Marketing Research and Consulting Firms that Specialize in Branding Essay Example

Marketing Research and Consulting Firms that Specialize in Branding Essay Marketing Research and Consulting Firms Nowadays brand is crucial to the commercial success of a company this is why many firms demand a market research and consulting concerning branding of possibly higher quality. Naturally, in such a situation many companies specializing in this area have appeared in recent years. Decision Analyst and Frost and Sullivan may be singled out among these groups. Speaking of Frost and Sullivan, it is possible to say that the company provides its customers with a profound market research and consulting in different marketing related areas. In fact, the company pays particular attention to the extensive use of innovations in their research programs, and it continually enlarges its partnership programs. It is very important that Frost and Sullivan provide its customers not only with a high quality marketing research that helps company to be prepared for entering the market, being able to analyse the results of frost and Sullivan’s research, but it also consult its customers largely that naturally contributes to the perspective of the growth of companies that use its services. We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Research and Consulting Firms that Specialize in Branding specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Research and Consulting Firms that Specialize in Branding specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Marketing Research and Consulting Firms that Specialize in Branding specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Also, it should be pointed out that Frost and Sullivan cover different industries with their marketing research and consulting that make their services accessible from different countries but it should be said that the company is mainly focused on Asian, Asian Pacific, Chinese, European, and Latin American markets. Furthermore, Frost and Sullivan regularly provide pieces of training that are very helpful for customers, and it also informs theirs about recent events that naturally provide the customers with higher opportunities to receive essential and useful information any time they need. As for Decision Analyst, it is also another quite successful company specialized in marketing research and consulting in branding. This group may be characterized by a high quality of its services since it provides its clients with efficient marketing research and is ready to ask its customers on the questions concerning market analysis and branding. It is crucial that it has a well-developed research program but what is probably even more important nowadays is the fact that Decision Analyst, precisely like Frost and Sullivan, amply uses innovations in their marketing research and consulting concerning branding. The latter fact is particularly important because the world economy and markets are continually progressing and to remain competitive in its segment of the market, it is necessary to implement innovations widely. Otherwise, customers would prefer more advanced company. Also, it is necessary to underline that the company supplies its customers with free statistics software that naturally is not sufficient but still may be very helpful for any business. Furthermore, the company, in this respect being similar to Frost and Sullivan, keeps its customers informed continuously about recent events that are also very useful. Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is possible to conclude that both companies, Frost and Sullivan and Decision Analyst, specialize in marketing research and consulting concerning branding. These companies may be considered to be quite satisfied and covering different industries in different countries of the world that makes their services accessible and useful for an increasingly large number of clients. If you need professional Marketing research report writing help from experts, visit this website: .

Top 12 Most Useful Apps for Busy Professionals

Top 12 Most Useful Apps for Busy Professionals We’re all attached to our smartphones all the time. Why not make the most of them? Here are the 12 most useful  apps for professionals in the know and on the go. You’ll probably wonder how you ever got through your worklife without them. 1. PocketWho has time to read all the articles from Twitter and Facebook that we want to, on the fly? Pocket lets you save content for future reads, from multiple programs. And the content is available offline for subway or airplane reading.2. TrelloTrello is a project management app which makes team collaboration a snap. Brainstorm, allocate tasks, and monitor checklists all from the app.3. TeuxDeuxThis iOS-only app is the to-do list for the ages. Mark things off with a snap and be sure that unfinished tasks will roll over to the next day.4. TurboScanTake a picture of a document with your phone and turn it into a JPG or a PDF. You can stop hoarding receipts and unnecessary paperwork and digitize your files in a snap.5. LastPassStore all of your passwords (securely) in one place- especially the ones that require you to change them every 60 days.6. 30/3030/30(iOS only) helps you focus and tune out distractions by setting a timer for you to work on one task at a time. Tune out all the outside noise and the distraction of being pulled in multiple directions.7. DoodleGive up the endless scheduling email chain. Doodle let’s participants set their availability and then it comes up with meeting times that everyone can make. Easy.8. SwiftKeyFree yourself from cringeworthy autocorrects. This app replaces your keyboard with one that will adapt to your particular typing quirks. You’ll type faster and typos won’t end up grotesquely out of context.9. SignEasyForget printing, signing, scanning. SignEasy helps you e-sign documents (PDF or Word) wherever you are.10. CircaGet the day’s leading news headlines in a quick and easy format so you can catch up over coffee breaks and at lunch and still be in the know.11. VenmoDon’t be the jerk at the dinner party with no cash and no Venmo. Or the one who can’t contribute to the boss’s holiday gift on the fly. Send money to anyone with the app- instantly and securely.12. MintMonitor your bank accounts, your spending patterns, pay your bills on time, and set a budget you can keep.

Analysing The Grameen Bank Of Bangladesh Economics Essay

Analysing The Grameen Bank Of Bangladesh Economics Essay Grameen Bank (GB) is called the bank of poor people in Bangladesh. It has been established for the welfare of the poor village people of Bangladesh, which becomes a role model of the world of micro credit banking system. At the beginnings of Microcredit, Dr. Muhammed Yunus who is an economist educated in the United States of America, although originally from Bangladesh, introduced the world to the notion of micro-credit in the 1970’s. Counts (1996) said that Muhammed Yunus talked with the poor village people and discover that general local bank never shows interest to provide loan to poor people and does not lend them and they had to borrow money from extortionate moneylenders with high interest rates. As a result, they ended up more-or-less permanently in debt and any money they made went to pay the interest on these high-interest loans. Yunus became conscious at that moment that the poor problems were in some ways no different from anyone else: low interest credit was a nec essity of life. Definition of Micro Credit Auwal (1996): An extremely small loan given to impoverished people to help them become self employed. Also known as â€Å"micro lending.† This small loans extension (microloans) to those in poverty designed to spur entrepreneurship. These loans especially given to a poor person to enable him or herself to become self employed. Financial services loaned a small amounts of money usually around $50-$150 to poor people as a capital of a small business to start or extend it. The Grameen Bank in Bangladesh has become a model of successful micro loan provider. Principles of Microcredit: General financing or credit. It emphasizes building capacity of a micro-entrepreneur. Employment generation. Trust building. Socioeconomic development. Help the micro entrepreneur on during difficult. Advantage of Microcredit Soeama (2004): Source and cost of funding: â€Å" In order for the Microfinance institutions to loan they need funding too and a stab le microfinance institution might have a competitive advantage of low cost of funds which enables it to provide finance at low cost. Infrastructure set up: Microfinance companies must have a required network and infrastructure to deliver these services. The Grameen Bank of Bangladesh creates and implements this structure in rural village area. Image: MFI’s are many times criticized as money squeezing machines which charge very high cost. Which is not necessarily true considering their cost of funds and risks moreover they have to be sustainable. So here I think having a good name, image and Top management team helps a lot.† Disadvantages of Micro Credit: Although microcredits are the keystone in terms of development in poor countries, it can also have its difficult. Indeed, the disadvantages of microcredits are: Some microcredit institutions are often unpredictable. Refunding problems. Budget depends on subsidises from the government or NGOs. Fig 1: Current Microcredit Network of Grameen Bank History of Grameen Bank: â€Å"The founder of Grameen Bank Muhammad Yunus open up the idea of ‘micro-credit’–minuscule loans to the very poor. The bank currently lends more than $500 million a year with a repayment rate of better than 97 percent. Its Group Savings Funds have assets of $186 million. Grameen Bank operates 1,100 branches in half of Bangladesh’s nearly 80,000 villages. The program has been successfully replicated in dozens of countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Africa, and Bolivia. It has also been applied to inner city and rural poverty in rich nations in North America and Europe.

American Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

American Government - Essay Example A democracy is flawed when government officials act in their self interest rather than the publics and when a portion of the populace is served more than others. We cannot be of the people if we are not by the people. Any reason for low voter turnout whether internally, from apathy or external sources such as intentional acts of voter suppression degrades and makes a mockery of a democracy, an ongoing experiment, a system that works only as well as people make it. By strengthening instead of weakening the Voting Rights Act of 1965, changing the voting day (Tuesday) and instituting mandatory voting among other techniques, voter turnout will be increased which is a victory in and of itself, a victory for the democratic process and we the people. Low voter turn out Pandering Political leaders usually show little interest in catering to segments of the population that historically vote in smaller numbers than the norm. They use their limited campaign resources, time and money, where it w ill do the most good. The 2012 presidential election is a good example. Republican candidate Mitt Romney courted the far-right of his party to win the primary because this was the most emotionally motivated group meaning they would vote in high numbers. Romney is credited for instituting the model for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) as Governor of Massachusetts, a law that covers abortion and illegal immigrants. He did what all politicians do, pandered to the people going to the polls. The far-right Tea Party does not represent mainstream Republicans. Their voice is over-represented. Even after the presidential loss Republicans have not showed interest in attract minority voters. Voting blocks such as the Tea Party have a larger voice in government, a circumstance that does not accurately represent the population. Bad outcomes occur when a highly motivated minority carries a disproportionate voice such as when the House of Representatives shutdown the federal government, have vo ted to repeal Obamacare more than 40 times and is not allowing a vote on the immigration bill. Apathy A democratic government is designed to reflect the will of the majority and protect the civil liberties of all. Apathy, the lack of interest in the democratic process, acts to distort the ideal of democracy and not in a positive way. When half of those registered to vote choose not to exercise that right it results in a government that does not represent all people equally. People don’t vote for a variety of reasons including, ‘too busy,’ ‘don’t like either candidate,’ ‘have a disability’ and ‘just don’t care about politics.’ Voting apathy is getting worse. In 1960 nearly two-thirds of eligible voters made it to the polls, a number smaller than many other democracies but the largest turnout in the 50 years previous as well. In 2008 that relatively low number dropped to just over 50 percent. Those figures are fo r presidential elections. Off-year elections are much worse when voter apathy reaches two-thirds, a dismal number especially when compared to other democracies. Several countries consistently surpass more than 90 percent voter turnout including Australia, Belgium, Austria and Italy. (Ghosh, 2011). Voters who are more educated and of a higher socio-economic class vote in larger numbers than poor and less educated voters. In the 2008 election, according to the U.S Census Bureau, â€Å"76 percent of voters earning a median income of $50,000 or more voted, while only 59 percent of Americans

St. Peters Basilica Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

St. Peters Basilica - Essay Example Famous group of architects in Renaissance times include of Bramante, Peruzzi, Antonio da Sangallo and Michelangelo for the architectural practice that was then imitated throughout Europe. Their masterpieces are made up of their personal artistic skills and preferences. Its interior was compounded of magnificent works of these famous architects in which several structures are brilliantly decorated with mosaics. In order to communicate their design intent, the architects considered the graphical language that is easy to understood and shared to others. Christians were allowed to worship openly, St. Peter's basilica became the prototype of churches today which the Christians built. Little by little, each feature inside of the pagan basilica became suffused with Christian significance. This paper traces the gradual restoration of St. Peters basilica from the first and original plan that grown slowly but steadily adapted place for worship. None of the existing types of building could meet the needs of the fellow Christian worshippers. St Peters Basilica is the center of the flow of western Christendom's political, social, religious and cultural development. Every masterpiece is much appreciated in the history and the essence of this remarkable place. Under the construction of more than 150 years, it's been a witness of spiritual humility. The Vatican is still the most recognized landmarks in Rome.

The Part Time Workers Essay Example for Free

The Part Time Workers Essay Introduction Working part time can be a good way of balancing ones work and personal commitments. Part-time workers have the right to be treated fairly in comparison to their full-time colleagues [icn.ch]. A part-time worker is one who works fewer hours than a full-time worker.  Theres no specific number of hours that makes one full or part-time. The reasons for working part-time vary from one individual to another. It may be that one simply wants to have a different work-life balance, or one may have caring responsibilities. Part time work means different things to different people. Part-time work may be defined as regular wage employment with hours of work substantially shorter than normal in the establishment concerned [direct.gov.uk]. It may mean working at night to some people or working during the day to others. This depends on the custom and practice of each work place. For example in developing countries night duty is viewed as a part time job whereas advanced countries adopt a system of part time employment where employees work per hour. Hence it can be implemented by day or night. The aim of this paper is to introduce the part time workers regulations 2000.This law was implemented [europa.eu] to facilitate the development of part time work on a voluntary basis. It also aimed at contributing to the flexible organization of working time in a manner that takes into account the needs of workers. It was amended in the year 2000 but came into force on 1st October 2002. Its aim was to prevent part time workers from less favourable treatment such as discrimination in redundancy, promotion, training, pension schemes and job benefits, pay and appraisal. Amendments to the part time workers regulations 2000 According to the policy of the relevant Australian government perspective [cpe.sa.gov.au], part time workers regulations were amended as follows: Part-timers must be treated at least as well as equivalent full-time workers, unless the reason why not can be objectively justified. An equivalent full-time worker is one doing a similar job on the same type of contract. 2) The regulations include temporary staff such as agency and casual workers but part time agency workers cant compare themselves to full time permanent workers. The regulations dont stop employers giving better terms to part-timers, perhaps to encourage a more balanced workforce, but the employer will need to be sure that doing this is not against other discrimination laws. 3) Part-timers must be treated at least as well as equivalent full-time workers, unless the reason why not can be objectively justified. An equivalent full-time worker is one doing a similar job on the same type of contract. 4) The regulations include temporary staff such as agency and casual workers but part time agency workers cant compare themselves to full time permanent workers. The regulations dont stop employers giving better terms to part-timers, perhaps to encourage a more balanced workforce, but the employer will need to be sure that doing this is not against other discrimination laws. 5) Employees wanting to work part time should discuss their requirements with their manager. If it is agreed that part time work can be arranged there should be a written agreement which includes the period of part time work, the actual hours of work, and the duties and responsibilities for the part time work arrangement. Any changes to these arrangements should be agreed to by both parties. 6) Employers are expected to give reasonable and positive consideration to requests to work part time. They should also provide objective justification of why vacancies are not suitable for conversion to part time.   They should develop a part time policy which ensures that employees are treated fairly and have equal access to general conditions of employment.   7) Appropriate management of part time employees is crucial. Managers need to consider ways of formally redesigning jobs to provide for part time work and ensure that part time employees are given equal access to training, development and promotional opportunities. Managers should check that the work load for part time employees is not the same as that of a full time employee and is commensurate with the hours worked [cpe.sa.gov.au]. RIGHTS OF PART TIME WORKERS Part-time workers rights are synonymous with analysing their rates of pay. In this regard, part-time workers must get at least the same hourly pay rate as a full-timer doing a similar job [eoc-law.org.uk]. This means that the part time bonus should be in proportion to the hours.   Ã‚  For example if a full time worker gets a  £1000 bonus, a part time worker working half the number of hours should get  £500. The employer should set the same working hours for enhanced overtime pay as for full timers. So the part timer might not get overtime pay until he/she has worked more than the normal hours of a full-time worker [eoc-law.org.uk]. Pension opportunities and benefits Employers should not discriminate between full-time and part-time workers over access to pension schemes [eoc-law.org.uk]. Other company benefits (such as company cars, employee discounts, and health insurance) should be given pro rata if possible. If this is not possible then the employer will have to decide whether or not to offer the benefit to everybody. Training and career development Part-time workers mustnt be excluded from training and career development opportunities [compactlaw.co.uk]. Training must be organised at times that suit most workers, including part-timers. Holidays All workers have the right to a minimum amount of annual holiday   [compactlaw.co.uk]. Many employers give more than the statutory minimum amount of holiday. Under the regulations part-timers should be treated no less favourably; this normally means that a part time worker will get a pro rata proportion of what the full-time workers get.   The employer should not round down the number of days given, because this would be unfavourable treatment, but fractions of a day might be given as hours. Sick pay, maternity, adoption and paternity leave and pay Part-timers are entitled to the same rights to sick pay and maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay, and parental leave as full-time staff. If companies give more than the statutory entitlement, part-timers must also get these contractual benefits [compactlaw.co.uk]. Selection for promotion and transfer, or for redundancy Being part-time cant be used as a reason for selection for transfer or redundancy, or refusing a promotion, unless it can be justified objectively [eoc-law.org.uk].   A part-timer who meets the promotion requirements have the right to be promoted. A part –timer who is transferred to the hardship areas should also get the same hardship allowances as a full-timer. Flexibility in working Its important to balance your work and home life. The right to ask for flexible working aims to help employers and workers agree on work patterns that suit everyone [compactlaw.co.uk]. Any working pattern adapted to suit one’s needs. Common types of flexible working are: Part-time: this is where one works less than the normal hours, perhaps by working fewer days per week. For example, if there are forty normal working hours in five days a week, one may choose to work for three days a week. This means that the part-timer will work for twenty four hours weekly. Flexi-time: in this case, one works at his/her convenient time. There is usually a core period during which one has to work. For example one can decide to do his/her duties in the night while another person prefers to work during the day. Annualised hours: your hours are worked out over a year (often set shifts with you deciding when to work the other hours). Compressed hours: working your agreed hours over fewer days Staggered hours: different starting, break and finishing times for employees in the same workplace. Job sharing: sharing a job designed for one person with someone else Home working: working from home   Effectiveness of part time workers regulations 2000 a) When reorganising workloads employers [direct.gov.uk] must be careful to ensure that part-time workers are not treated less favourably than full-time workers, unless the employer can justify the different treatment on objective grounds. This will mean for example, making a wider range of job types open to part-timers, such as levels of management. Part-timers should be given equal opportunity to seek promotion whether the post is full-time or part-time. The Department of Trade Industry recommend as best practice that employers periodically review whether posts they are offering could be performed by part-time workers and seek to maximise the range of posts designated as suitable for part-time work or job-sharing. b) Employers need to ensure that part-time staff are not excluded from profit sharing or share option schemes as such exclusion will be unlawful [direct.gov.uk]. However, if the exclusion can be objectively justified then it may be permissible, e.g. where a pro rata entitlement to share options by part-time staff would mean their share options would be so small as to be worthless, as it would cost more to realize the shares. c) Part-timers should have the same access to occupational pension schemes as full-timers, unless exclusion can be justified on objective grounds [direct.gov.uk]. d) It is no longer acceptable to choose to make part-time workers redundant before full-time workers. This would be unlawful under the Regulations and might also amount to sex discrimination if the majority of the part-time workers were women. The criteria for selecting jobs for redundancy must be objectively justified and not cause less favourable treatment between full-timers and part-timers [direct.gov.uk]. e) As far as perks such as health insurance, staff discounts, company cars and subsidized mortgages are concerned it may not be possible to divide these on a pro rata basis for part-timers and in that case an employer can decide whether or not to withhold these benefits from part-timers, but their decision must be capable of justification on objective grounds. If ways can be found to provide the perks then they should be provided [direct.gov.uk]. For example, in the case of a company car for full-timers an employer might calculate the financial value of this perk and give that value to a part-timer pro rata by other means such as a car allowance. f) Although there is no legal right for a worker to be able to change their hours of work the employment tribunals have in the past made rulings that where women returning from maternity leave are refused part-time hours that this could amount to indirect sex discrimination. As such employers must be sensitive to requests to work part-time and look at such requests sympathetically. Employers should consider establishing written procedures for considering requests by workers to change their hours [direct.gov.uk]. Conclusion The part time workers regulation 2000 has been effective in so far as it meets the purpose of this law which was to prevent part time workers from less favourable treatment has been achieved [direct.gov.uk]. It has facilitated the elimination of part time workers discrimination. It has also helped to improve the quality of part time work. It has also facilitated the development of part time work on a voluntary basis where the worker is allowed to make choice on the working time convenient for him/her. This law has also contributed to the flexible organization of working time in a manner which takes into account the needs of employers and workers. The law has also ensured that there is an agreement between the employer and the employee on various issues. These issues [direct.gov.uk] include: How the hours of work will be divided Communication strategy to be put in place Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each employee Continuity strategy to be put in place Review arrangements to be put in place. Part time workers in this country will therefore have a reason to work in an environment of increased security, both of personal rights and freedoms, and those related to employment. Works Cited Advantages of claiming under the Part-Time Workers Regulations http://www.eoc-law.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=2676 [Cited: 19 July 2007]    Amendments To The Part-Time Workers (Prevention Of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 http://www.dti.gov.uk/employment/workandfamilies/part-time/page19035.html [Crown copyright 2007]    Council Directive 97/81/EC of 15 December 1997 concerning the Framework Agreement on parttime working concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC. [ See amending acts ] http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/cha/c10416.htm    Equal Opportunities Commision.   http://www.eoc.org.uk/default.aspx?page=15286 [Cited: 12 June 2007] Flexible working and work-life balance: an introduction http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10029491    Key Skills Development Through Part-Time Voluntary Work http://www.corporate.hull.ac.uk/cgi-bin/iiabf?ii_app=modcatprocname=displaymodulecrse_cd=01997acdmc_sssn_cd=04/05    Part-time work. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/EmploymentContractsAndConditions/DG_10027738    Part-time Employment http://www.icn.ch/pspart-time00.htm [Cited: 2000] Steps for introducing part time and job share arrangements http://www.cpe.sa.gov.au/policy.asp?a=viewid=15572view_id=15615o=idL1=854idL2=69idL3=idL4=       The Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 http://www.compactlaw.co.uk/free_legal_articles/part_time_workers_regs_2000.html    Why I Started a Virtual Company http://members.aol.com/nancyds/ess-telecom.html

Rabbits in Australia :: Rabbits Animals Australian Herbivores Essays

Rabbits in Australia Introduction Coevolution is a natural phenomenon that has affected all habitats throughout the world. In general, it encompasses the interactions among different species within a general population and the adaptations each species makes to survive in such a diverse environment. The mere presence of all species that are currently in existence is proof that those species have adapted over thousands and millions of years in such a way that allows them to survive and reproduce. Through millions of years of evolution, well-balanced habitats have co-evolved to provide for the wide variety of species and their needs. Trees have adapted to weeds, weeds have adapted to the predation from herbivores, and so on up the food chain. Similar scenarios are seen throughout the world. Through the process of natural selection, specific species or broad species families will go extinct. However, these occurrences have largely been due to the natural flow and evolution of time. It wasn’t until recently that dominant species, such as humans, have taken the course of nature into their own hands. Throughout history, humans have had an increasingly profound impact on the areas in which they inhabit. Human population has increased in a slow yet exponential pattern since their evolution. These growing populations, along with species evolution have directed humans such that they have domesticated themselves and the things around them in ways that are both functionally and aesthetically pleasing. Plant species were transformed into useful crops, wild animals were converted to willing (and sometimes not so willing) companions, animals were hunted for food and for sport, and man's surroundings were modified as were seen fit. However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As the environment has become modified, harmful consequences have resulted causing many of the natural coevolutionary processes to fall out of balance. Slowly, the disruption of these delicate balances are taking their toll on the native habitats and transforming small temporary changes into permanent problems. The area of environmental modification that will be emphasized in this paper is the introduction of non-native species to new habitats and the resulting effects on that habitat; specifically, the introduction of the European Rabbit to Australia. History of rabbit origin in Australia It all started in 1859. Australia was slowly becoming populated with European pioneers who sought the newness of the great, unsettled continent. However, there were a few things from home from which they just couldn’t part.

Elliot Company Essay

The Elliot Company was established in the early 1950’s and has been a profitable greeting card company. It had always been a pioneer in developing creative means to attract its target group, in spite of which the group’s market share has been limited to merely 4% in the industry. Industry leader Hallmark has the lion’s share of about 41%, American Greetings about 30%, followed by over 300 companies, including   Elliot Company that account for the remaining share. Technological advancements in the telephone industry and the advent of the internet have pushed most greeting card companies against a wall, with flat sales, diminishing margins and a threat of decimation. The way forward is to identify means of generating sales by entering newer markets and the company has identified two markets that remain unexplored for Elliot Company American Hispanic market Overseas English speaking market Problem Statement Elliot Company had never ventured into unchartered territories, and finds both these markets intricate. The American Hispanic market is unique and has different sensitivities than the dominant white and black market that Elliot Company has been catering to. Meeting the needs of the overseas market is even more complicated as the company would need to study several cultures and meet their respective needs. Marketing the product to both these unique markets is the challenge that Elliot Company faces, for which a solution is required. The company cannot enter both the markets at once, and hence an ideal market should be identified that would suit the interests of the company. There are about 30 million Hispanics in America, who predominantly come from Mexico, Cuba and other Spanish dominated countries. The interesting facts about this population are: The Hispanic population has the highest growing population in the country with almost 40% of population growth between the years 1985 to 2010, coming from this community. The Hispanic population can be broadly divided into three groups, the native Spanish people who speak and follow Spanish culture alone; the assimilated Spanish, who cannot be distinguished from the Americans; and the Accultured Spanish, who are about 57% of the Hispanic population. (Arjona, Shah, Tinivelli & Weiss, 1998) The Hispanic community prefer significant influence of their culture in the marketing process, even if the communication occurred in English. Price conscious audience that chooses price over value Just like the Hispanic community, the overseas market has different sensitivities that make it an equally tough opportunity to expand into. Also, there are certain problems the company faces when entering these markets, which are listed below. Existence of multiple cultures in each country Semantic barriers that can prevent communication as anticipated Cultural perceptions about greeting cards, as customers in some countries prefer customized and hand written communication to pre-printed cards. Huge costs of research & development, product and distribution.   List of Critical factors The management if Elliot Company is apprehensive with both the solutions provided by the consultants, as each of them has their own concerns, which are listed above. A study shows that more than eighty percent of greeting cards customers, the world over are women. Hence, whichever strategy adopted by Elliot Company, would need to target the women predominantly. Which group of women, overseas women or Hispanic American women, can be targeted easily is one critical factor of success.   While venturing into foreign markets like UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand would be good option for the penetration of the company into newer markets, it would expose the company to the competition of each market. While Canada is a market that Elliot Company should find easy to understand with its proximity to the American culture, each of the other markets is complex in their own ways. Hallmark has already made preparations to launch Spanish greeting cards by including several Spanglish messages (The Washington Times, 2002), and would aggressively market its brand when compared to Elliot Company. Hence, which market is less competitive and can easily be penetrated becomes the second critical factor. The third critical factor is the consumer’s buying behavior in both these markets. Hispanic customers have a buying behavior that is strongly influenced by culture and cultural cues, which include importance for family, formality and status. (Haegele, 2000 in Lynn Brandon, Judith C. Forney, 2002) The above three factors can contribute greatly to the success of Elliot greeting cards in this target group, the company can focus the marketing strategy on how to express emotions to its family, how to upkeep formalities and use greeting cards as a status symbol for greeting someone. On the contrary, some of the overseas markets are less liberal and more demanding. The culture of Australia and New Zealand is strongly influenced from the English, and the English culture finds it more appropriate to send a personalized letter than a pre-designed and pre-printed greeting card. The success of the company is dependent on how well it breaks this cultural barrier. Recommended Solution In spite of the advantages of a larger market that the company can cater to when it reaches out to the overseas market, it is recommended that Elliot Company focus on reaching out to the Hispanic American community, by offering customized greeting cards. Justification The biggest factor that justifies the above recommendation is the huge costs involved in establishing a brand and a business overseas, in multiple markets. To reach out to the overseas English market also would require significant investments in research about respective cultures, making the cost of research irrelevant for the decision making process for either decisions. A third of the Hispanic community would identify themselves with the rest of the Americans, and no special campaigns need to be done for them. However, the accultured Hispanics and the native Spanish speakers prefer a brand that they can identify with their ethnic group, to a business that seems very un-ethnic. (Dyer & Ross, 2000) Elliot Company should reach to the Hispanic community with a brand that they can identify with, design greeting cards based on their preferences and deliver the same as per their needs. Mere translations from the exhaustive designs that Elliot owns might not be as helpful, as designing cards that meet the needs of the Hispanic customers. References Luis D. Arjona, Rajesh Shah, Alejandro Tinivelli & Adam Weiss (1998) Marketing to the Hispanic Consumer,   Journal Title: The McKinsey Quarterly. Volume: 1. Issue: 3. Publication Year: 1998. Page Number: 106+ Lynn Brandon, Judith C. Forney (2002), Influences on Female Purchase Motivations and Product Satisfaction: a Comparison of Casual and Formal Lifestyles and Anglo and Hispanic Ethnicity, Journal Title: Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences. Volume: 94. Issue: 1. Publication Year: 2002. Page Number: 54+ Linda M. Dyer, Christopher A. Ross (2000), Ethnic Enterprises and Their Clientele, Journal Title: Journal of Small Business Management. Volume: 38. Issue: 2, Page Number: 48 ‘Spanglish’ Speakers Mix Home Languages; Popular Trend Seen as Obstacle. Newspaper Title: The Washington Times. Publication Date: November 21, 2002. Page Number: A01

Mtv Research Paper Essay

The first song that was played on MTV was called â€Å"Video killed the Radio Star†. It was sung by a group called The Buggles. This was a very popular song all over and it was deemed a good choice for the first song broadcasted. Many people also believed that the meaning of the song was that MTV, the new music video broadcasting station was going to destroy the radio. Some people thought that the song was performed live, but it was just a video. MTV was quite a big hit by the 1990’s. It was viewed in over 50 million American homes. It became a target for all advertisers because of the number of young viewers that watched MTV. The kids would beg their parents to buy the products they saw on the advertisements and it made out to be a good investment for advertisers. The attention and money that the advertisers brought in was good for MTV because they got more offers to get commercial time which means more money for them. Some people that were on MTV when it was in its first few years were Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Cranberries, and Nirvana. They helped to kind of kick off the show and set it up for successful years to come. There are also some big-named people who probably played music from that MTV which helped to jump start their career. Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, Peter Gabriel, U2, and Duran Duran were some of the people that were all a part of MTV at one time. In a way, these people also helped MTV to get a good start too. The more big names that they brought in the more attention they got from viewers. This was good for the singers and MTV. The target audience that MTV chose was teens age 12 to 21. With this age group, they found that they got very good viewing rates. Artists whose songs were played on MTV found that the sales of their song increased. This is what gave advertisers the idea that they could do good business if they had an ad on MTV. With this targeted audience, they also found that their viewing rates continued to rise. Today they still target the same audience and they are still very successful in the way that they draw the audience. There have been a few changes in MTV since the start. They released a new logo after 30 years. It is not much different. It is just a little bit bigger and it is one color. The last was a mix between a few colors. The old one was designed by Frank Olinsky and it was a very big hit, but it was just time for a change. In 1986, the President and CEO, Robert Pittman left. There is no exact explanation why but he did. Over time, they started to show more reality shows than anything else. Some people liked the change to more reality shows but some people like the old school music videos all the time. There were some companies and investors that made it possible for MTV to even start. Warner Communications and American Express were big investors that helped in the starting of the show. Warner Amex was basically the main establisher and owner for about five years after the start. Then, in 1986, Viacom purchased MTV from Warner Amex. Now Viacom is the owner with all rights to MTV. There are other networks that MTV and Viacom own. They own VH1 that was released in 1985 and its purpose was to play adult contemporary. Then, in 1996, MTV2 was released to allow fans to see commercial free music videos. MTV (the original) became available in Manhattan and Los Angeles. Many people called this the second launch of MTV. They also own all Nickelodeon stations, Comedy Central, and CMT. This is not all; it is just a few that you may know. Although MTV has been very popular, it has also had a few controversial shows that some fans did not agree with. â€Å"Beavis and Butthead† was very controversial because some viewers felt that it was pointless and that the language was a bad influence for some of the younger audience that watched it. â€Å"Celebrity Deathmatch† was a part of this list because it made fun of the celebrities and it had bad language and violence. â€Å"16 and Pregnant† was another show that some people did not like because it could encourage some of the younger viewers to engage in sexual intercourse which is the problem with the people on the show. It is meant to deter kids from ending up like that but it only encourages some. â€Å"Jersey Shore† was the last show that people did not agree with. They believe that the people on the show are irresponsible and kids these days may think it’s cool and try to be like them. Over the years, MTV has had an impact on our generation, but also on our parents’ generation. A lot of younger teens’ parents that are around (14) grow up watching MTV. It is not the same now as it was then because of the popularity in different kinds of music over the years and they are now showing more reality shows. MTV also has an effect on its viewers. Most people that have ever seen MTV are probably hooked on it and they like to watch it. Also, the persuasion by friends to tell other friends to watch it because it is ‘cool’; and you aren’t if you don’t watch it. MTV has been very important over its years in various ways. It has brought a whole new way to experience music. Before MTV, you could only hear music over the radio, but when MTV aired, it played music videos, which was a whole new element to music over all. They have also helped lots of artists to grow and become more popular with just a few minutes of air time. This gas truly helped many people become more popular. With music videos,many people became more persuaded into buying the song even though they may not like the song. Even if they really like the video, they would still buy it because of the video and they weren’t paying attention to the song. It is very smart on the part of the broadcasters because they could just draw in an audience with an exciting video and you would think nothing of the song, just the video.

The Art of Making Friends essays

The Art of Making Friends essays The process of making a friend is a very unique one. It depends on the person one is trying to become friends with, it depends on one's gender, it depends on one's age, but most importantly it depends one's personality. Every individual is different and how they make friends differs just as greatly. The way I make friends depends heavily on my personality. As an introverted person, I tend to first meet potential friends through what I call forced association. After the initial meeting, I evaluate them and determine whether or not I think they should be my friend. Bonding, specifically male bonding, follows and Before I can delve into the sometimes mysterious process of becoming friends with someone, I have to divulge some personal information. I am a great believer in personality typing: the theory that a great majority of people fall into one personality type or another. A complete analysis of my personality is not within the scope of this essay, but suffice it to say that I am very introverted. This does not mean I am anti-social, it merely means that new and non-routine interaction with others taxes my energy. The process of making a new friend is by definition a new and non-routine interaction, therefore it is quite difficult for me to initiate the process. This is where the concept of forced interaction comes in. By forced interaction, I mean a situation where another person and I are placed in an environment where we have no choice but to interact with each other. The largest and most important type of forced interaction for me is school, and more specifically, classes. It is impossible to be completely separate from other students in a class. Consequently, I met all my best friends in school (of course, it was a place that I spent most of my time so it is not a big surprise). Another type of forced interaction comes when you meet a friend of one of...

International Retail Market Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International Retail Market Development - Essay Example When, as a strategic goal, a firm wishes to expand its retail operations, it chooses to go abroad as soon as it sees its local market being saturated. This concept ha been better described with the help of many models and theories. Other motivators for internationalization are resource seeking, market seeking, efficiency seeking and strategic asset seeking. Resource seeking and market seeking are usually motivators for a firm’s initial internationalization strategy, while the other two are for sequential internationalization. Moreover, there are a number of factors that need to be considered by retailers before expanding overseas. These are factors, if considered appropriately, will determine success or failure. These typically include selecting the right market, knowing how much to adapt, getting the timing right, having a strong store brand image, and controlling the supply chain. H&M focuses most on getting their information right about the selected market and the attractiveness of this market. Another very important factor that would determine success is the mode of market entry chosen. There are a number of modes of foreign entry but the most common ones are licensing, franchising which has significantly increased the number of retailers expanding overseas and joint ventures. There are many others such as acquisition, mergers and contracts, but are not a part of the scope of this paper. In the past, retailers were thought of as localized entities that had little power (Alexander, 2009, pp.3). However, recently - in the past 20 years, this perception and way of operation has changed, and the existing concepts are no longer fit keeping in mind the recent changes (Dawson, 2006). One of the recent popular retailer strategies is ‘Retail Internationalization’, whereby, a retailer, like many manufacturing firms, decides to go international – or have operations in more than one country (Dawson, 2006; Alexander,

Unnecessary care in nursing homes Research Paper

Unnecessary care in nursing homes - Research Paper Example According to a 2006 report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 23.5% of nursing home residents were hospitalized for unnecessary reasons. In 2010, the World Health Organization revealed that up to 17% of the imaging services prescribed for nursing home residents are unnecessary. This review documents literature on the different aspects of unnecessary care in nursing homes. Ouslander & Berenson (2011) researched on how to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations among nursing home residents. Their study sought to answer the research question of the ways of reducing unnecessary hospitalizations of nursing home residents. The study used a descriptive study design. They found that on-call physicians who are not familiar with the conditions of nursing home residents send them for x-rays that cost Medicare up to $ 10,000 when they would have cost $ 200 only. They concluded that on-call nurse practitioners who visit nursing homes regularly can help reduce misdiagnosis on the conditions of nursing home residents further reducing unnecessary hospitalization among of these residents. Rollin et al (1997) investigated the necessity of imaging services in nursing homes. This was an analysis that sampled individuals who had ever been residents of nursing homes. It sought an answer to the question of whether there are imaging services that are unnecessary. The study found that twenty five percent of all (electrocardiographic services) EKGs conducted in nursing homes in the United States in 1994 in were unnecessary. This cost Medicare a total of $ 8.4 million all of which could have gone to other medically necessary procedures. These authors found that physicians can order for and interpret EKGs for selfish reasons. They concluded that physicians should be checked whether they routinely bill for unnecessary care services. Ashcraft and Champion (2012) investigated the symptomatology that makes physicians