The Role of Strategic Entrepreneurship Dissertation

The Role of Strategic Entrepreneurship - Dissertation Example Particular attention would is given to how they are applied in detail. At the end of this chapter, the proponent carefully elaborates the need to use of structural equation modeling, as a tool to put finally everything in detail into a model with valid empirical implications. This research would want to find out more about strategic entrepreneurship in the midst of prevailing tough competition. Concerning this, it is the main goal of the proponent to identify information with empirical evidence if each firm could still consider achieving individual competitive edge even if they would employ relevant competitive strategies. However, in order to identify this point, the proponent should ensure identification of the relevant methodology that would serve the objective of the study while it also would ensure validity of the output of the research study. This research aims to understand more about strategic entrepreneurship in the midst of prevailing dynamic competition. The proponent would want to find out if a firm could still guarantee competitive advantage even if they would employ relevant competitive strategies. Therefore, the following general question should generate answer at the end. When firms engage in strategic entrepreneurship does it establish temporal competitive advantage in a dynamic environment when competing vis-Ã  -vis other competitors in the industry with the objective of creating value for the society as a whole, shareholder of the firms, and the individuals? As already stated, the proponent would want to employ both quantitative and qualitative information from the existing studies linked up with strategic entrepreneurship. Empirical investigation is therefore necessary in order to create substantial empirical evidence based on the existing theoretical concepts linked up with the subject matter that the proponent considers in this research study.

The leadership of jesus Essay Example for Free

The leadership of jesus Essay In Matthew chapter 10 verse two to four, a list of 12 disciples were given. It was also in this chapter that Matthew explains each of their skills and experiences as well as their character traits. Alter out the New Testament and the small as the gospel of the Roman Catholic Church which we practice today, in the 12 disciples are regularly cited and are often even the central themes of the stories (Singer-Towns, 2005). It is these disciples where the story of Jesus had been built upon, and if it had not been for them, many of the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church would be lost. The gospel writers themselves, even, of course many already know – are also members of the 12 disciples. It would therefore be an interesting discussion for our purpose of understanding the leadership style of Jesus on why he had the 12 disciples to follow him in the first place (Nouwen, 1993). It is in the book of Matthew that we again understand the purpose of Jesus on why he had chosen the 12 disciples. They have been described as recruits, and the Roman Catholic Church through various studies of scholars over the centuries had identified that Jesus had chosen 12 in order to become the fishers of men (Nouwen, 1993). This style of leadership of Jesus could be further understood when we finally realize that many modern-day companies and businesses rely on apprenticeship stages. This is of course extremely evident in large corporations when there are single identifiable leaders. This leadership style of Jesus further exemplifies and identifies that if we are the ones who are leading, it does not necessarily fall unto our shoulders each and every single task for all eternity (Clinton, 2006). Delegation is the key word for the concept here, and it is through delegation that we discover that leadership does not necessarily have to be doing everything right all the time by yourself. In our modern-day setting, many of the owners of corporations and the heads of business ventures and organizations think so highly of themselves that they have the opinion that they could be the only ones who could be able to produce results and achieve the goals of the company. However, what these leaders need to identify and understand is that delegation in the choosing of the disciples could perhaps be a wise option for it not only creates a more efficient setting for a company, but also increases productivity levels of individuals and groups.

Dairy Industry Of Pakistan Marketing Essay

Dairy Industry Of Pakistan Marketing Essay The dairy industry of Pakistan is a very competitive industry and has huge potential. Unfortunately, dairy processors in Pakistan still have miles to cover before they can exploit full benefits of this industry. The milk production of the country has not been up to the mark and as a result the demand for dairy products outweighs the supply. Traditionally, people living in urban areas preferred to consume fresh milk delivered to their homes by Gawallas. However with the passage of time, as people became more and more health conscious there was a shift towards the consumption of UHT milk and its demand has been increasing ever since. In the UHT milk segment, firms like Nestle Pakistan Limited and Engro Foods Limited have emerged as leading market players. These firms with their bundle of financial resources have made huge investments in getting state of the art technology, manpower and strengthening their promotion efforts. Despite the fact that local dairy processing industries have b een able to match the quality standards of Nestle and Engro to a greater extent, these firms lack in their marketing efforts. Noon Pakistan Limited is one such firm which is being effected due to poor marketing efforts and has not been able to reap the benefits of the industry in which it operates. Noon Pakistan Limited is a venture of the Noon Family and has been marketing its products under the brand name of Nurpur. The firm enjoys market leadership in the category of butter. Initially when the firm launched its UHT milk the market response was good. However with the passage of time, the brand performance of Nurpur UHT milk has deteriorated due to mismanagement of marketing efforts. While management claims that they are able to sell whatever they produce, the market survey results prove that the prevailing performance of the brand has not been up to the mark. The firm relies on the selling concept which is a short term approach and little emphasis is being given to the concept of brand building. It is the need of the hour that Noon Pakistan Limited adopts a long term strategic approach if it wants to secure its position in the market for years to come. To study the issue being faced by Noon Pakistan Limited, a rigorous Literature review was conducted followed by interviews with employees of the firm, retailers and consumer surveys. Financial analysis and comparison with Nestle and Engro was done. Even though Noon Pakistan Limited does not match the financial strength of its competitors, there are many ways in which the firm can improve its position in the market. The first step in building strong brands is to ensure that the brand has a high salience. The brand should have top of the mind recall and recognition. Unfortunately the survey results analyzed using SPSS software proved that Nurpur milk is not the first brand which comes to the mind when a consumer wants to purchase UHT milk. Majority of the respondents could not even recall any advertisements of Nurpur milk. A major proportion of the respondents also highlighted the fact that Nurpur milk was occasionally short in the market. The results of the retailer interviews also prove that Noon Pakistan Limited has to improve its trade promotion schemes as majority of the retailers were not satisfied with current distribution practices of the company. The retailers highlighted the fact that the company should improve its promotion activities so that consumers start demanding Nurpur milk. Due to weak financial resources, Noon Pakistan Limited should utilize alternative strategies to maintain its position in the market. The firm needs to invest in consumer promotion activities like in store sampling and taste trials. The firm also needs to focus on its BTL activities in order to strengthen the perceptual positioning of the brand in consumer mind. The firm needs to revise its payment policies with retailers and start providing goods on a credit basis to those retailers who have a good reputation in the market. In short, Noon Pakistan Limited should revise its current practices and operations. The firm should let go its old concept of selling and instead focus on building the equity of its brands if it wants to strengthen its position in the market for the future. 2.INTRODUCTION The Noon Group The Noon Group of Companies is being managed by the Noon family. The group has qualified and experienced professionals. The Noon Group of Pakistan strives to improve its profitability and safeguard its stakeholders interest while maintaining highest quality standards and serving the community (About Us: Nurpur Foods, 2012). The Noon Group of Companies has various business ventures and Noon Pakistan Limited is one such profitable venture of the Group. Apart from Noon Pakistan Limited a brief description of the other business ventures are as follows:- 1. Noon Sugar Mills Limited This venture was incorporated in 1964 and manufactures white sugar. Initial crushing capacity was 1500 MT of sugarcane which has been increased to 4000 MT over the passage of time. In 1986 an alcohol distillery was setup to manufacture industrial alcohol. The total number of people employed is 683 and currently efforts are underway to increase the crushing capacity to 8000 MT/day (About Us: Nurpur Foods, 2012). 2. Pioneer Cement Limited Pioneer Cement Limited was incorporated in 1985 with a total investment of Rs.2660 million and production capacity of 630000 tons per annum. The plant is situated in Chenki, Khushab. The project was financed by a consortium of foreign lenders led by the Asian Development Bank. Efforts are underway for another line having a capacity of 6000 MT/day (About Us: Nurpur Foods, 2012). 3. Noon International Private Limited Noon International Private Limited is a trading company which was established in 1972. The company employs 43 people including a team of 15 professional sales engineers. This firm represents various international companies of repute in Pakistan and markets their equipment in the fields of textile, power generation, sugar, fertilizer, chemical, steel, cement, food and milling (About Us: Nurpur Foods, 2012). 4. Textile Technics Private Limited Incorporated in 2004 with a total investment of Rs 100 million, Textile Technics is a joint venture between M/S Blue Reed of Spain and Noon International Private Limited. The project has a production capacity of 22000 meters of reed per annum (About Us: Nurpur Foods, 2012). 5. Textile Services Textile Services was established in 1994 and provides services to over 200 customers of Sulzer Textile Projectile Weaving Machines. The company employs 32 people and provides training, technical service and spare parts for clients (About Us: Nurpur Foods, 2012). Noon Pakistan Limited Incorporated in 1966 with a total investment of 553 million, Noon Pakistan Limited produces various products namely Butter, Cheese, UHT milk, HCLF, Pasteurized milk, Flavored milk, Juices, Water, Desi ghee, Honey and Jam. Installed capacity of the plant is 72000 Liters/2 shifts and there are 700 employees. Noon Pakistan Limited has been marketing its products under the brand name of Nurpur. The plant is located in Bhalwal, Sargodha while the head office is situated in Lahore (About Us: Nurpur Foods, 2012). The company has not only built a strong reputation over the past years but has also been able to offer a strong product portfolio to its consumers. Noon Pakistan Limited believes in optimum utilization of resources in order to secure the interests of major stakeholders and fulfilling its obligation as a responsible corporate citizen by serving the community. The company also utilizes rigorous quality control procedures at all stages to ensure supply of quality products to consumers. This has allowed the firm to increase its turnover from Rs 311.7 million in 2004 to Rs 2436.41 million in 2011 (Company Profile: Nurpur Foods, 2012). The year 2011 was a challenging year for Noon Pakistan Limited. Energy Crisis, security situation coupled with devastating floods had exerted significant pressure on the economy and cost of living. Higher inflationary trends continued impacting their key products particularly related to fresh milk when shortages led to a cost increase of 16% compared to last year. Additionally, higher growth of their products led to severe filling capacity constraints and the market demand could not be met fully. Despite all these challenges, the management made serious efforts to achieve performance objectives by effective product mix, controlling fixed costs and locating new cheaper sources of raw material. Economic trends, prolonged gas and electricity outages, severe competition in selling brands and procurement of raw milk are not expected to ease out during the coming months. Due to reduced buying power, trend in the market is changing fast as consumers are looking for cheaper products in small packages. Therefore the management at Noon Pakistan Limited has made plans to reassess the market requirements and also further improve their production efficiency (Noon Pakistan Limited, 2011). Vision The vision statement of Noon Pakistan Limited is as follows:- Our vision at Nurpur is to be a transformative force in our community and world at large and to serve as a model of a sustainable business alternative that nurtures social and economic well being in an environmentally sensitive manner (Our Vision: Nurpur Foods, 2012). Mission The mission statement of Noon Pakistan Limited is as follows:- Nurpur is committed to supplying the consumer and customer with the finest, high quality products and to be a leading industry in healthy and nutritious products. Nurpur supports these goals with a corporate philosophy of adhering to the highest ethical conduct in all its business dealings, treatment of its employees, and social and environmental policies (Our Mission: Nurpur Foods, 2012). Core Values At Noon Pakistan Limited, consumers are at the forefront of everything they do. The core values of the company include the generation of Ideas that can be constantly challenged to develop next generation solutions, to conduct business openly and fairly while competing fiercely at the same time, to encourage teamwork with individual flairs, to set tough goals that can be challenged and beaten, to value preservation of the environment and ensure sustainability of organic agriculture, to value mutually supportive relationships among members of local and global communities (Core Values: Nurpur Foods, 2012). Awards and Certifications Noon Pakistan Limited has won many prestigious awards and certifications which are First dairy company in Pakistan to be certified under ISO 22000:2005, Brand of the year award (2006-07) in the category of Butter, Brand of the year award (2007-08) in category of Butter, Cheese and flavored milk and Brand of the year award (2008-09) in the category of Butter (Certifications: Nurpur Foods, 2012). Three years production snapshot PRODUCTION UNITS 2011 2010 2009 UHT Milk/Tea whitener Liters 30,940,079 20,385,290 16,246,333 UHT Flavored milk Liters 4,668,071 4,075,407 2,498,299 UHT Cream Liters 71,381 461,722 345,580 Butter Kilograms 986,335 1,011,925 862,622 Milk powder Kilograms 927,943 1,160,508 930,894 Cheese Kilograms 203,146 206,508 194,020 Ghee Kilograms 34,371 52,190 31,331 Pasteurized Milk Liters 4,911,778 2,663,294 1,806,733 Loose cream Liters 3,490 Jams and honey Kilograms 34,032 42,812 23,735 Juices Liters 4,421,399 10,341,160 10,402,443 Adapted from the Annual Report (Noon Pakistan Limited, 2011). The production snapshot over the years shows that the production of UHT milk/Tea whitener, UHT flavored milk and Pasteurized milk has increased from 2009-11 while the production of UHT cream, Butter, Milk Powder, Cheese, Ghee, Jams and Juices has decreased from 2009-11. Loose cream was discontinued in the year 2011. The focus of the firm remains on strengthening its position in the UHT milk segment. The Purchase Department To study the operations of the Purchase Department, two interviews were conducted with the Purchase Manager. The findings of the interviews have been utilized to describe the function of the Purchase Department. The purchase department is responsible for purchasing all materials required by the head office and plant other then milk which is purchased at the milk collection centre in Bhalwal. Materials which are purchased by the department range from ordinary items like office and plant stationary to complex materials like Flavors, Spare parts for plant equipment and transportation vehicles, Chemicals, Fuel and everything related to the manufacturing process, Logistics and day to day operations. Demand for requisition comes from the factory and approval has to be given by the Managing Director. The purchase department currently has 4-5 employees. The purchase department stays in coordination with the plant and suppliers through phone and email and as such no software is currently being used by the department. The department uses a manual system of keeping records and storing files. The purchase department always keeps 3 copies of requisitions and delivery challans. One copy is sent to the pla nt, one copy is maintained with the purchase department and one copy is kept by the Purchase Manager. The major suppliers of Noon Pakistan Limited are SMC, Sitara Chemicals , Jason Foods and Danisco. Everyone is involved in the purchase process including the General Manager, Purchase Manager and people from the plant. Payments to suppliers are made either on cash or credit through the head office. Credit terms depend on contacts and relations with suppliers and can range from 15 days up to a month. According to the Purchase Manager, Noon Pakistan Limited believes in maintaining healthy relations with Suppliers and this is one of the key strengths of the department. The primary reason given for this was that Juices and Milk factories in Pakistan have no second option since suppliers are limited and few. They have to purchase materials from the specified suppliers and bargaining power of suppliers is high in this regard. However if relations are good with suppliers not only do supplie rs cooperate but may also be lenient in terms of credit. In this regard price does not play a major issue but a greater issue is that of availability of materials from suppliers. The Purchase Manager also stated that in case of materials needed from local suppliers, the purchase department is given no time and purchase has to be made immediately. However when imported materials are required from foreign suppliers, the Purchase department is informed in advance as shipping takes time. There is no fixed pattern of purchases made throughout the year and it all depends on plant and market requirements. The quality of materials purchased is checked at the plant and if there are defects the merchandise is returned to the supplier. The Purchase Manager also stated that there is no HR department as such and the performance of the purchase department is monitored from the plant and by the Managing Director (Ashraf, 2012). DELIVERY CHALLAN Noon Pakistan Limited 1st Floor, Mustafa Centre, 45 F, Main Market, Gulberg Lahore Pakistan No._______ Date:_________ To, Manager, Noon Pakistan Limited, Bhalwal The following goods have been dispatched to you by Truck No_____________ SR# Description Qty. Amount Supplier Remarks Kindly Sign and Return Duplicate ____________________ _________________ Malik Mohammed Ashraf Bhalwal Store Source: Company Internal Documents NOON PAKISTAN LIMITED, BHALWAL DEMAND OF STORE TO BE PURCHASED DEMAND NO______ DATE____________ SR# Item Code Nomenclature Specification Name A/U Qty Required Stock in Hand Last Purchase Date Rate/Unit Amount Remarks ____________ _______________ Store Manager General Manager Source: Company Internal Documents The Marketing Department To study the operations of the Marketing Department of the firm, two interviews were conducted with the Marketing Manager. Marketing research activities are outsourced. The Marketing Department purchases monthly reports from different marketing research agencies like AC Nielson and Tetra Pak. In this way the marketing department stays in touch with the latest trends and competitor activities. The Marketing department comprises of one marketing manager and a brand manager. The Marketing Manager reports to the General Manager of Marketing and Sales while activities of the brand manager are monitored by the marketing manager. The brand manager is responsible for dealing with various agencies as all marketing research data and ATL as well as BTL activities are outsourced. Some of the agencies with which the marketing department works are SABB Marketing, Time and Space, Orient, HRK Communications, Aura Communications, TOPAZ Communications and ADZ Communications. These agencies prepare designs of print ads and commercials. The brand manager discusses the various designs with the Marketing Manager and after mak ing necessary amendments and recommendations approval is given to Marketing agencies. The Marketing Department does its planning in the beginning of the year in coordination with the Sales Department. A monthly, yearly and 5 year plan is made. The Marketing Department is consulted in all strategic decisions made at the corporate level. There is no fixed method for determining the budget allocated to the Marketing Department and it all depends on various factors like last years profitability and market performance of various brands available in the market. In 2012, three new brands by the name of Yogo Yogo, Dairy Rozana and Jalwa have been launched. The Marketing Strategy of Noon Pakistan Limited is Differentiation strategy. However the strategy to be adopted for each brand depends on the market performance and competitor activities. Since UHT milk is difficult to differentiate, the current strategy being adopted is to position it as a milk which is enriched with vitamins needed for healthy growth and development. The target market of UHT milk is Housewives and working females as well as males. Different SKUs are being used to target different Socio Economic Classes like the 1000ml pack is targeted for SEC-A while the 200ml and 250ml packs are targeted towards low income households. The main competitor brands of Nurpur Milk are Olpers, Milk Pak, Good Milk and Haleeb. The marketing department does not go for an offensive strategy because Nestle and Engro are huge giants with bundle of resources. Noon Pakistan Limited can be classified as an Analyzer because it is operating both in a stable and dynamic market. Another reason for not adopting an offensive strategy is that volumes are low. Importance is not given to gain shelf space because production volumes are so low and everything sells out due to high demand of UHT milk. Recently a new brand by the name of Dairy Rozana has been launched as a flanker brand to compete with the Dairy Omung of Engro. The main weak ness of the Marketing Department is that very little attention is being paid towards building brand equity. The department is focusing on increasing sales which is a short term approach rather than focusing on building their brands (Khan, 2012). Organizational Chart of the Marketing Department Source: Internal Company Documents The Brand Manager is responsible for dealing with various Marketing Agencies and reports to the Marketing Manager. The Marketing Manager reports to the General Manager of Sales and Marketing (Khan, 2012). The Sales Department Two interviews were conducted with the Sales Analyst of the firm to get insights regarding the operations of the Sales Department. The organizational structure of the Sales Department comprises of the General Manager of Sales and Marketing, National Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, Area Sales Manager, Field Managers and Sales Officers. The job description of the Field Manager and Sales Officer is the same but position of Field Manager is superior because those Sales Officers whose performance is consistently outstanding are made Field Managers. Territories have been assigned according to location and comprises of Central Zone, Southern Punjab zone and Northern zone which includes RWL/AJK, Hazara belt and Pakhtoon.K belt. Distribution is limited in Quetta and Multan because of heavy freight expenses. The process of forecasting yearly sales is that last years closing sales are doubled and the amount is set as the Sales Target for the next year. Sales Quotas are assigned to Salesmen depending on the Area and potential of salesman. Other factors which are taken into account while assigning quotas are the seaso nality issue because milk production and its demand fluctuates throughout the year. There are more than 280 distributors all over the country and each Sales Officer has to monitor and look after three to four distributors. The Sales department also relies on individual projections from the Sales Team when deciding upon monthly and quarterly targets. If a salesman is unable to achieve his target in the specified time, he has to achieve both, the remaining target as well as the target allocated in the next period. If targets are continuously not being achieved the Salesman is fired. The salesmen who achieve targets are awarded with bonuses and cash rewards. In order to motivate the sales team, a sales competition is held and winner of Sales Man of the Year is rewarded. Besides having a Sales competition, vacation trips are also planned to motivate the Sales Team. If targets set in the year 2012 are met, the entire Sales Team will go on a vacation to Dubai on the companys expenses. Noo n Pakistan Limited has also started exporting its products to countries like England, Kenya and Afghanistan. The documentation process to export products involves the Performa Invoice, E-Form Attestation, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin and Analysis Report (Butt, 2012). Organizational Chart of Sales Department Source: Company Internal Documents Product Portfolio and Price List Product Packing Unit/Ctn Retailer Margin Trade Price Consumer Price 1.UHT Milk Ctns Units Ctns Units 1000ml 12 6.09% 1018 84.83 1080 90 200ml 24 4.35% 391 16.29 408 17 250ml 27 5.97% 586 21.7 621 23 2.Chai mix Ctns Units Ctns Units 250ml 27 6.38% 533 19.74 567 21 200ml 24 5.97% 385 16.04 408 17 3.Butter KGs Units KGs Units 200gm 30 8.00% 463 92.6 500 100 100gm 60 12.70% 488 48.8 550 55 50gm 120 13.20% 530 26.5 600 30 20gm 300 13.20% 530 10.6 600 12 10gm 600 13.20% 530 5.3 600 6 1Kg white 20 11.80% 8500 425 9500 475 4.Cheese Ctns Units Ctns Units 200gm cottage 42 9.10% 6930 165 7560 180 200gm slice 36 16.10% 5580 155 6480 180 225gm chedder 40 14.90% 5920 148 6800 170 225gm spicy 40 14.90% 5920 148 6800 170 225gm mozarella 40 14.60% 6980 174.5 8000 200 450gm chedder 20 13.40% 6880 344 7800 390 450gm mozarella 20 13.60% 8800 440 10000 500 1.8Kg mozarella 4 13.10% 5128 1282 5800 1450 1Kg slice 8 13.60% 5072 634 5760 720 1Kg slice (KFC) 8 13.60% 5072 634 5760 720 2Kg Chedder 4 12.10% 3924 981 4400 1100 5.Cream P/Tray Units P/Tray Units 250ml 27 4.20% 1200 44.44 1250 46.3 6.Pasteurized milk P/Tray Liters P/Tray Liters 1000ml 10 11.70% 600 60 670 67 500ml 20 13.30% 600 30 680 34 7.Flavored milk Ctns Units Ctns Units 250ml 12 13.30% 233 19.42 264 22 200ml 12 12.10% 214 17.83 240 20 8.Pure juices Ctns Units Ctns Units Apple 1000ml 12 6.10% 792 66 840 70 Guava 1000ml 12 6.10% 792 66 840 70 Orange 1000ml 12 7.10% 840 70 900 75 Pineapple 1000ml 12 6.10% 792 66 840 70 Mango 1000ml 12 6.10% 792 66 840 70 Apple 200ml 24 11.80% 322 13.42 360 15 Orange 200ml 24 11.80% 322 13.42 360 15 Mango 200ml 24 15.40% 312 13 360 15 9.Yogo yogo Ctns Units Ctns Units 200ml 12 8.70% 276 23 300 25 10.Desi Ghee Ctns Units Ctns Units 1Kg 6 7.50% 2232 372 2400 400 11.Jams 1.5Kg Units 1.5Kg Units Strawberry 15gm 600 14.30% 385 3.85 440 4.4 Apple 15gm 600 14.30% 385 3.85 440 4.4 Marmalade 15gm 600 14.30% 385 3.85 440 4.4 Honey 15gm 600 14.30% 385 3.85 440 4.4 12.Dairy Rozana 1.5Kg Units 1.5Kg Units 1000ml 12 6.12% 735 61.25 780 65 250ml 27 6.11% 458 16.96 486 18 13.JALWA Ctns Units Ctns Units 250ml 27 6.21% 483 17.89 513 19 200ml 24 5.88% 340 14.17 360 15 Source: Company Internal Documents Marketing Mix of Nurpur UHT milk Nurpur UHT milk has been positioned as a milk which is enriched with vitamins needed for healthy growth and development (Khan, 2012). The milk is packed in Tetra Aseptic Packaging which allows long lasting storage and shelf space. Currently three SKUs are available in the market which are 200ml, 250ml and 1000ml. Initially the pricing policy adopted for Nurpur milk was market penetration pricing, which means prices were low compared to competing brands. Recently the pricing policy has been changed and now the pricing policy is competitive pricing policy as shown :- Product Packing Unit/Ctn Retailer Margin Trade Price Consumer Price 1.UHT MILK Ctns Units Ctns Units 1000ml 12 6.09% 1018 84.83 1080 90 200ml 24 4.35% 391 16.29 408 17 250ml 27 5.97% 586 21.7 621 23 Source: Company Internal Documents Due to low volumes produced the company has adopted the policy of selective distribution. The company offers various discounts to retailers to push their products into the market (Khan, 2012). The indirect distribution channel being used is shown below:- Source: Company Internal Documents Due to limited marketing budgets, the marketing department has to promote most of the products through Below The Line(BTL) activitie

Waste Land Essay: Eluding Understanding :: T.S. Eliot Waste Land Essays

The Waste Land: Eluding Understanding The Waste Land is, to begin with, a poem that includes an interpretation as part of the poem, and it is therefore a poem that makes a problem of its meaning precisely by virtue of its apparent (and apparently inadequate) effort to explain itself. We cannot understand the poem without knowing what it meant to its author, but we must also assume that what the poem meant to its author will not be its meaning. The notes to The Waste Land are, by the logic of Eliot's philosophical critique of interpretation, simply another riddle--and not a separate one to be solved. They are, we might say, the poem's way of treating itself as a reflex, a "something not intended as a sign," a gesture whose full significance it is impossible, by virtue of the nature of gestures, for the gesturer to explain." And the structure of the poem--a text followed by an explanation--is a reproduction of a pattern that, as the notes themselves emphasize, is repeated in miniature many times inside the poem itself, where cultural expressions are transformed, by the mechanics of allusion, into cultural gestures. For each time a literary phrase or a cultural motif is transposed into a new context--and the borrowed motifs in The Waste Land are shown to have themselves been borrowed by a succession of cultures--it is reinterpreted, its previous meaning becoming incorporated by distortion into a new meaning suitable to a new use. So that the work of Frazer and Weston is relevant both because it presents the history of religion as a series of appropriations and reinscriptions of cultural motifs, and because it is itself an unreliable reinterpretation of the phenomena it attempts to describe. The poem (as A. Walton Litz argued some time ago) is, in other words, not about spiritual dryness so much as it is a bout the ways in which spiritual dryness has been perceived. And the relation of the notes to the poem proper seems further emblematic of the relation of the work as a whole to the cultural tradition it is a commentary on. The Waste Land is presented as a contemporary reading of the Western tradition, which (unlike the "ideal order" of "Tradition and the Individual Talent") is treated as a sequence of gestures whose original meaning is unknown, but which every new text that is added to it makes a bad guess at.

Grapes of Wrath - Many Questions and Few Answers :: Grapes Wrath essays

Many Questions and Few Answers in The Grapes of Wrath    The book The Grapes of Wrath focuses on a particular section of America called the "Dust Bowl" during the early nineteen thirties. During this time, when tenant farming was a way of life for so many Oklahomans, there came a drought which drastically cut down production of crops and forced the bank to evict the tenants in order to cut losses. The problem may seem straightforward at first, and maybe it is, but the cause of the problem should not be simplified. Naturally, the three participants in this disaster, the tenants, the bank and the workers, have their own separate, and logical, points of view. Who is right? In the larger picture, events occurring during this time period involving banks and corporations are primitive examples of the widespread greedy capitalism infused in our modern society. One cannot think of the tenants of these farms without feeling some sort of pity or sympathy, because they had no concept of banks or land ownership. To them, land was theirs if they lived, struggled, and eventually died on it; not just because of a flimsy sheet of paper in hand. "My pa come here fifty years ago. An' I ain't a-goin'."(60), was the sentiment expressed by Muley Graves and felt by many Oklahomans when first ordered off their farms. Some reacted quite violently, threatening to shoot anyone who came onto their land with a tractor to tear down their house, but when the tractor came and one of their friends drove it, they laid down their guns in submission. "Who gave you orders? I'll go after him. He's the one to kill."(49), said one disgruntled farmer. "You're wrong. He got his orders from the bank." the driver replied. The farmer also found out that the bank got their orders from the East and wondered in exasperation, "But where does it stop? Who can we shoot?"(49) Basica lly, the tenants were cut off from their livelihood and without hope since they weren't even sure whom they could kill or what person to talk to in order to keep the land. The Bank. Who is a bank? Is it a person? A physical thing? Couldn't it see that it was causing such suffering and despair? Although the heads of the bank could sympathize with the plight of the tenants, they felt that for some reason, the eviction could not be stopped.

Concept of Community

Concept of Community 1 Running head: Concept of Community Concept of Community Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discuss the concept of community. The paper will explore the differences and definition between community and aggregate. The author will further discuss specific identification and description of an aggregate. The paper will conclude with the writer’s personal expression regarding this topic. Community vs. Aggregate Public health nurses and other care providers face various roles and challenges when working within the community. It is significant that nurses understand the differences between aggregate care vs. ommunity based approaches to health care and service delivery. A community, in public health, is a defined population. The focus of public health is the health of a defined population of community. A community can be defined as a common interest or characteristics (age, race, gender, social class, or cultural identity), also referred to as an associate population. It can be defined by geographic boundaries, or a system (Porche, 2004). Therefore, an individual within a given population can be a member of several different communities at one time, depending on the defining characteristic of the community. And, depending on the type of community, the members may never come into contact with one another (Porche, 2004). An aggregate is a subgroup of the community population. Any community consists of multiple aggregates. Community aggregates can be grouped into simple aggregates based on demographics or geographic locations. This is the least type of aggregate in community health practices. The most common type of aggregate is high risk aggregate. A high risk aggregate or subpopulation of the community that has a high risk commonality among its members, such as Concept of Community 3 isky lifestyle behaviors (drug users, alcoholics) or high risk health conditions (teen pregnancy). The aggregate concept is used to target specific aggregates or subpopulations within the community (Porche, 2004). An aggregate approach, targets a specific subpopulation within the community, such as teenagers at risk for teen pregnancy. For example, an aggregate study (Kelly, Sheeder, 2004), was to test the h ypothesis that teenagers who have taken home pregnancy tests (aggregate), are more ambivalent about remaining non-pregnant than those who have not, and for this reason, use contraceptives less consistently. This was supported by detailed evidence. The authors concluded that home pregnancy test taking should be regarded as a red flag by those who care for adolescents; although they are as capable of using contraceptives as their peers, test takers are less apt to do so because they expect less negative consequences from childbearing, and for this reason, may benefit more from discussing childbearing expectations than contraceptive options. Therefore, aggregate health care focuses on a specific group of people and is a more in-depth and detailed type of treatment. In contrast, the community based approach focuses interventions of the entire community, using community or population based data. In the community-based approach, the interventions are designed to affect the health of the entire community at one time. In other words, the community or public health approach is focused on the entire community. To affect the health of the entire population, the public health nurse targets specific groups and designs interventions at multiple levels (individuals, aggregate or group, family and community). Concept of Community 4 Conclusion In conclusion, Public health nurses and other care providers face various roles and challenges when working within the community. It is vital that nurses understand the differences between direct and indirect services and aggregate care versus community based approached to health care and service delivery. Within a given community, multiple partners become vital to the health and well being of populations served. Aggregate care tends to focus more on individual services and individually appropriate methods of delivery. In many circumstances however, community and aggregate based approaches may be considered one in the same. Concept of Community 5 References Porche, J. (2004). Community Health Nursing Practice: A Population-Based Approach. Journal of Clinical Nursing, pp. 7-16. Kelly, L. , Sheeder, J. (2004). Teen Home Pregnancy Test Takers: More Worried or More Wishful? Pediatric Nursing Journal,13(3), 581-584. Frish, N. (2007). Concept of Community and Aggregate Care. Alternative Journal of Nursing, 14(7), 45-50. Reed, J. (2003). Aggregate Health Status: A Benchmark Index for Community Health. Journal of Medical Systems, 27(2), 177-189.

And Do You Locke, Take Thee Hughes? Essay

In a comparison of the essays â€Å"The New Negro† by Alain Locke and â€Å"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain† by Langston Hughes, there exists both similarities and differences. But, what are most striking are the differences between the two, especially in terms of purpose, tone, and audience. Locke and Hughes wrote their essays during the heart of the Harlem Renaissance; 1925 and 1926, respectively. Both men were writing from that vantage point, and with a gaze set firmly on bettering the conditions of those they held in common – the Negro. But these similarities are, in a sense, superficial. After all, there were many writers in that era – any era really – both Black and White, who felt a moral imperative to right the racial wrongs of their time; to wring justice from the cloth of unwarranted suffering. The differences between Locke and Hughes, however, serve as a model; one that illustrates a chasm between the ideas and opinions of that era in terms of how to better their people, as well as why their condition is such that it needs tending. In â€Å"The New Negro,† Locke is saying that the so-called New Negro is already here – in fact, has been here for some time. And, by extension, he’s arguing for the integration – even assimilation – of Blacks into the larger pool that is America. This sentiment is expressed rather poignantly when he says, â€Å"The fiction is that the life of the races is separate, and increasingly so. The fact is that they have touched too closely at the unfavorable and too lightly at the favorable levels.† (20) And it is further strengthened when he says, â€Å"We realize that we cannot be undone without America’s undoing.† (22) That statement holds equally true if one were to rearrange it to read, â€Å"America cannot be undone without our undoing.† Locke has, whether happily or not, acknowledged that the Negro race – for better or for worse, and until death do they part – is indeed married to America. Thus, he is advocating for integration as a means of survival as much as a means of advancement. Hughes, on the other hand, seems to champion the cause of racial distinction insofar as the Negro should be proud to be a Negro. This desire is laid bare when he says, â€Å"But, to my mind, it is the duty of the younger Negro artist†¦ to change through the force of his art that old whispering ‘I want to be White,’†¦ to ‘Why should I want to be white? I am a Negro – and beautiful.’† (28) Perhaps Hughes, too, would acknowledge a state of matrimony between the Negro race and America. But where he seems to diverge from Locke is in his almost visceral advocacy for the spouses’ maintenance of their own identities within that marriage. With Locke, although he doesn’t use the metaphor â€Å"racial mountain† in his essay, it is apparent that such an impediment exists. His path forward – whether to the top of that mountain or around it – lies in fostering meaningful relationships between the elites of both major races. This is expressed when he says, â€Å"†¦more immediate hope rests in the revaluation by white and black alike of the Negro in terms of his artistic endowments and cultural contributions, past and prospective.† (24) And, more eloquently when he says, â€Å"He now becomes a conscious contributor and lays aside the status of a beneficiary and ward for that of a collaborator and participant in American civilization.† (24) Returning to the marriage analogy, these sentiments politely convey a sense of frustration, perhaps not unlike what many married women in that time period felt; a sense of, â€Å"I’m not feckless or helpless, and I needn’t be a ward or beneficiary; I’m sturdy and bright and equal to any task that’s laid before me; I just need the space and resource to prove it!† For Hughes, conquering the mountain is to be accomplished using a tack different from that of Locke. In Hughes’s world, victory for the Negro hinges on a tempered dissociation from the white race; not to showcase or inflame racial differences, but to highlight the unique, distinct, and high-minded attributes of his own race. In other words, the Negro should be proud of his culture and his race; the Negro is a corollary to, and a parallel of, the American body, and not merely one ingredient in a larger amalgam. As a stepping stone to accomplishing this, Hughes argues that the fabrication of the â€Å"racial mountain† is due largely to the misguided deeds of his own people – the middle-class Negro in particular. This stance is taken from the outset of his essay when chides the young Negro poet for having said, â€Å"I want to be a poet – not a Negro poet.† (25) To Hughes, such a sentiment is tantamount to wanting to be white. He goes on to say, â€Å"The road for the serious black artist, then, who would produce a racial art is most certainly rocky and the mountain is high.† (27) If one operates under the assumption that Hughes makes his case, then it can logically be said that â€Å"wanting to be white† is tantamount to denial both of â€Å"who we are† and â€Å"where we’ve been.† And that’s the rub; how can an artist be true to him or herself if they don’t even know who they are? And worse, how can they ever hope to elevate their position as a people if, by attempting to do so, they give up their very identity by hewing to the strictures of the White world? Let us not forget, â€Å"An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he must choose.† (29) In terms of their respective tones, there are marked differences between Locke and Hughes. While both are persuasive in nature, Locke’s tone comes across as somehow intimate, and yet fairly matter-of-fact. Whether backed by hard truths or not, he lays out his case in such a manner. He also comes across as subtly – even warmly – patronizing; a confidant or cohort who’s merely guiding his readers to the truth. This can be seen when he says, â€Å"But while the minds of most of us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"Recall how suddenly the Negro spirituals revealed themselves†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His tone is like a proverbial â€Å"arm around the shoulder† and an invitation to the obvious. Hughes on the other hand is more visceral, coming across as chiding, cajoling, and cynical. Whether warranted or a fabrication of his own mind, he bursts from the gates with a thesis statement that doubles as a heavy accusation – that in wanting to be a poet, and not a Negro poet, the young man actually meant that he wanted to be white. And he leaves no room for discussion on the matter; in his mind, it is settled. He continues with this tone when he describes what he believes is â€Å"a fairly typical home of the colored middle class.† (25) And this belief – as far as any evidence offered in his essay – is predicated on no more than this one young Negro poet. He goes on to charge that â€Å"the word white comes to be unconsciously a symbol of all virtues. It holds for the children beauty, morality, and money. The whisper of ‘I want to be white’ runs silently through their minds.† (25) Locke and Hughes are also appealing – at least in part – to different audiences. Locke, while certainly writing to the Black community at large, is deliberate in his inclusion of Whites. This inclusion, in fact, is necessary for his argument to work; his argument for integration. He even addresses those who are undoubtedly white in the beginning of his essay when he says, â€Å"The Sociologist, the Philanthropist†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (17) And he leaves no doubt as to white inclusion in his audience when he says, â€Å"But while the minds of most of us, black and white†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (17) Hughes’s appeal is to the Black community at large too. But it is aimed more at the black elites, the black artists, and the black middle class far more than it is at whites. This is apparent when he cajoles the black artist by saying, â€Å"†¦it is the duty of the younger Negro artist†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (28) And it is clear when he condemns the â€Å"prominent Negro clubwoman† for paying eleven dollars to see a white singer while dismissing â€Å"a great black artist† as â€Å"that woman.† (27) Regardless of the differences in style – purpose, tone, and audience – both of these essays have merit and hold power in their respective goals, which, for the most part are one in the same: to improve the Negro’s standing within the American marriage. Works Cited Locke, Alain. â€Å"The New Negro.† Course Reader, English 1B. Ed. Kelly Vogel. Fall 2012. Print. Hughes, Langston. â€Å"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain.† Course Reader, English 1B. Ed. Kelly Vogel. Fall 2012. Print.