Diversity, Equity, and Standards Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Diversity, Equity, and Standards - Research Paper Example A number of the minorities’ families experience poverty. These factors create a cycle of poor education, lesser job opportunities, lower income, and a negative social reputation. Specifically, minorities due to their racial background are usually at a disadvantage in the classroom due to language barriers. Several students find it hard to relate to the contexts used in text books and other teaching materials due to cultural differences. Furthermore, institutionalized discrimination keeps African Americans or other minorities on the bench in several kinds of sports. Their coaches’ low expectation of them also happens inside the classroom. As a result, these students are not motivated to excel. Similarly, a number of schools feel the segregation since black teachers cater to black students. It appears that these teachers do not have any other place to teach. To address the abovementioned concerns, a legislation that focuses on these issues must be passed. This will enhance public awareness and inspire greater advocacy for equal quality schooling. Additionally, the government, private organizations, and able individuals should fund researches and other noble causes that look into the minority groups such as Native and African Americans. Mass media should also take part in influencing the masses to fully accept and work with all kinds of people. In general, each has a vital role to achieve in promoting equity in the education system. 2. There are several intelligence tests that are not culture friendly. For instance, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) which is used in some institutions has some questions that are not so familiar with the minority groups. WAIS consists of questions about incomplete pictures such as a house during a snowy day (Kaplan & Saccuzzo, 2009). Some Asian or Native Americans may not be familiar with the typical Western-European kind of house. Moreover, achievement scores have a

Personal statement for PhD in forensic science Essay Example for Free

Personal statement for PhD in forensic science Essay My interest in Forensic Science was developed primarily in my undergraduate years and was strengthened during the initial stages of my Master’s Degree in Molecular Biology. While I was still working on my undergraduate degree, I became fascinated with chemistry and how the science can be used in many practical applications for a variety of industries. What captured my attention the most is how using current science and technology, specialists are able to determine details of a crime scene that can be effectively used to solve the crime. This realization brought about by many experiences both in and out of the classroom gave me the interest to study Forensic Science. When I entered into graduate school, I chose Molecular Biology as my major primarily because it is highly connected with the chemical and biological applications to Forensic Science. True enough, the work that I have done so far in my degree has strengthened my conviction to become a forensic scientist. As a student, I believe that I have the prerequisite knowledge and academic dedication to obtain a doctorate degree in a science that is a direct application of my previous educational background. My background knowledge as evidenced in my transcripts includes extensive work on chemistry, biology, and academic research with courses that contain detailed laboratory work using procedures that are parallel with some components of those being used in Forensic Science today. Thus, I have strong proficiencies with different equipment used in the laboratory and am perfectly capable with working in a demanding laboratory setup. My academic records would show that I am a very diligent student who strives to achieve excellence in any academic endeavor. Aside from this, I also have the dedication necessary in conducting rigorous research which is not only a requirement for any doctorate degree but a strong essential for a PhD in Forensic Science in particular. I am aware that Forensic Science entails much work in gathering information and processing them in order to obtain the required output and this process is very familiar to me. I have conducted various research projects in the past and have a consistent track record of being able to synthesize complex ideas into meaningful analysis that can effectively reflect current trends and developments. In Forensic Science, my interests in particular are DNA finger printing and analysis of evidence. As early as now, I have read extensively on both areas and am determining possible relevant contributions that I can make in my dissertation on a topic related to those said interests. M readings have made me familiar with the areas and gave me insight on what are the concerns of the science at the moment that need to be adequately addressed by academic research. This demonstrates how sincere my intention is to finish a postgraduate degree in Forensic Science. I am certain that I am adequately prepared and fully capable to take on and complete a doctorate degree in Forensic Science. I have a strong educational background with experiences that are highly related to my intended major and I have developed effective learning and research skills that are essential to completing the degree. There is no doubt that I will be able to make significant contributions in this body of science as a researcher and make use of knowledge gained in completing this degree as a forensic scientist in order to aid law enforcement in solving crimes in the interest of upholding justice and maintaining societal order.

Aviation Security Essay -- Aviation

Airport Security around the world is an integral part of the modern times, the global web of people traveling for fun, business, adventure, and commodities are a way of life for many. Goods that were once scarce, or not available in certain parts of the world, merely twenty years ago for the general population are now easily attainable. Businesses are known to have meetings take place in various locations worldwide for their representatives. With all this moving of people from around the world who watches out for their safety as they access the plane from the different gates at the various worldwide Airports. Security personnel are the most recognizable entity prior to passengers accessing planes. Everybody knows theses personnel, they’re always telling people to take off their shoes, belts, all metal objects out of pockets, everyone rolls there eyes making snide remarks, or uploading videos to â€Å"Youtube† showing how the Airport Security groped then during a pat down. These personnel who make people feel as if they need to be stripping down to near nakedness, or in some special cases where people do come to the metal detector in bikinis, prior to getting to the terminal gate. Most will think. Wow! What a waste of money Airports are losing in paying these people, but do you know those security personnel are the last, and only, line of defense between the passenger and potential disaster in the air at thirty thousand feet. For every snide remark a passenger makes, they are thwarting a potential threat by locating someone’s knife, box cutter, lighter, or other item b eing detected through a pat down security check or a handheld metal detector; or though an X-Ray machine where bags are screened and objects that could cause potenti... ...or their alternative - patdowns. They will also be subject to random full screening so terrorists don't exploit the program to get on planes.† (Daniel Prendergast and Joseph Straw NEWS; Pg. 14) these measures should make flying bearable, maybe even brining the fun back to flying. In conclusion one should be aware of the important job of the aviation security professional. They are not recognized or respected by many but for the amount of planes that go in the air everyday, there are rarely any instances in the skies. Bibliography: †¢ The Daily Telegraph (London) November 29, 2010 Monday Edition 2 National Edition Predictable security at airports 'makes it easier for terrorists BYLINE: David Millward SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 11 †¢ FLYING TO GET FRIENDLIER, & COSTLIER, FOR 'TRUSTED TRAVELERS' BYLINE: By Daniel Prendergast and Joseph Straw SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 14

Ovarian Cancer Research Paper

Sydney True Psych 471 Reproductive Cancers Assignment University of Nebraska-Lincoln Fall 2010 Ovarian Cancer Research Paper Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that is characterized by the formation of the cancer cells in the tissues of a woman’s reproductive glands, the ovaries. It is when normal ovarian cells begin to grow uncontrollably that this cancer develops into dangerous malignant tumors that can be found in one or both ovaries.There are three types of these cells that are responsible for ovarian cancer: Surface epithelium, Germ cells, and Stromal cells. Surface epithelial ovarian cancer is the type that grows on the outer surface of the ovary. This is the most common form of this cancer, appearing in about 90 percent of ovarian cancer cases. Of the more rare forms, germ cell tumors originate specifically in the egg-producing cells and the Stromal ovarian cancer in the supportive tissue encasing the ovaries.In women, older age and obesity may increase the likelihood o f developing ovarian cancer. Other factors include a personal or family history of this or other types of cancer, women who have taken estrogen after menopause (especially for longer than 5 years), and women who have trouble conceiving. The symptoms that are commonly associated with ovarian cancer are similar to some less serious disorders, but in this case, they may occur more and become more severe.Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) list on their website (www. cancercenter. com) that the most general â€Å"symptoms of ovarian cancer include: Bloating, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea, change in urinary frequency (feeling like you have to go more often), pressure in the abdomen, back, or legs, vaginal bleeding (including heavy periods), and fatigue. Unfortunately, and as any woman can attest to, these symptoms may be part of a normal menstrual cycle. Thus, making this a difficult cancer to detect.Women are encouraged to become more aware of how their body usually feels an d see a doctor if any abnormalities persist after several weeks for an examination. In order to make a diagnosis of ovarian cancer a doctor will perform a serious of tests including: a pelvic examination for any knots or bumps that could be possible cancerous growths; a pap smear to test for signs of cancerous cells; an ultrasound that tests the sound waves of healthy tissue versus potential tumors.A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test uses radiofrequency to distinguish diseased tissue from normal tissue. A CA 125 blood test will show a possible increase in levels of CA 125 protein, an increase that is often linked to ovarian cancer. A gynecologic oncologist can perform a laparotomy to collect fluid samples from the abdominal cavity in order to test for abnormalities. Lastly, a less invasive test that is similar to the laparascopy but requires only a few small incisions. Once a diagnosis of the cancer has been made,

Autobiography Undral Batsukh

My name is Undral Batsukh. I was born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Now I’m living with my husband and my two children in Darkhan City, Mongolia. . When I was seven-years-old. I enrolled in the secondary school No. 81 in 1988. I successfully completed my secondary school majoring in the social science with the grade â€Å"A† in 1998. After graduation, I entered The National Institute of Mongolia in 1998 under the selection for the students specializing on the Law. While I was studying in 4th grade, I did my first intership in â€Å"Tugs uchrahui† Co. ,ltd. I successfully graduated and awarded /Diploma with Distinction/ degree of Bachelor of Lawyer. My GPA was /3. 13/, thesis â€Å" Public administration law /90 A/, civil law /90 A/. After graduation I became a state agent. I worked in the †Police office of the Khan-uul district†. From 2005 I worked as Expert of local statistical information. At this time I applied up-to-date information technologies in our office activity. Since May 2009 I have been working as an officer in charge of internal affairs in the Governor’s Department of the Darkhan City. While I was working I always tried to improve my skills. In particular, I?passed the legal examination of the Ministry of Justice, then I got the official certification of the accepted Lawyer from this Ministry in 2005. In accordance to the Civil Service Law of the Mongolia I successfully passed the examination for the accepted state agent in 2006. In addition, now I’m the leader of Governor’s Department Labor Union, head of Women’s Federation of Darkhan city, the leader of the Sorority and member of the Mongolian Social Democrat Youth Organization. In last year 2009 Darkhan city Governor appreciated my achievement to promote Province’s social , economy and culture situation then awarded by the Certificate of merit. In 2009 authorities honored my efforts and awarded â€Å"Honorary Certificate† by Provincial Governor’s Office. I have been working 8 years in State Administrative system and 7 years of them worked in Government organization. If someone asks me to describe myself in the three words I’ll answer that â€Å"I am independent, hardworking and cheerful. Because I have a dream. Dream to do some development for my City. Development to promote life of our local citizens. I always try to improve myself. I have experience on many projects and I was doing statistical stuffs there. So that the things we learn on research methodology course is very close to me except it is in English. I will do my best to graduate from here successfully. I am interested in the projects involved to the prospering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Mongolia. The reason of my interest is involved to the objective of developing SMEs to reduce poverty & unemployment, and to improve the well-being of society and human beings. So that I would like to choose a topic related to the development of SMEs in Mongolia. After successful graduation from Taiwan I want to come back to my country Darkhan city with qualified experience of management and to contribute for development of Mongolia as a part of integration of the world. Written by Undral Batsukh 01/04/2011 When I get back to my hometown Darkhan, I am going to work on the issues related to the development of Small and Medium Enterprises and also implement the projects involved to the poverty reduction.

Evolution Essay †What are the theories given to account for life on Earth †Spanish

Evolution Essay – What are the theories given to account for life on Earth – Spanish Free Online Research Papers Evolution Essay What are the theories given to account for life on Earth? What evidence or reasoning is used for support them? Son varias las teorà ­as que intentan explicar el origen de la vida en nuestro planeta. Una de esas teorà ­as es la creacionista que se refiere al origen de la vida como producto de la creacià ³n divina. Sin embargo algunas de las teorà ­as ms relevantes para el estudio cientà ­fico sern explicadas a continuacià ³n. Segà ºn una teorà ­a los grandes volcanes existentes en el planeta desprendieron ciertos gases orgnicos que formaron la primera atmà ³sfera. Luego vinieron las primeras lluvias que formaron los lagos y ocà ©anos. Los gases volcnicos reaccionaron quà ­micamente para formar composiciones orgnicas ms complejas. Esto es evidenciado por estudios que demuestran que hace millones de aà ±os eran predominantes los innumerables volcanes en el relieve terrestre. Otra teorà ­a indica que cometas y meteoritos que constantemente llegaban a nuestro planeta liberaron gases que formaron nuestra atmà ³sfera ms primitiva. Esto segà ºn indicaciones que dicen que anteriormente abundaban los cometas en el espacio, chocando frecuentemente con los planetas. Adems que estudios han demostrado que los cometas poseen composiciones de carbono, metano e hidrogeno indispensables para la formacià ³n de compuestos orgnicos. Tambià ©n se cree que por la presencia de una especie de polvo cà ³smico en la Và ­a Lctea con composiciones quà ­micas orgnicas, es posible que los cometas, como à ºnico enlace posible, hallan transportado muestras de esas composiciones pero congeladas para que ya en la tierra reaccionaran y formaran nuevas composiciones quà ­micas. Esta teorà ­a se basa en estudios que revelan la presencia de restos cà ³smicos en fondos marinos. Research Papers on Evolution Essay - What are the theories given to account for life on Earth - SpanishLifes What IfsArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Genetic EngineeringEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Spring and AutumnUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresMind TravelHip-Hop is ArtStandardized TestingCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite Religion

The Lord Of The Flies Essays (455 words) - Fiction, Literature

The Lord Of The Flies Essays (455 words) - Fiction, Literature The Lord Of The Flies Plot In the story it best explains that there was a nuclear war going on. There was a plane in flying out of the nuclear war and crashed and the pilot dies but most of the children survive. First some boys find each other they names are Ralph and Piggy. When Ralph and Piggy find a conch and piggy tells Ralph to blow in it and the kids will hear it and come to see what it is. They find several other kids and determine who the leader is going to be. Some of the main characters in the story are Simon, Jack, Littuns, and the Bigguns. Everyone votes for Ralph to be the leader and Jack to be the hunter. Ralph decides to build a big fire so that a passing ship will see it but the fire gets out of control and the little boys that was complaining about a monster ends up missing. William Golding Why and how Golding wrote the Lord of Flies? Golding moved to London to be a social worker so he knows how kids act without any supervision. He also became a teacher and knows how kids act when they are together for a long time. Golding joined the Royal Navy and he also served on a cruiser. That gave him some knowledge about war and maybe some nuclear war. At the end of his career com7anded a rocket launching He saw action against battleships, submarines, and aircraft. He was in the D-Day invasion on Germany. Golding active participation in world war two influence on the novel The Lord of Flies. Then Simon and Eric tell Jack that there is a beast on the Island and that they should go kill it. Everyone goes crazy and decides to hunt the pig. The hunters kill Simon because they thought he was the pig. Jack kills Piggy by pushing him off a cliff. Piggy was only trying to get his glasses back. Ralph escapes death from Jack and runs to the navel officer. Bibliography William Golding Why and how Golding wrote the Lord of Flies? Golding moved to London to be a social worker so he knows how kids act without any supervision. He also became a teacher and knows how kids act when they are together for a long time. Golding joined the Royal Navy and he also served on a cruiser. That gave him some knowledge about war and maybe some nuclear war. At the end of his career com7anded a rocket launching He saw action against battleships, submarines, and aircraft. He was in the D-Day invasion on Germany. Golding active participation in world war two influence on the novel The Lord of Flies.

What Is Diaspora

What Is Diaspora Diaspora is a community of people from the same homeland who have been scattered or have migrated to other lands. While most often associated with the Jewish people expelled from the Kingdom of Israel in the 6th century BCE, the diaspora of many ethnic groups is found around the world today. Diaspora Key Takeaways A diaspora is a group of people who have been forced from or chosen to leave their homeland to settle in other lands.People of a diaspora typically preserve and celebrate the culture and traditions of their homeland.Diaspora may be created by voluntary emigration or by force, as in the cases of wars, slavery, or natural disasters. Diaspora Definition The term diaspora comes from the Greek verb diaspeirÃ…  meaning â€Å"to scatter† or â€Å"to spread about.† As first used in Ancient Greece, diaspora referred to people of dominant countries who voluntarily emigrated from their homelands to colonize conquered countries.  Today, scholars recognize two kinds of diaspora: forced and voluntary. Forced diaspora often arises from traumatic events such as wars, imperialistic conquest, or slavery, or from natural disasters like famine or extended drought. As a result, the people of a forced diaspora typically share feelings of persecution, loss, and desire to return to their homeland. In contrast, a voluntary diaspora is a community of people who have left their homelands in search of economic opportunity, as in the massive emigration of people from depressed regions of Europe to the United States during the late 1800s. Unlike diaspora created by force, voluntary immigrant groups, while also maintaining close cultural and spiritual links to their countries of origin, are less likely to wish to return to them permanently. Instead, they take pride in their shared experience and feel a certain social and political â€Å"strength-in-numbers.† Today, the needs and demands of large diaspora often influence government policy ranging from foreign affairs and economic development to immigration.   The Jewish Diaspora The origins of the Jewish diaspora date to 722 BCE, when the Assyrians under King Sargon II conquered and destroyed the Kingdom of Israel. Cast into exile, the Jewish inhabitants were scattered throughout the Middle East. In 597 BCE and again in 586 BCE, Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II deported large numbers of Jews from the Kingdom of Judah but allowed them to remain in a unified Jewish community in Babylon. Some of the Judean Jews chose to flee to Egypt’s Nile Delta. By 597 BCE, the Jewish diaspora was scattered among three distinct groups: one in Babylon and other less-settled parts of the Middle East, another in Judaea, and another group in Egypt. In 6 BCE, Judea came under Roman rule. While they allowed the Judeans to retain their Jewish king, the Roman governors maintained real control by restricting religious practices, regulating trade, and imposing ever-higher taxes on the people. In 70 CE, the Judeans launched a revolution which ended tragically in 73 BCE with the Roman siege of the Jewish fort of Masada. After destroying Jerusalem, the Romans annexed Judaea and drove the Jews from Palestine. Today, the Jewish diaspora is spread throughout the world. The African Diaspora During the Atlantic Slave Trade of the 16th to 19th centuries, as many as 12 million people in Western and Central Africa were taken captive and shipped to the Americas as slaves. Made up mainly of young men and women in their childbearing years, the native African diaspora grew rapidly. These displaced people and their descendants greatly influenced the culture and politics of the American and other New World colonies. In reality, the massive African diaspora had begun centuries before the slave trade as millions of Sub-Saharan Africans migrated to parts of Europe and Asia in search of employment and economic opportunity. Today, descendants of the native African diaspora maintains and celebrates its shared culture and heritage in communities around the world. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 46.5 million people of the African diaspora lived in the United States in 2017. The Chinese Diaspora The modern Chinese Diaspora began in the mid-19th century. During the 1850s to the 1950s, large numbers of Chinese workers left China in search of jobs in Southeast Asia. From the 1950s through the 1980s, wars, starvation, and political corruption in mainland China shifted the destination of Chinese diaspora to more industrialized areas including North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Driven by the demand for cheap manual labor in these countries, most of these migrants were unskilled workers. Today, the growing Chinese diaspora has evolved into a more advanced â€Å"multi-class and multi-skilled† profile needed to satisfy the demands of the high-tech globalized economy. The current Chinese diaspora is estimated to consist of some 46 million ethnic Chinese living outside China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. Sources Vertovec, Steven. The Political Importance of Diasporas. Migration Policy Institute. (June 1, 2005).â€Å"Ancient Jewish History: The Diaspora† Jewish Virtual Library.â€Å"National African-American History Month: February 2017† U.S. Census Bureau.â€Å"Chinese Diaspora Across the World: A General Overview† Academy for Cultural Diplomacy.

Civil Rights and Black Power Movements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Civil Rights and Black Power Movements - Essay Example From this essay it is clear that as the movement was aimed at using peaceful means to achieve its goals, it started its activities by influencing churches to preach equality though this faced a lot of opposition from the police as churches were expected to put emphasis on spiritual matters. The movement also believed that for the blacks to acquire equal rights with their white counterparts they had to be aware of their civil rights. This caused them to start state citizenship schools in 1954 that majored in teaching adults to enable them to pass literacy tests though they secretly offered democracy and civil rights classes against the law.As the discussion highlights unlike the SCLC, which believed in peace, the Black Panther Party founded in 1966 by Boy Scale (served as chairman) and Huey Newton believed in the use of military power by the minority against the government to earn freedom against segregation. Though both movements had an aim of gaining freedom against Negro segregatio n, BPM appeared to be more radical in their quest for freedom. Most of the protests involving BPM always turned out violent as the members believed in violence as a means of acquiring freedom. Important to note, however, unlike the SCLC, which was led by older church ministers and political activists like Martin Luther, most of the BPP leaders were in their early twenties and others even below twenty years, for example, Bobby Hutton, who was only seventeen years old.

Is the management of culture an ethically acceptable use of power Essay

Is the management of culture an ethically acceptable use of power - Essay Example ly, exercising given powers in a way that recognizes important issues to deal with, establishes priority areas in addition to sorting out competing values while the third aspect calls for moral evaluation where analytical skills are used in evaluating available options. These are a few aspects to consider when making value judge on whether management of culture is an ethically acceptable use of power or not. Therefore, ethical behaviour from those in authority is an important component of organizational culture given the need to be fair and just when handling different groups that interact during the operation of organizational activities (Johnson 2011). Ethical discussions about management of culture should be based on the reasons and importance of having a strong organizational culture. Strong organizational culture is an essential component that creates the necessary environment for achievement of organizational objectives, motivation of employees to be more productive in addition to enhancing management’s decision making process. Consequently, the use of power by any official should be directed towards achieving these goals (O’Donnell and Boyle 2008). Managers should not use the need for an established culture to target those who are perceived to have contradicting views on how to run the organization. Ethical decision-making should ensure that all with divergent views are accommodated into the organization. Trevino and Brown (2004) note the importance of making moral judgement by focusing on what is right and not necessarily doing what is right when making decisions that affect the organization. The authors assert that principled individuals have a high disposition to stick to their moral judgments even under pressure where they are more likely to resist pressure to behave unethically. Resistance emerging from the individuals who oppose new measures aimed at transforming existing culture or changing it completely most often frustrates managers (Secord

Grafting Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Grafting - Term Paper Example Grafting of appropriate plants result in improved hardiness in plants, hardiness refers to the ability of a plant to endure harsh climatic conditions. Through successful grafting for example, the showy Western Australian plants currently can resist the heavy soils common in urban centers (Core, 2005). Grafting has succeeded developing appropriate plants that fit different ecological conditions prevalent in different parts of the world. As discussed earlier, grafting conjoins two unique plants together thus resulting in the development of a unique new species. The resultant species benefits from the productive features of both the stock and the scion. In most cases, the stock always provide effective adaptive features of the root to enable the new plant survive in particular conditions while the scion provides effective foliage and flowing features that improves the productivity of the resultant plants. Precocity is a unique ability introduced only through grafting. It refers to the process of inducing productivity in plants without necessarily undergoing the juvenile stage. Introducing a scion in a stock disrupts the growth patterns of the resulting plant. Among the major advantages of the disruptions is that most of the plants bypass juvenility a period of growth and maturity in the plants. By passing the stage, the plants immediately begin producing fruits. This increases the profitability of agribusiness by shortening the time that fruit plants take before becoming fruitful. Bypassing the stage of juvenility is fundamental in agribusiness owing go the length of the duration, juvenility may last up to nine years in different plants. Bypassing the stage safeguards the quality and productivity of the plants since the new plat is likely to perform better than the two parent plants while doing so within the shortest time possible.

Tell It To Women Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tell It To Women - Term Paper Example of this is witnessed with a background chorus and voices of women who perpetuate a deeply mystifying songs and motions that creates a colorful fluidity (Onwueme 128). The story is formatted in form of a play that follows a dialogue thereby allowing the growth and development of character in a vibrant and prominent manner through murmur and mute. The play is actually a lush in dichotomies. It presents of rural polarization against urban background that shares both negative and positive prejudice. Main characters are from both the urban and rural backgrounds that are presented by different cultures and buildings and structures connecting these lands. Symbolically, the rural areas or towns represent North America while the rural areas are symbolic Africa. There prejudice that lies in the story is that the North America or the Eurocentric culture is superior; therefore, the rural culture or Africa is deemed inferior (Onwueme, â€Å"What Mama Said†¦Ã¢â‚¬  21). Apparently, the stigmas in the rural areas affect inhabitants negatively. For instance, the lives of Ruth and Daisy advocate some balance that fulfills lives of the rural women. The perseverance reveals independent and collective identity that aims at breaking that daunting traditional forces transcending to modernity (Onwueme 157). However, this is not an indicatio n that the tradition is superior or inferior to the modernity but it reveals that certain aspects of modernity need to be incorporated into entire tradition or the rural lifestyle. Another major ideal presented in the story is the polarity between women and men. The rural women are represented to inhibit fundamental knowledge that they present through the power of their voices. For instance, Daisy and Ruth are initially introduced as strong women, but with difference in expertise. This practically revealed when they interact with the urban visitor, Yemoja. Daisy revert prejudice towards Yemoja whereby he strips her from the power of voice by silencing

Human resource Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Human resource - Assignment Example Etihad Airlines is one of those airlines, which have been spending heavily and generously on the training and development of their employees, something that creates short term and long-term benefits for the company by improving the performance and productivity of its employees (Werner et al., 2011, p. 30). This paper is an attempt to explore and analyse the training and development activities taking place at Etihad Airways and the degree to which they have a correlation with the overall learning and performance. Discussion Similar to the training and orientation programs of many of the MNCs, Etihad Airways has a comprehensive rotational program for its new trainees who spent almost 18 months in nine different departments of Etihad, in an attempt to explore their real talent and capacity and also to learn as much as possible from the veterans of different departments (Saks & Haccoun, 2011, p. 74). With the vision of creating leaders for tomorrow, in the spring of 2012, Etihad Airways signed an agreement with the International Air Transport Association’s Training and Institute development to train its employees according to the international standards. More importantly, with the collaboration of Harvard University, many of the senior and middle level managers of Etihad Airways would be receiving training to brush up their leadership and management skills (International Air Transport Association, 2012). In an effort to make its training initiatives more comprehensive, in the fall of the year 2009, Etihad Airways signed a memorandum of understanding with the Institute of Applied Technology in Dubai. This MoU would mean that, in the coming years, IAT and Etihad would work together to satisfy the on the job training needs of its professionals and more importantly, it would be responsible to teach, groom and nurture young students and professionals according to the strategic needs of Etihad. This initiative does not only open employment opportunities for Emirat i students but as well as graduates from other parts of the world. These graduates would have received education of such calibre and level that they would possess valuable skills, which would allow them to exert strong bargaining power in the entire aviation industry. Nevertheless, the contracts that they would have signed with Etihad would allow the organisation to keep them employed during the start of their careers (Etihad Airways, 2009). There are strong theoretical and empirical reasons to believe that the efforts of Etihad’s management towards ensuring the training and development of their employees are actually converting into higher performance and employee satisfaction. Experts agree that human resource management is not only about hiring the best people and giving them the best possible benefits and perks but it also about giving them the tools, techniques, knowledge and information to do the job according to the expectations and demands of the organisation. This is where training and development of employees plays a crucial role (Mathis & Jackson, 2008, p. 35; Laird et al., 2003, p. 10). When the employees of Etihad go through the various training programs, they are not only learning how to do their jobs but more importantly, they are learning how to do their jobs in Etihad’s way. This training allows them to learn the organisational culture and truly become a part of Etihad

Understanding Dad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Understanding Dad - Essay Example I was inconsiderate, lazy, disrespectful, not studious enough, not athletic enough, not something enough. No matter what I tried, I didn't give it the full effort he thought it deserved. It seemed he was always waiting to tell me just what it was I was lacking or how much what I was doing was leading me to "nowhere good." Even when he left me alone, he was always there, impossible to ignore, a permanent end to my good time. Dad had that effect on people. Growing up, I resented him for that. Why couldn't he just be cool and look the other way sometimes? It took a real emergency while I was in high school for me to realize how that hard rock I knew as my father hid a warm, passionate center and to make me realize how he had used that rock and that heat to shape me into a better human being as an adult. Throughout my childhood, I participated in a variety of sports and activities. I think I was looking for something my father knew nothing about and had zero interest in learning. The way I figured it, he couldn't tell me I was wrong if he was a newbie, too. He would just have to go along with whatever the coaches, directors or other organizers told him. Maybe it's a blessing, but I considered it a curse that my dad is interested in all kinds of things. Just because he didn't know about it before I started didn't mean he wouldn't start learning about it the moment I took an interest. There I'd be, running for everything I was worth on the cross-country team and he'd be there along the sidelines near the finish line - "Come on! Give it the extra effort now! Don't hold back!" Some of the other kids said they never heard their parents at that point, they were too exhausted and busy trying to keep their lungs from bursting. I was cursed again because I understood every word that came to me in that big, booming voice of his with the crackle of tension lying just under the surface. It only ever came out when he was on the sidelines or really, really angry at home. Maybe that's why I always felt like I was running away from a beating even though he never delivered one. I'm sure it wasn't because of my running speed. Gasping for air and trying to keep breakfast in my stomach, he would walk up to me and tell me how I could improve my pace, increase my speed, correct my form or something else equally irritating. Somewhere in there he'd usually throw in a "good job" or "I'm proud of you," but I was convinced this was just for show so the other parents wouldn't think he was being too pushy. He had to avoid the 'stage dad' persona after all, keep up proper appearances. Somehow, my childhood memory neglected to note that these moments of pride and praise were usually delivered in the car, in private, while we were on our way home or out to a special treat meant just for me w ithout the presence of brothers or sisters to take away the attention. Things only grew worse as I grew up and started to want to hang out with friends instead of family. With this change, I discovered my childhood had been dancing on daisies compared to all the wrong I committed as a pre-teen and teenager. Nothing I did with my hair was right. No matter what style I selected, product or no product, short, long, somewhere in between, dyed, not dyed, popular style or something more traditional, Dad always had something negative to say about it. I couldn't even cover it up with a hat or a hoodie to make things right - then it was the wrong kind of hat or I was trying to be a gangster or "one of those dark kids who think everything in life sucks." Why couldn't he even remember something as simple as Goth? And what exactly about my life didn't suck anyway? If I

Human resource Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Human resource - Assignment Example Etihad Airlines is one of those airlines, which have been spending heavily and generously on the training and development of their employees, something that creates short term and long-term benefits for the company by improving the performance and productivity of its employees (Werner et al., 2011, p. 30). This paper is an attempt to explore and analyse the training and development activities taking place at Etihad Airways and the degree to which they have a correlation with the overall learning and performance. Discussion Similar to the training and orientation programs of many of the MNCs, Etihad Airways has a comprehensive rotational program for its new trainees who spent almost 18 months in nine different departments of Etihad, in an attempt to explore their real talent and capacity and also to learn as much as possible from the veterans of different departments (Saks & Haccoun, 2011, p. 74). With the vision of creating leaders for tomorrow, in the spring of 2012, Etihad Airways signed an agreement with the International Air Transport Association’s Training and Institute development to train its employees according to the international standards. More importantly, with the collaboration of Harvard University, many of the senior and middle level managers of Etihad Airways would be receiving training to brush up their leadership and management skills (International Air Transport Association, 2012). In an effort to make its training initiatives more comprehensive, in the fall of the year 2009, Etihad Airways signed a memorandum of understanding with the Institute of Applied Technology in Dubai. This MoU would mean that, in the coming years, IAT and Etihad would work together to satisfy the on the job training needs of its professionals and more importantly, it would be responsible to teach, groom and nurture young students and professionals according to the strategic needs of Etihad. This initiative does not only open employment opportunities for Emirat i students but as well as graduates from other parts of the world. These graduates would have received education of such calibre and level that they would possess valuable skills, which would allow them to exert strong bargaining power in the entire aviation industry. Nevertheless, the contracts that they would have signed with Etihad would allow the organisation to keep them employed during the start of their careers (Etihad Airways, 2009). There are strong theoretical and empirical reasons to believe that the efforts of Etihad’s management towards ensuring the training and development of their employees are actually converting into higher performance and employee satisfaction. Experts agree that human resource management is not only about hiring the best people and giving them the best possible benefits and perks but it also about giving them the tools, techniques, knowledge and information to do the job according to the expectations and demands of the organisation. This is where training and development of employees plays a crucial role (Mathis & Jackson, 2008, p. 35; Laird et al., 2003, p. 10). When the employees of Etihad go through the various training programs, they are not only learning how to do their jobs but more importantly, they are learning how to do their jobs in Etihad’s way. This training allows them to learn the organisational culture and truly become a part of Etihad

Counterterrorism Mid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Counterterrorism Mid - Essay Example Understanding who may potentially attack a specific target also will disclose what tactics might be expected. Additional counter measures can be implemented to deal with group specific threats. In the United States, terrorist threats may be international or domestic. International threats come from groups who perceive the US as too intrusive in their homeland or their economic system. For example, Al-Qaeda has threatened the US because they see the US military bases in the Middle East and the Western capitalist ideas as a direct threat to Islam (Pape, 2003, p.7). Domestic terrorism is carried out by people who have an extremist view on a singular social issue. This is usually the environment, animal rights, or anti-abortion. However, on occasion racist and hate groups may act to diminish another citizen's human rights through the use of terrorism. Traditionally, acts of domestic terrorism were viewed as criminal acts and carried the same judicial implications as any other criminal act. For example, the destruction of a church may have once been viewed as arson and the process and sentence would be implemented accordingly. However, more recent laws and acts have made the motivation for the crime a differentiating factor between crime and terrorism. A person that bombs a corporation could be considered a terrorist if they did so as an act of social protest or part of an activist group. This gives law enforcement greater powers to gather evidence and investigate. In addition, the label of terrorism carries with it more severe sentencing. Fighting terrorism is a combination of law enforcement and counter-terrorism. Typical law enforcement techniques are used to analyze a crime scene, but the investigation and disruption of terrorist activity is unique to terrorism. If the crime is linked to international terrorism, the perpetrator may forfeit certain constitutional rights and the right to due process. Under the Bush administration policies, a person committing a crime that is linked to Al-Qaeda can be labeled an enemy combatant, rather than simply a criminal. This gives the government the power to hold them indefinitely without a trial and suspend the right to habeas corpus. The government can additionally justify 'sneak and peek' searches of their residence and the homes of their associates that may become suspect. Their communications can be monitored and their personal records seized. 3.) The Nature of Surveillance The war on terror and modern technology has combined to totally revolutionize the nature of surveillance. Surveillance used to involve watching a person, tailing them, and monitoring their activities. Police could also wiretap their telephone with sufficient probable cause to be able to get a warrant. However, technology has made everyone's communications more accessible than ever before. The use of cell phones and electronic financial records has made it easier to monitor or locate a subject. In addition, the war on terror has made courts more sympathetic to law enforcement and have eased some of the tight restriction on getting a warrant. These changes, when taken together, have a great potential to impede the civil

Native American Music Essay Example for Free

Native American Music Essay Native American music has many different musical styles. Within every Native American tribe there is a variety of musical styles and instruments. In response to the research that I have conducted, there are three main musical styles that are going to be my point of focus. The Sioux Grass Dance, the Zuni Lullaby, and the Iroquois Quiver Dance are the principal methods which contribute to Native American music. The Sioux Grass Dance is considered to be the most popular style of Native American Music. As one dances to this music, they follow a pattern known as toe-heel. This consists of the individual placing the left foot in front of the right and repeating with the other foot. Each male dancer makes many personal variations of this dance resulting in a solo display. The costume is an elaborate style that correlates with the vocal approach of music. Bells are tied around the legs of the dancers for an added effect. The Zuni Lullaby illustrates a contrast with Plains singing to assist in confirming that there is not an individual style to Native American music. Through the Native American styles of music, repetition becomes a prominent feature. This is not because the Native Americans cant find words to fit into the music, but because repetitions with slight variations are often too insignificannot for outside listeners to notice. In the Iroquois Quiver Dance the first thing to strike the ear is what is often known as a call and response form. One singer announces a phrase of lexical text, known as the call, the other singer answers him in a vocal pattern. This continues throughout the song. In illustrating many of the musical styles among Native American music, this has another name known as the Warriors Stomp Dance. The voices in the Iroquois Quiver Dance are relatively relaxed compared with that of the Plains singing. Instruments used to portray these various styles of music were often drums of all shapes and sizes, rattles, and often tambourines or bells with other percussion instruments. The drums were constructed by using such materials as clay, iron, wood or aluminum with heads of buckskin, chamois, or rubber. These drums were typically played with a single drumstick, holding a steady pattern of four beats. Also, in addition to these instruments there were wind instruments. The most common was the vertical flute, whistle, and occasionally panpipes. The flute was most often used to express a love song and never for religious ceremonies. Looking at Native American music, one can conclude that there are three main types of music: The Sioux Grass Dance, Iroquois Quiver Dance, and the Zuni Lullaby. Drums and wind instruments are used in portraying the music. The Native Americans dressed accordingly to the music that they dance to. All of these features add to what we have become acquainted with, Native American music.

FlagLive :: Personal Narrative Traveling Essays

FlagLive It's a romantically beautiful summer evening in northern California, the heat of the day having passed, the sky and earth echoing brilliant colors against each other as if making love. I'm alone, riding my bicycle through a redwood forest on my way to a campsite, where my riding buddy and I had agreed to meet. Towering above like giant sentinels, the trees feel alive, welcoming, as if the spirits of the forest are ceremoniously receiving home a prodigal son. I roll into camp, and Fred (my traveling companion) is already there. It's only been about six hours, but we're as happy to see each other as if it had been a few days. Our campsite, nestled in the forest, is next to a meadow, where elk feed at their leisure. We settle in and started cooking our usual pot of stew, which usually consists of grains, vegetables, and canned meat - whatever we found, and liked, on the grocery store shelves. The day's ride included a series of steep climbs, so we were wondering how our British friends (one a student from Oxford, the other from Bath), also making the same southward trek from Oregon to California, had fared. True to form, they roll into camp just as supper is almost ready, this time with two 40-ounce bottles of malt liquor and a bottle of tequila, but little or no food. Fred and I are happy to see them. They've become a source of inspiration, for which we are happy to provide scraps of nourishment. Typically, they'd roll into camp around 7:00 or so, with nothing but their bicycles, their tent, and alcohol, and they'd get down to business - the business of having fun. They'd start drinking, or fire up a J, or both. Then they'd wander around the various campsites, introducing themselves to anyone a nd everyone, partying the night, if possible. In the meantime, Fred had already met two other riders, whom we'd invited to supper. Recent graduates of Boston College, they became known to us over the next few days (they were also traveling the same route) as "Watch Girl" and "Chocolate Detective." As the stew cooked, the party was on. Ilana (Chocolate Detective) asked us why we slept in separate tents. We told her that if we didn't, we'd get on each other's nerves. She shot back, "Your two tents!" (You're too tense!) Bam.

The Sermon on the Mountain Essay -- Religion, Jesus

The word of Jesus found in Luke 6:20-26 are the opening statements of His Sermon on the Plain. As with any other passage there are translation differences, literary, historical, linguistic, economic and sociological backgrounds for this passage. It is sometimes difficult to discern the original, or real, meaning of biblical passages and Luke 6:20-26, and beatitudes in general, are no different. The Sermon on the Mount, found in Mark 5-7, is generally referred to as the greatest sermon ever preached. Jesus begins His sermon by stating the eight beatitudes, and the passage in Luke 6:20-26 contains a subset of these beatitudes combined with a corresponding set of woes. There are two genres used in this passage. Each of the first four statements begins with â€Å"blessed are.† These statements are called beatitudes and are used commonly throughout scripture in both the New and Old Testaments. Each of the last four statements begins with â€Å"woe to you who.† The woe literary form functions â€Å"as an expression of pity for those who stand under divine judgment.† (Talbert 70) Each woe in Luke 6:24-26 is the reverse of a beatitude found in Luke 6:20-23. (E.g. Verse 20 and verse 24 are corresponding statements). Each woe pities the opposite group of people that its corresponding beatitude blesses. This pairing of blessings and woes is also found in Ecclesiastes 10:16-17. There are several differences among the New International Version (2011 release), New Living Translation, and New American Standard Bible translations. At the beginning of verse 20, Jesus is looking at his disciples in the NIV, He turned to His disciples in the NLT, and He turned His gaze toward His disciples in the NASB. These phrases mean essentially the same thing: Jesus was fa... ...ke 6:23, 26 also mentions how the prophets were treating by the audience’s ancestors. In the Old Testament, the Prophets of God were ignored and persecuted while the false prophets for other gods and idols were supported by the people. This set of verses presents a reversal of outcomes based on the person’s social acceptance or rejection. Those who are rejected because of Jesus will receive an unspecified reward in Heaven. The audience is instructed to rejoice in this fact. Jesus is encouraging His followers to be happy when people persecute their faith because their reward in Heaven is worth any pain this world can cause. All things considered, Luke 6:20-26 is not really as counter-cultural as it seems. When you look at the spiritual meaning of the words rather than the more commonly used economic definitions, you see that these words of Jesus are very insightful.

Agatha Christie Essay

â€Å"Agatha Christie, a woman who is recognized as one of the best female crime & mystery novel writers of all time†. This introduction provides reasoning to prove that this is true through the explanation of her strong characters, her interesting settings, and her strong display of morality. The writer does a good job in avoiding facts, keeping the thesis mainly opinionated. In the body of the essay, I believe it could have been rearranged in order to have more of an effect on the reader. in body paragraph one, the writer gives a brief explanation of the strong characters Agatha Christie created. I believe this paragraph should have been in the middle and switched with body paragraph number two. In body paragraph number two the essay writer goes into great depth and detail about the interesting and diverse cultural settings she portrays her stories in. This paragraph portrays an in-depth insight in the settings of Agatha Christie novels. If placed first among her body paragraphs, its effectiveness would captivate its reader. The last body paragraph on Agatha Christie’s morality is an effective way to end this essays argument. This gives the reader a look at the â€Å"Why’s and how’s† of Agatha Christie’s world and her passion behind writing these types of novels. The essay writer avoids just reusing her major arguments in her essay; by simply paraphrasing she effectively includes the important ideas of her essay into her conclusion. Although this essay could be slightly proved upon, it was a effective example of highlighting stylistic writings of the great female novelist Agatha Christie. The Enduring Appeal of Agatha Christie Who does not enjoy a good mystery story? Popular literature abounds with examples, ranging from the controversial work of Dan Brown to the horrific work of Stephen King. This genre, rooted in the Victorian tradition of Edgar Allen Poe, Wilkie Collins, and Arthur Conan Doyles, certainly has a wide following. On the beach, on the subway, people escape into the world of these authors. Although many female writers claim to be the â€Å"Queen of Crime Fiction†, it is really Agatha Christie against whom all others are measured. Even many years after her death, readers appreciate Agatha Christie’s novels ecause of her strong characters, her interesting settings, and her strong morality. Next to Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple are two of the most recognizable detectives in fiction because of their distinctive attributes. Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective, is noted for moustaches and his â€Å"egg-shaped head†. From the rather violent village of St. Mary Mead, Miss Jane Marple is known for knitting needles. A third detective, Ariadne Oliver, is an author with a fondness for apples. Interestingly, the last character is also thought to be Christie’s alter ego. Through her characters, Christie is able to express her own views on the social issues of her time. Ariadne Oliver, Poirot, and Miss Marple live in time and a world that has changed drastically and perhaps that is why the world of Agatha Christie is so interesting to us till: nostalgia. Although she is from a small village, Miss Marple seems to get around a great deal. In one adventure, she is convalescing in the Barbados when a murderer strikes in the resort where she is staying. Poirot and Ariadne Oliver can be found in small villages, London, and exotic settings in the Middle East. Despite their varied locales, the common element that runs through Christie’s novel is the â€Å"closed† society. These worlds are cut off culturally, economically, or physically, as in the case of Ten Little Indians, which is set on an island off the Devon coast. Poirot’s world is largely that of the upper classes, but considering the number of bodies found in stately country homes, they can be rather dangerous group to cross! The time is never specified, but a vague period between World War I and World War II is often favoured. Indeed, when in some of Christie’s later novels like Passenger to Frankfurt or Toward Zero, Christie uses the time period of the 60’s, the novels do not quite ring true. Vintage Agatha Christie harkens back to a more innocent time, although perhaps a more murderous one! Time and fashion may change in Christie’s world, but Christie’s moral stance stays firm. Through Christie’s novels, we can gain insight into the morality of the early 20th century, which still might have some resonance. In Christie’s world, murderers are punished by hanging. Even the gentle Miss Marple states in one novel that she feels it only right that a cold-blooded murder should be executed. Poirot favours capital punishment as well, expressing the view that it is more humane than putting a person in a small jail cell for life. Divorce is frowned on in Christie’s novels. After Christie’s first marriage to an RAF officer ended in divorce when he left her for another woman, Christie’s wrote several novels in which retired air force officers tended to be the villains! Christie’s morality, along with her setting and characters, give her novels a staying power that has certainly not been matched by anyone writing in the genre today. In practically any bookshop, airport newsstand or train station, it is possible to buy a Christie novel. Hers is a world of moral certainty: the victim will be avenged, the guilty will be punished, and in the end, the natural order of world, upset by murder, will be restored. Perhaps it is this restoration of order that gives the modern such comfort in these uncertain times.

Philippine Gaming Industry

Despite the surge of Pagcor income that has succeeded immensely in supporting the cash-strapped government, several lawmakers, nongovernment organizations and especially the religious sector are still firmly against government engaging in the business of operating casinos. Edward King, spokesman for Pagcor chairman Efraim Genuino, told The Manila Times that first and foremost, one thing that people should remember is that Pagcor is a creation of law. Pagcor, a government-owned and controlled corporation was established to regulate all games of chance in the Philippines. It was born in 1976, created by then-President Marcos to oversee the operation of gaming casinos, to generate funds for the government’s developmental projects and to help curb illegal gambling. An unaudited Pagcor report shows that Pagcor, â€Å"a vital arm of the government in nation building, â€Å" netted P25. 4 billion in income making it one of the biggest earners for 2006. † So is Pagcor a proof that casinos and legalized gaming can be a valuable source of government funding and an effective engine for national development? â€Å"We are created by law, we are just following what the law orders us to do. It is not a question that is up to us to decide. We must obey the law,† King said. Under the law, he explained, Pagcor is required to run casinos. He said that the most important thing about the government running casinos is that all funds that generated from Pagcor goes back to the government â€Å"100 percent. † â€Å"We are operating the casinos but here is where everything lies: 100 percent of the income that we generate goes back to the government,† King said. The state-run gaming firm surpassed its earlier record-breaking P21. 9-billion total annual income in 2004 and breached its target income of P23. 1 billion for 2005. It surpassed the P24. 5 billion target for 2006 as well. Pagcor’s 2005 total income of P23. 4 billion was 6. 8 percent higher than the P21. 9 billion it posted a year before. The issue of privatizing Pagcor is also very controversial, with several lawmakers pushing for it and even more congressmen against it. King said that while the act can be considered purely from the noble and idealistic viewpoint that government should not be in the business of gambling, one has to think from the point of view of generating funds for the government. He said that if the government would privatize Pagcor, then all income goes to the private sector leaving only a small amount in taxes being paid to the government coffers. â€Å"If you give Pagcor to the private, they will just be paying taxes. There is a huge difference between a fraction of income from taxes to 100 percent,† King said. An official from Pagcor who requested anonymity even claimed that perhaps the lawmakers have their own personal agenda. Maybe they want to be the ones who will buy and operate Pagcor, they said. Its simple, privatize Pagcor they get the income, the lawmakers may perhaps be getting their own kickbacks from certain lobby groups who want Pagcor for their personal purpose,† the official said. King merely laughed at the statement of the official adding that he did not want to comment, not wanting to get into trouble with the congressmen. King, however, added that if Pagcor is run privately, all measures such as that of the antimoney launderi ng might be removed and the private personalities owning it may use the gaming for the bad purposes that the antimoney-laundering council wants to prevent. Pagcor is created by law with the purpose of bringing much needed funds to the government. Certainly if you are run privately mahirap bantayan. How can you impose legislation on it which means how can we protect ourselves now from money laundering, how do we prevent this money going out of the country,† he said. â€Å"We are able to ensure that these things do not happen since the protective mechanism are all in place here. ’Yung mga private casinos for instance maaaring lumalabas iyang pera at magamit for money laundering once they are privately owned,† he said. We do what we can,† King said. King also thanked Congress for granting them a fresh 25-year franchise. King explained that government departments are dependent on Pagcor. The Department of Education is seeking more money from us. Even many church organizations get donations from Pagcor despite the opposition to Pagcor of some bishops. Pagcor, in President Arroyo’s own words, is an important part of Philippine nation building. In its endeavor to generate more funds for the governmen t’s pressing concerns, Pagcor has ventured beyond casino management. To meet the challenges of the new millennium, the gaming corporation is constantly looking for ways to improve its gaming products and maximizing the efficiency of its gaming operations. Philippine Gaming Market Sports betting is, to a vast population of Filipinos, a way of life from cockfighting to horseracing and basketball. Betting on number combination games such as lotteries and basketball â€Å"ending† offered by illegal bookies, has become part of millions of Filipinos’ daily routine. The gaming market in the Philippines is estimated to be over P100 billion a year. Illegal gaming accounts for half of the country’s gaming industry revenues. Internet Gaming Market The Internet gaming global market is estimated to be US$10 billion in 2002 and is predicted to reach US$14. 5 billion in year 2006. Internet Sports Betting and Internet Casino dominates most of the revenues. Although US now accounts for half of industry revenues, the gaming market is changing and the biggest area of growth is in places like Europe and Asia. Pagcor aims to go global and is keen on gaining a share of the Internet gaming revenue. Internet gaming will allow Pagcor to reach out to local and foreign gaming enthusiasts with less investment cost. About Philweb Capitalizing on its Internet technology experience, Philweb in early 2003 made a deliberate decision to focus on Internet Gaming. It established partner relationship with leading software providers in addition to establishing its own gaming software capability. On the basis of this expertise, Philweb was successful in concluding a contract with Pagcor, whereby Philweb became Pagcor’s overall service provider for Internet Gaming technology. To date, Philweb has concluded 2 Internet Gaming agreements with Pagcor, as follows: Acknowledging the Filipino’s yearning for sports and gaming as well as the continuing popularity of local sports betting, Pagcor, in partnership with Philweb Corp. , designed and deployed a new and innovative way to utilize Internet technology in fueling the Filipino’s passion for sports—Internet Sports Betting. Pagcor aims to compete head on with illegal bookies and migrate most, if not all, of the illegal gaming revenues into additional source of income for the government. Recognizing Philweb’s extensive knowledge in Internet technology, software development expertise and its nationwide marketing distribution network, Pagcor signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Philweb on November 28, 2002, engaging the latter as its technology service provider and marketing consultant for Internet Sports Betting. Subsequently, Philweb and Pagcor likewise entered into several supplemental agreements to cover the expansion programs of Pagcor on Internet Sports Betting. Philweb is a PLDT subsidiary. Pagcor license for Internet casino Pagcor has decided to offer casino games outside the land-based casinos via Internet Casino Stations. Compared with the land-based counterpart, Internet Casino Stations require less investment because of their low overhead as well as operating and marketing costs. Also, Internet Casino offers gaming enthusiasts the opportunity to play casino games in the privacy and comfort of their homes at any time of the day and at their own pace. As an additional feature, a prepaid card system will be incorporated in Pagcor’s Internet Casino betting platform to avoid credit card fraud and fast-track its nationwide distribution. Philweb is partnering once more with Pagcor to accelerate the market entry of the latter’s Internet Casino products in the Philippines. With a management team rich with Internet Casino business expertise, Philweb expects to realize with Pagcor the revenue potential of Internet Casino. Currently, Pagcor and Philweb are pursuing for the expansion of their Internet Gaming relationship to now include Internet Casino. Philweb will provide its technology and marketing services to Pagcor. These services shall include the following: Recently, Philweb, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) affiliate that oversees the operation of an Internet casino business on behalf of the government, expects to report a full-year profit for 2006, the first since it was set up in 2000. Philweb reported net profit of P42 million ($861,848) in the first nine months of 2006. The company, which oversees 45 Internet casino stations, most of them in Manila, said gross betting volume in online casinos had surged from P562 million in 2004 to P10. 8 billion in 2005. It is likely to rise by another 30 percent in 2006, according to Dennis Valdes, the company’s president. That forecast looked optimistic on a recent Saturday night in Manila on the basis of competition between a bookmaker’s office, crowded with laborers betting on horses, and an Internet casino station a few feet away where no-one was queuing to play. But the relative quiet outside the online casino belies the vast and rapid flow of money into the newest game of chance to hit Manila. On entry into what looks like an Internet cafe, where about 25 desktop computers are linked to a powerful server running gambling software, customers are asked to buy at least P500 worth of credits, and it is not uncommon for players to spend P1,000 in just 15 minutes. â€Å"We started out as an ISP [Internet service provider] and it was only recently that the company refocused on Internet gambling,† said Valdes. In November 2002, Philweb won a contract to provide consultancy services to the state gambling monopoly, which is trying to curb an illegal market that it estimates to be worth about P50 billion a year. Stock market investors are making a big bet on Philweb, whose share price more than doubled in 2006 and has risen by about a 10th so far this year. Its market capitalization of P3. 9 billion is now almost a quarter more than the combined market value of the two bigger and older companies that run horse races.

The process of economic development and its effects in China in 1950s Research Proposal

The process of economic development and its effects in China in 1950s - Research Proposal Example e considerable damaged after the war, which became the reason that the food production reduced to approximately 30% lower than the peak level, which was achieved before the war. All these factors lead the Chinese economy in crises and the country had to face the hyperinflationary environment. The Chinese Govt aimed to restore the economy to its normal level within the time span of 3 years. In order to achieve the goal of economic recovery, the Govt started working with full devotion to recover all the losses. The recovery phase began with the reconstruction of the transportation system along with the recovery of other losses such as loss of communication system and invests on farming to recover the natural resources. The central bank of China, which is named as Peoples bank of China, was established in the year 1948 with the responsibility of maintaining the monetary control along with the regulation of all the financial institutions within the jurisdiction of China. During the estab lishment of Peoples Bank of China, the banking system was neither nationalized nor centralized. During the economic recovery phase of China, all the financial institutions were nationalized and centralized. The regulating authority of the banking system remained the Peoples Bank of China. In order to control the high inflation, which was generated due to the effects of the World War II, the Govt of China decided to synchronize the economic structure of China by centralizing the financial market of China (Mark 2013). The purpose of centralizing the banking system was that the monetary system could be unified. The Govt initiated the decisions to control the economy which includes monetary policy and extremely restricted credit facility. Another reason behind such restricted economic policies during the period of 1949 to 1952 was that the Govt had very restricted budget to recover the economy. In addition to this, during the same period Govt was compelled to also manage the

A Different Mirror by Ronald Takaki Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Different Mirror by Ronald Takaki - Essay Example Essentially, Takaki uses this article to explicitly show how the southern plantation owners were determined to replace the â€Å"black† farmers and labourers with the Chinese. This is because they believed that the Chinese were more hardworking and industrious and thus they could teach the â€Å"black† labourers to become equally hardworking and industrious. Comparatively, Takaki uses this article to complicate the commonly held perceptions regarding interracial competition by pointing out that the immigrants from different backgrounds attempted to get along with one another. To explicate, Takaki presents how both the Japanese, Mexican and Asian workers worked unanimously, ignoring their racial problems and differences. In addition, by stating that the Japanese immigrants thought that in America â€Å"money grows in trees,† (Takaki, 1993), Takaki aims to clarify how indeed the immigrants saw America as a land of many opportunities. Bharati Mukherjee, the author of the article â€Å"Jasmine† argues that like the character Jasmine, many immigrant Americans, including her, have tended to present themselves as Americans, cutting off their association with the traditional world which surprisingly predetermines their fate. Generally speaking, after the main character Jasmine losses her husband at a tender age of only seventeen years through a bomb attack (Mkherjee, 1989, p. 12), she is depressed and seems destined to live a solitude and lonely life, in a rural Indian village which is also her birthplace. However, Jasmine has burning desires to explore a more dangerous and larger world. Originally, Jasmine and her husband were planning to move to Florida. Nonetheless, after her husband’s death, Jasmine decides to single-handedly take the long journey.  Notably important, as she travels, Jasmine is faced with many challenges and obstacles thus transforming her into a more adventurous and stressful life.

Best Buy business problem and technology solution Essay

Best Buy business problem and technology solution - Essay Example This paper also details technological solutions to enable and to augment the proposed business solutions to get Best Buy back on its feet financially and strategically. These technological solutions are the use of an ERP system or the enhancement of the existing ERP system to make the supply chain more efficient; and the use of data analytics to better understand buyer behavior and preferences (Crosby, 2014; McIntyre, 2014; Zacks Equity Research, 2014; Google, 2014). Best Buy is a retailer of electronics products for consumers, products for computing and for cellular communications, related products for entertainment, home appliances, and the services that are tied to their merchandise. Best Buy is a multinational concern. Aside from owning physical retail outlets spread out in its key geographic markets, Best Buy also has several web properties as well as call centers. Its e-commerce platforms include The Phone House, Future Shop, Magnolia Audio Video, Geek Squad, Pacific Sales, Best Buy Mobile, Five Star, The Carphone Warehouse, and Best Buy. The company divides its operations as a multinational between the United States market on the one hand, and the international market on the other, with the latter made up of its combined operations in Mexico, Europe, China and Canada. In these different latter markets Best Buy employs different subsets its stable of brands. For instance, in China, Best Buy makes use of its Five Star Brand, while in Europe Best Buy has traction as The Carphone Warehouse, Geek Squad, and The Phone House. The US market is comprised of six product segments or categories, namely mobile telephony and computing, services, electronics for consumers, the appliances segment, entertainment products segment, and the others segment. The entertainment division offerings include digital downloads of media, as well as DVD and CD sales, together with Bluray sales. Services include after sales and

War and Genocide against the Jews in Europe Essay

War and Genocide against the Jews in Europe - Essay Example Anti-Semitism has been one of the most important reasons behind the genocide conducted against the European Jews during the World War II. The development of the World War inspired the Germans to have control over the entire territory captured by them; due to this factor, they initiated rapid military movements in the German-occupied areas. Genocide is regarded as an unethical and barbarian activity by the entire world but there was little effort made by different countries to stop the genocide carried out by the German military forces. The European Jews were completely isolated from the rest part of the world during the progress of the World War II. The Germans got extra mileage to carry out the entire Holocaust because they did not experience any obstacles from the best part of the world. After detailed analysis, some historians such as Arnold Toynbee has been able to conclude that most parts of the world did not have any respect towards the Jews community because of their personal beliefs. The Christians believed that the Romans had killed Lord Jesus Christ and the Jews community supported the actions of the Romans (Crowe 17). Genocide against the Jews recorded mass killings of 5-6 million people in Europe because of the lack of interference of other communities. â€Å"It is significant that early Christians blamed the Jews for the crucifixion, which was actually practiced by the Romans during the period. The beliefs of the Christians have been supported by stating that the Jews mobs demanded Jesus’ death under the power of Roman governor Pontius Pilate† (Bergen 161). It has been observed that the convictions against the Jews society were not accurate but there are very few evidence in favor of them. The genocide of Europe was conducted by the German military forces under the leadership of Adolf Hitler and the Christian society isolated the Jews and left them to suffer under the brutal tortures of the Nazis.

Does Culture Evolve Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Does Culture Evolve - Essay Example In White’s opinion, human civilization has always attempted to the control over nature through culture. According to White’s perspective on the evolution of culture, the more a culture is able to harness energy from nature using efficient technology, the more evolved a culture becomes. From his point of view, both energy and technology play major roles by bringing about a much better evolvement of ideology and social organization of culture. In his article Eric Wolf, looks at culture from a very different angle when compared to White’s perspective. According to Wolf, culture evolved and progressed through trade and commerce. Wolf explains how traders traveled across the rivers and carried on fur trade along the coasts. Due to the increase in trade, there was great development in different kinds of transport which was so necessary to carry on trade across different borders. During the 18th century, traders made use of Native American middle men to deliver their pr oducts but gradually trade took on a whole new dimension by becoming more organized and sophisticated. Gradually, traders got rid of the middle men and carried on the business directly with the primary producer.

12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose Essay Example for Free

12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose Essay When reading the play 12 angry men, is it hard to ignore the prominent character- the 8th Juror. As the plot unfolds, the reader notices that Juror #8 is the only one among the 12 who really understands the seriousness of the situation at their hands. At the very beginning of the play, you can see that there is no sympathy towards the boy accused of murder. And why should it be? All the evidence that was brought up in the court room has crushed the defense and the boys chances on the trial. The prosecution made it clear that the boy is guilty. In fact, too clear- The defense was helpless and left many holes in their case. Thats why in the initial vote done by the jurors, everybody votes guilty (against the boy) except for #8. And here we see the first importance of #8: because of his reasonable doubt the jury hadnt found the boy guilty at the first 10 minutes of their debating, which would have ended the trial. #8 did not necessarily believe the boy was innocent, but he understood that if he raised his hand at that vote- it would all end. They will not have a chance to discuss the case, and it will, in his eyes, belittle the value of human life. Furthermore, we can see that #8 is a key character in many other parts of the play. After starting to talk about the case, some of the other jurors got mad and tried to convince #8 to vote guilty and end the discussion. Yet, he stayed calm and tried to continue debating in spite of their efforts to convert him. After realizing that he is standing alone against them, he called for another vote, in which he will not participate (a rather questionable action, considering he had not yet spoke out the contradictions that he had found in the prosecutions case). This was a rather bold step, but it paid out because of #9, who changed his vote to not guilty because of his respect towards #8 and #8s courage. We see that despite the efforts the 11 jurors made, #8 stuck to his position and allowed the continuation of the play. At page 26 we see another contribution to the unfolding of the case- Juror #8Â  brings up the question whether the old man (who had testified about hearing the accused boy shouting Im going to kill you) could really hear what he had clamed he heard. #8 makes the brilliant connection between two pieces of separate testimonies and proves (as much as it can be proved) that it was not possible for the old man to hear that. One by one he shattered the so-called facts, as he proved that Sometimes the facts that are staring you in the face are wrong. He develops the issue with the 15-seconds walk the old man apparently took, the eyeglasses marks next to the testifying womans eyes and many more. You can say that juror #8 has an additional importance to the play, in the terms of his character and personality. He shows a side that the jurors could not see- he tried to put himself in the boys shoes and see the case from a different perspective. By doing that, he showed the other jurors how prejudice can prevent people from seeing the truth (or in their case- judge in a fare manner). You can honestly say that if it were not for him, the boy would have been put to death for sure. He may only be an architect, but he presented his arguments like a lawyer and proved his theories throughout the play. He avoided being personally involved and let his sharp and lucid mind lead him and the rest of the jury on their way to solve the case.

Discrimination And Empowerment In Mental Health Social Work Essay

Discrimination And Empowerment In Mental Health Social Work Essay This essay will firstly define what discrimination is and what it means to discriminate against something. It will then explain what it means to discriminate against someone or a group in social work practice. This will be a very broad definition that encompasses a variety of different service user groups. Examples will be used to demonstrate what discrimination may look like in social work practice and everyday life. To gain a better understand the essay will critically explore theory and ideas around power and how power manifests between groups. This part of the essay will touch on the idea of othering. The essay will use social constructionism theory to analyse this concept of power. The essay will then focus in on mental health. This part of the essay will firstly look at what a mental health problem is and explore the stigma of being labelled with a mental health problem. The essay will then go deeper to focus on how the western medical model can discriminate against Black and Ethnic Minority groups (BME), even if indirectly. The essay will then critically explore why BME adults, particularly men, are overrepresented in the mental health service. Links will be made to institutional racism and the fact that BME children are underrepresented in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). In in broadest definition, to discriminate means to differentiate or to recognise a distinction (Oxford Dictionaries 2012). In this broad sense it is a part of daily life to discriminate. For example, an adult may discriminate between lanes on a motorway and a baby will often discriminate between a stranger and their caregiver. Discrimination becomes a problem when the difference or recognised distinction is used for the basis of unfair treatment. This is the discrimination that social workers need to be vigilant for. Discrimination is not always intentional (Thompson 2009) and there are various types of discrimination (EHRC 2012). Discrimination can be direct, indirect, based on the perception that someone has a protected characteristic or discriminate against someone who is associated with a person who has a protected characteristic (EHRC 2012). The Equality Act (2010) also aims to protect people with a protective characteristic(s) from victimisation, harassment and failure to make reasonable adjustments (Home Office 2012). Thompsons (1997) PCS model demonstrates that discrimination is not always on a personal level and it is not just solely down to the individual. I will return to the PCS model later on in the essay. Social workers act as mediators between service users and the state. Social workers are in a role that can potentially empower or oppress (Thompson 1997). For this reason Thompson (1997: 11) argues that good practice must be anti-discriminatory practice. All other areas of practice could be brilliant and the social worker could have very good intentions but if the social worker cannot recognise the marginalised position of some of the people they are working with their interventions could potentially further oppress (Thompson 1997). Thompson (1997) reminds the reader many times throughout the book that If youre not part of the solution you are part of the problem. I choose to include this because it reinforces that social workers need to challenge discrimination and take action against it. To accept it and to not swim against the tide does indeed make us part of the problem. Where does discrimination come from and why do people, institutions and systems discriminate against people? This part of the essay will critically explore the concept of power and social constructionism in relation to discrimination and social work. Power is defined by Haralambos and Holborn 2000: 540) very loosely as the ability to get your own way even when others are opposed to your wishes. This is of course a very simple definition of a complex concept. There are many models and theories around power. Thompson (1998: 42) identified a common theme of the ability to influence or control people, events, processes or resources. These common themes of power all have the potential to be used destructively in social work. Social workers have the ability and power to influence and control, whether this is on an individual personal level or as a gate keeper of services or agent of control. Social workers need to be aware of power as they work with people who are marginalised and powerles s in comparison; people who social workers could potentially oppress and even worse, abuse. Giddens (1993) makes close links between power and inequality. EHRC Equality and human rights commission., 2012. [Viewed 2012.11.10] What is discrimination? [online]. Available from http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/education-providers-schools-guidance/key-concepts/what-is-discrimination/ Giddens, A., 1993. Sociology (2nd ed). Cambridge: Polity Haralambos, M, Holborn, M., 2000. Sociology themes and perspectives. London: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd Home Office., 2012. [viewed 2012.11.11] Equality Act 2010 [online]. Available from http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/equalities/equality-act/ Oxford Dictionaries., 2012. [Viewed 2012.10.19] Discriminate [Online]. Available from http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/discriminate?q=discriminate Thompson, N., 1997. Anti-Discriminatory practice (2nd ed). Basingstoke: Macmillan Press Thompson,N., 1998. Promoting Equality challenging discrimination and oppression in human services. Basingstoke: Macmillan Press Ltd Thompson, N., 2009. Practising social work. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Humorous Wedding Speech by the Father of the Groom -- Wedding Toasts R

Humorous Wedding Speech by the Father of the Groom Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen - I am the groom's father, Ken, and I have the great privilege of being best man. I have recently found out there are two reasons why J W asked me to do this job. 1) To make him look younger and slimmer in the photos. 2) Because he didn't want to burden any of his friends with the terrible prospect of having to give this speech. It's the speech that no one wants to do. The best man doesn't really know what he's expected to say and yet his speech is supposed to be humorous - but it might not be. It's supposed to be short - but it probably won't be. It should be original - but it seldom is. It should not offend - and most do. And finally, it's supposed to be sincere and I certainly intend mine to be. In fact, I cannot be more sincere than to say to my son what an honor you have done to me by asking me to be your best man today. That said, while you are all here to enjoy yourselves, the poor best man has to work for his supper - not that he is able to enjoy his food for the thought of making that speech. He is so nervous he can hardly eat his meal. J W, seeing how nervous I was, arranged for me to have the best seat in the house - namely cubicle 3 in the Gent's toilet. There's even a sign behind the door which reads 'the best man inspects these toilets at 15-minute intervals. If you have any complaints please report it ... ...come so fond of Kathy and we looked upon her as a daughter that we had gained. I can but wish the new Mr and Mrs Wilson every success in the future. As I said at the start I'm not very sure what a best man is supposed to say in his speech. I do know he really has only one thing he must cover and that is to say to the groom 'J W, on behalf of the matron of honour and the bridesmaids thank you very much for all that you said. I can only but agree with your comments. I would like to finish my speech by making a toast to the two most important persons here today - Ladies and gentlemen - a toast to the Chef and the Barman. Thank you. Only kidding, the toast is to J W and Kathy - the Bride and Groom.

The U.S. Contained Communism In Vietnam :: Vietnam War Essays

The U.S. Contained Communism In Vietnam In 1949, Mao Zedong led the Peoples Revolution, which established a Communist State in China. Communism has now been introduced to Asia. In this period, after World War II, Communism was a popular ideology being introduced throughout the world. Vietnam was one of the many countries under the threat of Communism. At this time, Vietnam was a French Colony. As time went on tension started to come between the French and the Vietnamese people. As tension increased so did the fighting between the French and The Vietnamese. Finally in 1954, The French decided that they could no longer withstand the revolts of the Vietnamese. The Vietnamese were now free of French rule. However, many problems still remained in Vietnam. After the war there was a conference to discuss the troubles in Vietnam and all of the other troubles in Asia. That conference was called the Geneva Conference. Vietnam sent two delegations to the conference. One of the delegations represented Viet Minh (which was Communist in their leanings) and the other represented Bao Dia's government, which was backed by the United States. Both claimed to represent all of Vietnam. At the conference there was a discussion about dividing Vietnam at the 17th parallel to solve the troubles between the two delegations. Now there were two Vietnams. One, in the north, was under Communist rule and the other, in the south, was not. While the Geneva Conference was being held, the United States was already concerned about Communism being spread. The United States then decided that the only way to solve the problems would be to contain Communism including in Vietnam. The true answer to why the United States got involved in Vietnam lies in part in the Truman Doctrine. This statement is true for two reasons. First, the Truman Doctrine set forth a policy that was applied the international spread of Communism. Second, the Truman Doctrine was brought up when the conflict in Vietnam was increasing. The first United States involvement in Vietnam began in the late 1940's, long before it escalated to include the United States Military. Because of the basic terms or the Truman Doctrine, the United States was drawn in the Vietnam conflict. The Truman Doctrine dealt with fears of Communism, the domino theory, and a feeling there was a need for containment. All of Vietnam was in danger of falling into the hands of Communism.

Visionary Mr Mineka Wickramasingh Essay

Brief background on CBL (Munchee) It was the visionary Mr Mineka Wickramasingha in 1960 who wanted to expand his family business from the chocolate market. It was at the same time that CARE looked at sources of nourishment for the poverty stricken. It was a substitute of a biscuit that Mr Wickramasinghe proposed looking to expand on those lines. At that time the market leaders were Maliban. They were the ones who were awarded the contract. Due to lack of space, CBL was first launched at Dehiwela in his own premises to produce a high protein biscuits for schools. From this footing Munchee, has marched forward to capture 80% of the market of the local market. For over 40 years the brand has developed a certain nostalgia that is irreplaceable by any other brand. The taste is enjoyed young and old alike. There vision is to become the number one biscuit in Asia. Product portfolio CBL now produces various food items which have become house hold names in Sri Lanka. CBL expansion is not only with biscuits to which consumers are more familiar, they also have chocolates under brand name ‘Ritzbury’ since 1990s. The other brands are Tiara and Lanka Soy. There are numerous subcategories under each product. There are jellies, soya base products, cereal products, herbal porridges, soups and much more. Sub Categories under the Munchee brand Sweet biscuitsCrackers Puffs Savory Biscuits Cream Biscuits Marie Cookies Assorted HerbalWafers These are premium and hand-moulded chocolates. They come in boxes and slabs. Can be as a coated biscuits or wafers or beans or candy bars. It is in different flavours, type, and size. Sub Categories Chocolate Coated Biscuits Chocolate Slabs Miniature Caterers RangeChocolate Coated Beans Chocolate Coated Balls Chocolate Coated Candy Bars Specialty ChocolatesChocolate Coated Wafers Soft sponge cake made to perfect texture and taste Layer Cake Portion Cake Butter Sponge Cake Swiss Roll Company performance Ceylon Biscuits is of undisputable quality. CBL has shown a growth both in sales and profit for the last 5 years. Revenue had doubled from Rs.1.9 to Rs 5,2 Billion by 2005. Group turnover grew by 48% that same year. Net profit that year was Rs.533 Mio. This was the highest recorded profit for this company. CBL profit gradually grew, as it caught on to an international market. By 2011 sales revenue has grown by 25% in comparison to 2010. The overall profit margin was around 9% for the recently past five years. If ever the company saw a small decline it was due to industrial unrest. This biscuit is spread over 95,000 retail outlets all around Sri Lanka. CBL exports to 36 international destinations. It has been able to spread it’s fame in South Asia as well. Some of the countries of export are USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, China, India, Maldives and even the Middle East countries. The annual export revenue is about US $ 4 to 5 million. CBL has many awards for its entrepr eneurship. These awards are Exports in the Gold Category, Product Brand of the Year for four consecutive years, Anugu International Food Fair award. The daily production is around 150 tons. The annual production is around 45,000 tons. The company’s labor force is about 3,500. Company sustainability relies on strict norms on quality, texture and taste. For this it uses the latest technology, innovative marketing, research and development. The three C analysis There are three phases that need to be carefully scrutinized in order get a total overview of the product. Customer analysis Of the main brand Munchee, the customer analysis will be done on a sub category -Marie widely known as â€Å"Tikiri† Marie –or Munchee Tikiri Marie. It is a small sized biscuit. The market segment chosen were children. Presently it is packed in a ‘keep fresh pack’ sold at a economical price. The advertisement that was done on a range of media was presented in the most attractive way, backed by lyrics that set a smile on the lips of any child. It was later that Maliban put a Marie range into the market. But by then Munchee Tikiri Marie had taken the market by storm. Competitor analysis There has been great potential for a children’s biscuit in the market. CBL had limited resources, especially in production technology which restricted revenue. It was the consumer preference that motivated CBL to keep producing the Marie Biscuit. At one point in time 50% of the production was Marie. Yet, the company was unable to raise profits. Maliban held strong to its position. No advertising, trade promotions or merchandising was able take over the market share that Maliban held. Maliban Marie has an unique flavor that was unmatchable. Volume market share (Total Biscuit Market-February 2005) Communication analysis This is a (B2C) nature of business. The company has used campaigns such as Tikiri Marie scholarship program.-Munchee Tikiri Shishyadara. Expansion programs worth Rs. 500 million – Rs. 300 million for state of the art plant. It was known as â€Å"Plant 6† from Italy. CBL went to war using all types of media from TV, newspaper, radio, magazines, even websites to introduce a new Marie. There was a series of advertisement for Tikiri Marie- from ‘Kohomada Tikiri Mole’ to the first day in school. All campaigns had been embarked under their corporate moto-‘A crowning success’. This was CBL communication approach of tacking Maliban. Target market for Munchee Tikiri Marie The brand â€Å"Munchee† has not only spread over domestic market but also the export market. Munchee is now exported to over 36 countries. Munchee can be seen in Gourmet Shops in Australia, supermarket like Wal-Mart, K-mart worldwide in countries like UK, Germany , Italy , Middle-East , Canada and Japan. South East Asian region is spread over 11 countries. When Munchee is target marketed in this area, it must be the same target market as of the other South Asian countries. It is the high quality, texture and taste that captivate any child in any country. Because of this CBL must ensure that they do not loose the perception of ‘a biscuit for children.’ As it is not being partnered by any company as it was in UK the brand name can prevail. Here CBL needs to position its product, thus no private label will be needed either like NTUC of Singapore and Supreme brand in China. Segment for Marie Geographical segmentation-South Asia, Europe, America, UK Demographical Segmentation – Age, taste, texture, income Behavioral segment- instant, nutritious Product positioning of Marie Brand Identity vs. Competition (Source- AC Neilson) Premium quality, Innovative and value for money brand available at arms length of desire. Scope of this Integrated Marketing Communications Plan It looks in to objectives, strategies, and tools in communication used to successfully bring about integrated marketing. The plan will discuss ways to launch a program to communicate product. Marketing objective Increase the sale of Munchee Buiscuits. CBL is looking to increase sales by 5% within the next two years. With this to increase the market share by 5% at the end of the second year. Increase the company profile while enhancing the product among the target market. Munchee also wishes to strengthen Brand image among South East Asian countries as a healthy, nutritious biscuit. Communication Objective Awareness program to reach 20% of target market through television, newspaper advertising and web promotions. At least 5% the target market must purchase the product. Issues and Challenges The target market may have other preferences in biscuits. This entirely depends on texture, flavor, taste, shape and size. Thus the promotions/advertising will have to be attractive, creative and innovative in order to reach the hearts and minds of South East Asian Children. Situational analysis Current problem facing product * The target audience may not be reached. * They may prefer other biscuits. * Difficult to build brand loyalty in the food industry. Identifying target * The target market is chosen taking taste and nutrition in to consideration. * Targeting people who looks for low price but has to be of quality. Selecting a Market to Target South East Asia Geographic segmentation Children of the age 1-16 , Middle class Demographic segmentation Target market Instant, nutritious Behavioral segmentation The target market that has been chosen is of the geographical location of South East Asia region among a demographic target of children between the ages of 1-16. In modern South East Asia food in freely available for purchases for people who are one the move. This biscuit provides nutrients that are good for children and is an easy snack in a keep fresh pack. It is instant food for hungry youngsters. Positioning through Marketing Strategies * Introductory price * Chance to taste Competition Product Comparison There are companies like DIMOs that offer discounts to Government servants but no company has offered it to Bankers. AMW is the first to get into this program. Barriers to Entry * The awareness in low. * Banks have tied with other automobile companies, on a separate basis for their leasing requirements and the staff gets their vehicles also leased through those companies. * Buyers may go for second hand as the economic situations are tough. Competitor Differentiation | Chery QQ| Micro Panda| Features | Small hatch back with comfortable interior, Three Cylinder – DOHCMPI – 12V – Petrol 812 CC engine ‘Chery’ is imported from China and marketed in Sri Lanka by David Peiris Motor Company| Micro car, Volvo tech, 1300 cc engine. Made in Sri Lanka. Comes with and without air bag.| Target Market| Working professionals| Working professionals| Strengths | Low price, Brand backing | Made in Sri Lanka| Weakness | Small range of customers, No discount| Small range of customersNo discount| Consumer Behaviour – problems faced in addressing communication message There is nothing extraordinarily attractive about the AMW Maruti. But the interior is appealing. It is economical on the fuel. There is a one year warranty on the car. These are some of the aspects in regards to the car that a consumer will look at. Then the consumer is going to look at the company that selling the car. Associated Motor Ways Ltd is one of the oldest automobile conglomerates in Sri Lanka. They are the sole distributors of Suzuki vehicles in Sri Lanka and are affiliated with several brand names in the motor industry such as Nissan, Yamaha, and Goodyear. Addressing the problems with the vehicle such as no extra ordinary beauty about the vehicle or that there is fume emission from the vehicles which is hazardous to the external environment, what AMW concentrates on is the interior of the car and how economical it is. The Maruti is good on fuel. The size makes it easy to handle. This car is val ue for money. Branding Bankers are likely for a discount program where the vehicles are leased giving a bank loan. Maruti is likely to stay in the minds of the buyer due to features of the vehicle, the interior and the engine capacity in relation to the other brands of this same model which where given under competitor analysis. The Maruti is a more durable and dependable brand. Position statement This promotion is available only for bankers that are permanent in their jobs and the loan facilities are available. Any other financing will not be permitted. The discount is available for all colours of Maruti. Promotion The promotion is done within Colombo and its near suburbs. For this promotion 50% of the budgeted funds are allocated. This was first circulated to family and friends, for the word of mouth is the cheapest and the best way of promoting a discount program. Gradually as the awareness starts to increase it will be circulated among banks, first on a personal basis to call whose contacts can be acquired. Then the leasing managers or the staff managers in charge of staff leasing will be approached. Depending on the geographical location, banks will be approached in regards to the promotion. Once the approval has been obtained by the management, posters will distribute to main branches. These are known as power position advertising. The dealership logo will be indicated in the poster. A list of the eligible staff members will be collected and a web based mailer will be sent out to them. Permission will be acquired to post the promotion on an intranet facility that is accessible only to the relevant bankers of the targeted bank. A car may be sent out to the main branch for display. Once the initial promotions have been done in and around the main branches where web may not be the best promotional attribute a news paper advertisement will be posted. The news paper will carry a pictureous depictation of the car with a Brand Ambassador. The Brand Ambassador can be a cricketer or any other sportsman who is working in a bank indicating that this is the best leasing offer ever. These adds will have to run every often and it must be made sure that the adds are not too small to see. It may be preferable to advertise in a Sinhalese paper when thinking of promoting the discount program among the suburbs. There has to be creativity, innovation and an even flow for an advertisement to catch the eyes of the reader. A Saturday or Sunday paper is preferable as people have more time than on a weekday to read the paper. Television can be used as last resort. This is expensive but can be the most influential method of advertising. This is a sure a way of information gathering for viewers. The television adds usually have a lasting impression on the viewer. This is a sure way of assuring results for IMC. There are many highly watched channels of those the cheapest but the most effective can be used. The TV add can play between programs. The programs after which the add will be aired will have to be carefully chosen. It will need to depend on viewer’s discretion. The advertisement can go on for a period of 6 months at least. The web based marketing is another method by which advisement can be done. This is the most modern method. Some of the websites frequently visited by banke rs are Facebook, ESPN, Google, YouTube, Digg.com, Myspace, and Perezhilton.com. The most popular of them all is Facebook, Google, and Youtube. All these websites focus on online advertisements. Websites like Facebook taps a large audience. This not only enables promoting to bankers but also lets others know the car sale. This is a good way to get other companies to tie up with the dealership of AMW. Communication Tactical Calendar | Jan| Feb| Mar| Apr| May| Jun| Jul| Aug| Sep| Oct| Nov| Dec| Poster| | | | | | | | | | | | | News paper| | | | | | | | | | | | | TV| | | | | | | | | | | | | Web| | | | | | | | | | | | | Display| | | | | | | | | | | | | Budget The largest potion that is 50% of the budget is for promotion. Of the 50% promotional budget 30% will be allocated for television commercials, the remainder 20% for news paper, posters, display and web. The remainder 50% will be allocated for Brand Ambassador and miscellaneous expenses. The total allocation for the budget is Rs. 2,000,000/- Measurement system Implementation Controls Monitoring, review and control will be done by the dealership company with the collaboration with the bank that is leasing the vehicle. The review to be done on a monthly basis. Progress against targets to be analyzed. For this a marketing plan has to be drawn out. A target market needs to be chosen and a pilot project done before, the discount program is advertised. Once the dealership feels that this can be a successfully implemented then monitoring has to be undertaken. This has to be done carefully. Gap analysis done on a regular basis. Correction actions need to be taken if there is no progress within the first three months of advertising. Dealership may go back to the drawing board and redo the marketing plan again. Quality Assurance Around this time the company was receiving a number of complaints regarding its biscuits – breakages, poor taste, quality etc. Rather than ignore the issue, CBL decided to place an emphasis on investigating the cause of the complaints, and took corrective action, including formula changes, to reduce the high number of returns at the time. Setting up better procedures for packing, product handling and transportation, the company prepared for its future growth. It conducted daily taste tests of its own products and organized regular taste panels to compare its products with those of its competitors’. It also methodically documented the specifications of all products being manufactured – knowledge that had previously been passed on through practice and word of mouth. As the demands on the Quality Assurance department began to rise, the company decided in 1996 to seek ISO certification Today, quality assurance remains an area of particular pride for Munchee. The depa rtment plays a critical role in product testing and development of production process controls and systems. High hygiene standards for toilet habits and hair, together with regular swab tests of employees are strictly enforced. Every shipment of incoming materials is tested for quality and those that fail are rejected. Following a complaint, products are collected from customers and subject to laboratory analysis. In 2004, CBL received HACCP certification for food safety together with SLS certification for its biscuits23.. With these in hand CBL became the only confectionary company in Sri Lanka to acquire all relevant quality certifications for its line of business i.e. SLS, ISO 9001:2000, ISO 1400124 and HACCP. Product Development Product development also became an area of increased focus. While CBL had begun operations with a line of distinctive biscuits, along with some generics. However, in the recent years the push for higher turnover had resulted in innovation playing a secondary role. Some of the biscuits that had made Munchee distinctive, were neglected in favor of more mass consumer products. CBL began formulations and potential improvements to flavor and quality. The company also began to actively investigate and keep up with new technologies and machinery by participating regularly at trade exhibitions and through membership in industry associations. Distribution Around this time CBL took the decision to rethink its methods of distribution and undertook to overhaul its sales and distribution efforts in favor of a much bolder plan. Up to this point the company had depended almost completely on wholesalers to sell its products as a hassle free means of managing its distribution efforts. As a result, while CBL had the logistic and cost advantages of maintaining a lean sales team, the company suffered due to its dependence on the enthusiasm of its wholesalers to push its products. CBL decided to bite the bullet and invest heavily in its sales force. It expanded its distribution reach, increasing its number of distributors, changed the demarcation of sales regions into much smaller areas for more intensive sales efforts and recruited the regional and senior sales personnel required to cope with this new direction. 5.4.4 Customer Intimacy With the changes to its sales force, CBL was forced to face up to the fact that it was very removed from its consumers. The company recognized that it had been paralleling the moves and decisions made by Maliban rather than acting on real consumer insights. CBL’s focus had been very much â€Å"product centric† – concentrated on improvement of its formulation and production technology. It developed its products in isolation and once developed attempted to market them. Little attention had been paid to market research, even on an informal basis. Moreover, CBL began to understand that its customer was a new, youthful generation whose tastes and style were very different from the consumer of the previous ten years. Beginning in 1996, the Board itself acknowledged this changed attitude by beginning to go to the field on a regular basis to a top down attempt to gauge market perceptions and trends. The newly developed sales force provided feedback from consumers and distributors and the company took the further step of setting up a separate subsidiary to plan its marketing activities and to become more responsive to market needs an gaps. The holding company became primarily responsible for improving product quality and procedures. 5.4.5 Image Building CBL also recognized that in order to grow it had to become a better known name as a company. Partly as a result of its multiple brand names, CBL itself was relatively unknown as a corporate entity. Embarking on a campaign to raise the profile of the company, CBL engaged the services of a consultant, and set out to gain greater corporate recognition for itself among both consumers and the business community. The public’s lack of knowledge of the breadth of the company’s activities was hindering its activities as a holding company, particularly for purposes such as tapping the capital market. With the help of its consultant, CBL set about establishing a public image for itself. This was done primarily through the print media. Every week or so, an article regarding the company and its various corporate activities and Latest initiatives, including its export plans and CSR, appeared in the newspapers. Competitiveness Behaviour The Biscuit Wars Around 1995, CBL had hit a wall in terms of increasing its turnover. Limited by its existing production technology and consumer tastes, t its highest growth opportunity lay in the Marie biscuit market. While CBL’s Marie25 biscuits now made up 50% of total production, the company was unable to meaningfully increase its sales and market share of the Marie category. It had attempted a variety of marketing activities including extensive advertising, merchandising and trade promotions, but was still not able to take sufficient market share away from Maliban. The Munchee Marie biscuit was at this time essentially a knockoff of Maliban’s Marie and used very similar packaging. However, despite much effort and testing, eBL was not able to exactly reproduce the Maliban Marie flavor. Although market share was a (then) respectable 10% and despite fervent urgings from its own sales team to the contrary to be more like Maliban, CBL decided that the time had come to change tactics and be different in order to try to break through the turnover barrier. The Tikiri Marie Campaign Munchee hit on the winning concept of launching its own Marie as â€Å"Tikiri† Marie – a petit sized Marie biscuit – using an aggressive campaign entitled â€Å"Tikiri Mole†, to bring the little biscuit to the attention of consumers. The campaign targeted children with the use of attractive advertising and proved a real turning point in Munchee’s growth and image. The biscuit was so successful that the smaller sized Tikiri Marie became the number one Marie biscuit in the Sri Lankan market, with a phenomenal 50 per cent of Marie market share and eventually forced the giant Maliban to acknowledge Munchee as a significant market player by playing copy cat and resizing its own Marie. 7 Part of Munchee’s success with Tikiri Marie stemmed from Maliban’s complacency and its failure to react to this attack on the Marie category. The Tikiri Marie campaign brought into effect other changes at CBL such as the introduction of Munchee’s â₠¬Å"keep fresh pack, which ensured better product freshness. Following its success with Tikiri Marie CBL expanded the use of the fresh pack to the entire Munchee biscuit range. The company also commenced a Tikiri Marie scholarship program for school children in 1997 entitled Munchee Tikiri Shishyadara which it continues to this day. Now in its eighth year, the program provides 120 deserving children with scholarships of Rs. 1000 per month for one year with fresh applicants being selected annually. By 1998, the cumulative effect of the changes made through the 1990’s, resulted in CBL achieving a 30% market share of the biscuit market (up from 20% at the start of the 1990s) and topping the Rs. 1 billion turnover mark. This was a major milestone for CBL, both internally and externally. The company was becoming better known, both to consumers for its brands and quality products and to the industry for its investments in good technology. CBL reinforced this reputation by committing to a Rs. 500 million expansion program – Rs. 300 million of which was spent on a large state of the art plant from Italy. â€Å"Plant 6† as it was known, was CBL’s largest capacity plant thus far with five lines that could handle both hard and fermented dough. This action by CBL sent a strong message, to its staff and associates, about CBL’s optimism and confidence in the company’s future growth commercialization of this new plant, CBL planned to introduce a new range of biscuits to tackle Maliban head-on. 6.1.2 The Lemon Puff Battle CBL’s next strategic attack on Maliban came in 2001 with its Lemon Puff. The Munchee Lemon Puff had a solid 30% market share but as was the case with Marie, failed at growing sales further as a â€Å"me too† product. CBL decided to re-Launch Lemon Puff, by promoting it as a sandwich biscuit with a higher quantity of lemon cream. The campaign was heralded by an intensive television campaign directed at capturing the attention of a new market. What the company did not reveal in its advertising was that the cracker itself had been vastly improved, through a new formula and upgraded technology. It was in fact a noticeably better overall sandwich biscuit than Maliban’s Lemon Puff rather than just being a look alike with more cream. Going against the advice of its advertising company, Munchee replaced the traditional yellow packaging, synonymous with the Lemon Puff category, with a white wrapper. The superior moisture and odour barriers of the new metalized wrapper com bined with the new pillow pack technology, which used only two seals to achieve increased air-tightness, better preserved the crispness and freshness of the sandwich biscuit. This had been a problem that had plagued both companies’ puffs for decades. Consumers who tasted the Munchee Lemon Puff for its extra cream (not enough cream was a complaint associated with both Lemon Puffs for years) were pleasantly surprised and rapidly switched loyalty to the Munchee Lemon Puffs. Thus Munchee demonstrated that it was in touch with tastes of its consumers and used their feedback to improve its biscuits. The impact of the product changes were felt immediately. Munchee’s market share in puffs went up from 30% to over 50% within a mere four months following this relaunch, and grew the entire puff category from 12 to 16%. As a result, Maliban’s share of Lemon Puff which had been a staggering 70% plummeted to 29%. By now Munchee had 45% of the local biscuit market and was vyin g with Maliban for market leadership. CBL’s next big challenge was clear – take on Maliban in the cream cracker market. Despite Munchee’s success at growing its sales, Maliban still had nearly 75% of the lucrative cracker market while Munchee was at a meager 23%. The Maliban cream cracker was well accepted and entrenched in the market. CBL had to find a way of breaking through with an innovative cream cracker to take on this market. 6.1.3 The Cream Cracker Assault The following year, in 2002, CBL re-Iaunched its cracker as a â€Å"Super† Cream Cracker, enriched with vitamins in a bold campaign, with live broadcast of two music shows held simultaneously in Colombo and Anuradhapura before massive crowds As they had done with the Lemon Puff, CBL used a new metalized pillow-pack with a contemporary look to break away from the traditional solid red â€Å"Maliban† packaging synonymous s with cream cracker and re-formulated the cracker to deliver a crisper and tastier product. The Munchee strategy of delivering a superior quality product that convinced consumers to switch brands proved a success and the results were phenomenal. Cracker sales grew, expanding its own market not merely taking over competitor share. Growth in sales nearly tripled and Munchee’s market share in cream cracker immediately doubled to 40%, reaching 50% the foHowing year. Today, of the total cream cracker category, which makes up 20% of the total domestic b iscuit market, Munchee owns a 60% share. Super Cream Cracker accounts for 30% of the company’s turnover, with a profit margin of over 25%. Munchee continues to fight aggressively for market share. Its most recent marketing campaign entitled â€Å"Podi Badaginne† targets the large 500 gm pack market, previously serviced by loose crackers. The focus is to use the cracker as a substitute for a full meal for chummary factory workers who are already provided with two meals from their work place. The company has again demonstrated its knowledge of customer needs and changing trends and lifestyles in Sri Lanka as the record 128% growth of this heavy use pack from 2004 to 2005 shows. Business Expansion Beginning from the 1990’s, CBL began looking at other areas in the food and confectionary industry to expand its businesses activities. 6.2.1 Ritzbury One of the first areas CBL explored was one naturally complementary to its existing line of business: chocolate. At one time, the company had produced chocolate for Nestle and had some exposure to Nestle’s chocolate operations. Launched in 1991, Ritzbury chocolates began with chocolate coated (enrobed) biscuits. The company went through much teething pain in developing the right quality chocolate for its use. It struggled to develop a workable formulation – one that tasted good while withstanding the melting and rancidity caused by the tropical Sri Lankan weather. Ritzbury gradually developed its market by first growing its range of coated biscuits, then expanding to chocolate candies and hand made chocolates, and only recently moving into the traditional â€Å"slabs† – the largest market category. The company’s strategy is to provide innovative eye-catching products to its consumers and thus differentiate from its competition. Ritzbury’s first entry was Chunky Choc (chocolate covered biscuits sandwich with butterscotch cream filling), followed by Chit Chat (chocolate coated wafer with hazelnut cream) and Chocolate Fingers (chocolate coated â€Å"finger† biscuit). A nother innovation for Sri Lanka was Pebbles (brightly colored, sugar coated chocolate candies). The Ritzbury range includes Nik Nak, (chocolate coated vanilla cream wafer), Go Nuts (colored chocolate coated peanuts), Choosy (liquid chocolate stick) and Choco-La individual nuggets. Although it started out originally as a poor number four, Ritzbury recently beat Kandos (Ceylon Chocolates) to the number two spot in the chocolate market. However, at 21 % vs. 42% Ritzbury has only half the market share of market leader Edna and a long way to go to become number one. Further, Edna has itself shown to be very aggressive and quick in bringing out innovative products to the chocolate market. Ritzbury for its part, offers over 60 differentiated items, at the full range of price points and with a dedicated sales force certainly provides its consumers affordability and access. Despite being a small local brand, it offers consumers a complete range of chocolates and chocolate coated products and for other products frequently provides comparable alternatives to more expensive imported products. Examples are Pebbles as an alternative to Smarties, Chit Chat to Kit Kat and Go Nuts to M&Ms. Yet, apart from the hand molded specialty chocolates and coated biscuits products, the company has yet to fully convince local consumers that the quality of its slab range is on par with that of imports or Kandos. By 1997, following its first biscuit war and having grown its market share in the biscuit market to a respectable 30%, CBL began to focus on sales of Ritzbury. One hindrance to improving growth CBL realized was the then single chain of distribution it used for both biscuits and chocolates. In practical terms what this implied was that once a retailer had gone through purchases of the more established Munchee list of biscuits they would have little money left for Ritzbury chocolates. Ritzbury sales were materially affected and it became evident that an alternative would have to be sought out. One option was to increase the breadth of the CBL range in order to afford to maintain a second line of distribution. 6.2.2 Pancho Snacks With this in mind, CBL decided to enter the snack food market in 1998 under Ritzbury. Named Pancho, this snack range was made up primarily of extruded snacks. However, despite the company’s sustained efforts with Pancho and the separate sales force, the impulse buy snack market proved a disappointing arena for CBL. Despite the introduction of two products under a new line named Catch Me together with a re-Launch of Pancho in 2000, the company found that it could only succeed in this market with a near continuous stream of promotions. Although CBL persevered in snack foods for nearly five years, it was eventually forced to close up this operation and admit failure. With the aim of an expansion of its range still in mind, CBL next entered a completely unfamiliar food market. In 2000 due to its own financial difficulties, Yanik Incorporated, an investment bank, was selling its 79% stake in Soy Foods (Lanka) Limited, a public listed company manufacturing textured vegetable protein (TVP) nuggets. Soy Foods was a loss making number four player in the market but had pioneered a number of soy products under the brand Lanka Soy. CBL seized this opportunity to expand its range, encouraged by its present Managing Director who had experience in the soya area. CBL purchased the stake in Soy Foods at Rs.9/share and took over operations in September 2000; by 2002 the company had been successfully turned around and had become a viable entity. This was the success story that CBL had been searching for. The Soy Foods line allowed CBL to maintain a dual distribution network, one for its biscuits and another for chocolates and soy. The effects of this isolation of chocolate sales from biscuits were immediate and notable. By 2002 Ritzbury had made impressive inroads into its competition and grown market share to over 15%. 6.2.3 Lanka Soy In 2000 when CBL bought over management of Soy Foods (Lanka) Ltd. from Yanik it was a loss making company. Despite being the pioneer in the local soy market, Lanka Soy was at the time selling only 50% of the volumes of the market leader Raigam, with a 15% market share. The company’s growth was stagnating in a rapidly growing market, and many smaller competitors were cashing on its market with lookalike products. The ambitious strategy set out for a turnaround of the company was to aim to make it not merely profitable but the market leader. CBL decided that not only was it necessary to grow Lanka Soy’s market share, through a fresh look and product, it was going to grow the total product market through a change in positioning. Thinking very innovatively, the company decided what was needed was to position soya not just as a vegetarian food, but as a more economical substitute for the protein content of a main meal. Touting advantages such as convenience, price and the lack of freezer requirements together with newly introduced catchy features suc h as interesting shapes and flavors, a whole range of new branded soy products were launched under the Lanka Soy umbrella. Given that at the time, chicken flavored soya was the most popular soya product the company decided it would introduce interesting flavors to accompany new presentation efforts. In order to take the competition head on, it improved the taste of its traditional range, while also increasing its product range. It developed not one but a range of chicken flavors, under the brand Chikosoy, consisting of tandoori, masala, roast and chilli chicken flavors. For the traditional vegetarian market, it introduced the Vegesoy range a further four flavors of mushroom, hot and spicy, Chinese chop suey and Indian rasam. But its piece de resistance was a completely new entrant – Malusoy. This range of not merely fish but also seafood flavors truly tapped into a very strong local preference for seafood. Malusoy comprised spratts, devilled prawns, cuttlefish and ambul thiya l flavors. Packaging for the four new sub brands was done using a range of appealing eye-catching colors, with a unique logo designed for each. Advertising again interestingly was carried out individually on a sub brand basis. For example, Malusoy used a two column poster conveying the advantages over canned fish. The company also took the extra step of providing a sauce sachet to provide a one step cooking process. Emphasis was placed to introduce the cooked product to consumers by way of cookery demonstrations and street promotions. In particular, Malusoy was aimed at areas with little coastal access. Sales efforts were overhauled, re-demarcating a network to reach 35,000 outlets with designated representatives for supermarkets, catering and restaurant sectors. The results were strong. By early 2002 Lanka Soy’s market share had jumped to 25% hitting 30% and market leadership a year later. Malusoy to eBL’s surprise turned out to be Lanka Soy’s front runner in sales. The strategy to offer consumers, as a household, their daily main dish at a price less than half the price of canned or fresh sea food was highly successful. Within 24 months Malusoy sales exceeded 500,000 packets a month, making up over 14% of the total soy market. Due to the sudden launch of many interesting products at the same time Lankasoy established itself as trend setter and frontrunner of the soya product market. 6.2.4 Tiara Cakes eBL’s next expansion was within the local confectionary business -the lucrative Rs. 4 billion plus local cake market. eBL’s main biscuit and chocolate operations had traditionally taken place at its home factory located along with its head office in Pannipitiya. However in 2002, the company invested Rs. 1.5 billion to set up eBL Foods International (eBL Foods), a Board of Investment (BOI) approved company in Rannala, about one hour away. Awarded a 10 year tax holiday, eBL Foods has a mandate to manufacture bakery products and chocolates – the former includes a new line of cakes under the brand name Tiara. The new venture commenced operations in September 2004 with a new line of â€Å"portion cakes† – individually wrapped sponge layer cakes, marketed under the Tiara sub brand Okay, The product line also includes swiss rolls. CBL Foods boasts a state of the art plant intended primarily for cakes and a â€Å"Clean Room,,33 to guarantee freshness for a shelf life of up to eight months. Due to production constraints faced elsewhere however the 110,000 square foot modern facility also includes manufacturing and packing for chocolates, wafers and biscuits – the latter including both hard and soft dough. CBL expects that its group tax slab will come down to 32.5% as a result of CBL Foods’ tax advantaged status and the shifting of these manufacturing of chocolates, wafers and biscuits, which previously came under Ceylon Biscuits’ tax slab. The company uses a formula to determine profit and is taxed at the preferential rate of 15% on its export. 6.2.5 Other Snacks In 2004, CBL invested Rs. 50 million to acquire a 60% stake in Cecil Food (Pvt) Limited (Cecil Food) – an organic manufacturer of dehydrated fruit products, fruit juices, desiccated coconut and cashews primarily for the export market. Though the company had been in existence for 10 years and exported to 20 countries, it was facing financial difficulties. CBL brought to Cecil Foods the financial strength and management experience that it needed, while the founder retained a 25% stake. CBL’s main interest in Cecil Food was its exposure to rural agriculture and its export and local market potential. The company presently exports to countries including the US, UK, Germany, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Malta, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. Armed with CBL’s financial backing the company has overcome its working capital needs. CBL’s infusion of capital has enabled the purchase of new equipment and is now looking at expanding sales to tap the local marke t. Cecil Foods also has a 100% owned subsidiary Cecil Fruit Canneries which concentrates on natural fruit juices for both the domestic and export markets. CBL intends to launch this range to the domestic market by introducing a line of fruit juices in novelty pouches. Export Markets CBL has also set its sights on growing its revenues through tapping sales in overseas markets. Although CBL had been exporting biscuits from inception, around 1997, the company began to export regular container loads to the United States, Canada, Australia and India, while also investigating at lucrative export markets such as the Middle East. India became a particular focus, with the company beginning its own marketing effort there. By 2000 CBL was also exporting to the US, Canada, Australia, UK, Sweden, the Middle East, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Fiji Islands and the Maldives. Although the export sector took a long time to stabilize, export orders now go out to 36 countries, exceeding Rs. 110 million in value (USD$ 1 million) in 2004/5. Exports to the UK, Middle East and Canada are mainly to the so called ethnic markets catering to the Sri Lankan diaspora, but in other countries demand is slowly establishing into in the established biscuit market through chain distributors. While most e xports are under private labels – that it, outsourcing for foreign biscuit companies – CBL has managed in some instances to establish its own brand. This is particularly the case in Australia where the company has taken the additional step, as it did in India, of setting up its own marketing effort by establishing a company representative as market manager. Australia is now the main export market for CBL, having overtaken the United States. CBL also enjoyed some recent success making inroads into western Africa. 6.3.1 Entry into India There are four accepted methods for a company to enter a foreign market: exports, licensing, joint ventures and direct investment, which often represent an evolution in the degree of interest the company develops once it is present in the market. Beginning with straightforward exports from the mid 1990s and early exports of containers to India in 1999 CBL took the next step in developing the Indian market by investing Indian Rupees 3.6 crores (36 million) to purchase Parry’s Confectionary based in Pondicherry, about an hour from Chennai. Setting up a 100% owned subsidiary Ritzbury India, CBL began manufacturing operations for the first time outside Sri Lanka. The acquisition provided CBL with a six line 350 ton a month manufacturing plant. The company entered the Indian market with the Munchee and Ritzbury brands, for distribution in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. While the chocolates were manufactured in Sri Lanka, most of the Munchee range was baked in India. CBL produced nine varie ties of biscuits including Marie, Glucose biscuits and several creams at the Pondicherry plant. This manufacturing base in India proved to be both a blessing and a distress to CBL. On the one hand, it became a strong negotiating tool for CBL at a time of labour unrest. CBL was able to take a tough stance, threatening closure and the moving of its entire manufacturing operations to its base in India. However, on the other hand, distribution arrangements provided by Parrys proved to be less than satisfactory. The company began a losing battle in trying to distribute its products. Revenues were far below expectations and Ritzbury India further faced a number of detrimental tariffs in South India. Despite a Free Trade Agreement with India, and a reduction of duty to 3%, the state sales tax in Tamil Nadu was increased by 8% for imported goods effectively nullifying any duty concessions. Following a second acquisition in India, CBL decided to completely dispose of its Chennai operations a t a loss, dissolving Ritzbury India. In 2003 CBL heard about the sale through court auction of Bakemans, once the third largest biscuit manufacturer in India with a market share high of 13% of the total Indian market. Outbidding its Indian competition in July 2004 CBL successfully acquired the assets of Bake mans at a cost ofRs .. 300 million. Along with the premises the company also gained six biscuit lines from the acquisition, two of which it chose to bring to Sri Lanka for installation at CBL foods to allay its present capacity constraints. Based in Patiala in the state of Punjab, CBL set up CBL India with plans to commence commercial production in the near future, using one biscuit line. Having recruited Bakemans former CEO, who had been directly involved in the company’s rise to its one time number three position, CBL has ambitious plans for India and its manufacturing operations there in the future. Tentatively speaking of a â€Å"Munchee-Bakemans† brand name, CBL aspires to become number three in India within two years of operations and have the same type of success at retail that Dilmah has achieved in India CBL’s challenge in I ndia is to find a mass consumer line of biscuits similar to Marie and Cream Cracker in Sri Lanka. Glucose biscuits are an area that the company will have to examine, given their present popularity in India, but to compete with established players such as Parle-G and Britannia, CBL will need both a reliable distribution network and an attractive proposition for the Indian consumers to give it a try. The use of the Bakeman name, which would certainly aid the latter, is presently an issue. If CBL is able to use the Bakeman brand name in some form it will cut down market establishment time considerably. CBL’s strength is that it has the innovation to develop a product to suit this market and it has proved in Sri Lanka that it has the quality and taste to convince consumers to switch to its brand. What remains to be seen is whether it will have sufficient insight into the Indian market to correctly select what that winning product and distribution strategy should be. Other Indian Ventures In 2004 CBL entered into an agreement with Ferrero of Italy to distribute and undertake manufacturing on Ferrero’s behalf. Ferrero is the world renowned producer of Nutella, Tic Tac and Ferrero Rocher and Mon Cherie brands of chocolate and another family owned business. Presently the agreement entails the manufacture of boxes for Tic Tac, Ferrero’s signature mini mint, intended to be extended to the manufacture or finishing of the mint pill also. CBL distributes Ferrero Rocher’s foil wrapped boxed chocolates, Nutella and Tic Tac for Ferrero in Sri Lanka and India. Manufacturing commenced in August 2005, packing pills imported from Australia into the boxes. Distribution is intended for Sri Lanka, Africa, India and Pakistan. The linkup with Ferrero is another example of CBL’s chairman’s dynamic personality and relationship building skills. Following initial contact in India, CBL’s directors visited Ferrero’s head quarters in Alba, Italy, which Ferrero reciprocated with a visit to Sri Lanka. The company has expressed an interest in using Sri Lanka as a base for South Asian activities, moving its present activities from India, convinced of CBL’sabilities as a business partner. CBL in turn hopes the association will expand its knowledge base through contact with the 60 year old Italian family business. Business Unit Contribution Biscuits Turnover from Munchee biscuits, the biggest contributor to group turnover, grew 30% in the financial year 2004/5 and early results for 2005 show this trend continuing. Past years sales have grown at a similar overall pace, although specific products have shown even higher growth rates at times of changes and innovation. Profit margins on biscuits range from 20-25% with products such as Super Cream Cracker, Tiffin and Chocolate Puff being the most profitable. Biscuit sales are presently constrained primarily by production capability, with demand strong and the company intending to increase its production lines in 2005/6. To try to keep up with demand, CBL has brought down two lines already from its recent acquisition in India and plans to import a new 2 ton per hour machine from Italy, expected to be installed in early 2006. Group Performance While CBL’s overall growth has been strong over the past five years with revenues more than doubling from Rs. 1.9 to Rs. 5.2 billion over the period, profit increases have been even higher due to various tax benefits. In 2005 CBL’s group turnover grew 48% to Rs. 5.2 billion and net profit after tax grew 63% to Rs. 533 million, the highest ever in the company’s 36 year history. Sales surpassed the previous year across all areas of biscuits, chocolates, Soya and exports. The tremendous bottom line growth clearly indicates the contribution accrued from CBL Food’s tax advantaged status. In comparison the 2004 figures were 11% top line and 23% bottom line growth. On average, overall profit margin has been near 9% over the five year period. This is taking into account FlY 200112 which differs due to both the industrial unrest that CBL faced for two months of that financial year as well as the exhaustion of the tax benefits afforded by the 1988 Investment Tax Allowance. The company’s latest earning per share figure (EPS) is an astonishing Rs. 53.12 and more impressively has grown from Rs. 36.75 in 2003. This EPS figure reflects the extraordinary growth that CBL has experienced over the last 10 years. EPS in the late 1990’s was actually in the Rs. 3000 range on the company’s original ordinary share capital of Rs. 390,000 (made up of 39,000 Rs. 10 shares). Path Forward Ceylon Biscuits faced with production capacity constraints for its biscuits, as demand has grown well beyond forecasts. It has adopted the following three pronged approach to increase capacity: a) bringing down two biscuit lines from India from its Bakemans operation for immediate capacity expansion, b) importing a brand new large capacity plant from Italy and c) future capacity expansion of its Indian manufacturing operations. CBL’s future growth will come from increasing exports of its established products and diversifying by leveraging its domestic logistics and distribution capabilities to market its other products. The company is also increasingly open to looking at new opportunities, an example being manufacturing for Italian chocolate maker Ferrero. The company’s core competencies for the future will be investment in technology, financial strength, sales and marketing competency and focused management. Key challenges will be dealing with its production restrictio ns and becoming able to compete on a global basis by 2007. CBL’s greatest test will be when the Indo Lanka FTA final phase permits Indian biscuits to be imported duty free beginning 2007. CBL intends to examine becoming listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange over the next few years. Since the desire for listing does not seem to be driven by financial needs only, it is still unclear what CBL will gain from this step. The company wishes to formalize its procedures in order to firm up its financial transparency and professionalize its organization structure and operations to ensure future continuity and success. There is a sentiment that going public will enforce the discipline required to ensure this. CBL is well poised with a business model to ensure ongoing value creation. It has spent time building strong brands that have future earnings potential. The brands have proven their competencies in that they have been replicated across new markets with success. However there are some concerns that need to be explored. Managing export markets Export marketing could be more aggressive – the model adopted by Munchee for Australia of establishing a marketing office seems the proven route to establish and develop key markets. We see some amazing possibilities for synergies for CBL in inviting someone of the caliber of Merrill 1. Fernando Chairman Dilmah to its board, perhaps even offering Dilmah some equity in an export division or forming a separate export company, who could help with establishing relationships with some of Dilmah’s retailers and distributors in Australia. One way or another, the use of a different model to fast track export market expansion is advisable. 5. Managing Indian market entry This is the second greatest challenge facing the company. India is an amazingly dissimilar market to Sri Lanka despite certain cultural similarities. It is fragmented with over 15 million retail entities, the largest number in the world. The organized retail sector in India is only 3%. However, over 51 % of its population is under 25 years of age and the fastest growing sector is the retail high-end supermarkets -expected to grow over three fold in the next five years (from US$8 billion to US$25 billion). Beginning with three malls in 2003, India had 25 by 2005 and is building 200 more. The pace of change is phenomenal. It makes sense to enter this high-end retail Focus on core competencieslRefocus on Sales and Marketing CBL’s passion for quality, capacity to build brands and technological and production innovativeness are great competencies to be retained. Skills like marketing and sales are always unstable. Such skills are in demand, pressures are great and often new challenges are looked for in different cycles of growth. No proper product management system or category management is in place. It is important to have some depth to the marketing department. And while CBL’s success speaks volumes for the capabilities of its current Director of marketing there is a need for a diversity of approaches and opinions so that marketing efforts do not grow stale. Key mid level appointments need to be made. Customer intimacy! Product leadership / Managing brand TOM In spite of CBL making all the right moves, and succeeding in achieving higher scores than Maliban in most of the consumer research categories (see chart below), Munchee is still behind in brand Top-Of-Mind (TOM) recall. This is despite Munchee having strong market noise levels in share of voice and especially with the competition making so many mistakes. Part of the gap between Munchee and Maliban in â€Å"top of mind recall† can be explained by the long history of Maliban as a market leader, and that it was the dominant player for a very long time. Part of the gap between Munchee and Maliban in â€Å"top of mind recall† can be explained by the long history of Maliban as a market leader, and that it was the dominant player for a very long time.