Comparing the Advertising of Different Companies of a...

Comparing the Advertising of Different Companies of a Non-Gender Specific Product For my essay I am going to compare and contrast the advertising of different companies of a non-gender specific product, namely music systems. I am going to look at examples of print adverts and language specifically from TEAC Systems and compare them to rivals in the market place. In this essay I am going to look specifically at the interesting campaign running for TEAC stereo systems. The campaign is highly gendered and revolves around sexually attractive women wearing very little, and suggestive copy. The adverts are definitely relying on the sex sells line of promotion. Looking at the image with the three women and the man , The†¦show more content†¦Sony are trying to tell you that you are existing in the real world. However, it implies that unless you have Sony products you are not getting the best out of life, and that applies wherever you are, working, driving, et cetera. TEACs statement that Listening to TEAC can seriously damage your single status. Is a wholly unbelievable statement. Therein lies the difference between the two statements. Music to some people, myself included, does add something to your life. However, Sony have twisted the idea slightly. Owning the Sony stereo does not add life to you world, it is the music that is played on them. The Sony quote is more subtle and realistically believable, all the things the TEAC quote is not. All the TEAC stereos look gorgeous in a champagne metal finish. This use of association between champagne/success/TEAC offers another piece of gendered marketing. Almost every stereo on sale today is finished in metal, plastic that looks like metal, or jet black. There is no alternative that might be more appealing to the female market. I am not however, suggesting that women would not like the male associated finishes, but while talking about this essay to female colleagues, I was informed that at least two girls would like to have a pink stereo. While this is a stereotypical colour association, it still highlights that there must be a market for stereos that are aimed specifically at the femaleShow MoreRelated-The Marketing Goals And Objectives. Write Down Specific1436 Words   |  6 Pages- The marketing goals and objectives. Write down specific goals and objectives of its company intends to achieve by advertising and marketing. For example, using the customer s specificati ons, its goal is to increase its customer base by 10 percent more than the amount available to the client, and then this is one of its goals. - Calculate the marketing and advertising budgets. Check how much money it can spend on marketing and advertising of its efforts. Usually the first few years in businessRead MoreThe Marketing Strategy Of Nick s Retail Chain Store1800 Words   |  8 Pagesend to the higher end products in doing this, the businesses chief marketer will go through a process of methods, and one will be the consumer. In the advancement in the retail store with the other chain locations around the region is switching the marketing strategies against the two competitors Macy s and Nordstrom for Nick s Company in gaining control in the marketplace. In Nick s retail chain stores is making changes in the advertising techniques from low-end products to excessively ceaseRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Nick s Retail Chain Store1812 Words   |  8 Pagesthe lower end to the higher end products in the businesses, a chief marketer will go through a process of method changes, and one will be the consumer. In the interim of advancement in the retail store, chain locations are switching the marketing strategies against the two competitors Macy s and Nordstrom for Nick s Company in gaining control in the marketplace. In Nick s retail chain stores is making changes in the advertising techniques from low-end products to excessively cease merchandiseRead MoreAdmi 202 Study Guide Final5257 Words   |  22 Pages For the Franchiser ââ€"   The franchiser can attain rapid growth for the chain by sign- ing up many franchisees in many different locations. ââ€"   Franchisees share in the cost of advertising. ââ€"   The franchiser benefits from the investment money provided by franchisees. ââ€"   Advertising money is spent more efficiently (the franchiser teams up with local franchisees to advertise only in the local area). ââ€"   The franchiserRead MoreOperation Strategies for Coca-Cola vs Pepsi Companies to Attract Their Customers10701 Words   |  43 PagesContemporary Marketing Review Vol. 1(11) pp. 01 – 15, January, 2012 Available online at http://www.businessjournalz.org/cmr ISSN: 2047 – 041X OPERATION STRATEGIES FOR COCA-COLA VS PEPSI COMPANIES TO ATTRACT THEIR CUSTOMERS Mojtaba Saeidinia Candidate of MBA, Management and Science University, Faculty of Management, Malaysia E-mail: M.saeidinia1989@gmail.com Mehrdad Salehi Candidate of MBA, Management and science university, Faculty of Management, Malaysia E-mail: Ems_salehi64@yahoo.com CorrespondingRead MoreSwot Analysis : Marketing Concept4572 Words   |  19 Pagesresults are examined. 1. 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I will be looking to spot if the strategy used is based on the principles of marketing: Ø Understanding consumer wants: to becomeRead MoreBanana Boat Swot5401 Words   |  22 PagesContents I. Company Overview 3 Product Overview 4 - 11 * General Protection Product 4 - 5 * Sport Protection Product 6 – 7 * Kids and Babies Product 8 – 9 * After sun Protection Product 10 * Mineral Protection Product 11 II. Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning Strategies 12 - 13 * Segmentation and Targeting Strategies 12 * Positioning Strategies 13 III. Marketing Mix (4Ps) 14 IV. Product and brandingRead MoreEssay on Analysis of Cadburys4090 Words   |  17 Pages Background to business The Cadbury’s company started manufacturing chocolate in Birmingham in 1824. It was set up by Mr. John Cadbury. In the year 1847 the company changed when John and his brother Benjamin became partners and the company became known as the Cadbury Brothers of Birmingham. A year later the retail side of the business, which was allocated in Bull Street was passed to nephew, Richard Cadbury Barrow. In February 1854 the company received their first Royal warrant as ‘manufacturersRead MoreImpact Of Sales Promotion On Long Term Shareholder1940 Words   |  8 Pagesprofits and shareholder wealth maximization. Research Objectives The research undertaken would have 3 main objectives: 1. To study and understand the sales promotion activities carried out by retailers 2. To study its impact on sales and profits of the company 3. To study the impact of such promotional activities on shareholder wealth Research Questions The research will try to address the below questions in a sequential manner in order to assess actual impact: 1. What sales promotion activities are carried

Analysis of Tolkiens The Hobbit - 2109 Words

J.R.R. Tolkien starts his world renowned book The Hobbit with, â€Å"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit† (1). This book is a tale of a small hobbit named Bilbo and his ever-memorable journey through the evil world during his time. Living in the Shire, as his homeland is called, it is very calm and pleasant for Bilbo, but once the outer limits of the land are reached Bilbo is in for a great surprise. Needing a burglar on his journey Gandalf the Grey, who is famous for his magic with fire and light, came to ask for Bilbos assistance. Gandalf was accompanied with thirteen dwarves who were after their long ago taken, but never forgotten treasure. The last evil dragon, Smaug, who overtook the Dwarf Kingdom of Lonely Mountain many years†¦show more content†¦Bilbo listened intently as the dwarves sang songs and told poems of their long ago taken land. Singing of â€Å"golden hoards† and â€Å"long-forgotten gold† Bilbo began to become very enthusiasti c about the soon to come journey (22). As the dwarves went on, the hobbit felt that this journey would be good for him. He accepted the task, but not before the Dwarves, along with Gandalf, enchanted the young hobbit with the treasure to be found. Being fairly wealthy Bilbo had no need for this wealth, but before long the hobbit could feel â€Å" the love of beautiful things made by hands and by cunning and by magic moving through him, and a fierce and jealous love, the desire of the hearts of dwarves† (24). Apparently Bilbo is beginning to change from a commoner to a treasure seeker, not quite beginning to become a hero, but change is still change. Soon Bilbo’s transition into a hero will begin, with a rude awakening. So before Bilbo new what was happening and even before dawn the next morning the troop of fifteen set out. Through the Shire no adventure or trouble was found, but that soon changed. Within a few leagues of the Shires border young Bilbo encountered his first adventure. Walking slowly through the dark, Gandalf quickly stopped and hushed the others. Up above the road a small fire could be seen and cold, low voices could be heard singing of roasted mutton. Bilbo was sent to see what was up above since he could sneak almost silently. Much to his amazement he saw three very largeShow MoreRelatedPresentation Of The Hobbit From Sweden And Finland1345 Words   |  6 PagesRolando Martinez 5007226 Janet McDaniels IDH 2003 Visual Analysis For this assignment the two books that I will be focusing on are version of The Hobbit from Sweden and Finland. The first book to be created was the Swedish version of The Hobbit, â€Å"Hompen eller En resa Dit och Tillbaksigen,† which was created in 1947 and includes illustrations by Torbjà ¶rn Zetterholm, a Swedish artist. The other version that will be described for this assignment is the Finnish version of the book, â€Å"Lohikà ¤Ãƒ ¤remvuoriRead MoreEssay about J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings2310 Words   |  10 PagesThe Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have been beloved works among many generations of readers since they were first published. The author of these two books, J.R.R. Tolkien is just as interesting a man as many of the characters he created in the world of Middle-Earth. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Africa to a banker manager and his wife in 1892 and had only one sibling, Hilary, who was less than two years younger (Wikipedia ). When he was young both of his parents died (one from rheumaticRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Hobbit 1329 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction In September 21, 1937, the fantasy-fiction writer J. R. R. Tolkien published the first copy of the Hobbit. The composers of both the film and the novel employ sophisticated fantasy and adventure elements such as, mythical creatures which resemble human characteristics, fighting in large groups, singing for hope, quests to reach their main goal. Furthermore the composers of both texts emphasis on the elements of fantasy and adventure in detail by offering the audience a magical settingRead MoreThe Lady Of The Rings1547 Words   |  7 PagesEnglish CCA The Lady of the Rings Thesis: While some claim that due to the stereotypical roles and lack of female characters in Tolkien’s works makes him sexist, the female characters in The lord of the Rings are far more important and powerful than many make them out to be. The Lord of the Rings is arguably J.R.R. Tolkien’s best and is unquestionably his largest work with mind blowing amounts of details and background texts created to take his world of Middle Earth and make it the definitiveRead MoreAnalysis Of The Hobbit 917 Words   |  4 PagesDirecting Settings According to (Rachel Cusk), new encounters (with others or a setting) are essential – â€Å"leaving things behind and starting again is a way of coping with difficulties.† Definitely, this thought is emphasized throughout J.R.R. Tolkien’s â€Å"The Hobbit† which utilises the protagonist’s (along with his band) adventures during his journey to display that there is always good to come out of a call for adventure. This is evident in the interactions and thoughts of Bilbo Baggins, who experiencesRead MoreThe Fellowship Of The Ring1649 Words   |  7 PagesWith John Ronald Reuel Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring as inspiration, an analysis is used to define to following: the idea of an evil ring to be symbolism for temptation and deadly addictions people suffer from, evidence to show the psychology and neuroscience behind what temptation is and how self-control correlates with it, and a few characters’ reaction to this ring and how the temptation of the Ring affects these characters. Tolkien was born January 3, 1892 in Bloemfontein, South AfricaRead MoreEvil Within the World, Depicted in J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit3273 Words   |  14 Pageslook to a piece of literature often seen in the light of innocence: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Within this piece we see the pure untainted character of Bilbo thrust into a world of adventure, danger, greed, corruption, and most of all, evil. Through his adventures he emerges a character quite unlike the Bilbo we were first introduced to. In a setting so contaminated by the evils of the world, how could an innocent little hobbit actually emerge as a character that has truly progressed for the betterRead MoreThe Lord Of The Rings Essay1803 Words   |  8 Pageswrote to Edith asking for her hand in marriage. In October of 1911, Tolkien enrolled at Exeter College, studying English Language and Literature; graduating in 1915. On March 22, 1916, Ronald Tolkien married Edith Brat t, being a surprise due to Tolkien’s unemployment,and no money. First World War Instead of immediately volunteering to join the British Army, Tolkien entered a program where he delayed enlistment until he finished his degree. He was commissioned a temporary second lieutenantRead MoreCreative Brief On Target Audience1651 Words   |  7 Pagesconsumables to find. †¢ Dark Intense – player to have sense of foreboding of what is behind the next door This game is not: †¢ A Multiplayer experience †¢ For the casual or beginner gamer †¢ Bright and cheerful †¢ Button mashing combat â€Æ' Competitive Analysis Dark Souls Developer – From Software Publisher – Namco Bandai Games Platforms – Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows Release – September 2011 (PS3, XB360), August 2012 (Windows) A game marketed at the hard-core gamer, Developer From SoftwareRead MoreDifferences Between The Film And Novel For The Hobbit2127 Words   |  9 Pages Earlier this week, I turned in the fourth and final draft for an argumentative essay about the difference between the film and novel for The Hobbit. There were chapters in the book that we could argue on, but we didn’t get to choose our topic, it was chosen through the color of the graphic organizer passed out. The color I received was green, â€Å"Queer Lodgings,† which I was nervous and irritated at since I had the least amount of information on the chapter between the other choices, to be honest

The Merchant of Venice-Shylock Analysis Free Essays

In Shakespeare’s edgy and suspenseful play, â€Å"The Merchant of Venice†, the character of Shylock may evoke complex feelings within the reader. Shylock is clearly a villain in the sense that he takes repeatedly takes advantage of people in vulnerable economic situations and makes a handsome living in this way. He is not an inherently likeable character throughout   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Merchant of Venice† by Shakespeare; he avoids friendships, he is cranky, and he is steadfast in his beliefs to the point of being rigid. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice-Shylock Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now Any character analysis of Shylock in â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† should note his tendency for selfish behavior and thinking. Shylock is also a man who is unreasonable and self-thinking, demanding, as one of the important quotes in â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† goes, â€Å"a weight of carrion flesh† (IV. i. 41) from a man he suspects will not be able to repay him simply because it is his â€Å"humour† to do so (IV. i. 43). Because he is the villain of this play, justice can only be served if Shakespeare’s Shylock is punished in a manner that is congruent with his violations of social norms and laws. At the same time, though, his punishment is problematic for it seems to mimic the very crime of which Shylock is really being accused, and that crime is absolutism. By insisting that Shylock must be punished in the way that he is in ‘The Merchant of Venice†, Shakespeare raises doubts about the purity of Christian love and mercy, which certainly creates implications for the very notions of both punishment and villainy. Shylock is a man who is hardly likeable in all aspects throughout   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Merchant of Venice†. Already a marginalized member of Venetian society because he is a Jew and occupies the stereotypical profession of the money-grubbing guarantor, Shylock ensures that his peers and the audience will not like him because of his unreasonableness and unwillingness to let go of his tendencies to be greedy, even in a situation that seems to warrant mercy and pity. In several instances in   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Merchant of Venice† he takes a perverse pleasure in what he refers to in one of the important quotes from â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† by Shakespeare, â€Å"a merry sport† of exacting â€Å"an equal pound/Of†¦fair flesh to be cut off and taken/In what part of [the] body pleaseth me† as the terms of a loan agreement (I. iii. 151-146), terms which he refuses to justify. At the same time, though, the reader, when performing even a basic character analysis of Shylock, can feel a curious compassion for this character, who is so clearly disliked. Although he has imposed isolation on himself by declaring that he will not â€Å"eat/ with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. † ( I. iii/ ll. 33-34), one begins to understand why he has withdrawn from social life when he makes his moving speech in Act III, in which it is asked by Shylock who is the victim of racism, â€Å"Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? † (III. i. 54). The reader begins to understand how Shylock has never been understood because no one has ever seen him for anything other than his Jewishness. Again, this complicates the reader’s relationship with his character and the subsequent punishment he receives because although he is not likable, one cannot help but sympathize with his plight as an outcast. It is Shylock himself who teaches the reader and his own peers the most about Christian love and mercy in   Ã¢â‚¬ The Merchant of Venice†. As he continues his Act III speech, he muses about the similarities between Jews and Christians   in one of the meaningful quotes, saying, â€Å"Fed†¦ the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means†¦ as a Christian is†¦. ,† and then confronts his Christian accusers and judges with three profound questions that invoke these themes in â€Å"Merchant of Venice†: â€Å"If you prick us, do we not bleed? † If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? † (III. . 54-62). The cycle of strange violence that Shylock has set into motion will not end once his punishment has been meted out to him, as he goes on to warn in the remainder of the speech. Rather than learn this lesson—namely, that revenge in the guise of justice will never result in anything other than more revenge—Shylock receives his punishment. Years later, we see the same kinds of issues played out in so ciety, proving that we have learned little about what Shakespeare hoped to teach us through Shylock. How to cite The Merchant of Venice-Shylock Analysis, Essay examples

Accounting Concepts and Practices Woolworths Limited

Question: Discuss about theAccounting Concepts and Practices for Woolworths Limited. Answer: Introduction Woolworths Limited was started in 1924 in the Imperial Arcade in Sydney (Woolworths Limited, 2016). The entity enjoyed success as a retailer for the period that followed and even opened a new chain in New Zealand three years later. By 1939, the company had established itself to the point of creating a staff assurance scheme that sought to reward the diligent workers in the chain after they retired (Woolworths Limited, 2016). Sixteen years after its establishment, the company expanded its business such that it started expansion of its warehouses into cities such as Brisbane, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. In 1957, Woolworths introduced food items into its stores (Woolworths Limited, 2016). The groceries ranged from vegetables, fresh packaged meat, and delicatessen. The company continued to enjoy success well into the late 50s an even opened its 300th store in Wentworth Ville, the raid expansion partly due to the firms acquisition of some BCC stores in Queensland (Woolworths Limited, 2016). The retail giant soon opened a supermarket, a move that led to many of its chains being converted into supermarkets. Soon enough Woolworths acquired the Northern Territory business from Centralian Traders Pty Ltd and thus effectively became the first retail chain to operate in the whole of Australia (Woolworths Limited, 2016). Later, the company increased its retail business to incorporate the sale of liquor and soon this became one trading unit of the company. In 1983 Woolworths acquired Dick Smith Electronics ad started selling a wide range of brands in electronics. 6 years later, the company was acquired by IEL (Woolworths Limited, 2016). Overall, Woolworths Limited is a retail chain with about 3000 stores across New Zealand and Australia alone (Woolworths Limited, 2016). The companys stores deal in products such as food, general merchandise, liquor, hotels, and home improvement (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). The company is evidently an Australian brand with more than 200,000 employees (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). The company also has many partners, and collaborates with many farmers, manufacturers, ad producers various products such as the ones that have been mentioned above. Progress Against Strategic Priorities Woolworths Limited has a business growth plan that is shaped by four key strategic priorities. These include extending the companys share in the food and liquor sector. Another strategic priority is increasing its shareholder value by delivering on the companys portfolio. The company also intends to build new growth businesses and create factors that would ensure more growth (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). The company strives to adapt to evolving customer demands and this has led to a change in how the company operates. Technology has helped the company to deliver services as demanded by the customer (Woolworths Limited, 2016). There are applications that customers use to access various products offered by the company. The business is creating options by using its websites, mobile applications, virtual stores and delivery options that support the services offered at the various stores (Lozano, 2013). Concerning the food, liquor, and petrol sectors, Woolworths continues to ensure sustainable competitive development and maintain the high return on investments from its shareholders (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). As a result, the food and liquor sales were reported to be $42.1 billion, which represented an increase of about 2.3% as compared to the 2014 fiscal year (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). Woolworths reported deflation in its average prices of 5.2% in the fourth quarter after correcting for the effects of volumes and promotions (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). This represented a substantial increase from the 2.8% deflation it had realized in the previous fiscal year (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). The company realized this goal by speeding up its investment in affordable prices for the Australian Food customers. The normal shelf price movement index that did not include an extensive investment in price and promotional activity increased by 1.2% in the fourth quarter (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). Despite significant inflation in some categories in the fourth quarter, the shelf price increases were maintained at a low figure as the company absorbed higher cost price increases (Chandler, 2014). The good returns in the hotel and liquor sectors can also be evidenced by the extensive investment into the liquor and hotel properties and businesses. The company has acquired several hotel and liquor premises that have contributed significantly to the companys revenues. The Woolworths Liquor Groups growth continued in all across formats including the Dan Murphys, BWS, and The Wine Quarter (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). The overall liquor sales for 2015 were $7.7 billion and this included the on premise sales of liquor for the ALH Group. This figure represented an escalation of 4.2% on the previous year (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). Woolworths also launched 30 new supermarkets and 10 new Dan Murphys in the fiscal year of 2015 and renovated about 58 supermarkets and 5 Dan Murphys (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). This was done to allow the company to satisfy all the needs of the customers (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). The great ad encouraging results from the entertainment, sponsorships, and events were the driving force behind the companys decision to revise its vision. Consequently, Woolworths witnessed steady rise in the sales of food and accommodation from its revamped menus (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). In summary, the company continued to grow and increase its market gains despite the liquor market being an environment of low growth. Woolworths balanced the growth across the formats with Dan Murphys, BWS, and The Wine Quarter. These three reported improved results (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). In relation to customers, the company was able to engage its customers through MyDanMurphys, a loyalty program that has about 900,000 (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). In relation to food, the company became the first Australian retailer to sign the Australian Food Grocery Industry Code of Conduct. This code provides greater transparency and certainty for food and grocery suppliers (Wolworths Ltd., 2015). Also, the company honored its price promise to its customers. The price promise included an investment of over $200 million in the price for the 2015 fiscal year. Internal instruments showed price parity with its competitor Coles in June 2015 (Wolworths Ltd., 2015). The company was able to increase its s ales and customer numbers after moving to invest in lower prices (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). In the general merchandise section, Woolworths aims to make Big W into the best option for families in Australian (Woolworths Limited, 2016). To achieve this, the company has roled out a new system of merchandising that will enhance its insights into the management of trade and inventory as soft good are taking center stage (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). Consequently, Categories such as Entertainment, Toys, Books, and Womenswear, have realized an improvement in performance whereas others like Footwear and Homewares are slowly picking up despite the low results (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). Against its strategies, the company has been able to realize significant progress with respect to clearing its non-productive inventory. This has been accomplished by using the Drop Zone campaign that has seen the company offload about 80% of this inventory with the remainder scheduled to be done before Christmas (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). The company has also been able to increase significantly the quantity of products found online to over 28,000, and an additional 8,000 customer products under research (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). Significant Issues from the Chairmans Report The Chairman of the board of directors, Gordon Cairns reiterated the firms commitment to putting the customers needs first and increasing the value to the shareholders (Wolworths Ltd., 2015). In line with this, he mentioned that the company had made some managerial changes that would make it easier to achieve this fete. On behalf of the Board members, Mr. Cairns announced a 1.5% increase in dividends per share to 139 cents for financial year 2015, up from 137 cents in financial year 2014 (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). The report also noted that the group sales had gone down by 0.2% to $60.7 billion (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). Significant Issues from the Managing Directors Report Grant OBrien, who is the managing director of Woolworths Limited, reiterates the entitys objective of maintaining sustainable returns for all shareholders by prioritizing the customers needs and demands. The manager acknowledged that the company did not grow according to the financial results. The company recorded a profit, which only just surpassed the figure that was realized in the 2014 fiscal year (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). However, this was not enough to guarantee growth. The MD attributes the failure to enhance growth to the challenges posed by the market. According to Mr. OBrien, the market environment has shifted and there is stronger competition and considerable changes in customers shopping behavior (Dunphy, Benn, Griffiths, 2014). Despite the profit report, Mr. OBrien acknowledged that the company had increased it dividends to its shareholders (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). This increase in dividend is a good sign because it underlines the good financial health of the company. Companies that pay out higher dividend are stable, profitable, and mature in the market (Noreen, Brewer, Garrison, 2013). The high dividends point to a high cash flow and several positive net present value investment opportunities the company has (Braun, 2012). This is true for Woolworths because the company is engaged in many investment projects that have the potential to grow its market share and competitive advantage (Shim Siegel, 2012). For example, according to the MDs report, the company can convert the capabilities of BIG W into results (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). Already, Woolworths has offloaded over 80 per cent of non-productive inventory, launched the Party category to its 63 stores (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). In addition, the company h as increased the number of products available online to more than 28,000 (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). Additionally, the company is adding new ranges and changing the store format (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). There are 11 stores now operating in the new format and all are outperforming the original format stores. Brands such as Sherwin-Williams, Loctite, and Honda that deal in paint, adhesives, and mowers respectively were due to be launched before the end of the 2015 calendar year (Woolworths Ltd., 2015). Significant Issues from the Corporate Responsibility Report Woolworths is a huge employer particularly in the private sector making it a crucial contributor to the economy. Woolworths has pumped almost $36 million into community programs in conjunction with its partners in New Zealand besides Australia (Wolworths Ltd., 2015). These humanitarian efforts have largely been focused on providing aid to Australians experiencing natural disasters (Wolworths Ltd., 2015). Since 2010, working with our customers, the company has contributed over $28 million to The Salvation Army (Wolworths Ltd., 2015) The workforce at Woolworths implies that the retailer supports and values diversity and strives to create a vibrant and all-round workforce (Kline Odenthal, 1999). Women account for over half of the companys workforce and the retailer is intent on improving their representation in the higher executive and management roles (Wolworths Ltd., 2015). Women occupy about 39% of the managerial roles in in Woolworths with many of them involved in operations (Wolworths Ltd., 2015). An increase in female representation is instrumental in enhancing the gender equality in management for the company (McWilliams Siegel, 2001). The Reconciliation Action Plan commits Woolworths Limited to bridge the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians by way of strategies in employment (Wolworths Ltd., 2015). As a member of the Business Indigenous Network, Woolworths continues to be involved in coordinating and creating opportunities to increase the participation of indigenous people in work (Reil ly Brown, 2015). The companys major achievements in the past year include: Achieving a commendable reduction of 42% for carbon emissions from facilities in areas with potential for growth (Wolworths Ltd., 2015) Enforcement of fundamental policies and guidelines on ethical sourcing, sea food, timber, and animal welfare. The company has not achieved its target in waste management, particularly food waste but remains committed to reducing waste. References Benabou, R., Tirole, J. (2010). Individual and Corporate Social Responsibility. Economica, Vol. 77:1-19. Braun, K. W. (2012). Managerial accounting. Toronto: Pearson Prentice Hall. Chandler, R. C. (2014). Business and corporate Integrity: Sustaining organizational compliance, ethics, and trust. Oxford: Praeger, ABC-CLIO. Dunphy, D. C., Benn, S., Griffiths, A. (2014). Organizational change for corporate sustainability. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Fitzpatrick, B. D., Nguyen, Q. Q., Cayan, Z. (2015). An Upgrade To Competitive Corporate Analysis: Creation Of A personal finance platform to strengthen Porters five competitive forces model In utilizing. Journal of Business Economics Research, 13(1), 54-78. Kline, J. M., Odenthal, L. (1999). The Social Responsibility of Transnational Corporations . New York and Geneva: United Nations. Lozano, R. (2013). Are Companies Planning their Organisational Changes for Corporate Sustainability? An Analysis of Three Case Studies on Resistance to Change and their Strategies to Overcome it. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 20, 5, 275-295. MacLean, R. (2005). Corporate Environmentalism: In Search of Vision, Leadership, and Strategy. Environmental Quality and Management, 1-14. McWilliams, A., Siegel, D. (2001). Corporate Social Responsibility: A theory of the Firm Perspective. Academic of Management Review, Vol. 26 No.1:117-127. Noreen, E., Brewer, P., Garrison, R. (2013). Managerial accounting for managers. 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Reilly, F., Brown, K. (2015). Analysis of investments and management of portfolios. Andover: Cengage Learning, Emea Corporation. Shim, J. K., Siegel, J. S. (2012). Managerial accounting. New York; London: Schaum, McGraw-Hill. Wolworths Ltd. (2015). Corporate Responsibility Report. Queensland: Woolworths Limited. Woolworths Limited. (2016). Who We Are. Retrieved from Woolworths Limited: https://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/ Woolworths Ltd. (2015). Annual Report. Queensland: Woolworths Limited.

Great Expectaitons Essays - English-language Films, British Films

Great Expectaitons Imprisonment is a lack of any kind of freedom. In Charles Dickens's novel Great Expectations there are many examples of imprisonment. Dickens created the characters Estella, Herbert, and Molly with a lack of freedom. These three characters were imprisoned because they could not make their own choices. Estella had very little freedom. Miss Havisham controlled every aspect of her life. She was forced to carry out Miss Havisham's revenge on men, and she tortured Pip only because she had been raised and told to do so. The first time they met, Miss Havisham told her to break Pip's heart and Estella relentlessly picked on him. She made Pip cry because he felt so bad about being common, and he devoted his life to becoming a gentleman because of her influence. Miss Havisham made Estella go to a distant boarding school. She probably did this just so that Pip couldn't see her. As soon as she got back, Miss Havisham forced her to live with Mrs. Brandley, a complete stranger, so that she would become acquainted with other people. Pip had to escort Estella most of the time when she traveled. She had to give her purse to Pip and he had to do everything that Miss Havisham said to do. Estella could make very few choices for herself because she was Miss Havisham's puppet. Herbert was a character who was imprisoned. The counting house was a prison for him. He worked there for next to nothing and he was in debt most of the time. By working at the counting house, he couldn't fulfill his dream of having his own shipping company. Because of his lack of financial freedom, he could not start his own business no matter how much he saved. Herbert was imprisoned by his easy nature and pride. Pip's lavish habits led Herbert into debt. Because Pip lived with him, he spent money on things that he knew he could not afford. This unnecessary spending drove Herbert further into debt. Pip would have gladly taken on some of the extra expenses caused by his living there, but he knew that Herbert was too proud which was why he bought Herbert's partnership secretly. Herbert did not get to choose his own bride. It was arranged that he and his siblings, except the baby, were to be married. Herbert was engaged to Clara and it didn't matter if he wanted to marry her or not. He rbert was imprisoned by his finances, pride, and arranged marriage. Molly had no freedom. Her child was taken by Mr. Jaggers as payment for her defense in the trial. She did not have much choice because if she didn't give Estella to Jaggers she would be convicted. That meant that worse things could happen to Estella and she would go to jail. Jaggers said '?he had often seen children solemnly tried at a criminal bar, where they were held up to be seen; put the case that he habitually knew of their being imprisoned, whipped, transported, neglected, and cast out? here was one pretty little child out of the whole heap that could be saved' (879). After the trial was over she began working at his house. She had to be his maid and was treated like a slave. Whenever Molly was in the same room as he was she would stare at him the whole time. She was frightened of Jaggers and spoke very softly most of the time. He constantly threatened to reveal her secret by making her show her wrists to people. He was blackmailing her by doing this. Molly was imprisoned by M r. Jaggers. Estella, Molly, and Herbert were all imprisoned because there were many times that they were not allowed to make their own choices. They did not have the freedom most people have. Everyone should have the freedom to do as they choose. Because they could not do as they wished, these characters often elicited sympathy from the reader. Dickens used sympathy many times and in many different ways in the novel Great Expectations English Essays

Biography of Edward R. Murrow, Broadcast News Pioneer

Biography of Edward R. Murrow, Broadcast News Pioneer Edward R. Murrow was an American journalist and broadcaster who became widely known as an authoritative voice reporting the news and providing intelligent insights. His radio broadcasts from London during World War II brought the war home to America, and his pioneering television career, especially during the McCarthy Era, established his reputation as a trusted source of news. Murrow has been widely credited with establishing high standards for broadcast journalism. Before ultimately leaving his position as a television journalist after repeated clashes with network executives, he criticized the broadcasting industry for not taking full advantage of televisions potential to inform the public. Fast Facts: Edward R. Murrow Full Name: Edward  Egbert Roscoe  MurrowKnown For: One of the most highly respected journalists of the 20th century, he set the standard for broadcasting the news, starting with his dramatic reports from wartime London through the beginning of the television eraBorn: April 25, 1908 near Greensboro, North CarolinaDied: April 27, 1965 in Pawling, New YorkParents: Roscoe Conklin Murrow and Ethel F. MurrowSpouse: Janet Huntington BrewsterChildren: Casey MurrowEducation: Washington State UniversityMemorable Quotation: We are not descended from fearful men... Early Life and Career Edward R. Murrow was born near Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 25, 1908. The family moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1913, and Murrow went on to attend Washington State University while working summers in lumber camps in Washington state. Edward R. Murrow, his wife, Janet, and son, Casey, as they returned from abroad on the S.S. United States. Bettmann / Getty Images In 1935, after working in the education field, he joined the Columbia Broadcasting System, one of the nations leading radio networks. At the time, radio networks would fill out their schedules by airing talks by academic and experts in various fields, and cultural events such as classical music concerts. Murrows job was to seek out suitable people to appear on the radio. The work was interesting, and became even more so when, in 1937, CBS dispatched Murrow to London to find talent in England and across Europe. Wartime Reporting From London In 1938, when Hitler began moving toward war by annexing Austria to Germany, Murrow found himself becoming a reporter. He traveled to Austria in time to see Nazi soldiers enter Vienna. His eyewitness account appeared on the air in America, and he became known as an authority on the unfolding events in Europe. Murrows war coverage became legendary in 1940, when he reported on the radio as he watched aerial battles over London during the Battle of Britain. Americans in their living rooms and kitchens listened attentively to Murrows dramatic reports of London being bombed. When America entered the war, Murrow was perfectly situated to report on the military buildup in Britain. He reported from airfields as American bombers began to arrive, and he even flew along on bombing missions so he could describe the action to the radio audience in America. Up until that time, news presented on the radio had been something of a novelty. Announcers who typically performed other tasks, such as playing records, would also read news reports on the air. Some notable events, such as the airship Hindenburg crashing and burning while attempting to land, had been carried live on the air. But the announcers who described the events were typically not career journalists. CBS correspondent Edward R. Murrow at his typewriter in London during World War II.   Bettmann / Getty Images Murrow changed the nature of broadcast news. Besides reporting on major events, Murrow set up a CBS bureau in London and recruited young men who would become the networks star crew of war correspondents. Eric Sevareid, Charles Collingwood, Howard K. Smith, and Richard Hottelet were among the correspondents who became familiar names to millions of Americans following the war in Europe over the radio. When network executives complained to him that some of the correspondents did not have great voices for radio, Murrow said they were hired as reporters first, not announcers. Throughout the war in Europe the group who became known as The Murrow Boys reported extensively. Following the D-Day invasion CBS radio reporters traveled with American troops as they advanced across Europe, and listeners back home were able to hear firsthand reports of combat as well as interviews with participants in recently concluded battles. At the end of the war, one of Murrows most memorable broadcasts was when he became one of the first journalists to enter the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald. He described to his shocked radio audience the piles of bodies he witnessed and he detailed to the American public how the camp had been used as a factory of death. Murrow was criticized for the shocking nature of his report but he refused to apologize for it, stating that the public needed to know of the horrors of the Nazi death camps. Television Pioneer Following World War II, Murrow returned to New York City, where he continued to work for CBS. At first he served as a vice president for network news, but he hated being an administrator and wanted to get back on the air. He returned to broadcasting the news on radio, with a nightly program titled Edward R. Murrow With the News. circa 1953: American broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow (C) sits in a trench with a microphone in his hand, interviewing an African-American US Marine during the Korean War for his CBS television show See It Now, Korea. The company was holding a ridge on the Korean Front.   Hulton Archive / Getty Images In 1949, Murrow, one of the biggest names on radio, made a successful move to the emerging new medium of television. His reporting style and gift for insightful commentary was quickly adapted for the camera and his work during the 1950s would set a standard for news broadcasting. A weekly program hosted by Murrow on radio, Hear It Now, moved to television as See It Now. The program essentially created the genre of in-depth television reporting, and Murrow became a familiar and trusted presence in American living rooms. Murrow and McCarthy On March 9, 1954, an episode of See It Now became historic as Murrow took on the powerful and bullying senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy. Showing clips of McCarthy as he made baseless accusations about supposed communists, Murrow exposed McCarthys tactics and essentially exposed the bombastic senator as a fraud conducting pointless witch hunts. Murrow concluded the broadcast with a commentary that resonated deeply. He condemned McCarthys behavior, and then continued: We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular. This is no time for men who oppose Senator McCarthy’s methods to keep silent, nor for those who approve. We can deny our heritage and our history but we cannot escape responsibility for the result. The broadcast was viewed by a vast audience and was widely praised. And it no doubt helped to turn public opinion against McCarthy and led to his eventual downfall. Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, appearing on a television screen during his filmed reply to Columbia Broadcasting System newscaster Edward R. Murrow, tells a coast to coast audience (April 6th), that Murrow as far back as twenty years ago, was engaged in propaganda for Communist causes. The Wisconsin Republican was answering Murrows anti-McCarthy Program of March 9th. McCarthy called Murrowa symbolthe leader and the cleverest of the jackal pack which is always found at the throat of anyone who dares to expose Communists and traitors. Murrow labeled the Senators attack as a typical tactic of attempting to tie up to Communism, anyone who disagrees with him.   Bettmann  / Getty Images Disillusionment With Broadcasting Murrow continued working for CBS, and his See It Now program remained on the air until 1958. Though he was a major presence in the broadcasting business, he had become disillusioned with television in general. During the run of See It Now he had often clashed with his bosses at CBS, and he believed network executives across the industry were squandering the opportunity to inform and educate the public. In October 1958, he gave a speech to a group of network executives and broadcasters gathered in Chicago in which he laid out his criticisms of the medium. He argued that the public was reasonable and mature and could handle controversial material as long as it was presented fairly and responsibly. Before leaving CBS, Murrow participated in a documentary, Harvest of Shame, which detailed the plight of migrant farm workers. The program, which aired on the day after Thanksgiving in 1960, was controversial and focused attention on the issue of poverty in America. Kennedy Administration President Kennedy speaks to a group of newscasters, thanking them for making their facilities available during the recent Cuban missile crisis. Broadcaster and United States Information Agency director Edward Murrow stands to his side. Bettmann / Getty Images In 1961, Murrow left broadcasting and took a job in the new administration of John F. Kennedy, as director of the U.S. Information Agency. The job shaping Americas image abroad during the Cold War was considered important, and Murrow took it seriously. He was praised for restoring the morale and prestige of the agency, which had been tarnished during the McCarthy Era. But he often felt conflicted about his role as government propagandist as opposed to independent journalist. Death and Legacy A heavy smoker, often depicted on television with a cigarette in his hand, Murrow began to suffer severe health problems which caused him to resign from the government in 1963. Diagnosed with lung cancer, he had a lung removed and was in and out of hospitals until his death on April 27, 1965. Murrows death was front-page news, and tributes poured in from President Lyndon Johnson and other political figures. Many broadcast journalists have pointed to him as an inspiration. The industry group Murrow addressed in 1958 with his critique of the broadcasting industry later established the Edward R. Murrow Awards for excellence in broadcast journalism. Sources: Edward R. Murrow, Broadcaster and Ex-Chief of U.S.I.A., Dies. New York Times, 28 April, 1965. p. 1.Edward Roscoe Murrow. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed., vol. 11, Gale, 2004, pp. 265-266. Gale Virtual Reference Library.Goodbody, Joan T. Murrow, Edward Roscoe. The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: The 1960s, edited by William L. ONeill and Kenneth T. Jackson, vol. 2, Charles Scribners Sons, 2003, pp. 108-110. Gale Virtual Reference Library.Murrow, Edward R. Television in American Society Reference Library, edited by Laurie Collier Hillstrom and Allison McNeill, vol. 3: Primary Sources, UXL, 2007, pp. 49-63. Gale Virtual Reference Library.

The Death Penalty and Offenders with Mental Retardation Research Paper

The Death Penalty and Offenders with Mental Retardation - Research Paper Example It is not surprising that executing of mentally defective people faces public resistance. The interrogations revealed that a great number of United States citizens are against death penalty for people with mental retardation including those who support the execution as such. The law that forbids the execution of mentally sick individuals was already passed in 13 states and 7 states are going to pass it as well. The United States of America is the only democratic country in the world that executes mentally ill or defective people (Gross, 2007). First of all, such laws are at variance with basic Human Rights,  which consider death to be a violation of the main right of humans – right to life, especially if it is applied to individuals who suffer from mental retardation. David Anderson states: †¦we shall now look at the great international documents and some other documents which speaks of human rights and the "right to life" in relation to the death penalty. We shall then observe that the abolitionists have come to a minefield, because the fundamental international documents testify in this matter more to the advantages of the death penalty. It is only some lately additional paragraphs which want to see some other order of things (Anderson, 2001). Many people who support the death penalty and consider it to be necessary in some cases state that it looses its initial meaning and significance and turn into violence if applied to mentally defective people. This punishment is to be used in most serious cases for the crimes committed deliberately and with cruelty. However, the actions of mentally disabled people can’t be considered as deliberate. They can’t live a full-fledged life because of their incurable trouble. Such people have a lot of problems with making decisions, recollection, concentration, and with comprehension of outcomes

Which system will work best for the United States, a carbon cap and Essay

Which system will work best for the United States, a carbon cap and trade system or a straight carbon tax - Essay Example To achieve this, two paths have been proposed, cap-and-trade system and straight carbon tax. Cap and trade system provide limits on the use of fossils, it will require that industries and other main sources of greenhouse emission buy permits from the government so as to be allowed to emit the gases, in those permits they will have to establish the market. Those in support of this method argues that, it will set the limit on the amount of greenhouse gases being emitted, secondly, it is more flexible, it is fair since it will reward companies who try to reduce emission and punish those not reducing emission (Salmon 2007). The second proposed path is straight carbon tax. This gives an outright tax on fossil fuels. With this, the cost of tax is set according to the damage associated with every unit of pollution and cost equivalent to the amount of controlling pollution. Emitting a lot of greenhouse gases means paying more. Those in support of this method argues that, it is simple since it will force the people look for alternative source of energy, secondly, it is enforceable b oth in economic and political environment, and lastly, the method is transparent. The advantage of cap and trade system over straight carbon is that, it has attracted a lot of interest and attention from political, public, and industrialist. The political leaders it has attracted include president Obama, main congress leaders, and environmental crusaders. The industrialists that have attracted include General Electric leadership, Shell oil management, and Duke Energy executives (Salmon 2007). The congress key leaders have vowed to pass cap-and-trade law before the end of the year. The straight carbon tax debate was trashed out by the congress and industrial crusaders went against it claiming that it will be used by the reach and it is like the rich is buying the environment to pollute at their own pleasure. The second strength of

Social Class and Impact this has Upon Young Children's Learning and Essay

Social Class and Impact this has Upon Young Children's Learning and Early Years Practice - Essay Example This essay sresses that the primary purpose of this study was to identify the parenting practices that mediate relations between persistent, recent, and transitional poverty and the externalizing and internalizing behaviors of 0- to eight-year-old children. Poverty was hypothesized to influence children's externalizing and internalizing behaviors indirectly by affecting maternal emotional unresponsiveness, use of physical discipline, fewer stimulating experiences, and a lower-quality home physical environment. With the exception of the effects of poverty transitions, poverty estimates generally cross-validate. This report makes a conclusion that negative relations between poor social class transitions and fewer stimulating experiences, lower-quality home physical environment, and children's externalizing and internalizing behaviors were unexpected. A possible explanation for these findings is that parents use financial resources in periods of relative economic prosperity to enhance the quality of the physical environment and ease economic hardship during years of poverty. This interpretation is consistent with Garrett, Ng'andu, and Ferron's NLSY study, which found that increases in family income had the strongest effect of any predictor on subsequent total HOME scores for children who were born poor. The large increase in the total effects of persistent poverty on both outcomes when the poverty transition variable was placed in the model suggests that the effects of poverty could well be much greater in the absence of periods of relative economic well-being.

Coca Cola Drinks In A Time Of Economic Difficulty Business Essay

Coca Cola Drinks In A Time Of Economic Difficulty Business Essay Always Coca-Cola! This slogan was used in 2003 by the Coca-Cola Company, but years later it still resounds. Despite, the continuous changing of consumers needs, wants and lifestyles, economic down-turns and increasing competition in the marketplace, Coca-Cola has managed to always take first place as the worlds most valuable brand, since 2001. (Interbrand Best Global Brand Surveys, 2001-2010) This report is intended to explain and analyse why the sales of Trademark Coca-Cola drinks, namely Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero and Coca-Cola Light/Diet Coke were all immune to the economic recession. The analysis will be within a consumer behaviour scope. Inevitably, the relationship of consumer behaviour to other disciplines will be seen. First, there will be a brief history on Coca-Cola and a review of its performance over the last 4 years. Subsequently, the Consumers Buying Decision Making Process in relation to Coca-Cola drinks will be discussed. Then, there will be an examination of how input factors from the Buying Decision-Making Process Model such as, the companys marketing mix and individual factors such as attitudes might have influenced consumers behaviour in the buying process and enabled Coca-Cola to be successful throughout the years, even during the recession. Additionally, the influence of reference groups would be discussed as it is purported to be another attribute to the brands success during the recession. It is worthy to note that, according to the National Bureau of Economics Research the recession started in December 2007 in the US. However, countries could have experienced a recession at different times (imf.org). Therefore, the study is based on 2007-2010 time period. 2.1 Coca-Colas History and Performance Review When carbonated water is added to a syrup made from Coca leaf extracts, Cola nut, sugar and citric acid, the refreshing Coca-Cola drink is produced. Its name was derived by combining its two main ingredients Coca and Cola. The Coca-Cola formula was concocted by a passionate physician and chemist named Dr. John Stith Pemberton in 1886. Dr. Pembertons goal was to invent the ultimate medicine and tasty drink all into one. (Business Heroes, 1998) Therefore, Coca-Cola was initially marketed as a valuable brain tonic and a cure for all nervous affections such as headaches, neuralgia, hysteria as well as a delicious, refreshing and invigorating beverage(curezone.com). Although, some ingredients have been added or removed to enhance the drink but not to change the taste too much, up to this day it is not certain if the Coca-Cola Company still includes Coca leaf extracts. The Coca-Cola drink was sold for 5 cents a glass and only an average of 9 glasses of Coca-Cola were sold daily in the 1880s. Many years later, the Coca-Cola Company produces gallons of syrup daily and nearly 1.6 billion times a day, people around the world enjoy one of our beverages (Coca-Cola Annual report, 2008). The concentrates and syrups that are manufactured are then sold to licensed Coca-Cola bottlers in more than 200 countries. Coca-Cola has become a multi-million dollar profit-making company and has been able to continue that trend even during challenging economic times. Although according, Brian Morgan, Beverages Industry Analyst, global value sales had declined in the soft-drinks market (Euromonitor blog, 2010). Coca-Cola was affected insignificantly by the global decline and this was reflected in its financial reports. The Coca-Cola Companys consolidated Net Operating Income before Interest and Taxes (NIBIT) had increased from $7,252m in 2007 to $8, 446m in 2008. However, there was a 2.5% decline in (NIBIT) from 2008-2009. The impact of the decline was insignificant because of the companys well balanced portfolio, well-known brand and innovative strategies. Another indicator that the company was doing well during the recession was the steady increase in cash dividends payments. The cash dividend payments to shareholders in 2007, 2008, and 2009 were $1.36, $1.52, $1.64 respectively (Coca-Cola Annual Review, 2009). The sales of Trademark Coca-Cola, which includes Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero and Diet Coke/ Coca-Cola light, are what fuel our business (Coca-Cola Annual report 2009, p.16). Trademark Coca-Cola has seen volume unit growth in 2009 for many of its markets around the world including Vietnam (27%), India (25%), Pakistan (18%) and Nigeria (11%) to name a few (Coca-Cola Annual report, 2009). Solid performance has been reported for Coca-Cola in its 2010 third quarter and year-to-date company report. As at the ending of October, Operating Net Revenues had increased by 5%. Moreover, the worldwide unit case volume had increased 5%. This volume growth was led by the brand Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola Year-to-Date report, 2010). Please see Appendix 1 2 for more indicators of the Coca-Cola Companys resilience to the 2007-2010 economic down-turn. 3.0 Discussion and Analysis 3.1 Routinised Response Behaviour Researchers have identified three main levels of consumer decision making. They are extensive problem solving, limited problem solving and routinised response behaviour levels (Schiffman et al 2007, p.526).Consumers would have engaged in a routinised response behaviour level with regards to Coca-Cola drinks. This is because the trademark brand has been in the beverage market for years and so consumers would have had experience with it and other brands. Also, consumers would have established a set of criteria well enough to evaluate the Coca-Cola brand against other brands (Schiffman et al, 2007). Additionally, due to the low-involvement of consumers in purchasing Coca-Cola drinks, consumers are able to make quick decisions and they would have then relied heavily on heuristics, its prices, packaging and their familiarity with the brand. This would then have led to people purchasing Coca-Cola out of habit and in some cases automatic purchases. Therefore, it can be argued that because of the difficulty in breaking their habitual purchases and the little thought that goes into buying Coca-Cola drinks, consumers continued to buy Coca-Cola during the recession which made Coca-Cola immune. 3.2 Effective Marketing Mix Another reason why Coca-Cola was resilient to the recession could have been because of the companys effective marketing mix. The Coca-Cola Company has been able to build its brand throughout the years by using the right blend of marketing mix for the Trademark Cola-Cola drinks. Coca-Colas marketing mix efforts will now be discussed. Product Some people argue that the taste of Coca-Cola makes it very popular and gives it a competitive advantage. Moreover, people have demonstrated their love for the taste in different ways. One well-known incident was when consumers rejected the new formula of Coca-Cola, the New Coke. The company was compelled to bring back the original taste of Coca-Cola (Fortune, 1985). Coca-Colas trademark is its product name Coca-Cola in a unique white script against a bright red background. This assists customers to easily identify the brand in groceries, shops and advertisements. The Coca-Cola drink is packaged in aluminium cans, glass and plastic bottles in a range of sizes; 2L, 1.25L, 500ml and 330ml. Although variations have been made to the shape of the glass and plastic bottles, The contour bottle remains the signature shape of Coca-Cola today and was chosen for its attractive appearance and original design (Coca-Cola Heritage Timeline, 1905-1918). Price Coca-Cola is priced slightly higher to the prices of non-popular cola brands such as store brands but the same to main competitor, Pepsi. For instance, in England the price for a 2L bottle of Coca-Cola and Pepsi is  £1.66 while a 2L ASDA store brand cola is  £0.47 (asda.com). During 2007-2010 the price of Coca-Cola was increased for some regions like North-America due to increase commodity costs for the bottlers and to other recessionary pressures. (Coca-Cola Company Annual Report, 2008 p.47) Promotions Advertising Coca-Cola makes large investments in promotions and advertising. Advertising costs for 2006, 2007 and 2008 has been $2.6b, $2.8b and $3.0b respectively (Coca-Cola annual report, 2008). In 2007 there were promotions in Europe for Rugby World-cup and for the Christmas holidays (Coca-Cola Annual Review, 2007). There were many point-of-sale promotions world-wide in 2008. Loyalty programs that enable customers to receive free rewards and prizes by collecting points became very popular in 2009. For instance, the North-American market has the my coke rewards and the European market has the coke zone websites particularly set up for these promotional programmes (Coca-Cola Annual Review, 2009). Coca-Colas creative, colourful, animated and high imagery advertisements become many peoples favourite. Indeed, some of Coca-Cola advertisements have won several awards such as the Golden Award of Montreux, 2007 (Gold Medal) and CLIO Awards, 2007 (Gold) Animation (adforum.com). Place/ Distribution Channels Coca-Cola uses an intensive distribution strategy. Customers can easily access Coca-Cola drinks at their convenience through groceries, shops, malls, vendor machines, universities, work offices, bars and restaurants. Coca-Cola works closely with all constituents of the supply chain to ensure that the distribution process is efficient and effective (coca-cola.com). Additionally, Coca-Cola has even been endorsed by many restaurants including Mc Donalds and other businesses, where a formal agreement is made between the two parties to only sell Coca-Cola drinks. With the Consumer Decision Making Model that was produced by Schiffman et al (2007) in mind, consider this example. When consumers who drink Coca-Cola became thirsty or were out of stock of Coca-Cola at home, a need was recognised which is the first stage of the Process component of the model. The consumers would have then entered the information search stage and would have first drawn on past experiences they had with Coca-Cola drinks before using external sources of information from the Input component of the model, such as the companys marketing communications and socio-cultural influences. Because of Coca-Colas effective marketing mix efforts in the past, the customer would have most likely had good memories and experiences with the drinks. Also, Coca-Colas marketing efforts during the time of the consumers decision making would have played a big role in influencing consumers decisions. As a result, when consumers entered the Output stage, their decision was to re-purchase Coca-C ola. Coca-Cola marketing mix was effective because of its strong impact on the consumers decision making process. Another reason why Coca-Colas marketing mix was effective because it catered for the individual factors of consumers and this made the marketing mix more influential on individual decision making processes of consumers. For instance, Coca-Colas loyalty reward promotions would have appealed to those customers who like to be rewarded for their commitment or the sales promotions for those who were always seeking bargains. The changing of shapes of the bottles and the creative and high imagery advertisements, especially the one ones with the polar bears drinking Coca-Cola, would have appealed to those emotional and impulsive consumers. Also, by getting many businesses to only sell Coca-Cola drinks would have trapped those consumers who do not normally purchase Coca-Cola. The fact that most people would have had less disposable income might have made these marketing tactics more influential on their actual Decision Making Process because peoples need for rewards and stimulation to buy Coc a-Cola and not switch to a cheaper brand would have been greater. 3.3 Commitment to Attitudes It is believed that peoples high level of commitment to their favourable Attitudes towards Coca-Cola drinks was another reason that caused people to continue to purchase Coca-Cola drinks during the recession. Attitude is a persons learned predisposition, tendency to respond to an object in a consistently favourable or unfavourable way (Allport 1935, cited in Professor Jiang 2010 Lecture 5 slides). In relation to Coca-Cola drinks this means that, people were not born with the attitudes that they have towards Coca-Cola. Instead they learned about Coca-Cola from their direct experiences with the drinks, from other peoples opinions and from the companys marketing mix. They used these factors to develop an overall evaluation of Coca-Cola and in so doing formed favourable attitudes towards the drinks. Consequently, people were then motivated by their attitudes to purchase Coca-Cola drinks (Schiffman et al 2007, p.238). The psychologist, Daniel Katz, purported that attitudes exist because they serve a function for the person (Solomon et al 2010, p.275). The function could be a Utilitarian, Value-expressive, Ego-defensive or Knowledge function. For instance, people who like the taste of the Coca-Cola drinks and who derives pleasure from it would have an attitude that serves the Utilitarian function. Value-expressive attitudes would be seen in those people who drink Diet Coke because it may convey that they are dieting and watching their figure to others (social identity) or because they personally believe its the healthier choice of drink (personal values). Coca-Colas efforts to provide more factual and meaningful nutritional information on their packaging would form attitudes that serve the knowledge function in those people who need such information in selecting products. Attitudes change when it no longer gives satisfaction to its related need state (Katz, 1960 p.177). Coca-Colas marketing mix efforts has been consistently satisfying the needs of consumers and so consumers became committed to their attitudes towards Coca-Cola. For example, Coca-Colas total quality management systems ensure that every bottle on the production line tastes the same so that peoples Utilitarian function would always be satisfied. There have been misperceptions and rumours of Coca-Cola drinks including soft-drinks cause Kidney stones or Coca-Cola can be used as household cleaners. In order to provide clarity and consistency for individuals with knowledge function needs, Coca-Cola posted responses on its website to these rumours. Moreover, the company had spent $9m to promote active healthy lifestyle programs in 2008 (coca-cola.com). This also illustrates Coca-Cola satisfying the needs of consumers which would then lead to consumers becoming highly committed to their attitudes. According to Katz (1960) attitudes consist of affective or feelings and cognitive or belief components. Attitudes can be related to behaviour which makes it a third component. Another consequence of Coca-Colas efforts consistently satisfying consumers needs was that it strengthened the affective component of consumers attitudes and reinforced the beliefs they had towards Coca-Cola. The result was people holding onto to their favourable attitudes towards Coca-Cola which was then the driving force of their purchase behaviour. It is worthy to note that the results of many studies have shown a very low correlation between a persons reported attitude towards something and their actual behaviour towards it (Solomon et al 2010, p.290). Researchers found that events, circumstances or social pressure can interfere with a persons planned or expected behaviour. For instance, people may like Coca-Cola but do not buy it because of persuasive campaigns from health organisations that say soft-drinks are unhealthy (social pressure). Therefore, it can then be debated that although people may have had favourable attitudes towards Coca-Cola this may not have caused them to purchase Coca-Cola drinks during the recession or any time. It is believed that this happened because people were not strongly committed to their attitudes. It can then be argued that Coca-Colas marketing strategies have been encouraging people to remain highly committed to their attitudes towards Coca-Cola. Once consumers are very committed to their at titudes, it would become very difficult for external influences to change their beliefs or feelings for the product and by extension change their behaviour. 3.4 Reinforcement of loyalty through Reference Groups Coca-Cola has used the internet to create a virtual community where its fans from all over the world can meet other fans, chat about various topics and reminisce about Coca-Cola memories. Although Coca-Cola has an official website (coca-colaconverstaions.com) to facilitate this community, the website provides links to Twitter and Facebook so that fans can use those forums if they desired. Additionally, there is a Coca-Colas Collectors Club for people who are very nostalgic and who enjoy collecting Coca-Cola merchandise. The club has more than 5000 members from all over the world. Several conventions and meetings are held annually and monthly newsletters are published. There are also swap meets and other social events that enable members to share their interests with others (coca-cola.com). Researchers find that people within brand communities feel more positive about the product (Solomon et al, 2010 p.392) when they interact with other people who share similar interests in the same product and when they participate in social events held for them. Their brand loyalty is enhanced and the chance of them switching to competing brands that are as good or even better is very low. Moreover, these community members do not only become emotionally involved with the product, but genuinely concerned with the welfare of the company as well (Solomon et al, 2010, p.392). Coca-Cola has been the main sponsor of big events for many years such as NASCAR racing, Youth Olympics Games, FIFA World cup and Special Olympics (coca-cola.com). These different events bring together people who share common interests and these people make up sub-cultural groups within society. Attitudes, beliefs and certain behaviours would be adopted faster by these groups because of their cohesiveness and group members desire to share one identity. By Coca-Cola sponsoring the events for these groups often, Coca-Cola would have become accepted and liked by these groups. Coca-Cola would have relied on the social power of these groups to remind and reinforce the brand. As a result, members within these groups would have been motivated to purchase Coca-Cola as long as they were active members of these groups in order to fit in. Therefore, the presence of Coca-Colas brand communities both virtual and those that meet face-to-face had strengthened peoples brand loyalty and this enabled Coca-Cola to maintain a high retention of consumers during the recession. Also, the influence of sub-cultural groups could have contributed to Coca-Colas continued success during the recession. Conclusion/Recommendations Coca-Colas has maintained a strong brand image and financial performance for many years, even during the recession. The reasons for this success could have been because of consumers habitual purchase behaviour, successful execution of marketing strategies by the company, consumers commitment to their favourable attitudes towards Coca-Cola drinks and the presence of reference groups. These factors simultaneously impacted consumers actual decision making process which then caused them to continue to purchase Coca-Cola. It is becoming more difficult to predict consumer behaviour because sociological factors, circumstances and events interfere with consumers intended behaviour (Schiffman et al, 2007). Coca-Cola has built a secret research facility at its headquarters and this shows that the company is aware of the importance of understanding consumer behaviour. Were spending a lot of time trying to understand shopping and shopping psychology, says Joe Tripodi, Coca-Colas chief Marketing Officer (CNBC 2009). It is apparent that Coca-Cola has been able to build an extremely strong brand loyalty for its drinks. Therefore, the company should continue with its innovative strategies and continue its research into why and when people purchase their products. The company should also continue using their websites and peoples blogs to get feedback from consumers about beliefs and feelings towards the companys products and strategies. One caveat for the company is that it should never become arrogant and think that consumers will always have that strong brand loyalty for Coca-Cola. Appendix I SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA Year Ended December 31, (in millions except per share data) 2009 2008 2007 2006 SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS Net operating revenues $30,990 $31,944 $28,857 $24,088 Net income attributable to shareowners of The Coca-Cola Company $6,824 $5,807 $5,981 $5,080 PER SHARE DATA Basic net income $2.95 $2.51 $2.59 $2.16 Diluted net income $2.93 $2.49 $2.57 $2.16 Cash dividends $1.64 $1.52 $1.36 $1.24 BALANCE SHEET DATA Total assets $48,671 $40,519 $43,269 $29,963 Long-term debt $5,059 $2,781 $3,277 $1,314 Appendix II PERFORMANCE AT A GLANCE 2007 2008 2009 22.7 23.7 24.4 UNIT CASE VOLUME (in billions) 2007 2008 2009 $7,252 $8,446 $8,231 OPERATING INCOME BEFORE INTEREST TAXES (in millions) 2007 2008 2009 $7,150 $7,571 $8,186 OPERATING CASH FLOW (in millions)

I/O Analysis of Essay -- Film Analysis

The 1999 comedy film â€Å"Office Space† depicts the working life of three main characters at an IT firm. The film has gained a cult following and many of the scenes and lines from the movie have become ingrained in the popular culture. The movie â€Å"Office Space† is comprised of several character types and situations that are familiar not just to workers in the field of Information Technology, but across the spectrum of the work world, especially the office environment. Several scenes will be examined here in detail and analyzed in regard to the I/O principles of motivation and leadership. Introduction â€Å"Office Space† is a 1999 film by Mike Judge that lampoons the corporate office environment. The film’s protagonist, Peter Gibbons, is a software programmer at IT firm Initech. whose mind-numbing primary duty is to comb through untold lines of the company’s existing computer code to upgrade their software to be â€Å"Y2K† compliant. Peter is joined in his workday misery by his two friends, Michael Bolton and Samir Nagheenanajar. Bolton endures constant irritation of people asking him if he’s related to the famous singer. Samir can’t understand why people can’t pronounce his name correctly, a running joke throughout the film. Most of the film revolves around the interactions between Peter and his condescending, out-of-touch boss, Bill Luhndberg, who spends much of the film wandering the maze of cubicles with his coffee mug in hand, reiterating meaningless policy edicts. Making continual brief appearances throughout the movie is Milton Waddams, a shy, reclusive employee who was laid off some years prior to the events of the film, only nobody told him and an accounting error caused him to continue to receive a paycheck. A main source... ...o productivity and morale. In D. Cartwright, & A. 663 Zander (Eds.), Group dynamics: research and theory. Elmsford, NY: Row, Peterson ---- Supportive supervisor communication as an intervening influence in the relationship between LMX and employee job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and performance – Published in Journal of Behavioral Studies in Business Volume 5 Bandura, A. A. (1997). Self Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. (1st ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. Herzberg, F. "The Motivation-Hygiene Concept and Problems of Manpower", Personnel Administration (January–February 1964), pp. 3–7. Vroom V H. Work and motivation. New York: Wiley, 1964. 331 p. [Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh. PAJ Author, A. A. of chapter (Year). Title of chapter. In A. Editor, & B. Editor (Eds.), Title of book (pp. 123-452). City of publication: Publisher.