Sign Language in Spain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sign Language in Spain - Essay Example These variations are due to the difference in cultures of the countries. Such differences keep evolving over time and they become part of the sign language used in the territory. In the United States there is a full history of deaf culture that goes back to fifty years or so, and it is traceable if one looks through scholarly and academic sources. Such a thing is not present in Spain, where the period of history is just around fifteen years. Besides that, in Spain it was not very long ago that there was an attempt to give an official status to their sign language (which could be Spanish Sign Language [LSE] and Català ¡n Sign Language [LSC]). It was in 2005 that they drew up a law that supported sign language; later on the language was at long last supported by the Spanish senate by the year 2007. In the United States deaf culture was actually the basis on which research had been started, more so in the groups of deaf people, universities, and in certain related courses such as linguistics and anthropology. On the other hand, in Spain the issue has just been debated a lot all this time. The biggest clash in this seemingly never ending history can be succinctly put in this manner: the attribute of oralism in deaf education during the early times is noteworthy as it broke with long believed philosophical thoughts regarding deafness and language. It is possible that this assimiliationist representation had a positive goal of including deaf people in society. There were materially important social advantages for people who could learn to talk. For example: people who were deaf and did not speak either were not allowed to inherit property, while on the other hand, people who took pains to learn to speak were given permission to inherit. Though the past of generous paternalism concerning the deaf people in Spain may have had its share of advantages, but indisputably it has not permitted the complete addition

Eeoc Paper Essay Example for Free

Eeoc Paper Essay The purpose of this paper is to go over a lawsuit that was filled by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The paper will cover who the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) is and their role in the lawsuit. It will go over whether or not the lawsuit promotes social change. The paper will also go over how the EEOC as well as other news groups released information about the case to the public. I will then give my take on how I would implement new strategies to make sure the problem does not come up in the workplace again. A description of the compliance issue that led to the lawsuit The lawsuit that I have chosen is about a company not hiring someone because of their race. Tyeastia Green sued Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (ATK) because they did not hire her due to her race. A recruiter for ATK initially told her that she had gotten the job, later ATK rejected her and hired a while male instead (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2012). A brief Summary of the functions of the EEOC According to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (2012), the EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information† (Aerospace and Defense Manufacturer Rejected Applicant on Racial Grounds, Federal Agency Charged). The EEOC investigates charges of discrimination against employers who are covered by the law. Their role is the fairly and accurately assess the allegations in the charge and make a finding. The EEOC also works to prevent discrimination before it happens by offering education and technical assistance programs. The EEOC’s role in this lawsuit The EEOC’s role in the lawsuit was to find out whether or not the claim was valid. Once they decided that the claim was valid, they tried to settle the charge in a pre-litigation settlement. Since ATK did not want to settle, the EEOC filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2012). Whether or not this lawsuit promotes social change and reasons I do not believe that this lawsuit promotes social change. I believe this because I do not believe that this was a real discrimination due to Tyeastia Green’s race. According to Stych (2012), the recruiter asked her to take out her braids to appear more professional. Tyaestia did take out her braids but later put them back in before she got hired on. I believe that the company was not trying to discriminate against her. They asked her to do something to look more professional. The company does not have the right to tell her how she should wear her hair, but I do not believe they didn’t hire her because of her race. I think that they didn’t hire her because she didn’t comply with how they thought a profession person should look. A comparison of the EEOC press release to the news item The EEOC’s press release was not very informational. It did not give much detail on how the company discriminated against Tyeastia Green. The press release just said that ATK did not hire her because of her race. It also said that the company will pay $100,000 and furnish other relief to settle the race discrimination lawsuit filed by the EEOC (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2012). The article written by Ed Stych for the Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal went into more detail on what happened that lead to the lawsuit being filed. The article said that a recruiter asked Tyeastia to take out her braids to look more professional and that they set up an interview with the company’s information technology director and asked that she came to that interview the same way, without the braids (Stych, 2012). What accounts for the differences? I think that the reason they are different is because the EEOC has a privacy policy where they are not allowed to release certain information about the case. Other news groups on the other hand do not have a privacy policy. They write as much as they know in their articles. The Business Journal wanted the public to know why the lawsuit was filed and what lead up to the lawsuit. Strategies for ensuring inclusion in multicultural workplace If I was a senior manager at ATK, I would make sure that I specified how I believe the company’s image is displayed properly. I would make sure that everyone would be treated equally. I would make sure that all of the managers make everyone feel at home in the workplace. I would give classes to the managers and the recruiters on how to prevent discrimination in the workplace. I would also make sure that the recruiters learn how to talk to people without discriminating against them. Conclusion This paper has gone over the lawsuit that was filed by the EEOC. It also went over who the EEOC is and what their role is in the lawsuit. It also went over how the EEOC’s press release and the Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal articles different. I have learned that employers need to watch what they say and be more specific on how they say things to people as well. I think that if the recruiter has just explained better on why they did not want her to have her braids, things might have gone a little better. If I was Tyeastia, I would have waited until after my final interview to put the braids back in. They asked her to take them out and she did, then they asked her to come looking just like that to the meeting with the information technology director and she didn’t. I think that both parties are at fault in this situation. References U.S. Equall Employment Opportunity Commission. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/11-27-12b.cfm Stych, E. (2012). Mineapolis St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved from http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2011/09/29/atk-sued-eeoc-for-racial-discrimination.html

Cold Fusion Essay -- essays research papers

Cold Fusion: The Continuing Mystery In March of 1989, a discovery was made that rocked the scientific world. Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischman had announced that they were able to create and sustain a cold fusion process. After intense media attention, and corresponding interest in future test, the subject seemed to have faded away. Future tests proved inconclusive, and when the quick promise of easy energy didn’t materialize, most quickly forgot the subject. Little is said about the continuing research in the scientific community to further our understanding of the free energy enigma. Is it science fiction, on the border of legitamete science, or is it a practical field worthy of serious attention?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cold Fusion is the merging of two dissimilar metal hydrides. The process is exothermic, and can generate energy in one of two ways. Energy can be input in to a system and multiplied, or energy alone can be generated although in a much smaller amount. For example, one watt of energy can be input and 3 watts recovered. Some systems are capable of producing hundreds of watts per individual watt. The actual physics of the reaction is not completely understood. Some claim it is merely a chemical reaction not yet understood, while others are convinced it is a nuclear reaction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One example is a cold fusion cell which used .04 grams of metal hydride. It produced 86 megajoules over a two month period. A similar chemical reaction would have required 2,000 grams of chemicals to produce the same amount of energy. Another interesting point regarding this cell was the fact it had to be deliberately shut down. There was no sign of the reaction tapering off.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The skepticism regarding cold fusion stems from two separate studies, one done by MIT, and the other by the Energy Resources Advisory Board. The MIT study has been palled by attacks on the methods used to present the information. The chief science writer at the Institute denounced the study and resigned. The report contained altered graphs and an unclear method. The ERAB report was inconclusive, but presented to congress in a such a way as to present all of the negatives in order to maintain funding for their existed programs, instead of transferring research money to others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Numerous labs across the... ...clear reaction at all. Some think that the process is merely a chemical reaction not yet understood by today’s laws of chemistry. This presents numerous gray areas in the understanding of the reactions taking place in the experiments. If indeed it is a chemical reaction then there is some flaw in our understanding of chemical reactions. The lack of nuclear byproducts when in theory there should be lends strong credence to this belief though. Only continued experimentation and new exploration will help explain the mystery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The use of cold fusion would be a boon to mankind. It’s use would solve all energy delimmas currently facing the petroleum dependant modern society. Elimination of pollution, economy, and ready availability of raw materials would be a tremendous improvement over today’s combustion engines and chemical cells. More so than any other alternative energy solution, cold fusion presents a source that is truly renewable and, if it lives up to it’s hypothesis, a large enough amount of power. No other means to date has proven it’s practical use on a large scale. Cold fusion could be the solution to the problems of global warming and pollution.

Evolution of the Opera in Europe

Ask a high school student about Opera and they would just shrugged their shoulders in lack of knowledge, or others would try to guess and say that it’s a musical play, something like Broadway. While others who may have a bit of familiarity with Opera would say, â€Å"those silly men with long beards and silly dresses that sings in a very high voice†. In reality, opera is related to all of these definitions given. The scope of this paper is to introduce Opera into the twentieth century audience. Naturally, the history of Opera, when and where did it start and who are the people that made Opera famous and made famous by the Opera would be discussed.As well as the different forms of opera, and its different kinds or genre to be more specific. After which, an analysis of the whereabouts of Opera nowadays would be presented. II. What is an Opera? An Opera is a stage show that was only available for the European elites in the 1700s. It was sort of the ancestor of musical thea ters like Broadway and West End in London; it is just that Opera themes are usually about Greek Drama. It includes musical numbers, solos by lead actors and sometimes even a ballet-like dance to emphasize the action and texts of the songs.Opera dramas are predominantly about Greek Drama because Opera originated in Italy in the late 1600s, where Italian aristocracy fully enjoys performances in their own balconies and private theaters. Just like any beautiful thing, Opera spread to the common folk and took pride for its various performances and many composers from all over Europe, not just Italy, until everything was placed in a halting pause when wars emerged and the arts was put aside for some other important things. Opera before in the early ages was like Hollywood, stars were revered and composers were treated as royalties.They held performances from the greatest capitals of Europe like Naples, Saint Petersburg, Rome, Milan, Vienna, Venice, Berlin and Paris; as well as in the oper a houses newly established in New York City and New Orleans. The musicality of Opera has influenced other forms of music which are still thriving and used nowadays. An example is the usage of sinfonia, an instrumental prelude of the Opera which as now known as symphonies and the attempt to make piano and violin solos during a concerto was a clear indication of following through Opera’s cadenza (solos).The masterful innovation of 19th century German composer Richard Wagner in his orchestration for his different compositions became a big influence in shaping the classical music of the 19th century. a. When did it start? Opera started in the late 1600s through a group of scholars, known as the camerata instigated a performance with the aim of promoting monodic musical declamations. Although musical stage play was already existent as early as the 12th century like The Play of Daniel, it was Jacopo Peri’s and Ottavio Rinuccini’s Euridice, that was considered as the f irst Opera in the 1600.However, Jacopo Peri’s first composition Dafne was argued by other scholars as the first true Opera, though little of its text can be found now. Monodic musical declamations are recitals with free rhythm accompanied by a subtle music, and usually about Ancient Greek Drama and mythology. Just like the first Opera Euridice that was taken from the Greek mythology about Orpheus and his beloved Euridice. b. Where did it start? 1. Baroque (Italian) Opera originally came from Italy, wherein it was known as Baroque Opera or Italian Opera.It had its first shows in Venice and Rome, where Sant’ Alessio by Stefano Landi established Roman Opera in 1632. The libretto was penned by Giulio Rospigliosi and Landi modified the narrative style of the monodic trend by creating recitative and aria. But Roman Opera had to await the arrival of Claudio Monteverdi for it to blossom. He was an educated man and performed in the lavish court of the Gonzaga family and finally directed a church choir, after which he created his first opera in 1607, his own version of the Orpheus and Euridice mythology entitled La Favola d’Orfeo.Peri and Monteverdi’s version were so different that if Peri’s version was more of a monodic narrative with subtle accompaniment; Monteverdi’s version has more music in it. He expanded the accompaniment into a full scale orchestra with bowed and plucked strings, harpsichord and organ, trumpets and drums for more dramatic effects. He also gave each character his own musical identity and created a very poignant overture. It was the combination of lyric text and musical play as the term drama per musica (drama through music) had intended.Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppaea) in 1642, was the first to tackle a very sensitive subject matter and staged a very powerful vocal composition that would soon be stereotypical of an Opera. Marcantonio Cesti and Pietro Frances co Cavalli heralded the next generation of Venetian composers. They created an international style wherein the recitative was given less part in favor of the aria and the chorus was replaced with solos. Cavalli continued Monteverdi’s innovative style with his own Opera L’Ormindo and La Calisto.His Operas was known to include some charade and sexual content for the amusement of the viewers. Another Venetian composer, and also a predecessor of 18th Century Neapolitan School, Alessandro Stradella was also praised for having his own style in writing Operas. 2. English The Italian Opera became widespread in Europe and landed some its charms in England. Composers in England have begun working together to create masques, a court entertainment involving exaggerated speeches, dancing, ridiculous plots and costumes.The first English Opera was The Siege of Rhodes by poet Sir William D’Avenant in 1656 and music by Lawes, Matthew Locke, Henry Cooke, Charles Coleman and Georg e Hudson. John Blow wrote Venus and Adonis in 1684 but was not properly accredited as an Opera for some critics still call it a masque, but in 1689, Blow’s pupil Henry Purcell wrote the greatest English Opera of the 17th century entitled Dido and Aeneas. This Opera completely absorbed Italian influence and brought death to England’s masque.However, the most famous English composer was not really English, but rather a German born composer who completely immersed himself in Neapolitan Italian style. He was George Frideric Handel, composer of the widely acclaimed Messiah. He composed Rinaldo, his first Opera in England in 1711 where he immediately attained success and followed it with Giulio Cesare in 1724, Rodelinda in 1725 and Alcina in 1735. Handel synthesized the castrati that attained popularity and was the thing to do at that time.Aside from Handel making waves in England, there were also other local talents who are testing the waters like John Gay and John Christop her Pepusch who created The Beggar’s Opera in 1728. This form of Opera paved the way for ballad opera that ridiculed Italian opera and modern politics. 3. French Opera In French Opera, the form of aesthetics was firmly based on the visual, which is their concept of Opera was ballet transformed into musical theater. Eventually, Italian opera caught up with them and strong vocal performances found its way into their stages.French opera formally began with Jean Baptiste Lully where he presented a modernized version of Cavalli’s Serse in the wedding of Louis XIV of France and his cousin Marie Therese in 1660. The ballet performance was carefully choreographed by Lully. Lully then established the Academie Royale de Musique in 1672 where he created operas known as tragedies lyriques or lyrical tragedies. Most of the themes that were used were about mythology and legends again as the French court deemed it inappropriate to depict real persons in their performances.Lullyâ€⠄¢s theatre showcased fabulous ballet movements and abundant set designs that fully make the audience experience the story of the opera. Lully’s most outstanding operas were the Alceste in 1674, Atys in 1676 and Armide et Renaude in 1686. After Lully, another French composer, Jean Philippe Rameu attempted to make French Opera more harmonious and yet spontaneous at the same time. He wrote 32 operas that highlighted polyphony or the combination of multiple melodic lines. Rameu still maintained the dance factor in his operas as evident by the lengthy ballet numbers in his Les Indes Gallantes in 1735 and Dardanus in 1739.His plays Hippolyte et Aricie and Castor et Pollux has been presented for so many times. 4. German and Austrian German opera took its root from singspiel, their comic opera with spoken dialogue that would later on be influenced by the ballad genre. Early German courts much prefer their Italian contemporaries, wherein Frederick the Great insulted the German opera and compared it to the neighing of a horse. So, in the 18th century, German composers tried to revive singspiel and transform it into a better one.German composer George Phillip Telemann had based his Pimpione, a comic opera with only two characters on Pergolesi’s La Serva Padrona, in 1725. Another composer, Johann Christian Standfuss created Der Teufel ist Lost or The Devil to Pay, in 1752, in an attempt to resurrect singspiel. However, it was only the arrival of famous German composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that German Opera reached its peak. Mozart’s Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail or The Abduction from Seraglio in 1782 introduced singspiel internationally and made Vienna a music capital.Mozart continued to place Vienna in front of the international music scene through his compositions, Le Nozze di Figaro or The Marriage of Figaro in 1786; Don Giovanni in 1787; and Cosi fan tutte or Women are Like That in 1790. However, these works were very controversial during thos e times that it upset moralists and the contributed to the revolutionary sentiments in France; that it was neglected until the early 20th century when it was revived and made Mozart the greatest composer of all. c. Who are the singers? Opera singers are classified according to their gender and range of their voices.In a female singer, she can be classified as soprano, the highest range; mezzo-soprano as the middle range and contralto as the lowest range. In a male character, he can be classified as tenor as the highest; baritone the middle range and bass as the lowest range. The roles of actors would be dependent on the range of their voices and usually is assigned by the composers themselves. The choices would be strategically thought about by the lyricist and the composer and most of the times sopranos and tenors are reserved for the lead actors while the antagonists are played by bass or mezzo sopranos.This stereotyping is still ongoing up to now. A legendary mezzo soprano was Fa ustina Bordoni whose ability to sustain a note was amazing. Italian tenor Enrico Caruso is probably the most famous opera singer in history. III. What are the characteristics of an Opera? a. Voice The main feature of every opera is the singing, so setting aside the musical accompaniments; it is the vocal prowess of the actors that would carry the performance up to its end. Therefore, the arias, duets and choruses are strategically placed to emphasize the growing drama.An aria is a soliloquy or a monologue wherein the actor sings alone as in narrating through rhythm the events or his feelings. It is difficult to maintain an opera through an aria by itself but some composers found it to be the best way of relaying the plot of the story and conveying fast events, like fast talking but with a musical beat. b. Orchestra The orchestra serves as the backbone or the supporting structure of the Opera. Its strategic rhythm and melodious tempo helps the story unfold and captures the audienceâ €™s attention and carries them along as the opera develops.It helps in the escalation of feelings and provides dramatic sequences throughout the entire opera. c. Overture Overtures are theatrical introductions or short musical preludes that are usually coming from the theme of the opera itself. It sets the emotion of the audience in preparation for the first act and could run anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. However, this style was later on disregarded to give way to preludes or sometimes totally overlooked in some operas. IV. What are the forms of an Opera? a. Dramatic The term drama pertains not only for the lyrics or the texts of the opera but also about the feelings the music eludes.The original Italian composers called their works as dramma per musica and this tradition can be traced back from religious plays that also utilize music to relay their accounts. In a musical play, although complete by itself already, cannot be all together called an operatic drama unless it employ s music that helps heighten the emotion. In writing dramatic operas, composers usually make use of situations that involves sadness and eludes a distressing sentiment, at the same time applying higher registers of voice (soprano) to indicate passion or cacophonous mixtures to depict fear.Although there are points in which voices do occasionally rise from excitement and anger, the skilled composer would turn the music to become identical with the feelings arose by the character. b. Romantic The beginning of the 19th century inspired an artistic movement called romanticism and became widespread in literature, art and music. It spells imagination, creative freedom and subjectivity of interpretation. During this period artistry became luxuriant and flamboyant, employing large scale orchestras, higher notes, enormous choruses and more passionate solos.The theme as well was all on the subject of longings, faraway places, unrequited love affairs, intense romances, melancholic characters, n ostalgia, tempestuous romances, nationalistic themes and magical beings. Gioacchino Rossini of Italy was inspired and created an opera based on Sir Walter Scott’s Lady of the Lake or La Donna del Lago in 1819. However it was Giuseppe Verdi whose works lamented the Austrian oppression of Italy highlighted patriotism in its utmost romantic fervor. German romantic opera was made famous by two outstanding composers in the personality of Richard Wagner and Ludwig Van Beethoven.Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio in 1805 introduced romanticism in Singspiel. The difficulty Beethoven went through while composing Fidelio was reason enough for him to never make one again. Wagner composed the romantic drama Tristan Und Isolde in 1865. In his final masterpiece, Parsifal, about the quest for the Holy Grail, Wagner created such beautiful music that other opera houses took it in immediately and it was considered as a very successful work suitable to end such a wonderful career. V.Twentiet h Century Opera The romantic period of Opera ended when harsh times came with the war, this ushered twentieth century opera in a very peculiar way. Although Wagner’s Parsifal is still being played, Richard Strauss created Salome in 1905 based on a play by Oscar Wilde. Strauss was regarded as Wagner’s successor when it comes to creating beautiful music. Other successors are Arnold Schoenberg and Albag Berg and became known as the second Viennese school. Berg created Wozzeck in 1925 and Lulu in 1937.Schoenberg composed Expectation in 1909 and Moses und Aron in 1957. English opera looked on to the Indian epic Mahabharata to derive the Opera Savitri by Gustav Holst in 1916 and Ralph Vaughan Williams composed Sir John In Love in 1929, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. Igor Stravinsky, a Russian born composer who settled in the United States composed a remarkable collection of Operas, ranging from the romantic The Nightingale in 1914, the Gree k drama Oedipus Rex in 1927 and The Rake’s Progress in 1951.VI. Conclusion Opera nowadays is still being played by various theater houses all over the world, not just Europe anymore. Opera became widespread and more and more contemporary composers deep their hand into producing operas and making it available for public. However, it seems that Opera had come back to its previous state of being patronized only by elites and socialites way back in Italy in the late 1600s.Opera had become unreachable and in the present situation of the world right now, it is hard to depict the poverty, the terrorism and the hunger that occupies the humankind presently. Opera can not be flexible and it would be absurd to see artists dancing and singing in an attempt to depict hunger in Africa. Unlike other stage shows wherein they could properly address this issue and show the reality that they want to portray. Opera can never be mainstream, it enjoys a position at the top of the musical industry and it shall stay there forever.

Nestle-Marketing Oriented Company

Nestle was founded in 1866 by Henri Nestle and is today the world's biggest food and beverage company. Henri Nestle developed the first infant food in 1867 to save the life of a friend's baby who could not be breastfed. (this is a combination of cow’s milk, wheat flour and sugar). Since then, the company has looked to build on a tradition of providing nutritious products. The Nestle Group invests around 1. 5 billions swiss franc in R&D every year. It’s more than any other food company. Every day Nestle sells over a billion products. These individual consumer transactions give the Company total nnual sales of more than 90 billion swiss francs Nestle markets its products in 130 countries across the world. Nestle manufactures around 10,000 different products and employs some 250,000 people; A marketing orientated approach means a business reacts to what customers want. The decisions taken are based around information about customers’ needs and wants, rather than wha t the business thinks is right for the customer. Most successful businesses take a market-orientated approach Since then, the company has looked to build on a tradition of providing nutritious products.It builds its business around: -discovering what customers want -identifying pressures for change e. g. government campaigns, health education initiatives -responding to changes in the market place. Nestle concentrates on their consumers and tries to understand their physical and emotional desires. They have a wide range of products and consumed by all age groups. Nestle try to understand the economic, geographic and social factors which affects the diets of the consumers and try to concentrate on the nutritional and health value of the products.Example Nestle have used their research and technological expertise to their ice cream products to reduce their calories but too keep the same taste. They have also introduced sugar free products and lower sugar products like Kit Kat Light. Ne stle also try to understand the motivations, decision making and purchasing habits of the customers by spending time with the people. Example: Nestle employees spent three days living with people in suburbs of Lima in PERU to understand their everyday aspects of their life, and based on their understanding they sold relevant products in the local markets.A market led company like Nestle is continually monitoring customer attitudes and requirements through market research. This research takes two main forms: Qualitative research. This involves setting up small focus groups of consumers who express their ideas and opinions about their needs and views on different products. Quantitative research. Whereas qualitative research involves only relatively few people, quantitative research involves much bigger numbers. For example, professional market researchers may interview thousands of people through postal or telephone interviewing.Nestle regularly uses both forms of research to gain a c lear idea of consumer opinions and trends. Market research helps the company to keep in touch with an ever changing environment in which social attitudes and buying patterns are continually shifting. The Company's strategy is guided by several fundamental principles. Nestle's existing products grow through innovation and renovation while maintaining a balance in geographic activities and product lines. Long-term potential is never sacrificed for short-term performance.The Company's priority is to bring the best and most relevant products to people, wherever they are, whatever their needs, throughout their lives. Nestle is committed to the following Business objectives in all countries, taking into account local legislation, cultural and religious practices: Nestle continues to maintain its commitment to follow and respect all applicable local laws in each of its markets. Analysis of Market Analyzing the market means getting the information about the current market trends. There are different ways, which are adopted by Nestle to get the information of the market.By Sales Department Sales department is a primary source of getting the information about the market. They actually visit the market and find out that who are the competitors, and what strategies they are adopting. Customer Service Department For Every product there is customer service department.. Nestle knows that regular contact with their consumers is very important. This is why Nestle have a worldwide Nestle Consumer Services network Nestle cares for its consumers because its success depends on meeting their needs and expectations.Through listening and understanding, it can make products that they will want to use all through their lives. Research and Development Department The nestle Research and Development head office is in Switzerland. The customer complaints are forward to the R where research is conducted. Suppliers and distributors To know about the market Nestle has established the close re lationship with their suppliers who provide the raw materials. Conclusion Nestle is one of the world's leading food companies. Its commitment to high quality market research ensures that it remains fully aware of changes in consumer behaviour and consumer tastes.Its excellent product research and development network ensures that it is well placed to meet the challenge of changes in consumer expectations. The company's Wellness strategy is carefully geared to delivering to customers what they want in relation to the foods they eat. Thus it's clear that Nestle is a Market Oriented company because they try to understand the customer or market needs and produce products accordingly to achieve the organizations goals. And they believe that people are the main strength of the company.

Night of Scorpion Essays

Night of Scorpion Essays Night of Scorpion Essay Night of Scorpion Essay Night of the Scorpio written by Nissim Ezkiel is an interesting verse form and the poet brings about a really appealing contrast between good and evil in it ; wholly giving the verse form an kernel of equality. The poet makes it a trouble-free undertaking for the readers to visualise the scenes with the appropriate usage of assorted imaginations. He has besides done a fantastic work of adding assorted different senses into the verse form. All the senses. ocular. odor. internal feelings and sound have been included. In this verse form we can see the scenes vividly with the aid of lines like. †¦to crawl beneath a poke of rice. and. Peasants came like drove of flies. Nissim Ezekiel is able to maintain are mind alive and engaged the full continuance of the verse form with the aid of lines like. Peasants came like drove of flies. When we read this line. we know that it is a simile and it help us to see how the provincials came along. But when think deeper we realize that it besides shows us that the storyteller does non look up to the sort of attention that the villagers are demoing. he merely wants them to go forth him and his household entirely. The ground the villagers are compared to flies is to demo precisely how exacerbating they are and that they are non welcome. merely like flies. The poet has made this verse form composite. which is ever a good thing. This can be proved because to depict the Scorpio he uses words like diabolical and The Evil One which show it as a diabolic animal. On the other manus he besides used lines like. goaded him to creep beneath a poke of rice and †¦ risked the rain once more. which brings about a contradiction as this line shows that the Scorpio is non at all the scoundrel. it is merely frightened. Among the many figures of address used in this verse form onomatopoeia is one of them. He has used this figure of address expeditiously. enabling us to hear the changeless noises that were made. The poet write that the villagers buzzed the name of god which once more stresses on the point that the noise and disturbance being made by the villagers was non at all welcome. The poet further draws the involvement of the reader by utilizing a figure of address to convey this message and non making it straight. He has besides written They clicked their linguas. which is another case of onomatopoeia. The component of odor is brought approximately because the poet has introduced tapers and firing oil in lanterns in his verse form every bit good. Nissim Ezekiel has made the mother’s experience of acquiring bitten by the Scorpio sound tormenting and ageless. He has conveyed this by utilizing some really descriptive authorship. illustration. May the toxicant sublimate your flesh of desire. and your spirit of aspiration. Nissim Ezekiel successfully built the tense atmosphere by utilizing merely a short sentence. My male parent. sceptic. positivist. seeking every expletive and approval. There is besides an case in which the poet uses initial rhyme. I watched the fire feeding on my female parent. This line has besides been able to construct up the complex nature of the verse form because of its double significance. We can merely state that the flame’ refers to flare of the paraffin or we can besides state that flame’ refers to the scorpion’s toxicant. The verse form ends sanguinely. with the female parent surviving and being grateful to god for doing her suffer and non her kids. After all the tense minutes of hurting. agony. anguish and fright. the verse form has a really affecting and warm stoping which proves the mother’s love for her kids.

Are You On a Career Ladder, or Just Job Hopping

Are You On a Career Ladder, or Just Job Hopping It used to be that you’d take a job at a company and rise from young up-and-comer to wise lifer, logging 10 years or more in the same place. It’s not that changing jobs was unheard of, but rather people built their career paths  differently. These days, changing jobs is the norm: the average Joe or Jane changes jobs 10-15 times throughout their careers. Much of this is a cultural change, and an economic one- companies are much more likely to reorganize or adapt to changing technology and economic factors these days. And part of it is a personal change, as well. Millennials, especially, are seen as mercenary sharks, ready to grab the next opportunity that swims by. Gallup reports that  Millennials are far more likely to change jobs frequently. In fact, in 2015, 21% of  Millennials  surveyed by Gallup had changed jobs within the last year. And on top of that, 60% of them were open to changing jobs in the near future if the opportunity came up.This speaks to a shif t in thinking, where upward progress is more important than the stability of creating a career path in one place. The latter is the â€Å"career ladder† approach, where your plan is to meet particular job title milestones, typically within a company or organization. The alternative approach, one increasingly embraced by the newer generations of job seekers, is moving from job to job to cobble together experience and move up in salary and job title. The phrase â€Å"job hopping† has been used to describe this phenomenon, and although it’s taken on some negative connotations, it can also be a career booster.Career Ladder: Pros and ConsWhen you think of a career ladder, think of the stereotypical Hollywood story of the mailroom worker who works diligently upward from the bottom rung of the company, making it all the way to the corner office. It makes a great story (look at what Anyman/Anywoman can achieve!), but that story leaves out a lot: namely, all the steps in the middle, and all the skills sets that have to be built along the way. Creating a career ladder requires a strong commitment, and a strong set of goals.The Pros:Career ladders are based on stability. If you feel most comfortable plotting out a career course where you don’t have to make a lot of changes, where you can put down roots, this mightYou’re not necessarily tied to one place. Many companies have offices or opportunities throughout the country (or even the world). Just because you’re committing to one company for a long time doesn’t mean you’re saying you’ll stay in one place forever.It doesn’t have to be your entire career plan. A career ladder could be just a portion of your career (say, the next 10 years), where you want to get from Job A to Job Z. That doesn’t mean you have to spend the rest of your life in Job Z.It shows upward mobility, while also showing you’re a good investment. A company that has promo ted you numerous times is one that thinks you’re a worthy investment, and that can be appealing once you are ready to make the change to another company, or if there’s an unforeseen job loss.Companies like to promote from within. Hiring from outside can add new dynamics and diversify your employee pool, but it can also be expensive, time consuming, and a big gamble. Developing talent has significant advantages for companies, including developing a strong, committed employee base. It’s less of a risk because they know you, and know what you’re capable of doing. If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of wanting a job, only to find out someone was hired internally, that could be you!The Cons:Career ladders are less common these days. With unpredictable economics, and technology changing virtually every industry very fast. It can be harder to create a long-term plan if you can’t account for things like reorganizations (which often come on qu ickly for those affected).Companies don’t always have the resources to devote to leadership and skill training that would best benefit employees. If you’re not growing and improving in your job,There’s a risk of stagnation. Sometimes a change of scenery is beneficial, and can jump-start your career by exposing you to new people, new ideas, and new ways of doing your job. Merely changing and expanding roles may not provide as much career stimulation, depending on your comfort zone and your career goals.You might be seen as less-than-ambitious. If you seem too comfortable in your role, it may be tough for the powers that be to see you in a new role that requires change and more responsibility.Job Hopping: Pros and Consâ€Å"Job hopping† sounds like a social activity, but really it just means that a person switches jobs frequently (every year or two), without putting down long roots in one place. It’s becoming a more popular career path strategy for p eople, especially Millennials, who are looking for more aggressive career development.The Pros:Change is good! Working at different companies, in different environments (even if the roles are similar) is a good way to build experience quickly. Job hopping offers you more chances to try new things and take on new projects, ensuring that you grow consistently.It’s becoming more accepted. Job hopping used to be considered â€Å"career suicide,† because it raised red flags. Why has this person held so many different jobs over a short period of time? The economics of American jobs have shifted so substantially, however, that now it’s becoming more accepted, especially when people are younger and just starting out in their careers. An unstable economy can upset even the most carefully planned career trajectory, and hiring managers are increasingly understanding of that.It’s can be a fast track to higher salary. If you jump on opportunities for advancement at ot her companies, you have the opportunity to negotiate higher and move into higher paying positions, faster than you might if you were going through a standard promotions process at a single company.It’s a network builder. New company = new colleagues, and an ever-growing stable of work acquaintances, mentors, and friends in your field.It shows you’re adaptable. Starting over somewhere else requires a lot of thinking on your feet, and being able to adapt to new environments and ways of doing things. You can emphasize that in your resume and in interviews, and use specific examples of how your range of jobs have made you a more nimble employee.The Cons:Some hiring managers still see it as a red flag. They might think you’re a flight risk, after the company invests training time and resources into you as an employee. Unfairly or not, you may be seen as less-than-loyal, or disinterested in committing to the role or to the company.Short-term focus comes at the expense of long-term progress. It can be tough to see where you are, career-wise, if you’ve been moving so much that you don’t see how your efforts pan out. If you’re out the door before positive results roll in for your hard work, you can’t really quantify that and use it on your resume in the future.Your job may not be as secure. In a reorganization or layoff situation, if it comes down to a Sophie’s Choice-style decision between the new-ish employee who started less than a year ago, or the longer-term employee with a long history of institutional knowledge and achievement, you might be the easier one to let go.As you can see, there are good points and bad for each career choice- and in fact, job hopping may not be a choice at all, but rather a response to a chaotic industry, or economic changes well beyond your control. The most important decision to make, whether you want to plant a career ladder in one place, or make chess-like moves through your fie ld to reach your ultimate career goals, is what works best for you.If you’ve always had a dream company in mind, then maybe the ladder is the way to go: start humble, and rise through the ranks like that mythical mail room employee. If you want to make big changes and steadily build your job title and salary over a shorter period of time, then job hopping might be your best option. It might also work best if your goals are very multidisciplinary- if you want to be the best darn salesperson of widgets, then by all means put down roots at Widget Co. and start building your empire.If you want to be experienced and knowledgeable about widget sales and production, then your best strategy might be to start in sales at Widget Co., then move over to Widgets ‘R Us with your sales background. The bottom line here is that your career goals are yours and yours alone, and you should pursue them as you see fit.

Should You Really Go to College Out of State Pros and Cons

Should You Really Go to College Out of State Pros and Cons SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips One of the most important decisions you'll make in the college research process is where in the country to focus your search. Going to school out of state has its benefits, but is an out-of-state college the right choice for you? In this article, I’ll give you the general pros and cons of attending an out-of-state college and provide some guidance on whether you should apply. What’s the Difference Between Out-of-State and In-State Colleges? Out-of-state colleges differ from in-state colleges mainly in the fact that they’re, well, not in your home state.The term â€Å"in-state colleges† is primarily used to refer to public universities in your home state because this usually means a lower tuition price tag.For private colleges, in-state and out-of-state tuition are usually the same.The two main qualities that differentiate out-of-state colleges from in-state colleges are that out-of-state colleges are farther away from your hometown and more expensive than in-state colleges. Pros and Cons of Out-of-State Colleges Pros You’ll be able to explore a new area and get outside your comfort zone. You’ll meet more people from different backgrounds and be more incentivized to make new friends. You’ll have more independence and get a feel for what it’s like to live on your own. Tons of choices! If you’re open to attending college out of state, you’ll have a huge range of different types of schools to choose from and won’t be limited by what your state offers. Cons You'll pay a higher tuition price for an out-of-state college than you would for an in-state public university. You’ll miss out on any savings you might get from living at home and commuting to an in-state school. You’ll be further away from home, so you won’t be able to rely on your family for support as muchor see your old friends as often. You might feel isolated or lonely in an unfamiliar place. Should You Go to an Out-of-State College? Is an out-of-state college right for you? There’s a couple of personal factors you should consider now that you understand the general positives and negatives. First, how important is the cost of college to you and your family?Out-of-state tuition is usually pricier than in-state tuition. The average tuition price is $9,139 for in-state students and $22,958 for out-of-state students (both at public colleges).If you plan on attending a private college, however, in state and out-of-state tuition rates will be more similar.Discuss financing college with your family and do some research. To reduce your student debt, you may decide that an in-statepubliccollegeis the bestoption. You should also ask yourself how far from home you want to be for college.Some students deal with the transition from high school to college better than others, and it can be tough to be in an unfamiliar place without access to your usual support system.During other times of change in your life, such as switching to a new school or moving to a new town, did you adapt well or did you struggle?This should give you clues as to how you might deal with settling into a new environment in college.If you think you’ll be all too happy to be away from your family and start meeting new people, you may thrive at an out-of-state school where you can re-establish your identity. Dye your hair purple, get a mohawk, and never look back. Researching Out-of-State Colleges If you want to attend an out-of-state college, you have a lot of options to sift through.The next thing to think about is whether you want attend a public or private college and if you’re interested in a specific area of the country.There are manycollege search resources online that will help you narrow down your search.You can also look at thisguide to choosing a college to get ideas on what other questions to ask yourself about your preferences. Try signing up for a profile on Cappex, which will give you the opportunity to identify your preferences on location, size, and other factors. It will also ask you to share your academic statistics so you can find out your chances of admission at different schools.You’ll be matched up with colleges that fit your criteria, or you can search for schools by name if you have some in mind.Each school has a full profile that lists relevant statistics and facts about campus life. If you’re interested in a school, add it to your running list of options and compare it with other colleges to see how it measures up.In your profile, you can specify how far away from home you want to be so that you’ll only get recommendations for out-of-state schools. Summary Out-of-state schools may be right for you if you're looking for new experiences and some distance from your hometown.If you think you want to attend school out of state, you’ll have a huge variety of colleges to choose from that each possess many different qualities that may make or break your experience. Depending on how important cost and proximity to your hometown are for you, you may or may not decide that out-of-state schools are the best choice.Get started researching schools now so that you can start narrowing down your options! What's Next? How much does it really cost to go to college? Learn about the financial realities of attending college in this article. If you plan on attending an out-of-state college, you'll be choosing between schools that come in a variety of sizes. Read this article to learn whether you're better suited to a large or small college environment.For more specific information on small colleges and what they're like, take a look at this article. Thinking about applying to some of the most selective schools in the country? Check out this guide on how to get into Ivy League and other highly competitive colleges. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Reflecting on Education Essay Example Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Reflecting on Education Example - Essay Example I too have had my share of ups and downs. I can vividly recall the joyful yet somber periods in my life which have left a deep impression. We, a family of six, moved into this town from Mexico and lived in a two-bed roomed home located in a very low income neighborhood. My first school, the elementary school was a bit run down but conveniently located only a block away. The learning process started from here itself. Since my first language was Spanish it was difficult to balance and understand the English that I was learning at school. What made it even more difficult was the fact that my parents did not know any English so I could not go to them for help. Beginning with kindergarten I remember listening to the teacher very intensely but not being able to identify nor comprehend even simple hand gestures that other students could understand. I always thought it was normal to share books and other materials for school. At the elementary school I was diagnosed with a speech impediment along with stuttering, which they attributed to the Spanish that was spoken in my family household. After the diagnosis I was asked to spend about a half an hour each day with a teacher in the special education department.

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 27

Case Study Example due to the selfishness of the security manager who only thinks about his well-being while sabotaging the interest of the minors who have little say in the case. The case gives a personal view on how the managers should tackle issues like fraud, lateness, theft in business and companies that contribute heavily to the fall of most prestigious business in the world today. All supervisors should uphold the behavior of being fair, honest and loyal. Loyalty requires that the supervisors respect the fellow workers at the same time honoring the goals of a company. Honesty is a tribute that all organizations seek when recruiting new employees. Lack of this virtue can lead to a total downfall of company. In a business there is always a procedure followed when an employee is suspected of committing a crime or for behaving unethically. Firstly, the supervisor gathers all the evidence and puts it in form of records. The information gathered should be solid and not biased. In this case the supervisor has failed the first step since she is becoming judgmental with no records to base her arguments. The second step involves challenging the employee using the evidence. This helps create an argument that can be followed in a particular manner because the supervisor has procedural question due to the previous evidence. This questionnaire also makes the supervisor be in a position to control his emotions because he or she is confident and sure of the queries he makes. Thirdly, the supervisor is required to follow the business disciplinary procedure. If the two processes already mentioned points out that the employee is innocent then the case can be dismissed and alternative solution sought. Finally, if the process goes well then the supervisor should look out for the factors that contribute to all these incidences (Parboteeah & Cullen, #2). For this case, the issue leading to theft can be poor payments that contribute to temptation in order to fully meet the financial needs. In

Using insight into historaical, social and cultural context write an Essay

Using insight into historaical, social and cultural context write an regarding the expectations of pip in Charles Dickens 'Great expectaions - Essay Example He develops unrealistic expectations which lead him to develop undesirable traits. However, the resulting disappointments turn him more mature and responsible. In the beginning, Pip is so vulnerable crying â€Å""Oh! Dont cut my throat, sir, O pray.....† (p.3) when the convict Magwitch catches him in the churchyard. His situation is so desperate as he stands looking at the graves of seven members of his family; being an orphan, without family and friends, he stands alone in the world. In such a position, Pip longs to improve himself setting expectations. He admires Joe, the blacksmith and has "a new sensation of feeling conscious that I was looking up to Joe in my heart" (p.4). However, his admiration soon turns into indifference as he starts develop unrealistic expectations. Some of his expectations are educational, moral and social. The change starts coming upon him on his meeting Mrs. Havisham and Estella. Pip, who has admired Joe and the working class life, starts noticing the difference between classes. He thinks regretfully, â€Å"I was a common labouring-boy; that my hands were coarse; that my boots were thick; and generally that I was in a low-lived bad way" (p. 27). He loves Estella and yearns to marry her; however, he faces the truth that he is poor, ignorant and realises the difference between moral and immoral behaviour. He is idealistic which causes him to have a very narrow view of the world. So, he sometimes acts rude to people who actually care for him. He goes by the face value, which leads to disappointments. When Mr. Jaggers tells Pip about the great expectations that they have placed on him, he thinks that Miss Havisham is going to spend her fortune and expects that Mrs. Havisham is his benefactor, but when he realises the truth that he had been so long supported by a convict, he is unable to take it. However, later he comes to learn the human qualities of

The Fundamentals of Character, Deliberation and Moral Problems in Essay

The Fundamentals of Character, Deliberation and Moral Problems in Training - Essay Example They will all be analyzed here forthwith. II. The â€Å"Slippery Slope† The â€Å"slippery slope† is basically a domino effect that takes place after one moral principle is compromised, leading to other compromises in principle. As stated by Delattre (2002), â€Å"[T]he slippery slope of corruption begins with any gratuity, including the well-known cup of coffee† (pp. 77). This particular example is referring to police, although many different public servants could also be considered on par with police so much so that they indeed do receive special treatment as a member of a certain group of public servants (i.e., judges, lawyers, senators, Congresspersons, city board members, aldermen, etc.). For example, if a judge was given a bribe in order to help sway the decision of his very first court case, this could be a premier example of the slippery slope. The judge isn’t really supposed to do that, but perhaps the judge figures it’s just a one-time act ion. Later on, when other lawyers petition the judge with more bribes in the form of financial assistance, that judge may be hard-pressed to say no. However, while some people accept gratuities to be a simple fact of life in order for public officials to perform (sometimes illegal) favors in return—performing these favors in return for gratuities are a form of bribery and should not be tolerated. Although people may be used to giving gratuities which they may deem harmless, the damage has been done. III. The Society-At-Large Hypothesis Within the society-at-large hypothesis, the main idea here is that society corrupts people with political or otherwise hierarchical powers. According to Delattre (2002), O.W. Wilson stated, â€Å"[For example, in Chicago] it had been customary to give [people in public service] gratuities†¦[with a] certain progression of events [to] follow†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pp. 69). This allowed certain public officials to get away with crimes that went unch ecked. Without a doubt, nepotism and cronyism still play a large part in politics in several different cities and nations, due to the nature of the job. It has long been considered standard to offer, for example, that free cup of a coffee to a cop on the beat by a local food mart. However, that may be taken as a sign that public servants deserve more than just that, in effect producing a society which expects its leaders to take bribes or be corrupt—effectively proffering corruption. IV. The Structural/Affiliation Hypothesis The structural or affiliation hypothesis, developed by Arthur Niedenhoffer, posits that corruption is indoctrinated into new recruits of organizations by the higher-ups. For example, if a rookie cop sees his superior shaking down drug dealers for monetary gain, he might very well start doing the same thing by way of affiliation. The corruption is also a structural problem which is built in to the police culture. Other organizational cultures—for ex ample, in corporate offices—might have similar structural difficulties. Enron is a great example of a company that had corruption increasing the farther one went up the chain of executives. V. The Rotten Apple Theory The rotten apple theory basically states that there is poor hiring, training, and supervision within an organization, effectively putting individuals who already have a track record of corruption in positions of power. The rotten apple

Political Science The State of the Union Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Political Science The State of the Union - Essay Example The president believed that through this new path, America will be able to forge forward economically. However, he promised to work with the lawmakers from both parties despite his assertive statement on working independently to tackle the economic issues (The 2014 State of the Union Address (Enhanced Version). President Obama also talked about the foreign policy. He explained that America used diplomacy and threat to make Syria surrender their chemical weapons. He also added that Afghanistan was brought to the negotiation table through using diplomacy and pressure. Moreover, pulling troops out of Afghanistan was a plan that President Obama mentioned that he will execute this year and also cautioned that he would veto sanctions on Iran in case the country disrupts his diplomatic efforts. There was an emotional moment when Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg, an Army Ranger  was introduced. President Obama had met him before and after he was involved in a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan. The bomb led to the loss of one of his eyes and legs, making him have to learn to walk again. There was an elongated standing ovation from the lawmakers of both parties as the Army Ranger made it to the first lady’s box (The 2014 State of the Union Address (Enhanced Version). The message of the day was mainly on the inequality of wealth distribution between the rich and the poor. On this, President Obama elaborated on the struggles of the average-earning citizens. This was in a bid to show the big gap between the rich and the poor in the US. On that note, the president announced an increase in the minimum wage rate to $10.10 for future federal workers on contract, and the establishment of a fresh treasury savings bond for the workers who cannot access traditional retirement options. He also made a suggestion for higher efficiency levels for trucks running on gasoline and those running on alternative fuels (The 2014 State of the Union

John Cleese & Creativity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

John Cleese & Creativity - Essay Example In his lecture, John Cleese uses many past stories to try to make the listeners get a clear understanding of exactly what message he is trying to pass across to the listeners. One of the lessons was when he talks about how a person’s subconscious can easily help save them from a situation that may seem so bad turn out to be just the opposite of ones expectations. The writer uses the story about his life with his co-writer Graham Chapman. Just like any other human relationship, the two writers also had their fall outs which at some point made John Cleese lost some of his valuable work (Salter, 78). However, this did not deter the writer from reaching into his subconscious and coming up with a new and even better sketch. John got all the ideas for the sketch comedy from his unconscious (Salter, 80). This simply shows that if people were to reach into their subconscious mind and actually look for ways through which to make better a bad situation, maybe the situation wouldn’t be so bad after all. Take the situation of indulging in the use of marijuana. Most people are normally pressured by their peers and never actually think about the consequences. However, if the individual were to reach into their subconscious and try and seek out other alternatives, maybe the situation wouldn’t be so bad after all. Cleese also speaks of people always being more of impulsive thinkers rather than actually taking the time to give a situation deep thought until ones unconscious actually contemplate an idea. The only reason that most people indulge in the use of marijuana is out of fear of what their friends would think of them if they were to say no. People never actually take time to think and let the idea actually sink in. The only reason most people worldwide use the drug is that people try so hard to fit in with the rest of the community. Consequently, people are even willing to partake in the use of drugs as long as at the end of the day they feel like they

Political Science The State of the Union Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Political Science The State of the Union - Essay Example The president believed that through this new path, America will be able to forge forward economically. However, he promised to work with the lawmakers from both parties despite his assertive statement on working independently to tackle the economic issues (The 2014 State of the Union Address (Enhanced Version). President Obama also talked about the foreign policy. He explained that America used diplomacy and threat to make Syria surrender their chemical weapons. He also added that Afghanistan was brought to the negotiation table through using diplomacy and pressure. Moreover, pulling troops out of Afghanistan was a plan that President Obama mentioned that he will execute this year and also cautioned that he would veto sanctions on Iran in case the country disrupts his diplomatic efforts. There was an emotional moment when Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg, an Army Ranger  was introduced. President Obama had met him before and after he was involved in a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan. The bomb led to the loss of one of his eyes and legs, making him have to learn to walk again. There was an elongated standing ovation from the lawmakers of both parties as the Army Ranger made it to the first lady’s box (The 2014 State of the Union Address (Enhanced Version). The message of the day was mainly on the inequality of wealth distribution between the rich and the poor. On this, President Obama elaborated on the struggles of the average-earning citizens. This was in a bid to show the big gap between the rich and the poor in the US. On that note, the president announced an increase in the minimum wage rate to $10.10 for future federal workers on contract, and the establishment of a fresh treasury savings bond for the workers who cannot access traditional retirement options. He also made a suggestion for higher efficiency levels for trucks running on gasoline and those running on alternative fuels (The 2014 State of the Union

Carnival Cruise Lines Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Carnival Cruise Lines - Case Study Example Few large firms or companies then are left to control the entire market share in the industry and this then will leads to a consolidated industry. Firms or companies like Carnival Cruise Lines in the cruise industry are very well established with very large economies of scale (Enz, 2010). In such cases, the industry is likely to be more competitive compared to the fragmented industries. This is all because well established firms in a consolidated industry have the ability to implement several strategies and come up with new products after thorough research. With adequate resources, firms in a consolidated industry will always be on the run to compete with one another to win more clients and improve their general sales. Such firms will advertise their products aggressively to improve brand loyalty and create awareness of their products and services among many customers in the market. Taking an example of the Carnival Cruise Lines, it is clear that what is happening between the company and the Royal Caribbean International is a stiff competition to win more customers and establish strong brand of their products. 2. A consolidated industry is usually made up of few but very big firms or companies who entirely dominate the industry and control a large market share of a certain product type. This is all because when some new firms try to enter the industry, they meet some setbacks and a lot of competition with the few big firms which have a lot of resources to win a big share of the market. The firms in a consolidated industry deal in differentiated products and get very high profit margins. In that case, one can say that a consolidated industry is more resembles an oligopoly structure because in an oligopoly market structure, there are few firms who control a large market share with differentiated products (Enz, 2010). Like in oligopoly market

Carrefour Hypermarket Essay Example for Free

Carrefour Hypermarket Essay A hypermarket or multi department store is a superstore which combines a supermarket and a department store. The result is a very large retail facilitywhich carries an enormous range of products under one roof, including full linesof groceries and general merchandise. When they are planned, constructed, andexecuted correctly, a consumer can ideally satisfy all of his or her routine weeklyshopping needs in one trip. The example of hypermarket have been set up inMalaysia is Carrefour, Tesco, Jusco, and Giant (foreign hypermarkets) besidesother local hypermarket such as Mydin. Following are background of theCarrefour hypermarket and Mydin hypermarket.The first Carrefour store opened on 3 June 1957, in suburban Annecy near a crossroads (carrefour in French). Today it is the smallest Carrefour location inthe world. The group was created by Marcel Fournier and Denis Defforey andgrew into a chain from this first sales outlet. In 1999 it merged with Promodà ¨s,known as Continent, one of its major competitors on the French market.Marce Fournier and Denis Defforey had attended several seminars in theUnited States led by The Pope of modern distribution Bernardo Trujillo, whoinfluenced other famous French executives like Édouard Leclerc (E.Leclerc),Gà ©rard Mulliez (Auchan), Paul Dubrule (Accor), and Gà ©rard Pà ©lisson (Accor).Their slogan was No parking, no business.The Carrefour group pioneered the concept of a hypermarket a large supermarket and a department store under the same roof. They opened their first hypermarket 15 June 1963 in Sainte Genevià ¨ve des Bois, near Paris inFrance.1976 Carrefour introduces  ³produits libres ´ which are unbranded product but ³just as good, and cheaper ´. In 1992, Carrefour creates filiere quality systems,which quarantee product origin and traceability. Carrefour opened their firsthypermarket 1994 in Malaysia. In the 21st century, hundreds of millions of men and women will become part of the consumer society within a globalized economy. Globalization does, however,pose new types of risk for both human society and our planet. Faced with suchrisk,  and in order to improve prospects for future generations, it is crucial tofollow the path of sustainability, which combines economic profitability, respect for the environment and both social and ethical development. mission Carrefour are totally focused on meeting the expectations of their customers. Carrefour mission is to be the benchmark in modern retailing in each of their markets, by offering : * Their customers: the best prices and the best merchandise, in every banner and every country. * Their staff: the possibility of growth and fulfillment in a trusting environment, withinteresting jobs and motivational compensation. * Their shareholders: a sustained return on their investment and the growthprospects of a global, multi format retailer. * Their partners, franchisees or affiliates: leading banners and brands, marketingand sales expertise, purchasing power and constantly improving techniques. * Their suppliers: markets, customer intelligence, and cooperation to improveproducts through long term, mutually beneficial relationships. * Public, local and national authorities: a deep commitment to the community,as a socially responsible economic actor and good corporate citizen. Objectives †¢Improve customer satisfaction †¢Improve profitability †¢Significant reduction in excess inventory Carrefour is a public limited company with a share capital of 1,790,354,427.50 euros divided into 716,141,771 shares and with some 460,000shareholders. Carrefours employees own 2.98% of the Groups share capital.Their attention to social and environmental performance preserves their share price and attracts new investors sensitive to social and environmental issues.Carrefour strives to guarantee to its shareholders the transparency of its corporategovernance. Ethical, social or environmental issues are dealt with by Carrefour’s key decision making bodies : 1. The Board of Directors is Carrefour’s main governing body. It comprises 11members of whom 3 are independent directors, and is assisted by a Strategic Steering Committee, an Audit Committee and a Wages and Salaries Committee. 2. The Executive Committee is the backbone ´ of Carrefour’s managementstructure. Under the impetus of its chairman, it recommends strategic directionsand guidelines and organises their deployment. Its membership reflects the waythe Group is structured per geographic area with cross sector support functions. 3. The Quality Sustainable Development department, which manages thesustainable development programme, reports directly to the CEO and advises theExecutive Committee on sustainability issues. Carrefour products Besides, With its customers needs in mind, Carrefour decided in 1985 toreplace its produits libres, generic product line created in 1976, with an own -brand line, which is produced for the most part by small and medium sizedbusinesses and manufacturers. Today, Carrefour sells over 2,000 products thatmeet very strict specifications with regard to their price / quality ratio, taste,authenticity, food safety, traceability and innovation. Carrefour also sells 5,000 non- food products under its own brand names. Outside laboratories conduct qualityaudits of our non-food products at various stages in their production to make sure theymeet our specifications. Carrefours organic line now offers 130 products in its freshfood, grocery and frozen food aisles. All products in the Carrefour organic lineare inspected and certified by the independent certification organization ECOCERT,and must meet organic farming specifications (no chemical fertilizers, no syntheticpesticides). Everyone who works with Carrefour to produce its organic line makes a long term commitment to adhere to demanding production control and producttracking specifications. Regular inspections are conducted at every stage of themanufacturing process, up to and including inspections of the finished product. Carrefour market positioning Carrefour does business, its stores have further moved its marketpositioning towards the discount end through a policy of low prices andlargescale promotions. The banners concerned by the conversion to the eurolocked in their prices through May 2002 and maintened a freeze on own brandsover the whole year. The price positioning was supported by many promotionalcampaigns. In the first half, Carrefour won back market share in Brazil byconducting three short promotional campaigns a week. In the second half, thegroup’s 40th Anniversary offered a worldwide opportunity to display thecompetitive nature of the product range. Other international promotions such asthe ones in countries involved in the World Football Cup, helped to boostthe stores financial performance. Carrefour branches With operations in 30 countries, Carrefour is the world’s second largestretail group. It is the number one retailer in Europe. Carrefour has  also been present in the Americas since 1975 and in Asia since 1989. This success stems from their ability to adapt their strategy to fit local markets and to make globalisation an Opportunity for progress. Wherever they do business, they striveto raise local standards in terms of quality, service, working conditions and preserving the environment. They also mindful of their contribution to the labour market, in some countries, like Argentina. Carrefour is the largest private sector employer. Market positioning is the act of designing the company’s offerings and image to occupy a distinctive place in the mind of target market for its product, brand, or organization. It is the relative competitive comparison their product occupies in agiven market as perceived by the target market. Market positioning strategy usedby all retail in dustry such as foreign hypermarket. Below type of market positioning strategy used by retail industry . Product offered by Carrefour is a basis to differentiate other hypermarket product. The bases used in Carrefour hypermarket are * Quality Quality is one of Carrefour main source of competitive differentiation and is partof the fundamental policies defining the implementation of the Carrefour’s strategy. It always corresponds to what the customer explicitly or implicitly wantsand must be clearly perceived as such. The value for money must be the best.Controlled products whether banner brands or own brands, offer exemplary qualityand safety. A product must demonstrate the required quality level before it canbe approved for purchase. * Guaranteeing food products safety and quality The best possible value for money is offered at every price level (first priceproducts/ own brand and banner brand products). For own brand and banner brand products, the quality process includes signing a set of specifications,approving production sites and product control plan, processing and archiv ing anycon-compliant products and following up of customers claims. To complete thissystem, Carrefour has deployed in 2005 a Quality Scorecard available on theintranet site, which enable all the Carrefour to track products at every stage of their marketing and to react more efficiently in case of a crisis. * An approach shared with our suppliers To guarantee the quality of its food products and its own brand and banner brand products, Carrefour systematically conducts audits on its suppliers’s production sites, which are audited health and safety conditions. Suppliers’s production sites are audited by Carrefour,  its service providers or certificationagencies. Suppliers are audited with respect to health and safety conditions, riskcontrol, traceability and compliance with specifications. In addition, Carrefour endeavours to verify progress in product development Quality at the best price: first price products First price No1 ´ products launched in Malaysia. Drawing on synergies andpurchasing volumes at the Carrefour, these products are intended to offer consumers quality products at a price that is 5% to 7% below hard discountprices. In addition to meeting existing legal requirements, No1 products alsoreflects the quality and safety approach that characterizes all their own brandand banner brand products. Carrefour has decided to apply the same position for No1 products as for own brand and banner brand products by excludinggenetically modified organisms from the composition of all products. * Quality information on non food products labels To promote the quality of its own brand products and retail brand productsamong consumers, Carrefour hypermarkets decided to optimize the quality of information on the packaging of its Carrefour brand non food products. Four criteria, symbolized by four icons, were adopted, referring to usage, safety, health and the environment or social conditions of production. The packaging points outthe most striking criterion for each product by explaining in one or two sentencesthe product’s added value. This is signed with the commitment logo of Carrefour, which provides Consumer services with evidences of its procedures.Carrefour has already used this method on paints, backpacks, toys and scents. This approach will be extended to include children’s products, paper goods,sporting goods and food containers. * Ensure in store safety and quality The proper upkeep of stores and the respect for the cold chain and food safetyare key elements of the Carrefour’s policy in Malaysia . Thus the Carrefour mobilizes all its employees to ensure respect for health and safety rules. Thisinvolves training, establishing procedures, and systematic hygiene and qualityaudits in stores and warehouses. * Improve nutritional information on food products labels Facing with a disturbing rise in food-related problems and to help customers tocombine food products better for a more balanced diet, in early 2005, Carrefour has optimized the labelling of its Carrefour brand products. The Carrefour’s Commercial Department has worked with the CLCV to develop a more accessibleand helpful presentation of nutritional  information. The packaging has now a ³nutrition box ´ indicating the share of daily needs for six main nutrients ( fats,sugar, carbohydrates protein, fibre and salt) provided by the products. Brand The Carrefour has had successful financial results, has gained market share,and makes customer happy. This is a reward for all employees, as all of themplay a role in this result. In fact, over 90% of the employees work in contactwith customers. That means that customer happiness is closely linked to theemployees’ performance. The Carrefour has developed various tools, depending onthe employee’s position to assess the employee’s performance. For instance,tools for cashiers include such indicators as turnover and absenteeism. A number of teams participated directly in the preparation of the strategicplan through participating. In task forces that brought together people from allstore formats and all geographical areas. Being linked to the global strategy is agreat motivation for store managers. Moreover, the strategy is probably moreappropriate this way, so it is in turn easier for managers to implement theprograms with the employees. Since 2000, hypermarkets have systematized listening to employees toassess their satisfaction. Over 8,000 persons, both managers and employees,used it to express their point of view. It enables the Group to have a fair overview of labour relations, to adjust its management style and to draft actionplans that factor in employees’ recommendations and comments. Besides, general staff benefits include such as * Contractual Bonus * Service Awards Programme * Out Patient Treatment Benefits * Group Personal Accident Plan * Group Health Plan (Cover includes immediate family members) * Structured Skills Career Development (Programmes Structured SkillsCaree) Additional benefits for Non-Executives include allowances for: * Transportation * Attendance * Punctuality * Cashier ( cashier only ) * Festive incentive ( ie: Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali) At Carrefour, they constantly strive to be a responsible corporate citizen andundertake various measures to give back to the community and society as awhole. Carrefour strive to make a difference in the lives of the community fromthe urban to the rural and they are driven by the belief that all life is special anddeserves attention. Carrefour believes in operating business with integrity andcommitment to quality. This conviction that begins with us as an individual andthrough this inward conviction, Carrefour will make a difference in the lives of people around Malaysia. Personnel Differentiation The Carrefour Group has formalized its progressive approach based onthree key commitments: quality and safety, respect for the environment andeconomic and social responsibility. Safety commitment on Drug Perfume and Hygiene products (DPH) All suppliers are required to abide by Carrefour’s policy on cleaning,detergent and cosmetic products. No cosmetic product has been tested onanimals by Carrefour’s purchasing office or on its behalf for 10 years. Products and their formulas are rigorously scrutinized by a team of six internal specialists,with the support of an additional team of recognized external experts. Some of the group’s banners are taking this approach even further. Safety commitment on textiles and clothing for babies and children In 2003, Carrefour has developed specifications to improve the safety of clothing and textile products intended for children and babies. In two years, morethan 5,000 textile products involving over 200,000 substances were tested byindependent agencies. This safety requirement has been boosted by regular monitoring conducted with the help of specialists, toxicologists and allergists for all textile products. Based On services Differentiation The Carrefour puts its customers at the heart of everything it does. To thisend, it has simplified its organization, giving more independence to storemanagers to enable them to adapt their business as closely as possible to theneeds of their catchment area. Alongside this, the Carrefour has expandedcustomer choice, adapted its store brand ranges and increased its  serviceoffering. New store concepts have been introduced to respond to evolutions intheir customers’ lifestyles. For some years now, the Carrefour has also beenstrengthening its loyalty programs around this country to ensure that they reflectthe latest consumer and social trends.Over the years, Carrefour has added numerous practical and accessibleservices to its offering. The Carrefour has thus become a competitive player andthe benchmark in several areas of activity outside of its core business line.Carrefour made significant capital expenditures in 2002 to reconfigure its stores tomake them more attractive and im prove customer service. Reorganized salesareas and product staging make the best of the Carrefour’s various areas of expertise. This applies to both the food and non  ± food areas in hypermarkets. At Carrefour, they welcome customer views and comments which will help themimprove their service to customer. As in many other businesses, it is a crucial point for the Carrefour to learnabout their customers and to do everything they can to satisfy them. ThusCarrefour has defined what builds up a positive experience for the customer;apart from the differentiation strategies, price positioning strategies, distributionchannel and marketing mix, can see that the success factors contribute on itsproducts or services. The Carrefour mostly sells consumer goods and servicessuch as: * Convenience goods (food products, gas) which are sold by all formats of retail stores. * Shopping goods and services (household appliances, electronic devices)which are sold by hypermarkets only. * Cash Carry and wholesale stores sell industrial goods (mostly food) asthey sell to businesses (food trade professionals).Carrefour’ s success factors used on its product are: * The Carrefour ¶s product be unique and different from the existingproducts in the market. (CG Home theatre system very unique and different from other Hometheatre at market). * The product has sales in needed and wanted by the consumers.(Carrefour arrange different product in festival seasons such as HariRaya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas. Example: LuckyBamboo, cai Shen scoll, honey mandarin and assorted paper card inChinese New Year and Christmas table, Christmas trees and colourfullights  ± in Christmas.) The product have hi gh consumer demand and a high growth rate. ( allkind of product). * The product has to be reasonably priced and affordable to the majorityof consumer. ( all kind of product). * The  Carrefour have sufficient funds to build consumer awareness andcarry on other promotional activities. ( Carrefour Gift Vouchers, Carrefour Bonus ) . Form The products design different from other products, example GC product.QualityCarrefour always guarantee that all products they sales are safety and goodquality. Brand At Carrefour they sales CG brand products, which one mostly unique anddifferent from other brand products at market. Besides Carrefour also sales other product such as TOSHIBA, PENSONIC, ELBA, FABER, SAMSUNG, SHARP, LG,Goldsonic and etc.Durability A product that can last for many years is perceived as a product of goodquality.FeaturesCG products have various attractive features such as CG television set with loudstereo sound, clear picture quality , remote control and a big screen falls into thegood quality product category. Carrefour FreshFOod Carrefour also offer fresh food to consumers which one given the opportunity toconsumer to make many choices, an opportunity which has so far been lacking in Malaysia Carrefour. In terms of fresh produce, choice also pervades. Pursuingthe unconventional, for example, Carrefour will carry those items that other storesshy away from: at Carrefour one can find curved cucumbers, freshly harvestedcabbage (ones that have not gone through any additional processes), and other items that suffer from no real, discernible defect in quality. Besides Carrefour also carry fresh food like fresh chicken, fresh fish, fresh Australia Beef, freshprawn and etc.Differentiation strategies on Carrefour Fresh Food are based on productdifferentiation.QualityThe Quality Way products are the result of the collaboration between Carrefour and chosen producers, who have committed themselves to strictly follow a qualityletter statutes agreement. The aim of the collaboration is to provide consumerswith healthy and safe products. The products certified with the Quality Way signare quality and safety guaranteed, from the first production stage until the finalpositioning on the shelves. Some fresh food in Carrefour certificated as QualityWay are : Halvah quality way, Chicken quality way, Free Range Eggs quality way, Fresh Fish tsipoura quality way, French beef, Salmon, Biological bread, Barrel Feta quality way, Pork quality way, Apples agorin quality way, Peaches and Nectarines Veria quality way, Seabass quality way, Kiwi quality way, Feta Tin quality way Based on services differentiation.Carrefour also provide customer service such as Cutting Service (Scalling / Cuttingservice for meat products upon request). Carrefour Family G oods.  Carrefour also carry family Goods such as Carrefour Baby Goods (Food range,hygiene, perfumery, childcare products, toys, apparel developed under the adviceof a committee of pediatricians and specialists, in order to guarantee the baby’s development from 0 to 36 months with security and comfort.), Carrefour KidsGoods ( Food range, general merchandise, apparel, designed to develop goodhabits (fight against obesity with less fats, sugar and salt), as well as developingautonomy, satisfying the tastes of children between 4 and 10 years old throughadapted packaging and the use of the mascot: Genius), Men’s clothes, Lady’ sclothes (variety of clothes) and etc. Differentiation strategies on Carrefour Family Goods are based on productdifferentiation.QualityCarrefour always guarantee that family goods they sales are safety and goodquality specially Babys Goods. To guarantee the quality of its products and itsown brand and banner brand products, Carrefour systematically conducts auditson its suppliers’ production sites, which are audited health and safety conditions..Suppliers are audited with respect to health and safety conditions, risk control,traceability and compliance with specifications. Distribution Channel The Carrefour as a whole is an efficient channel of distribution: it is a whole setof marketing intermediaries that have joined together to transport and store goodsfrom producers to consumers. The Carrefour acts as a wholesaler as the Groupsells products to franchises. All the retail stores are other intermediaries. Some of the producers are local while other goods  are bought by bulk purchases or global sourcing. That means that Carrefour has to organize the wholetransportation to its retail stores. Carrefour is mainly concerned with outboundlogistics as they manage flows of finished products to ultimate customers (and tobusiness buyers for cash carry). This is a critical activity for Carrefour: they just cannot have empty shelves because that would not make customers happy!Each day, 8 trucks are needed to deliver products to one hypermarket! They usesophisticated software to create an efficient link between sales and purchases.They use  ³push  ± pull push ´ logistics. It means that they both do forecasts andthey also control what is sold in order to adapt. Before the merger Carrefour  ±Promodà ¨s, both firms had their own channels of distribution. After the merger,they decided to organize a common and efficient channel of distribution. It can bedivided into three networks: î€ grocery products which stay a very short time in warehouses for hypermarkets the same products for supermarkets, convenience stores and Promocash î€ products which stay a bit longer in warehouses, and that are delivered toall formats of stores This new system enables to reduce the distance over which the products aretransported (thus reducing the cost), and also shortens the time for the delivery.Moreover, with the  ³multidrop system ´, only one truck is used to transportproducts from a manufacturer to two close warehouses. Carrefour owns manyhuge logistics platforms (also called distribution warehouses). They gather products from different manufacturers (which are suppliers for Carrefour), andredistribute these products to the different stores when they need them. Theyhave introduced technological tools: those who prepare orders are helped by avocal recognition tool, in order to avoid any mistakes. Manufacturers used tostore finished goods in their own warehouse, and then, the goods weretransferred to Carrefour warehouses. Carrefour now wants to transport directly thefinished goods from the manufacturers’s to Carrefour warehouses. Marketing mix The marketing mix looks at the four main factors that go into a marketingprogram (Product , Price , Place , Promotion ) , which are referred to as the 4 Ps. PRODUCT The Carrefour needs to design their stores so that they meet customers need.This includes having the right store format, helpful services, the  appropriateproduct mix , and a reliable private label brand.Carrefour have adapted the kinds of products they sell to the local culture. For instance , Chinese people do not always have a huge refrigerator , so theyappreciate fresh products. Thus , Carrefour , by guaranteeing both prices andquality for lots of fresh products has a real advantage : it is much easier andpractical to buy fresh goods.Moreover , in Carrefour , they also sell western products for the western peopleliving here. This market segment needs were not yet fulfilled, as westernproducts are not sold elsewhere. In Carrefour Malaysia, people can buy suchgoods as chocolates, wine, and even cheese or cookies just like in France. Thegroup also adapted its services to local shopping habits. For instance, inMalaysia , people often drive to hypermarkets , only once a week. They buyeverything they need for the week, and a car is very useful to transport thegoods back home. That is why big parking lots are needed. ( in convenience stores ) Although the Carrefour sells a lot of goods with a manufacturer’s brand names(such as Danone , Yoplai t or Nestlà © ), they also sell dealer (private label)brands: * Carrefour (in Carrefour hypermarkets) , * Champion( in Championsupermarkets ) * Grand Jury ( in convenience stores ). Thus, these products donot carry the manufacturer’s name. The Carrefour product range now includes11,000 mass-market products and miscellaneous household goods.They have paid a special attention to the packaging so that the brand isimmediately recognizable . It has a special colour code , displays the Carrefour’squality commitment, complete labelling information and a display of the Carrefour’s satisfaction or consumer money back ´ policy. In order to improve these brandsequity, they use widely recognized labels to promote trust among customers. The brand loyalty  is very high. The Carrefour brand is the best selling brand inCarrefour hypermarkets, representing 25% of the total sales. Nine out of 10customers fill their shopping carts with Carrefour brand products. Thus, these products donot carry the manufacturerss name. The Carrefour product range now includes11,000 mass-market products and miscellaneous household  goods.They have paid a special attention to the packaging so that the brand isimmediately recognizable . It has a special colour code , displays the Carrefourssquality commitment, complete labelling information and a display of the Carrefourss satisfaction or consumer money back ´ policy. In order to improve these brandsequity, they use widely recognized labels to promote trust among customers. Thebrand loyalty is very high. The Carrefour brand is the best selling brand inCarrefour hypermarkets, representing 25% of the total sales. Nine out of 10customers fill their shopping carts with Carrefour brand pro ducts. PRICE This is a very important P in Carrefour’s strategy, they even talk of the  ³priceimage ´ of the group.The objective of the Carrefour is to reduce prices in all formats of stores.In 2005, the clearly stated objective of each hypermarket was to be the leastexpensive store within its market radius. This is a competition based pricing,their strategy is based on what other competitors are doing (including harddiscounters and informal traders), and the Carrefour tries to set the price belowthe competitors.However, they also seem to have a demand based (or target) pricing  as theyconstantly try to reduce prices to meet or exceed customers expectations, eventhough they are already under their competitors’ price. The objective of this pricereduction strategy is to attract more people to the stores, thus gaining market shares. The objective can be explained as a virtuous circle: the more they sell,the more economies of scale they can do, the more they can lower prices thusattracting more customers. The Carrefour has reduced the necessary time toanalyze the research data and to adjust price displays in each department to 24to 72 hours maximum. They pay a particular attention to the pricing of  ³sensitive ´categories of products (those that the customers notice). They have also studiedwhat factors contributed to this image. The main ones are fresh product pricecompetitiveness, reliability and quality of the price indications, pricecompetitiveness of the private label range. PLACE This P is about putting the product in a place where people will buy it.The  Carrefour adds value to goods or services by different means. Form utility The fresh bakery department in hypermarkets uses variousingredients to make croissants, bread and baguettes on the spot. Other departments such as the butchers’s and the fish department also perform formutility. Time utility. In order to make products available when they are needed, theCarrefour has developed a new format according to consumer needs and wants. Place utility In order to sell products where people want them, the Carrefour has different store formats. For instance, in Malaysia , hypermarkets are intown suburbs easily accessible by cars. Possession utility The group provides credit. With the PASS Card, customerscan spread out their payments and make their purchases on credit. TheCarrefour also helps to take a loan to buy a car for example. When you buybig goods, hypermarkets can deliver them to you. PROMOTION Promotion is the effort to inform and remind people in the market about productson sale in the stores, and to persuade them to buy. Carrefour uses various tools(advertising, public relations, sales promotion) which altogether are called thepromotion mix. It is worth noticing that as other big retailers, they do not usepersonal selling. Advertising Carrefour slogan (Lebih Jimat, Lebih Hemat ) is probably one of the best knownamong Malaysian people. It is quite simple to remember. It just means that withCarrefour, can be very optimistic as everything is so great in these hypermarkets. As they target the local market, it is highly efficient as people see the billboardsmany times. Time to time, they use other medias such as the TV to promotenation  ± wide events. Public relations In order to inform the public of the changes that are being made by Carrefour,and to show how this is a good thing to customers, Carrefour has a veryefficient information programme. Moreover, as Carrefour is one of the biggestfirms, there are many newspaper articles about the Carrefour. Overall, thesepublications are a good publicity for the Carrefour. Sales Promotion is the promotional tool that stimulates consumer purchasing anddealer interest by means of short term activities. Carrefour Hypermarketsregularly send catalogues to all households that live nearby. In each hypermarket, they have a reserved zone where they make special displays to present newproducts. There are also reduction coupons for those who have  the loyalty cardCarrefour. They can have reductions of 20% on most popular products. Specialevents are organized each time they open a store. They also use bonuses (buyone, get one free), especially one they want to get rid of their stock. The Carrefour’s need to attract the greatest possible number of people totheir retail stores. As different market segments have different needs, they needto have different formats of retail shops to fulfill these needs. For instance,elderly person often do not have a car and live alone, so they need a storenear their house, they need district shops. However, large families with childrenare looking for hypermarkets where they can buy goods at a cheap price, justonce a week. So that Carrefour need deploying an ongoing and aggressive low-price policy by expanding its in  ± store promotions and communications.Besides Carrefour need to: Strengthen environmentally conscious product and packaging design anddevelop a range of products with social and environmental added value. * Ensure product safety and quality, and customer and and employee safetyat our store locations. * Guarantee respect for human rights internally and along their productssupply chain. * Promote staff training and development, and inform staff of their view of the world, and their core values, their policies and their approach tosustainability. * Respect customers freedom of choice by offering them a wide range of products at attractive prices with full, factual information. * Making the brand work harder will help Carrefour grow sales and profitsin Malaysia. * Offer a more diversified product mix than traditional with hard discount. Reference * Carrefour Malaysia. (online). Available: www.Carrefour.com.my. * Carrefour Group. (online). Available: * www.Carrefour.com. * Wal-mart store inc. (online). Available: www.Wal-mart.com