reduction and also encourage customer to use and buy low carbon product. It gives clean natural atmosphere to the human beings. Tesco is promoting to use carrier bags again and again and they also giving Tesco points on it. Which is clearly says to the customer make city clean and also urge for environment friendliness. This all activity makes good reputation in between people minds. Ø How existing products can be made cheaper and better quality by introducing new technology Ø How distribution of goods to consumers have changed e.g. how new books can be purchased via the internet Ø How consumers are offered more innovative products and services e.g. new anti cancer drugs, internet banking. Ø How new technology has enhanced organisation to communicate to their consumers e.g. customer relationship management, mobile internet services 1.5) Environment Factor: When Tescos using strategies in business, they also considerate about wrong impact on Business Environment and thats why they are always trying to avoid those impact. Tesco says ‘Make your staffs happy and they will make your customer happy. Tescos always trying to keep their staff Happier and which is good result on customer relation and build strong relation between customer and Staff. 1.6) Legislation Factor: Tescos always facing bargaining problem between them and competitors because of legislation create difficult environment like recession. It is means Price and Quality ‘War between supermarkets competitors; which means loss in business. Legislation understanding is very important in business, thats makes easy way to achieve their target in the market. In order to implement political correct pricing policies, Tesco offered to customer price reduction on food purchase based on the how many times customer spent money on groceries at their stores. It is gives competent stability in the Business environment. http://www.tesco.com/climatechange/speech.asp http://www.modelanswer.co.uk/business/help/pestle/tescos.php In the Business Environment How Tesco apply SWOT analysis to state internal and external Factors. A) Strength (Internal factor): 1) Tesco have had achieve 30.08% highest share of the UK market; Tesco is growing faster and faster in their future carrier and to allow to drive a high share in Non-Food industry. 1) Tesco Online services spreading all over the world and operating 270 stores around the globe. In which Tesco cover 96% market in the UK and other millions of store having online services. Then we can simply say that Currently Tesco got strong platform to develop their profitability in the market. 2) Recently advertised in UKs newspaper, Tesco have 71% Sales larger than Sainsbury; and they are leading UKs Supermarket business. B) WEAK (Internal Factor): 1) Tesco still need more effort to reach world market and makes stability in the world. 2) Tesco have already invested in different industry like Tesco Bank, New stores, Investment companies; if recession is continue like that, business environment will go bust and Tesco will have to face big loss in the business 3) Traditional small business like local butcher, local deli shop, local bakery etc. they are situated in resident areas which is very near for customer and traditionally customer got used to with their services. In this situation its very difficult to attract customer and make relation. C) Opportunity (External Factor): 1) Now Tesco is giving ‘Online Shopping facility to the customer. Its give opportunity to the customer, they can buy their product from their home and will get delivery on their door step. This is save customers Time, money and energy etc. 2) Tesco is going to open some new shop, Tesco Bank, and Tesco Investment company etc. In current status Tesco got highest share in market; its show Tesco great service and loyalty about customer, they already capture customer trust. On behalf of Tesco got opportunities to expand their business in world wide level and achieve success. 3) Tescos almost shops are providing 24Hrs service to the customer, its really great opportunities to get customer trust. D) Threats (External): 1) Now days Business environment giving tough challenge to the Supermarkets, economics value is going down, which means no jobs and no money. This is reason other supermarkets have already reduced their product price by 6%. Tesco and Sainsbury got leadership in the business market; simply they have to be decreasing their price rate, hence other wise they are out of market. Tesco got threats about loss of business because they have to reduce their cost lowest than their competitors. 2) Some time its very complicated to decide what to do? Or not? Because of some other supermarkets are buying their product from abroad; where economy is very low and thats they are selling their good very low cost. Some supermarket are taking advantage about it and buying standard product in cheap price from abroad and selling them on low price. For Tesco there is threat about stealing customer from them. 3) In UKs supermarket competition Tesco got success and they achieved leadership. Now Tesco going expand their business all over the world but still some countries like E.g. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc. They are traditionally buying their goods from their traditional shops and they got used to with their services. So When Tesco start their business in these countries might be there is threat about loss and decline of business. http://www.ivoryresearch.com/sample5.php http://www.321books.co.uk/catalog/tesco/porters-five-forces.htm Porter 5 Forces Analysis: How Tesco state their strategies and success on their competitors by using Porter 5 forces Analysis. 1) Bargaining power of Suppliers: This statement is practically proved by supermarkets competitors, where large supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury, and Asda etc are suffering by business environment crises called ‘Recession. Its result people they dont have enough money to buy their groceries form supermarket and that why they are always bargaining with supermarket price. For that reason large supermarkets are also forcing their suppliers to make very low cost on their selling product; which is result its very difficult for suppliers in low profit margin they can manage, their expenses. UKs based supermarkets are facing these problems but in hence other abroad based supermarkets are buying their goods in cheaper deal from abroad. These competitors are competing with large supermarkets and encouraging price war between supermarkets. 2) Bargaining power of Customers: In our business environment area we can see that great changes in markets like now peoples are demanding more supermarkets, who can gives them different facility, that could makes their life easier. Tesco has also started some schemes like loyalty customer card, club card and they also going to give some different facility E.g. Bank, Pharmacies etc. these all business environment changes are only happening by customer demand. It is increased supermarkets counts in the markets and their competition. 3) Bargaining power of competitors: In challenging business environment customer demands and expectation are high from supermarket; to full fill their needs we can see that every day entering new competitors in the market and challenging Supermarkets. So now these condition UKs supermarkets have had to keep maintain their leadership in the market and innovative to build market share. Tesco is always updating their Price and value scan between competitors success and on behalf of have given excellent service to the customer. 4) Threat of New Entrants: In the UKs large supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury, ASDA etc. they are capturing large space of business, there is no space for other because of they are rapidly spreading all local areas and draining out business from market. Mostly some small tradition shops are affected and they are start disappearing from market like Butcher, bakery, dairy shop etc. So it very difficult for those new entrants companies to stand in grocery market and also they are facing some problem like not enough capital and resources for product compare to other Supermarkets. 5) Threat of Substitutes: In this changing business environment is able to reduce demand for a specific product, as threat is of consumers switching to the other supermarkets. Tesco have started new business trend in the markets like opening shop Tesco express, metro in local towns and city. Whilst help to protect Tesco, about stealing customer by small supermarkets. Recommendation: In business environment Tesco always tries to understand changes of business environment and on the basis of situation applying their unique strategies E.g. PESEL, Porter 5 forces, SWOT analysis etc and got succeed in the market. It gave leadership in between competitors. This strategies are practically proved thats why these are very effective source to full fill Tescos stakeholder expectation and providing excellent service to the customer. Changing business environment, Tesco innovate some different Technology changes, which gives to the customer easy and simple approach for the life. One of the technology changes is effective in the business like online shopping. On the basis of ‘Online shopping Tesco says to the customer, you dont need to come to us, instant we will come to you. In hence Tesco have to understand changes in business environment which relate with competitors. It is necessary to scan competitors success activity and makes good decision on it and implements Tesco key success. Tesco have to also consider on their behaviour of business which is help to them to understand, how they are reacting on implement of trends and strategy changes. These strategies changes are makes final decision to Tesco can use their analytical strategies in the competitive business environment, which gives Tesco successful stage in the market. Conclusion: In the Challenging business environment Tescos success strategy is proved and applied on the practical life that why there is no change of error; thats reason Tescos giving excellent service to the customer and understanding their need and full fill their need on their demand. For better technology can save cost, money and energy and it is important for that organisation should regularly have scans on their competitors to achieve success within the challenging business environment.

Chariots of Fire :: essays research papers

Chariots of Fire Assignment 1. In the movie, Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell most strongly observed the 3rd commandment of not playing sport on the Sabbath, as the Sabbath is seen as a day of rest. This was seen on the Sunday of the Olympics when he refused to race. The second commandment Eric Liddell most strongly observed was the †¦ 2. The Sabbath is designed as a day of rest after working for six days, no work including sport is to be performed on this day. When God created the earth, he set aside the seventh day as a day of rest after all the hard work he had done. 3. Eric Liddell did not compete in his heat at the Olympics on the Sunday which led up to the major running event because he placed God before his sport and God’s rule was that the Sabbath was to be a day of rest. 4. Harold Abraham is a Jewish man who valued his athletics a lot more than his Jewish religion. On the other hand, Eric Liddell was the complete opposite and was a strong Christian and valued this more than his athletics. The sacrifice Eric made for Christianity was very big for him as he had to miss a vital heat. Harold on the other hand was much more focused on running than anything else in his life. He put the activity of running first even before those that he loved including his wife and his Jewish religion. Harold became depressed whenever he lost a race and took running to a serious level where he almost did not even consider religion part of his life. Even though Harold seemed to work harder throughout the film to become a better runner Eric seemed to be the victor in every encounter the two had, this could have been because of God’s blessing to Eric for following in Christianity more than Harold. 4. This movie reflects on the pictures in the ‘Two Ways We Choose To Live’ because Eric Liddell chose to put Christianity before anything else including running which was one of his passions, this is an example of what God wants us to do.

Greed in Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat (Favourite) Essay -- Ode t

Greed in Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat (Favourite)  Ã‚   Greed is one of the underlying themes found in Thomas Gray's Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat. This greed becomes the ultimate demise of the lead character, Selima the Cat. Mr. Gray uses a few different literary techniques to bring to life the inanimate written words. These techniques along with word choice allow for the possibility of many different interpretations of the text.    The general format Mr. Gray follows is seven stanzas of AACBBC form, wherein the A and B lines consist of eight syllables and the C lines consist of six. Thomas Gray also uses alliteration to emphasize certain aspects of the peom. "...fair round face/golden gleam..."(lines 8 & 18) are two examples of this. The imagery that is used to paint the lyrical picture of the feline stalking its prey also describes in fairly great detail the appearance of the cat's surroundings. Gray's word choice enhances the ever present physical aspects of his subject. "...The fair round face, the snowy beard, The velvet of her paws..."(8-9) presents the ...

Time and Attendance Management

AcknowledgmentsI owe a great many thanks to great many people who helped and supportedme during the project. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my mentorsDr. Hiral Shah, Dr. Ben Baliga, and Prof. Gary Nierengarten for all their support and encouragement at every step throughout my course of study at St. Cloud StateUniversity. First and foremost, my deepest thanks to my advisor, Dr. Hiral Shah, myGuide for this project. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for herguidance and support throughout the project.I would also like to express my thanks to Dr. Ben Baliga, Prof. GaryNierengarten, and Dr. Balsubramanian Kasi for their precious time in carefullyreviewing my project. I am grateful for their valuable suggestions and comments.Finally, I would like to thank my family and all my friends for constantlyencouraging and supporting me in this endeavor. It is with their help that I have beenable to successfully complete my Master's Program in Engineering Management.IntroductionChapter I: IntroductionEmployee time and attendance is a vital part of the workplace as it allows forbetter workforce management. Time and attendance management facilitates HumanResources to better understand employee attendance, and are necessary forcollecting information for payroll (Time Well Scheduled, n.d.). It is important forcompanies to assemble, categorize, and utilize workforce data, which will allow themto make critical decisions (Data Management Services, Inc., n.d.). In this ever evolving and technologically savvy century, companies are oftenforced to adapt to the needs and requirements of the market. Companies preferportability, flexibility and access to applications they use from anywhere and across all platforms, so that work and management become easier and less complex.Agile methodology is the most widely used project management technique by several organizations for their software development projects. This methodologyworks great in environments where requirements change rapidly throughout theproject scope and has been proven to achieve high project success rate for manyorganization (Battagiri, 2015). There are several software development techniqueswithin the agile methodology. This project demonstrates the use of agile methodologyto create web-based reports for employee Time and Attendance. Problem StatementABC application is currently a desktop applicationwhich facilitates clients to use the software on the local system where theserver is located. This is a drawback8since the client cannot access the application on a remote device. Clients nowrequire flexibility to use the application from across any platform and any devicewithout having to personally be present at the location and the local system wherethe Application is hosted. This can significantly reduce time and effort and increasethe productivity of the workforce.Nature and Significance of the ProblemFor any company, it is necessary to manage its time and attendance and thework schedules of the employees who are the number one capital expense. Improperscheduling and attendance management can lead to a host of issues, includingoverscheduling a shift, costly overtime pay, and even litigation (Data ManagementServices, Inc., n.d.). With the change in dynamics of the work environment in the present day world, employees have the option to work from remote locations. A lot of companiesallow their employees to work from remote locations and to manage their time andattendance, it becomes an arduous task to keep track of the Human resources, whichcan lead to billing issues and corrections which can become costly.Currently, ABC company TC-1 software is only limited to systems that have the database running on theirservers. If employees of any of the clients are requiredto work from a remote location, or if the manager wants to access employeeinformation, payroll, scheduling, they have to be physically present at theirworkstation where this application is hosted. An effective solution which can provideaccess to the application on any device would help the management in accurately9tracking employee work time and also reduce managerial time spent on timekeepingand payroll tasks.Objective of the ProjectTo identify the tools and technologies required for the development of thisapplication and create a web enabled application that interfaces with theserver on the backend and presents a browser-based client interface to theuser in an agile environment.2. Identify the core areas of business and implement them in phases andrelease for production.Project QuestionsAfter successfully accomplishing the project, the following questions wereanswered based on the results obtained from the project:What current drawback s of thedesktop application have been resolved in the Web based application and up to what extent?How was Scrum agile methodology useful in developing this project?How effective would the proposed solution of bringing in a web basedinterface help in resolving the clients' needs?What are the factors of Scrum which were helpful in identifying any threatsin this project?Can new changes and modifications be made during the implementation of the web-application? 11evolutionary development, early delivery, and continuous improvement,and it encourages rapid and flexible response to change (Wikipedia, n.d.).c)Scrum methodology:Scrum is a management and control process thatcuts through complexity to focus on building software that meets businessneeds. Management and teams are able to get their hands around therequirements and technologies, never let go, and deliver working software, incrementally and empirically (Scrum.org, n.d.). d) Socket Programming: Sockets provide the communication mech anismbetween two computers using TCP. A client program creates a socket on its end of the communication and attempts to connect that socket to a server. When the connection is made, the server creates a socket objecton its end of the communication (Tutorialspoint.com, n.d.).e) Server:A server is a computer program or a machine capable of accepting requests from clients and responding to them. Their purpose may be to share data or hardware and software resources among clients(Quizlet.com, n.d.). f) Web Application:A Web application (Web app) is an application program that is stored on a remote server and delivered over the Internetthrough a browser interface (Jdsofttech.com, n.d.).g) Desktop Application:A desktop application is a self-contained programthat performs a defined set of tasks under the user control. Desktopapplications run from a local drive and do not require a network or 12connectivity to operate or function properly, though if attached to a networkdesktop application might use the resources of the network (Socmedtech,2014).f) TheSoftware Development Life Cycle (SDLC)is the process of developing or modifying software systems by following softwaredevelopment methodologies. People, process and technology play a vitalrole in success of the software development lifecycle (Battagiri, 2015).g) Pair programmingis an agile software development technique, where twoor more programmers work together on a software development task. One,thedriver, develops the code while the other, theobserver, reviews thecode developed by the driver. The driver and the observer switch roles to achieve better results (Battagiri, 2015).h) Best practicesare the set of rules followed in software developmentwhich can help in developing software which is effective as well as efficientand within the budget. A combination of best practices can be used to bestfit a specific software development environment. The core agile softwareprogramming practices (versionone.com) are the following:Iterative development,Test driven development,Quality testing,Requirement change management,Following standard coding practices,13Software version control.Project management best practices help us successfully initiate,plan, execute, monitor, control and close our projects.Best practicesrepresent the practical application of the concepts, processes, andtools defined in the project (Battagiri, 2015).SummaryThis chapter introduces the problem statement and objective of the project.The nature and significance of the project are discussed. Limitations of this projectimplementation are also addressed. Important terms and keywords are brieflyexplain ed, which are necessary to understand the project. The next chapterdiscusses the framework and research methodologies used to conduct the project in detail.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 37

Then Meredith saw something that was not smoke or fire. Just a glimpse of a door frame – and a tiny breath of cool air. With this hope to sustain her, she scuttled straight for the door to the backyard, dragging Isobel behind her. As she passed the threshold, she felt blessedly cold water somehow showering down onto her body. When she pul ed Isobel into the spray, the younger girl made the first voluntary sound she had during the entire journey: a wordless sob of thanks. Matt's hands were helping her along, were taking away the burden of Isobel. Meredith got up to her feet and staggered in a circle, then dropped to her knees. Her hair was on fire! She was just recal ing her childhood rehearsal of stop, drop, and rol , when she felt the cold water turned on it. The hose water went up and down her body and she turned around, basking in the feeling of coolness, until she heard Matt's voice say, â€Å"The flames are out. You're good now.† â€Å"Thank you, Matt. Thank you.†Her voice was hoarse. â€Å"Hey, you were the one who had to go al the way to the bedrooms and back. Getting Mrs. Saitou out was pretty easy – there was the kitchen sink ful of water, so as soon as I cut her free from the kitchen chair we just got al wet and dashed outside.† Meredith smiled and looked around quickly. Isobel had become her responsibility now. To her relief, she saw that the girl was being hugged by her mother. And al it had taken was the nonsense choice between a thing – however precious it was – and a life. Meredith gazed at the mother and daughter and was glad. She could have another stave made. But nothing could replace Isobel. â€Å"Isobel said to give this to you,†Matt was saying. Meredith turned toward him, the fiery light making the world crazy, and for one moment didn't believe her eyes. Matt was holding the fighting stave out to her. â€Å"She must have dragged it with her free hand – oh, Matt, and she was almost dead before we started†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Matt said, â€Å"She's stubborn. Like someone else I know.† Meredith wasn't quite sure what he meant by that, but she knew one thing. â€Å"We'd al better get to the front yard. I doubt the volunteer fire department is going to come. Besides – Theo – â€Å" â€Å"I'l get them moving. You scout the gate side,†Matt said. Meredith plunged into the backyard, which was hideously il uminated by the house, now ful y engulfed in flames. Fortunately, the side yard was not. Meredith flicked the gate open with the stave. Matt was right behind her, helping Mrs. Saitou and Isobel along. Meredith quickly ran by the flaming garage and then stopped. From behind her she heard a cry of horror. There was no time to try to soothe whoever had cried, no time to think. The two fighting women were too busy to notice her – and Theo was in need of help. Inari was truly like a fiery Medusa, with her hair writhing around her in flaming, smoking snakes. Only the crimson part burned, and it was that part that she was using like a whip, using one snake to wrest away the silver bul whip from Theo's hand, and then another to wrap around Theo's throat and choke her. Theo was desperately trying to pul the blazing noose from her neck. Inari was laughing. â€Å"Are you suffering, petty witch? It wil al be over in seconds – for you and for your entire little town! The Last Midnight has final y come!† Meredith glanced back at Matt – and that was al it took. He ran forward, passing her, al the way up to the space below the fighting women. Then he bent slightly, cupping his hands. And then Meredith sprinted, putting everything she had left into the short run, leaving her just enough energy to leap and place one foot into Matt's cupped hands, and then she felt herself soaring aloft, just within distance for the stave to slice cleanly through the snake of hair that was choking Theo. After that Meredith was in free fal , with Matt trying to catch her from below. She landed more or less on top of him and they both saw what happened next. Theo, who was bruised and bleeding, slapped out a part of her gown that was smoldering. She held out a hand for the silver bul whip and it flew to meet her outstretched fingers. But Inari wasn't attacking. She was waving her arms wildly, as if in terror, and then suddenly she shrieked: a sound so anguished that Meredith drew in her breath sharply. It was a death-scream. Before their eyes she was turning back into Obaasan, into the shrunken, helpless, dol -like woman Matt and Meredith knew. But by the time this shriveled body hit the ground it was already stiff and dead, her expression one of such unrepentant malice that it was frightening. It was Isobel and Mrs. Saitou then who came forward to stand over the body, sobbing with relief. Meredith looked at them and then up at Theo, who slowly floated to the ground. â€Å"Thank you,†Theo said with the faintest of smiles. â€Å"You have saved me – yet again.† â€Å"But what do you think happened to her?†Matt asked. â€Å"And why didn't Shinichi or Misao come to help her?† â€Å"I think they al must be dead, don't you?†Theo's voice was soft over the roar of the flames. â€Å"As for Inari – I think that perhaps someone destroyed her star bal . I'm afraid I was not strong enough to defeat her myself.† â€Å"What time is it?†Meredith abruptly cried, remembering. She ran to the old SUV, which was Stillrunning. Its clock showed 12:00 midnight exactly. â€Å"Did we save the people?†Matt asked desperately. Theo turned her face outward toward the center of the town. For nearly a minute she was Still, as if listening for something. At last, when Meredith felt that she might shatter from tension, she turned back and said quietly, â€Å"Dear Ma ma, Grand mama, and I are one, now. I sense children who are finding themselves holding knives – and some with guns. I sense them standing in their sleeping parents'rooms, unable to remember how they got there. And I sense parents, hiding in closets, a moment ago frightened for their very lives, who are seeing weapons dropped and children fal ing onto master bedroom floors, sobbing and bewildered.† â€Å"We did it, then. You did it. You held her off,†Matt panted. Stillgentle and sober, Theo said, â€Å"Someone else – far away – did much more. I know that the town needs healing. But Grand mama and Ma ma agree. Because of them, no child has kil ed a parent this night, and no parent has kil ed a child. The long nightmare of Inari and her Last Midnight is over.† Meredith, grimy and bedraggled as she was, felt something rise and swell inside her, bigger and bigger, until, for al her training, she couldn't contain herself any longer. It exploded out of her in a yel of exultation. She found that Matt was shouting too. He was as grubby and unkempt as she was, but he seized her by the hands and whirled her around in a barbarian victory dance. And it was fun, whirling around and yel ing like a kid. Maybe – maybe in trying to be calm, in always being the most grown-up, she had missed out on the essence of fun, which always felt as if it had some childlike quality to it. Matt had no trouble in expressing his feelings, whatever they were: childlike, mature, stubborn, happy. Meredith found herself admiring this, and also thinking that it had been a long time since she'd real y looked at Matt. But now she felt a sudden wave of feeling for him. And she could see that Matt felt the same way about her. As if he'd never real y looked at her properly before. This was the moment†¦when they were meant to kiss. Meredith had seen it so often in movies, and read about it in books, that it was almost a given. But this was life, it wasn't a story. And when the moment came, Meredith found herself holding Matt's shoulders while he held hers, and she could see that he was thinking exactly the same thing about the kiss. The moment stretched†¦ Then, with a grin, Matt's face showed that he knew what to do. Meredith did too. They both moved in, and hugged each other. When they drew back, they were both grinning. They knew who they were. They were very different, very close friends. Meredith hoped that they always would be. They both turned to look at Theo, and Meredith felt a pang in her heart, the first since she had heard they'd saved the town. Theo was changing. It was the look on her face as she watched them that gave Meredith the pang. After being young, and while watching youth at its peak, she was once again aging, wrinkling, her hair going white instead of moonlit silver. At last, she was an old woman wearing a raincoat covered with bits of paper. â€Å"Mrs. Flowers!† This person, it was perfectly safe and right to kiss. Meredith flung her arms about the frail old woman, lifting her off her feet in excitement. Matt joined them, and they boosted her above their heads. They carried her like this to the Saitous, mother and daughter, who were watching the fire. There, sobered, they put her down. â€Å"Isobel,†Meredith said. â€Å"God! I'm so sorry – your home†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Thank you,†Isobel said in her soft, slurred voice. Then she turned away. Meredith felt chil ed. She was even beginning to regret the celebration, when Mrs. Saitou said, â€Å"Do you know, this is the greatest moment in the history of our family? For hundreds of years, that ancient kitsune – oh, yes, I've always known what she was – has been forcing herself upon innocent humans. And for the last three centuries it has been my family line of samurai mikos that she has terrorized. Now my husband can come home at last.† Meredith looked at her, startled. Mrs. Saitou nodded. â€Å"He tried to defy her and she banished him from the house. Ever since Isobel was born, I have feared for her. And now, please forgive her. She has trouble expressing what she feels.† â€Å"I know about that,†Meredith said quietly. â€Å"I'l go have a little talk with her, if it's All right.† If ever in her life she could explain to a fel ow traveler what fun having fun was, she thought, it was now.