Thesis Objectives Essay Example for Free

Thesis Objectives Essay An inventory control system is a process for managing and locating objects or materials. In common usage, the term may also refer to just the software components. Modern inventory control systems often rely upon barcodes and radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to provide automatic identification of inventory objects. Inventory objects could include any kind of physical asset: merchandise, consumables, fixed assets, circulating tools, library books, or capital equipment. To record an inventory transaction, the system uses a barcode scanner or RFID reader to automatically identify the inventory object, and then collects additional information from the operators via fixed terminals (workstations), or mobile computers. [1] General Objectives This study aims to make a Programmable system that can give a user the benefits and easy access on their inventory. Specific objective. to identify what kind of system suits to their company, which may help them in many ways. to acknowledge the help of a programmable system. to know how to maintain the specific system, the researcher wants to create a system to propose to xyz company to help employees access their inventory much easier. An inventory control system is a process for managing and locating objects or materials. In common usage, the term may also refer to just the software components. Modern inventory control systems often rely upon barcodes and radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to provide automatic identification of inventory objects. Inventory objects could include any kind of physical asset: merchandise, consumables, fixed assets, circulating tools, library books, or capital equipment. To record an inventory transaction, the system uses a barcode scanner or RFID reader to automatically identify the inventory object, and then collects additional information from the operators via fixed terminals (workstations), or mobile computers.[1] General Objectives This study aims to make a Programmable system that can give a user the  benefits and easy access on their inventory. Specific objective. to identify what kind of system suits to their company, which may help them in many ways. to acknowledge the help of a programmable system. to know how to maintain the specific system, the researcher wants to create a system to propose to xyz company to help employees access their inventory much easier.

New Business Report On Nail Salon

New Business Report On Nail Salon In October 2004, Nails magazine conduct a survey and learnt that 87% of women have had their nails done at a salon (2). The magazine also stated that 42 % of the respondents have their nails done at least once a month and Nail-only salons are the preferred choice over full- service salons or spas for nail care (1). Almost all women go to nail salons in order to look good. Nicer Nails salon is a beauty service establishment that supply a personal service to predominantly female clientele. The salon offer nail care like pedicures, manicures as well as nail enhancements which involve applying false nails, nail extensions, and decorating fingernails according to requirements including nail parties. We are knowledgeable about hygiene and health issues relating to their profession. The desire to have beautiful nails first began during the Ming Dynasty of China, long artificial nails were worn by noblewomen as a status symbol indicating that, unlike commoners, and they did not do manual labour. In the early 19th century in Greece, the upper class women wore empty pistachio shells over their nails, then slowly spreading the artificial nails trend across Europe. In the late 20th century, artificial nails for women became widely popular all over the world (4). The fascination with beautiful nails has grown over the centuries and become a multi-billion pound industry. Extension nail is now a thriving market. Exploiting the development of technological and procedural advancements, Nicer Nail salon will provide a full-service nail technician with high customer satisfaction by delivering speedy, excellent service, an enjoyable atmosphere at an acceptable price. The demand for nail technician service is growing since women have increasing the disposable income which they are keen to spend on treatments that will reduce the stress of everyday life. At Nicer Nail salon, our high qualified technicians will offer a comfortable and relaxed environment. We are the true cut above other nail shops. Our mission is to supply services that enhance our clients physical appearance and mental relaxation. The timing is right for starting new venture; one perfect location was found in Kingston shopping centre. To achieve our objectives, Nicer Nail salon is seeking  £40,000 in loan financing. This loan will be paid from the cash flow from the business and will be secured by the assets of the company. 1.0 Introduction Beauty industry in the U.K is booming, there is a lot of money to be made in this industry more than ever, making today a great time to join the industry. Salons and spas have become a cure to the fast-paced lifestyles nowadays. It has been estimated that the average person spends one third of her cosmetic budget on nail care. Because todays fashion regards professional nail care services increasingly important. However, this billion pound industry can be influenced by changing in politics and economic. The report will show how important it is for business to react with the change of environment. This report is not only an environmental analysis that supports the nail salon but also a financial plan to help the prospect of opening Nicer Nail Salon. Product service: 2.1 Target customer: female over 16 year olds. According to the Nail magazine, nail salon patrons begins their habit early. 55% were under 25s when they first starting having their nails done professionally (1). Moreover, result from 2010 Survey of Hours and Earnings show Women salary is highest in the age group within 30-39 (12). On the other hand, nails art parties are on the rise in popularity, particularly for hen nights and teenage parties. Therefore, the need to offer an array of services to attract clienteles of all different age and income groups is necessary. For example, high-end clients are looking to be pampered. Although we cannot ignore the segment of customers, who would still want to have their nails done, dont want to spend out of their comfort areas. Services: Principally, the salon will generate revenues from the direct nail technician services. A nail technician provides painting, nail filing, manicure, pedicure and artificial nails services including acrylics, airbrush nails and nail jewelry. The most popular new foot service which is gel toenails also be provided. To a lesser extent, the salon generates revenue from sale of nail care and hand cream products. Furthermore, a deluxe service involves playing around with colored gels and dabbling in 3-D art will also be offered. Location: the salon will be located on Fife Road, Kingston -upon-Thames, U.K. the location is strategically situated on one of the busiest street in Kingston next to a hairdresser; importantly, there is a big car park nearby the salon. This is a high profile area and easy access from all parts of the town. It is also very convenience for clienteles to locate our salon. Pricing: According to nail magazine survey, 11% of respondents have stopped having their nails done at a salon due to the expense (3). Thus it is important to offer service that available for customers who cant quite afford high-end luxury salons. After sales service: our customers will leave with tips on how to make their nails healthier. To gain the clienteles trust, clean and safe quality products are used. In addition, clients are always welcome to question about our products. We are confident that word-of-mouth about such a salon would be the best advertising for this type of business, it is not only attract local clienteles but also reach customers far outside the boundaries of Kingston. A creative and innovative fashion always applies to generate very high levels of customer satisfaction. Providing customers with the option of booking appointments and consultations online. 3.0 The Business environment (PESTLE analysis): Like any other business, the Nail salon has to act and react to external factors influences it. Since markets are changing all the time. Customer develops new needs and wants, new competitors enter a market, new technology means that new product can be made. Government introduces new legislation e.g. increase minimum wage means that the disposable income increase it may lead to higher level professional service. Therefore, it is essential to know the influence of external factors include political, economical, socio-cultural, technological, legal and ethical environment is (13). The political environment: is one of the most important factors affecting the operation of a business. It is part of the macro-environment which is external to an organisation and completely beyond its control. The effect of political on business in general: Politic affect business in varieties of levels. Business is affected directly by tax policy; high tax rate will attract less investor (chart 8 in appendix1). Policies of government are very important. For example UK is the democratic country, people have full voting authority; they would be able to choose government that would work for the betterment of the country. It helps businesses to thrive because of the good policies of the government. In contrast, if there is no democracy, there is no respect for the chosen government. Instability and uncertainty in the country arise, government comes and goes and so will their respective decisions and policies. Business will suffer in such case as they do not know what will be their future. An example of instability political causes negatively influencing is the effects of anti-government protestors on hotel operators in Thailand in December 2008. Chart 9 (Appendix1) shows a loss of room revenue during period of peak tourist season. It is clear that the political instability is negatively influences travelers decision making (7). Furthermore, a stable political situation will attract more and more investors from other nations. The effect of the political environment on nail salon: Tax policy: as a sole trader Nicer Nail salon owner has responsibility to pay for local business tax, VAT, corporation capital income tax for business and national insurance for employees. Because by doing so the government know the presence of the business. The conservative government recently announced a new austerity plan. It causes higher interest rates, more business failures, lead to shaper rise in unemployment, directly affect the bank and national disposable income. As a result, the salon revenue may reduce significantly. Economical environment : It is believed that the level of demand for nail treatments can change depending on consumers level of disposable income. Businesses are in areas hard-hit economically will suffer because people lost jobs they have to tighten their belts and take control of their spending habits. Since many people are of the opinion that having nails done is not a necessitate thing. As a service industry, many beauty salons are being hit severely. Retail Sale is another example of industry that suffers when the surrounding economy turns down. Chart 11 (appendix 1) shows a lot of retailers report losses and in fact go out of business. Fortunately, the economy in the UK is in fast recovery (Chart 5 appendix 1). Additionally, chart 6 (Appendix 1) show household expenditure and total employment rose (5). Increasing in disposable income means that people can spend on luxuries like nail treatments. Furthermore, The British Lifestyles report by research group Mintel found that in the last decade we have spent 50% more on trips to hairdressing and beauty salons. This proves that the beauty market increases continuously despite the fact that the economic market condition in the UK is still in recession. Regardless of the recession, there are still people who enjoy being pampered. It makes professional nail care is a business with many good advantages. Socio-cultural environment: Every business works in society and consequently is subject to a variety of social influences. These influences include demography, social class and culture (13). For example, result from 2010 Survey of Hours and Earnings (chart 10 appendix 1) show that median earning of female employees grew. Increasing number of career women trends developing a high maintenance notion towards beauty regimes. This is reflected in the increasing amount of nail bars and services available. Nicer Nail Salon is the place where hard working people can come to get away from their daily stresses and be truly spoilt, a place that had the look and feel of a posh city salon. Nail arts can be a fashion statement and express individual for young clienteles who follow the latest trends and styles with a desire to be fashionable. Other services such as ear piercing, facial, and waxing eyelashes treatments are also offered to attract new clients. On the other hand, UK population is ageing (chart 4 Appendix I), ageing population means that the need to provide for a wider age range of clients is essential. Nodaway, Women earn more they will spend more money to look good. Plus the influence of fashion and changes in attitude toward health make professional nail care become booming industry. Technological environment: Advances in technology can have a major impact on business success. For example, one of the easiest and quickest way to let high-end class clienteles know that the salon are dedicated to serving them with luxurious pampering is creating a website that speaks to their needs and wants. Since, today the internet has major influence on the way consumers research and purchase products. By registering the nail salon with online portals the potential customers can easily reach the salon website which provide company name and contact information with online directories. Furthermore, option of consultants online 24/7 shows the salon is dedicated to deliver professional service. Moreover, electric nail file, unlike manual tool, enables a nail technician to filling acrylic nails much easier since the areas that were once hard to reach when filing manually such as cuticle areas and undersides of nails are now easily accessible. The electric nail drill is a time saver; it allows the salon to serve more clients in a day and this should increase profit. In 2010, 19.2 million households had an Internet connection in the U.K. This represented 73 per cent of households and an increase of 0.9 million since 2009 (15) an enormous increase in the number of home computer. This makes internet becomes one of the best ways to advertise the salon. On the other hand, improvements in technology will reduce the costs of nails equipment and products for example nail varnishes, jewellery. This should increase salon revenue. The legal environment Health and safety is important when working as a nail technician. Health and safety legislation is part of criminal law. Failure to comply with the law has serious consequence for example if there is a severe risk to health and safety, the salon will be closed down until improvements have been made. The salon has to work within the legal and professional frameworks that set the standards for employment. The law demands that every place of work is a healthy and safe for clients, workers, and other visitors. For example, potentially hazardous substances like glues or acetones should be carefully handle. The salon must follow the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) (10). My salon also looks forward to Legal requirement such as accident insurance and safety disposable products. The salon will keep to the Health and Safety guidance produced by Habia for nail technicians (9). This involves controlling and minimizing skin exposure to nail products, disinfecting equipment for manicuring, cleaning and minimizing inhalation exposure to nail products A nail technician should provide a service with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable space of time and at a reasonable charge (The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982). The nail technician will commit a criminal offence if published misleading advertising that deceives another trader (The Business Protection from Misleading Regulations 2008). Hence, it is crucial to know about the laws. Ethnical environment: Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is a monomer used in nail enhancement application but it should not be used in the salon due to its dangerous effect such as blister and nail loss for natural nails or respiration problem and asthma for some people even though it is still legal to use in the UK. Acrylic contaminated materials should be sealed in a bag before disposal in the bin reducing the amount of chemicals in the air. Gauze pads, cotton wool etc. that have been soaked in chemical should be disposed of in a sealed bag. The intended legal entity for my company: The salon operates as sole trader. I have look and found that being a sole trader is the easiest way to start a small business like a nail spa. Accounting is much easier hence bills for accountants are lower. Plus no complicated paperwork is required. Importantly, decision can be make quickly and close contact can be kept with clients and employees. However, you have to make decisions and provide all finance by yourself. The business income is the owner income therefore it is harder to reduce tax bill. Registration and regulation: Nail technicians are required to register their business and apply for a license to trade. The licence is known as a special treatment licence. The fee to register will depend on each local authority. As a Sole Trader, the salon owner needs to register with Her Majestys Revenue and Custom (HMRC) as self-employed at the moment the business has started otherwise the financial penalty will be charged. Financial plan The startup capital of  £45,000 (appendix II for details) is required to use for the design, leasehold improvement, and equipment of the salon. There are many ways to raise finance for examples borrow from family, get a bank loan or from outside investors. I did research and found that the best way to raise capital for Nicer Nail Salon is borrowing from my parent because they provide with better terms than the bank or private loan guarantees. In order to have successful business with family an agreement letter (Appendix II for details) between me and my parent is necessary in case thing dont go as planned. This also helps to protect everyone from each other and eliminate all conversations that start with you never said that. This note emphasizes that my parent lend me  £45,000 as a debt loan rather than equity. The interest will be paid quarterly to my parent account. Borrowing from parent is better than borrowing from private loan guarantees as the limit time frame stems is much longer. Compare to bank term loans, the interest rate is also much lower. Conclusion: Based on the result from 2010 Survey of Hours and Earnings and British lifestyles I can conclude that Nicer Nail Salon is a necessary service nowadays. Owning a nail salon is promising as little start-up cost is needed and importantly, it is never out of season. , it will be a good start of going somewhere with nail business. Explain in greater details of executive summary how and why the conclusions were reached. This is based on result of findings Appendix I: Table 1: shows the places where customers have their nails done. Table 2 shows how often they have their nails done Table 3: show the main reason stop customers having their nails done at a salon Chart 4: Estimated and projected population and percentage of population by age group, UK, 1984, 2009 and 2034 (3) Chart 5: show the economy from 2006 to 2010 (2) Economy grows by 0.7% in Q3 2010 Chart 6:show consumer Spending trend from 2006 to 2010 Household expenditure grows by 0.3% in Q3 2010 Household final consumption expenditure percentage change, quarter on previous quarter Chart 7: GDP and the Labour Market (5) From recession to recovery The labour market in recession and recovery The UK continues its path of recovery from recession(5) The UK economy over the past three recessions According to the latest figures, UK GDP grew by 0.7 per cent in quarter three 2010. GDP grew by 0.7 per cent in quarter three 2010. This was the fourth consecutive increase since the end of the recent recession. The 0.7 per cent growth stemmed from: Service sector (0.4 per cent) Construction sector (0.2 per cent) Production sector (0.1 per cent) Growth in the Service sector was driven by the government and other services, transport storage and communication and distribution hotels and restaurants Chart 8: Higher tax rates discourage investment by lowering investments return (6) Chart 9: Daily hotel reservation requests in Thailand from 16/10/2008 to 16/12/2008(7) Chart10: Earnings 2010 survey of Hours and earnings (12) Chart 11:UK Retail Sales during recession Appendix II: Below is the summary of money needed to start up Nicer Nail Salon Start-up Expenses Rent deposit  £1,500 Legal  £500 Brochures  £500 Stationery  £1,000 Sundry salon equipment  £2,500 Total Start-up Expenses  £6,000 Start-up Assets Needed Cash Balance on Starting Date  £15,000 Other Current Assets  £24,000 Total Assets  £39,000 Total Requirements  £45,000 This is an installment promissory note between me and my parent Instalment Promissory Note (17) Full Names ____Kim Anh Tran_____ Address___Kingston -upon- Thames , UK, KT2 7SB (Hereinafter referred to as the Borrower/s) Full Names ____Kim Pham____________________________ Address: Kingston -upon- Thames , UK, KT2 7SB (Hereinafter referred to as the Lender) For value received, the Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the order of Lender the sum of __ £45,000 together with interest accrued at the rate of __ten six_percent (_6%) per year on any unpaid balance. Payment Terms Borrower will pay ______one__payment of __ £2,000___each at uninterrupted quarterly intervals on the __first day of each month, starting on the 11/01/2011 until the Principal amount and accrued interest is paid in full. All payments shall first be applied to outstanding late fees, then to interest and the balance to the Principal amount. Prepayment The Borrower may prepay this Note in full or in part at any time without premium or penalty. All prepayments shall first be applied to outstanding late fees, then to accrued interest and thereafter to the principal loan amount. Place of Payment Payment shall be made at the above stated address of the Lender or at such place as may be designated from time to time in writing by the Lender or holder of this Note. For ease of payment the Borrower may exercise the option to effect payment by direct deposit or electronic transfer of funds into the account of Lender as specified in writing. Late Payment Fees If payment is not made within _10___ days as stipulated in the payment terms the Borrower shall pay an additional late fee in the amount of  £__500. Acceleration of Debt upon Default If the Borrower fails to make any payment when due for whatever reason and the Lender provides notice of such failure, the Borrower must effect payment of the amount due within __30__ days, failing which the Lender can demand immediate payment of the entire outstanding Principal amount and accrued interest. Collection Fees In the event of default this Note may be turned over for collection and the Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable legal fees, collection and enforcement charges to the extent permissible by law, in addition to other amounts due. Security This Note is secured by a Security Agreement which will remain in full force and effect until this Note and the Security Agreement are released in writing by the Lender. Transfer The Lender may transfer this Note to another holder without notice to the Borrower and the Borrower agrees to remain bound to any subsequent holder of this Note under the terms of this Note. Replacement of Note The Borrower agrees to execute a new Note with the same terms and conditions and remaining value in the event that this Note is lost, stolen or mutilated. The Lender shall release the Borrower of all obligations under the lost, stolen or mutilated Note in lieu of a replacement new Note. Joint and Several Liability All Borrowers or Co-signors identified in this Note shall be equally liable for the repayment of the debt described in this Note. Borrowers Waiver The Borrower waives demand and presentment for payment, notice of non-payment, off-set, protest and notice of protest and agrees to remain fully bound until this Note is paid in full. Lenders Indulgence No relaxation, indulgence, waiver, release or concession of any terms of this Note by the Lender on one occasion shall be binding unless in writing and if granted shall not be applicable to any other or future occasion. Binding Effect The terms of this Note shall be binding upon the Borrowers successors and shall accrue to the benefit and be enforceable by the Lender and his/her successors, legal representatives and assigns. Jurisdiction This Note shall be construed, interpreted and governed in accordance with the laws of the U.K and should any provision of this Note be judged by an appropriate court of law as invalid, it shall not affect any of the remaining provisions whatsoever. General Where appropriate words signifying one gender shall include the others and words signifying the singular shall include the plural and vice versa. Paragraph headings are for convenience of reference only and are not intended to have any effect in the interpretation or determining of rights or obligations under this Note. Signed on 10/01/2011 (1) Borrowers Name ___Kim Anh Tran__________________________ (2) Lender Name _____Kim Pham________________________

Complex Visual Hallucinations and Macular Degeneration :: Optometry Psychiatry Neurology Essays

Complex Visual Hallucinations and Macular Degeneration Located in the center of the retina, the sensitive macula provides us with sight in the center of our field of vision. When we look directly at something, the macula allows us to see the fine details. This sharp, straight-ahead vision is necessary for driving, reading, recognizing faces, and doing close work, such as sewing. Macular degeneration is the impairment of this central macular area. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision loss in the Western world in the over 50 age group. It most commonly affects those of northern European descent and is uncommon in African-Americans and Hispanics. The prevalence increases with age. It affects about 15% of the population by age 55, and over 30% are affected by age 75 (Miller, 1992). In macular degeneration a layer beneath the retina, called the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), gradually wears out from its lifelong duties of disposing of retinal waste products. Eventually the capacity of the RPE layer to handle these metabolic products is overwhelmed and the RPE begins to degenerate (Miller, 1992). Other deep layers involved in development of macular degeneration are Bruch's membrane and the choroid layer. Additional factors that may hasten loss of the RPE layer, and the resulting degeneration of the central retina (macula) include hereditary factors, ultraviolet rays from sunlight, and blue iris color (more UV rays reach the retina in blue-eyed patients, probably because of the lower pigment density in the eye). There are basically two forms of macular degeneration. So-called dry (or atrophic) macular degeneration, which accounts for 90% of cases, is caused by the aging and thinning of the tissues of the macula (Miller, 1992). This type is characterized by tiny yellowish deposits under the macular part of the retina. These deposits are known as drusen and may increase in size and number over time. Areas of loss of retinal and RPE layers in the macula may gradually appear. Small clumps of brown pigment from the degenerating RPE layer also are commonly seen. The other major form of this disease is wet (or exudative macular degeneration) which is a much greater threat to vision loss even though it accounts for only 10% of cases. This type can be associated with a more sudden loss of vision due to leakage or bleeding under the macula from abnormal vessels, called the choriocapillaris, arising from one of the deeper layers.

Pitbulls Should Be Banned

The issue whether pitbulls should be banned has been prominent in the media in recent weeks since poor Ayen Chol was brutally attacked. In the letter to the editorial ‘these dogs are guns without a safety catch’ published in the Herald sun, on the 19/08/11, by Leanne Pelen contends that pitbulls are vicious, savage, dangerous animals that need to be banned by the government. In an outraged tone, the article targets those who own pitbulls as well the government officials who make the laws about dogs, in a bid to get them to see that pitbulls are vicious killers who are to have no pace in our society.Throughout the article the writer uses a number of persuasive devices in order to manipulate the audience's response. These include metaphors, anecdotal evidence, repetition, rhetorical question, attack and emotive language. In the heading, one example of a persuasive technique used is that of a metaphor. A metaphor is when the author makes association with a vivid image. An e xample of this technique throughout the article include: â€Å"these dogs are guns without a safety catch on†.It manipulates the reader in creating a sense of fear by using the powerful image of a dangerous deadly weapon and associating this image with pitbulls such quotes have left the reader to believe that pitbulls are dangerous, vicious, brutal dogs that should be banned. Another example of a persuasive technique used that is of attack to the government, an attack is when the author position the reader to agree that if an individual is flawed, their messages must be to, an example of this technique throughout the article include ‘has the law gone mad? and ‘How little the government will protect us.. ’ this attack makes the reader feel outraged that the government in doing little to help the community. The author uses emotive language to describe the bravery of her husband and the innocence of the young girl Ayen Chol. An example of this highly emotive l anguage throughout the article include: â€Å"acting so bravely without thought of his own safety†, this quote make the reader feel admiration of how the husband’s brave action and relief that he was there in order to prevent a atastrophic event for his family . Another use of this highly emotive language include: where the other victim young Ayen Chol was described as â€Å"poor little girl†, the use of â€Å"poor little girl† makes the reader feel sympathy for a young victim barely started her life, the author creates a petrifying image â€Å"as she frantically tries to fight off the dog†, â€Å"as she clung to her mother’s leg† the author also manipulates the reader in feeling penetrating grief that this disparaging attack could’ve been avoided had happen in someone’s lounge room.With a series of highly emotive language, for example the terms used to describe the dogs as â€Å"these vicious dogs†, â€Å"savage ly behaviour†, and their â€Å"murderous aggression†. Not only does the author use these words she also inclines the reader to see that these dogs are nothing but dangerous ruthless killers with no mercy, and to agree with the author in asserting that these dogs should be banned. Reference to the well-known authority of RSPCA state president Hugh Wirth sways us to accept that these dogs are indeed ruthless creates as he describes the pit bulls as â€Å"killing machines†.Dr Stephen Tate, a veterinarian and director of the Bureau of Animal Welfare at the Department of Primary Industries says â€Å"pit bulls were specifically bred to be dangerous when they attack. This predisposes the reader that also the experts know that pit bulls are vicious, brutal and dangerous. The author concludes this article with a rhetorical question â€Å"when will these people learn that we need to treat these breeds like guns without a safety catch on†, this rhetorical question is also a repetition of the metaphor which appeared in the headline.

Cola Wars †The Carbonated Soft Drink Industry Essay

Threat of New Entry The existing players in the soft drink industry have much advantage relative to new entrants. First, supply-side economy discourages new entrants by forcing them to enter the market in large scale. CSD’s demand side benefits of scale also makes it difficult for new entrants to be accepted by the public. In 2002, a survey found that 37% of respondents chose a CSD because it is their favorite brand, while only 10% said so about bottled water. This demonstrates CSD customers’ high brand loyalty and their lack of desire to buy from new entrants. In terms of capital requirement, concentrate manufacturers only requires $25~$50 million to set up a plant that can serve the entire United States of America. Yet, new entrants may have difficulties competing with major players’ well-established brands and their large scale unrecoverable (therefore, hard to finance) spending on advertising. There is also unequal access to bottlers and retail channels for newcomers. Most bottlers are in long-term contracts with major CSD brands; also, the largest distribution channel, supermarkets, consider CSD a â€Å"big traffic draw†, thus provide little to no shelf space for newcomers. In addition, strong fear of retaliation from major players also makes newcomers hesitate to enter. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Required inputs for CSD are mostly raw materials such as caramel coloring, phosphoric or citric acid, natural flavors, caffeine, and fructose. Almost all suppliers of the CSD industry provide undifferentiated commodities and thus have little bargaining power and almost no strength to integrate forward. Bargaining Power of Buyers End consumers and retail channels can both be considered as buyers in the CSD industry. End consumers are likely to have brand loyalty to their CSD as analyzed in threat of new entry. Thus, consumers are expected to continue purchasing a brand unless there is a significant price increase or substantial change in flavor. Consequently, end consumers have little bargaining power. Retail channels, on the other hand, have more bargaining leverage since they buy CSDs in much larger quantities than end consumers. Yet, for retail channels such as supermarkets (making up almost one third of all retail volume), CSDs are considered a â€Å"big traffic draw†, thus reducing its bargaining power. In addition, fountain outlets (making up another 23.4% of retail channel) also have insignificant bargaining power since they rely on CSD companies’ heavy investment in dispensers, cups, point-of-sale advertising, and many other types of equipment. Threat of Substitutes CSDs are unique in terms of taste and properties. When a consumer craves CSD, it is difficult to find a replacement that can equally satisfy his or her desire. Even after CSD was identified as the â€Å"largest source of obesity-causing sugars in the American diet† in 2005, CSDs still â€Å"accounted for 73.1% of U.S. non-alcoholic refreshment beverage volume (down from 80.8% in 2000)† at around the same time. It is true that consumers are moving towards alternatives that have more natural flavors such as several tea-based drinks and bottled water; yet, CSD firms have quickly adapted to this shift and largely dominated the market of these alternatives. Rivalry Among Existing Competitors Even though rivalry among existing competitors – Coke, Pepsi, and Cadbury Schweppes seem intense, the profitability has not been weakened. This is largely because of the high concentration of competition and their focus on promotion, advertising, and other forms of branding instead of waging large-scale price wars. In a way, the success of Coke and Pepsi required the heavy competition on these dimensions. â€Å"Without Coke, Pepsi would have a tough time being an original and lively competitor. The more successful they (Coke) are, the sharper we (Pepsi) have to be.† says Roger Enrico, former CEO of Pepsi. The CSD industry profitability lies within the Cola War itself that forces major players to improve continuously. Through Porter’s five forces analysis, it becomes clear that CSD is so profitable because of the way its industry competition is shaped: high entry barriers due to newcomers’ unfavorable supply-side economies of scale, demand-side benefits of scale, and unrecoverable advertising spending; low bargaining power of suppliers and buyers since CSD requires mainly homogeneous commodities, buyers have high brand loyalty, and retailers rely heavily on CSD firms’ investments; well handled threat of substitutes; and healthy internal rivalry that is vital to continuous improvement.

Belonging Crucible

All individuals unmistakably experience a sense of belonging in a multifaceted and convoluted process. Arthur Miller's play â€Å"uk/the-crucible-fear-causes-irrationality/">The Crucible† and George Clooney's film â€Å"Good Night and Good Luck† are both texts where acceptance into society is explored in characters through various and complex measures. While the play and film both illustrate the complexities of assimilation into society to an individual's identity the Crucible further presents this as an ironic situation as people are pressured into conforming to societal desires, where choosing to detach from community values leads to a detrimental fate.The Crucible examines the exploitation of an individual by the power of coercion in society. The play is set in 1692 and it reflects the Salem witch Trials of that time contrasted with McCarthyism in the time of Miller. It depicts the Puritan characters where they are faced with choosing between binary oppositions as â €˜a person is either with this court or†¦ counted against it, there be no road between†. Miller also adopts patois and archaic language to distance responders from the context and events, so as to critically analyse the conflict within character relations. Abigail is one character who has been exploited into conforming to society. She is dishonest and manipulative as on the occasion of the forest events. She exploited Tituba to act as the scapegoat through her use of contextual references voiced through vivid imagery, â€Å"I see the face of Lucifer, your face and mine†, overriding the pleading tone of the Barbados woman. She has also been able to avoid detection of her sinful behaviour, which was achieved by her and the other girls using repetitive histrionics, â€Å"I want to open myself!†¦ I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil!†¦ † The responder clearly can see how Abigail has been pressured into conforming to her community as she uses uncomprehendable methods in order for her to survive. The Crucible also displays the importance of assimilation into society in maintaining an individual's identity. Marry Warren is a character who chooses to conform to society so that she can maintain her identity. She is a young woman who has no major social status in her community and the only way for her to feel accepted is to conform and obey with what is expected of her. The power Abigail has over her is enormous as Mary tries to stand up for justice, but is unable to as the peer pressure is too much for her to handle. She listens to Proctor's advice in order to save Elizabeth, â€Å"Mary, remember the angel Raphael-do that which is good†, but once in court she is rendered powerless by the constant mocking of Abigail and the girls as they mimic her every action. This causes Mary to accept defeat as she gives up her personal values and sides with Abigail over Proctor, â€Å"I'll not hang with you! I love God, I love God†. This enhances the audience's understanding of how the power of coercion in society leads to a detrimental shaping of an individual's identity as they choose to conform to save themselves. Through society's pressure to conform, Good Night and Good Luck heightens the reader's awareness of how an individual is forced into committing to civilisation, leading to a negative impact on their sense of self. The married couple, Shirley and Joe Wershba, are going against CBS's company policy as no co-workers are allowed to be married. In order for them to stay married they must keep it a secret. In choosing to adhere to community values it forges a detrimental shaping of their identity as they must keep their secret unknown or they will face the consequences. Later in the film the couple are asked by the companies manager, Jeff Daniels, for one of them to resign as he state that everyone knows they are married anyway. The script writer has also incorporated irony here as Shirley says, â€Å"Finally we can tell everyone the truth†, knowing well that everyone already does know. The effect this has is that it enables the audience to understand how it feels liberating for the couple that they don't have to keep this secret anymore, and that this secret was acting as a barrier for them to truly belong and by ridding themselves of this secret it allows them to feel a positive sense of self. Arthur Miller's play ascertains that choosing to detach from societal pressures offers a way to nurture an individual's identity. Proctor is a character who is seen to be a strong family man, but behind the scenes he was having an affair with the young Abigail leading to him to have marital roubles. This gave rise to Proctor feeling a sense of alienation where he doesn't deserve the respect of his community or his wife's love. Whilst in court he makes a declaration to Danforth that they will both will burn in hell, which is an attack on Danforth and himself, â€Å"A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! †. During the concluding scenes of the play Proctor has an epiphany when he is asked to sign the papers confessing his sins. He realises that his name is what defines his identity and that by signing it away he is giving up on himself. In refusing to sign the papers Proctor is asserting his right to judge himself, â€Å"for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor†. Proctor here conveys the message that he is choosing not to belong to his society but to his wife as she is what is most important in Proctor's life. This concept of choosing to adhere to an individual's own beliefs and not to the expected desires of the community is also portrayed in Good Night and Good Luck by the characters Edward Murrow and Fred Friendly. The pair make a formidable partnership as they both have the burning sensation of delivering the truth to the public, even if it is prohibited to do so. Friendly is a bit cautious of completing this risky task as Murrow states â€Å"we might not get away with this one†, but he is still determined as Murrow to see this task through, â€Å"we're gonna go down swinging†. The inclusive ‘we' used in their statements shows that they are in this together and backed up with the boxing metaphor in Friendly's statement exemplifies that they will fight till the end as one team, no matter the consequences. From these texts, through the main characters ,the audience is able to see the possibilities of how choosing to go against the community is beneficial for an individual's identity. Through examining ‘The Crucible† and â€Å"Good Night and Good Luck† it portrays that people indeed experience a sense of acceptance one way or another. Both texts are inextricably linked as they are both seen by the audience to convey the same notions of belonging, which lead to elucidation of an individual's identity.

Domestic Violence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Domestic Violence - Research Paper Example The strongest theory amongst all, however, is the feminist theory that explains domestic violence in the light of unequal power resting with individuals of the opposite gender. It typically points out that the unequal balance of power translates into the subordination of female authority over male authority. In other words, the feminist theory emphasizes the fact that domestic violence (against women) is a natural outcome that arises out of men’s urge to control (McCue, 2008). These imbalances in power are most persistent in patriarchal setups where the structure of the society denies equal opportunity to women in the socioeconomic and political arena (McCue, 2008). These societal imbalances have a ripple effect on the family which is demonstrated in men’s use of coercive power against women which they perceive as control. A primary example of this is demonstrated in the works of Dobash and Dobash who empirically researched that patriarchal systems contribute to female abuse and that such a system is reinforced by the socioeconomic structure of the society (Dobash & Dobash, 1979). ... In such societies, it is commonplace to see women working as housewives (taking care of the husband and the children) and men going out of the house to earn a living (Eswaran & Malhotra, 2011). Therefore, the feminist theorists argue that these pre-described notions of gender roles and the inevitable power that men exercise over women helps explain domestic violence to a large extent. Since men are ascribed primary roles in the society, they are granted access to privileged resources whereas women are ascribed secondary roles and are considered inferior. In an interesting research conducted on villages in a state in Southern India, Rao discovered that females who had little control over the allocation of resources in their households were the ones who experienced greater domestic violence (Rao, 1997). Feminists argue that early social experiences of women perpetuate these gender roles and condition them to become a part of them. For instance, the mother is required to serve â€Å"co ffee† to the father before he goes to work and that young girls â€Å"play house† at home (Eswaran & Malhotra, 2011). Therefore, males develop the right to be violent towards their female counterparts due to these gender role differences. Poor education and low socioeconomic status also contribute to greater violence under this theory. According to a research, households with lower level of education experienced greater domestic abuse than otherwise (Eswaran & Malhotra, 2011). Furthermore, households where men were employed (indicating high socioeconomic status) experienced less incidents of domestic violence than otherwise. Also, as pointed out by Bloch and Rao, males with weak bargaining power tend to resort to domestic violence which proves to