Situation Analysis For 42below Feijoa Vodka Marketing Essay

Situation Analysis For 42below Feijoa Vodka Marketing Essay 42 Below Vodka which is the worlds most awarded vodka according to its website is one of New Zealands most recognized alcohol exports to the world. 42 BELOW Limited, is a drinks manufacturing company based in downtown  Auckland,  New Zealand. Their foremost product is the  vodka  42 BELOW, the  gin  South Gin, as well as  420 spring water  (which is sparkling mineral water) and the cheaper brand  of Stil Vodka (Wikipedia, 2012).   42 Below is made from  genetic engineering-free wheat. The name also refers to the southern latitude where the product is manufactured just north of  Wellington  on New Zealands 42nd parallel and it is also a reference to the 42% alcohol content of the beverage. The specific product that will be the focus of this assignment is the 42 Below Feijoa Vodka which is made with the feijoa, a native  New Zealand  fruit, and has 42% alcohol content. It also has the hint of guavas and pineapple as well and is a relatively new product for the company. Vodkas are considered to be spirits that are principally neutral that is, without distinctive character, aroma, taste or colour (MediaWiki, 2012). Nevertheless, buyers do distinguish between them according to taste, alcohol content, and most notably, price. The target market for this product: 42 Below Feijoa (referred to in this report as Feijoa) will be the youth and this product will especially be marketed with a kiwi-culture concept to those with a patriotic streak. A price of around $37.99- $42.99 puts this vodka in the mid-price range which will also be a plus. 42 Below undertook a preliminary public tender of shares and warrants in 2003. On 27 September 2006 the firm received a takeover offer of $0.77/share from  Bacardi Ltd  , which expanded the value of the business to NZ$138 million. Bacardi looked at 42Below as a fledgling company but with much long-term growth potential in the international market. The takeover was victorious and 42 BELOW Limited is now completely owned by the Bacardi group. Market of interest, trends and size Market of interest: The New Zealand vodka market is currently saturated with a variety of products but 42 Below Vodka is a brand that has immense local brand awareness. In the language of Kiwidom, 42 Below is world famous in New Zealand. To capture market allocation, 42 Below Vodka has had to establish and cultivate a strong brand-name. This report discusses the introduction of Feijoa to Kiwis (here and abroad) and the best ways to achieve profitable sales. Feijoa is out to recapture Kiwis who are patriotic and always crave for a taste of New Zealand beginning with those who are in the country and continuing abroad. Trends and size of the market: Statistics New Zealand records that the volume of spirits (containing more than 23 percent alcohol) increased 217,000 litres (1.7percent) to 13 million litres in 2011 and according to them vodka sales were up 9% in popularity. This shows that the market size for Vodka in New Zealand is substantial and that the trend of the spirit market, especially that of vodka, is that it has continually increased in size. This also reiterates that the demand for vodka and vodka based products is going from strength to strength in New Zealand. External environment impacts Analyzing the environmental aspects is advantageous for comprehending how the present trends and developments could influence the promotional plan of our product. It is very important to keep up with the trends in the market to gain a competitive edge over our rival companies. Some of the current trends in the external environment and how these could affect out marketing plan are listed below. Social Networking One of the key trends in society today is the use of social networking. It is vital for our company to create and manage a Twitter Account as well as a Facebook page, which will permit current and potential consumers of our products to keep in touch with the company, ask questions and keep up-to-date on all our company and product promotions. A campaign that uses promotions, contests and other creative ideas on Facebook will allow Feijoa to have a higher level of input from and better communication with the consumer. These channels can also be used to maintain a high standard of our product with the consumers. Online Websites Online Websites are also great place for buyers to gather information regarding products on sale. It is therefore essential that our company has a technologically advanced and informational website about our products and the company. Consumers should be able to query about our product, locate information and buy said items using our website. We will look at upgrading our current website to this level: http://www.42below.com/ Corporate Social Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the responsibility of an organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society, the environment and its own prosperity. (MPI, 2012) it is seen as trendy for alcohol-based companies to integrate CSR into its advertising. At present, companies try to communicate messages like: Drink responsibly and You dont want to spoil a great party. A company sees it as its responsibility to inform consumers about responsible alcohol consumption. (ECMAM, 2009). Feijoa has plans to incorporate CSR into our promotions activity because it is important for any alcohol selling company to notify customers that it is fundamental to drink responsibly. Green Image The idea of going green is very popular in todays society. The buzz today is to try and protect our planet and her resources. Integrating the idea of being green in our marketing can be very advantageous in getting customers to buy our product. For our company to exploit this trend, we will advertise about the green aspects of our manufacturing and bottling process. Our company can also donate funds to green causes for every bottle of Feijoa bought. Competition Analysis An analysis of the current competition for 42 Below Feijoa Vodka, centered on the 3 most popular vodkas sold in New Zealand today, is presented. Using SWOT analyses, the identifiable weaknesses and strengths of Feijoa in the light of this competition has been examined. Key threats and key opportunities have also been identified. Current Situation 42 Below Vodka is a well known brand in New Zealand. It is, as they say, world famous in New Zealand. Made in the Wellington using the pure softness of New Zealand sparkling water, 42 Below Vodka has fashioned itself as a popular brand of vodka in New Zealand and abroad. 42 Below Vodkas current goal is to expand its vodka range and offering customers first-rate feijoa based vodka at an affordable price. Feijoa plans to target the higher class youth market consisting of high-end nightclubs, hotels, and restaurants plus the demographic that frequents these enterprises: youthful professionals, younger professional people, and others with an prosperous standard of living. Problem Identification The fundamental problem that Feijoa faces is entering into an already overcrowded New Zealand market with absolutely no taste awareness for a feijoa based alcoholic beverage. A strategic plan for acquiring considerable market share is crucial. Opportunity Because 42 Below Feijoa is entering an entirely innovative niche in the market, it has the prospect of building everything from square one including: image, a name for the product, and strategies to market the product. The first thing we need to do is create a brand image for Feijoa whereby it will begin to establish a connection with its target audience. The branding aim is to position Feijoa foremost in the minds of its target consumers whenever they think of buying highest quality pure vodka for their businesses, special events, parties and getaways. Feijoa will also need to develop an exceptional and continuing image of this vodka for targeted consumers. For example, another vodka distributed in New Zealand, Absolut Vodka, has a website that can attract and grip the attention of even a teetotaler, because the imagery and list of possibilities on their website are so compelling. Feijoa needs to develop an image that will boost our products status value and impression and enthralls its target market. Feijoa will have to implement clever marketing strategies in order to activate and propagate such a mesmerizing image for its product, Situation Analysis 42 Below Feijoa Vodka is entering into a completely new market segment under flavored vodkas where the targeted consumers already have preferences when it comes to buying vodka. Thus, it is necessary to carry out a SWOT analysis of both 42 Below Feijoa and the competition so that the company can obtain a lucid view of this new environment. An industry analysis will help Feijoa to create the precise brand awareness for its own vodka and to understand the nature of its competing products. There are currently many brands of flavoured vodka in New Zealand liquor stores. Its popularity can be attributed mainly to its neutral flavour and adaptability as a mixer. Many vodkas are reasonably priced and are intended to be mixed with other drinks like orange juice or apple cider or mixed in Bloody Marys, martinis and other cocktails. Other brands of vodka are dearer and drunk ice-cold, either straight-up (neat) or on-the-rocks (on ice). Flavoured vodkas are well liked. 42 Below Feijoa Vodka has impending competition from a wide range of pre-existing flavoured vodka products in its selected environment. Feijoa will understand how to best penetrate its new market after carrying out a full examination of its competitors. Competitor Analysis Vodka is usually distilled from rye and wheat grains or from beets or potatoes. After distillation, charcoal is usually used to filter the vodka. The more one distils and filters vodka, the clearer and purer its taste becomes. Therefore, the expensive vodkas are usually those that have been distilled and filtered numerous times. Vodka needs to be diluted before it is packaged as it has a very high percentage of ethanol, usually 95-96% (Wikipedia, 2012). Vodkas are considered to be spirits that are principally neutral that is, without distinctive character, aroma, taste or colour (MediaWiki, 2012). Nevertheless, buyers do distinguish between them according to taste, alcohol content, and most notably, price. There are three broad categories of flavoured vodka in relation to cost and it is useful to 42 Below Vodka to see where its product is positioned. Feijoa has completed an environmental scan of three price ranges of flavoured vodka in Auckland lower range, mid range and premium priced. To best understand the competitive environment, three of the most popular flavoured vodkas from different price categories have been identified for SWOT analysis. Lower cost range: Vodka Cruiser Mid cost range: Absolut Premium cost range: Grey Goose The subsequent discussion and charts discuss the results of this analysis for Cruiser, Absolut and Grey Goose. Internal environment impacts Financial Analysis In 2003 42 Below vodka was being distilled in a garage in Wellington. Now the spirits firm is New Zealands most exponentially growing listed company and has just been taken over by U.S. alcoholic beverage giants, Bacardi who paid NZ$138m (US$91m) for it. Just as impressive as the growth in revenue, which increased by 2,116% over the last two years, is where 42 Below vodka is being sold. The companys markets are the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand in that order. (iStart, 2007). Internal Organisation and Structure Bacardi Limited is the company that has bought out 42 Below in 2006 and has made 42 Below its irreverent completely out there vodka for those who want to do things differently. The board of Bacardi Limited consists of 14 members of the Bacardi kin and four autonomous directors. Bacardi Limited runs its empire with the presence of an International Leadership Team that looks after the main decisions of all its brands, 42 Below being one of these. The Leadership team is made up of the chief executives based all over the world: The Chairman of the Board of Bacardi Limited since 2005 is Facundo L. Bacardi who is also the great-great grandson of Company founder Don Facundo Bacardà ­ Massà ³ and a fifth generation family member. President and Chief Executive Officer of the company is Ed Shirley who was elected a Director by the Board in March 2012. Ron Anderson is the Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer and is responsible for commercial capabilities of the internationally known portfolio of premium spirits with focus on enhancing sales force capabilities, commercial effectiveness and implementing robust go-to-market programs (Bacardi, 2012). Scott M Northcutt is Senior Vice President of Human Resources of Bacardi Limited and is responsible for all everything to do with employee career improvement, employee pay schemes, progression planning, as well as management and organisation advancement. Silvia Lagnado, Jacques Croisetià ¨re, Stefan Bomhard, Caroline Basyn, Robert Furniss-Roe, Jon Grey, Paolo Perego, Eduardo Sà ¡nchez, Siddik Tetà ­k and Atul Vora make up the rest of the members of Bacardis Leadership Team. 42 Below has acquired its own Managing Director, Paul Dibbayawan, who was headhunted by Bacardi to manage 42 Below and joined this iconic NZ brand last year. Manufacturing Processes 42 Below Feijoa Vodka is made from genetic engineering-free wheat from the Canterbury Plains and pure New Zealand still and sparkling mineral water. And, because 42Below is truly obsessed with creating great vodka, it uses a high saturation distillation process with the vodka distilled 4 times and filtered through 35 separate filters (Bacardi, 2012). The result is distilled twice, prior to being rinsed in spring water, achieving a saturation point that brings a high level of purity and freshness to the vodka. 42 Below then faces distillation a third time. It is then charged with charcoal to eliminate any final contaminations before being filtered. It is then diluted with local sparkling spring water (DrinkSupermarket, 2012). 42 Below is diluted with water from the mineral springs from deep underneath the volcanic highland in the heart of New Zealands North Island. This spring has been graded AA by World Health Organisation indicating water of supreme cleanliness and purity (DrinkSupermarket, 2012). Human Resources The person in-charge of Bacardi Limiteds HR activities is Scott M Northcutt but 42 Below is a Kiwi company with its own Managing Director Paul Dibbayawan. When Bacardi Limited took over 42 Below, the entire staff was retained and the production remained in New Zealand to keep the identity of this iconic Kiwi brand. 42 Below has a very relaxed HR management style. The companys headquarters has been famous for announcing (on their walls) that they cull their staff once every six weeks so that their vodka secrets do not leak out. Management As discussed above Bacardi Limited has its own Leadership Team that functions as its International Management system as well but 42Below is also a Kiwi company with its own Managing Director Paul Dibbayawan who is now settled in Takapuna. 42Below is run like a publicly listed company. Whilst we are not a publicly listed company, the Bacardi CEO is really setting the direction for us to be governed in the same way. We are putting a lot of the systems in place as if we were. It just makes perfect sense. The regulations and transparency are there for a reason so it is only sensible to follow that best practice. Stated Dibbayawan in an interview (The Director, 2008). Research and Development 42 Below has hired the vodka professor and his job involves going around the world running sessions called vodka university (The Director, 2008). They mix and match all vodkas and mixers from all over the world with bar-people and this process is what they classify as research. Marketing Function When it comes to 42Below, they dont sell a product; they sell an idea, an experience even. 42Below doesnt have sales reps, it has ambassadors. Nobody has titles, except for kind of nickname titles. The creator and boss of 42Below had the title of Chief Vodka Bloke. The marketing and promotions output from 42Below is distributed under the title of propaganda (42Below, 2012). When one goes through each of the propaganda material, youd notice that none of the twelve current marketing posters sell 42Below as a product; they all sell the experience of purity, kiwiness, uniqueness, perfection, irreverence, everything that 42Below is famous for. An innovative orientation for the intuitive sensing of what the market needs involves an entrepreneur who can come up with a new idea first and then think about how and where he will sell the product (Stokes, 2000). This opportunity-focused posture was adopted by 42Below and allowed strategies to emerge over time (Rahoi-Gilchrest, 2007). Instead of selling vodka, they sold stories and experiences that are unique from branding to production; a positioning that gave them an exceptional competitive advantage (Morrish  HYPERLINK #idb19et al.HYPERLINK #idb19, 2010). Location 42 Below vodka is headquartered in the Britomart area where a large poster announces that We have to kill all our staff every six weeks.   The company recently had to move into bigger premises from its Penrose location, and has taken over a building in the Britomart complex in the Auckland CBD. External Relationships As a company that believes in marketing dreams, visions and experiences in contrast to products, 42Below has created and nurtured many external relationships to help it achieve its aims. 42Below has long supported Hollywood by supporting our own Wellywood greats like Peter Jackson and hopefuls like Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland. The Lord of the Rings Oscar party included goody bags to the VIPs that included 42Below products amongst other things. Albiston and Sutherlands participation and win at the Aspen Shortfest was made possible by 42BELOWs sponsorship. 42BELOW has also been one of the principal sponsors at the New York Film Societys event honouring Michael Douglas in 2010. 42BELOW has also supported NZ Music Month. 42 At The Zoo was seen as a celebration of New Zealand Music Months success for a decade. 42BELOW also hosts a  Cocktail World Cup in New Zealand every year since 2004. Vodka cocktail making or mixology, as 42Below calls it has become a world renowned skill for bar managers everywhere. 42Below flies in the proven mixology team from all over the world to New Zealand annually to participate in this competition. 42Below has also co-sponsored events like Hilarity For Charity 2012 in support of the Alzeimers Association in Los Angeles in January this year. 42Below has many other external relationships that helps it market dreams, visions and experiences. High Quality Competitive Positioning Perceptual Map High Price Low Price Low Quality Ethical standing For Paul Dibbayawan the four elements of social responsibility for drinking is a very important factor when it comes to marketing the drink. He has strict guidelines that stop the company from participating in any marketing propaganda that could involve minors, drink driving, binge drinking or being sexually liberal. We dont want to be appealing to minors we dont want minors to drink. We dont want drink driving thats a big problem in New Zealand. We dont want excessive binge drinking. And we dont want people to think that if they drink the brand, theyll immediately be sexually successful. (The Director, 2008) Another important thing about the socially responsible marketing strategies of 42Below is that they do not participate in mass marketing like billboards, newspapers or magazines as these according to Dibbayawan do not actually reach the target audience and may lead to minors buying the product instead. Other (A Culture of Excellence) 42Below has a culture of excellence when it comes to its products and this is illustrated by the list of awards that the different flavours and the original vodka have won over the years. The original vodka has won gold for 7 years straight and silver the year it was introduced to the world competitions. 42Below currently has the reputation of winning more vodka awards than any other brand in the world. This culture of excellence is a huge marketing advantage for 42Below especially when launching a new product like Feijoa Vodka since this excellence can be used to catapult Feijoa above its competitors. Situational Analysis Summary 42Below Feijoa Vodkas environmental scan has determined that Feijoa has a number of competitive advantages over brands in the NZ flavoured vodka market. As a quality brand, it surpasses vodka in the lower and mid price ranges. Its major competition in the mid price category is Absolut but Feijoa has a unique filtering process with distinctive and pure NZ ingredients and it has 2% more alcohol content than Absolut. Based on the SWOT analysis (please refer to diagram) of other well-known vodka brands in NZ plus 42Below, we are able to create a perceptual/positioning map (please refer to diagram) that indicates the market positions of assorted vodka competitors and how competitive Feijoa can be. Moreover, this analysis will give me leeway to suitably adapt the brand and its marketing campaign. According to the positioning map, Feijoa holds a spot at the top end of high quality however is positioned with an unexpectedly reasonable price that does not correspond with its excellent quality. In other words, compared to its competition, 42Below Feijoa Vodka is a high quality product at a relatively low price.

Peter Brook Essay -- essays research papers fc

It is noted in many books that near the start of his career, Peter Brook was attracted to both plays and techniques that expressed human contradiction. He often wondered, though, whether there were any modern playwrights who could possibly equal the richness and complexity of Shakespearean verse, and often complained about the improbability of ever finding material to work on or to produce as stimulating as that of Shakespeare. When, in 1964, Brook received a play entitled The Persecution and Assassination of Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade (Marat/Sade), by German playwright Peter Weiss, it is also noted that Brook felt he had finally encountered the challenge of Shakespearean theater he was looking for. Not only was Marat/Sade an incredibly well written and unique approach to theater as a whole, its incorporation of music and movement, song and montage, and naturalism and surrealism within the text created the perfect passage, for Brook, from his commercial past to his experimental present, as well as a way for both the playwright and the director to deal with the concept of theater as therapy; a rather ironic, yet at the same time clever, idea seeing as how the play itself is conducted within the confines of an asylum, with the inmates themselves as the stars. One of the most complex aspects of presenting Marat/Sade was its large and eclectic cast of characters and also its incorporation of a play within a play. On stage, these points were, looking at the opinions of a majority of both the audiences and the critics, presented successfully by Brook and the cast he worked with. From the prison guards who loomed in the background, clothed in butcher aprons and armed with clubs, to the half-naked Marat, slouched in a tub and covered in wet rags, forever scratching and writing, to the small group of singers, dressed and painted up as clowns, to the narcoleptic but murderous Charlotte Corday, Weiss and Brook offered a stage production that both engaged and amazed the audience, while at the same time forced them to question their role as the audience; no better exemplified than at the very end of the play, where the inmates, standing menacingly at the edge of the stage, actually begin to applaud the very people who applaud their performance, aggravating and confusing some, but forcing most t... ...m, though they are quite safe behind a large facade of iron bars. This technique corresponds to the menacing way that the characters address the camera throughout the performance, and creates the necessary feeling, for the viewers, that no such barrier is available to protect them as they are drawn in uncomfortably closer to the inmates by Brook’s camerawork. We begin to question whether or not the soliloquies, spoken directly into the camera instead of to the protected aristocrats who originally played our ‘part’ of the audience, are still merely just a theater convention, or if the insanity of the performers is used as a catalyst for we, ourselves, to feel threatened directly by what is spoken. We also begin to question whether or not the inmate is even looking at the camera to address the audience, or is simply insane, and addressing the air around them, adding yet another layer to such complex characters. Creating such questions within the audience’ s mind also seems to create, for most, the aura of discomfort and skepticism that Brook was aiming to achieve, and reached quite successfully. Bibliography Lunatics, Lovers, and Poets by Margaret Croyden

How Workers Attitude and Job Satisfaction Affect Their Work.

Thesis Statements: Attitude and Job Satisfaction: A worker attitude towards work is directly linked to the job satisfaction; a worker who is satisfied with his job performs better and excels at what he does. It is therefore imperative for a company to understand the attitude of its workers and measure the job satisfaction of its employees, as job satisfaction is essential for productivity. Introduction Worker attitude and job satisfaction deals with how an organization behaves. It involves the management directing employees into improving organizational and personal effectiveness.It plays an enormous role in determining the attitudes of employees and their job satisfaction. When an employee is happy, it is usually because they are satisfied with their work. This also improves the quality of their work. Attitude and job satisfaction may not fall completely on the management but also on the employees. If employees enjoy their work, they will not need external motivation from management , but instead the satisfaction they attain from completing their work will motivate them (Robbins, 2004). Job satisfaction is an individual’s contentment with their work.Its effect on productivity is either positive or negative. The relationship between job satisfaction and job productivity is however not consistent. An individual may still obtain high job productivity without having the satisfaction in the work. This happens mostly when money is their motivation. Another motivator is improving in his or her work in order to receive a promotion. Other employees may increase their productivity due to the satisfaction they get from their work. A reason for job satisfaction may also come from an employee getting a good salary.It improves job satisfaction as long as an employee has knowledge of the fact that they get fair payment for their efforts at the end of the day. Job satisfaction has an effect on an individual’s satisfaction with life. If an employee does not get sa tisfaction in their work, they may seek for satisfaction in other work unrelated areas. This provides fulfillment and balance in their life. He or she may also be content with work as it relates with those work unrelated areas. Job dissatisfaction may also cause an employee to quit (Robbins, 2004). How Workers Attitude and Job Satisfaction Affect Their Work.An employee’s attitude towards authority may affect his or her relationship with management. Negative attitude towards authority will cause clashes in the work place. Psychology is another reason that affects an individual’s attitude. Another reason for a negative attitude towards authority is jealous for their position. This attitude affects job productivity in a negative way. If the workers attitude is a negative one so is their ability to produce positive results. Worker attitude and job satisfaction are two factors that affect a company’s productivity.There are different issues that affect worker attitude and job satisfaction either in a negative or positive way. These issues include the management, employee, sociology, communication, culture, and work environment. Management Role The management’s style of leading plays a huge role in worker attitude and job production. Empowerment is one factor that can motivate better productivity. If the management gives an employee opportunity to work according to their own standards, preferred that these standards measure up to those of the company, job productivity will increase.Human empowerment is satisfactory to every individual. Self-satisfaction leads to job satisfaction. We also have strategic planning by management. This is crucial when dealing with influencing job productivity. An example of a way to motivate employees is the management offering them opportunities for promotions and pay rise negotiations. This will encourage job productivity since employees will want to receive these rewards (Jackson, 2002). Organizational objec tives also affect how the management relates with the employees.If the organizational goal is to achieve a certain percentage of profit in a business year, then it will exert pressure on the employees to increase productivity. Positive influence is not the only way to ensure an increase in productivity. Some organizations offer contracts that clear states the amount of productivity needed from employees. This is in the case of sales and marketing where a sales representative needs to achieve a target on a certain deadline. This may mount pressure on the employees and in turn affect their job satisfaction. In some cases, the management is not as strict with the employees.The problem with this is that the employees might eventually relax on the job. An organization may also decide to add more working days depending on their goals. Complying with such a decision is hard and it may leave the employees bitter and resentful towards management. This attitude will affect job productivity, a s the employees will arrive to work with no motivation. Another factor in work attitude is time away from work. Apart from free time on the weekend, which is compulsory according to work ethics, employees need to take time off from work. This normally is the leave period (Jackson, 2002).Employee Role Some individuals choose professions that they like while others end up in their profession due to pressure. Pressure may come from the need to make money or a parent or guardian deciding on what their kids will do. When one chooses something they love doing or has an interest in, then they are content and happy about what they do. Love for a profession encourages a positive attitude. This is all the motivation employees need when it comes to productivity. A happy employee is a productive employee. When an employee loves what they are doing, they attain job satisfaction.This automatically affects productivity in a positive way. Productivity however suffers with negative employees who onl y work to make money. Their aim is to increase their productivity in order to get more money but this eventually makes them stressful and bitter. Since they have no interest in the work, satisfaction is hard for them to achieve. This is another form of motivation but is not sufficient. The two major ways for employees to improve, productivity in their professional areas is the choice of profession. Employees need ways to relieve their stress if they want to improve their work attitude and productivity.Work related stress is common among most employees. This is especially by employees that do not experience any job satisfaction from their work. Stress is something that may lead to more serious illnesses. This lowers productivity from the absence of employees in the work place. Stress is relieved by taking breaks from work, exercising, socializing with friends, and having fun. Psychological development is also another factor that affects attitude. Since psychology is what determines h uman behavior, it affects how we react and relate with others.Every one of us reacts differently to different situations. An example is when management is brutally honest about an employees work, some may take it is a warning to do better others may take it as criticism and give up. This depends on how an individual makes decisions. External factors such as the family, relationships, financial status are a few of other things that also affect the employees’ attitude. A healthy employee is a productive employee and a happy one. Social Role Our social behavior affects our work. This is in regard to introverts and extroverts.An introvert will not easily socialize with people. This affects their performance in a situation that needs teamwork. Teamwork requires all individuals to communicate with each other. If employees cannot work well together, it affects productivity. A company that encourages teamwork experiences higher productivity. Extroverts are aggressive people and some people may try to avoid them. Relationships in the work place affects attitudes and in turn productivity. If employees have a close relationship with each other, employees work well together and their attitudes improve as well.An improvement in attitude improves job productivity and satisfaction. In order to improve this relationship, some organizations encourage team building by dedicating a few days for members to socialize. This is through encouraging games in this sessions or providing projects for them to do. Interaction between employees helps them know each other better and beyond the work place. It improves their relationship and attitude towards each other (Edwards, 2004). Social role also involves the relationship between employees and management. In most organizations, this relationship is usually strictly professional.The only time the two interact is while it involves work. This is a way for the management to ensure that they have an upper hand towards the employees. Th is may lead to employees withdrawing from the management due to fear. Fear affects productivity, as the employee cannot approach the management if he/she is having trouble. They may imagine that the management will see this as a weakness. A good relationship is one where the management associates with its employees openly. Respect is the only thing that needs establishment between the two. This way, it is easy for employees to approach the management.A good relationship will improve employee productivity by improving their attitude and encouraging job satisfaction. Another social factor is competition. This is due to human nature to prove themselves. Employees may compete amongst each other for appraisal or a chance to grab an available higher position. This is a way for productivity to improve. Their attitude will depend on whether the competition is a healthy or an unhealthy one. An unhealthy one will lead to stress (Edwards, 2004). Communication Communication is how information t ransmits between the management and employees or between the employees themselves.Employees need to be free with the management in order to approach them when they are having trouble. Good communication has a positive effect on the employee’s job satisfaction. When all their needs a met, they can easily perform their duties efficiently. This increases job productivity and in turn improves the workers attitude. Communication is also important between employees. Employees need to maintain a good relationship with each other in order to communicate efficiently. Respect is an important factor in communication. In every organization, respect needs to drive how they communicate.A good way to implement communication between management and employees is by planning meetings. These meetings should allow employees to ask questions and express their opinion. Management should ask employees for their input and suggestions in matters concerning them. This will make the employees feel even more part of the organization. It will improve the relationship of everyone in the organization. Good communication leads to a good relationship that in turn improves employee attitude and job productivity (Mitchell). Culture The differences in culture affects people’s attitude.Different cultures have different practice. Some cultures do not allow their employees to work for certain amounts of hours. This may affect an individual if a transfer occurs and they get to a work situation that encourages more working hours. He/she will develop a negative attitude towards work. In some cultures, individuals are risk takers. They enjoy doing things beyond their capabilities. They attain satisfaction both in life and in work. There is no better motivation to improve their job productivity than this. In others, employees are hardworking. Their attitude towards work is usually a positive one (Jackson, 2002).Work environment A positive work environment improves on employee attitude. This depends on other employees, the management and the available resources. If an organization takes care of their employees by providing all needed resources, then their productivity will improve. Job productivity increases a business performance and profits, which in turn ensures that employees receive their salary frequently. When the business performs well then the employees are happy. A good performance in the organization gives the employees a positive attitude that improves their individual performance.As long as the employees are happy and performing, job productivity will increase. Job satisfaction improves employee’s relationships with customers. A good working relationship such as that one will increase on the sales of goods and services. Some company’s offer their employees bonuses especially during the holidays. This acts as an encouragement to the workers and improves their relationship with management. In departments such as sales and marketing, employeeâ⠂¬â„¢s performance can improve if given bonuses or commission when they bring in more sales clients.With this knowledge, the employee’s performance is sure to improve drastically (Edwards, 2004). Conclusion The duty of management and the employee in improving workers attitude is debatable. Some may argue that it is up to the employee to ensure that they attain job satisfaction from their work, as they are the only ones in control of their attitude and performance. It is also possible to say that all the responsibility is entirely the managements. They decide on the nature of the environment in which the employee works.The management holds the power to control employee salary, off time and promotion. External factors such as the environment, social situations, and culture also affect worker attitude and job satisfaction. In my opinion, it is up to both the parties to decide on worker attitude and job satisfaction. If you need professional research paper help you can buy custom papers online at CustomWritings. com – online research paper writing service. Tags: Job Satisfaction research paperresearch paper on Worker AttitudeWorker attitude and job satisfaction essayWorker attitude and job satisfaction term paper

Vaccine Could Protect Against Stroke And Epilepsy Essays

Vaccine Could Protect Against Stroke And Epilepsy Essays Vaccine Could Protect Against Stroke And Epilepsy Vaccine Could Protect Against Stroke And Epilepsy Damage February 25, 2000 A new oral vaccine has offered new hope because of its effectiveness in protecting laboratory rats against brain damage from epilepsy and stroke, and might one day be used to help humans with the same conditions. The vaccine blocks a protein in the brain called NMDA, but does so only when epilepsy or stroke occur. The vaccine is released in the brain as needed and is protected from any side effects. During and colleagues immunized another group of rats and after five months induced stroke in them by blocking an artery in the brain. The rats still experienced strokes, but the size of the brain damage was 70 percent less in immunized rats compared with animals that didn't receive the treatment. This concept could be useful in treating other neurological disorders as well. NMDA is a receptor that responds to the chemical glutamate in the brain, the glutamate/NMDA complex is responsible for many normal brain functions like the development of neurons, learning and memory. Blocking the NMD A receptor in general could have damaging effects. However, the NMDA receptor is also involved in a chain of events that contribute to neurological damage from epilepsy, stroke and head injuries. To create the vaccine, the researchers added the gene that codes for the NMDA receptor to a virus. When this gene and virus combination enter the animal's bloodstream, the immune system creates antibodies to both the virus and NMDA. These antibodies circulate in the blood, but are prevented from entering the brain by the blood brain barrier, a tightly packed group of cells that line blood vessels in the brain. The blood brain barrier is a protective mechanism that prevents many large molecules, such as these antibodies, from entering the brain. Yet during times of neurological insult, like epilepsy and stroke, the blood brain barrier is compromised, and the antibodies do enter the brain. They then seek out and block the NMDA receptor, preventing some brain damage from occurring. Soon afterw ards, the blood brain barrier is restored, and the antibodies no longer have an effect on the brain. The biotechnological aspect of this article is evident because of the lengthy research and use of lab rats to secure the validity of this new approach to reduce the risk of brain damage after seizures or strokes. The scientists involved first isolated a receptor in the brain, understood its functions, and then found a way to block its effects that can be detrimental to the brain after a stroke. Although this new form of treatment has not been tested on humans, I believe that this will lead to some very helpful discoveries. The potential this treatment has is immense and usefulness unknowable. If one of my family members were to have a stroke and come out nothing like his/her former self I would certainly wish that there had been something to prevent the brain damage from occurring. Vaccine Could Protect Against Stroke And Epilepsy Damage February 25, 2000 An oral vaccine has proven to be effective in protecting laboratory rats against brain damage from epilepsy and stroke, and might one day be used to help humans with the same conditions. The vaccine blocks a protein in the brain called NMDA, but does so only when epilepsy or strokes occur. Therefore, the brain is helped by the vaccine in times of need, yet is protected from any side effects like deficits in movement, learning and memory that could result from blocking NMDA during normal brain functioning. ''We've known for a long time about the mind-body connection how the brain talks to the immune system,'' said Dr. Matthew During, professor of neurosurgery at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. ''Here, we're saying the opposite the immune system talks to the brain and that can be used as a very powerful tool, almost a scalpel, to target specific receptors in the brain.'' The researchers, led by During, began by giving the vaccine to 100 rats, and a month later, induced epile ptic-like seizures in them with a drug called kainate. Although normally 70 percent of rats given kainate would have seizures, only 20 percent of the rats that were

How any two functions of management can Assist an organization manage workforce diversity

How any two functions of management can Assist an organization manage workforce diversity Executive Summary The world we live in today is full of business activities almost in all sectors of the world’s economy. This has in some instances led to increased competition or demand and in rare cases both situations happen concurrently. As such, it is important that the modern managers are well equipped with the essential skills required in the management of these organizations (Valentine Woods, 2010).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on How any two functions of management can Assist an organization manage workforce diversity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is because of this, that the key management functions were laid down for the managers to follow in order to ensure the success of their businesses. Among the key functions of management, include planning, controlling organizing and directing. The aim of this report is to analyse two of these key management functions and determine how they can be eff ectively integrated into the business to achieve a diverse workforce. The report will be based on a fictional company in the banking industry known as the Urban Bank Ltd. Later on in the report, factors that hinder or support the implementation of the key management roles to achieving a diverse workforce in an organization will be looked. In addition, rrecommendations on how managers can effectively improve their skills to ensure a diverse workforce will be mentioned. Introduction Business has become an integral part of the modern society. Almost all activities carried out in each society revolve around businesses ranging from academic institutions, companies, banks, to churches just to mention a few (Valentine Woods, 2010). This is an indication of how important business enterprises are to the people in the society. However, for these businesses to be successful and overcome the current global competition being experienced, they have to be properly managed. The top rated personnel of the enterprise, referred to as the managers, normally carry out these management functions (Carrol and Gillen, 1987, p.30). The managers are obliged to carry out four main management functions, which include, directing, organizing, planning, and controlling. Other duties of the managers such as staffing and disciplinary may be delegated to special departments such as the human resources department.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This report will address two of the main functions of the management and analyze how these functions can assist an organization manage its workforce diversity. The report will be based on a fictional company in the banking sector named as Urban Bank. In order to address this issue effectively, data from related companies in this case, the banking industry will be used to make inferences. Such data is available from journals and compan ies’ publications. In writing the report, several assumptions will be made given the fact that Urban Bank is a fictional company. Some of these include, assuming the existence of the company in the real market, whereby Urban Bank will be expected to be trade its stock in the stock market. Background The Urban Bank Ltd is one of the latest entrants in the Australian banking industry. Just like most of the other banks, Urban Bank began as a money lending institution of the low-income workers in the country. As a cooperative society, it catered for the needs of the people with low income such as factory workers, workers in the construction industry and farmers among others. It operated as a cooperative society for 15 years before being elevated to the level of a bank. Its expansion eventually led to more operations, which required more workforces. This is because it now serves more people than it served before. Given this demand, it therefore, essential that the entire workforce of Urban Bank be trained on the huge task ahead, and how they can possibly handle it to ensure success of the company. In this, the report will evaluate two of the key functions of management and discuss them in detail before looking at factors that support and constrain the management in ensuring a diverse workforce. Lastly, recommendations will be made by giving suggestions to be implemented by the management team of the bank. Discussion An evaluation of the two management theories As mentioned earlier in the report, this section will evaluate two of the key management functions in organizations. These functions will be geared towards the achievement of a diverse workforce in organizations. The management functions to be discussed are planning and organizing functions of managers.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on How any two functions of management can Assist an organization manage workforce diversity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Planning is a crucial function of the management, which essentially entails looking at the future and determines the action to be taken in the present or later to avoid problems in the future (Management Study Guide, 2008, p.1). Several scholars have defined the term planning: â€Å"According to Koontz O’Donnell, â€Å"Planning is deciding in advance what to do, how to do, and who is to do it. Planning bridges the gap between where we are to, where we want to go. It makes possible things to occur which would not otherwise occur† (Management Study Guide, 2008, p.1). According to Urwick, â€Å"Planning is a mental predisposition to do things in orderly way, to think before acting and to act in the light of facts rather than guesses†( Management Study Guide, 2008, p.1). In planning, several factors have to be put into consideration including the determination of the available and prospective resources of the organization. These resources ent ail the human and physical resources. On the other hand, the organizing function of the management is responsible for bringing together the resources of the organization in a bid to achieving its goals and objectives. One scholar by the name Henry Fayol defined organizing as the provision of the organization with all its needs such as capital, raw materials, and personnel. Planning at Urban Bank Ltd Just as it is in other organizations, planning is the most crucial function of the management in the banking sector. Given the risks that are associated with banks, it is of essence that Urban Bank Ltd take the planning function with great significance. As such, all plans should be tested for their appropriateness before being implemented in the organization. For example, when it comes to the forex market trading, the bank is required to keep on making new plans given the outcome of the situation in the market. This means that the bank managers will remain on toes to ensure that the bank does not incur losses. It can thus be concluded that planning is an operational risk function of the banking institutions. Types of plans It is important that the planning function be carried out systematically given its sensitivity in the success of the organization. Once the management has laid down the goals and objectives it would like to achieve, they get down determining the types of plans to be put in place. The list of plans to be put in place by the management of the Urban Bank is endless.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is because of the many areas of operation within the banking system. Among the plans, include internal plans, product plans such as Accounts, loans and other products offered by banks, growth plans, investment plans, expansion and strategic plans (Berry, 1996, p.1). All the aforementioned plans are instrumental in almost all organisations with the only difference coming in the types of sectors. As for the case of Urban bank, it ought to put plans with regard to the services it offers to the public. For instance, the management should plan on how to attract more people into the bank by offering attractive interest rates. Other than this, the management should plan on the future investments to be made regarding the expansion of the bank among other developments. In addition to this, Urban bank is expected to put in place plans of providing training to its workforce, especially those that were part of the transition of the bank from a cooperative society. The plan should include t raining of all the essential duties of a bank, which are different from those of cooperative societies. Similarly, the workforce should be trained on being proactive given the high competition faced by banks in order to ensure the success of the Urban Bank Ltd. Environmental Audit Among the various issues that have to be planned by any banking institution, is that of the environmental audit. An environmental audit generally entails the valuation of management systems required to be put in place in order to ensure compliance to the environmental regulations. The environmental audits are carried out in a way similar to the regular financial audits carried out by almost all organizations. As for the case of environmental audits, they are of two types, which are the management systems audits and compliance audits. The compliance audits are carried out with the intention of determining if the operations of the organization comply with the regulations of the environmental bodies. The mana gement systems audit on the other hand is intended to determine if the operations of the organisation are in line with the organisation’s systems such as the famous ISO systems (Hill, Bowen, Soboil, 1997, p.27). Given the sensitivity of the matters of an environmental audit, it is important that the management of an organisation plan the process early enough to ensure its success. Similarly, due to the significance of the environmental audits to organizations, planning is a requirement to ensure the attainment of the goals and objectives of the audit. Therefore, Urban Bank Ltd has to ensure that proper planning of the environmental audits is done before embarking on the real process. Benchmarking This is yet another important duty carried out by the management of an organization through the planning division. In benchmarking, an organization compares the processes of its operations with those of its business counterparts in a bid to gauge its performance (Boxwell, 1994, p.22 5). For instance, Urban Bank could compare its results with those from other banks on the same level in order to determine its performance. From the data collected through benchmarking, an organization is able to know its position among other companies in the same industry, thus be able to fill any loopholes discovered. On the other hand, if the performance is okay, then the organization puts in place plans of making their performance even better. The Organising function at Urban Bank The structure of Urban Bank Ltd Urban Bank just like the other banks in the banking industry has an organizational structure whose duty is to ensure proper appropriation of the organization’s resources. The bank is structured in such a way that there is the front office, middle and the back office. In each of the three segments of the bank, different operations or activities take place. As such, different resources are required in each section. For instance, the front office is mainly composed o f the telling and clerical duties. Reception duties are also evident in the front office. This is an indication that the junior staff of the bank will be found in the front office. The middle office serves duties such as audit functions among other duties such as accounting. The back office is the most senior segment of the bank, which involves the top management team. As such, the back office is responsible for the key management roles such as decision-making. It is also important to note that the middle office acts as the intermediary between the front and back offices. HRM Resources The human resource of any organization is a crucial part of the organization as this department runs almost all duties. Despite the efforts of trying to automate almost all operations of organizations, there are still a big number of the operations that have to be carried out by the human resources. For instance, the banking systems have installed the ATMs for people to carry out their banking duties individually, yet you still find long queues in the banks waiting to be served over the counter by tellers. This is an indication that banks require human resource by a great deal. As such, the management of the bank ought to ensure that the human resources are properly organized to accomplish effectively the operations of the bank, hence its success. Factors that support and constrain the management in ensuring a diverse workforce During the execution of its functions in an organization, the management is bound to encounter factors that support or constrain its duties (Robbins et al, 2009). Some of the supporting factors include aid from the government, regulatory bodies as well as other organizations in the industry. For instance, in the case of Urban Bank Ltd, it may get the support of the central bank of the country of operation. This support could involve financial aid or advisory services, which will eventually lead to its success in the market. Some of the constraint factors include competition, insufficient information, the economy of the nation and uncooperative managers (Norman, 2012, p.1). These factors will prevent the functions of management from being carried out efficiently; something could adversely affect the organization from ensuring a diverse workforce. This is because in the event an organisation is not running smoothly, the workforce is also at risk. Conclusion From the discussion above, it is clear that the success of any organization is dependent on how it carries out the key management functions. In this report, two of the key management roles have been discussed, looking at how they can be effectively applied in organizations especially on the fictional bank, Urban bank Ltd in this case. Other than the two functions discussed in the report, all organizations should strive towards integrating all the key management roles for better achievement of the organizational goals (Robbins et al, 2009). As for the case of Urban Bank Ltd, its man agers should ensure proper organization of the human resources as well as proper planning of the organizational needs in terms of human resources in order to achieve a diverse workforce. For instance, the company should begin with training of the staff to make them acquainted with the new operations that emerged after the elevation of the bank. Recommendations The first thing the managers of Urban Bank should do is to plan on how they will train their workforce to suit their new status of a bank. The management should attend seminars of leaders in the banking sector so that they can get more information on the same. They should get down to benchmarking in order to gauge their performance. It is also important that as the company puts in place measures of ensuring a diverse workforce, it also find ways of overcoming the constraints of its goal achievement. This means that the organization should hold interactive sessions with the members of its workforce so that they may air out v iews on where they need improvements. Finally yet importantly, the management of the bank should find ways of motivating their workforce. For instance, they could give them incentives such as leaves, retreats, and gifts among others. Reference List Berry, T. (1996). The Different Types of Plans. Bplans. Web. Boxwell, R. (1994). Benchmarking for Competitive Advantage. New York: McGraw-Hill. Carrol, S., and Gillen, D. (1987). Are the Classical Management Functions Useful in Describing Managerial Work? Academy of Management Review 12 (1): 28-51. Hill, R.C., Bowen, P.A., Soboil J.H. (1997). The role of environmental management systems in construction. Australian Institute of Building Papers 8: 27-39. Management Study Guide. (2008). Planning Function of Management. Management  study guide.com. Web. Norman, L. (2012). What Factors Can Affect Planning Function of Management?  Chron.com. Web. Robbins, S., Bergman, R., Stagg, I. Coulter, M. (2009). Fundamentals of  management (3rd e d.). Frenchs Forest: Pearson. Valentine, T. Woods, M. (2010). Management in focus: The global financial crisis. Frenchs Forest: Pearson.

Hong Kong's Disneyland and Ocean Park Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hong Kong's Disneyland and Ocean Park - Essay Example Walt Disney mainly focuses its activities on fantasy by producing movies and owning intellectual properties. However, there is an uncertainty that its customers may change their tastes to demand more of products and services that focus on nature and reality. This will see the company record a sharp drop in its attendance, revenues and profits. The Hong Kong economy has been stable because of its dependence on high property prices. A drop in the prices of prices would result in the economy experiencing a recess. Many people will be unemployed hence they will not afford money for leisure and entertainment. There will be low attendance and the firm may be forced to reduce ticket prices in order to attract customers. This will increase the cost of borrowing for the company hence limit the capital outlay for investment. This is majorly because the company depends on borrowing to supplement its capital for investments. Lobby groups include environmentalists and labor organizations. The activities of such groups against Walt Disney may result in negative publicity for the business. This is because lobby groups may incite the public against visiting facilities owned by Walt Disney for a number of reasons. One of the reasons for the campaigns may be the violation of the laws of the environment. The overall effect of such activities is a reduction in the level of attendance. Walt Disney is planning to make a new entrance into the Hong Kong market. Customers may be reluctant to respond to the new products introduced by Disney hence leading to low attendances and losses for the business. Ocean Park was having a problem with its brand and logo. The problem was that its brand image was very poor and could not attract customers to its businesses. This is attributed to the fact that the firm had an unattractive brand logo that had a very low visibility and weak association to the park.  

Forests and Forestry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Forests and Forestry - Essay Example The evolution of deforestation in India has begun with the arrival of British government in India during 19th century. During the year of 1823, the governor of presidency during that period, Thomas Munro acted as a forest conservator with a belief that private business practices of forestry programs will be adopted soon to meet the balance of supply and demand. Due to this belief the country faced a continuous loss of forest resources for almost four consecutive decades. The developmental steps taken by the British government supported the act of deforestation in India. When the government realized the problem during 1864 the Governor-general Lord Dalhousie brought the German forester Dietrich Brandis to look after the problem and control the situation. Many more initiatives were taken afterwards in order to conserve the forests resources of India by recruiting manpower for the protection and control over the loss of the natural resource. It took almost another decade after these ini tiatives were taken up for the conservation of forest resource, to come into effect and proper law and orders were passed for the protection of the resource and resulted into Indian Forest Act in 1878. After the law and orders came into effect the situation was supposed to be under control but corruption adversely influenced them a lot and developmental activities were prioritized over the issue of deforestation. The corruption restricted the law and orders to show its proper effectiveness which is persistent till date. Deforestation activities can be beneficial also in cases where the cleared land can be used for the agricultural and farming activities. The technologies used for agricultural purpose still fails sometimes to sustain the farming and agricultural activities on certain tropical land formed by clearing of forest areas. Those lands are either made abandoned or used as less productive areas compared to other land used for agriculture and