Strategic Marketing

Table of Contents Introduction Marketing Mix SWOT Analysis PESTEL Analysis Competitive Analysis Using Porter’s Five Forces Conclusions List of References Introduction Sainsbury’s is a large retail outlet that was started by John Sainsbury in 1869, in the City of London, United Kingdom. During its earlier years, Sainsbury did not face any major market competition, and this helped it prosper in the market. As Griffin (2010, p. 67) notes, this firm grew to become the largest retailer in the United Kingdom in 1922.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategic Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It was the pioneer of self-service retailing, and it was able to maintain a pool of loyal customers (Roberts 2012, p. 89). The firm started facing serious market competition in the 1980s. However, it was still able to remain the market leader until 1995 when Tesco displaced it as the top retailer in the country. The level of competition became stiffer as Asda also managed to surpass it in terms of revenue generation. The firm however, has been able to regain its strength, and the recent reports have indicated that it is currently the second largest retailer in the United Kingdom. The financial statements of this firm as at December 11, 2012, show that its revenue currently stands at  £ 22.294 billion with a net income of  £ 598 million. During the same period, its number of employees was estimated to be 152,000 people. Industry in which this firm operates is very competitive. According to Clarke (2000, p. 113), the retail industry has become very competitive with the introduction of many players. Many firms are currently fighting for the market share in order to remain competitive. With such stiff competition, it forces firms to come up with unique ways of remaining competitive. Major competitors like Tesco and Asda are real threats that the management of Sainsbury cannot ignor e. The management must also understand other external factors in this industry that may affect its operations in one way or the other. Marketing Mix In marketing, it has become important to understand all the elements which may affect the normal operations of a firm in one way or the other in order to develop strategies that match market needs. Marketing mix elements have been used as a way of understanding some of the market forces that may affect operations of a firm either directly or indirectly. In this study, the researcher will analyze the 7Ps of marketing mix elements.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The first element in the marketing mix is the product. In this industry, the retailers have a variety of products, ranging from electronics, to foodstuffs, housewares, apparels, and stationery. Most of the products that are offered by various players are similar because they come from same suppliers. The retailers such as Sainsbury are forced to differentiate their products using unique packaging strategy as a way of gaining competitive advantage over other market rivals (Baker 2007, p. 38). Pricing has been the main differentiating element of the marketing mix. Sainsbury has been keen to avoid using pricing as a marketing strategy, and instead, it has employed cost leadership strategy. Being the second largest retailer in the country, this strategy has proven to be very appropriate. Sainsbury has been employing the right workforce at various levels of the firm’s operations. The firm has employed highly qualified individuals at the top management unit. The leadership team has made it possible for the firm to be flexible in its operations. The firm has also employed dynamic and highly skilled people who have the capacity to change with the changing market forces. The place element for this firm has been defined by retail and wholesale outlets . Although this firm has embraced online marketing strategies, its operations are still primarily based on brick-and-moter strategy. Promotional element of the marketing mix has been considered as one of the major ways of gaining competitive advantage in this market (Aaker 2001, p. 87). Sainsbury has been very active in both the social and mass media campaigns. In the social media, this firm has been using Facebook, Tweeter, and YouTube to reach out to the customers. The physical evidence has lately been considered as another important marketing mix element (Shanker 2002, p. 123). The infrastructure and the physical design of the outlets have been considered to be a factor that can help attract customers to a given facility. Sainsbury has modernized all its stores to reflect the changing trends in the modern building strategies. At most of its stores, there are numerous outlets to reduce human traffic within the facility and make it easy for people to exit the facility in cases of e mergency.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Strategic Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The process, as the seventh element of the marketing mix, has also played a role in helping this firm achieve its current success (Schneider 2011, p. 45). Sainsbury has always ensured that there is uniformity in its service delivery. Customer satisfaction has been the main aim of this firm when offering its products to the customers. SWOT Analysis In order to understand some of the internal factors that have helped this firm attain its current market position, it is necessary to analyze it using SWOT analysis. Strength One of the main strengths of this firm lies in its many years of experience in the retail industry within this country. Sainsbury is one of the oldest supermarket in the United Kingdom. This means that it has a deep understanding of the marketing forces, and the changing trends in this industry. The firm is therefore in a better position to predict some of the possible market changes that may have impact on its normal operations. Its large volume of wealth it has generated over the years is another factor that makes it stronger in the market. With such finance, it is able to support its market research, and other promotional strategies without any difficulty. According to Henioe (2008, p. 56), firms have been struggling to fund most of their market awareness campaigns, including corporate social responsibility. It has been a preserve for large firms with huge capital base such as Sainsbury. Weaknesses Sainsbury has had some weaknesses that has made it difficult to become the market leader. One of the main weakness is that it has been slow in changing within the changes taking place in the field of technology. This is one of the main reasons why its archrival, Tesco Supermarket, was able to surpass it as the market leader. Opportunities The market has some opportunities tha t Sainsbury is yet to exploit fully. The stable economy of this country means that the purchasing power of the market has improved. The stable political environment has also offered Sainsbury a peaceful market environment where it can conduct its operations without any fear of the consequences of political instability. The government has also kept of any direct interference in the business sector, and the laws governing this industry has been favorable. The slow, but steady increase of the country’s population is also a sign that the market size is increasing. Threats The external environment has had some threats that the management of this firm has been trying to manage. The main threat in the external environment has been the stiff competition the firm faces in the market. Until 1995, Sainsbury was the undisputed market leader in this industry for one century. However, it was supposed by Tesco Supermarket. Asda has also been offering stiff competition in this market. The e conomic recession that hit the country in 2009 also affected the sales of this firm. PESTEL Analysis It is important to analyze the external environment in order to determine some of the environmental factors that have had direct influence in the operations of the firm (Ruskin 2005, p. 96). As stated above, the political environment in the United Kingdom has been stable, offering Sainsbury a conducing market for its operations. The economic environment has experienced both positive and negative growths. Although the economy has stabilized over the last three years, the 2008-2009 economic recession affected the operations of many firms in the market, including Sainsbury. According to Hoffman (2002, p. 18), the economic environment always direct impact on sales of firms. When the economy slows, the rate at which people purchase various products slows. Consumers would consider avoiding consuming some product, especially those that they consider that are meant foe leisure (Bhattachar jee 2006, p. 29). The social environment in this country has brought positive impact to this firm. There is a spending culture in this society, especially for products meant for leisure. The firm has also mastered the socio-cultural differences in this society that may shape buying patterns, and has designed its products to meet all their needs. The technological environment has been challenging for this firm. The management of Sainsbury has been struggling to manage the changing technological environment. However, the report by Jorgensen (2002, p. 90) shows that this firm recently hired techno-savvy employees who have been able to understand the dynamic technological environment.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The legal environment has not been disruptive of the firm’s operations. The law in this country is very clear on how a business unit should relate with its customers, other business units, the government, or any other stakeholder within this society. Sainsbury has not faced any major litigation in the recent past over its operations (Rama 2011, p. 38). The management has been keen on ensuring that its operations are sensitive of environmental concerns. It has been actively participating in environmental conservation programs, through its corporate social responsibility strategies. Competitive Analysis Using Porter’s Five Forces According to Boutellier (2008, p. 90), competition is one of the most destructive forces in the environment if a firm fails to manage it properly. Kodak was once the largest firm in the film industry and its sales were very attractive, but the stiff competition it faced from Fujifilm almost brought it to its knees (Homua 2009, p. 82). However, p ositive competition is very good as it offers firms the opportunity to improve their service delivery. Analyzing competitive forces for Sainsbury using Porters Five Forces would help determine the competitiveness of this firm in the market. Porters Five Forces The diagram above shows Porters five competitive forces. To manage industry rivalry, Sainsbury has improved its promotional and service delivery strategies in order to protect its market share. It has also made an effort to ensure that its products are unique and focused on meeting the changing market needs. In order to manage suppliers’ power, the management has developed strategic alliance with most of its major suppliers to ensure that they deliver their products to this firm at fair prices that allows it make attractive profit margins. To manage the increasing buyer power, the Sainsbury has consistently been offering high quality products through quality product delivery strategies that has convinced its market tha t the prices they charge are worth the value they offer. To manage the threat of substitutes, the management of this firm has introduced variety of products in its stores, making it possible for it to compete directly with substitute products. The large size of the firm and its profit margin has enabled it fight new market entrants. The firm has several outlets in major cities across this country. This makes it easy to monitor activities of the new entrants, making it easy to define appropriate competitive approach to take when dealing with them. Conclusions Sainsbury is the second largest retail outlet in the United Kingdom. The firm is facing stiff competition from other market rivals such as Tesco and Asda supermarkets. The external environment has posed many challenges but this firm has been able to overcome them. The firm has been able to use its internal strength to maximize on some of the market opportunities. This has helped it retain its position as the second biggest super market in this country. List of References Aaker, D 2001, Developing Business Strategies, Wiley, New York. Baker, M 2007, Marketing strategy and management, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke. Bhattacharjee, C 2006, Services marketing: Concepts, planning and implementation, Excel Books, New Delhi. Boutellier, R 2008, Managing Global Innovation: Uncovering the Secrets of Future Competitiveness, Springer, Berlin. Clarke, G 2000, Marketing a service for profit: A practical guide to key service marketing concepts, Kogan Page, London. Griffin, D 2010, Business with a purpose: Starting, building, managing and protecting your new business, Outskirts Press, Denver. Henioe, A 2008, Understanding strategic management, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Hoffman, K 2002, Essentials of services marketing, Harcourt College Publishers, Fort Worth. Homua, G 2009, Services marketing: Concepts, strategies cases, Cengage Learning, New York. Jorgensen, A 2002, The food service professionals guide to: 365 s ecrets revealed, Atlantic Publishing Group, Lauderhill. Rama, M 2011, Services marketing, Pearson, New Delhi. Roberts, B 2012, Walmart: Key Insights and Practical Lessons from the World’s Largest Retailer, Kogan Page, London. Ruskin, I 2005, Marketing your service business, Thorogood, London. Schneider, G 2011, Electronic commerce, Cengage Learning, Boston. Shanker, R 2002, Services marketing: The Indian perspective: text and readings, Excel Books, New Delhi. This report on Strategic Marketing was written and submitted by user Aydin N. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. Strategic marketing Strategic Marketing

About the Reconstruction Era (1865â€1877)

About the Reconstruction Era (1865–1877) The period of Reconstruction took place in the southern United States from the end of the Civil War in 1865 until 1877. The era was marked by intense controversies, which included the impeachment of a president, outbreaks of racial violence, and the passage of Constitutional amendments. Even the end of Reconstruction was controversial, as it was marked by a presidential election which many, to the present day, contend was stolen. The main issue of Reconstruction was how to bring the nation back together after the rebellion of the slave states had been ended. And, at the end of the Civil War fundamental  issues facing the nation included what role former Confederates might play in the US government, and what role freed slaves would play in American society. And beyond the political and social issues was the matter of physical destruction. Much of the Civil War had been waged in the South, and cities, towns, and even farmlands, were in runs. The infrastructure of the South also had to be rebuilt. Conflicts Over Reconstruction The issue of how to bring the rebellious states back into the Union consumed much of the think of President Abraham Lincoln as the Civil War came to an end. In his second inaugural address he spoke of reconciliation. But when he was assassinated in April 1865 much changed. The new president, Andrew Johnson, declared that he would follow Lincolns intended policies toward Reconstruction. But the ruling party in Congress, the Radical Republicans, believed Johnson was being far too lenient and was allowing former rebels too much of a role in the new governments of the South. The Radical Republican plans for Reconstruction were more severe. And continual conflicts between the Congress and the president led to the impeachment trial of President Johnson in 1868.   When Ulysses S. Grant became president following the election of 1868, Reconstruction policies continued in the South. But it was often plagued by racial problems and the Grant administration often found itself trying to protect the civil rights of former slaves. The era of Reconstruction effectively ended with the Compromise of 1877, which decided the highly controversial election of 1876. Aspects of Reconstruction New Republican controlled governments were instituted in the South, but were almost certainly doomed to fail. Popular sentiment in the region was obviously opposed to the political party which had been led by Abraham Lincoln. An important program of Reconstruction was the Freedmens Bureau, which operated in the South to educate former slaves and give them assistance in adjusting to living as free citizens.   Reconstruction was, and remains, a highly controversial subject. Southerners felt that northerners were using the power of the federal government to punish the south. Northerners felt the southerners were still persecuting freed slaves through the imposition of racist laws, called black codes. The end of Reconstruction can be seen as the beginning of the period of Jim Crow.

BASF

BASF has managed to focus its efforts on non-cyclical products to broaden its market base and increase the company’s growth potential globally.   The diversification and innovative technologies used by BASF has enabled it to sustain a large market presence, particularly in the non-cyclical product areas such as vitamins, crop protection, petrochemicals and plastics and fibers. In the past, vitamin companies were involved in a scandal with price fixing.   The scandal resulted in a loss in the market for all natural vitamins and many pharmaceutical products.   When BASF took over American Cyanamid the companies were able to produce herbicides that were competitive in price and betterment of crops.   Using this new process enabled BASF to get a jump on the vitamin competitors because the company was offering modified crops that were resilient against plant diseases, mildew and other harmful environmental factors. With the higher yielding plants, BASF is able to derive natural and quality ingredients needed to produce the vitamins and other pharmaceutical products.   Global competitors such as Roche have been challenged and no longer can claim the majority of the market with BASF’s innovative technologies as the new competition. In addition to the takeover of Cyanamid, BASF also took over the vitamin business from Takeda.   With the takeover, BASF has managed to capture the markets in Europe, North American and Asia.   Plans are being integrated for BASF to eventually takeover the pharmaceutical division of Takeda.   With the proposed changes, BASF could potentially corner the market on pharmacy drugs to compliment its already strong market presence for the vitamin industry. With growth and innovative technologies, BASF has been able to increase its market value for the vitamins and pharmaceuticals while decreasing the operating costs for the products.   This change in growth instills an even stronger presence in the market place for BASF.   Many of the primary ingredients that go into vitamins and nutritional supplements are produced by BASF thus reducing cost and making the company yield higher volumes of the products. In addition to crop protection, pharmaceutical plans and vitamin mergers, BASF has also focused its attention on the sale of petrochemicals.   BASF merged as a very strong market force for its colorants and finished products used in the automotive industry.   In this division of BASF record sells were achieved and anticipated to only increase in the following months and years.  Ã‚  Ã‚   BASF colors are of lasting quality and used as the primary protective coating for car dealers.   In addition, petrochemicals created by BASF have been used as safe and environmental friendly cleaning agents. Complimenting the development of environmentally friendly and easily disposable petrochemicals, BASF has used its innovative technologies to capture a wide range of the plastics and fibers market.   Many of BASF plastic and fibers are used as household products as well as in major companies.   Many of the plastic and fiber products manufactured by BASF are used for safe and quality packaging materials.   BASF focuses its efforts on producing plastics and fibers that are cost efficient to use for packaging materials as well as biodegradable has given BASF a jump on the market competitors for this part of the global market. As BASF continues to expand its resources into producing innovative and environmental friendly products, BASF is sure to do nothing but grow as a company.   Instead of focusing its investments and technologies strictly in one area, the company’s diversity enables BASF to obtain a substantial amount of profits in its non-cyclical parts of its operations. The company’s growth has been boosted tremendously.   The protection of crops, vitamin and pharmacy mergers, marketing of petrochemicals and increased environmentally friendly plastics and fibers has enabled BASF to not only be a diversified but also a competitive global company within the market place.

Evaluate E-Business Website (www.universalorlando.com) Assignment

Evaluate E-Business Website (www.universalorlando.com) - Assignment Example 2- INTRODUCTION In the ever increasing worldwide economy, e-commerce and e-business have progressively turned out to be a necessary element of business strategy as well as a powerful channel for financial progress. Additionally, the incorporation of ICT (information technology) in traditional business practice has transformed associations inside businesses, among stakeholders (such as workers and managers) and outside businesses. In addition, the utilization of information technology in business area has proficiently improved production, offered enhanced customer contribution, and facilitated through massive personalization, with the intention of minimizing business expenditures to some extent. Moreover, with the developments in web-based technologies and internet, differences among customary marketplaces and the worldwide electronic markets are slowly being confined. In this scenario, in e-business platforms, the use of ICT is intended to improve business performance. Additionally, it comprises some procedures that a business (legislative, a revenue or non-profit unit) can perform over a network supported by computer systems. In this scenario, wide-ranging description of e-business could be the change in a business’s practices to provide extra customer support through the implementation of technologies, computing models and thinking of the modern financial aspects (Andam, 2003), (Ray, 2011) and (Turban et al., 2005). 3- BUSINESS OVERVIEW Universal-Studios-Florida, Orlando was started in 90s as theme park that allows visitors to have rides as well as enjoy movies based entertainment. Additionally, the ideas of Universal Studio are aimed at providing the guests with an experience resembling that they are in a movie set watching shows, enjoying rides and a lot of children based facilities and attractions that are inspired by well-liked television, film and music productions for example Harry Porter based theme park. In addition, the park is composed of 6-t hemed sections those are Production Central, Hollywood, San Francisco/Amity, New York, Woody Woodpecker's Kidzone and World Expo. Universal Orlando Resort is a theme-park and attractive visiting place in Florida, Orlando. It is a combined business framework among Blackstone Group along with NBC Universal. In addition, Universal CityWalk is a night time activity place, and it comprises three Loews Hotels. Moreover, the Universal-Orlando-Resort is the leading assets owned by Universal Studios. Subsequent to the Walt Disney World Resort, the Theme Parks of Universal-Studios-Florida are the second biggest resort in Greater Orlando (Universal Orlando Resort, 2011). Furthermore, the Universal-Studios-Florida, Orlando uses a web technology based website that is www.universalorlando.com. This website is an e-business platform that allows visitors to purchase and take information about the business rides and resorts online. Moreover, this website also provides Universal Studios Florida Parks , Vacation Plans, tickets, hotels, packages and Park Tickets. 4- E-BUSINESS OF UNIVERSAL ORLANDO E-Business Universal Orlando is formed on multiple business paradigms. Universal Orlando

An Urban Tourism Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

An Urban Tourism Experience - Essay Example Through the development of a narrative of the experience of being out in the field, the study uses thematic descriptions in order to define the way in which the experience of Rome can be brought into context with the modern experience. The themes that emerge in the development of the case are defined by the overall Roman culture through which an understanding leads to a sense of pride in the Italian lifestyle. A definition of urban tourism can simply be made by stating that it is tourism that has a city or cities as a destination for holiday. A more complex version of the definition, however, involves the desire to seek out other cultures and explore social meaning and context through first hand experiences. While urban tourism needs an additional amount of information in order to have real meaning, the ability to go to an urban center and taste the nature of the culture through experience can expand the understanding that one has about that locale. The culture of a city comes from the incidental and unintentional things that are encountered. The development of an urban tourism encounter is based upon the development of a conglomeration of disciplines so that the holiday creates a sense of the environment, not just the concept of the outsider who is looking in on a culture as if it were a zoo. Many travellers see the world as if it is a zoo for their observation, but not a place in which to immerse oneself in the culture of a city is to discover something more than just what can be observed. Urban tourism types of travel have the ability to create a connection to the observed culture that is based upon seeing their world through eyes that have been taught to look. Through information from outside sources, through learning a bit of the language of the city that is the focus of the travel, and through looking for aspects of the city that are not intended for the eyes of the traveller, the culture begins to emerge. 1.1 Research Questions The following research questions have been developed in order to frame the inquiry that this study has endeavoured to create: What is the cultural experience that defines the urban tourism event in Rome? What appears to be the hidden culture that the facade created for tourists has tried to dissuade tourists from observing? What are the cultural meanings that the urban tourist can readily observe within the experience of the city of Rome? What experiences in the city of Rome can become part of a profile of its identity? 2. Literature Review 2.1 Urban Tourism Buhalis and Darcy (2011, p. 123) discuss the nature of tourism by writing that â€Å"Travel involves the movement away from home with its gendered responsibilities and expectations, as well as the movement towards other worlds and possible selves experienced within a relation to difference†. The experience of immersing oneself into another culture is defined both by the lived experiences of the indigenous population, combined with the public identity of the locale that has been created through carefully cult ivated perceptions about the regions.

Islams Problems come from within Essay Example for Free

Islams Problems come from within Essay * Criticism of propaganda type which world leaders try to persuade the world this isnt about Islam * Rushdie argues that by giving examples how it is a) support of Bin Laden b) the Islamic together coming for the jihad c) the anti-Semitism blaming Jews for the September 11th issues etc. * Rushdie suggests a reasoning for the above written from fear of the west taking over there old-fashioned traditional way of life. * He emphasizing how it is about Islam : many political movements are now guided by radical Islamic organizations such as the revolutionary Shiite of Iran or the Taliban. * Rushdie continues by introducing a vital key point to his article. He criticizes such political groups for blaming outsiders for all the ills of Muslim societies. He then suggests that they are to accept responsibility of their problems and then they may be able to solve their problems by themselves. * Rushdie continues by showing how many Muslims are beginning to ask themselves such questions. He gives some specific examples of intellectuals of the Muslim world relating to that question. * He concludes by suggesting that the way to overcome the problem with terrorism today is by secularist-humanist principles which must be taken on by the Islam. In terms of what we have learned, we would have to say that Rushdie argument is valid. We can come to that conclusion by simply looking at his arguments; Rushdie doesnt introduce new information in his conclusions relating to an argument. If the question of validity refers to the fact that Islam is the topic related to the terror attacks in September, then the argument can well be valid to a certain extent. However, it would morally be wrong to blame a religion for this mass murdering, as we know that generalizing that all Muslims are murders, is wrong and invalid. Although, one could argue the majority of the arguments Rushdie makes, the way he wrote them they are valid. Rushdie presumably has a strong historical knowledge to support his articles arguments. However, I believe a great deal of emotions came in play while expressing himself. We must not forget that Rushdies experience with the Islamic, (in direct reference to the fact he was ordered to be killed by a major Islamic leader) hence a possible bias on the issue. I fully understand such a standpoint as that of Rushdie; I too, when am asked to support my countries actions in regard to the Palestinian terror attacks, tend to become emotional and very protective. Therefore I understand the pressure release Rushdie experiences while expressing himself. Therefore I can also say from experience that I do not think that in such a state Rushdie would exaggerate to a point of absurd.

The Blind Husband in Carver’s Cathedral :: Carver Cathedral Essays

The "Blind" Husband in Carver’s Cathedral  Ã‚   The short story "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver is about a woman who has a blind friend who comes to visit her and her husband. Although the husband has, technically, normal vision he is in the beginning of this story the one who is "blind." Through the husband’s words and actions when he is dealing with Robert, the blind man, we can see that the husband does not "see" or understand what Robert’s blindness means or how it changes or does not change him as a human being. At first Robert makes the husband very uncomfortable, for the husband does not know what to say or do around the blind visitor. As the story progresses, we can see a change in the husband; he seems to be able to see Robert as a person and not just as a blind man. One example that shows the husband is "blind" comes in the beginning of the story, before Robert arrives. When the husband and wife talk about Robert, the husband usually refers to him as "this blind man" (1052), and he never uses Robert’s name or assigns any human attributes to him. This shows that the husband does not really see Robert as a person, but just as a blind man who is different because he has a handicap. When Robert arrives at the couple’s house, the husband does not know what to say to him. The husband asks stupid questions about the view from the train: "Which side of the train did you sit on?" (1055). The husband knows that Robert cannot see the view, but he asks him these questions anyway. Also, the husband thinks to himself, "I didn’t know what else to say" (1055) which is a clear indication that he does not know how to relate to Robert. Both of these quotations show that the husband does not know what to talk about with Robert because he only sees Robert’s handicap, instead of seeing him as a complete human being who has emotions, thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. Not only does the husband not know how to communicate with Robert, he does not how to act around him either. A good example of this, shown after dinner, is when all three of them go into the living room. This is how the husband portrays what happens when they first enter the room: "Robert and my wife sat on the sofa.

Minicase San Pico

San Pico is a rapidly growing Latin American developing country. The country is blessed with miles of scenic beaches that have attracted tourists by the thousands in recent years to new resort hotels financed by joint ventures of San Pico businessmen and moneymen from the Middle East, Japan, and the United States. Additionally, San Pico has good natural harbors that are conducive for receiving imported merchandise from abroad and exporting merchandise produced in San Pico and other surrounding countries that lack access to the sea.Because of these advantages, many new businesses are being started in San Pico. Presently, stock is traded in a cramped building in La Cobijio, the nation's capital. Admittedly, the San Pico Stock Exchange system is rather archaic. Twice a day an official of the exchange will call out the name of each of the 43 companies whose stock trades on the exchange. Brokers wanting to buy or sell shares for their clients then attempt to make a trade with one another. This crowd trading system has worked well for over one hundred years, but the government desires to replace it with a new modern system that will allow greater and more frequent opportunities for trading in each company, and will allow for trading the shares of the many new start-up companies that are expected to trade in the secondary market. Additionally, the government administration is rapidly privatizing many state-owned businesses in an attempt to foster their efficiency, obtain foreign exchange from the sale, and convert the country to a more capitalist economy.The government believes that it would conduct this privatization faster and perhaps at more attractive prices if it had a modern stock exchange facility where the shares of the newly privatized companies will eventually trade. You are an expert in the operation of secondary stock markets and have been retained as a consultant to the San Pico Stock Exchange to offer your expertise in modernizing the stock market. What w ould you advise? Explain. Most new and renovated stock exchanges are being established these days as either a partially or fully automated trading system.A fully automated system is especially beneficial for a small to medium size country in which there is only moderate trading in most issues. Such a system that deserves special note is the continuous National Integrated Market system of New Zealand. This system is fully computerized and does not require a physical structure. Essentially all buyers and sellers of a stock enter through their broker into the computer system the number of shares they desire to buy or sell and their required transaction price. The system is updated constantly as new purchase or sale orders are entered into system.The computer constantly searches for a match between buyer and seller, and when one is found a transaction takes place. This type of system would likely serve San Pico’s needs very well. There is existing technology to implement, the bug s have been worked out in other countries, and it would satisfy all the demands of the demands of the San Pico government and easily accommodate growth in market activity MINI CASE: SARA LEE CORP. ’S EUROBONDS The International Finance in Practice boxed reading in the chapter discussed a three-year $100 million Eurobond issue by Sara Lee Corporation.The article also mentions other bond issues recently placed by various foreign divisions of Sara Lee. What thoughts do you have about Sara Lee’s debt financing strategy? Suggested Solution to Sara Lee Corp. ’s Eurobonds Sara Lee is the ideal candidate to issue Eurobonds. The company has worldwide name recognition, and it has an excellent credit rating that allows it to place new bond issues easily. By issuing dollar denominated Eurobonds to Swiss investors, Sara Lee can bring new issues to market much more quickly than if it sold domestic dollar denominated bonds.Moreover, the Eurodollar bonds likely sell at a lower yield than comparable domestic bonds. Additionally, it appears as if Sara Lee is raising funds in a variety of foreign currencies. Sara Lee most likely has large cash inflows in these same currencies that can be used to meet the debt service obligations on these bond issues. Thus Sara Lee is finding a use for some of its foreign currency receipts and does not have to be concerned with the exchange rate uncertainty of these part of its foreign cash inflows.

Growing Up Essay

This short story looks at children and two of Carys ovels were directly concerned with childhood. Themes Children and growing up is the central theme of this story, as it is with several of the other stories in the Anthology. However, the central character is an adult and so it links well with ‘Flight’, where the story follows the emotions of a grandfather trying to accept his granddaughter’s forthcoming marriage. Your Shoes’ also has a central narrator, although that story is written in the first person. This short story is certainly concerned with relationships between the generations. Children as a destructive orce appear in ‘Growing Up’, in the came way that the boy in ‘Chemistry has an urge to damage his mother’s boyfriend. ‘Superman and Paula Brown’s new Snowsuit’ also examines the theme of the destructive power of children. Adults struggling to understand the behaviour of children are a central issue in ‘Growing Up’, as they also are in ‘Superman and Paula Brown’s New Snowsuit’. Notes The first paragraph establishes the central character, a businessman Robert Quick. He is named, unlike the anonymous central characters of several of these stories. He is described as a conventional businessman, in a dark suit and hat. Significantly, he sheds some of his formal clothes as he goes into the garden, perhaps representing that the rules and values he will encounter there are far from civilised. Ls. 7 – 19 The garden is described as a Wilderness’. It has been neglected because Mr and Mrs. Quick are too busy to tend it. It has suggestions of other gardens, perhaps the Garden of Eden, or Paradise. Perhaps also there is a suggestion that Mr and Mrs. Quick are too busy to other civilising their daughters, Just as they have ignored their garden? Could the story symbolise the wild, untamed nature of the children who run wild in it? l. 23 ‘a suggestion of the frontier, primeval forests.. ‘ Cary hints that there may be the possibility of fear and menace in the garden. It is not a place of easy comfort, as Mr. Quick thinks. L 27 the children have previously enjoyed a close relationship with their father and have made a fuss of him when he returns home. However, this contrasts with the way they ignore him this time. Is the reason they snub him because he is a man? Quick recognises that they will be women soon in lines 42 to 49; later on in the story they are wellbehaved for their mother and he feels rejected. Cary is specific about their names and ages; Jenny is twelve and Kate thirteen. They are both deep in their own worlds and Quick doesn’t mind that they pay hardly any attention to his arrival. He thinks it represents their honest attitude to him. Perhaps he is too easy going with the children. Do they need to show him a bit more respect? Ls. 58-81 the two girls

Books By and About Marian Wright Edelman

Books By and About Marian Wright Edelman Some books by and about Marian Wright Edelman: Print Bibliography Marian Wright Edelman. The State of Americas Children, Yearbook 2002. Marian Wright Edelman. Im Your Child, God: Prayers for Our Children. 2002. Marian Wright Edelman. Guide My Feet: Prayers and Meditations for Our Children. 2000. Marian Wright Edelman. The State of Americans Children: Yearbook 2000 - A Report from the Childrens Defense Fund. 2000. Marian Wright Edelman. The State of Americas Children: A Report from the Childrens Defense Fund: Yearbook 1998. Marian Wright Edelman. Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors. 1999. Marian Wright Edelman. The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children Yours. 1992. Marian Wright Edelman. I Dream a World. 1989. Marian Wright Edelman. Families in Peril: An Agenda For Social Change. 1987. Marian Wright Edelman. Stand for Children. 1998. Ages 4-8. Joann Johansen Burch. Marian Wright Edelman: Childrens Champion. 1999. Ages 4-8. Wendie C. Old. Marian Wright Edelman: Fighter for Childrens Rights. 1995. Young Adult. Beatrice Siegel. Marian Wright Edelman: The Making of a Crusader. 1995. Ages 9-12. Andrew Carroll, editor. Introduction by Marian Wright Edelman. Letters of a Nation: A Collection of Extraordinary American Letters. Reprint 1999. Susan Skog, editor. Embracing Our Essence: Spiritual Conversations With Prominent Women. 1995.

Individual Reflective Report Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual Reflective Report - Assignment Example Almost everyone who leaves their homelands to pursue studies or work abroad experiences some amount of cultural shock. For the Chinese, this cultural shock amounts to an alarming extent since the culture of the west is entirely different from that of China and the Chinese people. Not only is the language entirely different, so is the style of living and customs. Most people who leave for America, UK, Australia or other western countries have to learn the English language as it the major medium of communication in almost all of these countries. For that purpose, there are many English language centers in China that cater to these people. These centers however provide little besides English language training to these students. Due to that, even when they are considerably proficient in the English language, Chinese people still suffer difficulties once they actually arrive at their destinations. A reason for this difficulty is that they are un-initiated with the ways of the western world. This business plan proposes to offer these prospective students and businessmen a way to become oriented with the culture and ways of the West so that they face less difficulty in settling in once they arrive at the country of their choosing. The English Language centers currently offering their services in the major cities of china mainly focus on offering comprehensive English language teaching. Although it is imperative that the Chinese people who are leaving for abroad learn how to communicate in English, it still does not diminish the lack of understanding that these people possess about the social and cultural workings of the west and how this lack of understanding effects their performance. The Le Yan English centre will be filling in the gap in this educational sector and the whole plan is based upon the concept of providing the customers with the added advantage of acclimatization with the western

International Tourism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

International Tourism - Assignment Example However, Pakistan, even though bestowed with vast areas of unexploited and unexplored, breathtakingly beautiful landmarks, to date has been unable to exploit the travel and tourism industry to its maximum or for that matter, even the minimum level. According to an article available at Eturbonews. "The tourism industry in southern Asia generally showed growth in 2007, except for Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Political instability and a lack of security in these two countries led to a drop in arrivals from abroad: -7% for Pakistan, and -12% for Sri Lanka" The same news states further, "In general, the tourism industry in the subcontinent showed growth of 12%. In 2006."The same article further refers to Pakistan's tourism industry in the following words, " in addition to Sri Lanka, is represented by Pakistan, where tourism demand fell by 7% in 2007". Experts say this is related to the country's serious political instability and frequent terrorist attacks." There are two types of tourists' visiting Pakistan, The foreign Tourists and the domestic tourists. The domestic tourists can further be classified into up-country tourist (moving from the south of the country to the north) and down country tourists (tourists moving from North to South). Since tourism industry is a business mode... Tourist Categories: There are two types of tourists' visiting Pakistan, The foreign Tourists and the domestic tourists. The domestic tourists can further be classified into up-country tourist (moving from the south of the country to the north) and down country tourists (tourists moving from North to South). The major chunk of revenue comes form the foreign tourists who have resources available to splurge in the local markets and outing areas. Factors Impacting Foreign Tourists: Since tourism industry is a business model, the various theories that are used for external analysis apply to the tourism industry. The PESTLE Analysis identifies the external factors that impact the tourism industry of Pakistan. Political, Image of Pakistan: The image of Pakistan post 9/11 has been such that it is known as one of the most terrorist afflicted areas. It is believed that it lacks modern ways to commute and transportation networks fail. The volatile political situation makes if a very difficult choice to travel too especially when travel advisories are being issued against traveling to this country every now and then. Moreover, the frequent bombings and suicide bombings enhance this image further. The recent instances of terrorist kidnappings all paint a very deadly picture. Economic: before 2001, the economy of Pakistan was in doldrums with GDP growth rates as low as 4%. This reflected in a low level of investment in tourism and developments of infrastructure. Due to the lack of development of tourist attractions, Pakistan's tourism industry had stagnated. After 2001, there was a boom with growth reached as high as 7%, however, the wealth did not have a trickle down