Monopoly and monopolistic competition Essay Example for Free

Monopoly and monopolistic competition Essay To understand the difference between these market structures, you have to understand what these market structures are. We start off discussing the oligopoly market. One type of imperfectly competitive market is an oligopoly which is a market structure in which only a few sellers offer similar or identical products. (Mankiw, 2012) this means that a small number of companies dominate the industry and have to compete with one another with price and service. In my opinion, this market is very competitive so most of the firms in this market have to have a strong point in quantity and customer service to win over their consumers. Some good examples of these companies in this market would be movies, health insurance providers, and phone carrier. In a monopoly sellers dominate the entire market and have the ability to set their own prices. This means that one of the main differences between a monopoly and a oligopoly is price because the price of a monopoly is going to be higher since they have no real competition. Now some great examples of these companies that are a monopoly are: Microsoft, Google (even thou you have others like Bing) etc. These corporate giants make millions of dollars with their products because in a monopoly the customer has no choice but to pay the price that the firm has set. Now the last one that I’m going to discuss is a monopolistic competition. Another type of imperfectly competitive market is a monopolistic competition, which is a market structure in which several or many sellers each produce similar, but different products. (Mankiw, 2012) Each of the producers can set its price and quantity without affecting the market as a whole. Some good examples of these firms would be your fast food restaurants (Mc Donald’s, Burger King, and Sonic). These restaurants all sell burgers, but the product doesn’t taste or cost the same. We have learned from reading this essay that in a monopolistic market uses their dominance to set their prices, so that they can maximize their profits. In my opinion, it seems that the man difference is that one market has to be competitive with other sellers and the others don’t really have any competition so they can do pretty much as much as the government would let them. So if I have to enter a market it would be monopoly for the simple fact that it has the majority control and you don’t have to really worry about competition, and make a good day for profits.

The Effect of Different Levels of Radiation in Growth of Plants Essay Example for Free

The Effect of Different Levels of Radiation in Growth of Plants Essay ABSTRACT The effect of different levels of radiation was determined using four set-ups-10kR, 30kR, 50 kR, and the control (no radiation). The four set-ups were observed for nine weeks and growth (in cm), germination, and survival rate was measured. Results showed that at the right level of radiation level (10 kR), radiation have a positive effect on the plant growth and has the same germination and survival rate from the control set up. The 30 kR set up and 50 kR set up are relatively smaller in growth than the control set up. Thus, increasing the radiation level above 10 kr corn inhibits its growth in terms of height and decreases the percent germination ofcorn (Zea mays L.) but with right amount of radiation at 10 kr radiation has a positive effects in terms of growth. INTRODUCTION According to (Mendioro, Laude, Barrion, Diaz, Mendoza, Ramirez, 2010), Mutations are changes in the genetic material that are heritable and essentially permanent. Mutations either may be spontaneous, or induced by physical or chemical agents. Ionizing radiation such as X-rays, protons, neutrons and alpha, beta, and gamma rays from radioactive sources like radium and cobalt-90, X-rays and other ionizing radiation is one of the common mutagenic agents that break DNA strand which produce chromosome breaks rather than base changes (Ramirerz, Mendioro, Laude, 2010). Ionizing radiation can penetrate tissues and undergo ionization forming ions. These ions undergo chemical reactions to have a stable chemical configuration. While doing these, ions produce breaks in chromosomes, (DNA) which induce mutation (Das, 2006). The biological effect of ionizing radiation depends mainly on the amount of energy absorbed by the biological system of which, of course, the chromosomes are the most target (Harten, 1998). However according to Wort (1941) as cited by (Sax, 1955) wheat seeds irradiated with low doses of X rays produced larger plants than the control. The study aimed to determine the effect of different levels of radiation on plant growth in corn (Zea mays L.). The specific objectives were: 1.To  observe the effects of different levels of radiation on plant growth in termes of height, germination, and survivability, and 2.To explain the observe effects of radiation in corn (Zea mays L.) to its growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS To assess the result of different levels of radiation in plant growth of corn, corn seeds were irradiated at varying doses: 10 kR,30 kR, and 50 kR. These irradiated seeds were at the same time and the same place including the control set-up. For nine weeks, the data for plant growth (cm), germination rate(%), survivability rate (%) were collected and tabulated. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION As seen in Table 1, results show that the the set-up that was irradiated with 30 kR and 50 kR ended the lowest percent germination while the set-up that was irradiated with 10 kR was the same with the control based on percent germination which is 100%. At the first date of observation, the lowest in average height is the set-up that was irradiated with 50 kR. With the same date and place of planting, you can conclude that radiation has an effect to the plant growth, germination, and survival of the plant. You can see at the Graph 1 that the control set-up and the 10 kR set-up are almost the same but in the end of the graph, the 10 kR set-up was the highest in terms of average plant height.  At 50 kR, the plant cannot survive anymore due to the radiation and no data was recorded because the survival rate is 0% means all the plants in the 50 kR was dead.  Unlike in the 10 kR, 30 kR set-ups was relatively lower than 10 kR setup in terms of plant growth, survival rate and germination rate. Plants have some resistant to some radiation because plants do not have lotions and sunblocks and they need sunlight for photosynthesis and we know that the sun emits UV  rays. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION The effect of different levels of radiation was observed by irradiating corn seed using three different setups-10 kR, 30 kR, and 50 kR. Data was collected and shown. Thus, there is a certain level of radiation that can make a plant grow more. In this experiment, we conclude that at 10 kR, corn plants grow better because of mutation. Furthermore, this experiment is subjected to further reseach to improve the conclusion that at certain level radiation, plants grow better. Bibliography Das, L. D. (2006). Genetics and Plant Breeding. New Age International Ltd. Harten, A. M. (1998). Mutation Breeding: Theory and Practical Applications. Cambridge University Press. Mendioro, M. S., Laude, R. P., Barrion, A. A., Diaz, M. Q., Mendoza, J. C., Ramirez, D. A. (2010). Genetics: Laboratory Manual 12th Revision. 7 Lakes Printing Press. Ramirerz, D. A., Mendioro, M. S., Laude, R. P. (2010). Lectures in Genetics Ninth Edition. 7 Lakes Printing Press. Sax, K. (1955). The Effect of Ionizing Radiation on Plant Growth. American Journal of Botany, 360-364.

Adapting Global Marketing Strategies To The Indian Context

Adapting Global Marketing Strategies To The Indian Context In this report, we look at how the global marketing strategies should be adopted to suit the Indian Customers. We initially look at the Global marketing strategies which can help the marketing managers to boost their sales in different parts of the world. In these strategies, the report covers various aspects of the marketing mix like product, promotion, price, branding, distribution etc. Then the report explains about our country India in terms of its demographics, Culture, Rural/Urban Divide, the decision makers etc and covers the aspects which differentiate our country from the rest of the world. Then the report explains how the global marketing strategies should be adopted to the Indian context with respect to the global marketing strategies which was explained initially. Then the report takes the case study of HUL and how it has modified the marketing strategy to suit the Indian needs and the report critically analyzes the strategies adopted by HUL. Introduction This study examines the global marketing strategies and how those strategies should be adapted to the Indian customers. Then we take the case study of HUL and critically analyze the strategies which it followed. As Prospective future managers of Multi National FMCG Companies operating in India, we might often have to tackle situations where we have to adopt their marketing strategies to India. This study would be of help to the budding managers to prepare themselves to tackle the marketing challenges which they might face in their careers. HUL being one of the multinational companies which has been present in India for a long time and which has been able to capture the minds of each and every Indian serves as the perfect case study to analyze the marketing strategies followed by an MNC in India. In this report, we would be analyzing the strategies of HUL and critically analyze the marketing strategies which they adopted in India. Methodology Our study The Adaptation of Global Marketing Strategies to the Indian Context essentially has the following major parts to it: Understanding the Marketing strategies that firms undertake when they expand Globally: The Marketing Mix Consideration of Local factors (Political, Economic, Social etc) The considered differences from the domestic strategy Understanding the Target market i.e. India The Situation (Conditions Suitable/Unsuitable for marketing) Demography Evaluating the Potential Economic Status Identifying the major buyers (Middle Class in the Indian context) Understanding the specifics: How the Indian market is different and how differently do the consumers behave Combination: Going through the above 2 steps and finding out how to incorporate the Indian specifics within a companys marketing strategy while in international expansion phase A case study of Unilever: To substantiate our study we did a case study on Unilever to find out what Unilever did right and wrong in its Indian subsidiary: HUL ANALYSIS Marketing Globally In whichever part of the world a company operates, the objective of marketing is to create, communicate and deliver value to the customers. But the methodology by which this process is carried out should be adapted to the country in which the company operates to market the product effectively to the customers. It is imperative for any Global marketing manager to feel and touch the hearts of the local customers to make his/her brands a success in the country in which the company operates. In this section, we describe the various marketing strategies which can be employed for Global Marketing and then we will analyze how various elements of the marketing mix like Product, pricing, promotion, Branding and distribution should be fine tuned to suit various geographies/countries. Global marketing Strategies The application of various Marketing Strategies will depend upon the orientation of the company towards a particular market. i.e., how the firm views a particular market. The various marketing orientations are explained below followed by various ways to segment the markets internationally. Orientations The various orientations can be classified as A Chinese Coke Bill Board: Notice the use of Chinese language and ActorsProduction orientation wherein the company focuses on maximizing the efficiency or quality of the product with very little spend on marketing, E.g. commodities like oil etc Sales orientation wherein a firm sells abroad what it sells in the domestic market. E.g. products like laptops, Tennis rackets etc Customer Orientation wherein the company modifies its product as well as marketing strategies to suit the customers needs. E.g. Mac Donalds made modifications in its product line in India to suit the preferences of the Indian Customer. Strategic Orientation which combines all the above mentioned orientations. Here the Marketing managers make slight modifications to their core product or marketing strategy without deviating from their expertise. E.g., A Pantene Sachet is made to suit the customers in developing countries even though the core product, shampoo remains the same. Segmentation There are basically three approaches to segmentation which are mentioned below By Country: A firm may first select a country based on certain parameters like GDP growth, Per capita consumption etc and then decide upon which segments to target in the particular country and decide upon the marketing mix and the promotional strategies to target those segments By Segment: In this case, the company would look at the global customers as a whole and then segment them. After segmenting, the company would choose to enter those countries which has a substantial number of customers in that segment By Country and segment: In this case, the company would find out the multiple segments within all the countries, find out the similar segments in multiple countries which can be targeted and enter the countries in which the segments which can be targeted exist. Product Often in many cases, when a company introduces its product in a foreign market, it would have to make modifications in its products for various reasons some of which are listed below. Legal/Environmental standards Often Legal/Environmental requirements forces companies to make alteration in its products to suit a particular country. For e.g., Environment Safety standards set by some countries for automobiles make it necessary for any firm willing to enter into those countries to make necessary changes in their products. Packaging requirements Pepsi Bottles in Japan. Notice the unique flavors and shape to suit Japanese CustomersSome countries might have some rules which insist on displaying warning information as in the case of cigarettes or detailed information of the contents in case of food products. This might force companies to use different countries. Language also could force companies to use different packaging for different countries. Social/Cultural Considerations Often companies would have to make minor modifications in the product for various countries to accommodate the social and cultural preferences of the country. For e.g, it is said The japanese eat with their eyes. So many firms improves the aesthetic dimension in their food products to attract Japanese customers. Economic Considerations Economic considerations like Income, Infrastructure etc forces companies to make changes in their product. For e.g, Nokia made some models meant for the developing countries to suit their rugged terrains. Decision on Product Alteration To decide whether a product should be altered for a particular country or not, the company should estimate the incremental profit which can be bought in by product alterations and the cost involved in alterations. If the incremental profit is higher than the cost involved, the company should go for the product alteration. Global Pricing Strategies Pricing, One of the elements of the marketing mix is very essential to ensure that it can generate sufficient sales for the company and able to provide sufficient margins for the company. When compared to pricing a product domestically, International pricing is much more complex due to the following factors Government Regulations: Government regulations like Tariffs, Quota, Price Ceiling and Floors makes it difficult for firms to price a product uniformly across the globe. Market Diversity: The diversity of markets among various countries can be taken advantage of to price a product at a premium in some markets. For e.g., Gold Jewellery is much admired in India than in other parts of the world and hence can be sold at a premium. Price Escalation due to Exports: When a company exports a product to another country, various costs like shipping costs, customs duty etc might result in escalation of costs. To retain the price competency, the company might have to sell its products to the intermediaries at a lower cost. Forex Volatility: When a firm sells its products abroad, it is exposed to the risk of the foreign currency losing its value in future. In a monopolistic market, the firm can manage the volatility by increasing the prices in such cases. But in highly competitive markets, firms should go for currency derivatives to manage the currency risk. Pricing Strategies In pricing a product, the company should take into account the competitive scenario in the target market. If its less competitive, the firm can have much discretion in setting prices. It can use the following strategies in such market Skimming strategy: This strategy involves charging a high price for the product to target the customers willing to pay the premium and then lowering the price over the time. Penetration strategy: This strategy involves introducing the product at a low price to penetrate the market Cost-plus strategy: This involves pricing the product at a particular price so as to maintain a desirable margin. Pricing should also take into account the stereo types customers have about products originating from certain countries. For e,g a German Car would be able to command a premium which a car manufacturer from a developing country would not be able to. Firms should also ensure that the price difference between two countries should not be higher than the cost involved in bringing the product to the higher priced country from the lower priced country as a spillover might occur otherwise. Global Promotion Strategies Promotion refers to the communication of messages intended to increase the sales of the product. In the case of Global promotion, managers often have to decide on the following strategies Push/Pull Strategy A push strategy refers to promoting the product by using direct selling strategies like distributing brochures, promotion via salesman, promotion at mass gatherings by distributing free samples. A Pull strategy refers to promotion by using the medium like newspaper, television, magazines etc. The decision of push/pull should be made taking into account various factors like the reach of mass media like TV, how educated the customers are and the distribution network. Higher spend on pull strategy is recommended when the reach of the mass media is high and the customers are well educated. Higher spend on push strategy is recommended in countries where the distribution network is well developed, customers are not highly educated and the reach of mass media is less. It is always advisable to go for a mix of both strategies. Standardization Vs Localization In many of the ads, some amount of localization would be required for various countries as the languages and the culture differs between countries. But at the same time, firms should ensure that it doesnt create confusion in the minds of the customers by portraying itself differently in different countries. It is preferable to localize the constituents of promotion like language, actors etc but it is preferable to keep the theme consistent across countries. The firms can also use some mediums like product placement in Hollywood movies to effectively promote the brand across the entire globe in an effective manner. For e.g. the recent movie Iron Man 2 featured an assortment of 54 brands in it. The firms should also consider the legality and the culture of the country into account when designing ads. For e.g. display of nudity or violence will not go well with all cultures and governments. Global Branding Strategies Product Placement of Honey Puffs in the movie Kick Ass released in 2010A Brand represents an identifying mark for products or services of a company. Consumers develop a perception about various brands and the firms can use this brand perception of the customers to their advantage. But in international marketing, linguistic issues as well as cultural issues can make it difficult for firms to maintain a uniform brand identity throughout the globe. For e.g. some of the brand names might resemble abusive words in certain languages which might force the firms to tweak their brand names to suit the local customer. Also in case of acquisitions, the acquiring company might choose to go by the domestic brand identity to retain the goodwill which was created over the years. E.g. Citibank after the acquisition of Banamex in Mexico decided to retain the brand identity of Banamex which proved to be a successful strategy. International Distribution Strategies A company can benefit from a great product and a great marketing campaign to support the product only if there is a good distribution system in place to make the product available to the customer. A firm might either go for standardizing or localizing the distribution system in different countries. But standardization would work only in those countries where the distribution structure is similar. Else, a localized distribution system is preferred. For e.g. In Developed countries most of the FMCG sales would happen via big retail chains whereas in developing countries, small kirana stores play a critical role in distributing the products to the nook and corner of the country. In International distribution, most firms also have to make the decision of whether to outsource distribution or do it on its own. The following guidelines should be followed for making the decision on outsourcing distribution Political Stability: When entering a country where political stability is less, it would be advisable to outsource distribution rather than investing in own distribution network Product Characteristics: In the case of complex or high technology products which require good after sales service, it is desirable to have the firms own distribution network. When planning to enter a country, the firms should also take into account the hidden costs involved in distribution like the infrastructure of the country, the number of distribution levels, inefficiencies in retail networks, inventory stock outs etc. Gap Analysis Gap AnalysisAfter entering a country, if a company finds it not being able to achieve the expected sales, it can use Gap Analysis to take corrective actions necessary to improve its sales. The Company should first estimate the market potential for its products which is represented by the total height of all the boxes. The height till point X represents the actual sales of all the firms combined. The bottom most box represent the companys current sales. The difference between X and Y represents the sales lost to competitors. Usage gap represents the difference between the sales potential and the actual sales of the product. If the usage gap is high, the company can improve its sales by making the public more aware of the product in general. The Distribution gap represents the sales lost to its competitors because the firm is not able to distribute in certain locations which is serviced by its competitors. If the distribution gap is high, the company can improve its sales by widening its distribution network. The product line gap represents the sales lost to its competitors because the competitors are able to come up with product variations which the company unable to. This gap can be closed by investing in R D, understanding the customer needs and promoting innovation in its local organization. Finally, Competitive gap is the loss in sales which cannot be explained due to the other two reasons. This could be because the competitors have better marketing campaigns, has better good will or is able to sell it at a lower price. Investing in marketing promotions and lowering prices would be of help in closing this gap. The Indian Context Quick Facts India An Overview A population in excess of 1 billion The 4th largest economy in the world in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) The largest democracy with a stable government An independent judiciary system Plentiful natural Resources A private sector that can return significant gains on foreign direct investment Strong Entrepreneurship interest among Indians World class quality products across domains India An Overview A population in excess of 1 billion The 4th largest economy in the world in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) The largest democracy with a stable government An independent judiciary system Plentiful natural Resources A private sector that can return significant gains on foreign direct investment Strong Entrepreneurship interest among Indians World class quality products across domains India on the Upsurge Indias huge population: A Huge Market as well? Figure 1 India PopulationIndia, with a population of 1.14 billion people (According to World Bank estimates), is the second most populated country in the world. This huge population means a huge market size for most multinational firms wishing to expand its operations in India. This however, has only partial merit. Though the number of people living in the country is large, we have to consider other factors as well. Only 64% of the people are in the age group 15-64. This makes this group the only active buyers. There are other factors which need to be looked at as well, when evaluating a potential market: The Purchasing Power of the inhabitants, their buying thought process and educational status etc. Nevertheless, India, in spite of all these factors, still provides a huge market place for firms to sell their products in. Literacy Rates: The Educated Buyer Literacy rates in India are rising as can be seen from the figure. India is striving hard to provide good education to children. Setting up premier educational institutes like the IIMs, IITs and NITs has given an impetus to the education levels in the nation. Kerala has become the first state to achieve 100% literacy. Indian scholars have achieved a name for themselves globally. Figure 2 India Literacy Rates (%)We can therefore say that though a lot still needs to be done in the educational sphere, India is well on its way to claim a strong position in international terms. The impact that education has on consumer behaviour is immense. A literate consumer is an informed consumer. He can easily read between the lines and establish on his own whether a particular product will be beneficia or not. With the immense choice available in the market, an informed customer can always make an educated choice. He will also be open to new ideas, new technologies and new products and will be able to adapt to them easily. Economic Conditions: Ability to buy India has been witnessing massive drops in unemployment rate which rings in good news for global marketers as well. Decrease in unemployment would mean an increase in living standards which would in turn mean that people have the ability to buy more. Marketers have an opportunity to sell more to Indian customers. With drop in unemployment rate, the sectors most likely to grow are those dealing with basic necessities. Figure 3 India: Unemployment Rate (%)Therefore the retail sector is likely to grow the most, riding high on growth in FMCG. Along with increased purchasing power at an individual level, the overall economic growth has a huge impact on the ability to buy. Indian GDP, in purchasing power parity terms, has been on the upsurge except for the past two years (which was majorly due to the global economic downturn and the sub-prime crisis). An improving economy of a country also indicates the improved buyer status of its residents. Figure 4 India GDP (PPP) (Billion $) Thus, we can see that with the factors of population, literacy and rising economic status on its side, India presents itself as a lucrative market for firms, national as well as international. Consumer Behaviour in India: Unique Patterns India as a market, though lucrative, poses challenges of its own. The consumption behavior of Indians in some manners is quite similar to other countries, but the culture and diversity in India pose specific problem statements that are unique to India. Impact of Cultural Diversity India is a country immersed in diversity. The sheer difference in the people of India, based on caste, creed, religion, gender, economic status etc, makes the life of a marketer very difficult. It is his responsibility that a perfect product mix, customized to the satisfaction of each and every member of the society (as a potential buyer) reaches the market. For example, some part of the population is non-vegetarian while others (Jains, some Hindus) are Vegetarian. Nestle produces its 2-minute instant noodles called Maggi in vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian (Chicken) variants to cater to all segments of the market. Females/ Housewives as decision makers Women in India are the major decision makers for all consumer purchases even though it might be men who do the actual buying. Ultimately it is the women who use most of the consumer products, Washing Soap, Detergent, Cosmetics etc. It is therefore important to understand the needs of the female customers before coming up with a marketing strategy. Rise of the Middle Class The major drivers of the Indian Economy are, without a doubt, people from the Middle Class. The Indian middle class has been growing and according to studies by McKinsey it will grow to 40-60% of the population. The Low-Income classes hardly have the purchasing power to drive an economy while Higher Classes are more into personalized buying rather than standardized retail shopping. The Middle Class, on the other hand, has become more empowered. With an upswing in educational status, decrease in unemployment, and rise in average annual incomes, the Middle Class has higher disposable incomes which it uses to increase its standard of living by purchasing more and more. This is virtually a retailers dream come true! Brand Loyalty versus Desire for new options Traditionally, Indian customers have been very loyal to their brand. We all would have seen their grandparents, or granduncles/aunts buying the same brand of Toothpaste or Hair Oil from the market even though better products exist on the shelves. This was very helpful for established brands to retain their customer and posed difficulties (in terms of entry barriers) for upcoming and small firms. This mentality is changing fast. The new generation, or the Gen-Y, is very brand conscious and evaluates all its options before making any purchase. They keep in mind their notion of Cool before buying a thing as simple as a toothbrush. Brand Loyalty is a thing of the past. Kids and Teens today will change their brand as fast as the wind. Shift from Kirana Shops to Large retailers The increase in the number of options that are available to the consumer, in terms of brand, product quality, colors, packaging and what not, has created another paradigm shift in consumer behavior. Gone are the days of the Kirana Shops with limited varieties of products stored on their shelves. People these days want to have the entire range of products in front of their eyes so that they can pick and choose. They want to experience the product by holding it in their hands before making the final decision whether to buy or not. This has created solid opportunity for FMCG companies so that they can showcase their product and make sure their product catches the customers eye. They no longer have to be at the mercy of established players for market share. Durability as a necessary quality Indian customers have traditionally desired durable and rugged products. They buy products with the intention of long time use and do not believe much in use-and-throw items. For example, it is only recently that the use and throw paper cups and plates are catching on. Indians generally dont prefer them as they find them to be more expensive. Another example would be the case of the Nokia-1100 phone, marketed with the tagline Made for India. Nokia 1100 was a sturdy phone, waterproof rubber coated and stain resistant, ideal for Indian farmers and truck drivers who do rough work every day and stand a chance of spoiling their phone. Larger/Joint Families and Bulk Purchases Families in India are larger compared to their international counterparts. Some of the households run as joint families. The major effect that this has is bulk buying. People will buy goods for the entire family in one shot. This means that companies need to come up with large, super saver packs for their products. On the other hand, there exist a significant number of students, bachelors and small households that prefer smaller packaging and refills. The challenge for firms is to establish the right package size and the amount to produce in each size. Impulsive buying With increased disposable income due to higher salaries, newly earning professionals (people straight out of college) tend to do a lot of impulsive shopping i.e. buying something that is not required only because it caught your eye. With more and more youngsters joining the impulsive buyers brigade, India is a sellers heaven. Adapting to The Indian context Core Product Basic Product Expected Product Augmented Product Potential Product India, as a market, poses unique opportunities and challenges to companies contemplating an entry. With a rapidly growing middle class and a promising growth rate, India is a lucrative destination for companies facing saturation in demand back home. A foray in Indian market, on the other hand, is not without its own perils. Companies who have ignored the unique Indian context in its marketing strategy have failed miserably while those who have given due attention to its type and taste have reaped enormous profits. Following are some of the factors which differentiate Indian context from the global one and must be taken into account by companies before entering Indian markets: India lives in villages: With 85% of India living in villages having about half of Indias buying potential, a company planning an entry in India(particularly FMCG) has to strategize for rural marketing. It cant think of succeeding by focusing on metros alone. All 4Ps need to be customized while tapping this market: Product: As per Kotler, there are various levels of product offering as one adds value to the core product (shown in the adj. fig) With low per capita incomes and a widening economic disparity between urban and rural India, the rural customer is highly price conscious and looks for the basic features. So, only basic or expected product should be marketed in rural India. Moreover the rural customer looks for durability and sturdiness in the product Promotion: An advertisement designed to promote a product in a metro or an urban set up needs to be customized to rural audience for it be effective in appeal to rural customers. Moreover, traditional media needs to be employed to make the advertisement reach rural audience. The use of numerous languages and dialects across the country warrants further customization of the promotion program .Literacy level being very low in rural India, conveying the message to the rural customer requires an entirely different approach. Pricing: With a highly price sensitive population, companies usually resort to aggressive pricing to succeed in rural markets. They yearn to achieve huge volumes to offset the low margins. Place: Distribution poses a serious challenge while marketing in rural India. To make more ground-contacts with the rural customers some channels which can be used are RMVS (Rural Marketing Vehicles) which are basically company delivery vans which are used both for promotion and sales. As per Indian Market Research Bureau, annual sales at melas in Indian rural countryside is around 3500 crore which offer a lucrative marketing ground for companies having rural aspirations. Infrastructure: As compared to western countries, India has a poor logistics infrastructure posing as a serious supply chain bottleneck. The distribution system has to be adapted to take care of this constraint .Inventory levels down the value chain cannot be allowed to go too low. While companies can reap the benefits of keeping a lean inventory in countries where there is a strong logistics network. By proper use of technology like monitoring POS data and analyzing it centrally, however, can give a competitive advantage in such situations. Other infrastructural issues include power deficit and poor internet penetration. The Cultural Aspect: As per Carl Jung Culture is the collective unconscious that is built over centuries and passed from generation to generation. Failure to appreciate the cultural differences between markets can make even behemoths to fail miserably(e.g. Disneyland in Germany).To complicate the situation more, the heterogeneity in India with respect to culture is immense and moving from one corner of the country to another is like changing a nation. No doubt there are commonalities as well. Let us evaluate India on Hofstedes cultural dimensions(which by large is the most widely accepted model for studying cultural differences) All these differences have huge implications on marketing strategy of a company e.g. an advertisement designed for a population having high masculinity index may not appeal an audience with low masculinity Index. Segmentation and Demographics: The usual demographic bases of segmentation like age, income, education etc. progressed to non demographic bases like values ,tastes and preferences .Rediscovering the elementary bases of segmentation taking into account the ground level realities can work wonders instead e.g. Introduction of Emami Fair and Handsome for men was based on the discovery that men were using the fairness cream meant for women and hence there was an unmet demand. Another example is the introduction of Allen Solly Women by Madura Garments based

Much Ado About Nothing - A Feminist Perspective Essay -- Feminism Fem

A Feminist Perspective of Much Ado About Nothing  Ã‚      Much Ado About Nothing, though a critically acclaimed play, seems to be truly a fuss of trivial details and sexist thinking. The title fits the play itself, in the sense that it is a case of a great amount of nothing, which perhaps can be assumed to be a mistake on William Shakespeare's part. The characters in the comedy are not realistic, and those that could have been were transformed throughout the course of events depicted. The most trouble with the play, however, seems to come from the representation of the female characters, particularly in comparison with the males. It seems almost that the female characters are written off, rather than merely written out. The male characters of the play are given higher roles, and their characters are followed more faithfully, further proving its chauvinistic composition. The title of the play even suggests a sexist nature in its possible Elizabethan reference to the female genitalia. The play seems to reflect the common thought of its era concerning the social stat...

What Is One Worth? Essay -- Philosophy

What Is One Worth? In the depths of an individual’s being, lies his or her self-worth. Self-worth molds individuals into who they are, what they want to become. Self-worth lies at the heart of self-esteem. Self-esteem is, Palladino (1994) a blend of â€Å"self-confidence, self-worth, and self-respect. It involves respecting others, [along with] feeling a sense of harmony and peace within yourself† (sec.1p.1). The secret to higher self-esteem is the incentive to take accountability for one’s viewpoints, such as his or her aspirations, ethics, capabilities, and curiosities and to understand that these things combined is what makes them who they are (Palladino, 1994). However, the quest of higher self-esteem at times will cause sacrifices to be made by the individual to education, relationships, self-regulation, mental and physical health, as well as other concerns (Crocker & Knight, 2005). Palladino, (1994) noted that â€Å"self-esteem reflects [who each individual is] to everyone with whom [they] come into contact with (sec.1p.1). Self-esteem does not remain the same throughout an individual’s lifetime. There are many circumstances that come and go that causes self-esteem to also change. As stated by Palladino, (1994) â€Å"self-esteem is both conscious and unconscious. It is an ongoing assessment of who someone is; a belief about what they can and cannot do† (sec.1p. 1). For example, when a person buys a house, self-esteem will be high. If a person loses his or her house due to foreclosure, self-esteem can be low. Carl Rogers, one of the most influential psychologists in the 20th century, stated that [self-worth can be viewed as a gauge from high to low. There are times in one’s life where they are capable of handling the ba... ... life. However, each individual if they choose to do so can take charge over his or her life, and he or she can create better alternatives for themselves. References Crocker, Jennifer & Knight, Katherine M. (2005). Contingencies of Self Worth. Current Directions in Psychological Science (Wiley-Blackwell). Vol. 14 (Issue 4), pages 4, 200-203. McLeod, S.A. (2007). Simply Psychology; Carl Rogers. Retrieved April 26, 2012 from http://www.simplypsychology.org/carl-rogers.html Palladino, Connie D. (1994). Developing Self Esteem: A Guide for Positive Success. Menlo Park, California: Crisp Publications. Vohs, Kathleen D (Editor); Finkel, Eli J. (2006). Self and Relationships: Connecting Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Processes. New York, NY, USA: Guilford Press. Retrieved from: http://site.ebrary.com/lib/apus/Doc?id=10172290&ppg=48

The Material Nature of Spirituality Essay examples -- Spirit Spiritual

The Material Nature of Spirituality It was observed from the 'time to think' experiments done in Biology 103 lab, that thinking is material. Thinking was associated with material changes and activities in the brain and the connected nervous system. This promulgates the brain=behavior notion. According to this notion, all aspects of human behavior and experiences are functions of a material structure, the brain. Who one is, is determined by his or her brain. Nevertheless, many people continue to believe in a 'higher power' that guides and controls human action and behavior. In a sense, religion and spirituality was developed to understand and explore questions about 'who we are' and 'what is the purpose of life'. Whether one is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu, religious thinking and belief attempt to ground human experiences and thoughts in the spiritual and ethereal. Religious experiences are considered 'otherworldly' and not material. Heightened spiritual behavior through prayer, meditation or yoga is considered to lead to a state of 'transcendence', 'inner peace' or a 'nearness to God' depending on which faith you follow. Hence, the notion of spirituality and religion is based on an ethereal component. However could the ethereal and spiritual be embodied by a material structure, the brain? Recent scientific research has provided observations, which suggest spirituality, and religious experience has a biological basis. Scientific observations suggest there are specific physiological aspects to spiritual behavior like meditation, prayer, and yoga. Many people nowadays follow transcendental meditation, prayer, and yoga to enhance their spiritual and physical well being. These spiritual pra... ...rch/tm_charts/1Phys.html 3) The Effects of Meditation on the Brain Activity , http://members.aol.com/InstSSM/parietal.HTML 4) Searching for the God within,, a past Newsweek article. http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/brynmawr_main?http_rc=400&class=session&sev=temp&type=session&cause=http%3A%2F%2Fweb4.infotrac.galegroup.com%2Fitw%2Finfomark%2F678%2F198%2F19025812w4%2Fpurl%3Drc1_EAIM_0_A69411041%26dyn%3D12!xrn_10_0_A69411041%3Fsw_aep%3Dbrynmawr_main&cont=&msg=No+Session+cookies&sserv=no 5) The Humanizing Brain: Where Religion and Neuroscience Meet, http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/brynmawr_main?http_rc=400&class=session&sev=temp&type=session&cause=http%3A%2F%2Fweb4.infotrac.galegroup.com%2Fitw%2Finfomark%2F678%2F198%2F19025812w4%2Fpurl%3Drc1_EAIM_0_A53739125%26dyn%3D19!xrn_5_0_A53739125%3Fsw_aep%3Dbrynmawr_main&cont=&msg=No+Session+cookies&sserv=no

Sylvia Plath: The Imperfect Perfectionist

Sylvia Plath's poetry is an expression of â€Å"a personal and despairing grief†. She had the gift of recreating her own past experiences in a complex form, so as to remove them from her present, that it started to seem like an obsession. Within this obsession her poems show a regular pattern of self-centeredness. It was this characteristic that lead her far from any â€Å"self-discovery† and â€Å"self-definition†, and drove her to her death, â€Å"an art† as she words it. Plath readily exploits her emotions through the personified language to build a sinister and super-natural atmosphere, in attempt of creating a â€Å"valiantly unremitting campaign against the black hole of depression and suicide†. However, her attempts went to waste when she committed suicide in the February of 1963. Plath's poetry enables the reader to unravel and look deep into her victimised mind. It was for this talent that she had received much praise, but much more criticism. Plath's poetry mirrors the life of Plath, and to make sense of her poetry it is important to try and have an understanding of Plath, to see things through her perspective. This is what most critics' lack, and so I have taken a step to try and understand her. It is for this reason I will take into consideration the perspective of psychoanalysts to aid me in my understanding of her, in particular the theories of Sigmund Freud, and the view of Marxists, to give me varied opinions. There are many themes common in her poems, each of which have equal importance, but I have chosen to analyse the themes of colour, family and relationships, and the self-inflicted pains she puts upon herself. Relationships were always a weak point in Plath's life. She has always felt disappointed by the relationships she had with others, especially that between her mother, father and husband. Her poems, which are partly stimulated by them, particularly â€Å"Daddy†, â€Å"Medusa† and â€Å"Tulips†, are a powerful source of â€Å"murderous art†, where she was allowed to expose her bitterness towards them. She uses reoccurring imagery associated with the three protagonists in her life, and poetry in attempt of breaking free from the chains of a â€Å"tortured mind of the heroine†. The relationship between Plath and her mother was very ineffectual, or that is how she exemplifies it through the use of her poetry. â€Å"Medusa†, which is said to be based on her mother is like a fantasy tale gone wrong. Plath creates a grotesque fictional jellyfish like character personified by the character of her mother. There is not even a little love being expressed in this poem, unlike ‘Daddy'. â€Å"Who do you think you are?†¦A communion wafer? Blubbery Mary? This is a hate poem, as the lines show no affection expressing hatred to such a level that the language used is so blunt and rude that it is hard to distinguish any relation between them. They also represent proof of the suppressed anger, which has brought Plath down in her life. The poem is made of many flashbulb memories, which are created at a time of high emotion. Memories of this kind are thought to be very accurate and so we cannot challenge Plath's recollection of these events to prove that they are false, however, throughout her poems, Plath shows a habit of inflicting pain upon herself in exaggeration of the cause and affect. She uses the same technique of reminiscing about the past, whilst exploiting the pain and suffering she underwent in â€Å"Daddy†. Another psychodynamic approach originates from explanations of attachment. Freud put forward an account, known as ‘cupboard love', based on the child's attachment with its mother. He states that the reason the child is attached with its mother is because they know that their mother will provide them with their needs without delay. These high expectations from a mother may also be the reason for Plath's anger towards her mother. Plath may have blamed her mother for the death of her father, and built hatred for her for the fact that she was unable to bring her, her dad back. Stan Smith, a Marxist has similar views. He believes â€Å"a writer is a creature of circumstance†, and Plath was a creature of emotional torment. Her father's death drove her to insanity, making her more and more obsessed with her father's death. Plath always recalled her dad through the imagery of the foot. She felt that the foot was to be blamed for the death of her father and used it as an excuse to build revulsion against him. â€Å"In which I have lived like a foot†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ The boot in the face† Daddy is a good example of her disillusions about her father. These quotes taken from â€Å"Daddy† show her misrepresentations of her father as a brutal and obsessive man, however it is learnt from many sources that his character was often described as â€Å"authoritarian† and maintained a relationship with his children with very little involvement, and so her distraught behaviour can be excused when she conveys her immense abhorrence. The line â€Å"If I've killed one man, I've killed two† shows that she has destroyed the image of her father, and the ability to see good in anyone. Many Marxists believe this is â€Å"entirely unfair† and that she cannot blame the mistakes of one person to generalise everyone else. This is how she creates a negative image of everyone around her, including her family, by reflecting her sweeping statement upon the world. The way in which she conveys a very pessimistic illustration of her father repeatedly shows that she is fixated on the torture she thinks her father has inflicted upon her. This defence mechanism she uses in â€Å"Daddy† and â€Å"Medusa† is explained in the ‘personality theory', which states that any experiences through childhood, which are of excessive, pain or pleasure become fixated in the mind. Later on in life it leads to repression (when the mind tries to block out any of those threatening thoughts). I also agree with this psychological explanation, however, some of this diagnosis does not seem to be the case for Plath. Instead of eradicating these thoughts from her mind, she keeps reminding herself of them. Plath's imagery is so constant throughout her poems that it seems she is trying to remove these thoughts and incidents from her mind and life by writing them down, but is unable to, which explains the repetition in her poems. Unlike psychoanalysts, many Marxists have a very different view, that we cannot depend on Plath's interpretation of her parents, as Stan Smith words it, â€Å"a product of her own time and place†. I too agree with their opinion. In her poems, Sylvia deeply focuses on their faults but does not pay any attention to her own. A popular Marxist theory is that Plath and her problems with her parents is part of a much bigger problem. Compared with other issues her trouble is insignificant, and so for her to exaggerate these issues is unfair. ‘Daddy' is somewhat Plath's finale, to eliminate her dad from her mind and life. It seems to me that whilst recollecting memories of her father, Plath was unable to recall enough and was forced to elaborate from the small amount she has. Gradually the recollections became very heavily buried under the elaborations, and the poem becomes a stranger to her, or so that is how it seems to the reader. However, for Plath, the more disguised her poetry, the more personal her poems become. And this is why it is necessary to try and understand her, so you can dig beneath the top layer to reveal her inside. She very cleverly hides her affection for her father in the same way. It is crucial to see beneath the cruel and callous layer to see that under all of this so-called hate for her dad, Plath still has some love for him, yet all this suppressed anger and, torture, created by the imagery, can be justified. To be able to give an explanation for anger, whilst investigating her real feeling towards her father, it is necessary to examine the imagery she uses. â€Å"Any more, black shoe. In which I have lived like a foot† The foot and shoe metaphors have a lot of importance in Plath's work, as she is able to relate to them very easily to help her present her feelings. As this quote shows, the boot is â€Å"a symbol of her, suffocated and stuck†, and also of the fear of which she had to live with whilst her father was alive. His dominant status in the house oppressed Plath, and even whilst he was alive he wasn't able to give her the love that a young child needed. They also represent the initial discovery of the diabetes, that later killed him, because he was reluctant to have his leg amputated. By using these images Al Alvarez believes that â€Å"in ‘Daddy' she goes right down to the deep spring of her sickness and describes it purely†. I find this quite absurd that Alvarez has judged Plath's work as an account of her sickness, rather than an exclamation from a child who has been deprived of fatherly love and affection. It doesn't seem as if he has taken into consideration her emot ions, and has made no attempt to try and understand her perspective. ‘Daddy' is a cry of pain from a daughter who expresses incredulous psychological trauma because a father will not return unconditional love by surviving for her sake. Plath too, like any other individual should have the right to express this trauma, which is what most critics like Alvarez are forgetting and not allowing her to do. Many analysts also compare Plath's behaviour to the Electra complex. I disagree with this theory and don't think that Plath's feelings for her father should not be interpreted in a sexual form. Despite these in depth analyses, could it not be that Plath only uses the black shoe imagery as an extension of the Holocaust imagery, or even only as a link associated to her father? Liz Hood, a Marxist, believes that this over-depth study of the â€Å"black shoe† â€Å"may infact be an example of adding ones own interpretation to something which may in essence be a great deal more simple†. I think this opinion should be taken very seriously when trying to investigate Plath' relationships and life. The â€Å"black shoe† could simply represent the initial discovery of her father's diabetes, but is very misleading to many. It is these factors, which make the understanding of Plath nearly impossible. Despite the hate being shown, I agree with Alvarez, concluding that ‘Daddy' is a love poem. The brutality of the poem makes the idea of ‘Daddy' being a love poem very obvious, but yet not so obvious. Examples of the double innuendo are shown in many places throughout the poem, but are intertwined in all the vicious imagery. â€Å"I used to pray to recover you. Ach du†¦or Achoo†¦your gobbledygoo† Plath refers to her father as ‘du'. Although by using ‘du' Plath dissociates her relationship, instead by using Daddy, â€Å"there is still some kind of cooing tenderness in thus which complicates the other more savage note of resentment†, thinks Alvarez and myself. This is because Plath is torn between viewing her father in the eyes of a child and in the eyes of an adult, as you can see from the quotes above. Certain words are very childish, and make reference to Plath as a child. â€Å"She is still a daughter who never grew out of the stage that all daughters go through, thinking they're fathers are the closest thing to God†, that she is still daddy's little princess, and so by using these words and by referring to her father as ‘daddy' she is compensating for the loss of her childhood without her father. Opposing these thoughts is Hugh Kenner, another psychoanalyst, who believes â€Å"there's a lot of nonsense being talked about in these poems†. Nevertheless, he also thinks she deserves to be accredited for her creativity. Kenner has separated her creativity and emotions into two categories, where as I think this is impossible to do. Her poetry and the sensation of the poetry are portrayed through her creativity, which are her emotions. ‘Daddy' and ‘Medusa' both show the complementing balance between the two. The way in which she contrasts her self made anguish with what may be seen as much more sever suffering, so simply is proof of her ability to express her own pain through literature whilst weaving in her personal grievance. This ability helps Plath to dissolve herself into her work to such an extent that she progressively exposes her feelings with more and more depth, and gradually self-destructs in ‘Daddy'. The most common imagery that she used to do th is is associated with the Holocaust and religion. Psychoanalyst Alvarez suggests that by using the Holocaust imagery, â€Å"what she does in the poem is, with a weird detachment, to turn the violence against herself so as to show that she can equal her oppressors with her self-inflicted oppression†. This is definitely the case in ‘Daddy'. Throughout ‘Daddy', Plath compares the many conflicts in her life with images of World War 2. She creates suffering all around her, and â€Å"when suffering is there whatever you do, by inflicting upon yourself you achieve your identity, you set yourself free†. This is created by the use of the Holocaust imagery. Plath causes her own aggression by contrasting everything involved in her poem with this imagery. In her mind, there is enough comparison for her to be able to convince herself that she is â€Å"a Jew†, and by doing this has the ability to bombard every pain, in every sense, not only that of the Holocaust, upon herself, which takes her self-inflicted suffer ing to the highest level. The black shoe can also be interpreted as â€Å"an extension of the Holocaust and Nazi† imagery and by doing this Plath also gives an impression of her father as a Nazi. I think it is unfair of Plath to and compare her anger and suffering with that of the Holocaust, however, Plath's poetry is very â€Å"spiritual† and whilst criticising her work we need to take in mind that this is the â€Å"mind of the tortured heroine†. Sharing the same view is Leon Wieselter, a Marxist, who too thinks, â€Å"Whatever her father did to her, it could not have been what the Germans did to the Jews†; he goes on to say, â€Å"The metaphor is inappropriate†. I do not agree with this opinion of his. We as readers, and outsiders will be unable to experience Plath's emotions, and so do not have the right to criticise her emotions which are portrayed through her imagery. What we may see as bearable anguish, may be comparable to murder for Plath (in the case of being separated from her father), and we have established from previous analysis and just by reading her poetry that her fathers death seriously scarred Plath mentally. Furthermore I think that Plath feels some attachment to the Jews, because of her original nationality. Challenging this opinion is Stan Smith, another Marxist, who feels â€Å"it would be wrong to see Plath's use of the imagery in the concentration camp simply as unacceptable†. Another very blunt try at this technique is shown throughout ‘Lady Lazarus'. â€Å"In ‘Lady Lazarus' the†¦cultural resonance of the original story is harnessed to a vehemently self- justifying purpose, so that the supra-personal dimensions of knowledge-to which myth typically gives access-are slighted in favour of the intense personal need of the poet†, as Hugh Kenner describes this. This is a very accurate account of Plath in ‘Lady Lazarus'. Here she causes to experience this torture in a very direct way. We can see this from the first stanza. â€Å"I have done it again. One year in every ten I manage it-† These powerful lines show that Plath's self-made agonies are her drugs. She is self generating and to get energy to write she imposes pain upon herself. By doing this she also manages to gain everyone's attention of which she feels she was deprived from when she was younger, or maybe even all her life. Again in ‘Lady Lazarus' she involves some holocaust imagery and some reference to her father's foot. However there is not much imagery of this sort in ‘Lady Lazarus' but the language used is more frank, and revolved around her as a person. In a sense its is a summary of her life, a brief autobiography. By repeating the upsetting events in her life she reminds herself of them, and in a way by doing this she is causing herself to drown again in her own history. Another kind of imagery, which I think scares Plath is that of colour. It seems like Plath had a phobia of the colour red. Although this is a different imagery in its own respect, I think that Plath looks too deep into the various connotations of the colour red. Red associates itself with many assorted connotations, including love and passion, hatred and anger, jealousy, roses and blood. These are just a few of the many. When scanning through these words, you are able to connect them with the various events and emotions in Plath's life. This is why she tries to avoid red in her poems, in my opinion. However, there are exceptions. Plath feels she is able to use red as another sort of imagery to put across her feelings. This line taken from ‘Tulip' is an example of the exceptions she makes. â€Å"The tulips are too red†¦their redness talks to my wounds†¦upsetting me with their sudden tongues and their colour, a dozen red lead sinkers round my neck†¦the vivid tulips eat my oxygen.† These quotes show us to what extent the colour red causes her harm. In ‘Tulips' Plath personifies the tulips, by making them able to physically hurt her, as shown by the quotes. However, as soon as she brings to light the redness of the tulip, her audience become aware of the negativity of the tulips, and a very tense atmosphere is created. By characterising the tulips she feels like everyone is victimising her, and so again brings a feeling of fear and oppression upon her. She uses red to replace someone, of whom she is writing about. The tulips are harmless, but the redness attacks her mind. â€Å"The patient attempts to escape by every possible means. First he says nothing comes into his head, then that so much comes into his head that he can't grasp any of it†¦at last he admits that he really cannot say anything, he is so ashamed to†¦so it goes on, with untold variations. I think this quote said by Freud is perfect to conclude Plath. The paper is Plath's couch, and the pen her doctor. Poetry is mostly created for the sake of releasing pent up emotions, that one finds impossible to keep inside them, similar to crying out, rather than creating poems for the sake of art. However, the main question, which will trouble many minds for generations to come, is, was Sylvia's outcry disguised behind a false persona?