Affirmative Action Essays - Social Inequality, Discrimination

Affirmative Action Essays - Social Inequality, Discrimination Affirmative Action "Treating people differently because of the color of their skin used to be called discrimination, but today it?s called affirmative action" (Amselle 177). Affirmative action today, is considered to be one of the most controversial dilemma facing our equal status of individual rights. As we all know, affirmative action was implemented with the idea and hope that America would finally become truly equal. So far, it has lasted for thirty years and had not solved any of our current problems concerning equal rights ? it made things worse. It was created with the intention of using reverse discrimination to solve the problem of discrimination. In that, minority groups are being chosen over the qualifications of other workers. This intention creates a mainstream of problems. Some find it very unfair in using its practices, some find it very helpful. The portion of the group that stands with affirmative action, are usually in a situation in which they actually benefited from it. They have their reasons as to why they support the action. Based on the general public as to why they acknowledge affirmative action is usually based of the fact that it establishes a situation where equal opportunity is distributed among minorities for jobs. Prior to affirmative action ? city, state, and government jobs were almost completely closed off to minorities and women. In our present day, minorities and women have gained a tremendous increase in the application of jobs in those workplaces. Unlike the days before affirmative action, where job opportunity was mostly given to the Americans, now jobs are being given to minorities and women due to the quota system. Suppose that a American male and a minority (Hispanic, Afro-American, woman, etc.) are applying for the same job, the American male is much more qualified than the minority, there! fore, logically, the American should be hired. Due to the quota system, the company, in order to meet that quota, must hire the minority. Which is for the better, because, in that sense, were are slowly but surely making some advancements in solving the problem of racial inequality in America?s workplace. Affirmative action is also very influential in the educational system. Minority students who before never had a chance in being accepted into a decent college, are now being accepted. They are given the chance to prove that, with the help of affirmative action, they could, in turn, get more education and end up with a decent job after graduating. All hopes are to end racism in school campuses, to have diversity between students. The constitution says that we the people of the United States of America are all created equal. Therefore, since that we are all equal, shouldn?t we all have the same opportunity as everyone else. Equal opportunity is achieved when people of lower standards in life are given chances to succeed in life. To start to achieve a better life, one must have proper education, because education is the key to our future. Therefore, though education, minorities must be given the chance to get a good start at securing their future. Critics of affirmative action argue that this quota is unfair. White males are being forced to pay a price that their ancestors have done wrong in the past. Knowingly that it was a long time ago, and that now, it is a dawn of a new era. White males should not be given this burden of something that their ancestors have done. While the minorities enjoy the benefits such as jobs and education. Especially, to give favor to males or to females, to whites, to blacks or to persons of any color because of their sex or color is morally wrong because doing so is intrinsically unfair. Color, nationality, sex are not attributes that entitle anyone to more (or less) of the good thing of life, or to any special favor (or disfavor). When in the past whites or males did receive such preference that was deeply wrong; it is no less wrong when the colors or sexes are reversed. (Cohen 183) In the workplace, critics argue that because of affirmative action, now they are being treated unequally. Jobs in which they are more likely to succeed in are,

The Chinese Lake Murders

The Chinese Lake Murders were written by author, Robert Van Gulik and can be used to learn about pre-modern Chinese civilization. The book was set during the Ming Dynasty in the town of Han-yuan, which is about 60 miles north west of the imperial capital. The novel tells the tale of how Judge Dee, the magistrate (an official responsible for catching criminals as well as sentencing them) of Han-yuan solves crime cases while indulging himself in beautiful women, greed and political matters. Van Gulik uses this book and many of his others to describe the culture that of Imperial China. Imperial/Confucian culture lasted in China for about 2,100 years (from 200 BCE to 1900 CE and it) and it still keeps the image oh Chinese society strong. To many we are unable to know what Imperial/Confucian culture was like. In reading Robert Van Gulik's book The Chinese Lake Murders, it placed me within Chinese culture, explaining the aspects of Chinese culture better than reading some test books. In reading the book, I learned that each village or section of a town had a warden who was responsible for knowing who lived in his area and what they did. I also learned that districts were ruled over by judges who in turn reported to provincial magistrates, who in turn reported to the Imperial court. To keep things honest, imperial censors traveled throughout the empire incognito, with the authority of the Emperor himself to arrest or condemn officials deemed abusing their authority. Districts judges and provincial magistrates were rotated to different places throughout their career, to avoid the abuses of long rule in any one place. Lastly, ranks of nobility decayed from one generation to the nest. So if you were of one noble rank, your children would be of the next lower rank, and their children would just be commoners, but this rule did not apply for the emperors children. Yet, there are many positive aspects to Imperial/Con

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 111

Assignment Example These are embodied by International Law which I want to delve into in the following essay: International Law refers to a body of statutes, protocols, rules, principles, and guidelines that binds all the law actors. The actors include states, nations, peoples, insurgents, private individuals, as well as, international bodies. These rules are mostly derived from various sources such as Treaties, Convention, Customs and practices of the member states and nations.  International law acts as a guide, and promotes good faith. It facilitates the call for peace and harmony by ensuring that justice, peace and human rights are followed and enforced2. As an analogy, the law acts as an electric fence which rather than define the acts to be accomplished defines and sets out the boundaries to be considered within the free human acts, and in the notion that every actor has their own interests in each undertaking or contract with another actor. It is therefore of utmost relevance in the discussion of International Relations.   One of the intended learning outcomes in our course outline is to identify the interconnection between the various actors in the international system. As from the aforementioned actors of the international law, we can identify that some are major while others are minors. An example of a major actor would be an International body or an Inter-Governmental Organization (IGO) while a minor actor would be a private individuals and tourists3. The relationships between these actors have to be controlled to prevent any form of harassment of the minor actor by the major actor. In a case whereby a certain state feels that its laws are being violated by another, it may seek the application of the International Law to resolve the dispute. In addition, transactions and contracts, for example, between an   Ã‚  In summary, International Law is a key and critical aspect of the International relations in every respect regarding the interactions between the various actors

Risk evaluation and calculation for a company. Importance of risk Essay

Risk evaluation and calculation for a company. Importance of risk evaluation while taking investment decisions - Essay Example In order to illustrate the complexities of risks involved, the subject of evaluation shall be a multinational company, principally located in an emerging Asian country, but producing an internationally marketed product. While the foreign firm boasts a fundamentally sound business, the fact that it involves investment in another country requires consideration of the various risks. A UK-based investment fund is considering investing in the Asian emerging market. It is considering SMCorp, a food and beverage company principally located in the Philippines. Its main product is the globally renowned San Miguel Beer which had won numerous prestigious international awards. SMCorp has expanded its operations abroad and established breweries located in China, Malaysia, and South America. The Philippine currency has an exchange rate of about PhP69:Â £1, within the past year varying between PhP73:Â £1 and PhP68:Â £1. SMCorp stock is sufficiently liquid and is a favourite among global funds that decide to invest in the Philippines, because of its excellent company fundamentals and steady rate of return. The company regularly declares a uniform stream of annual dividends and exhibits a strong cashflow pattern. Its stock price has a beta coefficient of 0.8. Its 52-week per-share figures are a high of PhP 61 and a low of PhP 38; it is currently at PhP 41. Being in the co nsumer food and beverage industry, demand for SMCorp’s products are consistent even during economic downturns, and sales are brisk locally and abroad. Risk, as applied to investments, is the probability of earning a return less than the expected return (Brigham, 1996). Investors are usually risk-averse; that is, investors will as much as possible try to avoid chances of earning below expected income, moreso chances of loss. Investors who do not assume more than the prevailing

Managing Strategy NETFLIX Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Managing Strategy NETFLIX - Case Study Example As a result of this rapid success, Netflix began to create alliances with movie studies, such as Warner Home Video, that provided both partners opportunities for sharing revenues. As a result of these agreements, the company released its IPO for shareholders in 2002, as a company that could sustain growth and remain profitable long-term. With new capital availability as a result of having publicly traded stock, Netflix was now in a substantially sound financial business that provided opportunities to expand the business model. Today, Netflix provides customers with a flat rate membership of $7.99 USD per month, with the ability to rent DVDs and view streaming video content. Ease and convenience of using credit cards via Internet sales channels now gives Netflix immediate revenues that improves services and expand the vastness of its online movie libraries. This report explores the strategic position of Netflix, offering a full strategic appraisal of the company between the years 2010 and 2014. The investigation consists of analyses of the firm’s competitive strategy, performs an internal and external market analysis, determines the key strategic issues that have faced the company, strategic growth options for the company, and a description of the most relevant and viable strategies for improving the market performance of the firm long-term. Netflix operates in four key markets: DVD by mail, streaming video content subscriptions, original television programming, and video game rentals. The firm’s original market entry strategy for DVDs-through-mail was as a pioneer in this service concept in the United States, as a differentiator, giving the company a consumer-perceived uniqueness for providing convenience without having to visit a bricks-and-mortar rental company. Kalyanaram and Gurumurthy (2008) iterate the pioneers have tremendous

Nigerian Breweries Marketing Analysis

Nigerian Breweries Marketing Analysis EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report is set to discuss about the marketing report of Nigerian Breweries Plc. It covers their history, the PEST analysis, their strategies and tactics. A good marketing report is needed in an organisation to know the status of the organisation and to know where they are failing and succeeding so that they can correct or maintain the situation. This paper would fully explain the marketing report of Nigerian Breweries with a little recommendation. INTRODUCTION Kotler (2002) defined Marketing as the social process by which individuals and groups obtain what they need and want through creating and exchanging products and value with others. Marketing is essentially about marshalling the resources of an organization so that they met the changing needs of the customer on whom the organization depends. (Palmer, 2003) Marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchanges that customer and organizational objectives. (Drucker, 2005) The concept of marketing as a business philosophy defines marketing as a process that is intended to find, satisfy and retain customers while business makes a profit. But central to all these definitions is the role of the customer and his relationship to the product. A market research is imperative for a company to know what type of products or services would be profitable to introduce in the market. Also with respect to its existing products in the market, good market research enables a company to know if it has been able to satisfy customer needs and whether any changes need to be made in the packaging, delivery or the product itself. (Anonymous, 2009) HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Nigerian Breweries Plc (NBPLC) is the countrys pioneer brewery. Incorporated in 1946, it commenced production in 1949. It started as a joint venture between the United African Company (WAC) International, UK and Heineken of Holland. Thus, at inception, it was 100 per cent foreign owned. By the early 1950s, when it began operating fully, some indigenous traders already involved with its products were invited to become shareholders. Under the indigenization policy of the early 1970s the foreign shareholders were forced to sell a significant proportion of their holdings. Today, the company is 60 per cent Nigerian owned and 40 per cent foreign owned. The 60 per cent Nigerian stake is held by company employees and members of the public, while the 40 per cent foreign ownership is split almost equally between CWA Holdings Limited (for Unilever) and Heineken Brouwerijen BV. Its first bottle of beer, STAR Lager, rolled off the bottling lines of its Lagos Brewery in June 1949. Other breweries were subsequently commissioned by the company, including Aba Brewery in 1957, Kaduna Brewery in 1963, and Ibadan Brewery in 1982. In September 1993, the company acquired its fifth brewery in Enugu state, and in October 2003, its sixth brewery, sited at Ama in Enugu. Ama Brewery is the largest brewery in Nigeria and one of the most modern worldwide. Operations at Enugu brewery were discontinued in 2004, leaving the company with five operational breweries. The company has a portfolio of high-quality brands, including Star Lager Beer (launched in 1949); Gulder Lager Beer (1970); Maltina (1976), which now has three varieties, namely Maltina Classic, Maltina Strawberry, and Maltina with Pineapple; Maltina Sip-it (2005), which was packaged in Tetrapaks; Legend Extra Stout (1992); and Amstel Malta (1994). The company also re-launched Heineken Lager into the Nigerian market in June 1998. Nigerian Breweries is the most capitalized quoted company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), it is also the first company in any sector to declare N12 billion in PBT and the first company in Nigerian history to declare dividend of N8 billion (Vanguard, 2003). Nigerian Breweries operates many related companies, including beverage-related manufacturing companies making corks, labels, bottles, packing crates; and a logistics network, including transport companies, warehousing companies and retail sales management THE MARKET ENVIRONMENT Market Environment is the various external forces that can directly or indirectly affect the many activities of an organization. This is an integral part of environmental scanning. These activities include acquisition of human resources, raw materials, financial resources, and development of goods and services. The marketing environment includes forces such as: political, legal, regulatory, economic, social, technological, and competitive. Nigerian Breweries Plc functions in two different market enviroment namely the Macro and Micro which affects it externally and internally. (Kotler, 2004), the PEST analyses and the Porters Five Forces model of Nigerian Breweries would be discussed in this report. PEST analysis stands for â€Å"Political, Economic, Social, and Technological analysis† and describes a framework of macro-environmental factors used. (P)OLITICAL ANALYSIS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Political analysis involves elections, employment law, consumer protection, environmental regulations, industry-specific regulations, competitive regulations, inter-country relationships/attitudes, war, terrorism, political trends in the country where the company is based. The political situation in Nigeria has experienced a stable balance since the commencement of the democratic governance and this has impacted on Nigerian breweries plc in different ways. Politically, Nigerian breweries was affected positively when the ban on importation of barley was lifted as well as placing a 20% tariff on both products by the federal government on January 6 1998, this increased its options of raw materials for production as the company had been forced to make use of local corn and sorghum for brewing in the past. Sales in Nigerian Breweries have been on the rise as opposed to the style in European and other developing markets partly because despite the individual state governments efforts by creating laws to regulate the sales and distribution of alcoholic products it has not put in-place proper control mechanism to checkmate and control the phenomenon of alcoholic consumption, this is due to the laxity in enforcement of laws in Nigeria and the high level of corruption in government (Daily Trust, 11 September 2008). (E)CONOMICAL ANALYSIS Economical Analysis involves the exchange rates and stability of the host country, skill level of work force, labour cost, and Economic level of growth, unemployment rate, inflation rate and interest rate. Nigeria is a growing economy therefore it is less affected by the recent global economic financial crisis and this has a positive impact on the sales of Nigerian breweries products as people have disposable income and can spend more on drinking of beer products, this therefore is a positive development for the company (Malandrakis, 2009). Also, the unemployment rate in Nigeria is really high and it makes a lot of people idle and they spend most of their time at bars which helps increase the sales of beers. The Exchange rate in Nigeria is low comparing to the US dollar and it can affect the business when the raw materials are being imported as it cost a lot of money. Another economical issue which is affecting Nigerian Breweries negatively is based under the labour cost which is the lack of constant electricity supply in Nigeria; this has forced the company to make use of alternative means of power supply such as generators were the company spends a huge budget on diesel which has a constant increasing price. (S)OCIAL ANALYSIS Social Analysis involves the Demographics, Class Structure, Gender, and Age, Attitude (health and environmental consciousness) The production of recreational centres in major cities which have all been changed to drinking joints locally known as â€Å"Joints† (Daily Trust, 11 September 2008) has changed drinking of beer into a social activity. It has observed that people prefer drinking out with friends as drinking of beer has become similar with celebrations such as weddings, parties, clubs and other social gatherings, among youths drinking is done in order to belong. This social drinking habit is clearly evident as it supports on trade sales which dominates the Nigerian market with a market share of 80% sales (Malandrakis, 2009). In northern Nigeria, states like Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto ban beer drinking because of their Sharia Law. A law is passed around that people who drink any form of alcohol or commit adultery, theft would be severely punished (The Guardian, 2002) and this affects the sales of beer in that region. Nigerian breweries is also involved in social responsibility by sponsoring events such as star quest which is aimed at discovering new musical acts (Nigerian Tribune, 8th June 2009) amongst other social events and creative writing workshop, a program created to groom the young writer (Vanguard, 15 July 2009). (T)ECHNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS This involves inventions, new discoveries, research, energy uses/sources/fuels, communications, and rates of obsolescence, health manufacturing advances, information technology, internet, and transportation. Technology has not been a major aspect in Nigerian Breweries Plc but they have invested in the equipments used for beer production to make it have its original taste. They also invest in generators for electricity because of the electricity issues in Nigeria. The Social factors have the strongest effect on the market power of Nigerian Breweries Plc as drinking is a lifestyle which has evolved over the years. The Porters five forces apply new entrants, Buyer power, Supplier power, Substitute and Rivalry for analysis. POTENTIAL ENTRANTS Potential Entrants are other organisations interested in entering the industry. Potential entrants trying to come into the brewery industry in Nigeria find it very difficult because of a lot of mostly the Government policies, the cost of exit and entrance and this puts Nigerian breweries at a comfortable position as market leaders and leaves the company with nothing to worry about as regards new companies that may spring up. Other reasons why new companies find it difficult to come into the industry is because the switching cost is really high so any new company cannot just switch or leave the industry, brand loyalty is really high because the public is used to the products of Nigeria Breweries. SUBSTITUTES From Porters Model, substitute products refer to products in other industries. To the economist, a threat of substitutes occurs when a products demand is affected by the price change of a substitute product. Finding a substitute for beer in Nigeria is practically impossible because drinking beer in Nigeria has become part of social activity and also with the affordable price for the average and low earners (a bottle of star larger beer costs N140 which is less than a pound and is cheaper compared to wines, brandys and other bottled alcoholic drink) it has the price has a competitive advantage over the type drink like wine and brandy. The only major competitor within the industry that Nigerian breweries has in beer products is Guinness Nigeria Plc and both companies have between them 77% market share (WW8) therefore it would only take a special brand to substitute either of these brands. BUYER POWER Buyer power can be explained as the impact that customers have on a producing industry. This occurs when there are many suppliers and one buyer. In Nigeria Breweries, the buyer power is very little as they are the major supplier in the industry and the customers have little option but to get products from Nigeria Breweries. Buyer power can also explained by switching cost which is expensive due to the high prices of substitutes like wines and brandy. Also, Nigerian Breweries have grown so well that consumers have very strong brand loyalty on their products such as Gulder, Star. SUPPLIER POWER This can simply be explained as when there are many buyers and just one or little supplier. Nigerian breweries has a very high supplier power because the use of local corn and sorghum for manufacturing of beer has a high market value because of the limited availability of barley and other substitutes for brewing of beer, the farmers and suppliers of this raw materials have the power to raise their prices as they wish, leaving Nigerian Breweries at their mercy. RIVALRY The Nigerian beer industry has only 2 major companies in the industry which are Nigerian breweries and Guinness Nigeria Plc and this gives Nigerian Breweries less competition but high rivalry because there is low switching cost since the cost of a beer from Guinness Nigeria is almost the same price. Rivalry could also low because there are only two companies in the industry so it has enough market for both of them and it can gear its strategies against only one major competitor (Oyeyinka, 2002). THE COMPETITION OF NIGERIAN BREWERIES The major competitor for Nigeria Breweries is Guinness limited Nigeria, it manufactures beer in the brand mane of â€Å"Harp† in Nigeria. Harp Lager Brewery is located in Ikeja, Nigeria. This Nigerian brewery belonging to Tony Joyce started production in 1981. The annual production of beer is about 1,500,000 hl. The other beer production units of Guinness Nigeria Limited are located in Agbara, Benin, Aba in Imo. The other little breweries include Benue breweries, Olympic breweries, Sona Breweries and Consolidated Breweries. In general, competition for Nigerian Breweries is minimal as its only major competitor is Guinness Nigeria limited. Nigerian Breweries has the edge over these competitors majorly because of its brand loyalty and because of the fact that it has being producing beer for over 60 years. It also has a lot of branches all over Nigeria so as to reach the customers demands. MARKETING STRATEGY A marketing strategy is a process or model to allow a company or organisation to focus limited resources on the best opportunities to increase sales and thereby achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. (Ulrich et al, 2002) Nigerian Breweries Plc uses Marketing strategy to maintain competitive advantage. It uses the market segmentation, targeting and positioning as a means of carving out its own share of the market and catering for their needs. SEGMENTATION Market Segmentation can be defined as dividing a market into distinct groups with distinct needs, characteristics, or behaviour that might require separate products or marketing mix. (Anonymous, 2002) Segmentation refers to individuals and organisations with similar characteristics having significant implications for the determination of market strategy (Jobber, 2007), Segmentation can be broken down into Geographical segmentation, Demographic segmentation, Psychographic segmentation, Lifestyle, social class, and personality-based segmentation Behavioural segmentation. Nigerian breweries Plc segmentation is in relation to its consumers which serves all classes and ages of legal drinkers. In Nigeria, drinking beer is seen as a social event of festivity and because of its affordable price, it can be seen amongst the high, middle and lower class earners. The advertisement way of life which the company has built up over the years to appeal to all age groups and societal status types has also helped boost their market sales. Nigerian Breweries have advertised their major beer product (Star) as a drink that delivers superior enjoyment and brightens all social occasions this is so because the drink is seen as a key to happiness and celebration by its consumers. In general, Nigerian Breweries focuses on all the segment of market and has produced different types of products which covers all the segment of market in Nigeria TARGETING Market Targeting can be defined as the selection of a particular market segment toward which all marketing effort is directed. Market targeting enables the characteristics of the chosen segment to be taken into account when formulating a product or service and its advertising. (Keegan, 2001) Nigerian breweries have targeted their beers towards different market segments using a differentiated targeting strategy and they have two major beer products that target different classes and age groups. The â€Å"Star† beer product targets the youth, this is evident from most of its advertisements and sponsorship programs which is usually directed toward the younger generation while the â€Å"Gulder† beer product targets the older and higher financial class of people, this is also evident in its own type of advertising methods and sponsorships. POSITIONING It could also be defined as the place the product occupies in consumers minds relative to competing products. (Anonymous, 2002) Market positioning depends much on how competitors position themselves, a producer can be said to be successful if he can achieve the mental position which he/she is trying to make in the mind of the consumer. Nigerian breweries Plc have two major beer brands, Star and Gulder which respectively for the younger celebrating generation and for the more sophisticated and older generation of drinkers., This brandings falls in line with the customers perceptions of the two products as more of the younger generation identify with the Star brand which is not as bitter in taste as the Gulder brand which is more expensive in price than the Star brand. THE MARKETING MIX The term marketing mix refers to the primary elements that must be attended to in order to properly market a product or service. Also known as the 4 Ps of marketing which are Price, Promotion, Product and Place. PRICE The price you set for your product or service plays a large role in its marketability. Pricing for products or services that are more commonly available in the market is more elastic, meaning that unit sales will go up or down more responsively in response to price changes. (Jones, 2007) Price can be stated as the actual or rated value of a valuable product which is up for exchange; some define it as amount of money paid for product (Kotler et al, 2005) The price of the products (Star beer) produced by Nigerian Breweries is affordable for all the consumers in the market because it is produced from local corn and sorghum which is cheap so they make their profit and satisfy the customers which are mostly the youth and since most of their sales are mostly made from youth, the price would always remain affordable so as not to lose customers and reduce sales. PRODUCT Kotler et al, 2005 defined Product as anything that can be offered to a market for attention, acquisition, use or consumption that might satisfy a want or need Nigerian Breweries has two main beer products and they can be described as the core products of the organisation i.e. they serve their actual purpose for which it is bought by the customer which is for the quenching of thirst. However Gulder brand can be described as a luxury product meant for the sophisticated individual, these products are classified as consumer product because they are bought by the consumer to actually consume and not for other purposes. Nigerian Breweries has more than enough products for every type of consumers. They produce bottled water for thirst, Star beer for the youth, Maltina for the consumers that do not take alcohol. PLACE This term really refers to any way that the customer can obtain a product or receive a service. (Jones, 2007) Nigerian Breweries Plc has a wide distribution channel and makes use of external companies for distribution of its products nationwide; Nigerian Breweries use other transportation companies to assist distribute their goods nationwide. This system of distribution helps make the product more available to the consumers but this however limits the direct contact between producer and consumers which reduces feed-back time for the producers. PROMOTION Promotion is concerned with any vehicle you employ for getting people to know more about your product or service. Advertising, public relations, point-of-sale displays, and word-of-mouth promotion are all traditional ways for promoting a product. Promotion can be seen as a way of closing the information gap between would-be sellers and would-be buyers. (Jones, 2007) Nigerian Breweries Plc carry out sales promotion in two ways namely Consumer sales promotion targeted at the ultimate consumer market and trade sales promotion targeted at the members of the marketing channel, such as wholesalers and retailers, benefits of sales promotions include increased profit making. Examples of Nigerian Breweries sales promotion are â€Å"Star Xmas Carnival† which was targeted at the companys retailers and consumers were prizes like bags of rice, DVD Players and other items were won by consumers each day for 21 days (Ekeh, 2009), Gulder ultimate search were the winner took home 3 million naira cash prize (Ajayi, 2004). EVALUATION OF STRATEGY AND TACTICS Nigerian Breweries has been one of the major companies in the brewery industry for more than 60 years so it is fair to say that their strategy and tactics over the years have been close to spot on. In response to competition, Nigerian Breweries has been involved in several re-branding, product development and diversification efforts in the last 5 years. In 2006, the company launched its Guilder Max brand which was a darker, richer version of the successful Guilder Lager. In an attempt to enter the soft drink market, NB launched the Farouz brand of soft drinks (pineapple and pear flavour). Recently, they repackaged the Maltina brand by introducing a larger sized bottle while maintaining the price of the former bottle. The Star brand which is the flagship product of the company was also rebranded and has achieved huge success since then. RECOMMENDATION FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT Nigerian Breweries is already a major force in Nigeria but it is still not internationally recognised like other International companies in the industry so the major recommendation for Nigerian Breweries would to expand their products internationally or at least expand it within Africa. They could also build new refineries in different places in Africa to help expand their organisation. Since the distribution of their goods is done by other companies, they could venture into that business so they could proper feedback from their customers and be able to satisfy them more effectively. They could also venture into production of new brands of products so as to broaden their market. Investing in technology can also help with the growth of their organisation. Building vending machines can also help with the effective distribution of their product. CONCLUSION Nigerian Breweries is and would remain one of the major brewery companies in Nigeria and this marketing report that shows their strategies and tactics have tried to explain the reasons why they are such a major force in the brewery industry in Nigeria. It is obvious that there is room for improvement by them expanding their market and business into new countries but the important thing is that they are succeeding in their primary goal which is being able to satisfy their customers in their home land. REFRENCES Amos Etta, 16 october 2004, Gulder; After the search, what next? Vamguard News paper. Bennett Linda A., Ph.D, Carlos Campillo, M.D, C.R. Chandrashekar, M.D and Oye Gureje, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., FRANCZP, 1998, Alcoholic Beverage Consumption in India,Mexico, and Nigeria, A Cross-Cultural Comparison. Ekeh Desmond, 3 January 2009; 2008 Brand review: Consumer promotion as key driver, The Guardian Newspaper Kotler Philip et Al, 2002, Principles of marketing. Fourth European edition 4th European edition. Essential Guide to Marketing Planning / Marian Burk Wood. Jobber David, 2007, Principles and Practice of Marketing, 5th edition; Maidenhead McGraw-hill Education. Jones, Scholes 2007, Exploring corporate strategy: text cases. 8th edition. Malandrakis Spiros, 2009, Nigeria Spearheads Optimistic Outlook for Beer Sales in sub-Saharan Africa, Euro Monitor Moschis P George, 1993, Life Stage Segmentation for Marketing Strategy Development Nigerian Tribune, 8th June 2009 Obike Uche, 2005, Nigeria Breweries Continues to Expand Market Share; This Day Newspapers Oldroyd Mike, 2004, CIM Revision Cards, Marketing Environment; Butterworth Heinemann. Oyeyinka O, Banji, 2002, Manufacturing Response in a national system in Nigeria, The United Nations University. Ulrich R, Mc Donald, Shellhamer, Lopetcharat, 2002, Promoting Brand Benefits; The role of consumer Psychographic and lifestyle. Journal of consumer marketing. Vanguard, 5 June 2003, Nigeria Breweries Consolidates Corporate Leadership; Africa New Wang Weiyue, 2009, Managing Customers and Markets; Salford Business School. http://www.nbplc.com/homepage.php (ww1) http://www.heinekeninternational.com/nigerian02.aspx (ww2) http://web.ebscohost.com/ (ww3) http://allafrica.com/stories/200809110416.html (ww4) http://www.ias.org.uk/resources/publications/theglobe/globe200202/gl200202_p6.html (ww5) http://www.fas.usda.gov/grain/circular/1998/98-02/dtricks.htm (ww6) http://research.afrinvestwa.com:8080/GetDownload.aspx?dwlID=74 (ww7) http://www.euromonitor.com/Alcoholic_Drinks_in_Nigeria (ww8)

Have you met him - Jesus Christ? :: essays research papers

Jesus the Christ is God the Father (that One and only Holy Spirit - God is a Spirit and One) in flesh - the Son of God. It was God the Father who was responsible for overshadowing the virgin Mary and causing her to conceive. So Mary was the source of His humanity and God was the source of His divinity. He became a man but he did not cease to be God the Father of the universe. He could probably best be explained as the God-Man. Sometimes He spoke and acted as a man. Sometimes He spoke and acted as God (the Father). He came to earth to seek and save that which was lost; to minister and to give His life as a ransom - the just for the unjust. He paid the price for our sins. Then He rose from the dead three days later because He was sinless and death could not hold Him. In so doing, He showed us the way to eternal life and how we can get victory over death. He brought life and immortality to light. He offers forgiveness of sins and eternal life (with countless other benefits) to those who will come to Him on His terms seeing He is Lord of all and is the only one who can save us from death - the second death that the Bible speaks of. The grave is only a temporary place. The day is coming when all that are in the grave will hear His voice and come out of the grave to stand before God (Jesus Christ) the Judge of all the earth - a dreadful place for sinful man. We can avoid this judgment by having our sins dealt with while we are yet alive by obeying the gospel which is His plan of salvation for us. It's very important to follow the Bible formula exactly. The devil has come up with alot of variations with the attempt to make the command of God of no effect. Back when the church was born, men were convicted of their sin and asked what they should do when they realized that they had crucified their Saviour some 50 days earlier. The apostle Peter said, Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Nursing Jobs Specialties Essay

Good morning, my name is Annamaria Amodei. I was born in Florence Italy and lived there for 20 years. I then came to New York in 1981. In the last 30 years I went through lots of changes in my life and in my careers. I grew older and wiser by going through a marriage, 3 wonderful children, a divorce and a several jobs within several different sectors of industries, from restaurant manager and owner to medical billing therefore dealing with the public at all times. In the mid 90s I decided to return to school and because my interest was in health I enrolled in a 2 year nutrition program receiving an associated degree in dietetics in 2000. Instead of applying my degree to a job in nutrition, I become a co-owner of a surgical supply store which has kept me occupied for the past 10 years. I’ve been again involved with the public, this time a very different one. The people I see are mostly physically sick, handicapped or in some kind of physical pain They were coming into my store because they knew that I could help them with my knowledge, experience and a deep will to help others. I found myself helping one person after another and I realized that helping others gave me a lot of joy, because I knew that I was able to make a difference in someone’s life. So about a year ago I decided to go further with my studies. I searched for a program to fulfill my needs and a school that would offer excellent training. That is why I applied to D’Youville College where I’m going to start my nursing education in January 2011. I have so much love in me and so much compassion to give that I cannot think of a better way to share that with other people than to care for them as a nurse. I want to impact people’s lives whether it’s just for a second, a moment or a lifetime. I want to be that nurse that cannot only be just a nurse, but can also be a friend to her patients. A nurse can touch lives in so many different ways and aspects. The purpose of a nurse is to fulfill his/her job in different areas of people’s lives and situations, and because we all ail in different ways. A nurse is trained to make sure that each patient is comfortable no matter what is the nature of their illness. I ruely believe that if you are a good nurse you will find satisfaction in your patient’s recovery and it is a nurse’s obligation to treat all patients with the utmost respect as well as to maintain their dignity at all times. A nurse has to be knowledgeable enough to understand each patient’s situation as an individual and attend to their needs accordingly because every case is so different and unique. That is why I strongly believe that educat ion and experience are very important keys for a nurse to master her/his profession. There are many other ways that a nurse with a bachelor or a master degree in USA can find employment outside the hospitals settings. Community Health Nurses – Usually this type of nurses work for the government, towns, cities and also non-profit agencies. Their job is to inform the public about how to avoid health risks, how to achieve a healthier lifestyle including principals of good nutrition and the basics of physical fitness. They often address a certain segment of population, such as children or elderly, and they usually will be doing public speaking at schools, churches, community groups, etc. Prison-Jail Nursing – This is another way a nurse can give her services to a population that unfortunately is growing and they also have a lot of health problems and they require the proper attention. It takes a special kind of nurse to work in a correction facility and they probably have had many prior opportunities to experience nursing before beginning a prison nursing career. Managed Care Nursing – Is another way that a nurse can find employment. More and more people are having health insurance and a lot of health problems, so the cost of healthcare is skyrocketing. HMO’s, Medicare Medicaid and other private insurance companies are hiring nurses directly to work for them. Managed care nurses serve both patients and their employers providing quality health care for more people by educating their clients in prevention and healthy lifestyles, and looking for different health care delivery in order to keep the cost of insurances down. Nursing Educator –. Because of the increasing nurseing shortage, the demand for nurse educators is becoming very popular. Nurses with a master degree and several years of experience who love their profession combined with a love for teaching and the passion for sharing their knowledge are perfect for this kind of job. Missionary Nurses –There are many organization and agencies providing support and relief to third world countries. If you want to help people less fortunate than yourself and you don’t mind spending time overseas, there is no better way to do that than putting all your knowledge and skills to work for these agencies and organizations. School Nursing – Private or public schools are employing more nurses than ever before because today there are more kids enrolled in school than ever and with more special needs. A school nurse needs to love working with kids and adolescents. Pain Management Nursing – For this kind of nursing a master degree is required. Many nurses in this field work with cancer patients, in homes, hospitals or with Hospice. In the past few years there have been tremendous advances in understanding pain, measuring its intensity and responding with appropriate doses of medication. Administrative Nursing – This kind of nurses work in large medical clinics, legal firms and big companies. If you have talent for managing people and enjoy working in an administrative position and you‘ve got good office and people skills, this is also a very good nursing career. This position requires a master degree and some experience. Substance Abuse Nursing – Alcohol and drugs are unfortunately a growing number in today’s society. These nurse work with people who are struggling with addition. Many of them work in detox and rehab clinics. They help people to safely end their addition and try to work with them on the cause of the problem and help them overcome and build a drug and alcohol resistance. This nursing career can be very frustrating at times due to the power that these additions have over people, leading to many relapses. But for a nurse who really wants to improve people’s lives this is an admirable career. Temp Nursing – Many nurses choose not to work for a single facility and they associate with one of the many temporary nurses stuffing agency across the country. This is a very flexible kind of work, they can choose to work or not in a particular place. Some agency specializes in travel nursing which means that a nurse could work several weeks from Los Angeles to New York and even in Hawaii. The housing is paid for and this is an excellent opportunity for single people. If you are a nurse that wants lots of flexibility then a temp nurse is an excellent career choice. Nurses are also needed in all branches of the military. Some of them become hospice nurses dedicated to care for those that are terminally ill and during their last days of life. The world of nursing career is wide open and new job descriptions are being created all the time as nurses responds to a rapidly changing world. A career in nursing has endless opportunities and that is why I’m much exited to start this program. I would like to thank Dr. Mariano (and Dr. Lewis) for giving me the opportunity to speak to you about why and how I decided at my stage in life to change careers and become a nurse I also want to thank all of you for listening this morning. I wish you the best in your journey through medical school Ciao

Definition and Examples of Words in English

Definition and Examples of Words in English A word is a  speech sound or a combination of sounds, or its representation in writing, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning and may consist of a single morpheme or a combination of morphemes. The branch of linguistics that studies word structures is called morphology. The branch of linguistics that studies word meanings is called lexical semantics. Etymology ​From Old English, word Examples and Observations [A word is the] smallest unit of grammar that can stand alone as a complete utterance, separated by spaces in written language and potentially by pauses in speech.-David Crystal, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Cambridge University Press, 2003A grammar . . . is divided into two major components, syntax and morphology. This division follows from the special status of the word as a basic linguistic unit, with syntax dealing with the combination of words to make sentences, and morphology with the form of words themselves. -R. Huddleston and G. Pullum, The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge University Press, 2002We want words to do more than they can. We try to do with them what comes to very much like trying to mend a watch with a pickaxe or to paint a miniature with a mop; we expect them to help us to grip and dissect that which in ultimate essence is as ungrippable as shadow. Nevertheless there they are; we have got to live with them, and the wise course is to treat them as we do our neighbours, and make the best and not the worst of them.-Samuel Butler, The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, 1912 Big WordsA Czech study . . . looked at how using big words (a classic strategy for impressing others) affects perceived intelligence. Counter-intuitvely, grandiose vocabulary diminished participants impressions of authors cerebral capacity. Put another way: simpler writing seems smarter.-Julie Beck, How to Look Smart. The Atlantic, September 2014The Power of WordsIt is obvious that the fundamental means which man possesses of extending his orders of abstractions indefinitely is conditioned, and consists in general in symbolism and, in particular, in speech. Words, considered as symbols for humans, provide us with endlessly flexible conditional semantic stimuli, which are just as real and effective for man as any other powerful stimulus.Virginia Woolf on WordsIt is words that are to blame. They are the wildest, freest, most irresponsible, most un-teachable of all things. Of course, you can catch them and sort them and place them in alphabetical order in dictionaries. But words do not live in dictionaries; they live in the mind. If you want proof of this, consider how often in moments of emotion when we most need words we find none. Yet there is the dictionary; there at our disposal are some half-a-million words all in alphabetical order. But can we use them? No, because words do not live in dictionaries, they live in the mind. Look once more at the dictionary. There beyond a doubt lie plays more splendid than Antony and Cleopatra; poems lovelier than the Ode to a Nightingale; novels beside which Pride and Prejudice or David Copperfield are the crude bunglings of amateurs. It is only a question of finding the right words and putting them in the right order. But we cannot do it because they do not live in dictionaries; they live in the mind. And how do they live in the mind? Variously and strangely, much as human beings live, ranging hither and thither, falling in love, and mating together.-Virginia Woolf, Craftsmanship. The Death of the Moth and Other Essays, 194 2 Word WordWord Word [1983: coined by US writer Paul Dickson]. A non-technical, tongue-in-cheek term for a word repeated in contrastive statements and questions: Are you talking about an American Indian or an Indian Indian?; It happens in Irish English as well as English English.-Tom McArthur, The Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford University Press, 1992

General Prologue Essays

General Prologue Essays General Prologue Paper General Prologue Paper Although Chaucer did not complete the Canterbury Tales, he managed to write 24 of them, plus the General Prologue and a Retraction. Not every character mentioned in the Prologue has a tale, and no character gets to tell the two tales that Chaucer intended each to deliver. Even so, most editions of the Canterbury Tales that youll come across include a limited number of the 24 tales. This guide presents and analyzes in depth the five tales most often read, plus the General Prologue. These are the five you are most likely to be reading and studying. They are representative of Chaucers varied styles. The Knights Tale is often considered to be Chaucers best romance; the Millers Tale, his funniest; the Wife of Baths Prologue and Tale, his best-drawn characterization; the Pardoners Tale, an excellent allegory and study in contrast between pilgrim and tale; and the Nuns Priests Tale, a clear philosophical statement and a wonderfully charming mock-heroic fable. As for the General Prologue, most students know that its essential reading as an introduction to the Canterbury Tales. The other talesthough not treated here in depth, and not read as often in the classroomcertainly have their merits. These other tales are presented in summary, following the in-depth presentations, and for each, special elements are highlighted that deserve consideration when you read the stories. The old saying goes, In spring a young mans fancy turns to thoughts of love. For Chaucer, who opens the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales with a wonderful description of spring, this was the time when people longed to go on pilgrimages. : On that sunny April day, Chaucer (coincidentally the name Chaucer chose for his narrator) happens to be at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, just south of London. Hes going on his own pilgrimage to the cathedral at Canterbury where St. Thomas a Becket preached and was murdered. By chance, 29 other pilgrims come trooping into the tavern, also headed for Canterbury. Chaucer chats with all of them, becomes part of their group, and decides to leave with them early the next morning. Chaucer then tells us all about the group hes joined: who they are, what their station in life is, even what theyre wearing. He proceeds to give us detailed descriptions of almost all of them, starting with the Knight, the highest-ranking member of the group. The Host then feeds the pilgrims plenty of food and wine, and takes the floor. He knows that the holiday mood of a pilgrimage means people will laugh and joke along the way. He has a plan; how many people will agree to it? They cheerfully agree, and the Host proposes that each pilgrim should tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and two more on the way back. Whoever tells the best talethe most morally instructive as well as the most amusing (see Note)gets treated to dinner by the rest of the gang on the return trip (at the Hosts inn, of course). Early next morning, the group heads out and the Host has everyone draw straws to see who will tell the first tale. The Knight picks the shortest straw, and the Prologue ends as the Knight prepares to speak. NOTE: The scheme of two stories out, two back was never completed by Chaucer. Instruction plus amusement were the criteria by which good stories were judged in Chaucers day. Originality was not important, but embellishment, and how well a story was adapted, were highly valued. It is fitting that the Knight, by cas (by chance) picks to go first, as he is the highest in the social hierarchy on the trip. Chaucer is saying the choice seems random, but is not. This idea resurfaces throughout the Tales.

Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries - Essay Example The latter, is itself the result of the change in weather patterns at the dawn of the 14th century. It was at this point in time that Europe went through a period of bad weather, characterized by severe winters and rainy and cold summers. This caused crop yields to decline and as a result, there was inadequate food supply to feed the whole population. The Great Famine was followed by the Hundred Years War that was fought between Britain and France. Although conflict between the two states dates far back, it was only in the 14th century when the two states constantly engaged in disputes. This crisis brought about great economic losses for both states as well as loss of human life. However, the effects of such economic loss were most felt when the next crisis hit Europe, the Black Death. The Black Death is the most notable pandemic to hit Europe. It struck in the mid-14th century (1347-1351). The result of such pandemic was a huge loss of life when around one third of Europe's total population was killed. This event occurred while England and France were engaged in the battles of the Hundred Years War. As a result, the two states were placed in a situation where they found themselves with depleted treasures and infrastructure and faced with the problems of poverty, malnutrition, disease, and hunger. The aforementioned problems characterize the situation Europe found itself in during the 14th an

Men, friendship and companionship in Divine Comedy Essay

Men, friendship and companionship in Divine Comedy - Essay Example He ends his pilgrimage into vision of "the Love which moves the sun and the other stars. (Michael Novak 2003)" The dual allegory of Commedia is the progress of soul toward Heaven, and the anguish of humankind on Earth. Throughout his journey, Dante's relationship with Virgil becomes more distinct as does that of the other characters who occupy the realm. In much of Dante's work, he turns the people who he was directly or indirectly associated with in real life into characters in his work. His feelings towards them can only be understood when observing the interactions between himself and the characters. To understand how these real life characters came to be involved in his epic poem, a little of Dante's history must be explained. Living in Florence, Dante was active in both political and military life. As a youth he entered the army and held several key posts in the Florence government during the 1290's. At this time Florence was politically divided between Guelphs and Ghibellines. The Guelphs supported the church and were conservative, preferring to keep things as they were. The Ghibellines on the other hand supported the German emperor but were relieved of their governance. During this time, the Guelphs whom Dante's family was associated with took the reigns of power. Though born into a Guelph family, Dante believed the church should only involve itself in spiritual affairs and later in life he became more neutral after realizing that the church was corrupt. When the new century dawned, Dante gained position from city councilman to ambassador of Florence. In 1301 when the Black Guelph and their French allies seized control of the city his career ended. The authorities seized Dante's possessions and permane ntly banished him from Florence, threatening the death penalty upon him if he returned. From this sprang some of his misgivings about those in high positions and used their characteristics and 'sins' in his work. It is during his exile that Dante wrote new pieces of literature. Between 1307 and 1314 he began writing The Divine Comedy where Dante introduces his invention of the three-line stanza as well as himself as a character. Dante's epic poem consists of three parts, The Inferno being the first. It depicts the journey of Dante, who himself is the hero, through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. He writes in the first person enabling the reader to identify and understand deeply the truths he wished to share about the meaning of life and man's relationship with the Creator. Dante's vision stems from personal experience and expresses them through images to convey his analysis of the nature of human existence. In the poem, Dante is around about the halfway point through his life and he finds himself wandering alone in a dark forest, having lost his way on the "true path" (Spark Notes 2006). In the first lines of the Divine Comedy, Dante says "In the middle of the journey of our life I came to my senses in a dark forest, for I had lost the straight path. (123Helpme 2005) " This is the typical stereotype of today for when a person becomes "lost" or consumed in sin. The sinful life is a dark life and a sinless life is a bright, white, and pure life. Dante's coming to his senses in a dark forest symbolizes his realizing how "lost" in sin he truly is and realizes he needs to do something. He remembers nothing about how he lost his way, but here he is in a fearful dark place. Above, he notices a