Discussion and Respond. 3 Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion and Respond. 3 - Dissertation Example Effective leaders, through theoretical and practical skills determine these factors and design strategies that would ensure that goals are attained. Monkey Story (Company Norms) The story is a good analogy of how corporate norms are justified or rationalized. However, eventually, it presumes that, just like monkeys, employees manifest a blind adherence to company norms without questioning the underlying rationale for the behavior. I beg to disagree. People are rational beings. Eventually, new comers question why they are being told to do things the way they should do. Normally, organizations orient new employees by making them acquaint themselves with company policies and the organization’s code of discipline so that their work behavior is justified by the rules and regulations explicitly stated in the company policies and code of discipline. These are critical to ensure order, discipline and appropriate observance of work ethics and moral conduct expected of employees in a pr ofessional endeavor. US Navy Stand-Off Story, Communication It is a funny but effective story that exemplifies arrogance in communication definitely turns people off.

Dq Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dq - Essay Example r product differentiation) where the selling strategy is to distinguish their product from competing products or services on the basis of workmanship and design. In an oligopoly setting there a few sellers that sell a differentiated or standardized product where the decision of competitors affects the sale of a firm. Therefore, firms consider the strategies of competitors to determine its output and price (McConnell 2005 p.177). A start up company can expect profit when the business is able to cover the expenses including the start up costs. The sale of products should earn enough revenue to meet ongoing expenses associated with the operation of the business. A start up business entrepreneur must realize that a product sales amounting to $10,000 will not cover a monthly overhead expenses of $10,000 because the sales returns has a gross profit of only around $4000. A business reaches break even point when the sales revenue is equal to all business costs. The break even point can be calculated by identifying the fixed costs and variable costs. Fixed costs are expenses which do not change with changes in the volume of sales. For example, administrative salaries and rent remains the same and are expenses that must be met regularly irrespective of the volume of sales. These are usually known as overhead costs. Variable costs fluctuate with changes in the volume of sales. Variable expenses like shipping, purchasi ng inventory and manufacturing costs of a product has to be met for a start up company to make profit. Market structure and the distribution of income raise concerns about the formation of monopoly power where increased concentration of control moves into the hands of few monopolistic firms. Monopoly leads to decreased competition among firms and inefficient distribution of resources in the economy. Monopoly has an impact on the distribution of income. Research indicates that monopoly power reduces the income share of workers when compared to capitalists,

Case Study Johnson Johnson Marketing Essay

Case Study Johnson Johnson Marketing Essay Johnson Johnson Consumer Products Division is one of the leading fast moving consumer goods manufacturers in India. It is also among the most consistent and successful enterprises not just in the JJ world-wide group of companies, but also in India. Johnson Johnson Consumer Products division has been growing steadily over the last few years, and is one of the few companies in the Indian market to grow at extremely healthy levels. Johnson and johnson is the world most comprehensive and broadly based manufacturer of health care product and service for the consumer pharmaceutical and medical and diagnostics market. The Consumer Products Division owes its success to the strength of its brands, and the loyalty they enjoy from consumers, a strong sense of values driven from the Credo, and an environment, which sets the toughest standards of leadership. Overview Johnson and johnson founded in 1886 as a supplier of health care product in open market. The head quatered of John son and john son in new Brunswick ,Nj The company sell more than 175 product in 57 countries in the world . In 2003 the sale of Johnson and johnson were 4.19billion dollar. John son and john son have 110,600 employers over the world . More than US280billion pa philonthrapy. World leading heath care supplier PRODUCTS OF JOHNSON JOHNSON Aveeno ageless vitality Aveeno nourish + hair collection Aveeno nourish + style collection Aveeno hydrarting body wash Johnson natural baby lotion Johnson natural baby shampoo Johnson natural head to toe foaming body wash Listerine total care Neosprine lip health Neutrogena men sensitive skin Neutrogena sore pimple gel Neutrogena skin clearing mineral powder Neutrogena advanced sun block lotion Roc brilliance day rejuvenating Roc brilliance eye beautifier Skin crystal all natural sweetner COMPETETORS OF JOHNSON JOHNSON ABBOTT LABS LILLY ELI CO NOVARTIS A G PESTLE ANALYSIS POLITICAL LEGAL Johnson Johnson operates in both developed and developing countries worldwide where the political situation in these countries is stable and encourages more Investments. Also legislations in these countries favours free market economy with no government intervention. ECONOMICAL With the introduction of the European Union and single currency the whole European market has been transformed to a single market hence increasing the market for Johnson Johnson products. Also inflation and exchange rates in most of the countries has been stable thus not affecting the prices of products or any future Investments. SOCIOLOGICAL Due to recent developments people around the world have changed from using natural food products to the use of genetic modified food products or to special types of fo Unilever has tried to cope with all the changes that take place in the modern world. TECHNOLOGICAL The objective of Johnson Johnson is not only to maximize the wealth of its owners but also to anticipate the aspirations of its customers and to respond creatively and competitively with branded products and services that raise the quantity of life. Johnson Johnson put much emphasis on research and development, modern technologies and launching of modified products so as satisfy its stakeholders SWOT ANALYSIS: Johnson Johnson Strengths Worldwide sales have grown 14% indicating a strong position for the global group. The business model adapted by Johnson and Johnson fundamentally uses the adaptation of entrepreneurial values in order to retain an edge within the market place. Working with intensive scientific notions Johnson and Johnson utilise a varied expanse of problem solving techniques in order to challenge the standard practice and capitalise on growth through emerging markets which enables associated growth. The use of independent offices working as standalone units provides the opportunity to develop concepts with cultural considerations which can prove important when taking a product to global markets. Weaknesses There is increasing pressure within pharmaceutical markets to reduce prices in line with medical budgets and maintain patent expirations to ensure generic programmes are updated within critical path movements. Challenges have been faced within Johnson and Johnson where a reduction in the market demand for key products has been identified; some of these products were branded and have been replaced by generic programmes at the end of patent time lines. Internal weakness across the industry and not isolated to Johnson and Johnson would be the level of theft and counterfeiting of drugs managed through internal personnel. Opportunity Whilst the recent acquisition of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare will act as an opportunity in its own right to promote growth for the organisation through alternative routes there is the added value capitalised through the return on investment which will be realised 12 months before plan releasing funds back into the bottom line. Johnson and Johnson have highlighted new developments in pharma products with five undergoing regulatory review which provides the opportunity to grow the existing product portfolio. Development into new functions of medical devices and diagnostics will provide new markets to entry which will result in business growth. With the development of WTO rules to prevent the availability of cheap generic drugs there is the opportunity to reduce the level of lost profit due to generic introduction as patents run out. Whilst this will aid Johnson and Johnson where they own the brand where they are looking to capitalise on introducing generic drugs to market this ruling will become a hindrance. Threats Generally within the main pharmaceutical companies there is a high level of competition for the generics markets where patents finish and it is the first to entry where success will generally be determined. Technological developments with bio-tech concepts will potentially move the traditional pharmaceutical methods out of the market place in the long term although there is an economical argument that this form of development can be segregated to run alongside traditional methods and complement as opposed to replace. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS The assessment of the financial position of the firm constitutes an important aspect of the internal analysis which must be carried out to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation .It is important to carry out a financial performance of the corporation Johnson Johnson. because the financial appraisal will indicate the extent to which the firm is meeting some of its key objectives and also help management to direct operations and make decisions in ways which will achieve or fulfil the overall corporation objectives. Two categories of financial performance measures are commonly used and these can be based on absolute values, which measure profitability and those based on relative form of return on investment or capital employed. Profitability Businesses come into being with the primary purpose of creating wealth for their owners. Profitability measures indicate how effectively the total firm is being managed and in many ways constitute the most important aspect. Profit is widely used as an absolute measure of profitability and provides a means by which a corporation can be compared with another in the same industry e.g. Novartis or the same company over different times of period. Net profit margin This ratio relates the net profit of the business to the sales generated for the sales period. Net profit represents the difference between sales, the cost of sales and the operating expenses used to generate that profit. Year of Operation 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 Sales 48,270 51,514 47,582 40,977 40,437 Net Profit 2,129 1,838 1,105 2,771 2,944 Net Profit Margin in % 4.4 3.6 2.3 6.8 7.3 We can see the profit ratio was up in early years but due to intensive competition and new product innovations it started falling. Gross Profit Year of Operation 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 Sales 48,270 51,514 47,582 40,977 40,437 Gross Profit 5,041 5,174 3,181 4,303 4,410 Gross Profit Margin in % 10.4 10 7 10 11 The gross profit margin indicates that the gross profit is stable over the five years under consideration at 10% at the most is a favourable trend. Liquidity In analysing the liquidity position we want to know whether Johnson Johnson is able to meet its short-term obligations as and when they fall due. Year of Operation 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 Current Assets 16,209 17,678 20,086 25,407 21,601 Current Liabilities 20,602 23,212 28,364 12,134 17,970 Liquidity Ratio 1:1 1.1 1:1 2:1 2:1 From the given figures we can see that Johnson Johnson have a sound liquidity position of 1:1 meaning the corporation is able to meet its short-term obligations from its current assets without having to raise finance by borrowing, issuing shares or selling fixed assets which is a favourable trend. 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 Price Earning Ratio 2:1% 2:1% 1:1% 3:1% 4:1% The price-earning ratio is generally good at 31 it shows that the corporation is held in high esteem in the market 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 Dividend Cover 2441 1838 1320 2972 3088 The divided cover compares the amount of profit earned per ordinary share, which is 2441 in 2002, is good compared to the previous years. 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 Efficiency 2 1.74 1.63 2.65 3.30 The company is being operated efficiently in order to generate sales. Finally Johnson Johnson is financially sound and a going concern that is able to take up any challenges. Vision Value and low prices as hallmark of development Mission Statement For best quality and best price. COMPETITOR PROFILE ANALYSIS The five forces analysis will aim to identify the key forces, which will affect the level of competition in food, home and personal care where Johnson Johnson operates. The five forces Framework Potential entrants Threat of Entrants (Low) Suppliers Bargaining Power (Low) Competitive Rivalry (High) Norvatis Nestle Kraft Food Danone Sainsbury Marks Spenser Buyers Bargaining Power (low) Threat of Substitutes (High) Substitutes Threat from new entrants (Low) Home and personal care requires high capital investment in order to enter market and Johnson Johnson have built up experience and distribution channels to compete effectively in the industry. Currently Johnson Johnson is operating in 100 countries and is able to tailor its products to the different markets and anticipate customers demand. Most of its products like Baby care products are market leaders. Threat of Substitutes (high) There are so many competitors in consumer goods industry. there is a great competition among these consumers. So there is a substation effect which is very high. Bargaining power of Suppliers (low) Johnson Johnson is a very big and strong business entity, which cannot be easily influenced or forced in its decisions by suppliers, as it is not dependent on one supplier. As stated in the case Johnson Johnson has no problem with supply of raw materials as is able to operate in 100 markets with a variety of products without run short of raw materials. Bargaining power of Buyers. (High) Customers especially in European market frequently keep on demanding more new products, better features and great variety at acceptable prices. This has forced Johnson Johnson to develop new products.there are so many competitors prevailing in the consumer goods industry. So the bargaining power of buyers is very high. Competition (High) Johnson Johnson main competitors are unilever PG etc. Due to this Johnson Johnson was under restructuring programme Competitors are producing the same products as Johnson Johnson, hence bring competition in the market. ANALYSIS OF THE MARKETING MIX OF JOHNSON JOHNSON Weldon was a master of marketing, which was then to the advantage of the monolith JJ. The following discussions will analyze the capability of JJ using the marketing mix to maximize the profits gained by the said company under the headship of Weldon.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   II.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marketing Points A.  Ã‚   Product Based on the article of (2003) Johnson Johnson was a company who dwell in innovation and new products. This shows that the company has a commercial advantage against its competitors. Not only does it have a recognizable brand, it also offers products which the public identify with them. This is possible because they have identified themselves with the product. A good example of this would be their treatment of the drug, Procrit.    B.  Ã‚   Place Along with the famous products of the company, it also shows how effectively they make these accessible to the public. In the case of their product Band aid, they targeted hospitals by making it more scientific through the improvements made by their research and design department. The product was made liquid and thus accessible for hospitals as wound closing agents. Another product was also made accessible to the public. Their product, Nizoral, was formerly an antifungal treatment targeted for hospital use was transformed to commonplace merchandise, shampoo. This shows the tenacity of the company to offer the public their products and in the same time expand their market.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   C.  Ã‚   Promotion The promotion of the products of JJ, the company takes on the persuasive craftsmanship of Weldon to the public. The article indicates that Weldon does impose rather challenging tasks to his executives. These tasks are expected to be successful at the first attempt that some of the executives even consider it impossible. Nevertheless, the pressure provided by Weldon has been considerably effective given the performance of JJ in his reign. The competitive compulsion that has enveloped the company through Weldon has helped improved consciousness and creates a positive image towards the products offered by the company. D.  Ã‚   Price Early on in the article, the discussions have presented that JJ have offered the public with low-cost and considerably affordable products in the market. This doesnt only make their product known to the majority of the public, but also the choice of many buyers. The good thing about JJs recognizable brand name is that the buying public tends to trust their products. In this manner, this part of the marketing mix tends to contribute largely to the rest of the determinants of product choice.   Ã‚   Johnson Johnson as one of the most influential companies in the commercial sector. One could learn largely on the situations of JJ. It shows that a firm leader could do wonders for the company. Weldon was cognizant of both internal and external elements that affect the overall environment of the company. In this manner, he was able to use these to his advantage. Knowing what needs to be done for product has greatly influenced how he became aware on how these are going to be carried out.    More important than the effective implementation of the marketing mix, the proper communication within the organization is required. Along with the strong leader, the need of a healthy interaction within the ranks presents not only an opportunity to develop but also, as seen in the case of JJ, to essentially make seemingly impossibly demanding tasks into measured ones. BCG Matrix The Boston Consultative Group BCG Matrix is a Portfolio strategic analysis tool. It evaluates the portfolio of strategic business unit or markets according to their performance and groups them as Stars, Cash Cows, Question Marks or Dogs. The matrix is a market share market growth matrix. Companies must develop new businesses but also must carefully prune, harvest or divest tired old businesses in order to release resources and reduce cost. In the case of Johnson Johnson, we are going to analyse the portfolio of the business based on BCG matrix, examine the relationship between market share and market growth of the different business units. BCG MATRIX FOR PRODUCTS Market Share growth High low HighStars Best foods Frozen Market Growth Question Marks Deodorants Anti- Prespirant Cash cows Knorr Flora Dogs Slim Fast STARS (High market share, high market growth) As we have seen in the question mark businesses, there are brands within the business units that are performing well and if the question marks are successful they become stars. In home and personal care, products for cleansing, deodorant and antiperspirant under the brands of Axe Lux Ponds, Rexona, CIF, comfort, Domesto, Omo, Skip and Snuggle have a good share of the growing market. However, Johnson Johnson may have to spend substantial funds for its stars to keep up with high market growth and fight off the competitors attacks as a leader in these core brands. CASH COWS (Low market share, high market growth) Johnson Johnson does not have to invest heavily on marketing or to finance capacity expansion, as the growth is low and market conditions more stable. As these business units are market leaders, they enjoy economies of scale and higher profit margin. Johnson Johnson should use these cash cow businesses to support the lagging ones that drive down the profit of the company. QUESTION MARKS (High market share, low market growth) Question Marks According to our matrix question marks are operating in a growing market without high market share. Johnson Johnson is categorized as question marks. Therefore it can be noticed that not the whole divisions are under performing, as a result Johnson Johnson needs to invest more in these business units to keep up with the fast growing market because they are already successful but need better performance. DOGS (Low market share, low market growth) . With a weak market share in low growth market, they may be considered as dogs. As consumers started questioning the effectiveness of products and turning to alternatives. Segmentation Market segmentation is the process of taking a heterogeneous market and breaking it into smaller homogenous groups where all members have similar needs and respond similarly to a set of marketing efforts.   Once the market has been segmented, the organization selects the segments to be served (known as target markets).   Targeting . Johnson Johnson target households for home care products, health care products, personal care products for the people who are hygiene concious. Prices are generally set for middle class people, who can easily afford it. Positioning Determine positioning. A market position is developed for the product so that the target will clearly know where the product stands in relation to the competition, as well as other products marketed by the organization. Johnson Johnson have positioned themselves as home and personal care producers. Product positioning is how a product is positioned in the mind of the consumer.   Positioning begins with finding a difference in the product that is worth establishing to the extent that it is important, distinctive, superior, communicable, pre-emptive, affordable, and profitable. Johnson Johnson have position their products-High Quality and good price Johnson Johnson products are positioned as good value products but are slowing threat faced by Johnson Johnson Differential advantage refers to any feature of a product or organization perceived by customers to be desirable and different from the competition. An organization uses its resources and capitalizes on them to obtain a differential advantage by offering unique products. CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS Critical Success Factors are factors upon which the success of the business is dependant. Johnson Johnson attend to these factors to ensure success. Ability to tailor products according to different market and anticipate customer demands Understanding in depth of the countries in which Johnson Johnson operates Policy of listening to customers. Producing different range of products to match the diversity of its consumers Increased advertising budget and interaction with advertising agencies . CORPORATE OBJECTIVES Yet one of Johnson Johnson s major and most important objective was anticipating the aspirations of consumers and customers and responding creatively and competitively with branded products and services which raise the quality of life In crease customisation to local national taste by establishing additional brand names. Regain Market Leadership with 5 years. Regain Stockholder confidence Internationalise Management Marketing Mission Statement To provide the best quality products and Service to the customer and be the market leaders in the retail industry. MARKETING OBJECTIVES Johnson Johnson, consumer goods manufacturer has these main marketing objectives: To create sustainable, profitable growth and value for shareholders and employees by improving profits by 10%. To improve performance of the lagging businesses To boost sales and margin through its path to growth strategy by 10% To increase market share and maintain leadership of its core brands by creating customer loyalty. To tailor products to different markets and anticipate consumer demand through research and development-innovation. OTHER MARKETING STRATEGIES GROWTH STRATEGIES Growth Vector Analysis Existing Product Improved product (new, changed) New Product Options Existing market Market Penetration Product variants or product differentiation Product line extension Market expansion Market segmentation Market-Product segmentation -New product development -Market development -Existing boundary New Market Market development Diversification Conglomerate diversification Alternatives The most suitable strategies of meeting the Marketing objectives stated above are: Market Penetration A market penetration strategy suggests that growth is possible by achieving a deeper penetration (sell more) of its present product within a present market.   An organization could sell more of its current product(s) to its current customers, attract competitors customers, or convince non-users to begin using the product, thereby increasing its existing market share. Another growth alternative is to try and identify new markets for its present products. Johnson Johnson should sell more of the existing Products in Asia, Europe and North America. Product Line Extension Through a product line extension strategy, an organization might create an augmented product in order to stimulate the current markets and create new ones. Unilever must quickly start pursuing this strategy as its current products are falling out of favour with the consumer and should pursue this further.   Market Development By employing a market development strategy, an organization might identify new markets for its product by determining potential user groups for its current products, seeking additional distribution channels in its present locations, or offering its product for sale in new geographic locations, either domestic or international.   Another alternative is to develop new products for an existing target market. Ford has the opportunity to develop a very profitable market in Africa and the pacific region in particular the former commonwealth countries that readily identify with anything British. . New Product Development New Product development in existing Boundaries. Entirely new products can be developed taking into consideration customer tastes and preferences. This will enhance competitive advantage and keep competition at bay. Johnson Johnson must use a combination of these strategies to achieve best result in market growth and be able to compete effectively in the industry. COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES Focused Differentiation This occurs when the company a range of clearly differentiated products which appeal to different segments of the market. This will be the most suitable strategy to pursue due to the companies reputation of quality, value and service. It will also be congruent with the core aspirations of the company. Cost Leadership- (problem solution) Although Johnson Johnson has not competed on cost in the market it must try to cut costs because it is currently under attack from its competitors on both quality and cost of products. Therefore it must be seen to be challenging the competition not only on the quality of the products but also on the cost. MARKETING MIX STRATEGIES Marketing mix strategies The marketing mix is the means used by the marketer to satisfy customers. Product policies- new product development brand development Branding family, corporate branding. Branding is part of the actual product and is a major issue in overall product strategy. Branding is used to give products unique identities and helps the marketer to differentiate their product from those of competitors use a tool. Branding Strategy Family branding: this involves using a brand image and name for a range of products. Corporate branding: this means that a company uses its own company name as a brand for its products. Individual branding: this means that each product is given a distinct name and image by a company. Johnson Johnson must use this strategy because the brand name is well established, launch costs of new products may be low and brand loyal customers are more likely to try the branded new products New Product Development An organisation that wishes to survive long term, must invest in new product development (NPD). Always, all products eventually reach the decline stage of the PLC. Without new products an organisations sales will eventually become non-existent and Customers will seek competitors products. Additionally, by introducing new and innovative products to the market place first, an organisation may generate customer loyalty and maintain its market share as the market grows. NPD is costly and can be a long process. If a new product fails, a company may make huge financial losses and the ensuring bad publicity can be detrimental. The NPD process helps to minimise the risk of failure. Johnson Johnson must heavily invest in this strategy of new product development. Promotion policies Promotion is more than just advertising. It includes almost any form of communication that a company has with its customers. Indeed, it includes communication with stakeholders, suppliers, intermediaries and the general public. The range of parties that a company promotes to is known as the target audience. Promotion strategies and the communities mix When a company is pursuing a pull strategy, it promotes its products to the final customers to encourage them to buy. They are encouraged to demand the product from intermediaries. Place policies Place is the term used in the marketing mix to mean distribution. Distribution involves all the activities necessary in getting a product to a customer. Distribution can be looked from two perspectives: channels of distribution and physical distribution. Channel of distribution refer to the organisations involved (distributors, wholesalers, retailer, agents). Physical distribution refers to the physical transportation, handling and storage of products necessary to make products available to customers.

Robert Brownings My Last Duchess Character Analysis :: Robert Browning, Poems, Poetry, Prose

MurderÂ…mysteryÂ…intrigueÂ…All describe Robert Browning's poem, "My Last Duchess." From the speakers indirect allusions to the death of his wife the reader might easily think that the speaker is a bit crazy and committed a vengeful crime out of jealousy. His flowery speech confuses and disguises any possible motives; however, the mystery is left unsolved. Based on the poem's style and structure, it becomes evident that even if the speaker did not directly kill his wife, he certainly had something to hide. This poem is about a powerful Duke, and his beautiful, flirtatious wife who has two different personalities, one that was reality and the other was the lady in the painting. The duke comes off as being very possessive. "Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,/ Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without/ much the same smile?" (43-45). I believe this being said, the duke is over examining things, the smile can simply come off as simply being a nice person, but to duke sees it in a different light. He views it as being flirtatious. The poem begins and ends with him mourning the loss of his deceased Duchess, but from the way that the mighty Duke speaks, he knows more about her death than he leads us to believe. The Duke chooses his word very carefully, when he talks to his friend about the painting of his wife. He only drops small hints, to his friend about the death of his Duchess. "I gave commands/ then all smiles stopped together" (45-46). These lines mean that the Duke, playing a very dominant part, tells his wife to stop smiling and flirting. Being told this, she still continues on, which I believe she does not notice or see herself as being flirtatious. As a result I believe that the Duke killed his wife, or had someone to put her to her death. As the Duke speaks of his Duchess, in the beginning, he sounds extremely compassionate and caring towards her. The Duke had an absolute love for his Duchess as most husbands and wives do. He sounded so proud of her and the beauty that she posed: almost like she was a trophy. Despite all of the pride and excitement that he showed towards her, there was an element of distrust that lingered inside of his mind.

Health & Wellness of Traveling

As a stay at home mom, work Includes: cleaning, laundry, cooking, assailant my children with their homework, Ewing the chauffeur, shopping, and overall maintenance of the household. My husbands' Job Is to manage high stress projects and deliverables In the technical software Industry. Work Isn't limited to the adults In the household. We have been expressing to our children, since they began school that their Job Is to get good grades and work for their education.However, with the expectation that everyone In the household works hard during the week, we use traveling as a way to detach from the normal schedule, allowing the mind and body to rejuvenate. Whether this is a ay trip, weekend getaway, or a planned vacation, everyone benefits.. I am a firm believer that traveling offers opportunities to separate from routines, discover healthier less stressful lifestyles, and provide family values. I have found that day trips allow for inspirational outings and adventures that clear or expa nd the mind.It can be as simple as pulling off the road to enjoy a picnic with the family or taking the back roads to Gettysburg. The most recent example of one of my family's day trips was to the Renaissance festival. We enjoyed the music from different cultures, the sights of the costumes, the interesting food choices, and entertainment. When surrounded in a different environment, it allows the brain to focus on and enjoy the moment rather than thinking about the test that is coming up, scheduling the next oil change, or the up-to-your-eyebrows deadlines.However, more than a day trip is needed when a family is overly fatigued from the normal day to day grind. When people are drained, mentally or physically this lowers energy levels, happiness and tolerance. These core issues can tear a family apart and affect all members, beginning with the parents. There are literally hundreds of things that could potentially damage the relationship between a husband and wife, stress being number one on the list. I have found that this can be avoided by taking the Initiative to pro-actively work on rekindling a marriage.From experience, this Is most effective when spending time together via a weekend getaway. Weekend getaways offer a change of scenery, the ability to slow down the pace of life, and enjoyment of each other's company. A fantastic weekend getaway that I have personally enjoyed was a trip to Caesar Pocono Mountains with the one I love. We took advantage of their all- Inclusive package and didn't have to spend a lot. The experience of the champagne glass whirlpool bath, the private pool In our suite, the fabulous entertainment and addling provided a â€Å"mini† honeymoon.This change In atmosphere sets the tone for relaxation, incorporates healthy habits and relieves stress from our daily routine. To organize, but are stimulating to the entire family. The importance of building family memories is essential to developing a happy healthy family. Vacations ar e inspirational outings and adventures that expand the mind and teach us how to appreciate our everyday lives. This is best explained with an example of a family trip we take often to Riviera Maya, Mexico. Rather than Just laying on a beach, we make the effort to explore a culture unlike our own.The experience of snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, feeding sharks, riding the zip-line through the Jungle are memories that my family will treasure for a lifetime. We explored one of the thirteen natural wonders in the world Axel-ha, and enjoyed the adventure of climbing the Amman Pyramids. Vacations may also provide the opportunity to learn many interesting facts, like how the Mayans were able to tell the exact time using the sun to cast shadows on the pyramids and the history behind how they were built.However, a fond family memory was my husband's fear of climbing the Amman ruins, but still managed to Jump into a sacred well 60 meters deep. There are other principles and life experienc es these vacations offer. For example, how local people are so appreciative of the tips they receive and their work ethic of 18 hour shifts, Just to entertain us. My children immediately noticed how little the locals have in relation to themselves. This allows me to teach the significance what they have and what we as parents provide to them.These family values are best taught when experienced firsthand. Traveling and vacations, no matter how small or large, provide a much needed break for your mind and body. For the health and wellness of your family, invest in traveling. This offers more practical than theoretical knowledge. In my opinion these memories are far more valuable than Just pictures in a book or on the internet. Since we do not know what tomorrow holds, invest today in by planning to travel with your family.

Report on Carrebean Internet Cafe Case

REPORT ON CARRIBEAN INTERNET CAFE CASE Assignment – 1 CASE SUMMARY David grant is an MBA student hoping to open Caribbean Internet Cafe in his hometown Kingstons, Jamaica upon his graduation as he always wanted to be his own â€Å"boss†. Due to low accessibility and usage of internet in Jamaica, David thought of it as a good timing to pursue this business opportunity. He has gathered data on all the relevant costs: equipment, rent, labor, etc. He has also found a partner in the local telephone company, Jamaica Telecommunications Limited (JTL), where he previously worked.JTL has offered to provide equity and a long-term loan at favorable interest rates. He is now faced with the task of analyzing the gathered information and making a decision of whether he should proceed with the venture, and if so, if it would be a profitable business for him and JTL. TABLE OF CONTENT CASE SUMMARY1 INTRODUCTION2 PROBLEM DEFINITION3 CONCEPT FEASIBILITY STUDY3 TARGET MARKET4 LOCATION4 COMP ETITION4 ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY4 CAPITAL AVAILABLE5 START UP COST5 FIXED MONTHLY COST5 PRICE COST MARGIN ESTIMATION5 TARGET CUSTOMER SEGMENT – 200006 REVENUE PER YEAR6 PROFITABILITY6 CONCLUSION6 RECOMMENDATIONS7 INTRODUCTIONThe report deals with the study of a business proposal to open an internet cafe. The report studies the decision of David Grant who is an MBA student, to open Caribbean Internet Cafe in his home town Kingston, Jamaica. David while studying in London visited a number of cafes and was intrigued by the concept. While visiting his hometown Kingstons, Jamaica during summers he noticed that in spite of high awareness of the internet, there was low accessibility and usage of the same. Seeing a potential market of consumers, David decides to open a European concept based Cafe which will offer brewed coffee, imported wines, juices and baked products.He decides to have three areas in the cafe: a computer area with booths, a wine lounge with comfortable sofas, and a ge neral cafe area with table and chairs. He envisioned providing the customers, a perfect vehicle to use internet and other service without making an expensive investment in computer hardware and in addition a social outlet where people can surf together , listen to music or simply relax and socialize. He gathers the required information for starting the cafe and makes notes. PROBLEM DEFINITIONAfter gathering all the information David grant has to decide whether it will be a profitable and sustainable decision to open an Internet Cafe in Kingstons, Jamaica. CONCEPT FEASIBILITY STUDY In order to make a sound decision a feasibility study is carried out which will focus on analysing the target market, location , the competitors in the area and the three categories of costs: Start up costs required to be invested in the business, Fixed monthly costs that are to be bore as result of operations and variable costs, that result with every customer visit to the cafe.TARGET MARKET It was assume d that main segment that can be targeted as the potential customers would be university students, who have computer knowledge and professionals with high disposable income as they would appreciate a venue where they could relax and socialize along with availing internet facilities. Total segment size was assumed to be around 20,000. LOCATION Location that was chosen for setting up the cafe was New Kingston as most of the banks, other financial institutions and corporate had their head offices in that area.Also this area consisted of hotels and shopping centre, which would mean more masses, would come to know about CIC. Along with these factors, one more important reason was that New Kingston was close to several affluent suburbs from which CIC could attract patrons. COMPETITION In Jamaica, internet accessibility and usage was low. There were many reasons, that accounted for low internet usage such as 1) High cost of computer as percentage of average salary, 2) the lack of telephone lines in some areas of Kingston and,3)the high rates that was being charged by the existing service providers.Along with these factors, the idea of an† Internet cafe† was not very popular in Jamaica. So, this overall plan was quite new for that region and as a result the competition was not quite great. ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY CAPITAL AVAILABLE Table [ 1 ] PARTICULARS| AMOUNT (JA$)| DAVID GRANT’S SAVINGS| 5,00,000| JTL INVESTMENT IN EQUITY (50% SHARE)| 5,00,000| LOAN PROVIDED BY JTL @ 10% pa| 12,50,000| TOTAL| 22,50,000| START UP COST Table [ 2 ] PARTICULARS| TOTAL COST (JA$)| EQUIPMENT | 1426000| UTILITIY DEPOSIT| 7000| ADVERTISING (Prior to Opening)| 20000|LEGAL AND DECORATIONS| 120000| TOTAL| 1573000| FIXED MONTHLY COST There is an assumption that loan from JTL in the startup is a 5 year loan with principal payable on maturity and 10% simple interest payable monthly. Table [ 3 ] PARTICULARS| TOTAL COST (PER MONTH) (JA$)| WAGES TO EMPLOYESS (90*40*4*2)| 28800| SALA RY TO MANAGER | 40000| SITE RENTAL| 30000| TELEPHONE BILL AND UTILITIES| 15000| INTERNET LINK RENTAL| 10000| INSURANCE PREMIUM| 10000| ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND PROMOTION COST| 10000| ADMINISTRATIVE AND MAINTENANCE| 50000| INTEREST ON LOAN| 4167|TOTAL| 197967| YEARLY TOTAL (197967*12)| 2375604| PRICE COST MARGIN ESTIMATION PRICE/CUSTOMER (JA$) Table [ 4 ] PARTICULARS| TOTAL CHARGES| COST INCURRED| MARGIN (REVENUE)| INTERNET (PER HOUR)| 120| 60| 60| DRINKS (PER VISIT)| 140| 50| 90| FOOD (PER VISIT)| 60| 30| 30| TARGET CUSTOMER SEGMENT – 20000 An independent research firm, commissioned by JTL, conducted a study and came to the conclusion that the estimates by the owner regarding target size and demand were indeed correct.They also provided three scenarios of the demand that the cafe would attract. The market firm projected tha , optimistically, 50% of the segment would visit the cafe, on an average of , five times a year. A realistic projection was that 40% of the segment woul d visit the cafe on an average of three times a year. Finally, a pessimist estimate was that 30% of the segment would visit the cafe twice per year. Total Customer Visits / Year Optimistic (50%, 5x/yr) – 50000Realistic (40%, 3x/yr) – 24000 Pessimistic (30%, 2x/yr) – 12000 REVENUE PER YEAR Table [ 5 ] PARTICULARS| OPTI MISTIC | REALISTIC| PESSIMISTIC| COMPUTER USAGE (40%)| 12,00,000| 5,76,000| 4,32,000| FOOD/DRINKS| 60,00,000| 28,80,000| 14,40,000| TOTAL| 72,00,000| 34,56,000| 18,72,000| PROFITABILITY * In optimistic scenario the cafe would generate a profit of 45263 JA$ * In realistic scenario the cafe would incur a loss of 214737 JA$ * In pessimist scenario the cafe would incur a loss of 334737JA$ CONCLUSIONAfter analyzing the various aspects of the proposal it may be seen that the only scenario turning out to be a profitable and sustainable proposal is the optimistic one where the assumption is based on the fact that 50% of the total segment i. e. 10000 of the total 20000 customer segment will visit the cafe on an average of 5 times a year. But it would not a practically advisable to go ahead with such an assumption as the realistic as well as pessimist scenario shows a loss reflecting a negative probability of the business being profitable and sustainable in the long run.But it has been mentioned that the area does not have a cafe which provides internet facility and at the same time a hang out joint offering snacks and music at the same place, which makes Caribbean Internet Cafe first of it kind in Kingstons Jamaica. Therefore scrapping the whole idea leads to loosing out on an opportunity which gives David Grantâ€Å"First Mover Advantage† of offering a new experience to the customers. Secondly, a potential unexplored market which can be catered to by opening such cafe.Therefore David must proceed with his proposition but only after making certain changes in the area cost and tariff. RECOMMENDATIONS * David should revise his ta riff of 120$ per hour considering the average charges of the internet facility is 90JA$ per hour. * Also David can reconstruct the menu of the snack bar as the offerings does not fits the demand of the local people and is adding to the cost due to being exotic in nature. Eg. It is clear from the case facts that local people does not drink coffee and hence it may be omitted from the menu.