Evolution of Gender Essay

The evolution of gender issues ever since man can remember, when most societies used to regard women as inferior to men. It is no secret that from the first century up to the 21st century women roles have changed with time although the change is minimal. In not long time ago, women were regarded by customary law as people who used to take up their roles as wives and matters subserviently and any deviation that a woman showed from these roles was unheard off and was considered an outcast in the society. After the world wars, education, politics, warfare, business and other form of violence were territories of men, a few women joined men in these venture. The society looked these women with amazement and wonder. Early the 1950’s and 60’s change started hitting the world especially in the Chinese environment where women became advocates of women empowerment. (Haslanger, Sally, and Nancy Tuana,2004). In the 1970’s and 80’s women started taking their roles seriously enabling them to evolve very fast. Women confronted men’s duties with a lot of courage and men started accepting the fact that women wanted to carry out the roles. Although some men gave women cruel attention but they have persevered and gone ahead with the quest for change in the roles. Haslanger, Sally, and Nancy (Tuana Haslanger, Sally, and Nancy Tuana,2004). The question about women regarded as wives and mothers who are incapable of bringing any change in the society have been brushed aside by many countries giving women top most jobs in the country. England and Pakistan have shown the way which shows that today in England and Pakistan women are almost equal to men in terms of respect and all aspects. Women are now free to take up riles which were previously considered a dominance by men. But one thing remains clear that total equality will not be achieved since it is not easy to kill the illusion that women are inferior to men (KateChopin. org. ,2008) Matters such as education, politics, warfare, business, and almost anything non-domestic were the territories of men where only a few and daring women ever ventured. However, as times changed more and more women became advocates of women empowerment. In relation to this, the writer wishes to state that the purpose of this paper is to present a work regarded as one of the pioneers in feminist literature. Women evolution is not only a core element of development in the world today but also a strong indication of strong families. Women empowerment puts wealth in the hands of women which enables these women to be able to succeed in ensuring their families are successive. The development of women in the societies is proving to be failing in some countries with backward leadership such as Zimbabwe and development will remain lagged behind. Statistics show an upward trend for change of roles of women in the society at a whole. Although change is not such effective it is felt. Statistics demonstrate that in Europe, Africa, Asia, America actually there is evolution in the way women are viewed. Although in some rural areas there are alarming number of domestic violence instances reported and they relate to ability or the demand for women to be empowered. In the late 1800 significant events occurred which changed the roles of women in the society. One of such event was first international women’s conference which was held in France in 1892 which highlighted the achievements of women and their rights. Since then women have achieved much in trying to change their lives. In the story of Silk Road of china relating to women capability of growth there has been change of women roles especially entry into the business world although some are being used into the business circles as objects. (KateChopin.org,2008 and Haslanger, Sally, and Nancy Tuana,2004) Works Cited Chopin, Kate. â€Å"The Story of an Hour. † www. pbs. org Public Broadcasting Service. 14 Jun 2008 . Haslanger, Sally, and Nancy Tuana. â€Å"Topics in Feminism. † plato. stanford. edu 15 March 2004. Stanford University. 14 Jun 2008 . KateChopin. org, â€Å"Kate Chopin â€Å"The Story of an Hour†. † www. katechopin. org. 2008. Kate Chopin International Society. 14 Jun 2008 .

Everyday Use (Contrast and Compare Wangero and Maggie)

Maggie and Wangero (Dee) are sisters. Maggie still lives with their mother in the family home. Wangero has moved on and lives in the city. Wangero has changed her name from Dee to get more in touch with her heritage. After years of shunning her African American background, Wangero now wants to embrace it. Wangero is used to getting her way. Her mother has never not given her everything she‘s asked for. She’s educated, clothed, and has grown into an attractive young woman. Maggie on the other hand is still living on the farm.She didn’t receive the same opportunities as her sister. A fire has left her scared, more than just physically. She is more introverted then Wangero. She’s not used to getting her way but still plodding through life with the expectations of a future. She knows her life will be servitude to her future husband John Thomas. Life has just passed her by when it comes to the values that her sister Wangero holds dear. The only things the two ha ve in common are two quilts handed down from generation to generation.The quilts are made from bits of clothing from their ancestors past. Hand sewn these quilts are the fabric of their families history. Each piece of cloth that is sewn in the quilt has a story of its own. Each has its place in the family’s’ long history. This is the common bond between the two. Wangero wants these to try and recoup her lost history. She has lost her roots. Roots she not so long ago scoffed and pushed aside for a new life, a new culture. Two quilts that she wants to use as a symbol of her heritage.She wants people to see her heritage. Bits of old cloth sewn together demonstrating her oppressed past. Allowing people to see, she has over come her past. That she is no longer oppressed. In contrast Maggie has lived her family’s values. She is part of the family’s history its heritage. One day she will add a piece of cloth to the quilts and pass them down to her children. Unli ke Wangero she has worked and toiled through life. She lives her heritage on a daily basis. Wangero and Maggie’s mother promised the quilts to Maggie.The quilts are most probably the only thing that Maggie values. Maggie is upset with the fact that Wangero just takes them. Wangero clutches the quilts to her chest with a sense of ownership. Maggie in the tradition of her heritage is willing to let Wangero keep them. She is upset with her siblings’ selfishness. She knows that the quilts are rightfully hers. She is willing to part with them to allow Wangero to regain her concept of the family heritage. Maggie knows that no matter what Wangero tries she will never truly regain what she has thrown away.The mother tells Wangero that the quilts are Maggies and she may choose other ones but not those quilts. Wangero realizes that her mother prizes Maggie’s sense of family. She knows that Maggie will add to them and to the family’s history. The quilts for Wangero are a symbol of her heritage. Maggie is part of her heritage. She is a piece of fabric in the quilt. Wangero may never be part of the quilt. She shunned her heritage years ago. Works Cited Kennedy, X. J. , Dana Gioia, and Alice Walker. â€Å"Everyday Use. † An Introduction to Fiction. Boston: Longman, 2010. 455-61. Print.

Party Essay

Chapter 6 Revised Everybody loves to party. A meaningful party has a dramatic impact on people’s lives. It was the second day of my university life. I was invited to a new student welcome party. At the beginning of the party, I felt really embarrassed. I knew none of those people in the party. I did not know what to do. For another thing, I have trouble on communicating with other foreigner, especially native English speaker. However, my mind changed quite a bit during middle of the party, and I was glad that I made some new friends. Moreover, I felt this welcome party completely accepted me. This welcome party is going to be a turning point of my student life in Victoria. Body paragraph 1: At the beginning of the party, I felt really nervous. There were so many people in the lounge. I felt suffocated, and did not know how to solve this embarrassment. However, a simple game saved me. we wrote our name on the paper and tossed it to other people. People could find the right person base on other’s nametags. Through this game, I felt a bit more comfort. More over, we could ask questions with each other so we can find our common interests, and learnt more from each other. I felt more involve in this party, it did get better as the party goes on. Body paragraph 2: In the middle of the party, I changed my opinion about this party quite a bit. Then, I realized that I start to enjoy this party. Also, I made a couple of new friends that made me feel welcome. In the mea time, I could chat with them about their hometown, ask questions, and play games with them. It made me cozy. Furthermore, people got to show their talents on the party. For instance, there was a guy came from South Korea called John. John won championships of the Korean National dancing competition three times in a row. He decided to show his classic Hip Hop dancing tricks that was fabulous. And there was another African girl showed her beautiful voice through singing Halo from Beyonce. Continuously, she also presented us with traditional dancing that was awesome. Even though, I really wanted to show some talents as well, I did not. Anyway, it was really exciting to enjoy people’s performances. Finally, it came to the end.. Body paragraph 3: Nearly the end of this party, I am completely blended in and fully involved in this party and felt no more embarrassment. Additionally, this feeling gets stronger while chatting with my new friends. Especially, I talked with them about their personal issues. Therefore, I feel there was no gap between us and it actually felt great. Next, they served us with snacks, pizzas and cream cakes. We had foods and drinks together and it was quite pleasant. Finally, I think this would be my most memorable party at all time. Conclusion paragraph: My mind changed quite a bit through the entire party. Also, I am able to communicate with other people confidently and smoothly. This welcome party will be the new origin of my new life in Canada.

France's Demands during the Two World Wars Essay

France's Demands during the Two World Wars - Essay Example During both the wars they attacked France from fronts where she was undefended. They searched the French people in the newly occupied areas and forced the French coal miners to work under their supervision during the Second World War. The terror and atrocities prevailed all over. Sleepless nights, uncertainty of returning in the evening to one’s home, fear of separation any moment from the family, burning figures everywhere, unable to leave home without a gas mask, German soldiers walking into homes to rape women and cut off children’s arms, dead bodies strewn all over †¦this was the scene that existed during both the wars. The soldiers’ life became secluded in the trenches and food became sparse; medical help and sanitation declined. The troops living in the muddy, rat-infested trenches died due to diseases rather than attack of the enemies. Even then the fellow feeling and the attitude to share prevailed, unlike the Germans where solidarity gave way to soc ial unrest. The atrocities of the Germans on France were not limited to humans alone. They tormented and used the French circus elephants to haul timber as the Germans felled trees for trench props. During the war France lost vital iron ore and coal resources; territory was lost too. Women and children had to take over the farms and agriculture as 41% of the men mobilized for the war were peasants. This caused great losses in cattle and grains too. In the Second World War France lost about 25 % of its wealth and people compared to 10% in First World War. People were either missing or had died during the war. The battlefields were scarred by trenches and littered with dead bodies. France suffered the most as most of the fighting took place on her soil and she lost millions in the trench warfare. The devastation that was left behind after both the wars can move mountains, why just humans.  

The role of the government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The role of the government - Essay Example Thesis of this document has been placed in the second line of the paper. â€Å"Although there have been homeless individuals living in the United States in colonial days, a recent, dramatic increase has led homeless to be considered a national rather than local, problem† . the most appropriate place to place a thesis is at the end of the first paragraph. It should communicate the research question and relay evidence that support the thesis. This section summarizes the objective of the topic. Certainly the thesis statement communicates the research question in this study. For instance, the thesis has been able to directly inquire the level of appreciation of homelessness, whether local or national. Based on this, one is able to see subsequent discussions revolving around different States in US, and giving varied opinion and experiences on the same. Federal Government has also been viewed to have a role in determining the case of homelessness, particularly when examining policie s being advanced by the individual presidents. The author supports the claims by presenting the historical patterns associated with the transformation of people’s lives to homelessness. There is a systematic manner in which the author has chronologically depicted how events resulted to homelessness just from the Industrial Revolution stages to the policy formulation stages. This paper has successfully relayed the information required. However, it would be perfect if this paper came clear on the issue of significance.

The changing role of Middle Managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The changing role of Middle Managers - Essay Example This team’s focus is more towards the long term goals of the company in terms of growth, profitability, withstanding competition, compliance with regulations, satisfying shareholders and increasingly being good corporate citizens in society in terms of the environment and sustainable business practices. Line managers tend to technical experts at specific tasks such as production, quality, purchasing, product development, marketing, sales, advertising or accounting. The middle manager serves as the interface between the small senior team and the much larger number of line managers (Jones and George, 2003). 2.1 The principal tasks for a middle manager Anthony Dance who describes himself as a Middle Manager Coach lists the differences between the middle managers’ role and that of the line managers who report to him. In a 2011 magazine article, he describes the middle manager as the manager of mangers whereas line mangers are mangers of specific functions. The middle manger ’s performance is dependent on the performance of others and his set of duties is often not very clearly defined. Anthony Dance breaks up the traditional role of a middle manager into three principal categories, Strategic tasks, Technical tasks and People tasks. The Strategic tasks include the understanding of the objectives for the company set by the senior management and breaking those into actionable tasks for the line managers, providing feedback to senior management on any problems and recommending corrections, financial and performance analysis and reporting, and communication both upwards and downwards. The Technical tasks include administration, ensuring compliance with plans and co-ordination between line functions. The most important function, however, are the...Anthony Dance who describes himself as a Middle Manager Coach lists the differences between the middle managers’ role and that of the line managers who report to him. In a 2011 magazine article, he de scribes the middle manager as the manager of managers whereas line managers are managers of specific functions. The middle manger’s performance is dependent on the performance of others and his set of duties is often not very clearly defined. Anthony Dance breaks up the traditional role of a middle manager into three principal categories, Strategic tasks, Technical tasks and People tasks. The Strategic tasks include the understanding of the objectives for the company set by the senior management and breaking those into actionable tasks for the line managers, providing feedback to senior management on any problems and recommending corrections, financial and performance analysis and reporting, and communication both upwards and downwards. The Technical tasks include administration, ensuring compliance with plans and co-ordination between line functions. The most important function, however, are the People tasks which include leading the team, motivating them and developing new leaders. Good middle managers strive to constantly improve the performance of line managers and remove those who fail to improve. The problem in most organizations comes from the middle manager not spending enough time on people tasks, either because he is overloaded with the other tasks or because he is uncomfortable with handling people issues.

The impact that the 2012 Olympic Games could have on Bedford City Assignment

The impact that the 2012 Olympic Games could have on Bedford City Council and what the Council will need to do in preparation for the Games - Assignment Example Hosting the Olympic Games is considered as a great opportunity for cities worldwide. Usually, the specific event results to significant benefits for the city involved – referring to the city that hosts the Games. However, Olympic Games have been also related to certain drawbacks – for instance the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games which were characterized by the damages caused by riots or the Atlanta Olympic Games during which the explosion of a bomb caused the death of 2 people and the injuring of hundreds, as analysed below. For London, the 2012 Olympic Games are considered as a major challenge. The city has to face the significant social turbulences as reflected in the damages caused by riots across Britain the last 5 days. Moreover, the City has to resolve the following problem: will the benefits of the Games be above their drawbacks/ disadvantages? Moreover, will these benefits disadvantages be equally distributed among the regions surrounding London – where ce rtain of these Games’ events will take place? Current paper focuses on the impact of 2012 Olympic Games on Bedford City Council; the benefits and the disadvantages of the Games for the specific area are estimated – using relevant literature and findings from primary research (statistics and figures related to past Olympic Games). Also, another issue is explored: which would be the preparation that Bedford City Council would have to do for hosting the Olympic Games? ... Moreover, the City has to resolve the following problem: will the benefits of the Games be above their drawbacks/ disadvantages? Moreover, will these benefits disadvantages be equally distributed among the regions surrounding London – where certain of these Games’ events will take place? Current paper focuses on the impact of 2012 Olympic Games on Bedford City Council; the benefits and the disadvantages of the Games for the specific area are estimated – using relevant literature and findings from primary research (statistics and figures related to past Olympic Games). Also, another issue is explored: which would be the preparation that Bedford City Council would have to do for hosting the Olympic Games? Emphasis is given on the following three sectors, as they are influenced by the Olympic Games: business environment, human resources and marketing. The practices used in cities that hosted the Olympic Games in the past are used as the basis for developing a framew ork of activities/ plans which would be appropriate for Bedford City Council so that the above city to be appropriately prepared for the particular event. The literature published in the particular field has been combined with the statistics released in regard to past Olympic Games but also in regard to London as a host city for the 2012 Olympic Games. It is revealed that Bedford City Council is partially prepared for participating in the Olympic Games 2012 – as a city hosting one or more activities of the specific event. 2. Background Olympic Games have been traditionally considered as a major cultural event, leading to the improvement of relationships among nations. Because of this fact, the Games

Historiography of Historains of a historical event Essay

Historiography of Historains of a historical event - Essay Example The more powerful amongst them built their own pyramids, some of them eliciting praises for the structures made with scientific and mathematical precision that defies human capabilities today. Egypt is based on five thousand years of history. This is where civilization began. The histories of Babylonia, Assyria, the Greeks and the Romans will be incomplete without Egypt. The Jewish, Christians and Islamic religions have their bases in Egypt. For over two thousand years, the mention of the name Egypt evoked strong feelings of recognition and respect. But the kingdom did fall into difficult times. Changes were occurring elsewhere and the monarchs who ruled in between could not face the onslaught of the marauding Hyksos. Also, internal strife led to civil wars. The obsession with the construction and maintenance of the pyramids was depleting the once-grand resources of Egypt. Gradually, the society that ventured out from its territories and established its power beyond its borders began to feel the effects of want. These factors combined to leave the majestic empire tottering and to its ultimate demise. The glory and tragedy is not limited to the political and militaristic prowess and its decline in Egypt. It is the overall scenario of disharmony and lethargy in the country that did it in. Strong external pressures and inner turmoil finally put paid to their vaunted positions on a number of occasions. However, Egypt kept rising after every fall. Nonetheless it was finally conquered by the Greeks and thereafter never rose again to their former glory. The story begins in 3200 B.C. with the unification of the Upper and Lower Egypt. This was the time when the 1st and 2nd dynasties consolidated the kingdom for the 3rd dynasty. The construction of the pyramids in Giza began with the 3rd dynasty. The history of Egypt is incomplete without the pyramids. The pyramids provide the fascination and weave the chain of events in the history of Egypt.

The role of education within society especially in regard to the Essay

The role of education within society especially in regard to the interests of pupils and the social life - Essay Example The ability of children to respond to the challenges of school environment has been found to be differentiated in accordance with the conditions of the particular environment, as depended on the rules of education applied in the specific area, the support provided by teachers but also the personal perceptions and mode of behaviour, as being influenced by the family. Current paper focuses on the examination of the relationship between education and the interests of pupils; the potential relationship between education and social life is also reviewed, at the level that education is a critical part of each social framework. It is revealed that education can have a different role in different social conditions, meaning the social ethics and culture. Moreover, education is likely to be affected by the structure and the rules of each educational site, a fact that indicates the potential autonomy of educational institutes as of their priorities and principles. Also, it is verified that the interests of pupils are likely to be differently promoted in each school not only because of the existence of different social rules and ethics but also because of other factors, such as the infrastructure of each school (Heywood 2000), the perceptions of teachers (Chandra and Sharma), the local culture (Leclercq 2003) and the trends in local community (Nasr 1994), which may intervene more or less in the development of rules and principles of education.... In fact, education has been proved as being able to influence not just the life of individuals but also the life of the society. From this point of view, particular emphasis has been given on the identification of the criteria under which education can affect the life of humans but also the characteristics of societies within specific political conditions. Of particular importance seems to be the use of education as a means for achieving personal targets, meaning the development of specific skills and competencies but also the acquisition of valuable knowledge. In accordance with Noddings (2011) the first elements of the philosophy of education can be identified in the views of Plato. It is explained that Plato aimed to answer the following question, which is critical for the philosophy of education: ‘who should be educated and how’ (Noddings 2011, p.14). The analysis of Plato on education is based on the following principle:’ the human talents are analyzed along with the society’s needs so that to identify the role of education within a particular society’ (Noddings 2011, p.14). The above view on education is characterized as rather Utopian, taking into consideration the continuous changes on social needs and beliefs. On the other hand, John Dewey set more realistic criteria for deciding the structure and the priorities of education within modern societies. In accordance with the above theorist the actual role of education in the development of social and private life can be identified through the following method: the study of ‘the consequences of our choices’ (Noddings 2011, p.14). At the next level, Bailey (2010) noted that the potential effects of education on social life and on pupils

Into The Wild Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Into The Wild - Essay Example The ability to go back into the wild then becomes more than a desire to explore different land and instead to move into the true nature one has. The diary that is portrayed through the book of Into the Wild recounts the journey of McCandless and the diary he has kept while traveling through the mountains of Alaska. The beginning motives that McCandless points out for going into the wild is based on the need for him to find if he can live off the land and to build a unique identity. The main concept that Alex began with was to prove that he could live naturally and without the outside parts of the land interfering with his needs and desires. In the beginning, this is seen through the simplicity of his travel and the lack of clothing, food and material goods he brings. â€Å"Alex admitted that the only food in his pack was a ten pound bag of rice. His gear seemed exceedingly minimal for the harsh conditions of the interior†¦ the only navigational aid in his possession was a tattered state road map he’d scrounged at a gas station† (Krakuer, 1). The beginning description shows that the motive of McCandless was to prove that he could live off the land and instead of being a part of society he could go back to being without the materialism required for living. The ability to prove this to him then became the driving force for him to learn to survive in his natural element. The concept of living off the land by McCandless was furthered throughout the book with the concept of finding identity outside of materialism and expectations of the world. Alex was known to leave to Alaska despite the capabilities he had and the education he had received. He had just graduated college and was offered a promising future. However, he left the promises given to him, changed his name and decided to travel to an area that was remote and unknown. Changing his name, moving

Working Conditions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Working Conditions - Assignment Example The usual theme is having cigarettes adds masculinity to men and attract more women. It can be linked to social bonds. Some examples of songs depicting cigarettes are My Cigarette and I, Smoke Rings, Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room, Pass that Peace Pipe and many more. The songs appealed to the mass that caused the increasing popularity of cigarettes way before the billboard advertisements like Joe Camel and Marlboro Man (Cooper and Haney, 1999). It is not only used as a status symbol because of its medical uses. In the form of powder, aqueous solution, ointment and extracts, tobacco was then used to treat tetanus, lack jaw, oedema, spastic dysuria, neurosis, constipation, smoke enemas and arsenic poisoning (Haustein and Groneberg, 2010). Despite of the popularity of cigarette and tobacco, it remains a public health enemy number one because it is the leading cause of death in the United States. Consuming cigarettes causes several diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancer of the lungs, respiratory ailments such as bronchitis and emphysema and other forms of cancer like laryngeal, oral and stomach cancers (Schneider, 2011). In line with the negative health effects of cigarette smoking, several efforts had already been done in the United States. In 1971 the tobacco ads had been banned by the Congress along the airways while in 1984 the Smoking Education Act had been passed together with four strongly worded cigarette warnings in advertisements and cigarette packages. In 1986 the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act had been passed (Pampel, 2009). Since then California is the state that adapted some specific measures to manage the risk of cigarette smoking then followed by New York in 2003. The smoking law in New York was signed by Coy. George E. Pataki which includes many strict measures but with exemptions like licensed cigar bars in New York City, America-Indian-owned

Capital Punishment is Wrong Essay Example for Free

Capital Punishment is Wrong Essay â€Å" For hundreds of years people have considered capital punishment a deterrence of crime. Seven hundred and five individuals have died since 1976, by means of capital punishment; twenty-two of these executions have already occurred this year at Death Penalty Information Center†, exclaims Tara Volpe in her article, Capital Punishment: Does Death Equal Justice? In another article written by Coretta King, the author states that, â€Å"In recent years, an increase of violence in America, both individual and political, has prompted a backlash of public opinion on capital punishment†. Capital punishment is a tremendous issue that faces the criminal justice system. Some people think that capital punishment is a good idea for those who commit capital or very serious crimes; on the other hand, some people believe that capital punishment is wrong. In reality, capital punishment is wrong for several reasons. According to the free online dictionary, â€Å"capital punishment† is defined as the penalty of death for the commission of a crime. There are several words, which are the same as capital punishments are execution, death sentence, judicial murder and death warrant. To begin with, capital punishment is wrong because it is immoral and unfair. Some people are subjected to capital punishment even when there is speculation as to whether they actually committed the specified crime. A known case of this kind was the one involving David Spense who was given the death penalty even though there was no substantial, concrete evidence to pin the crimes he was being charged. The homicide detective responsible for conducting the investigation clearly said â€Å"there was no physical evidence connecting David Spense to the crime† (Volpe). According to the article â€Å"Capital Punishment: Does Death Equal Justice,† those who testify against these criminals maybe bribed or coerce d into doing the act. More to it the article reiterates that there have been quite a number of cases in which people that were nearly given capital punishment were save by â€Å"last minute presentation of evidence. This is construed to mean capital punishment is bad practice. It ends up killing people who don’t deserve to die. The worst part of the matter is that capital punishment is irreversible. Secondly, capital punishment is not even worth it because it does not stop or reduce criminal acts. Michael Meltsner points out that â€Å"capital punishment is done in privacy and infrequently† hence capital punishment as a deterrent does not work at all (Volpe). In other words, capital punishment is done in itself and not to prevent anything. The statistics in the article shows that death penalty prove the lack of deterrence. For instance, the average of murder rates per 100,000 population in 1999 among death penalty states was 5.5, whereas the average of murder rates among death penalty was o nly 3.6. NEED SUPPORT or ENOUGH SUPPORT Lastly, capital punishment is a bad option because it is very expensive. The statistics in the article shows that California had spent approximately about nine millions dollars annually on execution itself. It is a waste of millions of dollars for death sentence. It would be better for capital criminals be used for community services such as land conservation projects, and road construction. By doing this, there are less expenses and what is at best for the criminal is made to contribute to society progress. The criminal can also be rehabilitated especially if the culprit has mental or psychological issues. Volpe states that life imprisonment costs less than execution. These criminals should go for rehabilitation for treatments and mental diagnosis. They can change their ways and become productive citizens for the society. In contrast to opponents’ views mentioned above, the supporters of capital punishment oppose that, the practice should still be protected in the justice system. They completely ignore the benefits of saving cost, eliminating inhuman conduct of the practice and saving the innocents from being killed wrongly. In conclusion, some people believe that capital punishment is wrong. It is such as waste of money on execution only. Capital punishment have no deterrent the crimes. Capital punishment is immoral and unfair.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Jvc Versus Wholly Owned Management Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Jvc Versus Wholly Owned Management Essay When companies enter the international market, they are facing a very important decision-making. That is they enter the target market in which appropriate entry model. There are several entry modes to enter the international market. Two of them were discussed in the report: international Joint Venture Companies (JVCs) and wholly-owned subsidiaries. In light of the influence of the WTO with respect to relaxation of restrictions on foreign ownership across many industries in countries such as China and India, anecdotal evidence suggests that many companies are now opting to set-up wholly-owned subsidiaries rather than international Joint Venture Companies. Reasons they select wholly-owned subsidiaries were analyzed in the report. Disney Paris was taken as the case and the failed joint venture case shows that it is a key issue for companies to select appropriate entry mode to target country when they choose the target market. Advantages and disadvantages of the JVC versus the wholly-own ed subsidiary were analyzed in several aspects. In a wholly owned subsidiary, senior managers almost have the same cultural background and cultural differences and cultural conflicts could be avoided in management, while this cultural differences and cultural conflicts has been there at the time in JVCs. wholly owned subsidiaries have higher control right than JVCs and they can protect commercial secrets in order to avoid losing to the partner and competitors. They put higher investment and get higher returns than JVCs. While compared with JVCs, wholly-owned subsidiaries have some disadvantages in operational risks, higher opportunity cost, relatively large political risk and disadvantage of exit. Wholly-owned subsidiaries have higher operational risks than JVCs due to uncertain factors in operation and higher opportunity cost because they develop new sales channels and advertising channels to operate effectively under the host environment. Political risk is higher as they depend on the host countrys political environment and political stability. Wholly-owned subsidiaries could exit the host country difficultly because the full investment while JVCs are easier to end. More and more companies select a wholly-owned subsidiary as a few reasons discussed above. They hope get appropriate recognition and support from the host country, at the time get larger profit. 2.0 Theory and entry mode Entering the international market is that a business participates in global market competition and international business development with capital, products, technologies, services and policy. Market heterogeneity induces a positive correlation between firms decisions that can be spuriously confounded with positive strategic interactions. (Victor, Mira, Roman, 2007, p.449). Enterprises should elect the appropriate entry mode in understanding various factors. The factors are including companys strategy, international experience, and inherent technology, economies of scale, culture, pricing, promotion, investment costs, market size and market growth, political and legal, risk and so on. It can be seen in figure 1. Figure 1 the Factors of selecting entry mode Political Legal Economic Marketing Research Competitive Analysis Promotions Logistics and Distribution Products Services Pricing Culture Market Entry Strategy Organising/ Restructuring Disney opened the Euro Disney theme park in Paris, France, selecting the joint venture companies with the investment of 1.8 billion U.S. dollars, and 49% of total shares. Which the equity brought about was a considerable control on management and operation. The operating results of Disneyland Paris are not satisfactory so far. The number of tourists in Paris was much lower than expected during the first year and the per capita spending was below the expected level. All these made operating loss reach 900 million U.S. dollars of the Paris theme park, forced the closure of a Paris park hotel, and fired 950 employees. The failed joint venture case shows that it is a key issue for companies to select appropriate entry mode to target country when they choose the target market. The motive of selecting entry mode was to entering the market as fast as possible and to obtain benefit from the existing market share of the local firm.( Estrin et al.,1997, p.136). Enterprises should elect the appropriate entry mode in understanding various factors. The factors are including Unified strategic actions, international experience, and Exit barriers, economies of scale, culture, Control right, Profits received, Trade Secrets, market size and market growth, Limited market size, risk and so on. 2.1 International Joint Venture Companies The joint venture enterprise refers to joint investment, management and shares options and a total risk. The Joint venture partners can take advantage of a mature marketing network and they are easily accepted by the host country because of the participation of local enterprises. 2.2 Wholly-owned subsidiaries An enterprise directly invested to set up wholly-owned subsidiary in other countries. They can use a variety of forms such as brand, trademark, patented technology and other investment. 3.0 Reasons for wholly-owned subsidiaries When a company enters the international market, they do not know whether the selected entry mode is the optimal. They make decision and select an entry mode according to various factors. More and more companies now select wholly-owned subsidiaries when they enter the target country. For example, company with internal funds, or low leverage, are more likely to choose wholly-owned subsidiaries while they need to raise investment. (Klaus Meyer Saul Estrin, 1998. p.9). There are several reasons: firstly, technical content and differentiation in their products are so high. Once other companies master technology, they would lose their competitive advantages. So they select wholly-owned subsidiaries in order to avoid these assets and technology used and obtained by competitors. Secondly, products are difficult to imitate by competitors. They can not b e replaced, so the company does not regard to market share when they plan to enter the target countries. Thirdly, their products are scarce in target countries, and they are easily accepted and applied properly once they enter in. they do not need to rely on local sales channels and political relations. On the other hand, wholly-owned subsidiary is better than joint venture. Firstly, setting-up wholly-owned subsidiaries can help companies retain more easily technology and knowledge to increase corporate brand value. Secondly, setting-up wholly-owned subsidiaries can establish good mechanisms for operational control, handling disputes and optimizing resources to enhance the marketing control. For example, American and Japanese manufacturing companies, financial services companies and tourism companies set up wholly-owned subsidiaries can help in Australia. When they chose Australia as the target country, they analyzed all kinds of factors, and finally they took full advantages in the service and quality, the original brand and trademark, to establish wholly-owned subsidiaries. The subsidiary has the same business model a nd service methods with parent company. Relative advantages and disadvantages of the JVC versus the wholly-owned subsidiary When companies enter the international market, they are facing a very important decision-making. That is they enter the target market in which appropriate entry model. The following will discuss and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of two modes. Table 1 advantages and disadvantages of the JVC versus wholly-owned subsidiary Wholly-owned subsidiaries JVCs Control right High Low Trade Secrets Remain Known by others Unified strategic actions High Low Profits received High Low Risk High low Resources Cost High Low Cultural Differences High Low Limited market size High Low Exit barriers High low 4.0 Advantages and disadvantages of the JVC versus the wholly-owned subsidiary 4.1 Advantages of the JVC versus the wholly-owned subsidiary 4.1.1 Cultural Differences Social and cultural factors have a very important effect on international market entry mode, and it is mainly on the cultural differences between the home country and host country. The cultural value pattern may strengthen the relative importance of one of these values over the other one. (Piotr, Agnieszka Krystyna, 2008, p.227). The cultural differences are from language, values, life and work patterns, management and business model. If the cultural differences are obvious, the home country needs to spend more to adapt to cultural distance. In a wholly owned subsidiary, all senior managers come from the home country. They have the same cultural background and the same management philosophy, the same way of thinking and behavior patterns. When they consider the strategic objectives and strategic interests, they take the parent companys strategic objectives and long-term direction as goals. So cultural differences and cultural conflicts could be avoided in management. While in the joint venture company, managers and employees come from different countries with different cultural backgrounds, they have different values, different management attitudes and different operational practices. Unavoidable conflict happens as long as they work together. The stronger partner usually represents their economic achievements, so at rules, which are proposed by globalization and which would become an assumption not only for development of universal market, but also for standards of appropriate cultural behavior that would be suitable for representatives of all cultures. (Hofstede, G. 2001).And this cultural differences and cultural conflicts has been between partners from the beginning of joint venture, discussing cooperation, deciding to cooperate, establishing joint ventures to co-management and co -operation. 4.1.2 Control right Parent company participates in the management and decision-making, according to the Articles of Association, because they are the controlling shareholder of wholly-owned subsidiaries. All of these companies would benefit from a framework for decision making to determine if entry into this market is feasible for them. (Dennis Chwen, 2002, p.332).The principal leaders are appointed by the parent company, and their appointment, assessment, rewards and punishments are done by parent company. On the other hand, the parent company should regulate the business development plan, the orientation of investment and management activities, while the wholly-owned subsidiaries should formulate or revise their own development strategies and recent planning under the guidance of parent company. On the third, the parent company should supervise operating conditions and asset quality in order to security, value-added and profit of invested assets. At the same time, wholly-owned subsidiaries should rep ort the financial condition and ensure the authenticity and accuracy of the provided information of the production, management and financial operations. The company can accept the common control when they select the entry mode of Joint ventures, and they will find the right partner and selecting lower ownership. Joint ventures companies could not control the company because they are in minority equity position. They could not control the management and operation, and they could not control the productions sales and t infringement of copyright and paten. It is hard to find a reasonable partner who is fully meet the conditions. On the other hand, limited resources could not be used rationally because of contention for control right. The lack of resources are caused scattered resources and new contention for resources started, again and again, leading to a vicious cycle. Finally, they lost their core competitiveness. This will cause instability of the joint venture, which ultimately lead to instability of the dissolution of the joint venture. JVCs Wholly-owned subsidiaries High control right High stockholding Low control right Low stockholding Table 2 the control right and stockholding 4.1.3 Protection of commercial secrets Wholly-owned subsidiary have large advantage in trademarks, and other technology to prevent meddle in its technical and business secrets, protection of basic monopoly position. Running a business of wholly owned subsidiary can be a simple assembly or complex manufacturing activities, and they have total control-right. The company could completely control the entire management and sales, production and promotion. They could independently dispose profits, and they can protect technology and commercial secrets. For the joint venture company, the local partners contributions are often the local knowledge, local government relations, market share, sales organizations and customer groups, which are the knowledge and understanding of environmental conditions, while foreign partners contributions are typically including technology, management and international support. For example, Australian companies established joints venture with China or India, they increased business investment, as well as provided a number of high value-added products and technologies. Therefore, it is possible that technical secrets and commercial secrets are lost to the partner, and develop into the competitors. 4.1.4 Higher returns In the long term strategic objectives, parent companies pursue to maximize the total value of foreign market, and they speed up the penetration and more control to put effectively wholly-owned subsidiaries into global system. Setting up wholly-owned subsidiaries could get a full return as the increasing experience overseas, fully using companys abilities and cultivating international competitive advantage. A firms return on capital is increasing its industrys state of demand, so it can takes advantage of favorable economic conditions.( Jose M. Pleth-Dujowich, 2008, p.2). Wholly-owned subsidiaries could introduce more advanced technology and equipment and management methods to produce highly competitive products. And parent companies adjust business strategy according to business activities to obtain the overall maximum benefit. In addition, the profits and other legitimate rights and interests which foreign investors obtained after investment in the host country are protected by the laws of the host. The legitimate profit and other lawful income can be remitted back to the home countries. On the other hand, wholly-owned subsidiaries may enjoy tax reduction or exemption preferential treatment in accordance with the provisions of the host country tax revenue. Relatively speaking, Joint venture companies put lower investment, and therefore, they get back low control right and lower return. The home countries are mainly investment of technology and capital, as well as the training on production and management of local staff to get successful conversion on technology and knowledge. Joint venture companies must be in win-win state. That means the return of each joint venture partner is larger and enough, if they are in win-win state so as to work hard for the next success. If a companys return is not in the win-win state, which shows one investment is failure and maybe the two investments are failure. the joint venture partners could not accept the strategic mistake and they should restructure or abandon the joint venture. The lower risk means lower profit for the joint venture companies, especially when productions of a joint venture company are for export, the profit of return will not be very high and even less. 4.2 Disadvantages of the JVC versus the wholly-owned subsidiary 4.2.1 Operational risks Wholly-owned subsidiaries have higher operational risks than JVCs due to uncertain factors in operation. There are some problems in the management of wholly-owned subsidiaries, such as imperfect governance structure, inadequate organizational structure, and inappropriate personnel selection. All these problems could cause wrong decisions, collusion, and low efficiency. On the one hand, subsidiaries engaged in related transactions or matters beyond approval authority or the scope of business, which might result in investment failures, litigation and loss of assets. On the other hand, the elected directors, managers and chief accountants and other senior managers can not plenipotentiary the parent company and they did not make strategies and consider the interests from the perspective of the parent company, and these would result in incorrect formulation and implementation of accounting methods and inaccurate information on the consolidated financial statements. The inaccurate informat ion and methods would bring out high risk on investors, and the company and investors would make decision-making mistakes and face to legal proceedings and other aspects of risks. The joint venture company has generally no problems above. On the one hand, the home country needs to learn and adapt to local environmental conditions to better understand the host countrys economic, political, social, cultural, etc., so as to help investors make the right decisions. They can absorb partners business management skills, experienced business and promotion channel to changes in demand and market share. Nippa1, Beechler and Klossek (2007) studied IJV success to find IJV regard to the foreign parent-local parent fit in. On the other hand, every decision-making need to be recognized by both home and host country managers. Once one partner that the other one harms the interests of the joint venture resulting in damage to the company, they would make recommendations to board of directors in order to improve co-operation. The two sides are fighting for the maximizing interests to avoid operational risks. 4.2.2 Higher opportunity cost Wholly owned company needs to develop their own knowledge and capacity, develop new sales channels and advertising channels to operate effectively under the host environment. For example, sales representatives need to look for good advertisers, and communicate with the advertising and coordination. Finding a good advertiser needs time and money, because advertisers are producers of goods and services who are interested in selling their products to customers and post ads on the media support. (Claude, Carole Bruno,2009, p.5). So the home country needs to go through best efforts to develop new business, and achieve the certain level in the strategic mode of a wholly owned subsidiary. They have to pass a long-term cultivation to get new business skills and required knowledge, so there is a higher opportunity cost. Joint venture company has low opportunity cost. They can more easily access the local market knowledge, understanding competitors and the local government policy from the partners. Companies develop network relationships with important customers, suppliers that the local business partners possessed through mutual commitments and learning.(Lee, Jun and Johanson, 2006,p.62). The Joint venture partners can take advantage of a mature marketing network, branding, economic relations, political status, consumer preferences, etc. and they are easily accepted by the host country because of the participation of local enterprises. 4.2.3 High input costs and high risk Establishing wholly-owned subsidiary, the parent company would face new challenges in strategic planning, marketing strategy, organizational design, and resource allocation, especially in financial management and internal control and other aspects. The parent company invests greatly on capital and resources for wholly-owned subsidiary, because the parent company pays the total investment in the host country, so it is extremely risky. The wholly-owned subsidiary has more affected by environmental uncertainties and greater risk. All the capital investment results in difficult changes in the capital, and further results in assets sunk costs. The full amount of capital investment and sunk costs would limit the strategic flexibility and increase the investment risk. At the meantime, large-scale investment of resources will lead to high switching costs, which in turn generates a high risk. So the higher control right, the more capital investment and the higher risk. But the host countries like wholly-owned subsidiaries, because they want to attract foreign investment without their own capital, and they increases tax revenues without the business risk. There is smaller capital and human capital investment for joint venture companies, and relatively speaking, the risk is lower. Risks should be taken to entering international market. Most companies decided to establish joint venture with the local business, because they want to reduce the risk of entering new markets. So they are looking for joint venture partners who are operating related product lines and have a good understanding of local markets. The foreign parent and the local company combined their resources so as to create competitive advantages and create dominant in marke. (Contractor and Lorange, 2002). Firstly the foreign partners started the cooperation from simple sales and marketing operations to a further risk reduction measures. Secondly, they can increase product sales. Finally, the foreign partners can improve or re-design products in order to better adapt to the local market and make large-scale investment. 4.2.4 Relatively large political risk The establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary has very stringent requirements for the host countrys political environment and political stability. The parent company can set up wholly owned subsidiary when the target country is under the situation of political stability, sound legal system, liberal investment policies, and exchange rate stability. In addition, the profits and other legitimate rights and interests which foreign investors obtained after investment in the host country are protected by the laws of the host. The legitimate profit and other lawful income can be remitted back to the home countries. On the contrary, the wholly owned subsidiary would be significant losses if the host country has political instability and investment policies and investment environment get some changes, which might result in the dissolution of wholly owned subsidiary. Joint venture companies get supported by the host governments. For the host countries, on the one hand, Joint venture companies can bring a number of high value-added products and technologies, and new management style. On the other hand, the local companies provide local government relations, market share, sales organizations and customer groups, and they could not lost their control right and equity. While for the home countries, JVCs can reduce the risk of operation and politics in different countries, regions and industries. They could get the support and cooperation on the tax barriers and preferential policies. 4.2.5 Disadvantage of exit For the wholly owned subsidiary, the parent company has to bear all the resources and costs, including costs of human resources, employment, labor costs, the investment of technical support, sales channel development and advertising costs and so on. They have high switching costs. Serious losses would be resulted in if they exit the target countries for some reason. For example, political situation of the host country has undergone drastic changes, and the wholly owned subsidiary can not maintain their normal production and operation, so the parent company had to close wholly owned subsidiary. The parent company may not fully recover the investment cost before they exit the host country, without mention profit. So it is very obvious disadvantage of exit. The joint venture companies are easier to end. JVCs entered the host country with lower cost of investment and some were into target country only with technology. They could end relationship of cooperation and exit target country when political environment changed and economic deterioration was serious. And they end the relationship with lower cost. On the other hand, they can terminate the agreements when market conditions or the business itself have also changed with lower price or cost 5.0 Conclusion Entering the international market is that a business participates in global market competition and international business development with capital, products, technologies, services and policy. The home countries should select the right entry mode for the international strategy and they should clear their own objectives firstly to choose entry mode. Entry mode provides information about the consequences of enter international relating shifts in market demand to changes in the equilibrium number of firms. (Timothy and Peter, 2008, p.978). Two of them were discussed in the report: international Joint Venture Companies (JVCs) and wholly-owned subsidiaries. Different entry mode means different control right. Enterprises should elect the appropriate entry mode in understanding various factors. The factors are including Unified strategic actions, international experience, and Exit barriers, economies of scale, culture, Control right, Profits received, Trade Secrets, market size and market g rowth, Limited market size, risk and so on. Compared with JVCs, wholly-owned subsidiaries has advantages in cultural differences, control right, protection of commercial secrets and higher returns. On the other hand, wholly-owned subsidiaries have some disadvantages versus JVCs. In the long term strategic objectives, parent companies pursue to maximize the total value of foreign market, and they speed up the penetration and more control to put effectively wholly-owned subsidiaries into global system. While, as for the joint venture, the local joint venture partners contributions are local knowledge, local government relations, market share, sales and customer groups because they have well-known about the local market, culture and knowledge and the understanding of economic environment. The foreign partner invested in technology, management and international support. This combination can reduce opportunity cost and switching costs to have clear business and promotion objectives and win the market share. However, there is no general optimal entry mode when enterprises enter the international market, because the international economic environment is perplexing and political environment is complex. The parent companies should select the reasonable entry mode acc ording to their own resources and strategic objectives and strategic policy.

Dreamworks Animation Skg Inc Overview Film Studies Essay

Dreamworks Animation Skg Inc Overview Film Studies Essay DreamWorks SKG was founded in 1994 by three entertainment enthusiasts, Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen (The Cornell Daily Sun). The SKG appended to the title is representative of the first letter of each of their last names. DreamWorks SKG is involved in a variety of entertainment segments such as film, music, and television. At the time of its creation, all three individuals were involved in film production. Jeffrey Katzenberg had been recently fired as a studio chairman at The Walt Disney Company, Steven Spielberg had temporarily suspended his lucrative directing career, and David Geffen was involved in film production as well as the record industry. Each of the individuals had something to offer, Spielberg with his experience in making live-action movies, Katzenbergs animation movies, and Geffen with his music background (Reference for Business). Financially, the company began with two billion dollars, supplemented with various high-tech partnerships. A portion of the initial money, $500 million, was contributed by a very interested Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. Spielberg, Katzenberg, and Geffen also contributed roughly $33 million to the initial funds (Reference for Business). During the first few years in business, DreamWorks success was like a roller coaster. Its first film, The Peacemaker, was released in 1997, and only reached $12 million on opening weekend. In the years to follow, DreamWorks released several more successful films such as Mouse Hunt, Deep Impact, and Antz. In an attempt to delve into other entertainment segments, DreamWorks released two television shows High Incident and Champs, which were failures. However, in 1996 DreamWorks released Spin City for ABC, which turned out to be quite successful (Reference for Business). By the late 90s and early 2000s, DreamWorks was pumping out very successful films, many earning multiple awards such as American Beauty, which received Best Picture at the Oscars in 1999. In 2000, DreamWorks created a new division called DreamWorks Animation, which produced animated feature films. With the release of Shrek in 2001, DreamWorks started competing head-to-head with Disneys animated movies. In 2004, DreamWorks Animation became its own publicly traded company (Reference for Business). COMPETITIVE STRATEGY The revenue generated by the film industry is massive, with very few players responsible for the total. In 2008, the U.S. box office generated nearly ten billion dollars (Ars Technica). The eight major film companies responsible for most of the gross revenue include DreamWorks SKG, Fox Entertainment Group, MGM Holdings Inc., NBC Universal, Paramount Motion Pictures Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Time Warner, and Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group (Motion Picture Access). Most of the previously mentioned film companies are involved in a variety of film production methods including live action, digital animation, animation/live action, hand animation, and stop-motion animation. Live action films account for the majority of the gross revenue generated domestically, at $8.6 billion with a little over 87% of the share. Digital animation accounted for $1 billion and held over 10% of the share. The other film production methods accounted for the remaining 2.4% (The Numbers). Many of the eight major film companies have a subsidiary that produces animated movies. The companies include Fox Entertainment Group with Blue Sky Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment with Sony Pictures Animation, Time Warner with Warner Bros. Animation, MGM Holdings Inc. with MGM Animation, and Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group with Walt Disney Pictures (Motion Picture Access). DreamWorks Animation, on the other hand, is its own publicly traded company, strictly dedicated to animated film production (DreamWorks Animation SKG). With this advantage, DreamWorks Animation is attempting to outperform some of the broadly-oriented rivals in that segment. DreamWorks Animation has accomplished this by partnering with various high-tech companies such as Pacific Data Images (PDI) (Reference for Business). These partnerships allowed DreamWorks Animation access to advanced imaging technology without the costs of recreating the technology in-house. In addition, DreamWorks Animation uses a unique system to create its animations that allows for lower costs (Linux.com). Lastly, DreamWorks Animation can better serve the animation market because of its primary focus on animation. Therefore, DreamWorks Animation is using a Focus Differentiation strategy to penetrate the film production market. STRATEGY EXECUTION In order to be successful in the animated film segment, DreamWorks Animation has made several strategic actions. To begin with, in 1995, DreamWorks SKG purchased a portion of Pacific Data Images, and collectively the two companies created the movie Antz, which was released in 1998. With the success of the movie, in 2000, DreamWorks SKG acquired most of PDI. The partnership with PDI created competitive advantage for DreamWorks; because of the cutting-edge technology they had available for use. DreamWorks has continued to make use of this partnership, and the conglomerate is often referred to as PDI/DreamWorks (Reference for Business). Several years later DreamWorks Animation was spun-off from DreamWorks SKG to become a separate company with the sole purpose of creating animated movies (Reference for Business). This action was to focus on a segment in which the other, larger, film companies only had subsidiaries. By creating a entirely separate publicly traded company, DreamWorks Animation has a unique advantage in that it can focus on what it does best, animated movies. In the film industry, the target market for animated films varies greatly from that of live-action. This creates an environment where DreamWorks Animation can avoid being trampled by larger companies and focus on a smaller market. DreamWorks Animation has exploited this niche to become a leading player in film animation. DreamWorks Animation has cut costs by creating a unique system for generating its animations. After analyzing requirements, the company decided that it needed a system that was easily upgradeable, reliable, and had advanced capabilities. To accomplish this, it selected to use a Linux based platform, which is an alternative Microsoft Windows or Mac OSX operating systems. Because computer generated animation is such a demanding process, it can be quite time consuming to develop. This, in turn, creates huge costs for producers because of the time necessary to make minor changes. With DreamWorks advancements, it was able to reduce the time necessary to create one scene, from three hours to real-time. Therefore, when changes to the animation were required, they could be made nearly instantaneously (Linux.com). In recent years, an increasing number of film production companies are releasing 3D movies because of their popularity. In addition, many companies are beginning to realize that 3D movies are cash cows as a result of their high ticket prices. With this in mind, Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, stated that every film DreamWorks makes from now on will be made in 3D (CG Society). Katzenberg is betting that 3D films are here to stay this time around, unlike the 3D craze in the 1950s. One of the largest contributing factors to this renewed interest is the fact that 3D movies can now be produced in a more cost effective manner. This is largely due to the advancements in technology, which allows companies such as DreamWorks to use the latest stereoscopic 3D technology to build its movies from the ground up (CG Society). Katzenberg explains that 3D film production will be quite rewarding for DreamWorks Animation: I believe CG animation is in the best position to take advantage of the latest advancement in 3D technology, said Katzenberg. Since our films are made digitally, it presents numerous opportunities for our filmmakers. And by moving into this area now, DreamWorks Animation is developing expertise that will differentiate our films and provide a lasting competitive advantage (CG Society). FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE In spite of a tough economic climate the past few years, DreamWorks Animation has performed above and beyond expectations. In 2009, DreamWorks reported double-digit year-over-year growth in revenue and earnings per share (Market Watch). Revenue increased by 12% from 2008-2009, and earnings per share increased 10% (Market Watch). The following table demonstrates the performance of DreamWorks Animation for the past few years: Figure1. Adapted from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. Morningstar Equity Research, p. 2. Copyright 2010 by Morningstar. In comparison to other film production companies, DreamWorks Animation is quite small in size. The following table compares DreamWorks Animation with the more broadly-oriented Walt Disney Company: Figure 2. Adapted from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. Morningstar Equity Research, p. 2. Copyright 2010 by Morningstar. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE / VRIO FRAMEWORK When DreamWorks SKG spun off DreamWorks Animation, this did not create a true first-mover advantage, because it was not the first occupant in the segment. However, it can be thought of as a first-mover strategy in the sense that DreamWorks Animations was an entirely separate company dedicated to animation, unlike the other broadly-oriented film companies. DreamWorks did this to become a significant occupant in the animation segment of the film industry, which created a competitive advantage. DreamWorks Animation partnered with high-tech companies such as PDI, which allowed access to important technology. As a result, this created a competitive advantage for the company. The capabilities that DreamWorks Animation has at its disposal are costly to implement in-house, and may be costly and/or difficult to acquire. In addition, because it has majority interest in PDI, DreamWorks Animation can readily employ the capabilities. With the necessary technology in its grasp, DreamWorks Animation is able to grow within its segment. Another capability advantageous to DreamWorks Animation is its custom system used to generate the animated films. Because the system environment has been modified to better suit the specific needs of the company, this capability is difficult to match. By using this capability DreamWorks Animation can reduce time-related costs that other industry companies are faced with. This allows the producer to focus on animations, without having to worry about the time needed to edit a scene. STRATEGIC FIT / FUTURE PERFORMANCE As a focus differentiator, DreamWorks Animation has penetrated the animation segment of the film industry and has become a pivotal player in that market. With the many supportive capabilities available to the company, it has successfully expanded within its niche, and continues to grow. Strategically, DreamWorks Animation fits seamlessly within the film industry, because of its focus on a single, smaller segment. The arrival of more advanced 3D technologies, and the associated cost savings definitely provides a promising outlook for the company. Because of its advanced capabilities, DreamWorks Animation will be able to fully take advantage of this opportunity. Therefore, in the next few years, the performance of the company should meet and possibly exceed expectations.

Andrea Palladio Essay examples -- Andrea Palladio

The Renaissance produced a wealth of great skill and craftsmanship. Describe in detail the work of one of its great artists or architects. Andrea Palladio (1508-80) was one of the most influential figures of Renaissance architecture, who worked in Vicenza in northern Italy as well as in Venice and the surrounding Veneto. Born in Padua, Palladio trained as a stonemason moving to Vicenza in 1524 to continue his training. Giangiorgio Trissino (1478-1550), his patron, introduced him to classical and humanist studies and took him on his first trip to Rome – where he later spent two years studying. His architectural development was deeply influenced by this direct study of Roman antiquity. Trissino’s patronage gave Palladio access to a powerful humanist circle who provided him with commissions for the duration of his career – including Palladio’s public projects such as the Palazzo della Ragione, or Basilica, and the Teatro Olimpico which together permanently changed Vicenza’s public architecture. Originally a Gothic town hall, the Palazzo della Ragione or Basilica (commissioned in 1549), was on the verge of crumbling and Palladio won a competition to redesign it. His answer was to encase it on three sides with a two-storey loggia that provided reinforcement and transformed the exterior with classic columned arcades on two levels. Arches were placed between pilasters, Doric on the lower level, Ionic above, supporting entablatures. In each bay, the arch rests on small columns placed away from the larger pilasters with a rectangular gap in between - now known as the ‘Palladian motif’. Palladio had an exceptional grasp of the use of proportion in classical architecture and believed beautiful architecture improved p... ...d in 1580, the project had only just begun. The theatre was completed by Vincenzo Scamozzi assisted by Palladio’s son, Silla, and would serve as a model for theatres across Europe for centuries. Palladio reinvented the Veneto’s architecture – and his influence eventually extended a long way past the region’s borders. His impact was very much helped by the publication of his I Quattro Libri dell’ Architectura (The Four Books of Architecture) in 1570. Covering classical design and including translations from Vitruvius, illustrative woodcut plates of classical design and of his own Renaissance work, the text was known throughout Europe – particularly in England, notably by Inigo Jones, the 17th Century English architect – and ultimately in America where buildings such as Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia (1770) are clearly founded on Palladian principles.

Camping: The Best Family Vacation Essay examples -- Argumentative Essa

While growing up for most family vacations my family and I would go camping in the woods. Camping is one of my all time favorite things to do. While camping, I love going on hikes and seeing the beauty of the world around us. I love the fresh air and smell of the pine trees. I love just sitting around a campfire at night, smelling the burning wood, staring at the bright fire with the darkness of the night all around up, looking up and seeing all the beautiful bright stars glowing in the dark night sky. I love the sounds you hear, the crackling of the fire, maybe wild animals, a wolf howl or birds chirping or maybe nothing at all, just complete silence away from the worlds. Camping and being in the woods is like being taken to another planet away from the fast paced world we live in. People may not know that camping can be lots fun and has other benefits. Camping is a very good idea for a family vacation. Everyone should go camping because it provides you time to relax and to get aw ay from the stress of life, it gets you away from technology, and gives you an opportunity to get physical activity in the fresh air. How often do you get away from the world and take time to relax? According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, most people are effected by stress in some way or another. Acute (sudden or short-term) stress leads to fast changes throughout the body and almost all of the body systems, including the heart and blood vessels, immune system, lungs, digestive system, sensory organs, and brain, prepare for danger. This responses could be very beneficial in a life-or-death situation but over time repeated stressful situations put a strain on the body. The repeat stressful situation is called chronic (long-term) stress... ...e-to-face interactions. Overall, camping gets you away from the fast-paced world and provides time to relax, exercise and have loads fun at the same time. Works Cited Adler, Emily. â€Å"Social Media Engagement: The Surprising Facts About How Much Time People Spend On The Major Social Networks†. Buisness Insider. N.p., 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. "American Time Use Survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics. N.p., 20 Jun 2013. Web. 17 Jan 2014. "Overweight and Obesity." Center of Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., 16 Aug 2013. Web. 15 Jan 2014. "Stress." University of Maryland Medical Center. N.p., 30 Jan 2013. Web. 17 Jan 2014. W., Thomas. â€Å"Negative Effects of Technology on Society†. Obloolo. N.p., 19 May 2009. Web. 15 Jan 2014. "Physical Activity Improves Quality of Life." American Heart Association. N.p., 22 March 2013. Web. 15 Jan 2014.

The Advantages of a Small Company

Small businesses, or â€Å"mom and pop† organization are the backbone of this country. From the days when European settlers first founded our nation, entrepreneurs recognized an opportunity and strove to fill the needs of their clientele, even if it was only in exchange for a commodity like food. Today, in an economy filled with big box retailers like Wal-Mart, communications giants like AT&T and food and beverage conglomerates like Nestle, what is often missing is the human touch. Back when our parents were growing up, buying groceries meant a trip to the local market where the butcher cut your meat while you waited and a visit to the pharmacy often included a soda fountain treat served up by the teenager who lived down the street. Shopping was never a quick errand but also served as social time for chit chat between neighbors and friends. Bigger is not always better. The presence of huge corporations is slowly forcing the small business owner to either get out or find new ways to compete for business. Certainly you cannot call AT&T’s customer service line and find a relative on the other end of the line who will ensure you receive the utmost in care and maybe even include a recipe for that casserole you admired at last weekend’s Sunday social. Chances are that when you purchase a bag of dog food made by Ralston-Purina, a division of Nestle Foods, there will be no representative of the company asking after your satisfaction and your ill grandmother’s health. Modern-day society could only benefit from a return to the standards of small business practices such as used to be common. After all, wouldn’t a personal touch go a long way towards developing necessary relationships within our communities? References Fredman, Catherine, (June, 2007). Executive Secrets: Small Business, Big Impact. Retrieved August 13, 2007 from United Hemispheres: http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/jun07/executivesecrets.html   

Childhood Memories

In every human life, there is an unforgettable childhood experience. There could be many experiences or just one. These journeys can be good or bad and possibly end up beneficial or not. I have had a few bad ones. However, they occurred around times when I was trying to fit in and find my inner-self. In a sense, these experiences help to define my personality. In one way or another, bad experiences can lead to great success. Now I can talk about my experiences and what they led to. This is my story. Over the years between the third grade to the eighth grade, I have tremendously struggled with friendships. To be popular was a big need during the late 1990's and early 2000's. Kids were hanging out at basketball and football games, going to school dances, starting to date and have crushes on other students, and earn reputations throughout the school. Some students already had a reputation of being very `popular' while some were trying to fit in. I was one of those students. However, as time went by, I started to fit in more with cliques and different groups of friends. It sounded great however; being popular also comes with consequences. There are rumors that could be spread about you or someone else with your name in it.  Like read about memories? Read also  Flashbulb memory! Well, that's what happened to me. I was a friend of a student named Lorena. Our friendship was really good that we would hang out after school with other friends after riding the school bus home. As our friendship grew, so did our trust between each other. She told me that she had a crush on another student. I felt so special and popular but my 15 minutes of popularity would not last long. One day, Lorena and I had an argument. I threatened to tell people about her crush on another student. In reality, I never told anyone about her crush. One day, I was threatened verbally by some of her friends and I felt so bad. From that point on, I learned that being popular is not a big deal. Its consequences can put a damper on people's lives and can put people under pressure such as my situation. That means, people will remember or you will remember how you used to be. In addition, people will see how you will handle situations under pressure. If you don't come out strong, you will go from extremely popular to unrecognized. My 15 minutes of popularity was good to experience, but I'm glad the time was up. The consequences of being popular were more effective than the popular feeling itself. My last experience came with not being alert to public dangers. The cause of this experience was partially my fault. I will never forget that day. I was in the 7th grade and it was either a Tuesday or Wednesday night at the Wizards game. I was with my after-school group. Some of us had separated and looked around the stores inside the MCI Center. I went into the Discovery Center with one of the students from the program. We looked around and enjoyed some of the scientific display models. On our way out of the Center, we happened to encounter these young teenagers or younger in the elevator with us. There were 3 of them who were from either DC or Maryland. They looked sort of troubled but I was not giving them much attention. While in the elevator, one of them asked us for a dollar. I responded with saying of five dollars, which was larger than they asked for. From this moment, I was not street smart at because I was raised with out any street troubles and had no knowledge on how to be safe while you some talks to you that you do not know. My friend jumped out the elevator on purpose and left me in with the other guys. The three of them decided to tackle me and held me on the ground. Then, one of them reached in my pockets and took a dollar. I had realized I was just robbed. After 5 seconds, the elevator made it to ground level. When I got exited the elevator, security and my after-school chaperones came and made sure everything was all right. I was in complete shock and people asked me about what happened and I said to them that they took a dollar from me. In my mind, I was thinking of what I could have done to make the situation better. The reminisce lasted several months. This incident put a major effect in my life and it changed my personality. I am much more cautious of my surroundings and whom I hang out with. I definitely learned a lot from this situation. Those were my unforgettable experiences. I learned that being popular is not the best thing. If you just be yourself, people will accept you for who you are and not for what you are trying to be. Also, the elevator incident warned me that I need to be more alert of my surroundings. I should of never told those guys I had money in the first place. Secondly, I could have founded another way to get to the ground level once I saw those guys of what they're appearance looked like. I really learned from these situations. It's hard to predict when you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unless you use your senses, you definitely can determine what can happen. These were great experiences for me to go through. If it were not for these experiences, I would be a fake fool and a mess. Now, I have a great personality and street smarts. I have made remarkable achievements. I am one of many people who probably went though experiences like that, that made a change for the better. This experience had a good and bad part of it, but there was a lesson learned from it. There will always be a lesson learned from any experience and they are a good way for people to look at if they are having problems themselves. Experiences are part of life. Childhood Memories In every human life, there is an unforgettable childhood experience. There could be many experiences or just one. These journeys can be good or bad and possibly end up beneficial or not. I have had a few bad ones. However, they occurred around times when I was trying to fit in and find my inner-self. In a sense, these experiences help to define my personality. In one way or another, bad experiences can lead to great success. Now I can talk about my experiences and what they led to. This is my story. Over the years between the third grade to the eighth grade, I have tremendously struggled with friendships. To be popular was a big need during the late 1990's and early 2000's. Kids were hanging out at basketball and football games, going to school dances, starting to date and have crushes on other students, and earn reputations throughout the school. Some students already had a reputation of being very `popular' while some were trying to fit in. I was one of those students. However, as time went by, I started to fit in more with cliques and different groups of friends. It sounded great however; being popular also comes with consequences. There are rumors that could be spread about you or someone else with your name in it.  Like read about memories? Read also  Flashbulb memory! Well, that's what happened to me. I was a friend of a student named Lorena. Our friendship was really good that we would hang out after school with other friends after riding the school bus home. As our friendship grew, so did our trust between each other. She told me that she had a crush on another student. I felt so special and popular but my 15 minutes of popularity would not last long. One day, Lorena and I had an argument. I threatened to tell people about her crush on another student. In reality, I never told anyone about her crush. One day, I was threatened verbally by some of her friends and I felt so bad. From that point on, I learned that being popular is not a big deal. Its consequences can put a damper on people's lives and can put people under pressure such as my situation. That means, people will remember or you will remember how you used to be. In addition, people will see how you will handle situations under pressure. If you don't come out strong, you will go from extremely popular to unrecognized. My 15 minutes of popularity was good to experience, but I'm glad the time was up. The consequences of being popular were more effective than the popular feeling itself. My last experience came with not being alert to public dangers. The cause of this experience was partially my fault. I will never forget that day. I was in the 7th grade and it was either a Tuesday or Wednesday night at the Wizards game. I was with my after-school group. Some of us had separated and looked around the stores inside the MCI Center. I went into the Discovery Center with one of the students from the program. We looked around and enjoyed some of the scientific display models. On our way out of the Center, we happened to encounter these young teenagers or younger in the elevator with us. There were 3 of them who were from either DC or Maryland. They looked sort of troubled but I was not giving them much attention. While in the elevator, one of them asked us for a dollar. I responded with saying of five dollars, which was larger than they asked for. From this moment, I was not street smart at because I was raised with out any street troubles and had no knowledge on how to be safe while you some talks to you that you do not know. My friend jumped out the elevator on purpose and left me in with the other guys. The three of them decided to tackle me and held me on the ground. Then, one of them reached in my pockets and took a dollar. I had realized I was just robbed. After 5 seconds, the elevator made it to ground level. When I got exited the elevator, security and my after-school chaperones came and made sure everything was all right. I was in complete shock and people asked me about what happened and I said to them that they took a dollar from me. In my mind, I was thinking of what I could have done to make the situation better. The reminisce lasted several months. This incident put a major effect in my life and it changed my personality. I am much more cautious of my surroundings and whom I hang out with. I definitely learned a lot from this situation. Those were my unforgettable experiences. I learned that being popular is not the best thing. If you just be yourself, people will accept you for who you are and not for what you are trying to be. Also, the elevator incident warned me that I need to be more alert of my surroundings. I should of never told those guys I had money in the first place. Secondly, I could have founded another way to get to the ground level once I saw those guys of what they're appearance looked like. I really learned from these situations. It's hard to predict when you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unless you use your senses, you definitely can determine what can happen. These were great experiences for me to go through. If it were not for these experiences, I would be a fake fool and a mess. Now, I have a great personality and street smarts. I have made remarkable achievements. I am one of many people who probably went though experiences like that, that made a change for the better. This experience had a good and bad part of it, but there was a lesson learned from it. There will always be a lesson learned from any experience and they are a good way for people to look at if they are having problems themselves. Experiences are part of life. Childhood Memories In every human life, there is an unforgettable childhood experience. There could be many experiences or just one. These journeys can be good or bad and possibly end up beneficial or not. I have had a few bad ones. However, they occurred around times when I was trying to fit in and find my inner-self. In a sense, these experiences help to define my personality. In one way or another, bad experiences can lead to great success. Now I can talk about my experiences and what they led to. This is my story. Over the years between the third grade to the eighth grade, I have tremendously struggled with friendships. To be popular was a big need during the late 1990's and early 2000's. Kids were hanging out at basketball and football games, going to school dances, starting to date and have crushes on other students, and earn reputations throughout the school. Some students already had a reputation of being very `popular' while some were trying to fit in. I was one of those students. However, as time went by, I started to fit in more with cliques and different groups of friends. It sounded great however; being popular also comes with consequences. There are rumors that could be spread about you or someone else with your name in it.  Like read about memories? Read also  Flashbulb memory! Well, that's what happened to me. I was a friend of a student named Lorena. Our friendship was really good that we would hang out after school with other friends after riding the school bus home. As our friendship grew, so did our trust between each other. She told me that she had a crush on another student. I felt so special and popular but my 15 minutes of popularity would not last long. One day, Lorena and I had an argument. I threatened to tell people about her crush on another student. In reality, I never told anyone about her crush. One day, I was threatened verbally by some of her friends and I felt so bad. From that point on, I learned that being popular is not a big deal. Its consequences can put a damper on people's lives and can put people under pressure such as my situation. That means, people will remember or you will remember how you used to be. In addition, people will see how you will handle situations under pressure. If you don't come out strong, you will go from extremely popular to unrecognized. My 15 minutes of popularity was good to experience, but I'm glad the time was up. The consequences of being popular were more effective than the popular feeling itself. My last experience came with not being alert to public dangers. The cause of this experience was partially my fault. I will never forget that day. I was in the 7th grade and it was either a Tuesday or Wednesday night at the Wizards game. I was with my after-school group. Some of us had separated and looked around the stores inside the MCI Center. I went into the Discovery Center with one of the students from the program. We looked around and enjoyed some of the scientific display models. On our way out of the Center, we happened to encounter these young teenagers or younger in the elevator with us. There were 3 of them who were from either DC or Maryland. They looked sort of troubled but I was not giving them much attention. While in the elevator, one of them asked us for a dollar. I responded with saying of five dollars, which was larger than they asked for. From this moment, I was not street smart at because I was raised with out any street troubles and had no knowledge on how to be safe while you some talks to you that you do not know. My friend jumped out the elevator on purpose and left me in with the other guys. The three of them decided to tackle me and held me on the ground. Then, one of them reached in my pockets and took a dollar. I had realized I was just robbed. After 5 seconds, the elevator made it to ground level. When I got exited the elevator, security and my after-school chaperones came and made sure everything was all right. I was in complete shock and people asked me about what happened and I said to them that they took a dollar from me. In my mind, I was thinking of what I could have done to make the situation better. The reminisce lasted several months. This incident put a major effect in my life and it changed my personality. I am much more cautious of my surroundings and whom I hang out with. I definitely learned a lot from this situation. Those were my unforgettable experiences. I learned that being popular is not the best thing. If you just be yourself, people will accept you for who you are and not for what you are trying to be. Also, the elevator incident warned me that I need to be more alert of my surroundings. I should of never told those guys I had money in the first place. Secondly, I could have founded another way to get to the ground level once I saw those guys of what they're appearance looked like. I really learned from these situations. It's hard to predict when you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unless you use your senses, you definitely can determine what can happen. These were great experiences for me to go through. If it were not for these experiences, I would be a fake fool and a mess. Now, I have a great personality and street smarts. I have made remarkable achievements. I am one of many people who probably went though experiences like that, that made a change for the better. This experience had a good and bad part of it, but there was a lesson learned from it. There will always be a lesson learned from any experience and they are a good way for people to look at if they are having problems themselves. Experiences are part of life.

Mobile Phone and Habits Modern Gadgets

Facilitating Communication †¢With devices like the cell phone, the BlackBerry and the laptop computer, people can communicate easily while on the go. Businesspeople can stay in touch with clients or the office while waiting for a plane or when in transit, which can increase their productivity. Parents can supply their children with cell phones so they can keep in touch with them when they're away from home. Texting allows individuals to exchange brief messages quickly without the need for face-to-face or telephone conversations. Shopping Habits Modern gadgets also influence how people conduct routine daily activities such as shopping. With the use of a computer with an Internet connection, consumers can easily compare products, gain a wide range of product information and conduct the entire shopping transaction without having to leave their homes or offices. According a 2009 Pew Research Center study, 80 percent of Americans age 33 to 44 indicated they purchased products online and 67 percent did their banking via the Internet. †¢Sponsored Lin †¢Health and Safety Issues oOn the downside, overuse of electronic gadgets can have an adverse effect on health and safety.According to the Med India website, a Carnegie Mellon University study indicated, extensive use of the Internet or playing video games can lead to social isolation and even depression. Stress levels can also increase, as mobile communication devices can make it more difficult for users to disconnect from work and find time to relax. According to the Washington Post, a 2010 National Safety Council Study indicated that 28 percent of traffic accidents in the United States occur due to people talking on cell phones or texting while behind the wheel. Inappropriate Behavior In some cases, modern gadgets and their associated technologies can facilitate inappropriate behavior. Online predators can use the relative anonymity provided by an Internet chat room to pose as a teenager and lure a teen into a potentially dangerous situation. Social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter can provide convenient avenues for â€Å"cyber bullying,† such as when teens use these vehicles to intimidate or humiliate other teens. Individuals may also use their cell phones to engage in threatening or harassing behavior via text messaging. Sponsored Links

Fast Moving Consumer Goods Essay

FMCG are products that have a quick shelf turnover, at relatively low-cost and don’t require a lot of thought, time and financial investment to purchase. The margin of profit on every individual FMCG product is less. However the huge number of goods sold is what makes the difference. Hence profit in FMCG goods always translates to number of goods sold. Fast Moving Consumer Goods is a classification that refers to a wide range of frequently purchased consumer products including: toiletries, soaps, cosmetics, teeth cleaning products, shaving products, detergents, other non-durables such as glassware, bulbs, batteries, paper products and plastic goods, such as buckets. ‘Fast Moving’ is in opposition to consumer durables such as kitchen appliances that are generally replaced less than once a year. The category may include pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics and packaged food products and drinks, although these are often categorized separately. The term Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) is used interchangeably with Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). Three of the largest and best known examples of Fast Moving Consumer Goods companies are Nestlà ©, Unilever and Procter & Gamble. Examples of FMCGs are soft drinks, tissue paper, and chocolate bars. Examples of FMCG brands are Coca-Cola, Kleenex, Pepsi and Believe. The FMCG sector represents consumer goods required for daily or frequent use. The main segments of this sector are personal care (oral care, hair care, soaps, cosmetics, toiletries), household care (fabric wash and household cleaners), branded and packaged food, beverages (health beverages, soft drinks, staples, cereals, dairy products, chocolates, bakery products) and tobacco. The Indian FMCG sector is an important contributor to the country’s GDP. It is the fourth largest sector in the economy and is responsible for  5% of the total factory employment in India. The industry also creates employment for 3 people in downstream activities, much of which is disbursed in small towns and rural India. This industry has witnessed strong growth in the past decade. This has been due to liberalization, urbanization, increase in the disposable incomes and altered lifestyle. Furthermore, the boom has also been fuelled by the reduction in excise duties, de-reservation from the small-scale sector and the concerted efforts of personal care companies to attract the burgeoning affluent segment in the middle-class through product and packaging innovations. Unlike the perception that the FMCG sector is a producer of luxury items targeted at the elite, in reality, the sector meets the everyday needs of the masses. The lower-middle income group accounts for over 60% of the sector’s sales. Rural markets account for 56% of the total domestic FMCG demand. Many of the global FMCG majors have been present in the country for many decades. But in the last ten yea rs, many of the smaller rung Indian FMCG companies have gained in scale. As a result, the unorganized and regional players have witnessed erosion in market share. History of FMCG in India In India, companies like ITC, HLL, Colgate, Cadbury and Nestle have been a dominant force in the FMCG sector well supported by relatively less competition and high entry barriers (import duty was high). These companies were, therefore, able to charge a premium for their products. In this context, the margins were also on the higher side. With the gradual opening up of the economy over the last decade, FMCG companies have been forced to fight for a market share. In the process, margins have been compromised, more so in the last six years (FMCG sector witnessed decline in demand). Current Scenario The growth potential for FMCG companies looks promising over the long term horizon, as the per-capita consumption of almost all products in the country is amongst the lowest in the world. As per the Consumer Survey by KSAT echnopak, of the total consumption expenditure, almost 40% and 8% was accounted by groceries and personal care products respectively. Rapid  urbanization, increased literacy and rising per capita income are the key growth drivers for the sector. Around 45% of the population in India is below 20 years of age and the proportion of the young population is expected to increase in the next five years. Aspiration levels in this age group have been fuelled by greater media exposure, unleashing a latent demand with more money and anew mindset. In this backdrop, industry estimates suggest that the industry could triple in value by 2015 (by some estimates, the industry could double in size by2010). In our view, testing times for the FMCG sector are over and driving rural penetration will be the key going forward. Due to infrastructure constraints (this influences the cost-effectiveness of the supply chain), companies were unable to grow faster. Although companies like HLL and ITC have dedicated initiatives targeted at the rural market, these are still at a relatively nascent stage. The bottlenecks of the conventional distribution system are likely to be removed once organized retailing gains in scale. Currently, organized retailing accounts for just 3% of total retail sales and is likely to touch 10% over the next 3-5years. In our view, organized retailing results in discounted prices, forced-buying by offering many choices and also opens up new avenues for growth for the FMCG sector. Given the aggressive expansion plans of players like Pantaloons, Trent ,Shopper’s Stop and Shoprite, we are confident that the FMCG sector has a bright future. Budget Measures to Promote FMCG Sector 2% education cess corporation tax, excise duties and custom duties Concessional rate of 5% custom duty on tea and coffee plantation machinery Budget Impact The education cess will add marginally to the tax burden of all FMCG companies The dividend distribution tax on debt funds is likely to adversely affect the other income components of companies like Britannia, Nestle and HLL The measure to abolish excise duty on dairy machinery is a positive for companies like Nestle Concessional rate for tea and coffee plantation machinery is a positive for Tata Tea, HLL, Tata Coffee and other such companies Top Ten Players in FMCG Sector Companies:- 1. Hindustan Unilever Ltd. 2. ITC (Indian Tobacco Company) 3. Nestlà © India 4. GCMMF (AMUL) 5. Dabur India 6. Asian Paints (India) 7. Cadbury India 8. Britannia Industries 9. Marico Industries 10. Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care In order to carry out any research investigation there is a need of a Systematic method and to adopt a well-defined procedure for each and every research there is also a need of methodology. Methodology of any research constitutes the selection of representative sample of the universe or the general population, application of the appropriate research tools and the techniques. There is an old saying in Spain â€Å"TO BE A BULLFIGHTER YOU MUST LEARN TO BE BULL† means you never really understand a Person until you consider things from his point of view . In the same way to meet and satisfy the target customer the study of customers behavior of crucial important because he is king. Customer behavior studies , how individuals , groups and organizations selected buy use and dispose of goods , services, ideas or experiences to satisfy their needs and Desires. According to JAMES F. FUGAL, â€Å"Customers behavior consists of the acts of individuals in obtain and using goods and services including the decision process that precede and determine these acts. The research involves the following steps:- 1. DEFINE THE PROBLEM AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVE:- If the problem is clearly defined, it is half solved .The problem/Objective here to assess the scope of rural marketing for FMCG sector. 2 – COLLECT THE INFORMATION:- The information is collected from secondary sources-websites, magazines, newspapers, and magazines. 3- ANLAYZE THE INFORMATION:- The next step in the marketing research process is to exact Findings from the collected data. 4-PRESENT THE FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:- As the last step, the findings and conclusion of whole Research are presented in the end. ANALYSIS OF FMCG MARKET The research report offers insights into the dynamics of growth in a competitive market environment. The salient features of development the survey have identified include:- The improvement has been much more pronounced in volume terms than in value terms for most of the products. One of the greatest achievements made by the FMCG industry has been the ‘sachet’ bugs which have helped the companies to introduce products in smaller package sizes, at lower price points and reach new users and to expand market share for value added products in urban India. Several cost saving measures, various tax benefits, rising demand, good monsoon have helped the industry to achieve positive growth. Most of the multinational companies have started sourcing their products from India. HLL has become the production center in respect of personal consumer products like oral care, skin care products, soap, detergents globally for Unilever. There  has been a trend from shift to own manufacturing from third party manufacturing or procuring goods from third party small-scale manufacturers. Though the companies are going global, they are focusing on the overseas markets like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Middle East and CiS countries because of the lifestyles, consumption habits similar to India. Godrej Consumer, Marico, Dabur, Vicco laboratories are among the companies. The offshoots and mushrooming of regional companies which are posing a threat to bigger FMCG companies like HLL. The rise of Jyothi Laboratories, throwing challenge to Reckitt Benckiser is a case in point. FMCG market remains highly fragmented with almost half of the market representing unbranded, unpackaged home made products. This presents a tremendous opportunity for makers of branded products who can convert consumers to branded products. There is competition between the organized and the unorganized sectors in the FMCG sector. Marketing and distribution are very important in FMCG companies. New products require a large investment in product development, market research, and awareness campaign, developing franchise for a new brand advertisements, free samples and product promotions. All these developments have made the consumers strong, who are in a position now to choose a variety of products, from a number of companies, at different price points. Bargaining power of customers is high. Key factors to success are distribution (in rural markets) and advertising (in urban markets). Critical factors for success are the ability to build, develop and maintain a robust distribution network. The fact that a lot of women have started looking for specialized products has driven growth. Post liberalization period provided the consumers the opportunity to make choices amongst the products of domestic companies and imported products