Black Seminoles Freedom From Slavery in Florida

Black Seminoles were enslaved Africans and African Americans who, beginning in the late 17th century fled plantations in the southern American colonies and joined with the newly-formed Seminole tribe in Spanish-owned Florida. From the late 1690s until Florida became a U.S. territory in 1821, thousands of Native Americans and runaway slaves fled what is now the southeastern United States, heading not to the north, but rather to the relatively open promise of the Florida peninsula. Seminoles and Black Seminoles African people who escaped slavery were called Maroons in the American colonies, a word derived from the Spanish word cimmaron meaning runaway or wild one. The Maroons who arrived in Florida and settled with the Seminoles were called a variety of things, including Black Seminoles or Seminole Maroons or Seminole Freedmen. The Seminoles gave them the tribal name of Estelusti, a Muskogee word for black. The word Seminole is also a corruption of the Spanish word cimmaron. The Spanish themselves used cimmaron to refer to aboriginal refugees in Florida who were deliberately avoiding Spanish contact. Seminoles in Florida were a new tribe, made up mostly of Muskogee or Creek people fleeing the decimation of their own groups by European-brought violence and disease. In Florida, the Seminoles could live beyond the boundaries of established political control (although they maintained ties with the Creek confederacy) and free from political alliances with the Spanish or British. The Attractions of Florida In 1693, a royal Spanish decree promised freedom and sanctuary to all enslaved persons who reached Florida, if they were willing to adopt the Catholic religion. Enslaved Africans fleeing Carolina and Georgia flooded in. The Spanish granted plots of land to the refugees north of St. Augustine, where the Maroons established the first legally sanctioned free black community in North America, called Fort Mose or Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose. The Spanish embraced fleeing slaves because they needed them for both their defensive efforts against American invasions, and for their expertise in tropical environments. During the 18th century, a large number of the Maroons in Florida had been born and raised in the tropical regions of Kongo-Angola in Africa. Many of the incoming slaves did not trust the Spanish, and so they allied with the Seminoles. Black Alliance The Seminoles were an aggregate of linguistically and culturally diverse Native American nations, and they included a large contingent of the former members of the Muscogee Polity also known as the Creek Confederacy. These were refugees from Alabama and Georgia who had separated from the Muscogee in part as a result of internal disputes. They moved to Florida where they absorbed members of other groups already there, and the new collective named themselves Seminole. In some respects, incorporating African refugees into the Seminole band would have been simply adding in another tribe. The new Estelusti tribe had many useful attributes: many of the Africans had guerilla warfare experience, were able to speak several European languages, and knew about tropical agricultures. That mutual interest—Seminole fighting to keep a purchase in Florida and Africans fighting to keep their freedom—created a new identity for the Africans as Black Seminoles. The biggest push for Africans to join the Seminoles came after the two decades when Britain owned Florida. The Spanish lost Florida between 1763 and 1783, and during that time, the British established the same harsh slave policies as in the rest of European North America. When Spain regained Florida under the 1783 Treaty of Paris, the Spanish encouraged their earlier black allies to go to Seminole villages. Being Seminole The sociopolitical relations between the Black Seminole and Native American Seminole groups were multi-faceted, shaped by economics, procreation, desire, and combat. Some Black Seminoles were fully brought into the tribe by marriage or adoption. Seminole marriage rules said that a childs ethnicity was based on that of the mother: if the mother was Seminole, so were her children. Other Black Seminole groups formed independent communities and acted as allies who paid tribute to participate in mutual protection. Still, others were re-enslaved by the Seminole: some reports say that for ex-slaves, bondage to the Seminole was far less harsh than that of slavery under the Europeans. Black Seminoles may have been referred to as slaves by the other Seminoles, but their bondage was closer to tenant farming. They were required to pay a portion of their harvests to the Seminole leaders but enjoyed substantial autonomy in their own separate communities. By the 1820s, an estimated 400 Africans were associated with the Seminoles and appeared to be wholly independent slaves in name only, and holding roles such as war leaders, negotiators, and interpreters. However, the amount of freedom of the Black Seminoles is somewhat debated. Further, the U.S. military sought the support of Native American groups to claim the land in Florida and help them reclaim the human property of southern slave owners, and they some albeit limited success. Removal Period The opportunity for Seminoles, Black or otherwise, to stay in Florida disappeared after the U.S. took possession of the peninsula in 1821. A series of clashes between the Seminoles and the U.S. government and known as the Seminole wars took place in Florida beginning in 1817. This was an explicit attempt to force Seminoles and their black allies out of the state and clear it for white colonization. The most serious and effective was known as the Second Seminole War, between 1835 and 1842, although some Seminoles remain in Florida today. By the 1830s, treaties were brokered by the U.S. government to move the Seminoles westward to Oklahoma, a journey that took place along the infamous Trail of Tears. Those treaties, like most of those made by the United States government to Native American groups in the 19th century, were broken. One Drop Rule The Black Seminoles had an uncertain status in the greater Seminole tribe, in part because they had been slaves, and in part because of their mixed  ethnic status. Black Seminoles defied the racial categories set up by the European governments to establish white supremacy. The white European contingent in the Americas found it convenient to maintain a white superiority by keeping non-whites in artificially constructed racial boxes, a One Drop Rule that said that if you had any African blood at all you were African and thus less entitled to rights and freedom in the new United States. Eighteenth-century African, Native American, and Spanish communities did not use the same One Drop Rule to identify blacks. In the early days of the European settlement of the Americas, neither Africans nor Native Americans fostered such ideological beliefs or created regulatory practices about social and sexual interactions. As the United States grew and prospered, a string of public policies and even scientific study worked to erase the Black Seminoles from the national consciousness and official histories. Today in Florida and elsewhere, it has become more and more difficult for the U.S. government to differentiate between African and Native American affiliations among the Seminole by any standards. Mixed Messages The Seminole nations views of the Black Seminoles were not consistent throughout time or across the different Seminole communities. Some viewed the Black Seminoles as enslaved persons and nothing else, but there were also coalitions and symbiotic relationships between the two groups in Florida—the Black Seminoles lived in independent villages as essentially tenant farmers to the larger Seminole group. The Black Seminoles were given an official tribal name: the Estelusti. It could be said that the Seminoles established separate villages for the Estelusti to discourage whites from trying to re-enslave the Maroons. Resettled in Oklahoma, however, the Seminoles took several steps to separate themselves from their previous black allies. The Seminoles adopted a more Eurocentric view of blacks and began to practice chattel slavery. Many Seminoles fought on the Confederate side in the Civil War, in fact, the last Confederate general killed in the Civil War was a Seminole, Stan Watie. At the end of that war, the U.S. government had to force the southern faction of the Seminoles in Oklahoma to give up their slaves. But, in 1866, Black Seminoles were finally accepted as full members of the Seminole Nation. The Dawes Rolls In 1893, the U.S. sponsored Dawes Commission was designed to create a membership roster of who was and was not Seminole based on whether an individual had African heritage. Two rosters were assembled: one for Seminoles, called the Blood Roll, and one for Black Seminoles called the Freedman Roll. The Dawes Rolls as the document came to be known said that if your mother was a Seminole, you were on the blood roll; if she was African you were on the Freedmen roll. If you were demonstrably half Seminole and half African you would be enrolled in the Freedmen roll; if you were three-quarters Seminole youd be on the blood roll. The status of the Black Seminoles became a keenly felt issue when compensation for their lost lands in Florida was finally offered in 1976. The total U.S. compensation to the Seminole nation for their lands in Florida came to US $56 million. That deal, written by the U.S. government and signed by the Seminole nation, was written explicitly to exclude the Black Seminoles, as it was to be paid to the Seminole nation as it existed in 1823. In 1823, the Black Seminoles were not (yet) official members of the Seminole nation, in fact, they could not be property owners because the U.S. government classed them as property. Seventy-five percent of the total judgment went to relocated Seminoles in Oklahoma, 25 percent went to those who remained in Florida, and none went to the Black Seminoles. Court Cases and Settling the Dispute In 1990, the U.S. Congress finally passed the Distribution Act detailing the use of the judgment fund, and the next year, the usage plan passed by the Seminole nation excluded the Black Seminoles from participation. In 2000, the Seminoles expelled the Black Seminoles from their group. A court case was opened (Davis v. U.S. Government) by Seminoles who were either Black Seminole or of mixed black and Seminole heritage. They argued that their exclusion from the judgment constituted racial discrimination. That suit was brought against the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs: the Seminole Nation as a sovereign nation could not be joined as a defendant. The case failed in U.S. District Court because the Seminole nation was not part of the case. In 2003, the Bureau of Indian Affairs issued a memorandum welcoming Black Seminoles back into the larger group. Attempts to patch the broken bonds that had existed between Black Seminoles and the main group of Seminoles for generations have met with varied success. In the Bahamas and Elsewhere Not every Black Seminole stayed in Florida or migrated to Oklahoma: A small band eventually established themselves in the Bahamas. There are several Black Seminole communities on North Andros and South Andros Island, established after a struggle against hurricanes and British interference. Today there are Black Seminole communities in Oklahoma, Texas, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Black Seminole groups along the border of Texas/Mexico are still struggling for recognition as full citizens of the United States. Sources Gil R. 2014. The Mascogo/Black Seminole Diaspora: The Intertwining Borders of Citizenship, Race, and Ethnicity. Latin American and Caribbean Ethnic Studies 9(1):23-43.Howard R. 2006. The Wild Indians of Andros Island: Black Seminole Legacy in the Bahamas. Journal of Black Studies 37(2):275-298.Melaku M. 2002. Seeking Acceptance: Are the Black Seminoles Native Americans? Sylvia Davis v. the United States of America. American Indian Law Review 27(2):539-552.Robertson RV. 2011. A Pan-African analysis of Black Seminole perceptions of racism, discrimination, and exclusion The Journal of Pan African Studies 4(5):102-121.Sanchez MA. 2015. The Historical Context of Anti-Black Violence in Antebellum Florida: A Comparison of Middle and Peninsular Florida. ProQuest: Florida Gulf Coast University.Weik T. 1997. The Archaeology of Maroon Societies in the Americas: Resistance, Cultural Continuity, and Transformation in the African Diaspora. Historical Archaeology 31(2):81-92.

Acc 201 (Principles of Financial Accounting) Complete...

ACC 201 (Principles of Financial Accounting) Complete Class All Discussion Questions , Chapters Problems and Assignments Click Link Below To Buy This Class : http://homework-aid.com/ACC-201-Principles-of-Financial-Accounting-Complete-Class-600.htm ACC 201 Week 1 Chapter 1 and 2 Practice Exercises ACC 201 Week 1 Chapter 1 and 2 Practice Exercises Complete the following practice exercises from Chapter 1 and 2 and submit them to your instructor. This assignment will be graded as a completion only to allow you to transition into the subject matter during the first week. The instructor will post the answers to these exercises by the end of Day 6 for you to check your accuracy and comprehension on the subject matter. Exercises:†¦show more content†¦Summarize your recommendations in memo form. Respond to at least two other students with critique and challenges to their recommendations. ACC 201 Week 4 Chapter 7 Problems ACC 201 Week 4 Chapter 7 Problems Complete the following problems from Chapter 7 and submit to your instructor. These problems will be graded for accuracy. Problems: 7-26, 7-27, 7-28 ACC 201 Week 4 Chapters 8 Problems ACC 201 Week 4 Chapters 8 Problems Complete the following problems from Chapter 8 and submit to your instructor. These problems will be graded for accuracy. Problems: 8-18, 8-23 ACC 201 Week 4 DQ Enron ACC 201 Week 4 DQ Enron Read ATC 7-5 in Chapter 7. This situation is very similar to what a company called Enron did several years ago. Use the internet or the university library to research exactly what Enron did in their accounting procedures and what eventually happened to the company. Post your findings and understanding of Enron’s story and respond to two other students’ postings with enhancements or additions to the Enron situation. ACC 201 Week 4 Memo to Baku and Hanson ACC 201 Week 4 Memo to Baku and Hanson Read ATC 8-4 in Chapter 8 and write a memo

Elephantiasis I Did My Report On Filariasis, Which Is More Commonly Kn Essay Example For Students

Elephantiasis I Did My Report On Filariasis, Which Is More Commonly Kn Essay ElephantiasisI did my report on filariasis, which is more commonly knownas elephantiasis. Elephantiasis is the late phase of filariasis.Filariasis is a tropical mosquito born parasitic disease causingobstruction of the lymph vessels. In some people the presence ofthe worm causes a tissue reaction that causes the lymph flow tobe blocked. This blockage produces lymphedema which is a swellingand can eventually lead to a tremendous enlargement of an extremityor organ. When elephantiasis follows repeated infection, parts ofthe body particularly the legs become grossly enlarged andthe surrounding skin hardens and ulcerates. Certain types ofelephantiasis can be treated surgically. Elephantiasis of the legsis usually treated with elastic bandages and frequent elevation ofthe legs. The leg and foot, may swell to elephantine size. Theremay be allergic reactions like itching and localized swelling. Thebody may also react by causing calcium tissue to be deposited aroundthe worm, walling it off and eventually causing its death.In humans, the mature worm lives tightly coiled in the lymphaticvessels where they reproduce. The female holds the fertilized eggsin her body. Later the embryos, called microfilariae, are dischargedalive. An interesting feature of these worms is the periodic swarmingof the microfilariae in the bloodstream. In most species swarmingtakes place at night. The embryos can be taken up by an insect onlywhen they are in a humans bloodstream. They develope into infectivelarvae in the insect, which is the intermediate host. These hostsare various genera of mosquitoes, notably A?des, Anopheles, and Culex.Within 10 to 11 days after ingestion by a human skin they migrate tothe lymphayic vessels where they mature and reproduce. There isntreally any prevention to this disease. BibliographyDrimmer, Frederick; THE ELEPHANT MAN; Putnam Publishers;New York, 1985 Elephantiasis, FISHBEINS ILLUSTRATED MEDICAL AND HEALTHENCYCLOPEDIA; H.S. Stuttman Inc. Publishers; Westport,CT. ; 1983 ed., vol. 2, pp. 527 Filariasis, COLLIERS ENCYCLOPEDIA; Macmillan EducationalCompany New York, Maxwell Macmillan Canada, MaxwellMacmillan International Publishing Group; New York,Oxford, Sydney; 1991 ed. , col. 9, pp. 698-699

Markieting at Bop Essay Example

Markieting at Bop Essay Marketing at the bottom of the pyramid Submitted by: Akshay Garg (001) Akshay Mishra (007) Keerthi N. (028) Mreegasha Mondal (034) Background and Motivation The Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) has emerged as one of the dominant ideas in business lately. The phrase â€Å"bottom of the pyramid† was used by U. S. president  Franklin D. Roosevelt  in April 7, 1932. In economics, the  bottom of the pyramid  is the largest, but poorest  socio-economic group. According to the author of the book-‘Fortune at the bottom of the pyramid’ and the famous management Guru C. K Prahalad, almost two-third of the world population which earns less than US$2 per day comprises of the bottom of the pyramid population. The world economic pyramid Historically, businesses around the world have been focusing on traditional markets with good spending power. However with increased saturation in this market and in order to sustain growth, the companies started seeking to penetrate into the largely untapped rural markets with new marketing techniques. The proposition of inclusive capitalism thus arose—involving and mobilizing the resources, managerial know-how and technology of the large FMCG firms to co-create solutions to the problems at the bottom of the pyramid—those people that live on less than $2 a day. This way, the firms contribute to poverty eradication and upliftment of the marginalized; in return, they would get fantastic business opportunities like cheaper and easier procurement of inputs and a wider customer base. This creates a win-win situation for both. We will write a custom essay sample on Markieting at Bop specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Markieting at Bop specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Markieting at Bop specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Hence subsistence markets, when entered and explored correctly, are becoming a constant source of revenue for businesses. Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL), as HUL was known back then, experimented as early as in 1995 in the refined salt market. Firstly, they aimed at upgrading the 75 per cent unrefined market (BOP consumers) to Annapurna and secondly of converting branded consumers to Annapurna. In 1999, HLL launched Project Shakti. It identified promising opportunities like confectionaries and healthcare products for the bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers. Amul started its DISK project which comprised of computerization of more than 70,000 village societies and automation of milk collection process. It adopted a 3 tier structure involving farmers, village societies and district milk federations, doing away with the middlemen. ITC’s e-Choupal program was launched in 2000. The motive was to make Indian agriculture self-sufficient by leveraging digital technology and customized extension services to empower farmers and raise rural incomes through better crops, yield and practices. The initiative began while procuring soya from rural India. The effort illustrates the social impact of bringing global resources and farm and business practices to the Indian farmer as well as the opportunities to garner revenue by ITC. Objective The major objectives of our study and research are: 1. ) Analyze and understand BoP approach and its significance. 2. ) Study how Indian companies are identifying opportunities and entering into the unexplored markets present at BoP 3. ) Analyze the inclusive approach of ITC e-choupal and HUL Shakti in terms of reach to Bottom of Pyramid. Literature Review The Bottom of Pyramid constitutes the market made up by the world’s poorest people who lives on less than $2 per day. The idea behind BOP suggests that the best way to meet the needs of the poor is through a profit driven market – based approach. Most companies have not considered people at the base of the economic pyramid as potential consumers due to the low level of their individual incomes. The common belief that the poor have no significant purchasing power ignores the volume of the market. The bottom of the economic pyramid in India representing the masses is an over $1. -trillion market, making up the biggest chunk of the global $5-trillion BOP market excluding China, says a study by IFC and World Resources Institute (WRI). The BOP population of 924. 1 million people – 78% of them in rural areas – makes up about 95% of the countrys population. In India, BOP accounts for 88. 1% of the total national household expenditure on food, 87. 2% of energy exp enditure, 85. 3% of health spend, 78. 8% of household goods expenditure and 52. 6% of the spend on information and communication technology. The business potential at the BOP has five central advantages: * Size of the market * Rapid market growth Less competitive environment * Opportunities for cost saving * Opportunities for innovation The commercial challenges of the BOP market are: * Cash poor consumers * Geographic, economic, and cultural distance between the seller and the buyer * Limited product awareness and understanding * Weak physical and institutional infrastructure * Working with longer time frames Profit driven investment in the BOP market has a broad range of social benefits. Investing in the BOP market has great potential for reducing poverty by accelerating growth through job creation, and for lowering prices whereby the capacity to consume is increased. Companies can generate profits for themselves, and at the same time, benefit the poor by improving their welfare. ITC and HUL are the two companies which have invested a lot of money for the BOP market. Sources: Websites: Wikipedia. org, bopstrategy. com Books: ‘Fortune at the bottom of the Pyramid’ by C K Prahlad and Stuart L. Hart E-Choupal The e-Choupal is a three layered infrastructure with the first layer consisting of ICT kiosks which have internet access and which are manned by ITC trained village farmer. It is generally situated within 1. km of every target farmer and is meant to serve the purpose of six villages. The second layer, called Choupal Sagar is a mortar and brick infrastructure located within 10-30kms of every target farmer. A Choupal Sagar is situated in the middle of 40-50 e-Choupals, typically few km away from the town to facilitate procurement. Finally the third layer consists of a network of companies managed by ITC who acts as the direct consumer s of the farm commodities thus completing the three layered architecture of an e-Choupal. Real-time information and customized knowledge provided by e-Choupal enhance the ability of farmers to take decisions and align their farm output with market demand and secure quality amp; productivity. The aggregation of the demand for farm inputs from individual farmers gives them access to high quality inputs from established and reputed manufacturers at fair prices. As a direct marketing channel, virtually linked to the mandi system for price discovery, e-Choupal eliminates wasteful intermediation and multiple handling. Thereby it significantly reduces transaction costs. Model in Action Benefits 1. The e-Choupal model has been specifically designed to tackle the challenges posed by the unique features of Indian agriculture, characterized by fragmented farms, weak infrastructure and the involvement of numerous intermediaries, among others. 2. e-Choupal also unshackles the potential of Indian farmer who has been trapped in a vicious cycle of low risk taking ability gt; low investment gt; low productivity gt; weak market orientation gt; low value addition gt; low margin gt; low risk taking ability. This made him and Indian agribusiness sector globally uncompetitive, despite rich amp; abundant natural resources. 3. Such a market-led business model can enhance the competitiveness of Indian agriculture and trigger a virtuous cycle of higher productivity, higher incomes, and enlarged capacity for farmer risk management, larger investments and higher quality and productivity. 4. A growth in rural incomes will also unleash the latent demand for industrial goods so necessary for the continued growth of the Indian economy. This will create another virtuous cycle propelling the economy into a higher growth trajectory. Launched in June 2000, e-Choupal has already become the largest initiative among all Internet-based interventions in rural India. e-Choupal services today reach out to over 4 million farmers growing a range of crops soybean, coffee, wheat, rice, pulses, and shrimp in over 40,000 villages through 6500 kiosks across ten states (Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The problems encountered while setting up and managing these ‘e-Choupals’ are: * Infrastructural inadequacies, including power supply, telecom connectivity and bandwidth. Imparting skills to the first time internet users in remote and inaccessible areas of rural India. Several alternative and innovative solutions some of them expensive are being deployed to overcome these challenges e. g. Power back-up through batteries charged by Solar panels, upgrading BSNL exchanges with RNS kits, installation of VSAT equipment, Mobil e Choupals, local caching of static content on website to stream in the dynamic content more efficiently, 247 helpdesk etc. Going forward, the roadmap includes plans to integrate bulk storage, handling amp; transportation facilities to improve logistics efficiencies. As Indias kissan Company, ITC has taken care to involve farmers in the designing and management of the entire e-Choupal initiative. The active participation of farmers in this rural initiative has created a sense of ownership in the project among the farmers. They see the e-Choupal as the new age cooperative for all practical purposes. This enthusiastic response from farmers has encouraged ITC to plan for the extension of the e-Choupal initiative to altogether 15 states across India over the next few years. On the anvil are plans to channelize other services related to micro-credit, health and education through the same e-Choupal infrastructure. Choupal Pradarshan Khet This brings the benefits of agricultural best practices to small and marginal farmers. Backed by intensive research and knowledge, this initiative provides Agri-extension services which are qualitatively superior and involves pro-active handholding of farmers to ensure productivity gains. The services are customized to meet local conditions, ensure timely availability of farm inputs including credit, and provide a cluster of farmer schools for apturing indigenous knowledge. This initiative, which has covered over 70,000 hectares, has a multiplier impact and reaches out to over 1. 6 million farmers. Another initiative by ITC Apart from eChoupal, ITC has also taken initiative to improve the financial conditions of the farmers who also rears cattle for a living. Although 70% of the rural population owns cattle, the quantity of milk produced is on the lower side because of the poor quality of the stock. ITC was quick enough to realize the high potential and opportunity trapped in this sector. They took the help of a NGO firm called BAIF Institute for Rural Development, a national NGO specializing in livestock development to improve the quality of cattle stock in the villages. ITC has focused on the small and landless farmers at the first stage. With the help of BAIF, superior quality of semen from Jersey and Holstein-Friesian cows is inseminated into the cattle which has resulted in better production of milk both quality and quantity wise. Quantity wise there has been an increase in 7-9 times in the milk produced thus enabling the farmers to invest further in dairy farming which has resulted in a substantial increase in average income and revenues. The milk produced is collected by co-operatives fostered by ITC who channels the milk to larger diaries connecting farmers to the major milk markets of the country. Project Shakti It is a unique case in point. HLL created a direct distribution network in hard-to-reach locales (markets without distribution coverage through traditional distributors and dealers). It seeks to empower the underprivileged rural women i. e. the women at the bottom of the Pyramid. * They selected entrepreneurial women from these difficult-to-penetrate villages and trained them to become distributors, providing education, advice and access to their products in villages. * These village women entrepreneurs, called Shakti Amma (empowered mother), have unique knowledge about the village needs and products in demand. * They earn between Rs. 3000 and Rs. 7000 per month and therefore create a new capacity to consume for themselves and their families. generating opportunities for 45,000 rural impoverished women and has also helped to increase the rural distribution of the Company * More importantly, these entrepreneurial women are increasingly becoming the educators and access points for the rural BOP consumers in their communities. A typical Shakti distributor sells products worth Rs 10,000-15,000 a month, which provides an income of Rs 700-1000 per month on a sustainabl e basis. While this may not seem to be a high income, it makes an enormous difference to women who live in remote villages in dire poverty. In many cases, earnings from Shakti help them double their household income. Much of the additional income goes to educating children, and also to purchasing consumer durables such as television sets, which further expands the rural market for such products. Some Shakti distributors whom the company calls entrepreneurs – invest the extra money in buying vehicles such as motor scooters that allow them to go into more villages. According to media reports, Shakti distributors now account for 15% of the companys sales in rural India. Meanwhile, the potential for growth is enormous, since studies have shown that just 15% of Indian consumers use products such as shampoo. According to Whartons Raju, there are behavioral reasons why rural consumers represent a sound bet for companies that are willing to invest in reaching them. Affluent consumers demonstrate that they have arrived by buying bigger houses or cars. People at lower income levels do so by buying premium brands. This means brand loyalty is very high among less affluent consumers. That is why the rural market is critical for companies. The first-mover advantage is significant. An initiative which helps support Project Shakti is the Shakti Vani programme. Under this programme, trained communicators visit schools and village congregations to drive messages on sanitation, good hygiene practices and women empowerment. This serves as a rural communication vehicle and helps the SA in their sales. Project Shakti is needed: 1) To extend direct reach into untapped markets: one of the aims of the project is to help the company to penetrate in rural untapped areas in partnership with Self Help Groups. ) To build Brand through local influence: To overcome the problem of limited media coverage, the company appointed the Shakti Entrepreneurs as the brand ambassador of its products. They are not just brand ambassadors but also generate sales of HUL products. 3) To Empower underprivileged women: HUL as a company is also well aware of its social obligation towards the society. Hence, through partnership with village level Self Help Groups, it provided sustainable livelihood opportunity to its members. The main advantage of the Shakti programme for HUL is its ability to enter those areas which remain hidden from any communications. Shakti Ammas are able to reach far flung areas, which were economically unviable for the company to tap on its own, besides being a brand ambassador for the company. Moreover, the company has ready consumers in the SAs who become users of the products besides selling them. Although the company has been successful in the initiative and has been scaling up, it faces problems from time to time for which it comes up with innovative solutions. For example, a problem faced by HUL was that the SAs were more inclined to stay at home and sell rather than going from door to door since there is a stigma attached to direct selling. Moreover, men were not liable to go to a womans house and buy products. The company countered this problem by hosting Shakti Days. Here an artificial market place was created with music and promotion and the ladies were able to sell their products in a few hours without encountering any stigma or bias. Other BOP Initiatives in India Amul made it possible for a farmer with one or two buffalo to connect with the national and global dairy markets and gave them a new identity. It receives milk collection at a centralized, efficient world class processing facility where it is pasteurized and packaged for retail consumption. It connected its practices and processes with Bottom of Pyramid, the villagers, maintained the local infrastructure and brought to them the most advanced facilities in their respective fields. Some other notable Indian businesses which have successfully tapped the fortune hidden at the bottom of the pyramid are Aravind Eye care systems and Jaipur foot. Aravind is the largest eye care facility in the world and it provides free eye treatment to nearly 60% of its patients who are poor. Still it has managed to remain profitable. Similarly, Jaipur Foot has successfully understood the requirements at BoP level and is one of the well-known prosthetics manufacturers in the world. Citigroup  found an innovative way to bring basic financial services to the poor. By using an ATM, networked, 24/7 model, Citigroup was the first global bank to offer a $25 deposit option to start an account. In its first year, 150,000 customers took advantage of the offer. Other Side of the Coin Stories of well-meaning commercial ventures that couldn’t make sustainable profits are also too common in low-income markets. Despite achieving healthy penetration rates of 5% to 10% in four test markets, for instance, Procter amp; Gamble couldn’t generate a competitive return on its Pur water-purification powder after launching the product on a large scale in 2001. Although the price—equivalent to 10 U. S. cents a sachet—provided a margin of about 50%, on par with that of the company’s products worldwide, Pamp;G gave up on Pur as a business in 2005 and announced that the sachets would be sold only to humanitarian organizations at cost. DuPont ran into similar problems with a venture piloted from 2006 to 2008 in Andhra Pradesh, India, by its subsidiary Solae, a global manufacturer of soy protein. Intended to alleviate malnutrition and open a new market for the company, the venture aimed to get mothers in rural areas and urban slums to cook with soy protein as part of their daily routine. The product mix consisted of small packets of protein isolate, which provided about half of woman’s average daily protein needs, and a range of packaged, soy-fortified snack foods all priced below 30 U. S. cents. The isolate’s margins were on a level with those of Solae’s core business-to-business products, but sales proved to be inconsistent. Sales were stronger for the snack foods, but the margins were significantly lower—so low, in fact, that the company would have had to sell quantities much higher than could have been absorbed by the communities within reach of the business. Unable to see a path to profitability, Solae closed the pilot. As these and other ventures suggest, cost structures in low-income markets are daunting: Operational expenses, such as distribution, are frequently much higher than those that companies face in developed markets. In addition, customer acquisition and retention for new products often demand unusually intense—and costly—levels of high-touch engagement. To cover those high costs, much greater volumes are needed for break-even. However, selling to customers in rural villages and in slums scattered across urban centers is difficult and inefficient. Each local business unit is forced to generate its sales volumes from the consumer base living in a narrow geographical range—often just a small cluster of villages in rural areas, or several neighborhoods in the case of larger slums. Research Methodology and Data Collection We have conducted primary and secondary research for an accurate understanding of the market and consumers at the bottom of the pyramid. As a part of our primary research, we conducted surveys in the rural areas around Delhi, so that we can get a clear picture of the market present at the bottom of the pyramid and how the BoP consumers behave. This has helped us draw a clear picture of the BoP market scenarios and how organizations across different sectors are implementing BoP products sales strategies to boost their sales volumes. The data for our analysis and inference was firsthand information that we got from the local ‘Kirana Stores’ about bottom of the pyramid products. We identified a number of issues and strategies that distributors and sellers tend to follow for the consumers at BoP, then we prepared a series of questionnaire to determine the following things:- 1. ) Demand of BoP products in the market. 2. ) Activities that companies undertake to make consumers more aware about their products and offerings. 3. ) Analysis of offers/discounts given by various brands/distributors to attract the consumers at BoP. . ) Purchasing pattern of the consumers present at BoP and how companies adopt measures such as packaging and offers to affect this pattern. 5. ) Behavior of consumers at BoP with respect to new products, brands, pricing, offers, packaging, advertisements etc. We split our survey in two parts: survey at the small ‘Kirana Stores’ and survey done among the consumers present at the BoP. We went to two different rural areas representing the population at BoP, namely Gopalpura village and Daya Basti and asked our questions. We intereacted with around 25 Kirana stores and 30 BoP consumers. Sectors and Products: We focused mainly on the FMCG goods and products offered by the small kirana stores in these areas. We asked our questions about various products such as Wheat flour, Incense Sticks, Soaps, Toothpaste and shampoos. We asked various questions pertaining to these products to the consumers as well as to the Kirana Stores. Questionnaire In the following portion we will give a brief about the questions that we asked from the Kirana stores for our research study. 1st question How old is your shop? Consumer trust and faith on a shopkeeper largely depends on how long has he been operating. This also affects the sales volume of that particular shop. 2nd question How often do consumers come to buy different products such as shampoo, biscuits, soap, toothpaste, hairoil etc This question given an important insight into the consumers present at BoP, as it tells us about the purchasing pattern of consumers and also of the demand of various products existing at BoP. 3rd question How do they react to different packaging of these products? Do they demand more for small packets/packing as compared to regular sized packing? This was a very important question, as it helps a lot in understanding the consumer behavior at BoP. Most of the consumers at BoP tend to buy products in small quantities and for lesser price , as they have either low incomes or are daily wage earners. 4th question What types of schemes/discounts/offers do companies and distributors offer for their product and what is the impact of these schemes on the sales of these products? This question was required to look into the details of how Indian FMCG firms are making their way into the BoP markets, by using lucrative discounts and offers for the these consumers. 5th question How is the distribution network/supply of various products of different FMCG brands? What are the profit margins present with each of these brands? This information was required to have an understanding about the supply chain network existing at the BoP for different brands and manufacturers, and the efficiency of these supply chain systems. We expected to gain insight about the number of visits by the distributor in a month, and the profit margins given by the distributors at these small kirana stores. 6th question How do the consumers ask for a product they want to buy? Do they ask for a specific brand or are satisfied with any local brands? We wanted to gauge the awareness among the consumers at BoP about various brands and whether they were aware about the positioning carried by the individual brands. 7th question How do the consumers react to the introduction of a new brand in the market? Are they keen to use it? How do the shopkeepers push that brand to the consumers? Does having a better profit margin motivate him to push or force a sale of one brand over the other? Shopkeepers have a big influence on the buying decision of consumers at BoP, as consumers are typically less informed about various brands and tend to put their faith on more knowledgeable shopkeeper. Also the motivation for selling one brand over other stems from better profit margin. 8th question Who are the regular customers for the products? Do people who look rich also come and buy smaller sized products? This question was asked to determine if there is a spill-over effect or not. We had some indications from where we comprehend that the BoP boundaries are getting extended to the upper class as well. 9th question What other factors contribute towards the sale of a product of a brand, like banners, posters, shelf space etc.? How important do these factors become in the light of consumers asking for smaller sized packages? Companies keep on coming with regular offers, campaigns and other schemes to lure consumers, especially at BoP. How much effective are these schemes and how they affect the behavior pattern of consumers, was something we intended to know. Questions from Consumers: We also put forward the following questions to some of the consumers we found in the villages we targeted. This was done, basically to have an understanding of the same concepts, but from the point of view of a BoP consumer. How often do you go to buy a product (toothpaste, soap, biscuits) * Do you always prefer a smaller sized product over a medium or large size? * Do you prefer to buy a branded product or local product? * Are you willing to try a new product introduced in the market? * How much is your purchase decision affected by the shopkeeper/offers/advertisement of that product? Based on the answers to the above mention ed extensive questionnaires and the analysis of data gathered from them, we were able to understand the expectation and behavior of customers at Bottom of the Pyramid. We also got an insight about how the Indian companies are faring at bottom of Pyramid. Results and Data Analysis: Some facts about the rural market that were observed during the research: * People in rural areas are aware of most of the brands like Fair and Lovely, Vivel, Sunfeast, Pepsodent, Sunsilk etc. * The common strategy used by most of the brands to reach the household of rural areas are: 1) Small packaging: * Aashirwad Aata- Pack of Rs 240/10kg, 125/5kg * Colgate- Rs 10/35g, Rs 35/100g, Rs 44/200g, * Mangaldeep Incense stics: pack of Rs 5 and Rs 10 Clinic Plus- small sachet of Rs1, Rs3 and Rs5 * Vivel- Rs 5/10g, Rs 10/25g, 2) Adding extra quantity at the same price: Quantity Scheme * Colgate: 20% extra * Wheel: 30% extra * Vaseline: 20% more 3) Discounts: Done on almost every product in every 2 months. 4) Bundle Offers: * Buy 1 Mangaldeep Incense stick and get an AIM matchbox free. (both brands of ITC). * Incesnse stick stand free with Mangaldeep Sticks. * Buy 3 get 1 free of fer on Breeze 5) Attractive Packaging: Colgate distributes a pack at Rs 38 and another at Rs44. The interesting fact is that the weight of both the packs are the same, just the packaging size is different. The pack for Rs 44 is slightly bigger than the other one which tricks the consumers. 6) Promotion: Posters and banners of the product on the shops. * Profit Margin: For new brands, the profit margin to the shopkeeper is more since people are not aware of brands which holds true for not only rural market, but urban retailers too. For eg, ITC is relatively a new brand compared to HUL and most of the shopkeeper get higher profit margin for it, 8-10% for ITC and 5% for HUL. Although local products offer much higher profits , about 25-50%, but they are one time sale in most of the places. * Consumer Awareness In rural area, sales of a branded product majorly depend upon consumer awareness about it. If the consumer is aware, he directly asks for the particular brand, if not the shopkeeper can easily trick him and give a duplicate or local product. Brands must keep in mind that they are selling the products to rural consumers who are price and quantity focused and do not get much attracted by the brand name. ence product which fulfils their immediate need is purchased by them. This can be illustrated by the example of Surf and Wheel. Both of them come at a price for Rs 10, but wheel is sold more since its pack has 150g of detergent powder compared to 70 g of Surf. Observation 1 The above chart clearly indicates the preference of consumers at BoP towards the products with smaller size packing. This is the primary reason that nearly every brand and manufactu rer has now started coming out with small packages of its products available in small denomination, generally single digit. This is an attractive feature for the BoP market. Obeservation 2 Would you like to try a new product? Would you like to try a new product? Would you prefer to buy a brand over a local product? Which factor affected your purchase decision the most? Which factor affected your purchase decision the most? The above two pie charts contain very useful information. The consumers at BoP do not hesitate to buy the new products in the market. This could be attributed to increased awareness due to the mass media. Also, they are more willing to buy a branded product as compared to a local product. The third pie chart shows the relevance that the shopkeepers carry in the BoP market. They are the biggest decision makers for around 50% of the sample. Conclusion and recommendations: After a thorough research into the working of HUL Shakti and ITC e-choupal, we were very much impressed by the real fortune that lies at the broad base of the pyramid, which had been neglected by most of the companies as rightly explained in the book by CK Prahalad. Also, our primary research also gave us a new insight into the markets at BoP, the forces that exists there and how do the consumers behave and make their purchasing decisions. We also learnt about the spillover effect of the products. We also realized the importance of small Kirana stores in the functioning of the entire BoP market and how they affect the decisions of the consumers. BoP consumers, though poor, but are increasingly becoming aware of their options and making informed decisions. It is also concluded that initially a company provides a higher margin for its product, when it is newly launched. But with time, it becomes normalized across the different variants of the same company. Our interaction with the retailers and the end consumers was a very good learning experience. We got a glimpse as to how does a retailer decides which product he has to push more. Also, how do the end consumers make their final decision, which is based on variety of factors. Though we also met people who said that they would buy any product which costs less, their number was far lesser than those claiming to use only branded products but mostly the one in smaller packing. Our primary recommendation from this market research is that companies do need to realize the bottom of the pyramid importance in their business profits. To tap the wealth present at BoP, they need to make some sustained, motivated efforts. But successful marketing measures would open a whole new dimension for such companies which would provide them with a continuous source of revenues.

Big Data free essay sample

These data stores can be extremely valuable, but can also be equally as expensive, creating both problems and opportunities for those data owners. I believe that having vast amounts of data is more beneficial than it is harmful. Data is used in many ways and for many things. The benefits of having this data are evident in companies such as Google, Facebook, and even with the federal government. Their success in business comes from having the capability to store and access great amounts of data quickly and efficiently. This comes from the right combination of hardware, process, governance, and application. Knowing what data to gather, how to utilize it, and having the equipment and technology to utilize it appropriately puts these businesses and others like them, ahead of the game. Companies that cannot gather the data and handle it appropriately, tend to fall by the wayside in this information and information technology driven world we live in today. We will write a custom essay sample on Big Data or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Having vast stores of data can be overwhelming when it isn’t managed and utilized appropriately. However, when it is, that data can enable the owner to have the advantage over its competitors. Data is used for market analysis, streamlining business processes and functions, and much more. If you know what data is valuable, and how to utilize it, the more data you have the more of an advantage you have as well. As George Shen stated in his article on business intelligence and business analytics, â€Å"the big data era introduced an astronomical amount of data, the wealth of information that companies can potentially unlock and the depth and breadth in which organizations can perform analysis, enable technology and apply analytical methods of the 21st century† (Shen, 2011). It’s not a race to see who can gather the most data, but it is a race to see who can gather the most useful data, and use it the best. As Shen pointed out, this data presented opportunities to companies that would otherwise be impossible for them. Simply the amount of knowledge that can be gathered about their consumers in a short amount of time would have taken so long to gather that the analysis would no longer be valid, if it was possible to gather that information at all. Their shopping habits, their entertainment interest, and so much more, all gathered within minutes of them utilizing a search engine. Not all data is equally as valuable, so making the right decisions as to what data to keep and what data to purge through prioritization is paramount. Gathering, storing, and utilizing data can be quite expensive, particularly with very large amounts of data. That data must also be secured, which can also be costly. There are several different solutions for data storage, and those solutions can either be in house or cloud storage. Choosing the right data storage and processing solutions is just as important as the data itself. While cloud solutions tend to cost less, they are also less secure and less robust than available in house solutions. â€Å"This is why the primary hope for securely storing critical information should and must lie with technologies that increase capacity and access times without requiring that the data leave the enterprise†; also suggesting that prioritizing data, using a cloud solution for less valuable data, might be beneficial when the decisions are made wise about the prioritization† (Trembly, 2010). With the right prioritization, data that is stored, processed, and secured appropriately can be invaluable to a company and its success. The more of this valuable data there is, the better a business analysis can be. Although these mass amounts of data can be beneficial, it can also be very damaging to business. The hardware and manpower required to manage large amounts of data is not cheap. A company can easily find themselves in a situation where they are paying to store data that is not offering any benefit to business or to business strategy. Those situations can easily consume a huge portion of an IT department’s budget, and leave gaps in other places where the money could be more wisely spent, such as security. Not only is it expensive to store and manage mass amounts of data, but storing the wrong data can also slow other processes down. Applications and processes that require the use of stored data have a slower response time because it takes longer to process through data that is not relevant. Time is a critical factor in IT, particularly when it comes to maintaining a competitive advantage. Too much data can also cause issues with the reports being generated from the data stores. â€Å"The rich lode of Web data, experts warn, has its perils. Its sheer volume can easily overwhelm statistical models. Statisticians also caution that strong correlations of data do not necessarily prove a cause-and-effect link† (Lohr, 2009). If the wrong or irrelevant data is being reported, it can skew the information provided in reports, and in turn cause decisions to be made based on inaccurate information. Many people view cloud computing as a way to minimize the issues that come with big data. Cloud computing can offer other benefits such as web based access to the data by customers through application, making the process of recalling information from databases storing larger amounts of data more expedient. Unfortunately, even cloud computing, at a reduced cost than in house data storage, comes with its own issues when it comes to big data. â€Å"Yet despite advances in capacity and access speed, the flood of data today threatens to overwhelm our ability to control it. And the more we trust the Internet to help with storage needs, the less control we have and the more risk we take† (Trembly, 2010). When relying on cloud computing to resolve big data issues, the security of the data is then also reliant upon the service provider of the cloud. With data being so valuable to business, losing control due to overwhelming quantities, or handing over control to an outside storage and service provider can have some terrible consequences. Even though there are solutions to dealing with the issues related to big data, they come with inherent risk that may simply not be worth the possible cost. Regardless of the possible negatives associated with big data, it is undeniable that the benefits of it are tremendous when managed appropriately. Our accessibility to data has increased exponentially, and with it, so have the opportunities associated with it. It is the size of the data sets on the Web that opens new worlds of discovery† (Lohr, 2009). Businesses can gather and access data that can mean the difference between success and failure, between remaining competitive or becoming irrelevant. The key is to manage big data effectively, alleviating excesses, and utilizing it appropriately. Big data is a benefit, so long as it can b e managed and not be overwhelming. Works Cited Shen, G. (2011). Unplugged: the disconnect of intelligence and analytics. Information Management, 21(1), 14. Retrieved on November 28, 2012, from http://www. information-management. com/issues/21_1/unplugged-10019478-1. html Trembly, A. C. (2010). The problem with data storage: way too much information. Information Management. Retrieved on November 28, 2012, from http://www. information-management. com/news/data_storage-10016887-1. html Lohr, S. (2009). For todays graduate, just one word: statistics. NYTimes. com. Retrieved on November 28, 2012, from http://www. nytimes. com/2009/08/06/technology/06stats. html? _r=2amp;em

Body Modification Essays - Body Modification, Human Body

Body Modification.txt Essays - Body Modification, Human Body Body Modification Body modification and adornment is a universal culture. All civilizations have attempted to change their body in order to fulfill their cultural construct of beauty, religious and/or social obligations. Body adornment and modification is a very broad subject, ranging from ceremonial body paint to the amputation of appendages. In modern society many people today are looking more like tribal warriors of many African cultures. In fact many of these modifications actually do come from many ancient cultures. So why is body modification just now coming to the attention of the modern world? It is my belief that a greater amount of young adults are finding that imitating traditions of primitive cultures is an excellent way to express themselves. However, the quest for non-conformity is not the only reason people change their appearance. Dissatisfaction with ones appearance and fascination with alteration is also reason for one to modify their body. A piercing can be defined as any object, intentionally left in the body, for which there is no physiologically functional purpose, and must have be placed in an event which took a conscious decision. "Historically, piercing has had a long history in Europe, with references dating back to the Roman Empire. Soldiers in Caesar's army pierced their nipples, while male members of the Victorian Court wore Prince Albert piercings (piercing of the genitalia) as a 'dressing ring,' and was used to secure the penis to either leg with a string or thong, to suit the fashion at the time." Pants were cut very closely at the crotch, and would make the male genitalia very pronounced. I asked several men in an online chat room that had the same piercings mentioned above and typically their response was due to fascination or for sexual pleasure. "When viewed as a material aspect of our culture, popular piercing is an attempt to create an alien other: Something to shock and disconcert: An attempt to break out of the biological and cultural confines that limit the range of personal self-expression." Earlobe piercing is the most socially acceptable form of body piercing in industrialized countries. Modern ear adornments include the conch, the tragus, and two innovative cartilege piercings, the daith and the rook, which were introduced by California body piercer Erik Dakota. Other popular piercings in today's society include the navel, tongue, lip, eyebrow, and the nose. These are usually used to express ones eccentricity and individuality. Ear piercings are most widely practiced piercings among cultural groups in Africa, India, Indonesia, North and South America. In some third world countries ear piercings mark the life stages of an individual and to signify group affiliation. Ear cartilege piercings, especially popular among the Masai and Fulani, also emphasized beauty and wealth. Stretched earlobes are dominant among groups in Indonesia and South America. Stretched earlobes have increased in popularity among modern piercing enthusiasts. I noticed four men with stretched earlobes in about an hour time period on a recent trip to Philadelphia's South Street. I also observed over two-dozen shops on this one particular street in which piercings and tattoo services were offerd. Henna, also known as mehndi, is the painting of the body using temporary ink (usually a dark orange color) made from the herb henna, widely used in the Middle East. It's origins date back to 1700 B.C. in the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures. The patterns of henna painting vary from culture to culture. There are three main traditions that can be recognized, aside from the modern use of henna as a trendy temporary tattoo. Generally, Arabic (Middle-eastern) mehndi features large, floral patterns on hands and feet, while Indian (Asian) mehndi uses fine line, lacy, floral and paisley patterns covering entire hands, forearms, feet and shins; and African mehndi art is large, and bold with geometrically patterned angles. African mehndi patterns usually use black henna while Asian and Middle Eastern mehndi is often reddish brown. It is also a common custom in many countries to step into the mehndi, or simply apply the paste without creating a pattern in order to cool, protect, or treat the skin. This practice is rapidly growing in popularity because it is easy, temporary, and inexpensive. Tattoo as defined in Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary is an indelible

Corporate reporting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Corporate reporting - Essay Example It is also about the organization and the recognition of what the economy is now, and what the economy ought to be in the near future. Corporate governance explains the types of processes and the ways in which companies and businesses are controlled and directed. They also indicate the level in which the managerial status of company is and include the information containing the board and its composition, the development that it brings and the level of accountability that it holds. Lastly, it focuses on the type of relationship that the management has with its shareholder, seeing that they are actually the owners of the company. Narrative reporting talks about the non-financial kind of work and it relates to financial information. Such information is presented alongside financial information and this enables for there to be an expanded understanding of a company’s main information (Robins, 34, 2010).   Response to the questions posed by the Finance Minister; 1. In Breakavia, the best placed to help in support of the initial development of the regulation for corporate reporting are the upcoming companies and industries, such as those in the industrial sector and also those in the tourism industry. Corporate reporting brings about the much needed transparency that will bring development in the country. There are certain international practices that can be used as examples in this country. Some include those of the companies that are based in the U.K and the U.S. From these countries, there have been major developments and due to their corporate reporting techniques have been named the best suited companies to rise in ranks. Significant information relating to companies include the market position that it holds, the supplies and the suppliers that it deals with, the general private and public performance both in and out of office and also the company’s future prospects. The next type of reporting, corporate responsibility shows basic information tha t pertains to the way that companies behold its image with its clients, their dealers, the society and the area or environment around them. Such information helps them attract and retain more clients and shareholders while still managing to increase the level of trust that the shareholders have put in the company (Stittle, 56, 2003).   Financial information about companies like in the United States brings transparency and enables a company to be able to maintain its major and final outlook. Financial regulation by the government is a form of regulation that allows financial companies and institutions to be subject to checks and guidelines. They also subject to certain restrictions, which are aimed at bringing about foreclosure of financial system and thus, bring about the rise of integrity of a financial institution. The financial regulation procedures can either be handled by the government of the state, capital markets and also other third parties. As for the regulation by the g overnment, there are laws that govern such activity; for example is, The Companies Act containing company law. There are also other legislations and edicts that are involved in the financial regulation of a business by the state. Regulation by capital markets is whereby there is the establishment of stock exchange to stipulate measurement and also

The question is on karen tranberg hansen's book salaula. the world of Essay

The question is on karen tranberg hansen's book salaula. the world of secondhand clothing and zambia - Essay Example The country, which takes its name from the river Zambezi, has been on a path of continual economic decline due to the continuing low worldwide market for copper (the main export of Zambia) and a reduction in the country’s copper reserves. After late 19th century, the flourishing trade in secondhand clothing in the West (in London, a great clothes market rejoiced in the name of ‘Petticoat Lane’) dried up mainly because imports of new clothing from developing countries were easily available and affordable. Of total world exports of secondhand clothing (estimated by the United Nations in 1995 at 1.4 billion, the U.S. being the biggest exporter), about a quarter goes to sub-Saharan Africa. In the early 1990s secondhand clothes were America’s eighth largest export to the region. Britons are known to discard about 1 million tons of old clothes each year: this figure does not include an estimated 200,000 tons of old clothes that are recycled to be worn again or used in the industry. There are two social groups discussed in the book. The first is â€Å"Rainbow Children’s Hospice† in Leicester in the U.K that raises funds for charity. The second is â€Å"Scope†, an organization in the U.K to help people with cerebral palsy. Scope has about 900 clothes banks in the U.K; 760 of them are owned directly by it; the balance 140 are owned by sub-dealers (such as Ragtex U.K located in Ashby-da-la-Zouch) licensed to use the Scope name. Each sub-dealer donates  £100 a year to Scope’s charity fund. Dana Simons, the owner of the blouse that makes the historic journey in the novel, is a high school teacher who teaches home economics, food and nutrition in a school in Leicester. Dana is also a professional fundraiser at the Rainbow Children’s Hospice in the same city. Gerald Commel is the Managing Director of Ragtex U.K, sub-dealer of Scope’s clothes banks, which operates a textile recycling plant

Develop a story in to screenplay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Develop a story in to screenplay - Essay Example Mr. Yardman needs casual laborers to work at his farm. He is harvesting his maize and believe you me; he would have given you some green maize for food. Nancy: I was also not around either. I went to search for what we could eat but unfortunately, I did not succeed (The son moves closer to her, probably to â€Å"confirm† her level of intoxication. She is known for spending the little money she gets from casual work on buying alcohol and leaving the son without enough food). Andrew: Mum †¦I’m †¦. I mean your eyes are bloodshot, you are †¦ I am sorry, but I am convinced you have taken too alcohol again after last week’s drama (feeling upset). Where did you get all the money for alcohol and not for food? Nancy: (Looking away). My son, are you sure you expect an answer to that question? Okay, I will answer you. My friend Caro came to this town and bought for me one bottle †¦ err. I mean only one bottle. Don’t you see I am very stable; I’m not staggering like I did last week? Do not worry about me, I am good. Get in right there, you’ll find some food I left for you to eat (Feeling relieved, she lets out a long breath and buries her face in her hands). Andrew: (Advances into the room, uncovers the food, takes one bite and pauses for a moment) Ugh! †¦ Mum this food is cold and too salt. When did you cook it? (He proceeds to munch the reaming portion of boiled rice, and drinks water. Tired and feeling disenfranchised by his mother’s constant habit of alcoholism, poor hygiene and laziness, Andrew proceeds to sleep on a mat at the farthest corner of the room. Nancy joins him after about 15 minutes and starts talking to herself). Nancy: Everything around me is thick; to others it is tick; I am tired and sick; nothing good to pick. Perhaps with my husband I would be better-off managing this boy who eats like†¦ like ants, and needs other basic needs

Strategy direction

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

Euthanasia Essay: Assisted Suicide and Killing Cripples :: Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide

Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide and Killing Cripples This desire to get rid of mentally and physically different people runs like a thread through human history. The Alaskan Inuits killed impaired kids at birth, as did the Masai of Africa and the Woggeo of New Guinea. Greeks in the fourth century BC used to expose (leave out in the weather to die) their disabled infants. China's rulers are soon to impose laws to "stop the prevalence of abnormal birth." This is not about stopping the birth of able-bodied people capable of performing massacres in Tiananmen Square. No, apparently that is quite OK. By "abnormal," they mean disabled people. "China," says the Xinhua News Agency in Beijing, now has "10 million disabled people who could have been prevented through better controls." The Bible doesn't help much either. In Leviticus 21:18 for example, some twelve impairments - from restricted growth to ruptured testicles, are listed as being unacceptable to God whilst in 2 Samuel 5:8 He orders that those who are blind and lame "shall not come into the home." Darwin's theory of evolution and the survival of the fittest gave these ancient attitudes a new lease on life. In the capitalist jungle of Victorian England, social Darwinism and eugenics were soon invented to scientifically prove that, if the weakest went to the wall, such was the inevitable price of progress. Why bother to change society for the better when you had a scientifically legitimate way of getting rid of those who couldn't keep up, who fell by the wayside? In 1907 Indiana was the first of 30 American states to legalize the sterilization of a variety of disabled people and other "undesirables," and similar laws were passed in Germany (1933-4), Canada (1928), Denmark and Sweden (1929), Finland (1930) and Iceland (1930). It was of course in Germany that the lust for our blood was taken to its logical conclusion. Under the National Socialist Party, the 1933 Law on the Prevention of Congenitally Impaired Progeny and the 1935 Marriage Health Law legalized involuntary sterilization and required doctors to report known disabled people to the Sterilization Courts. But it was Hitler who really set the ball rolling to sweep us off the face of the earth. On September 1, 1939, he issued a directive giving authority to "certain physicians to be designated by name in such a manner that persons who, according to human judgement, are incurable can, upon a most careful diagnosis of their condition of sickness, be accorded a mercy death.

Change Yourself to Change Your World

CHANGE YOURSELF, TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD Often times I hear people say â€Å"if I am in his position or status, I will do better and change things for good†. This statement is made when people feel that their boss (es), employers, leaders and government officials are not performing or living up to expectation. They expect so much from these people and get less than they thought or envisaged. There is this axiom that says â€Å"you cannot give or offer something that you don’t have†.The gross indiscipline, misconduct, under-development or deficiency of any Nation or sphere of human endeavour is a sum total or directly proportional to the gross indiscipline, misconduct, under-development and deficiency of respective individuals in the Nation or sphere of human endeavour. People want to change things for good even when they are not changed themselves. How can you change, influence, or make impact in your world when you are not changed, influenced and impacted on your i nside?Everybody is crying for change, transformation and development when they are not changed, transformed and developed. How do you expect your leaders and bosses to help you and solve your problems when they themselves cannot help themselves and even solve their personal problems? A good reason is that majority of them have not developed the full mind potential to function effectively in that capacity.If you truly, sincerely, intentionally and passionately want to change and influence your world, you must truly, sincerely, intentionally and passionately desire to change your complete state (i. e. body, spirit and soul). How can you bring about growth and development to your world or the Nation, when you have not/ are not bringing about growth and development to yourself? The attitude and character you display or portray now will be synonymous with your character and attitude when you finally become a leader in any capacity or field (i. . , in Academics, Politics, Business, Minist ry, Sports, Entertainment, Tourism, Security, Arts and Culture). The truth is, and still remains that, if you don’t change yourself positively, you cannot change your world positively. In actual sense, you may even end up becoming worst than your Predecessors or perform badly than they did in their time. Leadership is all about changing and influencing people positively!I’m very much enlightened and aware that you have great future career aspirations and ambitions; but you’ve got to tell yourself the truth and ask yourself these simple but all important questions â€Å"are the things I am doing presently in consonance with my dreams, visions and aspirations in life? â€Å"Will I be able to make positive change in my world in 10 to 20 years from now, in cross examination with the things I am doing now? † â€Å"What skills, abilities and potentials do I have that will give me an added advantage over my predecessors and leaders†?Everybody is complain ing about bad roads; uncompleted or abandoned capital projects; poor regulation and maintenance of electricity; fraudsters invading our financial and economic sectors amassing wealth for themselves, detrimental to the growth of the people; fallen standard of our educational systems; insecurity in the Nation; poor sanitary conditions; poor response to capital projects from leaders; poor conditions of service for both public and private workers; moral decadence, gross indiscipline, misconduct and indecent dressing amongst the youth; projects completed with sub-standard and inferior materials and equipment; high rate of unemployment; poor remunerative service and fringe benefit for workers; poor standard of living of citizens, and others too numerous to mention: but only very few individuals are willing and ready to pay the prize; and really able to bring about positive change when they are elected or appointed into the different offices. If you are a Student or pupil, your level of su ccess in future will be a product or a reflection of your level of seriousness in your studies now.Why not suffer or bear the pain now to enjoy tomorrow, instead of playing prank and â€Å"enjoying† now to suffer or bear the pain tomorrow? Always have it in your conscious mind that, Success and Excellence come with a prize; you either pay now and play later or play now and pay later: either way, you must pay! Always endeavour to change yourself in order to change your world when the time comes. Ask yourself â€Å"will I do better than my Councilor; Local Government Chairman; Ministers and Commissioners in different capacities; Senators; Governors and even the President, if I am elected or appointed into their position(s)? † â€Å"Not until you are able to change yourself, you will not/may not be able to change your world†This is a clarion call for every individual irrespective of age, status, colour, family background and disposition to take responsibility in ch anging themselves before they think or talk about changing their world. Let’s all stop the pretence! Let’s all start building and developing our character from where we are. Let’s stop complaining of poor sanitation or environmental hazard when we are the ones throwing dirt on the streets and our environment. Let’s stop disobeying traffic lights and signals in order to avoid accident. Let’s stop crying because of high rate of unemployment, and acquire relevant human capital skills and abilities which will enable us to become self-employed, and become assets to our society/world. Let’s stop criticizing our leaders and bosses unconstructively.Let’s all join hands with the government and other bodies to make our Nation a better, comfortable and convenient place to live in. Let’s all look out for possible means, and harness the resources available in changing ourselves positively, in order to change our world. Let’s all deve lop positive mental attitude about our religious, political, academic, media and entertainment sectors; and take the bull by its horn in bringing about lasting peace, progress, harmony, growth, development and advancement in our world (spheres of endeavour). Remember, you cannot confidently talk about changing your world when you’ve not changed yourself. â€Å"Change yourself to change your world†!

Shouldice Hospital Analysis Essay Example

Shouldice Hospital Analysis Essay Example Shouldice Hospital Analysis Essay Shouldice Hospital Analysis Essay Benefits purchased by the consumer: Shouldice Value Proposition as compared to other hospitals Value is added into every aspect of Shouldice Hospitals sensible service culture. The service offered is the expertise of the doctors, the dedication of the staff, and the overall feel of the atmosphere which, in turn, makes customers feel comfortable and helps in the patients speedy recovery. Shouldice Hospitals biggest value proposition is quality through experience. For over 60 years Shouldice Hospital has been repairing hernias for hundreds of thousands of patients (with over a 99% success rate) and the number is rising daily. This value proposition is definitely being utilized. On their surgical team is Dr. Casim Degani, an internationally recognized authority. The surgeons that work there make a lifetime commitment to the company because after they have been away from other disciplines for so long they loose touch with them. There is no alternative to experience, and since the doctors stay and at Shouldice for countless years, their value proposition is far exceeding what is promised. The procedure itself is one of the many unique aspects the hospital offers. With the use of a local anesthetic combined with the nature of the procedure itself, allows early recovery following surgery. Recovery time is practically cut in half when compared to other hospitals. Also, the local anesthetic is administered in the operating room, compared to other hospitals completely sedating you before you even enter the operating room. After the operation patients are encouraged to step off of the operating table and walk to the post-operating room, allowing the exercising needed for full recovery to begin immediately. This procedure would never be carried out at other hospitals. The simple fact that patient is awake and is fully aware of what is happening around them is also not the norm for most hospitals. The atmosphere of the Shouldice hospital is one of their value adding features with two different facilities (the hospital and a clinic) in the 17,000 square foot building sitting on 130 acres. The entire hospital is carpeted to give it a comforting feeling, as opposed to a cold hospital floor feel. It is equipped with a large open lounge area, the admissions office, patient rooms, and a spacious glass-covered Florida room. It also contains recreational facilities ranging from exercising equipment to a pool table. Balancing low cost with high quality Shouldice is able to balance low cost with high quality in several different ways. The low cost of the operation room furnishings ($30,000) is one reason. The cost of operating rooms in other hospitals is quadruple that because the equipment needed is much more extensive. They are able to reduce costs with only having one â€Å"crash cart† per floor of the hospital, compared with hundreds. Turnover is low, so there is another cost-cutting measure. They pay their employees over average than most hospitals, which raises their budget more. This is how their quality remains at a high level, while being low cost competitors at the same time. Their full utilization of their time also helps in cost cutting measures. Target Group of Customers: Commonalities Production Process Shouldice Hospital has created a niche service in the medical field that targets only external abdominal hernias or hernias from patients suffering from recurrences. They also partner patients with similar backgrounds, jobs, or interests into the same room to further add to their value proposition. To further add to the delivery of their value proposition, Shouldice Hospital’s service process is unique in its own right. From being kind enough to wake patients in the same room for surgery within minutes (a procedure I have never seen another hospital perform) to almost immediately after surgery administering counseling activities. When patients arrive at the facility, they are immediately able to mingle with other patients who had their operation on that same day. This is a psychological procedure to make the patients feel comfortable about their operation, again, not a practice that is done by other hospitals. A simple blueprint of their production process is attached to this essay to further demonstrate their unique service delivery. The service delivery far exceeds the expectations of patients and perfectly matches their value proposition. Five Dimensions of Service Quality Reliability: Delivery on Promises oReliability is defined as the ability to perform the promised service dependably and accurately. Throughout this paper I have stated how Shouldice Hospital is living up to their service value proposition in many different dimensions. Shouldice maintains promises made with regards to pricing, delivery, and problem resolution. They are always on the same schedule Monday through Friday, and make careful diagnoses from the start. Responsiveness: Being Willing to Help oResponsiveness is the willingness to help customers and to provide prompt service. Shouldice’s accessibility, willingness to listen to every patient individually, and immediate attention as soon as the patient enters the door shows their proficiency in responsiveness. Assurance: Inspiring Trust and Confidence oAssurance is defined as employees’ knowledge and courtesy and the ability of the firm and its employees to inspire trust and confidence. In the medical field it is extremely important to achieve assurance because of the high risk factor. Trust and confidence are apparent when you enter the doors, when you receive your first examination, when you go to your first counseling session with patients that have just had the operation, to when you leave the hospital. The patients have a great amount of assurance when they discover the experience and skill level of the doctors, and when they hear about the good reputation that they hold. With no advertising in place, their customer base is highly reliant upon word-of-mouth and reputation is everything. Empathy: Treating Customers as Individuals oEmpathy is defined as the caring, individualized attention that the firm provides its customers. Since Shouldice hospital positioned itself as specialist in hernia surgery they are able to compete with larger hospitals in this area. The specialized attention they give to each patient also shows there successfulness with regards to empathy. With all of the counseling sessions the patients endure throughout their stay, each patient is treated like family members of a huge group. Each patient is understood by their peers, and the experienced staff is empathetic and knowledgeable about what they are going through also. Tangibles: Representing the Service Physically oTangibles are defined as the appearance of physical facilities, equipment, personnel, and communication materials. From the moment that you decide that Shouldice is the facility that you want to operate on you, they send you an informative brochure detailing the facility and procedure you will endure. I mentioned above some of the amenities that Shouldice offers for their patients that makes them proficient in delivering tangibles. Employment at Shouldice Hospital Compared to Other Hospitals Nurses: The nurse to patient ratio in other hospitals in the Ontario is 1:4, compared to Shouldice’s ratio of 1:15. Their unique service delivery process can be attributed to these differences. Most of their time is spent in counseling activities for the patients, instead of the grueling activities nurses do at other hospitals such as paperwork and changing bed pans. There are no bed pans at Shouldice. The waiting list to be employed as a nurse in this facility is endless, while hospitals in the area are extremely short staffed. Doctors: This position appeals to experienced doctors who â€Å"want to watch their children grow up. † Their typical day only lasts from 7 a. m. to 4 p. m. which are very attractive hours for me. They are only on call one weekday night in ten and one weekend in ten. Compared to other hospitals where doctors work long strenuous hours and are on call all of the time. They are paid 15% more than a surgeon in Ontario. The only downside, if you could call it a downside, for doctors is that they loose touch with other medical surgical disciples since they are always performing the same surgery with the same disciplines. There are a very small percentage of doctors that elect to leave the organization once they have started, which results in low turnover. Administration and Support Staff: The administration and support staff are non-union individuals because their pay is higher than comparable jobs in the area. There is very low turnover because they have a â€Å"no one fired† policy. One characteristic that I found interesting was that there is no organization chart because, â€Å"A chart tends to make people think they are boxed in jobs. † The administration staff is cross-trained to do every other administration and support staff job, so if the situation arises where they are needed else where, there is no problem in doing so. Growth Alternatives Dr. Shouldice seeks a desire to find ways of increasing the hospitals capacity. There are a few proposals on the table that help make this happen. oStart performing operations on Saturday which would increase capacity by 20%. There are currently no operations performed on Saturdays and Sundays. Patients who have their operation late in the week still stay at the facility during the weekend. This is frowned upon by all of the current Shouldice employees. oThey could expand their number of beds by 50%, and schedule the operating rooms more heavily. This would require an investment of $4 million dollars. oThey could expand into Toronto, or even in the United States. oOffer more specialties such as eye surgery, varicose veins, or diagnostic services. My Alternatives Expand the capacity of the current hospital to meet demand Advertising Campaign Hire more surgeons staff Operate on Saturday Expand into the United States Solution Rationale With one hundred and thirty acres to build on, I believe that Shouldice should expand the capacity of the hospital to meet the rising demand. If they proceed in this direction then they would be able to begin a marketing campaign that would tremendously attract new patients into the operating room. In order to meet the increased workload of the new expansion new staff would need to be hired to make sure company morale remains high. With the hiring of the new staff, it will be easy to maintain the same working relationships and attitudes they have with their patients. The current staff can empower incoming new staff to maintain the same business culture and learn the specialized way of Shouldice Hospital. Expansion in the United States would be a great move after my first alternative is assessed, completed, and begins to earn profits. This will not happen overnight. It will be a long process with many trials and tribulations. The Shouldice Method is very unique and does not need to be copied in anyway. The current threat of other hospitals stealing this unique technique and performing it in the wrong way can prove to be disastrous for Shouldice. Immediate attention needs to be given to this problem. A thought on what to do includes getting negative media attention towards the hospitals who are trying to reproduce the technique. I believe that the marketing campaign that will be launched could prove to be beneficial instead of hazardous to Shouldice Hospital in this respect. By implementing my alternatives, I believe, that Shouldice Hospital will continue to remain successful in their specialization and offer a superior value proposition, all while remaining to balance low cost with high quality.