Each student will provide the class with an overview of the marketing Term Paper

Each student will provide the class with an overview of the marketing strategies used by two companies competing for the same cu - Term Paper Example P&G’s marketing strategy is to develop distribution channels at the local level, and has correspondingly organized its market development units according to its regional markets. It also aims to develop new product brands and enhance its current brand portfolio. Its core competencies include innovation, brand-building, go-to-market capabilities, scale, and consumer understanding. Among the company’s strengths are its strong R&D focus, market leadership, product portfolio diversification, and strong cash position. However, it has experienced increasing incidences of product recalls, high product prices that have caused a decline in sales volume, and a loss in market share. The company expects to recover, however, by widening its customer base and increasing its worldwide market share by advancing more aggressively into emerging markets. It will realize this goal through three initiatives, namely integration, simplification, and digitization. Eventually, it expects to res ume its former positive market growth. Unilever is a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of fast moving consumer goods. Its portfolio includes some of the best known brands in the world, in foods, home care, and personal care. The company’s forerunner was founded in the late 19th century by William Hesketh Lever, but assumed the name Unilever in 1930 when it merged with other consumer goods companies that had likewise been in existence before the turn of the century. It turned global in the sixties, and attained market leadership in the eighties which it maintains to the present. The firm has manufacturing facilities worldwide, and serves a broad cross-section of the market since its products target customers of all walks of life. Among its core competencies are the ability to conceptualize products, its global logistics network, its scientific research in nutrition, and the ability to communicate and influence public behaviour. Its strengths include a strong br and portfolio, diversified revenue streams, and strong focus on R&D and sustainability. It has a problem, however, in maintaining its sales and profitability performance which have constantly declined in the three years covering 2007 to 2009, indicating that it has a particular vulnerability to the current economic recession. This is attributed to intense competition, rising inflation and reduced consumer demand. The company foresees opportunities for growth in emerging markets and chances to enhance its product portfolio by making some select acquisitions. The firm intends to divest some of its non-core business activities and concentrate on its principal product lines. In the immediate future, it aims to double the size of its business while reducing its impact on the

Supply chain management (SCM) strategies of PepsiCo Essay

Supply chain management (SCM) strategies of PepsiCo - Essay Example The paper further evaluates the ways through which PepsiCo complies with few of the most challenging aspects of business in the modern day phenomenon, such as fluctuation customer buying behaviour, forecasting needs and complexities in its SCM approach. As observed with reference to the findings obtained from the study, the SCM strategies of the company have been quite efficient in driving its success within the global periphery. The company also deals in various products and maintains strong network of supply chain for each of its product line which further increases the complexity issues by a large extent in its SCM processes. Moreover, it has also been noticed that the company always seek to adapt new technologies and maintain good relationship with its suppliers in order to enhance its supply chain efficiency to satisfy the customers, its suppliers and also the interests of the business. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Critical Evaluation of PepsiCo’s overall Distribution Strategy and Discussion of the "Direct to Store" Delivery Model 5 Critically Discussing How PepsiCo Handles Relationships with Its Suppliers and Explaining How It Has Been Using These Relationships to Increase Its Efficiency In The Supply Chain 7 7 Assessing PepsiCo’s Efficiency to Deal with Fluctuations in Demand and Supply within Its Supply Chain 10 Conclusion 14 References 15 Introduction Supply chain is the backbone of the modern business organizations. Emphasizing on the conclusions derived from various studies, it shall not be pious to state that the success of companies or any business is dependent on various aspects wherein supply chain can be considered as one of the major attributes. A supply chain may be defined as the combination of one or more companies for flow of products, services and other aspects of business from a source to the customers. It has been analysed in this context that a basic supply chain would include of a company, a supplier and an instantaneous customer directly linked in the flow of goods, services as well as information of the business or companies. The importance of supply chain in context of the modern day business is quite significant as it aims to provide competitive advantages to the companies in the targeted market. Comprehensively, based on these aspects, the systematic and strategic management of a supply chain network is often termed as ‘supply chain management’ (SCM) (Chopra & et. al., 2010; Mentzer, 2001; Christopher, 1998). This paper would intend to analyse the overall distribution strategy of the PepsiCo Beverage Company. Furthermore, the paper would also evaluate how the company deals with its relationship engaging suppliers. Additionally, the paper would discuss about the ways in which PepsiCo attempts to manage different aspects of business such as demand fluctuation and demand forecasting through its supply chain. Critical Evaluation of PepsiCoâ⠂¬â„¢s overall Distribution Strategy and Discussion of the "Direct to Store" Delivery Model In the year 2010, PepsiCo Beverage Company, the second major global food & Beverage Company, received the supply chain innovation award for its innovative network of SCM. Based on the understanding of the case study, it has been analyzed that PepsiCo always seeks for streamline operation and facilitate more rapid as well as integrated product delivery procedure in order to maintain a strong supply chain, strengthen its supply chain as well as improve the overall revenue growth of the company. It is worth mentioning in this regard that the award the company had received

The Great Gatsby Analysis

The Great Gatsby Analysis As a profound commentary on the American dream and a reflection of the period in which it was written, F. Scott Fitzgeralds American classic, The Great Gatsby, remains an enduring work in the American literature canon. Though the novel is relatively simple in terms of plot, the symbolism and intricacies related to that plot provide meaning and context to the reader (Gross and Gross 5). Articulating these intricacies and the basic mechanisms of the plot, however, are holistically tied to the point of view from which the story is told. The entire story is told through the eyes of the 29 year old Nick Carraway. As a result, the reader is left to determine if Nicks account is romanticized or if it is told with the necessary realism to be considered unbiased and therefore taken at face value. The process of this meaning making requires an analysis of Carraway and the way in which his point of view is expressed throughout the story. The nature of the narrative, however, provides other clue s useful to making such decisions. In this capacity, Carraway also sometimes switches to the third person, which allows for other perspectives to be considered by other characters interacting throughout the novel. Based on Carraways perception alone, Gatsby is presented as a mysterious and tragically romantic figure. This point of view is passed on to the reader; however, the addition of the third person elements also allow for commentary by other characters. This balancing process used by the author, demonstrates Gatsby for what he truly was, a complicated, tragic, romantic figure that was consumed with becoming what he thought constituted success in his respective era. Also having flaws and questionable morality, the point of view literary mechanism employed by Fitzgerald is more of a commentary on the American dream than a value judgement on Gatsby alone. Nick Carraway: A Character Analysis To understand the point of view expressed in the novel, it is first necessary to understan d who Nick Carraway is as the narrator. Carraway is man who is newly relocated to West Egg, which is a fictional place based on Fitzgeralds home of Great Neck, New York (Columbia 230). West Egg is a home to the newly rich and it is geographically located on the North Shore of Long Island (230). Bordering the Long Island Sound and close enough to New York City to be an escape for the rich, the culture of the area is affluent and a microcosm of values associated with socialites. Carraway, however, is enterprising and not yet rich himself. Having a degree from Yale and experience serving in the American military during the Great War, Carraway has the balance of a worldly person and the pedigree of an Ivy League university. Based on this two factors, Carraway is presented as a balanced character whose point of view should be taken seriously. His relocation to West Egg was connected to a desire to learn the bond business in New York City. As Daisy Buchanans cousin (Gatsbys love interest) and a neighbor of Gatsby, he naturally became part of the society movement present in the area at that time. The primary function of Carraway in Fitzgeralds tale is to translate the mysterious mans [Gatsbys] dramatic gestures into a revelation of their hidden significance (Bloom 178). Whether or not this occurs is a matter of reader perception. According to Bloom, Nick is essentially private; personality appears in public performance.[Gatsby and Nicks] individuals essential qualities remain forever hidden (178). Bloom continues, Fitzgerald makes it clear that to know another person in any substantial way lies somewhere between a leap of imaginative faith and the sheerly impossible (178). It is in the this tradition where the mystery in the Gatsby character proliferates. Though some is known about Carraways past, his character is rather benign and only seen through social interactions and his perspective on Gatsby. This leaves much to the imagination of the reader and is part of the meaning making process in Fitzgeralds point of view mechanism. Nick Carraway: Viewing Gatsby From a Romantic Perspective Gatsby can be viewed by the reader and is viewed by varying characters throughout the story as a lot of things. He could be considered a driven man, a tragic figure, an amoral character, a grossly misunderstood man or any combination thereof. As romantic figure, however, Gatsby is nearly entirely the creation of Carraways point of view (Bloom 178). Early in the novel, Carraway described the movements of the title character, Something in his leisurely movements and the secure position of his feet upon the lawn suggested that it was Mr. Gatsby himself, come out to determine what share was his of our local heavens (Fitzgerald 20). Based on this description and word choices alone, the point of view expressed by Carraway is clearly one of admiration and infatuation. Nick, through his point of view, serves as a translator of the dreams and social ambitions of the people who surround him (Giltrow and Stouck 476). As a result, designating Carraway as having a romantic view toward Gatsby is a reflection of all of the characters that live in West Egg. These characters looked at their lives, their ambitions, their potential and the material nature of their entire social microcosm romantically. It is easily reflected in the narrative that the characters overestimated the importance of themselves, their actions and their entire existence. In comparison to world events like World War I, the social ambitions of these residents seem benign; yet, these people are consumed by their designations of success. This is designated by Barrett as The unreality of reality for these people (150). In this capacity, for Carraway to be the translator of the mood and ambitions of those around him, he had to see Gatsby through the eyes of a romantic. Gatsby, in this capacity, was the extreme example of what this social world could spawn. Point of View: Third Person and Character Dialogue The way in which Fitzgerald employs point of view affords the supplemental insights of those characters sur rounding Gatsby and the third person sequences that are strewn sporadically and calculated throughout the novel. In party conversation that occurred between a female party goer, Jordan and Lucille, the following was said of Gatsby, Theres something funny about a fellow thatll do a thing like thatHe doesnt want any trouble with anybody (Fitzgerald 43). This quote is in reference to an event where Gatsby replaced the dress of girl who torn her dress at one of his parties. This act is not being heralded as a grandiose gesture by Gatsby; instead, it is being looked upon with scrutiny. This point of view reveals that Gatsby had ulterior motives for many of his actions. Gatsby was less concerned about the girls dress in this situation and more about his reputation in the social scene in which he was trying to assimilate. Assimilation into this social scene meant acceptance and the potential for winning Daisys affection. Gatsby was not born into money, as a result, he had to find ways to e arn a reputation and to earn the amount of capital that was necessary to live in the type of luxury that was common on the North Shore of Long Island at this time. His reputation was built around maneuvers like the one described by the aforementioned example and the parties that he had. In terms of the parties, they were just a built in mechanism of the desired social circle. Carraway explained, I believe on the first night I went to Gatsbys house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited they went there (41). Building his wealth provided another designation about Gatsbys by any means necessary approach to social mobility. Gatsby was and had earned his money in the trade of illegal alcohol at the time. Set during the era of prohibition, Gatsby was able to fund his aspirations through criminal means. This would ultimately lead to his undoing as once this was common knowledge it would forever tarnish his reputation. For Daisy, despite feelings she may have had for him, she could only be with Gatsby if he were of the right social standing and reputation, his criminal enterprise reintroduced a reputation wedge forever that was temporally lifted when he returned to her life as a man with means. Despite the mystery and the scrutiny other characters placed on Gatsbys behavior, he was earning a positive reputation before his enterprise was ultimately discovered toward the end of the novel. Henry Gatz explained to Carraway about Gatsby, He knew he had a big future in front of him. And ever since he made a success he was very generous to me (Fitzgerald 172). While these point of views present conflicting imagery of Gatsby, they present a unified critique of the American Dream, as it is this mechanism that ultimately drove Gatsby to pursue the life that would ultimately lead to his undoing at the end of the novel. Point of View and the American Dream Gatsby ending up shot in his swimming pool at the conclusion of the novel firmly classifies the novel as a tragedy. Through the eyes of Nick Carraway, F. Scott Fitzgerald writes his own obituary of the American dream through the eyes and voice of Nick Carraway (Barrett 150). This makes the meaning of the entire novel one that is equivalent to an Anti-fairy tale 150). The pursuit of the empty American Dream is sandwiched between the conditions of the Great War and the Great Depression (Canterbery 297). The social Darwinistic nature of the life that Gatsby wanted to live ended up costing him his life (297). Through the sum of the point of view, the reader is left at the conclusion of the novel with a firm sense that it had all been for nothing. The victory, even if it had been achieved by Gatsby, would have been empty and somewhat convoluted. Had Gatsby achieved the matrimony of Daisy it would have been as much a product of him being a man of reputation and society as much as it would have been out of genuine love for the character. Love and social standing were one in the same in this dream and this sets a critique by the author of entire process. According to Layng, By novels end, Gatsby is the ghost-literally dead, his past with Daisy lost and Nick emerges as the apostle protagonist (93). As an apostle type figure, it is Carraway who is left to warn the people reading the tale about the negative potential of the American dream. The novel is very much American and many of the dynamics and intricacies of the novel are connected with these subtleties that are often lost on foreign readers (Dyson 45). Though steeped in tragedy, there is hope that can be connected with the point of view. Carraway has the potential to either leave the scene or to stay in the scene himself but serve as a warning to others venturing down the same path. Gatsbys death, therefore, has the potential to not have been in vain. According to Hawkes, For many years hope has been a word that has been lost, forgotten, and banished to the margins of romantic longing and wi shful thinking (20). In reality, the point of view used by the author expresses the unfinished American Epic (20). Using the words of Fitzgerald, Hawkes explained, But thats not matter-to-morrow we will run faster, stretch our arms fartherAnd one fine morning- are once again being heard (20). Though Gatsby and the romance associated with his dream may be problematic, that does not mean that are more responsible and less empty dream is not possible. Point of view in The Great Gatsby demonstrates a flawed dream that can be used to contrast a positive one that is only limited by the readers imagination. Point of View Conclusion The link between The Great Gatsby and the American dream is one that will be present for generations to come in any discussion of the American literary tradition. Fitzgeralds perspective on a flawed and empty American dream is articulated primarily through the point of view expressed by protagonists, Nick Carraway. Carraway, though romantically linked to the ent ire social scene of his era, is a reliable narrator that weaves his commentary in with third person dialogue that provides a very round multifaceted perspective of Jay Gatsby. Carraway is not wrong to romanticize Gatsby; however, alone this would not be enough to understand the full scope of the character. Gatsby was driven and he was willing to step outside of traditionally held values of the time when it suited his needs. Making a value judgement on Gatsby, on the other hand, requires making a judgement on the entire concept of the American dream during this particular time period. Fitzgerald skillfully establishes complexity of the entire pursuit of wealth and reputation through compelling point of view narrative.

Fast Food Profit Essay -- Health Nutrition Papers

Fast Food Profit The American economy relies upon competitive exchange: a process where opposition within a market creates standards for quality and price valuation. To insure the quality of American products the US government encourages a competitive market and enforces regulations. "Capitalism is a system of private ownership of capital that relies on market forces to govern the distribution of goods" (Goldstein 533). In an ideal capital market companies will produce their product to meet consumer tastes, government regulations, and beat similar competitive products. As a capitalist rule: the more competition that enters the market, the better the quality and prices. However, even though there are many fast food restaurants, the industry is able to act in a monopolistic manner. First, they are able to set the market price and have it remain relatively constant without competitive interference with respect to bid wars. Second, the clientele may choose other fast food restaurants based o n personal tastes, but are locked into the market based on speed and price. Third, besides the regulations from the FDA, businesses attempt to offer the best taste, which does not always have to correspond with quality. The fast food industry has become overflowing with new business competiting for the large fast food clientele. The companies realize the significant profit losses created by an all out bid war, so each company implicitly understands its position and market offering with respect to its competition. The silent agreement hurts consumers because they could be receiving a better price. A majority of people eats fast food because they need the food quickly and/or cheaply. The constant and loyal demand allows the mark... ...iencies, paying employees minimally, and lowering the cost of ingredients. Works Cited Franz, Neil. Taco Recall Prompts Aventis to Halt Sales of StarLink Corn.  Chemical Week Oct. 2000. 12 Apr. 2002 Web Page . Goldstein, Joshua. International Relations. 4th edition. New York: Longman, 2001. Horngren, Charles, Gary Sundem, and William Stratton. Introduction to Management Accounting. 12th edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2002. Ross, Stephen, Randolph Westerfield, and Bradford Jordan. Fundamentals of Corporate Finance. 5th edition. Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill, 2000. Schlosser, Eric. The Flavor Counts.  Choices: The Magazine of Food, Farm and Resource Issues Wntr. 2001. 12 Apr. 2002 Web Page . Tevis, Cheryl. The Secret Ingredients of Our Industrial Food Menu.  Successful Farming Mar. 2001. 12 Apr. 2002 Web Page .

Beyond the printed page

Technology is rapidly changing the nature of the global media. For example, Daniel Czitrom, in his book entitled ‘Media and the American Mind: From Morse to McLuhan’, states that one of three major traditions or persuasions in American thought with regard to the impact of modern mass media, views changes in communications technology as the driving force in the historical changes in such media impacts on society. This is the school of thought of the â€Å"radical media† theorists Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan, who are said to have highlighted the thesis in different ways in their works (Czitrom 1982, p. xii).Not only is the change with regard to the changes in the impacts of mass media on society, it is also in with regard to ownership of mass media, as both technology and economics are credited with driving a convergence of the different forms of media, and implicitly, a convergence on ownership of the different forms of media (Compaine and Gornery 2000, p. xv i). The online books have major advantages compared with print versions.It benefits greatly from the evolution of technology, with the new emerging technologies endowing online books with the ability to dynamically update, hyperlink, provide efficient searching, real-time interactivity and multimedia. All these instruments help the online books deliver materials to readers more efficiently and more diversely, than its print version. Moreover, the online books attract more non-local readers and many younger readers, while the print version mainly focuses on the local or national market. 2. What devices and technologies exist or will soon exist for reading digital books?There are no several devices being manufactured that will soon make the move from printed to digital books. In fact, the move to replace printed books with electronic versions has the stamp of approval of earnest researchers, experts and scientists such that readers are now able to access thousands of books in one port able, mobile and accessible case. For instance, the Sony Reader is a new electronic book device that makes use of the display technology called the electronic ink. It was developed by the E-link in Massachusetts where the display gives a most natural reading experience for the reader, using no backlight.It uses a form of electronic ink including displays on credit cards that do not break when bent. The food labels are able to change prices throughout the day too. How this is done is by plastic films with transparent microscopic liquid-filled spheres, the size of a hair’s diameters where there floats even smaller black and white particles. The black particles are negatively charged while the white particles are positively charged. These now forms ink patterns of black and white depending on how the electric charge is applied to the film.The Sony Reader need not be turned off and just like a printed book, it can just be set aside and the current page remains on the screen witho ut draining any battery power. Studies have even proven that users report increased readability and a minimal eyestrain compared to other electronic book technology. (Scientists develop E-link to Replace Books and Newspapers). 3. How are publishers adapting to digital books? Apart from the interest from readers, on the business side the idea of moving pictures in a newspaper attracts more attention and brings greater business opportunity.More and more advertisers are interested in using online video advertisements and are shifting some of their advertisements from television to the web. New kinds of video ads are becoming popular pre-rolls and post-rolls, video ads that run before or after the news video clip. Meanwhile, web news forecasts give the opportunity for TV-style commercials. In each three-minute News Journal Newscast two fifteen second ad fragments and one thirty second fragment are inserted. This idea was only proposed two months ago, and already more than eighty-five pe rcent of the airtime slices have been sold. (Oxfeld, 2004).Currently, publishers are looking into the digital rights. These issues are inevitable due to the large number of people involved in it. It is also complicated by the fact that these people come from different places. Laws which govern them are different. Yet publishers are quite discouraged. More so, there are not much available treaties or conventions from which rules and guidelines regarding digital rights can be seen. One of main problems with regard to digital rights is the problem on unauthorized copying and transmission of printed books and digital information. This is a problem about rights to intellectual property.Tran (2001) says there are many interlinked communities in the web. As such, sharing different materials can be very convenient. According to him, file types frequently used are MP3s, MPEGs, JPEGs, and PDFs. There is a proliferation of many copies of these kinds of files which are transmitted from two diff erent points. He further elaborates that the problem lies in putting a stop or even delaying the process of the undisturbed exchange rate of copyrighted digital materials. There are a lot of factors that cannot be easily prevented such as the increasing sophistication of technology and the speed of transmission (Tran).The problem is not as easy as it seems but publishers are still keen on the fact that there are still people who would want to have books instead of electronic devices as reading materials. WORKS CITED Compaine, Benjamin M. and Douglas Gomery (2000), ‘Who Owns the Media? : Competition and Concentration in the Mass Media Industry’, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates,Mahwah, NJ, p xvi Czitrom, Daniel J. ‘Media and the American Mind: From Morse to McLuhan’, University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC, p. xii (1982), Guard and Nurture your Intellectual Property Rights.Retrieved May 20, 2007 at: http://archives. obs-us. com/obs/german/books/paperl /chap091. htm Oxfeld, Jesse ‘Watching the Newspaper, 2004. Retrieved May 20, 2007 at: http://www. editorandpublisher. com/eandp/columns/newspaper_2point0_display. jsp? vnu_content_id=1000739225 Scientists develop E-link to Replace Books and Newspapers. http://www. aip. org/dbis/HFES/stories/17027. html Tran, N. 2001. â€Å"Digital Right Management†, www. cas. master. ca. Retrieved May 20, 2007 at http://www. cas. mcmaster. ca/~wmfarmer/SE-4C03-01/papers/Tran-DRM-aux. html

Lamb to the Slaughter Essay

Drama and suspense, one of the most important things an author needs in their story to keep their audience entertained. Without these two elements in a story or movie, the audience would easily get bored. In order to build drama and suspense certain literary devices are required. In the short story, â€Å"Lamb to Slaughter†, the author Roald Dahl builds up this dramatic story by using imagery, irony, and strong character interaction, thus creating suspense and a bit of humor. One of the literary devices that were used to build drama and suspense is imagery. A scene in the story that contributes to imagery was the one that involved Mary and Patrick in the beginning of the story. â€Å"†¦ She swung the big frozen leg of lamb high in the air and brought it down as hard as she could on the back of his head†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (154 Dahl). In this scene Dahl uses imagery to show Mary’s violent actions as she kills her husband. This occurred after Patrick gave Mary unpleasant news. This creates suspense and leaves the readers to question her next actions. Another device that was used to create suspense in the story was character interaction. A scene that included character interaction was between Mary and the detectives towards the end of the story. â€Å"Why don’t you eat up that lamb that’s in the oven? † (161 Dahl) The scene that this quote occurred in was when Mary was trying to convince them to eat the lamb leg that was used to kill her husband. Dahl interprets this scene into the story to illustrate Mary’s intentions which was to get rid of the evidence which creates suspense amongst the audience. Without this interaction, the scenario would change and the story would be less suspenseful. Dahl also used irony to effectively create suspense and drama. A scene that displayed irony was the last scene in the story when the detectives were conversing while eating the lamb leg. â€Å"Personally, I think its right here on the premises. † â€Å"Probably right under our noses. What you think Jack? † (162 Dahl) In this conversation the detectives are talking about the weapon, which was used to kill Patrick, being on the premises not knowing that they are eating it. These quotes were also used to hint that Mary basically has gotten away with the crime. This scene therefore, was very ironic which also made the story a bit comedic. In conclusion, the author successfully made this story very dramatic and suspenseful. He was able to effectively create suspense and drama because of his use of literary devices. This story continued to grab the reader’s attention all the way to the end which is an example of a good story. Dahl was able to interpret irony, imagery, and character interactions into his story thus making it appealing to the audience.