Business Plan College Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Business Plan College - Assignment Example Those skills support Master Minder's goals. The UK's changing demographics have led to families becoming more fragmented with parents of young children often finding they have little or no close family support when they start a family. But professional babysitting agencies are an emerging business trend as they provide a cheap form of childcare and represent an attractive option for busy mothers who need help not only with childcare but also with light house hold duties. Childcare provision in the UK is a clearly segmented market, as a result of legislation and constantly changing market needs. British parents pay high childcare bills and despite Government initiatives and tax changes, there is a growing need for the expansion of private sector services. Service, price and reputation are essential success factors in the childcare services industry. Master Minders will compete well in this industry by offering competitive prices, high-quality childcare services and by maintaining an excellent reputation with parents and the community we serve. We will start our business on the First January 2009.We project healthy revenues and a high net profit for the four first years. The high profit will help the company to achieve its long-term goal which is to franchise and/or to become multi-location. Master Minder's mission is to contribute to the community by filling a need for specialized baby sitters. The company will provide baby sitters with a safe and independent environment. Close personal attention to each child is essential to providing a quality experience for all children; therefore, adequate personnel will be hired to ensure each child has the proper supervision whilst in our care. I.2. Objectives Master Minder's objectives are: To serve clients with needs for select, specialized baby sitters rather than clerical or light industrial baby sitters. To create a service based operation whose primary goal is to exceed customer's expectations. To increase the number of client's served by 10% each year. To develop a sustainable, profitable, start-up business. The long-term goal of the company is to franchise and/or to become multi-location, and eventually sell this business. I.3 Keys to success Keys to success for the company will include: Maintaining a high reputation in the community. Quality care by trainee program for our baby sitters. Maintaining and controlling cost to assure a sustainable profitable business. Offering flexible hours and competitive pricing, discounts and advantages to our customers to gain their loyalty. Master Minders is a temporary and permanent placement baby sitter agency working solely with skilled, professional baby sitters. Master Minders differs from other temporary and permanent placement agencies because of our skilled baby sitters and the variety of its services. Master Minders will be located in Reading. Master Minders will provide Baby sitters and Mother's Help Master Minders does the following for each

Wealth Distribution in the US

Wealth Distribution in the US United States of America consists of 50 states and one federal district, with capital in Washington. Unites States has the largest economy in the world, with a nominal GDP of $ 16.8 trillion by the year 2013.[1] The U.S. is a big producer of oil and largest producer of natural gas. It has the second place in the trade after China.[2] Moreover U.S. is the largest financial center in the world with a center in New York. The unemployment is 7.7% by the year 2013, meaning 12 million people,[3] whereas the population represents 315 million. It is a huge country with a huge territory and due to the differences in living standard of the population; the distribution of income and wealth is extremely unequal. 1.1 Current status on wealth distribution Wealth inequality means the unequal distribution of assets among American inhabitants in the United States. Assets or wealth refers to everything what the family or a person possess minus all debts e.g. the real estate, automobiles, stocks, bonds, businesses, savings, and investments minus all mortgages, vehicles loans, educational loans, financial assets loans etc.[4] According to President Obama (2014) the top wealthiest 1% possesses 40% of the nation’s wealth; the bottom 80% own 7%, which refers to the current state of the wealth distribution. The average employee needs to work more than a month to earn what the CEO earns in one hour.[5] Wealth is not something to spend on the daily expenditures, it should be a contribution to the income in order to achieve and retain the desired status and standard of living.[6] Wealth should support current consumption or should be retained to support the future consumption.[7] Moreover, wealth should be used for short- and long-term financial security, social prestige, and is a tool to get an access to political power, and can be used to produce more wealth.[8] The more wealth one has, the more power one has, and the less restrictions there are to live the life one likes. Generally the working and middle class finance all standard living costs through income and wages, while the rich are aiming on gaining more wealth, and making more profit of it.[9] 1.2 Historical change of wealth distribution in the US Changes in wealth from 1989 to 2001 By observing how the wealth of American households changes with the time, one can notice a general increase in wealthier individuals and a decrease in the number of poor households. Moreover the share of households with more debts than assets (negative net worth) significantly decreased from 9.5% in 1989 to 4.1% in 2001.[10] From 1995 to 2004, one can notice a significant growth among household wealth in the whole U.S., they doubled from $21.9 trillion to $43.6 trillion, which rely not only on the wealthy part of the country but on all residents of America, however the wealthiest of them used that time to make up 89% of this growth.[11] The situation on unequal wealth distribution in the U.S. was always an issue but during this time, wealth became only more unequal, and the wealthiest 25% became even wealthier. The significant role in an increase of housing wealth played life-cycles. Every baby-boom, people who reached the peak of their careers and the middle aged population contributed a lot to the general increase of wealth throw-out of the U.S., by achieving the comfortable levels of wealth.[12] The other explanation of a strong increase of household wealth is that financing the own houses / flats and cars became more accessible for all classes of population by introducing different financial products like mortgage loans, leasing etc and by introducing some social assistance e.g. granting favorable financial conditions for poor families. Table 1: Share of wealth held by the Bottom 99% and Top 1% in the United States, 1922-2010 Source: http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html Changes in wealth after 2007 During the financial crisis the wealth of the households declined from 2007 to 2009 by a total of $17.5 trillion or 25.5%, which is comparable to one year of GDP.[13] However in 2010 the household net worth improved the performance by growing of 1.3 percent only to a total of $56.8 trillion. Still that growth was not enough to reach the value before the crisis and 15.7 percent is needed to recover.[14] According to statistics of 2007 the top 1% own 34.6% of the total U.S. wealth. The next 19% possess 50.5%, which means that the top 20% wealthiest possessed 85% of all financial assets, which is incredibly unequal. While the bottom 80% of the US residents owned only 15% of the total wealth.[15] As was mentioned before, the percentage of wealthy people in 2014 even increased. 1.3 Comparison with other countries The figures of 2013 showed that the wealth inequality in the U.S. was worse than in most developed countries. Moreover according to some figures the United States does not belong in the league of the developed countries due to the unequal wealth distribution. As the U.S. top 10% own 75.4%, comparing with other countries (2014): Australia 50.3%, Canada 57.4%, Denmark 72.2% , Finland 44.9%, France 51.8%, Germany 61.7%, Italy 49.8%, Japan 49.1%, Spain 54%, U.K. 53.3% and Singapore 61.1%, which means that the US has the most unequal wealth distribution among the top 20 developed countries. However there are even some extreme examples like Chile 72.5%, India 73.8%, Indonesia 75%, South Africa 74.8%, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine.[16] In case of Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden the percentage of people with their own houses there is quite low as they tend to rent flats but there is no big difference in population classes like in the U.S. 1.4 Wealth vs. Income It is important to distinguish two following definitions: Wealth and Income. Income refers to a flow of money (per hour, per week, or per year) which means wages and salaries, i.e. income which people receive through work, retirements and some social aids; whereas wealth refers to the assets owned, e.g. houses, cars, financial assets (stocks, bonds), investments etc.[17] However income inequality is not adequate enough to describe the economic inequality, as it does not replicate the full picture of individual’s economic situation as some people live from their wealth and not from the income. According to the United States Census Bureau definition income is received on a regular basis before payments for personal income taxes, social security, union dues, medicare deductions, etc†.[18] By considering this definition it’s clear that the wealthiest families have low income however they earn their money through their assets, which enables them to support their lifestyle. As was mentioned before dividends and bond payments are not included in the classification of income but are the primary source of funding. People in retirement have also little income but a higher wealth due to saving of money during their lifetime, which they hand over to their children and children would be wealthier than their parents due to usage of their assets to earn profit.[19] A low-income household with above-average wealth is not necessarily worse off than a medium-income household with no wealth.[20] By taking a look on a table below there is a comparison of top 1% and bottom 40% and it is obvious that by having only debts (like these 40%) it is very hard or impossible to create wealth. There is only little exception of people, who created much wealth in one generation, while most of the wealthiest come already from rich families and were born rich. Who can be this top 1% of the wealthy people in the United States? Most likely these people to be self-employed and they earn most of the income from capital and financial assets.[21] The most common professions are managers, physicians, IT-administrators, lawyers, and teachers.[22] The wealth is not something, which could be gained in a couple of years. There are assets, which are given from parents to the children in order to make more wealth on existing wealth. That’s why top 1% are wealthy U.S. families, which made their business long time ago. 1.5 Mechanism to gain wealth As was mentioned before wealth is assets like real estates, vehicles, stocks and other financial and non-financial property. While some people save their money the whole life to get a house and all other expenditure go for food, clothes, gas and travels, the others make more wealth out of their wealth and with each generation these families become wealthier. There rises a question what is the way for a normal average class man to gain wealth? There are some possibilities or buildings established by the Federal Government. There are 401k plans, 403b plans, and IRAs. These tools (pension funds) are so called tax shelters, which were made for working individuals. They transfer pre-tax contributions of earned income to the tax sheltered savings accounts.[23] Contributed assets in Roth IRAs (individual retirement arrangement) are tax free and all interests, dividends, and capital gains are all excluded from income taxes. However in order to invest in these tools, one need a relative high capital and it’s only available for those individuals and families, who can afford to bind their assets for a long time (typically until the investor reaches age of 60). [1] _ Gross Domestic Product: 4th Quarter and Annual 2013, Bureau of Economic Analysis [2] _ Inman, economics correspondent China overtakes US in world trade [3] _ Federal Reserve Database-FRED [4] _ Hurst, (2007) [5] _ Marsden, (January 26, 2014) [6] _ Grusky,(2001), page 637 [7] _ OECD (2013) Framework for statistics on the distribution of household income, consumption and wealth, page 120 [8] _ Keister, page 64 [9] _ Gilbert, (1998) [10] _ US Federal Reserve on wealth distribution in the United States (2006) [11] _ Zhu Xiao Di. (2007) [12] _ US Federal Reserve on wealth distribution in the United States (2006) [13] _ Broder, (2010) [14] _ U.S. Federal Reserve, (2010) [15] _ Forbes (2011) by Deborah L. Jacobs [16] _ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-zuesse/us-is-now-the-most-unequa_b_4408647.html (2013) [17] _ Grusky, (2001), page 637 [18] _ U.S. Census Bureau, (2005) [19] _ Keister, (2004), page 65 [20] _ OECD (2013) Framework for statistics on the distribution of household income, consumption and wealth, page 121 [21] _ New York Times (2012) [22] _ New York Times (2012) [23] _ 401(k) Resource Guide – Plan Participants – Limitation on Elective Deferrals

put it down :: essays research papers

put it down! The most hotly contested battlefield in the gender wars may not necessarily be in the bedroom. It may be the bathroom. The seat-up vs. seat-down debate rages on and some interpret this as a sign of male insensitivity and overall cloddishness. Although it doesn't rate up there with the unisex restroom in the Ally McBeal television show, the signage for the toilets at one Phoenix, Arizona advertising-public relations firm is an eye-catcher. Instead of the plain old "Men" and "Women" on the politically correct male and female door signs, the restrooms entries at Cramer-Krasselt are adorned with tasteful, nearly look-alike 3-inch square photos of a toilet. There is one difference -- one has the seat up and the other has the seat down. Is someone trying to tell us something? Come on, guys! Maybe it's time to be a little more considerate. Like paying attention to the little things. As a professional speaker, I lead seminars on personal relationships. In our discussions of "paying attention to the little things," taking the garbage out, leaving the toilet seat up and rolling the toilet paper the wrong way (among other things) seem to almost always creep into the conversation. Although we may laugh at such trivial things, the truth is, it is important to our partners to do the little things consistently. It shows them we value and respect them. Inventor, Tim Seniuk has the perfect solution to the "leaving the toilet seat up" problem. He has invented a toilet seat that goes down automatically after about two minutes. This $37 investment could save your marriage! You will never again have to worry about experiencing the "porcelain splash" in the middle of the night! ;-) Indifference is like water to a fire. The flame of love grows dim with indifference to your partner's needs. By far the most common and important way in which you can exercise your attention to your partner is by listening. Listening is an act of love. Women can often tell a man's interest in them by the length of his attention span. It is one thing to pay attention and quite another to acknowledge her request and then remember to do it more than once without having to be reminded. She is not your mother. It is unreasonable, and a breach of trust, to deny your lover's report of her feelings. When she expresses a need, it's your responsibility to do what you can to fulfil that need. put it down :: essays research papers put it down! The most hotly contested battlefield in the gender wars may not necessarily be in the bedroom. It may be the bathroom. The seat-up vs. seat-down debate rages on and some interpret this as a sign of male insensitivity and overall cloddishness. Although it doesn't rate up there with the unisex restroom in the Ally McBeal television show, the signage for the toilets at one Phoenix, Arizona advertising-public relations firm is an eye-catcher. Instead of the plain old "Men" and "Women" on the politically correct male and female door signs, the restrooms entries at Cramer-Krasselt are adorned with tasteful, nearly look-alike 3-inch square photos of a toilet. There is one difference -- one has the seat up and the other has the seat down. Is someone trying to tell us something? Come on, guys! Maybe it's time to be a little more considerate. Like paying attention to the little things. As a professional speaker, I lead seminars on personal relationships. In our discussions of "paying attention to the little things," taking the garbage out, leaving the toilet seat up and rolling the toilet paper the wrong way (among other things) seem to almost always creep into the conversation. Although we may laugh at such trivial things, the truth is, it is important to our partners to do the little things consistently. It shows them we value and respect them. Inventor, Tim Seniuk has the perfect solution to the "leaving the toilet seat up" problem. He has invented a toilet seat that goes down automatically after about two minutes. This $37 investment could save your marriage! You will never again have to worry about experiencing the "porcelain splash" in the middle of the night! ;-) Indifference is like water to a fire. The flame of love grows dim with indifference to your partner's needs. By far the most common and important way in which you can exercise your attention to your partner is by listening. Listening is an act of love. Women can often tell a man's interest in them by the length of his attention span. It is one thing to pay attention and quite another to acknowledge her request and then remember to do it more than once without having to be reminded. She is not your mother. It is unreasonable, and a breach of trust, to deny your lover's report of her feelings. When she expresses a need, it's your responsibility to do what you can to fulfil that need.

Bottom of the Pyramid Case Study Essay

1. As a junior member of your company’s committee to explore new markets, you have received a memo from the chairperson telling you to be prepared at the next meeting to discuss key questions that need to be addressed if the company decides to look further into the possibility of marketing to the BOP segment. The ultimate goal of this meeting will be to establish a set of general guidelines to use in developing a market strategy for any one of the company’s products to be marketed to the â€Å"aspirational poor†. These guidelines needs not be company or product specific at this time. In fact, think of the final guideline as a checklist- a series of questions that a company could use as a start in evaluating the potential of a specific BOP market segment for one of its products. Right now on this planet there are 2,582 people living for less than $2 a day and it is this group that makes up the bottom of the economic pyramid (BOP). With this group constituting such a large and diverse part of the market, many organizations have been seeking to make their presence larger in this area of the market with their products and services. This move is incredibly organizationally strategic as the BOP market has a need for advanced technology. However in order for this market initiative to be successful these products must be accompanied by the correct infrastructure support. Even more to this point, for most products, demand is contingent on the customer having sufficient purchasing power. With this in mind, designing a business model to serve the market BOP has to start with a basic insight rather than tinkering or tailoring a minor detail of the current business model. Firms and companies must understand that the creation of markets out of unmet needs is paramount. Along with this, companies need to ensure that their products are profitable, actually serve the poor and are good for them as well. The BOP is a hard market to crack. Not only do firms have to account for the 4 P’s of marketing but also, they now must accommodate the four challenges of BOP marketing. These challenges, awareness, availability, accessibility and affordability are the obstacles that stand in the way of a product being successful or not. If appropriately  traversed, the company can expect to see huge profits. However this can only be done through a very thorough understanding of this unique market and the appropriate application of practical and pragmatic marketing strategies. The BOP is not for every company. This market is often thought of as dominated by governments, aid agencies, non-profits, etc. Many companies and firms choose to leave this market segment to the aforementioned groups as they deem it as an unnecessary investment. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that the general population is constrained by their income. If the cost of producing a reasonably quality product is high, then the average consumer in this market would not be able to afford it. Not only this, but increasing consumption very well may not be sustainable in these BOP areas. With this in mind, there are many questions a company should ask in relation to the BOP target market. Some guidelines or questions that would be wise to ask in relation to the BOP are: When looking across different product categories the BOP consume, is it only basic needs? In what product categories are the products the most successful? What type and range of product should we provide? What does the consumer want from the product? What should be the name of the product? How is it differentiated from the competitors How do we best communicate with our target market consumers and persuade them to buy? 2. Marketing to the BOP raises a number of issues revolving around the social responsibility of marketing efforts. Write a position paper either pro or con on one of the following: a. Is it exploitation for a company to profit from selling soaps, shampoo, personal computers, and ice cream, and so on, to people with little disposable income? b. Can making loans to customers whose income is less than $100 monthly at interest rates of 20 percent to purchase TVs, cell phones, and other  consumer durables be justified? c. One authority argues that squeezing profits from people with little disposable income-and often not enough to eat- is not capitalist exploitation but rather that it stimulates economic growth. In this day of age, it pays dividends to have a highly active and involved market. If you take a step back, and look at the characteristics of the developed nations of the world and compare them to those of the third world or developing countries, many differences can be noted. However, one reoccurring trend is that of the absence of a strong, diverse, international and active marketplace in many of the poorer countries. The places of business found in these areas tend to operate on a local system with transactions taking place between natives and sometimes even forgoing currency to barter. Slowly, many large companies and firms are taking note of these markets. These BOP (bottom of the pyramid) markets are ripe with opportunity for those willing to take the risk. Many people see this as capitalist exploitation, but in reality, it stimulates economic growth. The extension of a company or firm into a BOP market means investing large amounts of time and capital into the project. These firms want to turn a profit and through cautious investing, will try and insure that. With investments come points of contact, the construction of a physical, tangible storefront, a service scape. With the installation of these comes the need of staffing, people to operate the stores, sell the product and carry the company message. Just like in India with Unilever. Several locals were given an opportunity to leave the life they were living behind for any opportunity at better existence. Now 1,300 women are selling Unilever products in 50,000 villages in 12 states in India, totaling to about 15% of the company’s rural sales in those states. Many individuals tend to harbor xenophobic traits or a fear of change. In reality when if they could take a more logical approach, the benefits of foreign investment would far outweigh their fears. More and more people are realizing this and slowly are opening up to the idea. The Vietnamese are an  example. At this moment, Vietnam has more than 100,000 independent sales representatives working for Unilever to push their products into the remote BOP markets. Such a large force of human capital could never have been employed if it wasn’t for the targeting of these markets. An argument may be brought up that their purchasing power is not strong enough or maybe that they are being exploited. However, in reality, foreign investment allows for growth and progress that these areas would never of been a part of it wasn’t for these large companies and firms help.

Boracay as a Model for Carabao Island

Boracay, an island in the province of Aklan, still remains as one of the world’s best island getaways. In February this year, Boracay was named the top island getaway of Travel+Leisure Magazine (ABS-CBN, 2013). The island has always been part of many other rankings of beaches and island destinations. Amidst all the praises that the island has gained, many issues have risen and still exist in the island. In 1997, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced that Boracay’s waters off Long Beach were contaminated with coliform (Trousdale, 1999).This was blamed on inadequate sewage treatment and is aggravated by the large number of tourists arriving in the island (Lujan, 2003). This is still a problem in the island until now and yet tourists still flock to Boracay all year round. In the documentary, â€Å"Ang Tagong Boracay†, it was shown that resorts are still being put up in Boracay even with over 300 resorts already lining up the beachfront. This has happened despite directives from the national government to stop building in Boracay.Tourists still flock to Boracay despite the overcrowding and waste management issues to see what it is about this island that makes it world famous. Many other tourists go here for the famous night parties of Boracay. And of course, Boracay’s famous powdery white sand which is actually pulverized calcium carbonate from dead corals is also a reason for the numerous tourists in the area. Carabao Island is an island an hour away from Boracay. It is under the municipality of San Jose of Romblon. Carabao Island has white sand beaches as well. Many of its residents are workers in Boracay.The local government plans to make the island a tourism destination. Documentaries such as the â€Å"Ang Tagong Boracay† create awareness for people about the situation in Boracay but this has been a long-term problem of the island. And there have been numerous news and journal articles about the situati on there and still only band-aid solutions have been presented. Arrivals remain to be strong in Boracay (Trousdale, 1999). This is one of the reasons why local leaders seem to ignore the fact that Boracay has become a crowded island with corresponding environmental problems.One instance is how they refuse to recognize that the algal blooms are partially a result of the rapid development of tourism facilities without proper planning (Pillout, 1996 in Trousdale, 1999). Management must be consistent and proactive (Trousdale, 1999). In the case of Boracay, the management is the local government. The local government should be responsive. Solutions must not only be for the short term. Trousdale stated that long term threats to future generations come from the undesirable cumulative effects of development which result from the absence of day-to-day management of the island.Many ordinances and policies have already been passed to solve Boracay’s many problems. The key to this is the proper and efficient implementation of these policies. The local government must be watchful and strict in implementing these policies and national government directives. Good governance is needed to identify and prioritize the community values and fuse them with technical answers that are most suitable. Development must always be planned. Pattaya is an example of unplanned and spontaneous coastal development in Southeast Asia (Wong, 1998).It has a 300-meter stretch of bars, nightclubs and massage parlors. Unplanned development has caused environmental degradation where the island’s natural tree cover has been removed, wetlands have been converted into open sewers, the beachfront land has been exploited and sea and beach has been polluted due to inadequate sewage treatment. Careful planning must be applied in Carabao Island before they start the implementation of their plans to open it as a tourism destination. According to Wong, environmental impact assessments are very imp ortant especially in coastal tourism developments.This must not just be done for big projects only but must also cover small constructions as well. Wong notes that Boracay demonstrates that small-scale tourism is possible. However, when tourist arrivals increase and planning was not done, the undesirable impacts can be serious. Therefore, planning really is important. Standards must also be enforced (Wong, 1998). Much like the policies, they must be implemented and regularly checked. For example, there are already developments in the disposal of sewage.Pipes must be regularly checked for cracks to avoid groundwater contamination. This also, lessens the need for additional costs once contamination occurs. Boracay is a good example of what not to do in tourism destinations. Through the efforts of the national government, the local government, tourism organizations, non-government organizations and the locals, Boracay can still be fixed. What they need is a workshop with representative s from each of the sectors to talk about the existing issues of the island.At the end of the workshop, new policies should be crafted and implemented. Carabao Island, on the other hand, must first consult with the locals. This is one of the important steps in tourism planning as they know more about the place. Careful planning, good governance and constant checking of the plan must be maintained throughout the implementation of the tourism plan. The combination of these guarantees that a certain destination remains sustainable. Bibliography Lujan, N. (2003, January 20-21). Boracay's Road to Ruin.Retrieved March 5, 2013, from Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism: http://pcij. org/stories/2003/boracay. html Malig, J. (2013, February 21). Boracay named 2012 world's best island. Retrieved March 5, 2013, from ABSCBNnews. com: http://www. abs-cbnnews. com/lifestyle/07/06/12/boracay-named-2012-worlds-best-island Trousdale, W. J. (1999). GOVERNANCE IN CONTEXT: Boracay Island, Phil ippines. Annals of Tourism Research , 840-867. Wong, P. (1998). Coastal tourism development in Southeast Asia. Ocean & Coastal Management , 89-109.

Pakistani Martyr Iqbal Masih

Pakistani Martyr Iqbal Masih The historical figure of importance, Iqbal Masih was a young Pakistani boy who was forced into bonded labor at age four. After being freed at age ten, Iqbal became an activist against bonded child labor. He became a martyr for his cause when he was murdered at age 12. Overview of Iqbal Masih Iqbal Masih was born in Muridke, a small, rural village outside of Lahore in Pakistan. Shortly after Iqbals birth, his father, Saif Masih, abandoned the family. Iqbals mother, Inayat, worked as a housecleaner but found it difficult to make enough money to feed all her children from her small income. Iqbal, too young to understand his familys problems, spent his time playing in the fields near his two-room house. While his mom was away at work, his older sisters took care of him. His life changed drastically when he was just four years old. In 1986, Iqbals older brother was to be married and the family needed money to pay for a celebration. For a very poor family in Pakistan, the only way to borrow money is to ask a local employer. These employers specialize in this kind of barter, where the employer loans a family money in exchange for the bonded labor of a small child. To pay for the wedding, Iqbals family borrowed 600 rupees (about $12) from a man who owned a carpet-weaving business. In return, Iqbal was required to work as a carpet weaver until the debt was paid off. Without being asked or consulted, Iqbal was sold into bondage by his family. Workers Fighting for Survival This system of peshgi (loans) is inherently inequitable; the employer has all the power. Iqbal was required to work an entire year without wages in order to learn the skills of a carpet weaver. During and after his apprenticeship, the cost of the food he ate and the tools he used were all added to the original loan. When and if he made mistakes, he was often fined, which also added to the loan. In addition to these costs, the loan grew ever larger because the employer added interest. Over the years, Iqbals family borrowed even more money from the employer, which was added to the amount of money Iqbal had to work off. The employer kept track of the loan total. It was not unusual for employers to pad the total, keeping the children in bondage for life. By the time Iqbal was ten years old, the loan had grown to 13,000 rupees (about $260). The conditions in which Iqbal worked were horrendous. Iqbal and the other bonded children were required to squat on a wooden bench and bend forward to tie millions of knots into carpets. The children were required to follow a specific pattern, choosing each thread and tying each knot carefully. The children were not allowed to speak to each other. If the children started to daydream, a guard might hit them or they might cut their own hands with the sharp tools they used to cut the thread. Iqbal worked six days a week, at least 14 hours a day. The room in which he worked was stifling hot because the windows could not be opened in order to protect the quality of the wool. Only two light bulbs dangled above the young children. If the children talked back, ran away, were homesick, or were physically sick, they were punished. Punishment included severe beatings, being chained to their loom, extended periods of isolation in a dark closet, and being hung upside down. Iqbal often did these things and received numerous punishments. For all this, Iqbal was paid 60 rupees (about 20 cents) a day after his apprenticeship had ended. The Bonded Labor Liberation Front   After working six years as a carpet weaver, Iqbal one day heard about a meeting of the Bonded Labor Liberation Front (BLLF) which was working to help children like Iqbal. After work, Iqbal snuck away to attend the meeting. At the meeting, Iqbal learned that the Pakistani government had outlawed peshgi in 1992. In addition, the government cancelled all outstanding loans to these employers. Shocked, Iqbal knew he wanted to be free. He talked to Eshan Ullah Khan, president of the BLLF, who helped him get the paperwork he needed to show his employer that he should be free. Not content to just be free himself, Iqbal worked to also get his fellow workers free. Once free, Iqbal was sent to a BLLF school in Lahore. Iqbal studied very hard, finishing four years of work in just two. At the school, Iqbals natural leadership skills became increasingly apparent and he became involved in demonstrations and meetings that fought against bonded child labor. He once pretended to be one of a factorys workers so that he could question the children about their work conditions. This was a very dangerous expedition, but the information he gathered helped close down the factory and free hundreds of children. Iqbal began speaking at BLLF meetings and then to international activists and journalists. He spoke about his own experiences as a  bonded child  laborer. He was not intimidated by crowds and spoke with such conviction that many took notice of him. Iqbals six years as a bonded child had affected him physically as well as mentally. The most noticeable thing about Iqbal was that he was an extremely small child, about half the size he should have been at his age. At age ten, he was less than four feet tall and weighed a mere 60 pounds. His body had stopped growing, which one doctor described as psychological dwarfism. Iqbal also suffered from kidney problems, a curved spine, bronchial infections, and arthritis. Many say that he shuffled his feet when he walked because of pain. In many ways, Iqbal was made into an adult when he was sent to work as a carpet weaver. But he was not really an adult. He lost his childhood, but not his youth. When he went to the U.S. to receive the Reebok Human Rights Award, Iqbal loved watching cartoons, especially Bugs Bunny. Once in a while, he also had a chance to play some computer games while in the U.S. A Life Cut Short Iqbals growing popularity and influence caused him to receive numerous death threats. Focused on helping other children become free, Iqbal ignored the letters. On Sunday, April 16, 1995, Iqbal spent the day visiting his family for Easter. After spending some time with his mother and siblings, he headed over to visit his uncle. Meeting up with two of his cousins, the three boys rode a bike to his uncles field to bring his uncle some dinner. On the way, the boys stumbled upon someone who shot at them with a shotgun. Iqbal died immediately. One of his cousins was shot in the arm; the other wasnt hit. How and why Iqbal was killed remains a mystery. The original story was that the boys stumbled upon a local farmer who was in a compromising position with a neighbors donkey. Frightened and perhaps high on drugs, the man shot at the boys, not intending to specifically kill Iqbal. Most people do not believe this story. Rather, they believe that leaders of the carpet industry disliked the influence Iqbal was having and ordered him murdered. As of yet, there is no proof that this was the case. On April 17, 1995, Iqbal was buried. There were approximately 800 mourners in attendance. *The problem of bonded child labor continues today. Millions of children, especially in Pakistan and India, work in factories to make carpets, mud bricks, beedis (cigarettes), jewelry, and clothing- all with similar horrific conditions as Iqbal experienced.

The History of Ostrich Domestication

The History of Ostrich Domestication Ostriches (Struthio camelus) are the largest bird alive today, with adults weighing between 200–300 pounds (90-135 kilograms). Adult males attain a height of up to 7.8 feet (2.4 meters) tall; females are slightly smaller. Their immense body size and small wings make them incapable of flying. Ostriches have a remarkable tolerance to heat, withstanding temperatures up to 56 degrees C (132 degrees F) without much stress. Ostriches have been domesticated for only about 150 years, and are truly only partly domesticated, or, rather, are only domesticated for a short period of their lives. Key Takeaways: Ostrich Domestication Ostriches were domesticated (and only partly) in South Africa in the mid-19th century.  South African farmers and their British colonial overlords were responding to an enormous demand for fluffy ostrich feathers used in Victorian-era fashions.Although they are adorable as chicks, ostriches are not good pets, because they quickly grow into bad-tempered giants with sharp claws.   Ostriches as Pets? Keeping ostriches in zoos as exotic pets was practiced in Bronze Age Mesopotamia at least as early as the 18th century BCE. Assyrian annals mention ostrich hunts, and some royal kings and queens kept them in zoos and harvested them for eggs and feathers. Although some modern day people do attempt to keep ostriches as pets, no matter how gently you raise them, within a year, the cute fluffy juvenile ball grows to a 200-pound behemoth with sharp claws and the temperament to use them.​ Far more common and successful is ostrich farming, producing red meat similar to beef or venison, and leather goods from the hides. The ostrich market is variable, and as of the 2012 agricultural census, there are just a few hundred ostrich farms in the U.S. Ostrich Life Cycle There are a handful of recognized modern sub-species of ostrich, including four in Africa, one in Asia (Struthio camelus syriacus, which has been extinct since the 1960s) and one in Arabia (Struthio asiaticus Brodkorb). Wild species are known to have been present in North Africa and Central Asia, although today they are restricted to sub-Saharan Africa. South American ratite species are only distantly related, including Rhea americana and Rhea pennata. Wild ostriches are grass eaters, usually concentrating on a handful of annual grasses and forbs that yield essential protein, fiber, and calcium. When they dont have a choice, they will eat leaves, flowers, and fruits of non-grassy plants. Ostriches mature at between four and five years of age and have a lifespan in the wild of up to 40 years. They are known to travel in the Namib desert between 5 to 12 miles (8–20 kilometers) per day, with an average home range of about 50 mi (80 km). They can run up to 44 mi (70 km) per hour when necessary, with a single stride of up to 26 ft (8 m). It has been suggested that Upper Paleolithic Asian ostriches migrated seasonally, as an adaptation to climate change. Ancient Appearance: Ostrich as Megafauna Ostriches are of course an ancient prehistoric bird, but they show up in the human record as ostrich eggshell (often abbreviated OES) fragments and beads from archaeological sites beginning about 60,000 years ago. Ostriches, along with mammoth, were among the last Asian megafaunal species (defined as animals which weigh more than 100 kg) to become extinct. Radiocarbon dates on archaeological sites associated with OES begin near the end of the Pleistocene, late in Marine Isotope Stage 3 (ca. 60,000–25,000 years ago). Central Asian ostriches went extinct during the Holocene (what archaeologists call the last 12,000 years or so). The east Asian ostrich Struthio anderssoni, native to the Gobi Desert, was among the megafaunal species that went extinct during the Holocene: they survived the Last Glacial Maximum only to apparently be done in by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. That increase also increased the number of grasses, but it negatively impacted the forage availability in the Gobi. In addition, it is possible that human over-use during the terminal Pleistocene and early Holocene might have occurred, as mobile hunter-gatherers moved into the region. Human Use and Domestication Beginning in the late Pleistocene, ostriches were hunted for their meat, their feathers, and their eggs. Ostrich shell eggs were likely hunted for the protein in their yolks but were also very useful as light, strong containers for water. Ostrich eggs measure up to 6 inches (16 centimeters) long and can carry up to one quart (about one liter ) of fluid. Ostriches were first kept in captivity during the Bronze Age, in a tamed and semi-domesticated state, in gardens of Babylon, Nineveh, and Egypt, as well as later in Greece and Rome. Tutankhamuns tomb included images of hunting the birds with a bow and arrow, as well as a very fancy ivory ostrich feather fan. There is documented evidence of ostrich riding since the first millennium BCE at the Sumerian site of Kish. European Trade and Domestication The full domestication of the ostrich was not attempted until the mid-19th century when South African farmers established farms solely for harvesting the plumage. At the time, and indeed for several centuries before that and since, ostrich feathers were in high demand by fashionistas from Henry VIII to Mae West. Feathers can be harvested from the ostrich every six to eight months without ill effects. During the first decade of the 20th century, ostrich feathers used in the fashion industry had driven the value per pound to that nearly equal to that of diamonds. Most of the feathers came from Little Karoo, in the Western Cape region of southern Africa. That was because, in the 1860s, the British colonial government had actively facilitated export-oriented ostrich raising. The Darker Side of Ostrich Farming According to historian Sarah Abrevaya Stein, in 1911 the Trans-Saharan Ostrich Expedition took place. That involved a British-government sponsored corporate espionage group who snuck into French Sudan (chased by American and French corporate spies) to steal 150 Barbary ostriches, famed for their double fluff plumes, and brought them back to Cape Town to be inbred with the stock there. By the end of World War II, though, the market for feathers crashed- by 1944, the only market for the fanciest of plumes was on cheap plastic Kewpie dolls. The industry managed to survive by broadening the market to meat and hides. Historian Aomar Boum and Michael Bonine have argued that the European capitalist passion for ostrich plumes decimated both wild animal stocks and African livelihoods based on wild ostriches. Sources Al-Talhi, Dhaifallah. Almulihiah: A Rock Art Site in the Hail Region, Saudi Arabia. Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 23.1 (2012): 92–98. Print.Bonato, Maud, et al. Extensive Human Presence at an Early Age of Ostriches Improves the Docility of Birds at a Later Stage of Life. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 148.3–4 (2013): 232–39. Print.Boum, Aomar, and Michael Bonine. The Elegant Plume: Ostrich Feathers, African Commercial Networks, and European Capitalism. The Journal of North African Studies 20.1 (2015): 5–26. Print.Brysbaert, Ann. ‘The Chicken or the Egg?’ Interregional Contacts Viewed through a Technological Lens at Late Bronze Age Tiryns, Greece. Oxford Journal of Archaeology 32.3 (2013): 233–56. Print.dErrico, Francesco, et al. Early Evidence of San Material Culture Represented by Organic Artifacts from Border Cave, South Africa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109.33 (2012): 13214–19. Print.Gegner, Lance E. Ratite Production: Ostrich, Emu and Rhea. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas: National Center for Appropriate Technology, 2001. 1–8. Print. Janz, Lisa, Robert G. Elston, and George S. Burr. Dating North Asian Surface Assemblages with Ostrich Eggshell: Implications for Palaeoecology and Extirpation. Journal of Archaeological Science 36.9 (2009): 1982–89. Print.Kurochkin, Evgeny N., et al. The Timing of Ostrich Existence in Central Asia: AMS 14c Age of Eggshells from Mongolia and Southern Siberia (a Pilot Study). Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 268.7–8 (2010): 1091–93. Print.Renault, Marion. Decades after It Crashed, Ostrich Industry Poised to Take Off as Demand Grows. Chicago Tribune September 25. 2016. Print.Shanawany, M. M. Recent Developments in Ostrich Farming. World Animal Review 83.2 (1995). Print.Stein, Sarah Abrevaya. Plumes: Ostrich Feathers, Jews, and a Lost World of Global Commerce. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008. Print.

The Best Marketing Platform For Professional Marketers [Live Demo]

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Reading reflection Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reading reflection - Coursework Example to be intellectually creative by having their ideas accepted as well as being offered matters to be concerned about intellectually, it gives them an opportunity to learn about the world with their general intellectual ability being stimulated as a happy side effect. In her article, she discusses issues such as learning environment, the role of a mentor or teacher as well as emotional and mental knowledge of the learner which are all significant in mentorship. Malcolm Gradwell’s book, tipping point entails application of epidemic phenomena in solving various social phenomena. The author illustrates that such a move is significant in restoring complexities and mysteries of the human behavior (Schmidt & Olson, 2008). He states that having knowledge of social phenomena as a wave helps in mystifying them other than considering them transparent. The knowledge achieved through reading the book helps mentors to understand that human behavior can be manipulated for the best. Knowledge of social phenomena is significant in understanding the behavior of the mentee and thereby manipulating it for the best. Colby and Damon’s article, â€Å"How moral commitment develops through life† explains the implication associated with the guidance of an adult which often occur mechanically. The authors argue that social influence is a more organic and an irregular process that remains closely in tune with the agenda of child development as w ell as taking place on numerous psychological processes (Damon & Colby, 1996). A mentor can offer simple encouragement or direct the attention of the child, friend or family friend. The authors offer the best approach in understanding the significant of mentorship to a friend or

History of asian immagration to the U.S Research Paper

History of asian immagration to the U.S - Research Paper Example An understanding of the history as well as the reasons for the rampant immigrations has been a major concern for all people in the world. Indeed, several contributing factors are evident (Fowler, 2007). The emigration policies that had been set in each of the Asian countries, and their relationship with the immigration policies at work in the United States has been a long term factor that contributing to the Asian immigration into the American countries. The second rationale en tails the linkage between the United States and the Asian countries in relation to economical, political, social, as well as military linkages. A third migration cause is the aspect of globalization, in the fact that the world has been modified recently to appear like a small city where people can move to and fro. This has also made the movement process easy, making the movement of the Asians into the United States year by year. ... The discussion in this paper provides in formation on the history and present day immigration of the Asians into the United States. It will also provide an overview of literature, which has been documented over the years concerning the immigration and the immigration policies. It is also deemed crucial to analyze an immigration case, for instance, the current movements to the United States and their relationships with immigration policies and laws. More over, a comprehensive discussion is important when provided to provide a wide scope overview of the Asian immigration to the United States issue as well as the impacts. Literature review A lot of literature has been documented regarding Asian immigration to the United States. The history of migration dates back to the inception of agrarian, industrialization, as well as globalization periods. Theorists have also been on their onset to propose rampant theories that explain emigration immigration issues. Major empirical studies have als o been conducted, providing distinct findings for the immigration studies (Fowler, 2007). History of the immigration The history of Asian immigration to the United States dates back in 1850’s. Different waves have been seen arrive the united states over the years, the first wave arriving in 1850 in the city of California. The reason for the referral inform of waves is conformity with immigration laws that have Marjory controlled the immigration trends. The first and the second waves having arrived in 1850 and 1882 respectively, laws were set regarding a stop of immigrants from Asia moving in to the United States. The 1970 again saw a restoration of the immigration laws that enabled other

Review of the Article Development Opportunity Essay

Review of the Article Development Opportunity - Essay Example The article gives some guidelines in toning down what is necessary in learning and development (L & D) programs. An approach called RAM is suggested. R stands for relevance, which asks, â€Å"What is it for? Why are we doing it? Has the work changed? Has the business changed?†. A stands for alignment, which asks consults the stakeholders who will benefit from it. Lastly, M stands for measurement, which looks into the impact and value of the L & D (Scott, 2010). Since options to save up on L & D expenses have been cut short, online training services have been made available by a few groups where employees can log on to the company’s learning management server and choose a program they believe will help them in an area they need training for. Such service conducts an impact and learning study to monitor how they improved from the training. When people want to learn more to improve themselves, the article said they should not be controlled but instead given freedom and opp ortunity to do so. Social learning is one option. People can work across the company to network, â€Å"share knowledge and experience, collaborate and learn for their benefit and that of the company (Butler as mentioned in Scott, 2010, p. 25). Learning from colleagues could be an effective way of improving skills and experience while keeping company costs down. Leaders may also avail of outside training first and then cascade their new knowledge and skills from the training down to their employees. It is one way of imparting the culture of the organization to its people. In any case, the training expert should keep in mind the goals of the training – to improve the business and not only the people, so it yields a return on investment. L & D should focus more on practical strategies and not just theories. Review of Related Literature The global financial crisis has turned some companies to scrimp on their budgets just keep them afloat in these difficult times. Many people hav e lost their jobs as a result of the budget cuts. For employees left to work to help their companies rise above the economic crunch, training and development are ensured in the expectation that it will contribute towards the betterment of not only the individual employee but of the whole organization as well. Employee development has been identified as key to improving overall organizational effectiveness. Jones and Washington (2003) have defined it as: â€Å"Employee development refers to an integrated set of planned programs, provided over a period of time, to help assure that all individuals have the competence necessary to perform to their fullest potential in support of the organization’s goals† ( 344). Like what the article indicated, nowadays, people have more access to learning. More and more training courses are developed and offered in schools and online for people who want to go further in what they know to gain skills and knowledge in their

Financial Results of Google Inc., Apple, and Yahoo Essay

Financial Results of Google Inc., Apple, and Yahoo - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Google Inc. revealed that in the third quarter of 2014 it generated revenues amounting to $16.5 billion. The site’s revenues were $11.2 billion, representing 68% of all the revenues. The company’s partner sites made $3.4 billion. Other revenues amounted to $1.84 billion in the last quarter of 2014. Google shares are currently valued at $528.34/ share (Google, 2014). Yahoo had a good third quarter of the year despite analysts’ projections. Revenues generated by the company amounted to $1.094 billion ex-TAC while the GAAP revenues were $1.14 billion in the same period. Mobile revenues alone were more than $200 million. Earning for each undiluted share was $0.52 per share. Currently, the market price of Yahoo shares is $49.94. The researcher’s predictions of the stock prices for the three companies may have been farfetched in the short run, however, in the long run, the prices seem plausible as the share prices are slightly below o r above the actual prices. The researcher’s projected value of Apple shares was $110; this was an inflated value compared to $103.30/share that the company closed the quarter with. This is also the case with the other two companies. The researcher’s projections for Yahoo and Google were $51 and $590 respectively. However, the two companies fell short of these projected values and instead posted $39.27 and $577.33 respectively, as of September 2014. If the author’s predictions were to be projected to two or three quarters, then they would be spot on for at least two companies. Take for example the share prices of Apple and Yahoo in this quarter ending December. Apple shares are retailing at $111.62/share while Yahoo shares are valued at $49.94. It is evident that Apple shares eclipsed my predictions by $1.62 dollars. Yahoo shares, on the other hand, did not meet the bar the author set and fell short by less than $2. However, this is not the case with Google Inc. The company’s market share value has unexpectedly dipped far below the author’s expectations.

Key points in plot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Key points in plot - Essay Example Larch to let him know that they needed some assistance. The historical time mentioned in the novel shows how people at the time lived and their sources of help by churches and hospitals that helped them at the time during the world war one. During this hard time people especially social workers and other workers needed help from well-wishers to assist in the dire time of need. The mention of world war two in the novel is also seen as Homer lives on the Worthington estate in a bunkhouse called the Cider House as Wally leaves to fight in the world war. This shows the struggle that the different states went through and the struggle that the military had to go through to fight for their country as service men for their country. The historical setting of the book is of the world war times as it mentions the different backgrounds of the world wars. The cider house rules is a novel that shares the different opinions on abortion and how it has affected the people from time in memorial the different characters have a role to have their view. There are other views that one would share such as prostitution that are mentioned in the book. The novel shows that issues that were discussed long time ago are still issues that are currently discussed at the present

BBA (HONS) Legal % Ethical Environment of Business Essay

BBA (HONS) Legal % Ethical Environment of Business - Essay Example Additionally, CSR-focused businesses would actively endorse the public interest by boosting community development and growth, and willingly eliminating practices that damage the public sphere, irrespective of lawfulness. CSR is the thoughtful inclusion of public responsibility into business decision-making that is the fundamental area of the business or firm, and the celebration of a triple bottom line: people, planet and profit. The word "corporate social responsibility" was coined in the late 1960s and early 1970s, after numerous multinational corporations shaped into being. The term stakeholder was also used, referring to those on whom an organization's doings and actions have an influence, to define corporate owners beyond shareholders as a consequence of a prominent book by R. Edward Freeman, Strategic management: a stakeholder approach in 1984 (Bhattacharya, Sen & Korschun, 2008). Supporters argue that businesses make more long term profits by functioning with a perspective, wh ile on the other hand, critics contend that CSR diverts from the economic role of businesses. Others debate CSR is purely an attempt at window-dressing, or an endeavour to forestall the role of governments as a regulator over powerful multinational corporations (Shumate & O’ Connor, 2010). ... ISO 26000 is the renowned international standard for CSR (presently a Draft International Standard). It is extensively recognised that CSR follows the similar philosophies but with no formal piece of legislation. As my case study, I have chosen The Walt Disney Company in order to analyse their Corporate Social Report to assess how effectively they meet their stakeholders’ needs and interests. According to The Walt Disney Company, kids as well as families are at the core of Disney. They are their most significant audience and their stimulation for new Disney entertainment as well as involvements. They incessantly attempt to delight and amaze their consumers as well as guests, and to do so in a modern and appropriate way. Parents as well as caregivers are key associates in assisting, guiding as well as shaping their methodology to entertainment for kids. Parents identify their kids best. The Walt Disney Company strives for equilibrium when evolving age-appropriate entertainment involvements. They want kids to adore their entertainment, in addition to the parents trusting them to be distributing quality content. There are four chief principles entrenched in their method of family entertainment: Promising positive growth Constructing content for kids of all ages Affiliating with parents Generating safe environments Their objective in boosting positive development is to encounter kids where they are developmentally, with age-appropriate activities that are appropriate, fun and thought-provoking to them. They aspire to carry out the best in kids by providing amusing, moving, exhilarating, exciting, astounding, delightful and enlightening entertainment experiences that they can later impart on their family and friends. Their emphasis on positive growth comes to

Key points in plot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Key points in plot - Essay Example Larch to let him know that they needed some assistance. The historical time mentioned in the novel shows how people at the time lived and their sources of help by churches and hospitals that helped them at the time during the world war one. During this hard time people especially social workers and other workers needed help from well-wishers to assist in the dire time of need. The mention of world war two in the novel is also seen as Homer lives on the Worthington estate in a bunkhouse called the Cider House as Wally leaves to fight in the world war. This shows the struggle that the different states went through and the struggle that the military had to go through to fight for their country as service men for their country. The historical setting of the book is of the world war times as it mentions the different backgrounds of the world wars. The cider house rules is a novel that shares the different opinions on abortion and how it has affected the people from time in memorial the different characters have a role to have their view. There are other views that one would share such as prostitution that are mentioned in the book. The novel shows that issues that were discussed long time ago are still issues that are currently discussed at the present

Business plan for a media product - The Reading Series Essay

Business plan for a media product - The Reading Series - Essay Example with Riverbank technical manager Paul Winters, the series was first commissioned by then Riverbank manager Denis Clifford in 2004 and it was commissioned again by previous Riverbank manager Marcella Bannon in 2005, in 2006 commissioned again by new manager John O’Brien and due to its success in the community, has been commissioned again for another series by existing Riverbank manager John O’Brien to run for three years. We are planning to form a company which will be working formally on these footings and would engage into professional activities of arranging such gatherings all over the place in order to bring out the most amazing talents of the world and In doing so we believe that we will not only be serving the art but also providing healthy and competitive entertainment to our consumers. We believe that our company will be one of its own as it will offer unique opportunities to brightest talents with ready access to those who can provide them opportunities to show their talent. Our basic aim therefore would be to form a link between the writers and the professional publishers who can publish the talents identified by us. â€Å"The Riverbank Reading Series aims to introduce the community to various types of literature (fiction, non-fiction, columns, journalism and to a lesser extent poetry) by having a broad range of authors, writers and journalists read from their work. We aim to keep our audiences happy and entertained by accompanying readings with video projections, lighting and music and by generally creating a relaxed atmosphere of fun and humor. We also aim to keep the evenings short and sweet (an hour or so) so that the readings can be given their full attention by the audience.† Our company will be primarily a small scale company with initial paid up capital of Euro 1.000 Million. We will be a small scale company with employee level of just 25 people in its initial phase however we intend to increase our human resource base by recruiting our

Living In A Surveillance Society Information Technology Essay

Living In A Surveillance Society Information Technology Essay To say we are consciously or unconsciously sleep walking into surveillance society is a question of fact because frankly speaking individuals in society go through some form of surveillance. The security attached to surveillance allows individuals embrace it and sometimes with the knowledge of risks that come with being watched meanwhile others walk into a surveillance society without any knowledge of such dangers. 1.2 Judging from past and present events reported in several cases, journals and articles about the benefits and dangers that accompany a surveillance society, I am of the opinion that there is a need to analyse the concept of a surveillance society to ascertain if the concerns of the Information Commissioner are justified or not. 1.3 This essay would surround different issues in relation to a surveillance society such as individual privacy, data protection, laws that provide for data protection, different forms of surveillance and surveillance technologies with a view to providing some clarity regarding the concerns of the commissioner on the concept of a surveillance society. 2.0 Surveillance 2.1 Definition of surveillance Surveillance is viewed as having information about ones movement and activities recorded by technologies on behalf of the organisations and governments that structured our society.  [1]  Surveillance was also defined as a purposeful routine, systematic and focused attention paid to personal details for the sake of control, entitlement, management, influence or protection.  [2]   In my opinion, to be under surveillance means that almost every aspect of an individuals life is been watched, monitored and controlled by others who consider themselves superior and thereby deny people of their right to privacy and control of different aspects of their lives. Professor Ian J.Lloyd, referring to Alan Westins seminar work on Information Technology in a Democracy identified three types of surveillance as: physical, psychological and data surveillance  [3]   Physical surveillance involves the watching and monitoring of acts of individuals in a society and can be carried out with or without the use of surveillance technologies. The use of spies, spooks and acts of security agencies fall within the above and is applied to limited individuals. Psychological surveillance involves the use of surveillance technologies to monitor the activities of individuals in a society by the use of interrogations. Furthermore, data surveillance involves the use of ones personal information to monitor their activities. Due to technology compliance by countries, dataveillance is the most prominent form of surveillance used which is supported by electronic devices. 2.2 Living in a surveillance society The idea of a surveillance society springs from the fears of the government and people as regards the reoccurring threats to lives of individuals based on past events like terrorism, fraud, armed robbery and shop lifting. In finding solutions to these problems, certain measures and forms of surveillance were introduced to provide security, and whether these solutions are appropriate, remains a question as there might be more invasive answers which result to an individuals right to privacy and anonymity being infringed. Focus should reflect the attainment of social goals rather than living in the shadow of the consequence of a surveillance society.  [4]   The United Kingdom (UK)is an example of a country that is fully compliant with the idea of a surveillance society because almost every aspect of their lives starting from taking a walk on the streets, driving their cars, going shopping in the supermarkets, going to the hospital and even in their work place they are under surveillance and this is so because the UK is a highly technologically developed country with access to lots of surveillance technologies used to monitor the activities in the life of their citizens and the UK has been described as the most surveyed country with more CCTV cameras but the irony is that it still has loose laws on privacy and data protection. In Britain there are about 4.2 million CCTV cameras, one for every fourteen people, meaning that an individuals activities can be captured by over three hundred cameras a day. Reporters claim Britain has the biggest DNA data base with over a million innocent peoples data on, with some being aware and others in the dark and with the advent of new and improved modern surveillance technologies being introduced individuals will be subjected to even more surveillance than they are going through today.  [5]   A surveillance society is not a totally bad concept as it has its advantages and disadvantages. Its advantages include provision of security and protection of people from computer hackers, terrorists, threats to public security, provides speed and enhances co-ordination  [6]  . Consequent upon the pros of a surveillance society, the greatest negative effect of a surveillance society is the threat to privacy of individuals, though we seem to be more concerned with our fears and in the process over look the possibility that being fully dependent on surveillance technologies for safety could end up being of more harm to us than good. Surveillance creates lack of trust and raises suspicion between citizens, citizens and the state, thereby heightening the need for us to control and monitor our activities. 2.3 Surveillance Technologies There are different kinds of surveillance technologies that are used in our society today which can also be summarized under the different forms of surveillance. Some examples of surveillance technologies includes as follows: (a) Video surveillance i.e. the use of Closed-circuit Televisions (CCTV) (b) Telecommunications surveillance (c) Biometrics (d) Shop Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags (e) Loyalty cards (f) Internet cookies (g) Data Flows (h) Locating, Tracking Tagging Technologies (I) London Oyster Cards e.t.c Video Surveillance This is considered the most popular kind of surveillance technology used in a surveillance society because the use of CCTV cameras enable the capturing of images of individuals who go about their activities with the aim of preventing crime. CCTV cameras are devices that have actively been used in Britain to watch people and as such it has been predicted by experts that by the year 2009, 642 million pounds would have been spent on video surveillance software as against the 147million pounds spent in 2004 in a bid to reducing the crime rate.  [7]   Telecommunications surveillance This involves the use of technical equipments such as Global Positioning System (GPS), tapping of phones by the police or security services and it involves the exchange of data and information which is enabled by large scale digital and computing systems such as the internet. Biometrics Surveillance Biometrics is another very common surveillance technology being used today in most organizations, embassies and airports. This form of identification includes body trace e.g. fingerprints, iris scans, facial topography and hand scans which are all used on different passports and I.D card systems. Biometrics has been predicted to cause UK a healthy sum of 4.7 billion industry in 2009 which initially in the year 2003 cost 675 million and this is so because of the creation of more sophisticated surveillance technologies like smart cameras to iris identification, all with the belief that there will be accuracy in identification and crime will be reduced.  [8]   Radio Frequency Identification Technologies (RFID) It involves the use of radio frequency communications as a way to track goods as they move through the supply chain. RFID are embedded into products, pallets and cases thereby enabling the RFID readers read information from those tags  [9]  . Data flows Surveillance This is a very sensitive form of surveillance as it is gathered by surveillance technologies and it flows around computer networks and has been described by Clarke R as dataveillance which is the systematic use of personal data systems in the investigation or monitoring of the actions of one or more persons  [10]  .In most circumstances of data subjects consents to giving their data, but what now happens in a situation whereby the data is transferred elsewhere and there is no idea as to where the data goes by either the public or data sharing agencies. In such a case one tends to wonder if we can say we have confidence in the state as regards the safety of our data. With the use of these technologies you can see that in a surveillance society our lives can be monitored entirely as everything you do has one form of surveillance technology which can be used to track you. Some of these technologies include Global Positioning System(GPS) which can be use in tracking your precise location, loyalty cards which can be use to determine your capacity in shopping and as such marketers know how to target a customer based on his or her spending habits and even the internet can be monitored because every individual leaves trails when browsing the internet and this trails are called cookies which are left on a users machine thereby recognizing when visits were made to that site thereby making the activities of user traceable  [11]  . There are also non-technological means of surveillance of surveillance which we practice as individuals in the society such as eavesdropping, watching, use of human spies and many others  [12]  . But these methods due to the advent of technology and modernity are gradually fading away because they are looked upon as ineffective compared to technological mediums. This is because surveillance technologies provide faster means of security, safety and certainty. We are left with the concern of how effective surveillance technologies are to our lives and to what extent can we say that they have made a positive impact on our lives than the negative ones. 2.4 The Negative and Positive Impact of Surveillance on our society. A surveillance society has its negative and positive impacts on our lives as individuals in the society but the negatives impacts are greater than the positive ones. Surveillance society has a way of setting traps for individuals in a society and this trap includes: (a)Thinking that surveillance is a product of new technologies and (b)Thinking of surveillance as a malign plot hatched by evil powers.  [13]   Ones an individuals looks at the concept of a surveillance society in this light then it is easy for one to fall into the trap of a surveillance society and the dangers that it poses to how lives. Apart from a sense of security, safety, minimum amount of risks, swift flow of goods, people and information which we as individuals believe are the positive effects of surveillance on our lives, what other way can we really say that a surveillance society has improved our lives or limited the risks and dangers we go through every day because irrespective of all the different forms of surveillance both technological and non-technological, It has not kept us out of harms way. The presence of CCTV cameras in the UK has not reduced the level of crime as terrorist still find means of operating and planning attacks. More so, individual personal data are still being used against them and all thanks to surveillance. Surveillance creates room for suspicion and lack of trust in the society because why should employers feel there is a need to monitor the affairs of their employees by bugging their cell phones, putting tracking devices in their company vehicles, storage of employees personal data, making them undertake certain medical tests and answering personal questions about their lives which could be used against them in the future. Surveillance exposes individuals in a society to harm as we may not know who is watching us and what purpose our data is being used for because in the UK and the world at large, we still do not have updated data protection laws that would secure our database from unauthorized access or leakage and therefore leaving us in harms way if our personal data was to fall into the hands of the wrong person because those watching us could pose a threat to us, instead of providing us with security. Surveillance encourages social discrimination relating to race and ethnicity as sometimes our personal data is used to determine the level of benefits we get in the society. Surveillance encourages deceit, dishonesty and function creep in the sense that the data controllers tell the people that they need their data for a particular purpose and end up using such data for another purpose. Also surveillance technologies help marketers to manipulate customers data in the sense that the use of Loyalty Cards which is common in the UK helps producers to monitor the resources of a customer by their shopping habits and as such they come up with ways to direct marketing to that customer in order to make profits and this is wrong. Another negative effect of a surveillance society which I consider to be the most crucial is the infringement of ones right to privacy and the total loss of an individuals anonymity in the society. Privacy is a fundamental right of every individual in a society but you find that in a surveillance society, it is not possible for one to exercise that right because everywhere you go, you cant be anonymous because cameras are watching in the streets and as such the whole idea of privacy and anonymity has been defeated. The above effects of surveillance are more negative than positive and much more has to be done to grant us more confidence that our society is safe. 3.0 The Right to Privacy In Relation to a Surveillance Society 3.1 What is Privacy? The concept of Privacy in relation to a surveillance society is of paramount importance because an individuals privacy in society is a constitutional right which should not be infringed. One cannot talk about a surveillance society without the issue of privacy. Privacy and surveillance cannot co-exist together without one being a hindrance to the other. A surveillance society cannot function without crossing the path of privacy while privacy cannot be secured in a surveillance society, which poses a dilemma to individuals because we are left with two options which are: (a)Choose Surveillance and forego your privacy and (b)Choose your Privacy and live with the possibility of being exposed to danger and risks at any time With these options, whatever choice will make us prone to loosing something important to our lives. 3.2 Definitions of Privacy Privacy was defined by Judge Cooley in the year 1888 as The right to be left alone   [14]  . Privacy has also been defined by some writers as: The right of the individual to be protected against intrusion into his personal life or affairs or those of his family, by direct physical means or by publication of information  [15]   Privacy is very important to individuals in the sense that it is the only form of dignity and pride individuals have. Therefore laws need to protect this right, otherwise people in a surveillance society will become puppets who have no control as to how their personal data and information is used and manipulated by the Puppet masters. Article 8 of the Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms (Convention), 1985 provides which was ratified by the Council of Europe provides that: (1) Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence. (2)There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interest of national security, public safety of economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health morals or for the protection of the rights of freedoms of others.  [16]   This convention as of that year was not a confirmed law and its provisions could only be confirmed in European Courts and because UK was a signatory for the Council of Europe, the Convention applied to the UK but in 1998 the Human Rights Acts (HRA) was enacted in the UK and were incorporated into the UK law and a more recent Law was enacted in 2000 in charter (7) of the Fundamental rights of the European Union which provided for right to privacy in respect to modern day communication.  [17]   3.3 Issues of Privacy in Relation to a surveillance society A surveillance society is a huge area of contention in relation to privacy in the sense that it affects every aspect of an individuals life. Eric Barendt ,Described the fight between surveillance and privacy as (Political) he said: prominent figures mostly politicians, celebrities, members of the royal family are trying to protect their lives from media scrutiny meanwhile on the other hand the press which is surveillance in this case is fighting to retain their liberty of publication  [18]   He was also of the view that privacy is a fundamental human right that should not be Infringed on either by the government, business, individual or the media  [19]   As individuals in a surveillance society we need to have the right to preserve our privacy but if our actions keep on being monitored by technological or non-technological means of surveillance, it will leave a trail which can be traced back to us. Also, the fact that our personal data is constantly being transferred from one data base to another and processed by different processors makes access to our personal information easy. In the case of R v Brown  [20]  , Lord Hoffman in his judgement stated: Privacy which is the right to keep oneself to our self, to tell other people that certain things are none of their business is under technological threat due to the different and various types of surveillance e.g. surveillance cameras, telephone bugs, which are used by individuals in the society today.  [21]   Also in the case of Leander v Sweden  [22]  , Mr Torsten Leander was denied employment as a result of his personal information which was held in a register and was revealed to his employer without knowledge of the kind of information that was kept about him and for what purpose it will be used and this constituted a breach of his right to privacy provided for in Article 8 (1) Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms (Convention). In the case of Campbell v Mirror Group Newspapers  [23]  , taking pictures of Miss Campbell outside the Nacortics Anonymous, breached her right to privacy when her photos were published. She appealed on the grounds of breach of confidence by the media and which is one of her fundamental human right and against the provisions of the Data protection Act (1998). The court of appeal was against the verdict of the case but on appeal the House of Lords passed judgement in her favour which also gave rise to other opinions concerning the extent to which ones privacy can be said to have been breached. In the case of Craxi v Italy, it was established that there was indeed an infringement of Article 8 of the European convention on human rights, though Mr. Craxi was guilty of committing certain offences, it was held that: the state failed to provide safe custody of the transcripts of telephone conversation which Were presented as evidence before the court and to subsequently carry out an effective Investigation as to how those private communications were released into public domain  [24]   Privacy is gradually becoming lost in our society irrespective of the different Laws that have been established in our society, we cant honestly say that they protect our personal information from the dangers of a surveillance society such as globalization, the internet and the continuous invention of new technologies by virtue of new discoveries. 4.0 REGULATIONS A society cannot exist without laws and supervisory authorities that would regulate the actions and behaviours of individuals. In a surveillance society, there is a great need for laws and bodies to be established in other to oversee and supervise the way our personal data is being used because without people watching those who process our data, there is a risk of danger to us as our information could be manipulated and used against us if it were to fall into wrong hands. Blackmail by criminals and discrimination to our person could result where medical data about an individual who has HIV or other deadly diseases was to leak, as the person could be subject to social discrimination and stigmatisation. As a result of this, different countries have supervisory authorities who possess some powers to ensure that our privacy is protected in a surveillance society. Article 28 (1) and (2) of the data protection Directive provides for the establishment of these supervisory authorities and their powers. In the UK we have the information commissioner meanwhile other member countries except Germany have a single supervisory authority who supervise the affairs of their personal data.  [25]   Different Laws have been enacted and put in place in our society today so as to make sure that our personal information is protected but these laws have their strengths and weaknesses and cannot be relied on completely by individuals in a surveillance society. Most of this law are guided by some basic principles such as: (a)Personal data must be processed fairly and lawfully. (b)Personal data should not be use for any purpose other than the purpose it was obtained for. (c)Personal data must be accurate and kept up to date. (d)An individual must be informed of when personal data about them is collected. (e)The purpose for which personal data was obtained should be stated. (f)The consent of the individual must be obtained before obtaining their personal information (g)Individuals must be told how their data will be protected from misuse. (I)Individuals should be told how they can access their data and should be able to verify its accuracy and request changes where necessary  [26]  . The above represent the basic fair information principles (FIP) that regulate the control of our personal data in a surveillance society. These principles exist side by side with some laws in controlling the use of our data. Some of these laws include: (1)European Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC. (2)Data Protection Act 1998. (3)Regulation of investigatory powers Act 2000. (4)Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001. (5)The Council of Europe Convention. (6)OECD 1980 Laws. (7)Telecommunications Directive (97/66/EC). (8) Electronic communications Act 2000. 4.1 Data Protection Act (1998) The need of data protections laws arouse out of the growing use of computers in the 1970s and the threat to personal privacy that rapid manipulation of data posed and as a result data was made easily accessible from many different points. Computer technology makes it possible for data to be transferred from one data base to another by data controllers and processors such as employers, companies, government agencies and so on and data subjects most of the time are not aware of the purpose for which their personal data is being used.  [27]   Schedule 1 of the Act provides for the principles of data protection, schedule 2 provides for all personal data and schedule 3 provides only for sensitive personal data. The Act defined personal data in section 1 as data which relate to a living individual who can be identified from those data or from those data which are under procession of or is likely to come into the possession of the data controller  [28]  . It also provides in section 2 for sensitive personal data which is personal data consisting of information as to racial or ethnic origin, sexual life, mental health, religious beliefs  [29]   The Act is a regulatory law that is recognised by the UK and as such section 6  [30]  of the Act provides for the Office of the Information Commissioner and the tribunal and their powers as supervisory authorities with regards to our personal data and this Act applies to the United Kingdom (UK) and any other (EEA) state by virtue of section 5 of this act  [31]   The Act also provides data subjects with some rights in order to protect their personal data such as: Right to access of our personal data Right to be informed of our personal data and the purpose for which they are used Right of rectification and erasure of data when it appears incorrect e.t.c Schedule 1 of the Data protection Act (1998) provided for eight principles which data controllers and processors are to apply when handling our personal data which is in conformity with the fair information principles mentioned above. 4.2ORGANIZATION OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT ( OECD 1980) LAWS The OECD guidelines were adopted in 1980 on the protection of privacy and trans-border data flows of personal data. It comprised of 24 countries throughout the world and including the U.S and it was enacted to harmonize national privacy legislation and uphold human rights and prevent interruptions in international flows of data. The OECD 1980 guidelines include: (1)Collection limitation: There should be limits to the collection of personal data and it should be obtained by lawful means with the consent of the data subject where necessary (2)Data quality principle states that personal data should be relevant for the purposes in which they are used and should be accurate and up to date. (3)Purpose specification: The purpose for which the data was collected must be specified (4)Security safeguards principle for example loss, unauthorized access, destruction and so on should be observed. (5)Openness Principle (6)Individual participation principle (7)Accountability principle: A data controller should be accountable for complying with measures which give effect to the principles stated above (8) Use limitation principle: Personal data should not be disclosed, made available or used for purposes other than those specified except with the consent of the data subject or the law.  [32]   4.3 Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act (2001) This law was established to reduce the level of terrorism and crime and to provide for the retention of communications data and for many other connected purposes. This law is issued by the secretary of the state who from time to time can revise a code of practise in relation to the retention of communications providers of communications data obtained by and held by them in other to safeguard national security and prevent crime by virtue of section102 (1),(2) and (3) of the Act.  [33]   Judging from our analysis of a few laws, reports have shown that these privacy laws are not efficient enough to safeguard our privacy and personal data in a surveillance society. Other measures of regulation include: (1)Self regulation by the use of codes to regulates their conduct  [34]   (2)Privacy enhancing technologies (PET)  [35]   (3) Individual s

Gradient Functions :: Papers

Gradient Functions In the following coursework, will investigate the gradient functions using the formula y=ax^n, where a is a constant and n is a number. a n Y=ax^n 1 1 x 2 1 2x 3 1 3x 4 1 4x 5 1 5x a n Y=ax^n 1 2 x 2 2 4x 3 2 6x 4 2 8x 5 2 10x a n Y=ax^n 1 3 3x^2 2 3 6x^2 3 3 9x^2 4 3 12x^2 5 3 15x^2 a n Y=ax^n 1 4 4x^3 2 4 8x^3 3 4 12x^3 4 4 16x^3 5 4 20x^3 I will plot the graphs of the functions above and I will find their gradient using the formula gradient=increase in y-axis /increase in x-axis. Straight line graphs Straight line graphs are graphs with the equation y=mx+c or y=ax^1,where is stand for the gradient and c is the y- intercept. Gradient calculations 1. y=x graph Gradient of A= increase in y -axis/increase in x-axis = 2/2 =1 Gradient of B= increase in y-axis/increase in x-axis = 2/2 =1 2. y=2x graph Gradient of D= increase in y-axis/increase in x-axis = 4/2 =2 Gradient of E= increase in y-axis/increase in x-axis = 4/2 =2 Gradient of F= increase in y-axis/increase in x-axis

Maya Angelo Essays -- biographies bio biography

If I could have the honor of meeting that one person it would be Maya Angelo. She was an inspirational and phenomenal woman of her decade. Not only was she an actress and poet, she was a mother too. Maya Angelo was a beautiful black woman in her time that stood for what was just. She experienced slavery, and even endured it. Her legacy and history is passed on through many of her books like â€Å"I know why the caged bird sings†, or through her poems such as â€Å"A raisin in the sun† and â€Å"phenomenal woman†. Thanks to her tenacity and considerateness this younger generation that I am growing up in can visit the past time and time again through her magnificent writings. Maya Angelo style of writing was very different from the many black authors I had read in the past. I say that because her choi...

Unilever in Brazil

The Importance for cleanliness and to make clothes smell good has lead to growing penetration of the detergent powder portrays a cultural influence on the consumers buying behavior. The various reasons that the consumers mentioned for using detergent powder is described in Exhibit . Attribute Importance, Brand Positioning, And Consumer Expectations In the North East Exhibit 1 Source: – Milliner Research Cleanliness which has a 24% Importance helps to determine the motivation of the consumers; they believe that cleanliness Is part of their social status; It also caters to heir need for being part of the society.Only 28% household own a washing machine and the rest 72% household†s washing attitude (behavior) is to scrub the clothes with laundry soap and then add bleach to remove tough stains and only add a little detergent powder at the end to make the clothes smell good. So their perception about detergent powder Is that It Is only for good smell. In the EN, people consid er washing clothes as more of a leisure activity because the activity is generally taken up outdoors (physical environment), in the nearby ponds where people can socialize amongst each other.This is an Important aspect of the culture of EN, which differentiates it from the people of SE. As the social needs (Moscow†s hierarchy of needs theory) of the people are reflected in cloth-washing activity. The influences of mother in the decision making process is substantial in the case of detergents(FMC). Moreover the frequency of washing clothes is higher as they believe that cleanliness of clothes reflect on the responsibility taking behavior of the mother. Low income consumers were attached to boxes and regarded anything else as good for only second-rate products.Mom is positioned specifically to be used in gashing machine which shows that it is targeted for the people belonging to a higher social class. Southeast Region: The lifestyle of people of this region is better than EN whi ch is evident from the 67% of households owning a washing machine. The washing attitude Is more using a machine than hand wash. Hence the consumption of detergent powder Is more as against EN. Their learning from the washing experience is that hard stains are not cleaned in a washing machine in spite of using the most expensive Ana Test product. So teen need to use laundry soaps Tort cleaning ten tough stains on collars.This behavior has led to an 88. % penetration of laundry soaps. Players and brands in Brazil and their strategy: Milliner is the leading player in the detergents industry with a market share of 81%, with the detergent division in the cash-cow phase (as outlined in the BCC growth-market share matrix), helping the company generate funds to fuel the growth of its upcoming segments of home-care and personal-care products, which were still at a nascent stage. The market structure could be considered as a duopoly, with Milliner and P&G as the major players in the organized market.The market has been broadly categorized into the detergent odder and the laundry soap segments. The former is predominantly used in the SE part, while people in the EN used it in little quantity to make the fabric smell good. Hence, the growth of this segment was comparatively higher (stood at 17% against 6% for laundry soaps). The entry barriers were quite high for the detergent powder segment because of high investment in terms of the capital outlay, as sophisticated processes and machines were used in the manufacturing process.At 75%, Milliner†s share of the EN detergent market is below its national average as against P&Gs market share which is slightly above its sectional average. The local brands make up for only 8% of the share. A detailed breakup of the market share of each of the brands is shown in exhibit 2. Market Share and Wholesale Price of Major Brands in the Laundry Soap and Detergent powder categories in Northeast in 1996 senses Detergent Powder 70. 00% 60. 00% 50. 00% 40. 00% 30. 00% 20. 00% 10. 00% 0. 0% Laundry Shop Exhibit 2 Source: – Nielsen On the other hand, the laundry soap segment had low entry barriers because of the ease of the manufacturing process for soaps, as it could be produced relatively easily using animal fats and oils. The water in EN is soft as compared to SE region. Thus the amount of foam created is more leading to a higher usage and also appealing the consumers. Milliner faced competition in this segment from other established local players, like AS whose brand BEMA-tee-vi had an market share. SOOT ANALYSIS Strengths: 1.Milliner is leading the detergent powder category with 81% market share achieved with mainly three brands; Mom one of Brazil†s favorite brands across all categories; Minerva the only brand to be sold as both detergent powder and laundry soap; and Campfire, Milliner†s cheapest brand. . Brand Recognition: a. Milliner brands have a good market position as it was a pioneer of the consumer goods industry in Brazil. As against the other brands in the market, Milliner products have the higher % of brand knowledge, market penetration and top-of-mind awareness.Weakness: 1 . Distribution: Milliner is lacking the expertise in distribution of its products among the small outlets. In approximately 75,000 small outlets it is hard to find any of the Milliner products. Local distribution is important as the low-income consumers rarely shop in large supermarkets like Wall-mart. . Price: EN is a price sensitive region. For such consumers price = quality. So Milliner†s premium brand, Mom is perceived as a high quality at a premium position, while the other Milliner brands are considered to be of inferior quality. . Mom is regarded as the best product while the others are hardly able to satisfy the customers† expectations. 4. No prior knowledge or experience of dealing with low-income consumers. Opportunities: 1 . The EN market has good scope for growth. The re is a big possibility of better business with respect to the low-income consumers. 2. P&G has not entered into the laundry soap market. So Milliner only has a few local competitors. And since the usage of laundry soap is the maximum in EN, Milliner can capture the market for laundry soap. 3.The purchasing power of the low-income consumer has grown by 27% during 1995-96 which will probably lead to an increase in the usage of detergent. 4. The EN is 48 million predominantly low-income consumers whose consumption is 42,000 tons of detergent and 81 ,250 tons of laundry soap which is a big number. 5. Brazilian government is providing tax incentives to encourage investments in EN. 6. EN women wash frequently (5 times per week). Cleanliness is part of their culture. Also the symbolic value they attach to cleanliness is of high regard. . 28% of EN has washing machines. 8. Popularity of laundry soaps is higher in EN region due to the softness of the water in this region. Threat 1 . Brazil (EN) has illiteracy rate of 40% which can lead to unemployment. Such factors can have an adverse effect on the purchasing power. 2. P&G is a strong competitor in detergent powder market with Ace ranking third in the market share. 3. The R&D of P&G as a whole is far advanced than Milliner. Strategy for Milliner in Brazil Marketing communications strategy options (Chris Fill, 2005, Peg. 32) Strategy Pull Push Profile Target audience Consumers End-user bib customers Channel intermediaries All relevant stakeholders Message focus Product/ service Product/service The organization Communication goal Purchase Purchase Developing relationships and distribution network Building reputation The push strategy is aimed at pushing the product through the channel intermediaries and then finally to the end users. Whereas a pull strategy is aimed at pulling the consumers to retailers.A successful marketing involves a mixture of push through the trade and pull from consumers and thus the two areas are not mutually exclusive. , Peg unlived can Implement ten Tooling strategies: 1 . Push Strategy (Promotional Strategy) (Chris Fill, 2005) Manufacturer Wholesaler or Distributor Direction of Communication Retailer or value-added reseller Consumer or buyer The consumers in Brazil have a strong brand knowledge and top of mind awareness for the Milliner products. Mom is regarded as one of the premium products and does not have a close competitor.But this product is beyond the budget of the low- income consumers and hence the people of this particular sector cannot afford this brand. But by taking the advantage of the brand success, there are two options that Milliner can adopt: 1 . Launch a completely new product under the brand name of Mom with different detergent formulae. 2. Use one of the brands that satisfy the requirements of the low-consumer of a detergent from its existing portfolio. There is a disadvantage with the 1st option; the cost involved in the R&D in formulating a deterg ent from the scratch would be an additional expense in the budget.In option 2 t is not certain if the launch of an existing brand from the portfolio will be interpreted the way it is expected. The risk involved in the 2nd option is higher than the price factor in option 1. Thus option 1 although involves more time is a much wiser decision. Hence under the brand extension, launch a new product under the Mom brand (family) umbrella. Therefore the marketing mix (4 AS) for this strategy would be: Product: Package the product in different quantities of games, games and 1 keg so that it is affordable for people having either a weekly or a monthly budget.Like every other product of Milliner let this new product also be distributed in boxes as the low-income consumers consider anything other than a box to be inferior. At the same time design the packaging in such a way that it protects the contents from humidity and also very attractive to pull the attention of the buyers. Include pictures of popular parties like Carnival so that people can relate it to their rich cultural background. Price: Keep the price of this new product definitely less than Mom but almost of the same range as Campfire since for the low-income consumers price= (is equal to) quality.Hence lesser the price, the more it is vulnerable to be perceived as a low standard product. The wholesale price of Campfire is 1. 7/keg so the pricing for the new product could be between 1. 5 and 1. 7 per keg. Promotion: Promotions in this case rules out some of the forms like personal selling as the targeted market is very large, also television marketing as most of the people are low-income families, even magazine ads as most of them are illiterate.So the forms that will make an impact on the consumers are: direct marketing, buzz, word of mouth, banners with simple messages relating to the cultural and religious history EN has. Concentrate on visibility of the products in small stores so that when customers enter t he store they should realize that there is a new product which is catering to their needs, this way create an Montreal Impact on ten minas AT ten consumers Tort Tanat product. Place: Milliner lacks the distribution skill in EN.More than 75,000 small outlets don†t have any of the Milliner products. So the first step towards placing the new product is to make sure Milliner does a strategic distribution among the small outlets as the consumers in EN usually shop at a nearby store instead of going to large stores. Also considering the fact that 21% of consumers in SE are in the social class E, the new product should be carefully placed among the small outlets even in the SE region. 2.Pull Strategy(Selling Strategy) (Chris Fill, 2005) Communication Flow Originator or manufacturer Wholesaler Flow of goods and services Retailer Customer The consumption of laundry soap in Brazil is (6. 8+20. 4) keg and the detergent consumption is (12. 9+11. 4) keg. These figures reveal a very importa nt fact that many of the consumers are still tied to laundry soap and so by using the â€Å"pull† strategy, Milliner should attract these laundry soap consumers towards detergent powder. The pull strategy is successful when people have brand awareness and go to the shop to buy a particular product.So considering the washing habit (detergent powder in a very small quantity only for good smell), one of the ways of pulling the customers towards the detergent usage is by giving a small sachet of the new product for free with every purchase of a laundry soap(Minerva). By doing this the consumers would be forced to use the product and if the performance of the new product is convincing to them then the chances of people switching to detergent is tie high, which in turn will increase the brand recognition of the new product and as a result it would be a success of the pull strategy.Also once the consumers start buying the new product reward them by putting some coupons inside the pa ckaging so that the consumers are motivated to buy it the next time. Moreover, certain freebies like a container to store the detergent, a spoon to measure the quantity of detergent to be used in a given amount of water, can be deployed during the initial phases of launch of the product.One more way to increase the brand awareness of the new product is to vive a demonstration of the new product in and around the small outlets or at places most visited by the targeted consumers. Refill packs should be produced, and the product should be made available across all locations, because of the very nature of the product which is that it is a low-involvement one, and people would not travel long distances to buy the product.Since the product is targeted to a low-income and price sensitive segment, the company should make sure that it optimizes the distribution network and save on the logistics cost so as to transfer the benefits to he end consumer. While the product is gaining more brand lo yalty, the producer/ manufacturer should make sure that the new product is available on all the shelves (small stores, large malls) Tanat consumers can possibly reach out to. 0 encourage this give suitable incentives/rewards to the dealers. Thus convince the retailers to stock up in response to the demand created for the new product. The success of the new product can be achieved by striking a perfect balance between the push and pull strategies. So push or launch the product into the market and create awareness or the same and through the pull strategy create a strong affinity for the new product thus converting the laundry soap users to detergent powder.