Argument Essay Student Samples Corporation Essay

For corporations, sponsoring a school’s sports teams or facilities is a way of community outreach, where for a good turn, a company’s name and logo are disseminated more freely among the populace. For schools, sponsorship is a way to pick up extra cash-to buy books, renovate classrooms or make sure the soccer team has up-to-date equipment. In most public school systems, the taxpayers can’t provide all that. While cities cry foul for the supposed corporate â€Å"brainwashing† that takes place when a business writes a check to a nonprofit, it is quite clear they are the beneficiaries of such generosity. Sure, giving away money is a smart public relations move, as it often garners a newspaper article or two and the logo stamped on a kid’s t-shirt, but this is a far cry from the monopolization of the mind that some are so worried about. Here’s exhibit A. At my high school. The football team wears under-Armour exclusively. AS a bulk package from a smaller company, the athletic department gets a discount, and is able to provide uniforms at considerably lower expenses than if individuals purchased everything on their own. The â€Å"cost† of corporate influence is a small â€Å"UA† under the collar of every kid’s t-shirt, Under Armour’s marketing department gets a slap on the back for successful outreach to an important consumer group, and both sides are satisfied. The relationship is mutualistic the corporate â€Å"parasite† is AWOL. Exhibit B: my previous high school. As a freshman, I attended a small, Catholic school, with a student body of roughly 300 students. What kept the doors open and the lights on was partially from tuition, but that barely made a debt in overall costs. In the gym were about twenty billboards of moderate size with a logo. A phone number, and a tag line for the business that provided financial support to the school. Thanks to the businesses, who gave a little tog et a little, the place was still running last time I checked. Despite these tales of cozy, appropriate relationships between corporate America and America’s schools, sometimes things go too far. In past years,  Coca-Cola held a contest to see which school in Atlanta could produce the most coke â€Å"patriotism†, presumably for a cash prize for the school. One year, two kids wore Pepsi shirts on the designated â€Å"Coke day† and were suspended. Whether it’s the story if the cash strapped school or just overzealous administrators doesn’t matter. Somebody went to far. However, if the tabloids are any suggestion, this doesn’t happen with great frequency. The corporate sponsoring of a TV channel at school meant to solely advertise, or a billboard the size of Texas in the lunchroom, cross the line, but on balance, the relationship is mutually beneficial. Extra money traded for brief recognition at a game or a little embroidery on the back of a t-shirt, most would agree, is worth everyone’s time. As with all things moderation is the key—but none should be denied a new classroom, sports jerseys, or anything else, for that matter because it came from corporate America. Score: 9 Clearly defines the issue of corporate sponsorship for schools Shows a full awareness of the pros and cons of the issue Develops a clear, thoughtful position between extremes Makes effective use of two appropriate and convincing examples based on personal experience Uses syntactically varied and sophisticated language with impressive control throughout The advertisements that corporations place around US schools these days are ubiquitous. Around every corner in a school is vending machines encouraging kids to buy a coke or some other product the machine may sell. The money that comes from these corporate ads maybe helpful in funding the modern school, but has a negative affect on the students that see advertisements every day. A school in today’s society has a huge financial burden placed upon it that corporate money helps ease. School’s have to buy textbooks, computers, over-head projectors , say TVS, maintain the physical condition of the  school and many may other financial costs are needed to support a school. Buy allowing corporations to advertise in the school, funding all the costs of running a modern school becomes possible. Coco Cola has huge, multi-million dollar contracts with many schools and has vending machines in them. Many other corporations like Subway and Chick-Fil-A also pay schools to see their food in the school’s cafeteria’s. The money gained from these contracts allow schools to have desks and chalkboards. And many new modern technological advancements in school materials. Buy advertising for these companies, schools essentially gain the proper funds to function. Although schools are able to provide students with a proper learning environment through corporate funds, the advertisements themselves paradoxily make the school environment less about learning and more about marketing. Students already advertise for companies on their own through the clothing they wear, the shoes they buy, and other commercial products they have in their possession. The advertising in school is only promoting students to buy certain products and only encourages them to let their mentality of consumerism grow. School is about learning and that should be what the aim of a school feels like. Walking to a school should not be like entering a city mall like is today. Students walk around the campus as if it were full of shops and stores; they buy cokes before class or pick up a subway sandwich before the bell rings and next period begins. Schools should not be a zone where consumerism takes the place of learning. A thought on a student’s mind should be â€Å"how do I take the derivative of 3x squared minus 8x?† or â€Å"I really learned a lot from that lecture on Vietnam.† They should not be thinking â€Å"do I have time to buy a coke before 2nd period?† Advertising in the school setting also turns students from children that work on education into marketing groups that companies use to gauge the success of their products. This is essentially what schools have become. Students buy foods and drinks that are there to advertise for certain corporations and depending on what sells and what does not, companies change their products so they will be more affective in making a profit. Students are not test subjects that are meant to be studied. They are the future leaders of the world and should not be labeled as a lain demographic as corporations do by advertising in schools. Focus groups that many companies also use consist of volunteers. Students do not get to choose whether they want to be part of market research or not. They are put in these marketing groups just by going to school. Corporations are changing schools from learning environments to controlled research for their products. Education is the most important aspect of a school and companies and their advertisements are changing this. Students should be able to go to school and learn without being bothered by corporations who only want to gain a profit from these students. Modern schools function today largely in part because of the money they receive from corporations that advertise in them. Bat funding should not take precedence over learning. New ways to give schools an adequate budget need to be explored so schools can once again become a place of education. As schools are now, they are only getting students trapped in the world of consumerism and marketing. Score: 8 Effectively dramatizes the increasing prevalence of corporate ads in schools In paragraph two, explains why corporate sponsorship is increasing In paragraphs three through five, presents and embraces the opposing view, that ads â€Å"make the schools less about learning and more about marketing† Draws upon brief, useful examples of marketing in schools Uses language that is effective and controlled Essay # 3 Corporate partnerships have been becoming much more prevalent in our schools today. The Under Armor logo seems to be on every single baseball, football, and volleyball uniforms even at my own school. The money received by the school for endorsing the company than is used in a variety of ways to improve the school and its facilities. This is why these partnerships have become a necessity for cash-trapped schools. Others, however, frown upon schools, which accept these partnerships, as they believe schools should provide an ad-free environment for the students. Corporate partnerships are beneficial to schools, because they provide the funds to further the students’ educational opportunities and the advertisements have no negative effect on the learning environment. I personally am very familiar with the relationship between schools and â€Å"corporate sponsorships†. Having lived in South Korea for over ten years, I have heard many arguments about the â€Å"special relationship† between schools and sponsors. In South Korea, contributions of huge sums of money to schools by individuals, families, and corporations are prohibited, contrary to American schools. Here in America, universities accept large amounts of donation from outside sponsors in exchange for an easier admission. This is seen as outrageous and corrupt in South Korea. However, I believe that many South Koreans disregard the tremendous benefits that result from these sponsorships . One of the biggest reasons why numerous students, who come from a poor economic background, can even dream about attending colleges is that universities utilize the money received from sponsors to give scholarships. In South Korea, students without money cannot go onto college. The benefits of these corporate sponsorships greatly outweigh the drawbacks. These relationships are greatly help schools of other level such as high schools. Although no many high schools will utilize the money through scholarships (as public schools are free), the money can be used for basic necessities of the 21st century such as up-to-date computers, textbooks, and other school facilities. With these advancements and improvements, students will be able to access more resources and have better chances of success. This is fitting especially for under funded schools across America. These sponsorships could be exactly what they need to lift themselves out of the stagnation they have been trapped inside for numerous years. Corporate logos may distract a student from paying attention in AP English Language and Composition. However, the advertisements’ influence is limited. Seeing products and logos that we as students already see daily outside of school will not have significant effects on the students. Sure, we may choose to drink more Pepsi than coke since we see more Pepsi logos and products at out schools. But what harm is done through that? With the  benefits that can be obtained through sponsorships money greatly overpowering the drawbacks of increase in Pepsi sales, schools should and must be allowed to maintain corporate sponsorships. Score 7 Develops both sides of the corporate partnership issue Contrasts (not altogether clearly) South Korea and US attitudes towards corporate sponsorship Develops an adequate rationale in support of corporate partnership, using appropriate evidence Demonstrates a mature prose style with few lapses Some argue that corporate sponsorship or school exposes students to ads and corporate influence, and that schools should be an envirornment free of these things. However, the money that comes from these corporate sponserships could be extremely important to schools and so these sponsorships do more harm than foul. The real world is full of ads and corporate influence. Even if companies and products were not highlighted in schools, students would be exposed to the same products elsewhere. Marketing is so advanced and successful these days, that a company will do whatever it takes to reach their target market. If their idea benefits a school, why not create a partnership? Also, a school will only allow certain companies to partner with them. A school may be one of the best places for a student to be exposed to ads because they are school appropriate and considered thoughtfully. It is not like Marlboro or Coors are trying to create partnerships with school, so why not expose students to normal companies they might already buy into, and earn money doing it? Partnering with Coca-Cola may establish brand loyalty among teenagers, but it is not introducing them to soft drinks. By high school age, pretty much every American has at least tried a Coke and/or Pepsi. Although the argument promoting corporate sponsorships with school is stronger and has more positive effects, it does have a few instances that  could be argued with. Some could argue that teenage years are too young to be establishing brand loyalty, which is the company’s objective in partnering with the school. Parents could argue that they want their children experiencing different types of soda instead of only drinking the one offered at school. Or buying clothes from other companies. Or listening to other radio stations. Pretty things, that in comparison look even more petty to receiving money for the school, which could go toward computers, more teachers, more supplies, a better school. Regardless of the exposure to ads and corporate influence, partnerships provide money for schools; a way fro schools to improve, and have a more positive, more helpful effect on students. Students are already going to be exposed to companies, regardless of it they are found at their school or on the commercial of their favorite TV show or the bus stopped in traffic in front of their faces. A corporate sponsorship is a smart way for companies and schools alike to get what they want. Score 6: Shows an understanding of the issue and evaluates pro and con adequately Argues that corporate sponsorship will do no harm because ads are pervasive in our society anyway Presents appropriate evidence and reasoning, though without strong, specific examples Uses generally clear prose but contains some syntactic awkwardness and lapses in diction Unfortunately money is needed for the majority of things to be successful. Both public and private schools need money for their various programs and facilities. Corporations for years have sponsored school sports team, but now have moved on to other school facilities and negotiating contracts with food, drink, and clothing companies. While some argue that this is a necessity to pay for certain aspects of the school, others claim that the school environment should be ad and corporate influence free. Corporations should be able to advertise within schools so that school can receive funds. To argue that schools should be corporate influence free one must first evaluate the actual influence ads have. Right now I am in my school’s gym writing this essay and the scoreboard has a Coke logo avout it. Am I really going to go buy a coke after this test just because Coke was written on the wall? No. I do not like coke, nor do I want one. The fact that there is an advertisement above my head does not change the fact that I do not drink soft drinks. Similarly my sister goes to a private school that only sells Pepsi products because of a contract with a Pepsi company. She does not like the taste of Pepsi and is not going to pay money for something she does not want just because it is there. Most people will buy what they need or want regardless of a sign on the wall. For the School newspaper last summer I was required to sell five hundred dollars worth of ads. In every issue the ads are at the bottom of the page, but no one looks at them. Whether or not schools should be ad free is a trivial question because the majority of the people do not notice those ads around them. Since ads do not have a negative influence upon students schools should be able to accept necessary funds from corporations. Without advertisements the newspaper staff I am on could not publish or distribute our paper, sports programs would not have as much money and would not be as efficient, drinks for students would cost more. Corporate support makes things that might have been impossible originally, possible. Corporate funds are necessary for a successful school. Corporate support through advertisements and contracts should be allowed so that schools can attain money needed for various programs. Advertisements have little to no influence on students, but the money they bring in can make a world of difference. Score: 5 Opens with a statement of the basic issue, indication support for corporate sponsorship Acknowledges the opposition to corporate sponsorship in schools but does little to evaluate this position Develops a tenuous argument that is somewhat tangential to the central issue-that ads are acceptable in schools because people don’t pay attention to ads anyway Makes some use of  personal anecdote as evidence Contains language that conveys the writer’s ideas but lacks maturity Advertisements are seen everywhere, everyday and by everyone. They stimulate the economy and make products and services know to the public more and more, companies are sponsoring schools in order to get their product known. Some say that schools should be â€Å"an environment free from ads and corporate influence,† but the ads provide necessary funding for schools which benefits the students. There is not reason there shouldn’t be advertisements in schools. The companies give the school money simply to show their logo or sell their products. The money given to the schools goes towards new computers, new technology and better teacher. If the money is given to the sports teams it goes towards new uniforms, equipment and better coaches. All of these things benefit the student in everyway the student has better resources and is more motivated to do well and succeed. Many schools in less fortunate areas receive a majority of their funds from companies that need to advertise. Say for instance the school needed to make changes or repairs to the facility, where would the money come from? Since the parents, students or community members wouldn’t be able to donate, the companies have to step in. without the corporate funding, repairs to facilities, new technology and better resources become available to the students that otherwise wouldn’t have the access to them. In conclusion, there is no legitment reason that advertisements should not be allowed in schools. It is all around beneficial for the students, teachers, and the school itself. The advertisement or products placed in the schools are informative to the students and staff, and allow east access to the product. If not, the ad can simply be ignored just as in everyday life. The money given to the school greatly outweighs any negative of advertising.  The money allows for better facilities, teachers, resources, and equipment, which enevitably allows the students to do better. Don’t you want your child to succeed? Score 4: Makes an assertion about the pervasiveness of advertising Briefly mentions the view opposing ads in schools but does not evaluate or elaborate on this position Argues in favor of corporate sponsorship but is inadequate because of its simplistic development Prose suggests immature control of language Should corporations be allowed to influence students at school with ads? Schools need money to have certain programs. Corporatiosn are allowed to give schools money to sponsor sports, libraries, music rooms, cafeterias, hallyways and textbooks. It takes a lot of money to have sports teams. Schools have to pay insurance, coachs, buses to take teams to games, repairs in equipment, and buying equipment. Schools also have to pay for extra activities, books, and other expanses. Corporations that sponsor some of these expanses are helping the schools. The only price to pay is logos and ads. Now school is suppose to be a safe learning environment. Children are not suppose to be exposed to other influences while they are learning. Colorful ads and logos are distracting. While schools might need the money, their should be a limit to the inference of some partnerships. Like the soda and chip companies. Vending machines with unhealthy foods should not be allowed in schools. It is a common fact that schools need money and are influenced by their partnerships with corporations. There should be a limit to ads and logos. Having them in gymnasiums and football stadiums is okay. Having them in classrooms and other places in the school where education should be the  primary and only influences is not a position schools should be in. A line needs to be drawn. Score 3: Acknowledges pros and cons of corporate sponsorship but evaluates them inadequately and superficially Moves abruptly from one position (paragraph two) to the next (paragraph 3) Presents a position on the issue, stating that there are some circumstances in which corporate sponsorship is appropriate, others where it is not Contains weak, often labored writing, showing poor syntactic control It is true that corporations have long supported high school athletics. For one, athletics require the most outside money, due to the nature of expenses. Other than that, there is usually nothing corporate about high school. However, that is slowly beginning to change. The extent to which corporate support is unsolved in schools is increasing and is very beneficial to the school. Schools have logos all over. Most advertise â€Å"goings-on† within the school. Others simply say â€Å"THIS IS SPARTA!† And others have corporate backings. These last ones are beneficial to schools in that they draw in money for the school. Budget cuts and things of that nature continuously seem to plague the public school system. Score 2: Demonstrates little success in evaluating and taking a position on corporate sponsorship Substitutes a simpler task than the prompt calls for, merely attempting to explain the need for corporate help rather than developing a clear position Offers little development Shows some syntactic ability but generally weak in control of language Essay # 9 Sponsorships between schools and corporations are indeed beneficial. There are all sorts of expenses to worry about for sports teams, and in turn the partnership helps businesses. The exposure to such business may even influence students who want to pursue a similar career. Advertising plays a vital role in sponsorships. By seeing the logos around school and on uniforms, more customers are brought into business. Score 1: Claims support for corporate partnerships does not develop the position Does not evaluate pro and con Uses simplistic, repetitious language

Lawrence and Dobyns Essay Revision

The human mind is a complex and often mysterious force. While it has a great capacity for logic and reasoning, there is also a part of it that reacts in a more primal, emotional way. It not only controls what we think, but how we think, and often this can lead us to do things that we would not otherwise consider doing. These actions can become so much the center of our thoughts that we can think of nothing else. We are forced to follow a course of action that can prove to be quite detrimental, and often even deadly. It is possible for us to convince ourselves that there is only one possible solution to a dilemma, and because of that, we can find ourselves spiraling out of control and into an abyss of destruction with little chance of steering away from it. Both â€Å"Rocking Horse Winner† and â€Å"Kansas† illustrate this fact in different ways. D.H. Lawrence, in â€Å"Rocking Horse Winner,† uses the desire of a child, Paul, who wants desperately to gain the luck that he has been told his entire life that his parents have lacked, and in so doing help stop the whispers of a house that demands money. His mind sets on the need to acquire this luck however he must, and once he starts on the course to gain it, his fate falls into place. In his mind, gaining the luck seems to be a course for gaining his mother’s love instead of the sham with which he has lived his entire life. If only he can stop the whispers of the house, the â€Å"hard little place† (340) in his mother’s heart will dissolve and she will feel a genuine warmth and caring for her children. This hope becomes his obsession, and his mind locks on the solution that he sees, and nothing can deter him from his goals. Conversely, Stephen Dobyns, in the short story â€Å"Kansas,† writes about a farmer who sets his mind on the destruction of wickedness demonstrated by his wife and the man with whom she runs off. His mind is so set on this course of action that the boy who rides with him finds â€Å"the strength of his resolve† (109) more frightening than the gun that lies between them. The boy perceives it as possible that the farmer will do anything to achieve his goal, and the fear that this instills him in prevents him from taking actions that, later in life, he regrets not taking. In his old age, as he is dying, his mind plays over the scene and various possible results if only the boy of so many years before had tried to steer the course of the farmer’s resolve in another direction. Both of these stories by D.H. Lawrence and Stephen Dobyns demonstrate the power of the human mind to make one thought overcome all others so completely that there seems to be no other resolution. The thought becomes an obsession, and, while it is possible that the obsession could be diverted, the task is a difficult one. While Paul and the farmer share the fact that their minds have resolved that they have one way, and one way only, to accomplish their goals, those goals take vastly different forms. Paul wishes to acquire something, and he reaches out with his mind into a realm of fantasy in which riding his rocking horse will help him reach his dreams and make things right. The farmer is more practical in a way, keeping his thoughts focused on a more tangible way of solving his problem. However, while Paul wishes to create, the farmer wishes to destroy. Paul’s desire to grab onto luck and hold on and the farmer’s desire to rid the world of wickedness are both quite logical in their minds, while the futility of these desires is obvious to the reader. However, those who are obsessed can rarely, if ever, realize that such futility is present. They have to learn it on their own, but too often the results of their obsession are tragic. The stories also diverge in their similarities when considering other important characters. In â€Å"Rocking Horse Winner,† while others are allowed to see brief glimpses of Paul’s obsession, no one really knows to what lengths it has gone. Bassett and Oscar only know that Paul wishes to continue to gain money for the benefit of his mother. They don’t see the obsession until it is too late for them to do anything about it, if such a thing is possible. However, the boy in â€Å"Kansas,† quickly gets insight into the obsession of the farmer. While his time is more limited during the short ride he is given, he has a chance to try and divert the farmer from his murderous goal. The task is difficult, but the possibility is there, although his fear keeps the boy from giving it more than a weak attempt. He even goes so far as to promise not to talk to the police, which takes away the one other chance that he has to put a stop to the farmer’s plans. This leads to a dying obsession of the old man that the boy has become to ponder all of the other possible outcomes of his encounter from so many years before. He will never know what really happened, however, and this leads to his last moments being overcome by thoughts of what might have been. Love, or perhaps the lack of love, plays a part in both stories as well. It is obvious that this emotion is what spurs the boy in Lawrence’s story on to his obsession. He sees the chance to gain real love from his mother, and that chance taunts him and pulls him in to his obsession. While it is luck that he convinces himself that he really wants, and even needs, it is the lack of love from his mother that haunts him, and the desire to fill the void in himself becomes all encompassing. He effectively fools himself into thinking that luck is his great desire. In the end, perhaps he acquires his mother’s love, but by then it is too late. Dobyns demonstrates how love can be perverted and turned into something dark and evil. One can assume that the farmer loves his wife, but her betrayal of him, if it does not destroy that love, certainly twists it and makes him want to kill that which hurt him. He convinces himself in his mind that he is doing it to destroy the wickedness that he sees represented in this betrayal, and only by killing the objects of this wickedness will he set things right. Perhaps he believes that by destroying the object of his love he can destroy the pain that he surely feels because of the betrayal. He must â€Å"stomp it out† (108) because that is what he believes he is supposed to do and he resolves that it is something that only he can do, because he is the one who was betrayed, and his wife is his own business and not that of outsiders who he likely sees as interlopers who will rob him of his final resolution. While one might write off the actions of Paul as youthful ignorance, it is more difficult to excuse the farmer. His life experience should tell him that his intended actions are wrong, but his mind finds a way to twist this knowledge and turn it into something that seems justtified and even acceptable. Paul is his own victim, but the farmer has other victims in his sights, who seem right in his mind, for he was a victim of the wickedness exhibited by his targets. So we see in these two stories the power of the mind to destroy those that it rules. It can turn thoughts into overwhelming obsessions which lead people into actions that they would not normally consider. When paired with deep emotion, the possibilities of what a person will do to feed those obsessions increase to degrees that might not seem possible to that person or those people close to him or her.

Community Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Community - Essay Example My notion of community was confined to this setting and usually my mind wandered to the rural area or the countryside with old folks and relatives doing small jobs at home. Champion swimmers are Olympians who win gold medals. To me that was a fact that was always at the back of my mind. They compete to win but are a rare kind of people and they don’t compose a community. They are single individuals, motivated and driven to win but are never living together, or concentrated in a geographic area. A community is different – it is a group of individuals with a common objective and situated in the same place. This opinion is just an opinion which later turned out to be wrong when I came to love the world of sports, particularly swimming. As I grew older in knowledge and spirit, I came to believe that a community is not confined to a small group in one geographic location. Community and sports can be joined together. Swimmers can be one community, people who connect to each other just like other individuals with the same hobby and likes in life. Chess players socialize and connect with other chess players in far places of the globe. Basketball players play hard to get that championship trophy but they form a community of real athletes who must have the stamina, physical endurance and, above all, teamwork. Swimmers love to talk and be with swimmers. We enjoy reading the lives of Olympian swimmers, their hardships and pains, and their successes. The world of sports is as big as the world itself, and swimmers who come from all walks of life can be a community. In my younger years, few dull thoughts formed in my young mind – that I was not made to win and that I would not belong to a sports community. As I learned to swim, I realized I was part of a community, even if that community is composed of people who do not know each other

Professional Integration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Professional Integration - Essay Example Basically, the Good Idea Company model aims to perform specialized medical core and noncore functions wherein the tasks concerned depends upon the command of the customer. Such commands of tasks to be performed by MSOs include medical transcribing and administrative functions. Primarily, this model of MSO represents manifold business tasks and operations which cannot be performed deliberately by health professionals. Thus, for these noncore operations which are far from the field of medicine such as finance and accounting, health system affiliations find this model a favorable one which allows them to have the work done by specialized MSOs. Between the two models of MSOs above, the Venture Capital Company provides more privilege for participating parties for integration. Since the Venture Capital Company aims to generate capital by outsourcing administrative and managerial operations to MSOs who specialize in these fields, they become more focused on their core operations. Hence, this allows a rapid pace of integration for both parties. On the other hand, the Good Idea Company provides slow but sure integration which is only limited to the tasks the customer commands.

Research proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 4

Research proposal - Essay Example panies in processing of data into information but also in using the information in doing business analysis, as well as in taking critical business decisions regarding future investment opportunities. Using MIS, companies can retrieve information in the form of well-documented reports that contain information about all technicalities and aspects that can influence the business at some point in future. Along with this, MIS also helps companies in setting and achieving short-term and long-term strategic goals and objectives (Earl 1998). Because of these benefits, production and manufacturing companies have started to use Management Information Systems to manage information about inventory and other business processes. However, there exist some challenges that need to be addressed in order to make an efficient use of this technology. According to Oz (2009, p.9), information is the lifeblood of any organization†. Without having significant amount of information, a company can never operate efficiently in today’s world of competition because information is the base for every successful business move. In general, management information system refers to processing of data into information in such a way that it can be used by organizations to administer different business activities. According to Abel (2008), Management Information System is an important software application that deals with the use of information technology tools to help managers and employees in performing different tasks associated with information processing and management. Management information systems perform all the tasks related to information management which include collection of data, editing of data, processing of data into required information, and generating relevant reports based on the stored data. As Dawn (2009) states, â€Å"management information systems are used by organizations to track, store, manipulate and distribute information to the appropriate people†. A management

Safety before and Since OSHA Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Safety before and Since OSHA - Research Paper Example Unfortunately, there is a minimal amount of information available in regards to workplace safety history, because in the late 1800’s industrial labor employers simply did not care about it. Often, the risks in the 19th century were from the use of animals, ladders and hand tools. In the industrial era, steam engines were used to replace these items (Aldrich, 2010). There is no definitive example of the industrial revolution’s dangers increasing, although it is suspect that the United States was more hazardous than other countries. This is due for the most part because of the circumstances of the country itself. Through the invention of new machinery and processes that saved time and money, these new technologies were borne from an intense need of the American people. Thus, the production techniques that were invented were both beneficial and hazardous. Anyone hurt while working or the family of a worker killed would likely sue the company for compensation for these inju ries or death. Actually winning the case was nearly impossible. The employer was often aptly able to prove that the individual understood and assumed the risks, was himself at fault for his own injury, or that another employee was at fault for the accident, because of the lack of proper documentation. Often, the court would rule in favor of the employer, leaving the employee and his family with the expenses and difficulties. This methodology proved to be invaluable to the employer, because accidents and fatalities were so cheap the industrial machinery and development required little reverence to the employees or their safety (Fishback and Kantor, 2000). Probably the most well known as a dangerous occupation is coal mining. In the late 1800’s, the mining of coal was lucrative. Often, these men were paid by the ton of coal they were able to produce, so often safety was less important than production. Without high production rates, the miner would not receive much pay. The same holds true in the building of the railroad systems. There were few workers, the distances that needed to be traveled were immense and the trains could haul more freight than conventional methods. These trains required men to stand between each of the cars so hook and unhook them as well as work the brake system. Given the lack of workers and the wages the few employed were paid, the railroads had to cut corners where they could, which was pay and labor. This led to poorly made railroads, few safety signals and many accidents occurring due to these conditions (Aldrich, 1997). For the majority, the response to the lack of safety was simply walking away from the job. Although there were many people interested in the safety and health of the workforce, they had no pull over any of the companies that employed workers in a hazardous job. It was not until the Safety Appliance Act of 1893 (United States code, 1893) that safety began to take the forefront in the American labor force. Althou gh it was small, it was a start, which subsequently allowed for the government’s establishment of new laws protecting laborers. In 1908, Congress passed a law that allowed an employee to file a claim of injury or fatality, which cost the employers 10 times what it did in the past. This increase in the costs to the company of a liability claim increased awareness and concerns for worker and workplace

Differences between Major and Independent Labels Essay

Differences between Major and Independent Labels - Essay Example There is a big difference between major and independent labels and this has been largely centralized around their financial might and their level of professionalism in a music career. In this light, it is apparent that musicians who have already accumulated wealth can afford to seek the services of major labels that in turn help in marketing their music to a bigger audience hence expanding their fan base across the globe. Additionally, it requires artists who have gained experience in the music industry and are well conversant with the art of stage performance among other dynamics encompassing the music industry. This enables them to perform exceptionally well in all the diverse platforms at regional and international level. On the other hand, the independent labels largely characterize musicians in their inceptive stages of their career. Most of them though not all, are not financially stable and would prefer marketing their music without seeking help from an agency or a management firm; as that will be costly and unprofitable. Furthermore, the artists need more exposure to gain experience in stage performance as well as grow fan support as an independent label before thinking of advancing their music to another new level that can be attained with the help of a major label among other agencies.Another outstanding difference between major and independent labels is the actual contracts they sign. Based on the contract, an artist subscribed to independent label has more benefit than an artist subscribing to the major label.

Strategic Marketing Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Strategic Marketing Planning - Essay Example This strategic marketing plan provides an outline for apt planning, management and marketing in Mandurah and the region for the next five years (Kelph 2010, p. 72). Besides, it is meant for all interested parties devoted to the coordinated expansion of the tourism, leisure and events sector in Mandurah and its environs. Basically, the strategic goal is to make certain that Mandurah and the surrounding establish a viable, vivacious and flourishing tourism industry. The plan is utterly based on sustainability and partnership as its key guiding policies. The management’s decision making takes into account the contribution of tourism to the vast society in terms of social welfare, economic progress, and distribution of resources along with environmental conservation. The strategy also embraces partnership with both the public and private sectors to capitalize on the existing wealth. Financial Summary The economic alarms, skyrocketing costs, intensifying competition as well as the unpredictable fluctuations in end user perception all depict the contemporarily progressing nature of the tourism, leisure, events and hospitality sector (Lumsdon 1997, p. 67). As a result, syndicates within the industry must uphold a well-founded grip on the fluctuating consumer wishes as well as taste inclinations to persistently create goods and services that ultimately satisfy consumer needs. In the present day, operational upheavals encompass consumer security, association, extension and customer allegiance along with labor recruitment and retention. Fundamentally, brand cognizance attracts vital concentration as the industry rummages around for fresh openings to establish dependable market share. Mandurah’s financial and economic position... The Tourism Strategic Marketing Plan 2013-2016 virtually provides a significant dream for the tourism, hospitality and service industry in the City of Mandurah. Mandurah’s direct role in the industry has progressively increased in recent times. As part of the recommendations, the city and the Australian government at large should embrace, provide and support the products and capabilities that complement the contemporary position of the destination while at the same time taking into account the prospective markets and existing tourism linkages. Besides, the management should establish a matching set of experiences that typify Mandurah and act as a magnet-card to draw target markets on top of exploiting both traditional and momentous resources in order to develop areas of specialization. The city is also projected to attract fresh venture to provide more housing elegances and marketing opportunities among other leisure nest eggs. In addition, it must also increase the quantity a nd quality of service sector experiences by facilitating access and infrastructure as well as working in partnership with the private sector to convey integrated tourism marketing posts.To maximize and uphold the expanse’s artistic powers and sporting experiences to vested interest tourists, the management must also address expertise and experience standards within the industry and the community at large besides engaging the vast industry to ensure they are utterly conversant, interested and compassionate.

Wireless telephones Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Wireless telephones - Essay Example Both passengers and radios can equally affect the attention of a motor vehicle operator, thus singling out the use of a wireless telephone may be merely populist. This may be especially true with regards to talking and listening rather than texting. Nevertheless one of the advantages of this law is that it reduces the number of motor vehicle accidents resulting from the use of wireless telephones while driving. Also, the subsections (6a) and (6b) clearly state when an offence is to be cited and subsections (5a) and (5b) state the punishment due (Levy et al. 3). This makes it easy to enforce the law. On the converse though, separation of subsections 2 and 3 imply that there is a difference between minors and adults and from their wording it appears that adults may be allowed to use wireless telephones while driving. Also the definition of an emergency in subsection (1a) still leaves a lot of room for different interpretations for example different people may interpret fear for one's safety differently. These instances of ambiguity may be used as a loophole by offenders and their attorneys. Regardless of these ambiguities I am for this state law because its spirit is more of preventative rather than vindictive. This means that it seeks to better the quality of life for the residents of Colorado State by protecting them from avoidable motoring accidents.

How Does Culture Affect Meaning and Communication Essay Example for Free

How Does Culture Affect Meaning and Communication Essay Nowadays we live in what is considered a â€Å"global village†, over time we have collectively worked towards this end. The need and desire to create a closer global community is not only seen as a technological advantage but an economic benefit. The world as we know it gets smaller every day, thanks to a new generation of social media applications such as facebook or twitter, which links vast communities together; communities and cultures are no longer cut off or remote. Take facebook for example, it has over 1 billion users, if it were a country it would be the third largest by population. (www.imf.org/external/np/speeches/2013/012313.htm) Whether you live and work in remote Antarctica or bustling Hong Kong, technology and the studies of inter-culture communication ensures that people, governments and organizations can work effectively together in a harmonious and beneficial way. Naturally, this is an ideal situation, but as experience tells us, nothing is ever as simple. This essay explores how cultural differences effect meaning and communication. In doing so it will look at the definition of culture, what it is, and how it affects meaning. Furthermore, it will look at the acclaimed Dutch researcher, Geert Hofstede’s four dimensions of corporate culture as a framework to define and categorize cultural differences. Finally, it will raise potential problems raised in the field of inter-cultural communications and provide suggestions to overcome them. What is culture? Currently there are over â€Å"7 billion human inhabitants living on this planet. Each of these earth dwellers comes from a specific culture. (geography.about.com/od/obtainpopulationdata/a/worldpopulation.htm) As the world becomes smaller, not physically, but by the use of new media and technology, as they traverse earth looking for new or better opportunities, so must they face the modern conundrum of understanding firstly, what is culture, and secondly, how the differences between cultures effect meaning and communications. Without an understanding of different cultures, the potential for misunderstanding is high, with the ever-present possibility of a breakdown in relationships and opportunities. (Dostine, 2008, pg 58) text book suggests that all humans can be broadly defined by our culture. In essence, we are all born into a culture that over time has been passed down from previous generations, bestowing a rich history, significant culture defining traits such as its religion, its values and ethics, its ceremonies, rites and rituals, languages, customs, laws and business practices. Moreover, verbal and non-verbal communications practices that differ from one culture to the next. Therefore, suffice to say that the more we know about each other’s cultures the more effective our communication and co-habitation of the planet will be. How does cultural effect meaning? At the best of times, communication between individuals can be somewhat challenging. Add to that mix, communicating with people from another cultures and suddenly, the propensity for misunderstanding and in some cases offence can very easily take place as a result of the differences between the cultural backgrounds, understanding and meaning between the sender and receiver can be in stark contrast. This can be due to the increase in variables in the communication mix, therefore making global interaction more complex. Furthermore, people’s perception or way of thinking, hearing or seeing can vary quite extensively from one culture to the next. It could be strongly argued that it would be highly advantageous for both parties to be aware of the differences and therefore the potential for problems that arise from inter-cultural communication. Nowadays, many multi-national organizations, governments and educators have training and education programs in place. They see the importance in creating a clear, concise and respectful flow of communications between cultures. An example of this could be the department of foreign affairs and trade (DFAT) in Canberra. One of its main functions is to liaise internally and externally to better position itself to and for greater opportunity. It would be highly likely that the department has educated its employees in the science of how to deal effectively with other cultures (governments, organizations, businesses). One of DFATs main objectives is to â€Å"work with other government agencies to ensure that Australias pursuit of its global, regional and bilateral interests is coordinated effectively†. (dfat.gov.au/dept/what-we-do.html) In the field of organizational cultural studies, a Dutch researcher known as Geert Hofstede went on to publish his highly regarded findings. These findings have become a highly influential and acceptable way in which modern organizations can asses the difference between national culture and organizational culture. Hostede, seen as a pioneer in area of corporate culture, created a framework in which to asses national cultural groups and how they may affect or influ ence behaviors within an organization. Hofstede’s research in the 1980s, included the survey and analysis of hundreds of thousands of employees across fifty countries, to further increase the validity of his findings he followed up several years later by re-surveying these workers. In his work Hofstede asserted that the values that differentiated counties from each other fell into four dissimilar categories or clusters. Through the process of his study in corporate culture, Hofstede’s created a framework whereby he classified culture into four different dimensions. These dimensions looked at four anthropological problem areas that societies tend to handle differently to one another. Such as, ways in which they cope with inequality, uncertainty, the relationship between the individual and their primary group and implication of the persons sex. Born from this was Hofsteds four dimensions of national culture. They become knows as Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism versus Collectivism, and Masculinity versus Femininity. (www.geerthofstede.nl/dimensions-of-national-cultures) In discussing the Four Dimensions of Culture, Hofstede claims that: Power Distance Power distance is the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. This represents inequality (more versus less), but defined from below, not from above. It suggests that a societys level of inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders. Power and inequality, of course, are extremely fundamental facts of any society and anybody with some international experience will be aware that all societies are unequal, but some are more unequal than others. Uncertainty Avoidance Uncertainty avoidance deals with a societys tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity. It indicates to what extent a culture programs its members to feel either uncomfortable or comfortable in unstructured situations. Unstructured situations are novel, unknown, surprising, and different from usual. Uncertainty avoiding cultures try to minimize the possibility of such situations by strict laws and rules, safety and security measures, and on the philosophical and religious level by a belief in absolute Truth: there can only be one Truth and we have it. People in uncertainty avoiding countries are also more emotional, and motivated by inner nervous energy. The opposite type, uncertainty accepting cultures, are more tolerant of opinions different from what they are used to; they try to have as few rules as possible, and on the philosophical and religious level they are relativist and allow many currents to flow side by side. People within these cultures are more phlegmatic and contemplativ e, and not expected by their environment to express emotions. Individualism Individualism on the one side versus its opposite, collectivism is the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups. On the individualist side, we find societies in which the ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after her/himself and her/his immediate family. On the collectivist side, we find societies in which people from birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often extended families (with uncles, aunts and grandparents) that continue protecting them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. The word collectivism in this sense has no political meaning: it refers to the group, not to the state. Again, the issue addressed by this dimension is an extremely fundamental one, regarding all societies in the world. Masculinity Masculinity versus its opposite, femininity refers to the distribution of emotional roles between the genders which is another fundamental issue for any society to which a range of solutions are found. The IBM studies revealed that (a) womens values differ less among societies than mens values; (b) mens values from one country to another contain a dimension from very assertive and competitive and maximally different from womens values on the one side, to modest and caring and similar to womens values on the other. The assertive pole has been called masculine and the modest, caring pole feminine. The women in feminine countries have the same modest, caring values as the men; in the masculine countries they are more assertive and more competitive, but not as much as the men, so that these countries show a gap between mens values and womens values. (www.geerthofstede.nl/dimensions-of-national-cultures) Whilst Hofsted’s four dimensions are highly regarded, further research has highlighted other areas that effect intercultural communication and understanding. These include context, language and non-verbal communications. Firstly, it is almost impossible to investigate research into the cross-cultural issues without making mention of Edward Hall’s research in the area; he asserted that cultures are defined by context. (Hansen Lee, pg,30) A person’s behavior can be affected by its cultural context. (Dostine, 2008) From here, he broke context down into low context cultures; these prefer direct verbal interaction with minimal regard to context. Examples include Australia, USA, Germany, Switzerland, and Scandinavian cultures.

Marketing and sales strategy of Juicy Fruit Smoothies

Marketing and sales strategy of Juicy Fruit Smoothies This opportunity analysis document identifies and summarises the background, status and future plans for the creation for Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd. This idea is Juice and Smoothy Bar which is seen in most shopping centres, cinemas and department stores. This new type of business will offer the consumer a wide range of beverages ranging from soft drinks to fruit flavoured beverages with nutritious ingredients. In addition, this new business will sell a variety of ice creams and chocolate. Beverages are among the most sellable items that people can offer. Selling beverages like concentrate juice, vitamin c juice and nectar juice is most profitable during the summer where a frozen juice or smoothie drinks can be refreshing relief from the heat of the sun. This is the reason why it will be a good idea to start a business selling juice fruit and smoothie drink if seeking a good and profitable starting start up business. The Juice and Smoothie brand has been has been a  successful product brand all over the world. Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will use 100% nutritious fruits to promote a healthy advertisement campaign and attract conscious health goers. This business will open one juice and smoothie bar and will continue to expand in shopping centres, entertainment spots, transport companies and gyms.   Juicy Fruit Ltds start up cost is à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬71000. The main source of the cost is from the general operating expenses such as payroll, suppliers, insurance, advertising and other overheads. The remaining costs are the overheads that are normally associated with opening up a premise. We need an investment of about à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬100,000 to get the business started. The start up assumptions is illustrated below: Start-up Funding Start-up funding for expenses à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬54000 Start-up assets funding à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬17000 Total Funding Required à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬71000 Assets Non cash assets from start-up à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5000 Inventory à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2000 Long Term Assets à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬10000 Total Assets à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬17000 Liabilities Long Term Liabilities à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬100000 Total Liabilities à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬100000 Start-up Requirements Advertising à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5000 Insurance à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2000 Marketing Promotion à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5000 Payroll à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬40000 Repairs Maintenance à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1000 Shipping Delivery à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1000 Internet à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1000 Total Start-Up Expenses à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬54000 Start-up Assets Start-up Inventory à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2000 Other Current Assets à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬5000 Long Term Assets à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬10000 Total Assets à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬17000 Total Funding Required à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬71000 Objectives The objectives of Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd  are the following: Create a state-wide sales staff. Establish strong sales revenue by 2013. Maintain tight control of cost and operation during expansion. To successfully expand our products Mission Statement Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltds mission is as follows: Quality: Our fruit juices are the highest quality, most nutritious food productsbecause we will accept nothing less. Innovative: Our products have always been in the forefront of the health and nutrition wave. Innovative products, state of the art manufacturing, quality assurance and industry expertise are the bases for our past and future successes. Integrity: Our customers depend on the quality of our juice products. Our commitment to the highest standard is the foundation of our customers trust in Oasis Juice.  Delivering freshly made juice to consumers depends on extensive cooperation and mutual reliance between supplier and retailer. We stand behind our product, our service and our word. Company Description Business Definition Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will offer a range of smoothies, juices and energy drinks. Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will have over 50 different flavours that can only be bought in this store, while still selling the already popular ones, such as Power Punch. These refreshment drinks are healthier than soft drinks as they are made from real fruit and blended together to make the smoothie. In order to make these smoothies we will use frozen fruit. Put it in the blender along with some frozen yogurt for thirty seconds and the smoothie is ready to serve. It is really simple and speedy method but it creates a great tasting product. Long Term Aim of the Business Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will be a great opportunity to enter the food and beverage industry providing the consumer with another business to choose from when they decide on their commodities. The main long term aim of the business is to provide excellent customer satisfaction, be miles ahead of the leading competitors and to be profitable. Many people like smoothies and other sweet like products but Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will provide much healthier options that will assist in the competitive advantage. New smoothie recipes will be implemented as time goes on and more promotions will be on offer. Key Features and Benefits Key Features of Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will include: Skilled staff who are aware of the need for high quality in every smoothie Online service where customers will be made available of the ingredients in each smoothie and also the weekly special offers, without having to go into the store. Key Benefits to customers will include: Great tasting drinks made in front of your eyes Quick service Ability to sit down in store and enjoy your smoothie Small Large Size (low prices) Huge selection of flavours Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd plans to be as customer friendly as possible and therefore will offer lower prices than the competition. We will welcome criticism from customers on how we can improve our products and of possible different flavours of smoothies. We believe that this will be a great success as we will be giving the customers exactly what they want. The customer will also be able to decide in the store what fruits they want in their smoothie, without the need for the recipe being in use. However, we will have to charge a slightly higher price in order to provide this service. We will be the only company to provide this service and we think that it will be extremely popular. As people are increasingly trying to eat healthy we feel that now is the perfect time to get into the smoothie market. We have a wide range of target outlets such as coffee shops, sandwich bars, gyms, sports clubs, health clubs and hotels, as well as having stores of our own in shopping centres throughout the country. Most people know that fruit loses its nutritional content over time however what most people dont know is that this loss occurs within minutes. Therefore, it is crucial that the ingredients be as fresh as possible in order for the customer to receive maximum benefits. Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd has taken this under consideration and has a system that is focused on maximising freshness. Value Proposition At the minute there is no company providing the customers with high quality fresh smoothies at a low price. The recipes are very limited and the prices are high. Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will be the first smoothie bar that offers a wide range of smoothies at affordable prices. Products Juices/Smoothies Energy Drinks Ice Cream Sweets/Chocolates Analytical Spending and Outsourcing Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd has a need for analytical spending in order to find out what kinds of fruits and smoothie flavours people are looking for. The major areas that would need to be analyzed would have to be: types of fruits, recipes, ice cream flavours, and potentially meals in the future. At this point in time Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd should be focusing on spending for research into what kinds of fruits people in the area would desire. Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd should also focus on trying to analyze how they can transport fruits from areas at a low cost. This would entail finding good transportation routes, good areas to find quality fruits, and also how to go about getting them for a decent price. Through these tests Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd should be able to figure out a way to get a good quality product thus giving them an advantage on the competition. It would be good for them to try to outsource the testing for recipes to outside service providers. This would allow them to get a more wholesome perspective on what kinds of blends to use in the smoothies and also would allow Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd to be more forward looking and potentially expand into the global market at some point in the future. This way they do not have to focus completely on just the local area for business and will be able to become more profitable through expansion. Barriers to Entry Products The Smoothie and Juice Bar industry is a successful industry will many businesses doing quite well despite the economic downturn. The main competitors such as Zumo already are a global brand and would have more stakes in the market and experience. That alone may cause concern for the success of Juicy Fruits. Loyalty to Customers In any market or sector it is known that customer satisfaction gives a better competitive edge for businesses already in the market. Since firms that have a high reputation and have built up their clientele over the years, the customers will remain loyal to that business which gives that business a competitive advantage. Economies of Scale Large and more experienced businesses may be able to operate more efficiently due to minimal costs. These businesses are also more experienced because of the length of time spent in the sector thus giving them more of a competitive advantage. SWOT Analysis Strengths: The Smoothie Juice market is a widely known and successful industry Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will provide quality products than the leading competitor including fresh fruits Chocolate: Cadburys and Nestle will be our suppliers Drinks: Red Bull Coca Cola Smoothies: Fresh Fruits with nutrients Professional products that will be sold to colleges, schools, restaurants and gyms Successful due to the unquestionable ability to provide top of the range products including healthy options. Weaknesses: Our rival companies like Zumo and Innocent may have a better stake in the market and more experience along with knowledge. The competitors may formulate new tactics for the new entrant Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd Opportunities Future developments in the smoothie recipes and further business expansion Provide allergy free products such as peanut free drinks and chocolates Threats The major competitors such as Zumo Innocent Any contamination to the food supply and shortages Possible increase in supplier costs# Strategy Implementation Summary Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will penetrate the smoothie and juice beverage industry by creating and deploying new smoothie and juice products and brands. The business will also locate in a logical and more accessible area. Shopping Centres Gyms are the busiest places that a lot of consumers go to for recreation. Since that Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd is promoting healthy beverages it is a right step in locating in a gym. We want to let the customer experience a fast and friendly service without the inconvenience of waiting too long for their purchase. The business is for a customer that wants a quick drink on the go and who wants to get in and out fast. Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd has identified that the market is busy and the potential target customers will range from school and college goers to business people who will be passing by the juice bar at regular intervals and that is why location is a number one success pattern. In addition to providing a quality product and an extensive menu of delicious items, to ensure customer awareness and loyalty, as well as positive public and media support, Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd can continue to offer more promotions if it deems to be a successful juice and smoothie bar. Strategy Pyramid Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd strategy is to show people that JF has an excellent product, convenient accessibility, and with a community benefit. To execute on this strategy, Juicy Fruits will be locating its bars at easily accessible with the Dublin area. Juicy Fruits will be pricing its products competitively and training the staff to the highest standards in the country In doing so, Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd has to: Provide a customer with a quality product at a competitive price Provide the customer with a more convenient method for obtaining their desired product Demonstrate how Juicy Fruits appreciates customer loyalty buy offering promotions, coupons, loyalty cards, etc. Continue to implement future marking strategies and to ensure that Juicy Fruits will be ahead of the leading competitors Identify future developments and possible merging with other retail companies such as Spar or Centra Continue will some market research in the area of customer satisfaction. Are the customers satisfied with the level of service? Are they happy with the products? Any feedback? This could be done through feedback cards. Strategy Pyramid.jpg Market Analysis Target Market The target market is vast, covering almost all demographics, with an emphasis on the age group of 15-35 i.e. older school goers, students and young professionals. Thus locating the franchises near colleges, shopping centres and in town is important. Perhaps it might also be beneficial to cooperate with a current institution in Ireland for the start up of the company, i.e. cooperate with a shop, such as Centra or Spar, using their well known brand name to help solidify the name of this new franchise. This again would result in an addition to the already high start up costs, but it may well be the smartest and most effective route forward. An in depth researching of the market prices would also be needed and Juicy Fruits would most certainly have to charge less than its competitors in order to gain a foot hold in the market. This might have to be continued for several months/years in order to persuade people away from companies like Zumo. This would result in low income for the first few accounting periods and with the high start up costs the margin for a healthy profit in the first two years is very low. However, all of this being said, the fact that there is only one other Smoothie and Juice Bar company out there in the market in Ireland at the moment means the potential for a new company is excellent, as long as an efficient strategy is put in place to effectively corner a section of the health food market. Market Segmentation The effects of the industry affect how we will have to market, as well as what services/products we will have to offer in Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd. For example, we will have to separate our juice and smoothie products from others as well as focus on their weaknesses and exploit them. The major competitors we have in the beverage industry are cafes and corporations such as Starbucks. Juicy Fruits will have to be sure to specify how much healthier their product is in comparison to coffee and why it is a better choice. This will hopefully allow for them to attract customers away from the competition as well as allow them to gain a solid foothold in the market. Geography segmentation is not a very large part of Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd concerns. The target market/customers for the company are a very large range that doesnt target anyone in particular. Just your average people, the only part of the geography that would be major is being sure to be in a densely populated location such as in downtown Dublin or directly on/near the campus. Now we will look at the different tiers that Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd would be concerned with. Tier 1 (Industries Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd can leverage on their own) Fruit and Smoothies Ice Cream Tier 2 (Industries that can be leveraged with help from a partner) Recipes Organics Tier 3 (Future industries to get involved in) Food (full meals) Vegetables Fitness Competition The two main competitors in this industry are Zumo and Innocent. Zumo has been in Ireland since 2001 and are the largest juice and smoothie bar chain in Europe, with over 100 bars in 13 countries. Their company is extremely similar to ours as they make up their smoothies in store also. We will have an advantage over Zumo as we will have a greater selection of smoothies and also the customers will have the option of choosing the fruits that go into their smoothies. We expect to steal a lot of their customers due to this. Zumo is already a well established company and have had the luxury of charging high prices for their product and having a huge mark-up. In order to break into their market we intend to have cheaper prices and also have special offers weekly. E.g. For one week have the Power Punch smoothie at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.50. This is extremely good value and although we will not be making that much profit off this deal, we expect that it will attract customers into the store and also that we will sell quite a large amount of the products on special offer. Innocent is a UK based company which was founded in 1999. They provide smoothies and juices also, however the key difference between our company and theirs is that we intend to make ours fresh in store whereas their product comes readymade in cartons and plastic bottles. Their product is sold at a cheaper price than ours however a lot of the goodness is lost in the smoothie and also the majority of people find that it doesnt taste as nice as the freshly made smoothies. Competitive Advantage Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will be successful if it is able to satisfy the key customer criteria. This includes: high quality product, affordable prices, speedy and friendly service. It will have advantages over other smoothie providers for the following reasons: Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd has a keen interest in satisfying the customer, and therefore spends time perfecting their recipes. The wide range of flavours that Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will provide should satisfy all tastes. The customer will have the ability of choosing what goes into the smoothie on off chance that there isnt a recipe that suits the customers taste. We will provide high quality smoothies in less than a minute. This speed is vital in order to compete with the competitors as customers will not be willing to wait for over 5 minutes for their smoothies. This time will be increased drastically if there is a queue. Therefore it is vital to us that the smoothie is made and in the customers hand in two minutes. This speed is also good for the quality of the product. As outlined earlier, the nutrients leave the fruit within minutes, therefore this process keeps our product as healthy as possible also adding to its appeal. Marketing/Sales Strategy Marketing Strategy The Fruit Juice and Smoothie bar market is currently occupied, in Ireland, by one major company, Zumo. The Zumo chain of bars is, at present the only realistic competition to the introduction of a new franchise of smoothie bars. The creation of the new chain Juicy Fruits would most certainly result in direct retaliation from this major competitor and plans must be put in place to differentiate the products that Juicy Fruits intend to sell from those of Zumo. Similarly, other areas of competition, such as coffee houses like Starbucks and Insomnia must be planned for. An emphasis on the healthier aspects of a smoothie over things like coffee must be stressed in an early advertisement campaign. As there is only one major competitor in this area there is obvious room for growth in the market. An informative and cost effective advertisement campaign would be essential and would have to be run early in the life of the company, perhaps even before the first Smoothie and Juice bars opened. This obviously will result in a high start up cost; however the lack of any effective advert campaigns currently from Zumo would result in excellent market coverage for said ad campaign. Market Share Due to well established companies already in this market, we expect to initially have a small market share. However, once we have an advertising campaign in place we expect this to rise to approx 5% within one year. Advertising and Promotion As already stated, it would be essential to run an informative advertisement campaign early in the companys development. This would be necessary in order to corner the market early on in the business development. It would be my recommendation to run this advert campaign before the first store opened its doors in order to generate some anticipation and create a slogan about the new franchise. It would also be wise to run discounts and offers for the first few weeks of existence, in order to draw in more potential customers. Deals would have to be good enough to pull current Zumo customers away from their usual purchases. As Ive said in the above section, forming a partnership with a well established company would be very beneficial to the future development of the franchise. This would convey some trust towards the company and perhaps add loyalty to the brand name from those already loyal to the shop that Juicy Fruits will now operate out of, (Centra, Spar etc.) Getting the correct theme for the Smoothie and Juice Bars will also be essential. The current competition, Zumo, uses green and yellow as their main colours and is very easily distinguishable. Juicy Fruits would have to also use colours that suggested healthiness and fruitiness, without using the same colours as Zumo. It is essential that Juicy Fruits remains differentiable from Zumo. I would suggest the use of blues and reds on all things Juicy Fruit; this would strongly differentiate the franchise from the competition, and suggests a cool, healthy atmosphere. An advert campaign would get people buying smoothies instead of other commodities such as coffee should also be run, targeting young professionals. It should be noted that, in the morning, a full smoothie has just as much energy providing substances as coffee, and is substantially healthier. This campaign should be run later in the companys development, as the already high start up costs do not need to be added to from the get go. It should also be made clear that our smoothies and juices are significantly cheaper than the competition (and we will have to make this the case, at least in the first one to two years of the companys life) in order to draw potential clients out from Zumo and bring them in to us. High quality produce would be required, with an emphasis on fair trade fruits in order to increase popularity with the public. Perhaps a companywide statement saying Juicy Fruits will only buy fair trade produce would be in order. This would also be an excellent selling point for the new business and would hopefully draw in new customers. Sales Strategy The promotional and marketing side of the business will be about à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1000. When the company is set up the business will then open up with promotions such as a buy 1 get the 2nd at half price offer. This type of strategy has been very successful with food and beverage industries and I have no doubt that this type of strategy will give Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd the start-up success it needs Pricing I have analysed the pricing scheme for Juicy Fruits competitors along with our prices which are as follows: Juicy Fruits Zumo Smoothies à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬3 large, à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2 small Smoothies à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬4 Energy Drinks à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.50 Energy Drinks à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬3 Soft Drinks à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.50 bottle, à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1 can Soft Drinks à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.70 Ice Cream à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.20 Ice Cream à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.50 Fruit Juices à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.00 Fruit Juices à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.50 Chocolate à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.00 Chocolate à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.30 From the table above, Juicy Fruits pricing scheme is quite better and attractive than Zumos pricing scheme. Zumos products are much more expensive than Juicy Fruits which would help the consumer on choosing a product for less. It would be a decision of supply and demand. Research Development In the food and beverage industry, the requirement for RD is a crucial element as it involves checking your competitive advantage and also keeps tabs on your competition. Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will be providing new smoothie recipes and will require more market research to ensure that these recipes have not been already invented. If and when a new recipe is invented patents, copyrights and branding legal requirements will need to put in place. If the new inventions and products are not legalised then anybody could take the products and use them for their own. With legalisation, this helps to eliminate this with the legal system. Staffing Operations Management (including Board) Organisational Chart Staffing Training Plans With Juicy Fruits the recruitment and employment procedures will be like the same as many other businesses. The main procedures that this business will take will be an interview, performance appraisal and there will be a trial period. The main key areas that Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltds employment procedures will undergo will be: Conduct a job analysis and determine what the responsibilities of the job will be Determine what skills are needed to carry out these responsibilities Draft an advert Candidates to be chosen based on interview performance, availability and references At the end of about six months there will be a performance appraisal which will evaluate the job performance of each staff member in order to extend his/her employment The performance appraisal will help to: Inform employees on the status of their performance Check to see if the employee might require more training Identify personnel decisions; to analysis salary increases or bonuses Assess and provide communication between the employee and administration The trail period will be for one month and upon completion of that period there will be a small performance appraisal as mentioned above. Since the Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd is just starting up, there will be minimal amount of staff that will be required until the business expands which will then be a requirement to hire addition staff. Personnel Management Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltds management team will consist of a Director, an Operational Director, a Managing Director, and Accountant, General Manager a Supervisor. In order to deliver efficiency to the consumer it is critical that the products and machinery is up and running and that everything is fully operational. The Board of Directors will be as follows: Director (Stiophà ¡n Mac Suibhne) Operational Director (Padraig Sheehan) Managing Director ( Barry Cunneen) Accountant ( Jesse Dunham) Operations The main operational requirements for Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will include: Location for the business Staffing Inventory Functional Website (for promotional purposes) It is imperative that staff be fully trained on the equipment to include manual handling training and healthy and safety before the initial opening of the business. All legal requirements will need to complete before opening. Factors Determining Success The main factors that will determine the success and future success of Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd are: Competition it will be important for me and my colleagues to keep an ongoing track of the businesss competitors in order to reach full market potential. Since that Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd already has competition with some main companies offering the same type of products, it will be our job to continue to expand the business and continue to offer bigger and better offers and products. Reducing Overheads ensuring that the overheads will remain low will be our top priority and will continue to be a business objective. The main methods of reducing costs will be both change insurance requirements and cutting supplier costs as the business continues on. Development for Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd as already mentioned, Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will expand from one premises to many others pending the success within the first year of business. Market research such as surveys or questionnaires may provide feedback on our products and help to assess customer satisfaction High Customer Satisfaction customer satisfaction is the top success factor for this business and it will operate a boomerang approach to returning customers if they are kept happy with the products and service. Other Operational Factors The main operational factors that need to be addressed are: Quality Assurance: Keeping the products and customer service up to date will be a main priority. Location: Juicy Fruit Smoothies Ltd will need a location in either a shopping centre or a gym to start up. Many of these jui