J.P. Morgan’s Latin America M&A department Essay

Juan Lopez, a new associate in J.P. Morgan’s Latin America M&A department, was assigned the task of valuing the telephone directory operation subsidiary of a large Brazilian industrial conglomerate. The subsidiary is Paginas Amarelas, which operates in three Latin countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. All cash flows have been converted to U.S. dollars, and present values computed for various discount rates. In order to the present value properly, he should determine the appropriate target rate of returns for dollar flows originating in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Q1.What is the valuation problem here? In what currency are the cash flows denominated? In what currency should the discount rate denominated? Be sure you understand Exhibits 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the case. Juan chose DCF model to determine fair value of those subsidiaries. To properly apply DCF model WACC is a key underlying assumption. WACC composes of cost of debt and cost of equity. For cost of equity, Juan has some obstacles to determine it using CAPM model because following factors cannot be reasonably valued; 1. Risk-free rate is difficult to be determined because government bonds of those countries are not actually free of risk. Given that those governments had defaulted on principal and interest payments in the recent past. 2. Equity-risk premium cannot be reliably estimated. Equity market of each country has inadequate historical data e.g. historical stock prices, trading volume, dividend yield etc. This is because majority of companies are privately owned. 3. Beta cannot be ap propriately calculated. There is no competitor of the subsidiary in each local market. Potential competitors are either doing many kind of businesses or too small to be compared. For cost of debt, each local operation does not significantly issue debt security independently in an international market. As a result, Juan has to use an estimate of the U.S. dollar rates as if each operation borrow from the bank. Furthermore, each country has high inflation rate which causes valuation on each local currency become less accurate and less reliable. Cash flows are denominated in each local currency i.e. Argentina pesos,  Brazil reals, and Chile pesos. However, given that there are number of drawbacks in valuation on each local currency, as discussed earlier, discount rate should also be denominated in US Dollar. Q2.In this case, why doesn’t J.P. Morgan discount local cash flows at a local required rate of return? In fact, why not use that approach in general? -Firstly, J. P. Morgan is requested to value the business in U.S. dollars by the client, a Brazilian industrial conglomerate.

Modified food Essay

â€Å"Genetically Engineered foods, also known as GM and GMO’s is the manipulation of DNA by humans to change the essential makeup of plants and animals. The technology inserts genetic material from one species into another to give it a new quality, such as the ability to produce a pesticide, or to include genetic material from Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt); a natural bacterium found in soil. †Mather R. â€Å"The Threat From Genetically Modified Foods. † Mother Earth News. April 2012. Web. 2 April 2013. Scientists have been undergoing experimentation of this method for over forty years, in hopes of perfecting GM’s which they foresee will positively enhance the overall well being of humanity nutritionally and environmentally. Jason McLure. â€Å"Genetically Modified Food. †CQ Researcher Plus Archive; August 31, 2012, Vol. 22 Issue 30 p1-35, p35 â€Å"Two techniques dominate the the GM farming industry: Some crops have been modified to be able to survive the weed- killer glyphosate, commonly sold under Monsanto’s Roundup brand. Roundup Ready crops purpose is objection is to decrease the need to till before planting, saving farmers time and money and reducing erosion and loss of soil moisture. Gylphosate is among the least toxic herbicides that can kill a broad spectrum of weeds, and thus is suppose to be safer for farmworkers and less environmentally damaging. The second technique is the introduction of genes from the soil bacterium Bacillis thurengiensis (Bt) produces a substance toxic to many pests but harmless to humans, wildlife and most beneficial insects, such as bees. While Bt has long been used by organic farmers, scientists have produced GM crops that manufacture their own Bt in the part of the plant susceptible to attack from pests- such as corn-plant roots prone to root- worm attack. †Jason McLure. â€Å"Genetically Modified Food. †CQ Researcher Plus Archive; August 31, 2012, Vol. 22 Issue 30 p1-35, p35 What was once fairly quiet contention over the controversy of whether genetically engineered foods were safe or beneficial for human consumption and environmental preservation, has now spiraled into a social and political frenzy. People are now starting to demand for a food democracy. Currently, consistent negative findings of toxins, endangerment to human consumption, and environmental hazards have substantiated involving GMO’s; overturning the initial positive scientific and GM biotech producers projections. Government, FDA, GMO and GMO seed monopolizing company Monsanto have been accused of collaborating in order to keep GMO’s understudied, in consumer markets, and unlabeled. GM manufactures claim that GM’s are for the greater good of the world, stating that GM can end world hunger, stop climate change, reduce pesticide use, and increase crop yields. Smtih Jeffrey. â€Å"Not In My Fridge. † Ecologist; November 2007, Vol. 37 Issue 9, p27-31, 5p If such a feat had been achieved, people would be rejoicing, but evidence has proven contrary. The main controversial arguments are; GM has not improved world hunger, GM has actually increased climate change, GM has doubled pesticide usage and now pest insects have developed an immunity to the pesticides, and GM has decreased crop yields. Smtih Jeffrey. â€Å"Not In My Fridge. † Ecologist; November 2007, Vol. 37 Issue 9, p27-31, 5p GM is dangerous for human and animal consumption, and is an overall risk to our health and environment. â€Å"Lab animals forced to eat GM foods showed damage to virtually every system studied. They had stunted growth, bleeding stomachs, abnormal and potentially pre- cancerous cell growth in the intestines, impaired blood cell development, misshapen cell structures in the liver, pancreas and testicles, altered gene expression and ceil metabolism, liver and kidney lesions, partially atrophied livers, inflamed kidneys, less developed brains and testicles, enlarged livers, pancreases and intestines, reduced digestive enzymes, higher blood sugar levels, increased death rates, higher offspring mortality and immune system dysfunction. † Smtih Jeffrey. â€Å"Not In My Fridge. † Ecologist; November 2007, Vol. 37 Issue 9, p27-31, 5p â€Å"Two dozen farmers reported that the GM corn varieties caused thousand of pigs to become sterile. Some also reported sterility among cows and bulls. German farmers link cow deaths to one variety of GM corn, while Filipinos link another variety to death among water buffaloes, chickens and horses. When 71 Indian shepherds let their sheep grace on Bt cotton plants after harvest, within 5 to 7 days 25 percent had died. The 2006 death rate for the region is estimated at 10,000 sheep. Since then more deaths were identified and toxins were also found in Bt cotton fields, investigators concluded that evidence strongly suggests the sheep death was caused by toxins, most probably Bt- toxin. † Smtih Jeffrey. â€Å"Not In My Fridge. † Ecologist; November 2007, Vol. 37 Issue 9, p27-31, 5p â€Å"Three French scientists analyzed the raw data from three 2009 Monsanto studies on rats and found that three GM corn varieties caused liver and kidney toxicity and other kinds of organ damage. †Mather R. â€Å"The Threat From Genetically Modified Foods. † Mother Earth News. April 2012. Web. 2 April 2013. â€Å"Organic farmers fear that their non- GM crops could become contaminated by the spread of genetically modified traits by wind and insect cross-pollination. Once those traits are in the agricultural gene pool, there’s no way to remove it. This is pollination with a life of its own, it spreads forever. †Jason McLure. â€Å"Genetically Modified Food. †CQ Researcher Plus Archive; August 31, 2012, Vol. 22 Issue 30 p1-35, p35. â€Å"Another environmental concern is Roundup ends up in wetlands because of runoff and inadvertent spraying, and Roundup damages soil,† according to Rick Relyea, University of Pittsburgh assistant Professor. Two Purdue scientists, Professor Emeritus Don Huber and G. s. Johal, said in a paper published in 2009 that the widespread use of glyphosate can significantly increase the severity of various plant diseases, impair plant defenses to pathogens and disease, and immobilize soil and plant nutrients, rendering them unavailable for plant use. The pair warn that â€Å"ignoring potential non- target side effects may have dire consequences for agriculture such as rendering the soil infertile, crops nonproductive and plants less nutritious. †Mather R. â€Å"The Threat From Genetically Modified Foods. † Mother Earth News. April 2012. Web. 2 April 2013. â€Å"In 1992, the first Bush Administration sped up the GM process hoping it would increase exports and US dominance of food markets. The opposite ensued and the US government spent up to 5-billion-taxpayer-dollars a year in subsidies to prop up prices on the GM crop that many countries at the time rejected to adopt. Following other countries refusal of GM, the US government went on to try and force other countries to accept GM, â€Å"resorting to World Trade Organization Lawsuits against the European Union, GM food aid for famine- stricken nations, even threats to withdraw funds for AIDS relief if GMO’s weren’t adopted by African nations. † Smtih Jeffrey. â€Å"Not In My Fridge. † Ecologist; November 2007, Vol. 37 Issue 9, p27-31, 5p â€Å"Monsanto and a few chemi- biotech companies ultimately control GMO’s and GMO seed supply. Funding for university level research is often funded or controlled by the agrochemical companies. Biotech companies deny access to their patent-protected GM technology. † Jason McLure. â€Å"Genetically Modified Food. †CQ Researcher Plus Archive; August 31, 2012, Vol. 22 Issue 30 p1-35, p35 â€Å"The FDA does not conduct independent testing for human or animal safety and relies strictly on the research conducted by the manufacturers of the products. While the main GMO producer, Monsanto, makes it impossible for independent scientists to study GM seeds. The biotech industry has convinced the FDA that GM crops are not substantially different from conventional varieties. † Mather R. â€Å"The Threat From Genetically Modified Foods. † Mother Earth News. April 2012. Web. 2 April 2013. â€Å" As the system now stands, biotech companies bring their own research to the government body overseeing their products. Multibillion- dollar company corporations, including Monsanto and Syngenta, have restricted independent research on their genetically- engineered crops, they have refused to provide independent scientists with seeds, or they’ve set restrictive conditions that severely limit research options,† wrote Doug Gurian- Sherman of the Union of Concerned Scientists. † Mather R. â€Å"The Threat From Genetically Modified Foods. † Mother Earth News. April 2012. Web. 2 April 2013. â€Å"If GMO’s fail, shareholders in Monsanto, Bayer, Syngenta and other companies will see their investments plummet. According to Yahoo! Finance, more than 80 percent of Monsanto’s stock is held by institutional holders such a Vanguard and funds such as Davis, Fidelity and T Rowe Price. † Mather R. â€Å"The Threat From Genetically Modified Foods. † Mother Earth News. April 2012. Web. 2 April 2013. â€Å"FDA officials have openly criticized efforts to label GM crops and food. In 2002, when Oregon voters considered measure 27, with contributions totaling $1,480,000. Next was Dupont, with $634,000,† said Cameron Woodworth in Biotech Family Secrets, a report for the Council for Responsible Genetics. Biotech companies Syngenta, Dow AgroSciences, BASF and Bayer Crop Science, plus Grocery Manufacturers of America ( a trade organization), PepsiCo, General Mills and Nesde USA contributed $900,000, wrote Woodworth. † Mather R. â€Å"The Threat From Genetically Modified Foods. † Mother Earth News. April 2012. Web. 2 April 2013. â€Å"Labeling advocates, along with 40 other countries, including all of Europe, Japan, and China want any GM food to be labeled. † Jason McLure. â€Å"Genetically Modified Food. †CQ Researcher Plus Archive; August 31, 2012, Vol. 22 Issue 30 p1-35, p35 â€Å"Biotech companies claim that if GM products were labeled it would deter consumer spending, for by labeling GMO’s consumers would deem such products defective. Other high-ranking government officials have lobbied against labeling, stating, â€Å"If you label something there’s an implication there’s something wrong with it,† said Jose Fernandez, the U. S. State Department’s assistant secretary for economic, energy and business affairs. †Mather R. â€Å"The Threat From Genetically Modified Foods. † Mother Earth News. April 2012. Web. 2 April 2013. In March 2013, President Obama signed a rider which temporarily â€Å"requires the Agriculture Department to approve the growing, harvesting and selling of such crops, even if the courts rule environmental studies are incomplete†. http://www. foxnews. com/politics/2013/03/30/obama-signs-bill-that-protects-makers-genetically-engineered-crops-from-federal/. Which â€Å"prohibits the Department of Agriculture from stopping production of any genetically engineered crop once it’s in the ground, even if there is evidence that it is harmful†. http://opinionator. blogs. nytimes. com/2013/04/02/why-do-g-m-o-s-need-protection/ â€Å"The use of GM crops has become widespread among U. S growers of commodities, or big crops sold on future exchanges. Eighty- eight percent of corn and 94 percent of cotton, came from GM strains in 2012. Because corn and soy are ubiquitous in processed food in the U. S. , from corn- syrup- sweetened Coca- Cola to crackers made with soybean oil, its likely that most Americans consume a product containing a genetically modified ingredient everyday. † Jason McLure. â€Å"Genetically Modified Food. †CQ Researcher Plus Archive; August 31, 2012, Vol. 22 Issue 30 p1-35, p35 People should have the right and the choice to know exactly what they are ingesting and serving to their children and loved ones. â€Å"Just label it. †

Different approaches to the Study of Psychology

This paper discusses different approaches to the study of psychology and shows their relevance to the understanding of offending behaviour. A generally acceptable definition of psychology is that it is the science of the behaviour of living organisms with an emphasis upon human beings. With roots in the Greek psyche (life or self) and logos (logic), psychology is the scientific study of observable behaviour that we can observe directly or measure with instruments (Baucum, 1999).Therefore, in general, psychology means the study of behaviour, and it follows that if we learn to understand the way people SHOULD behave by a methodical, logical study, by the same manner we should gain some insight and understanding into why some deviants behave the way that they do.Cognitive psychology is one of the major approaches within psychology and can be contrasted with the behavioral view (a focus on observable behavior), a psychoanalytic view (a focus on the unconscious), a humanistic view (a focu s on personal growth and interpersonal relationships) and a social cognitive view (a focus on the social environment as it impacts personal qualities such as thinking and feeling. ) An important distinction between the behavioral and cognitive or humanistic views is the importance of feedback.For behaviorists, the most important feedback comes in the form of the application of consequences from the environment. The cognitive, as well humanistic, would focus on the importance of internal feedback. The social cognitive view considers both types. (Huitt, 2006) Of course the term offending behaviour does not relate just to criminal activities but to any type of behaviour which can be seen as deviant. There is no doubt that the use of psychology can be very useful and effective in criminology, one of the most obvious examples of offending behaviour.If this work is not done correctly, however, the effect can be frustrating and can slow down the entire procedure. It is therefore very impor tant to do this kind of work systematically and effectively (Victoroff, 2005) According to David Lester in his book entitled â€Å"Theories of Personality† (1995), there are three major approaches to the explanation of human behaviour. He lists these as intrapsychic explanations, physiological theories and simple learning theories. He explains intrapsychic explanations in the following manner: They are explanations that use concepts based upon psychological processes and structures within the mind.These processes may focus on the contents of the mind such as particular desires, emotions or thoughts (Lester, 1995). Loosely, psychologists employing this method to understand, perhaps, why pedophiles act in the way that they do, or what would cause a man to want to rape. It may also lead to the understanding of self image, and what would cause, for example, a person with a low self image (in his mind the fault of his mother) to want to take revenge upon all women. It typically de fines and utilizes more complicated mechanisms such as defense mechanisms, complexes and system principles (Lester, 1995)The second method listed by Lester also focuses on the individual but as opposed to using mental processes to explain human behaviour, it relies upon the physiology of the brain. This is the Physiological theories approach – William Sheldon and Hans Eysneck have proposed classic physiological theories of personality – and recent advances in biological psychiatry look as if they may form the basis for modern, improved physiological theories of personality (Lester, 1995).One can see that this type of approach may be very useful in the study of a variety of neurological disorders, including perhaps schizophrenia – it may allow heightened understanding of why the patient has split personalities – or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or even disorders which fall into the depression category such as Bipolar Disorder. The third approac h given by Lister focuses upon the environment (or the situation) of the individual as the source of explanations for human behavior.Social Learning Theory takes into account the fact that humans are more complex than lower animals, and introduces a limited number of intrapsychic processes (mainly cognitive elements) in order to provide a more complete understanding of the behaviour of human beings. (Lister, 1995). There definitely seems to be truth in this. Take for example a woman who is ordinarily of a sunny disposition. Her friends may notice that for a few months she has been moody, lethargic, withdrawn, and generally not interested in anything.This is probably indicative of something being wrong, and further exploration may reveal to the friends that the reason for this offending behaviour is that she is under severe financial stress, for example. Lister also says that while all of the above pose a variety of answers to the understanding of human behaviour, the truest is proba bly a combination of all of the above (Lister, 1995). Take the example of a well known person who is known to have exhibited offending behaviour – Robert Thompson, who as a 10 yr old participated with Jon Venables in the killing of 3 yr old Jamie Bulger.All of the approaches described above can be used in the analysis of the following information. Born of an abusive father and an alcoholic mother, he had five older brothers who assaulted him. His father left the family after viciously assaulting his mother. Reminiscent of William Golding’s novel The Lord of the Flies, the older brothers bullied the younger into submission. Robert did try to be a good son and would help his mother in the kitchen and babysitting the younger ones, trying to provide support.Robert was not aggressive as much as sly. He skipped school, but when he did attend he was not considered a troublemaker. Teachers thought he was shy and quiet, yet manipulative of others, and didn’t expect much from him. Other kids avoided him. (Courtroom Television Network, 2005) Sometimes he talked tough, trying to act the role of a Thompson, but he was not considered violent or aggressive. He roamed the streets of Walton at 1 a. m. His mother Ann sometimes hid his shoes to keep him home.Unfortunately, Robert’s abuse at the hands of his older brothers began to repeat in his treatment of his younger brother. He intimidated his younger brother, but they shared a strange bond. At night, they would lie in bed together, sucking one another’s thumb. (During the course of Robert’s trial Ryan began exhibiting disturbing behavior. He wet his bed regularly, set fires in his room, and gained weight. He seemed jealous of the attention Robert received and his mother was fearful that he would do something equally horrible to get the same treatment.)Using the approaches listed above we can begin to understand the mind of Robert Bulger, and use this information to prevent further li ke crimes from occurring. This paper has discussed different approaches to the study of psychology and shown their relevance to the understanding of offending behaviour. We can see that using a combination of the different approaches to psychology is probably the best way to get at the truth.

Article Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Article Summary - Essay Example Whilst expanding exports, China is also demanding more imports of sophisticated consumer and producer goods and natural resources from the region. This article examines the nature of China’s threat using benchmarks for competitive performance in terms of technology and market. Market share changes are analysed and specific product groups are highlighted, which â€Å"are directly or indirectly exposed to a competitive threat.† Trade within the region itself is also examined. The extent of the perceived threat depends on the neighbouring countries’ ability to expand exports likewise, that is, â€Å"the relative growth of technological and other capabilities† between the countries. It also depends on â€Å"the organisation of the production and marketing system†. The threat is therefore assessed by mapping relative export performance by technology and destination. China’s export growth rate actually declined over the 1990s and halved for manufactured products. The structure of exports shows that a shift towards medium and high technology products exists, and â€Å"the industry is expanding capacity rapidly and improving technology†. Moreover, this structure â€Å"is rapidly coming to resemble that of its neighbours.† The normal measure of competitive performance for firms is changes in market share. China is presently the largest exporter in the region and due to its size has the largest increase in world market share though most other countries have also increased their market shares. In comparison, China is ‘overwhelming’ in the fashion cluster due to the cheaper labour, strongest in LT products, and relatively strong in MT products (except for automotives). For example, in 1990 China was at the same level as Korea in LT exports by 2000 dominated the region. In HT products, market share is relatively low but â€Å"rising rapidly†, though most other East Asian countries also maintain export growth rates. Overall, China’s export expansion spans â€Å"the

Global Organizations and Nation States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Global Organizations and Nation States - Essay Example Furthermore, both these institutions attach many preconditions on the receiving nations for borrowing money. These are mainly part of the neo liberal economic ideology, which force these countries to follow free market policies, reduce government intervention, privatization and decreasing the size of the public sector, liberalization, reducing trade barriers, elimination of subsidies, reduced protection of the domestic industries, currency devaluation and others (Karns & Mingst, pp. 98-99). Despite the fact that these policies have appeared to be working for many developed countries, evidence shows that it has been disastrous for the poor and third world countries, which actually seek loan from IMF and World Bank (Pease, pp. 254-259). Critics of these international organizations believe that these organizations are actually Washington controlled and headed by the developed countries of the world. Important here to note is that United States and other European countries ran out of the ir resources decades ago. Furthermore, their domestic markets are past the point of saturation and low population growth rates mean that their dream for aggressive growth cannot be fulfilled (Jawara & Kwa, pp. 75-78). The only possible way in which they could sustain or even continue their growth is by trying to exploit the resources of the third world countries, which are rich in natural resources but do not have the tools and the expertise to make use of them. International organizations such as International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization was the clear answer (Hurd, pp. 41-45). These organizations, headed and controlled by a few developed countries, allow them to force the third world and underdeveloped countries of the world to open their markets, deprotect their industries, and reduce the government intervention. Important here to note is that in case of majority of the African and South Asian countries, these policies have never worked (Stone, pp. 52-58 ). The only beneficiary in these cases are developed countries which get to access the resources of these countries, buy them at the cheapest possible prices in the name of competition and lack of value addition, dictate their own social, economic and other domestic policies. In short, these organizations have created a new face of neo colonialism where they control the policies of the borrower countries in name of â€Å"conditions†, â€Å"policies†, and â€Å"rules† (Pease, pp. 254-259). World Trade Organization is another tool for the powerful nations to influence trade mechanisms and directions. Important here to note is that despite the fact that WTO advocates free trade and lifting of trade barriers, many North American and European countries still continue to protect their domestic sector such as agriculture, beef, farm and other industries. Furthermore, at the same time, poorer countries are forced to lift all possible barriers on trade so that the develo ped countries could get access to their markets for exploitation. Underdeveloped countries, which have less influence, power and say in these organizations have no other choice but to accept these conditions so that they could little foreign exchange and generate little employment in their countries but again the cost remains high. The recent case of South Korea is another example of how WTO influences the domestic and trade policies of countries. It was during 2003 when South Korea

Self determination, Yugoslavia Czechoslovakia Essay

Self determination, Yugoslavia Czechoslovakia - Essay Example That these unitary states would be destroyed following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the demise of the Soviet Union was perhaps not as important as the manner by which these nation-states disintegrated. The process in Yugoslavia was extraordinarily violent, and notions of national self-determination and territorial sovereignty led to substantial conflict and bloodshed; on the other hand, the process of state disintegration in Czechoslovakia was much more moderate and civil, leading one commentator to characterize this period of Czech history as the period of the "Velvet Revolution to the Velvet Divorce" (Bakke, 2002: 92). This essay will argue that these differences were the result of different approaches to minority rights, different demographic realities which made a more peaceful secession much more difficult in Yugoslavia, and certain ingrained philosophies regarding the legitimacy of national self-determination. As a preliminary matter, before examining how Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia viewed secession, it is necessary to examine the common understanding of the terms used. The fundamental problem, as noted by Bakke, is that "The principle of national self-determination is as ambiguous as the nation concept itself. ... This ambiguity is particularly illustrative in the instant case; it is illustrative because some people view national self-determination as a civic nation encompassing a variety of ethnic and cultural groups whereas other people have interpreted national self-determination as the right of groups with distinct cultural and ethnic characteristics to have their own autonomous state. As history has demonstrated, the Czech people generally subscribed to the civic notion before relenting and recognizing the cultural and ethnic aspects of national self-determination; Yugoslavia, on the other hand, was torn by a stubborn Serbian adherence to the Roman natio interpretation. The Serbians held steadfast to the civic notion, demanding the preservation of the multiethnic unitary state, whereas Croatia and other regions relied on the cultural ethnic interpretation of national self-determination. A reconciliation of these ambiguous interpretations was resolved peacefully in Czechoslovakia, but unre conciled in Yugoslavia. One simply cannot engage in a comparative analysis of these two formerly unitary nation-states without understanding the role which ethnicity played. Following the First World War and decolonization, national self-determination tended to represent freedom and political and economic independence; later, however, as these newly formed unitary states evolved, people with their own unique cultural and ethnic characteristics often sought to incorporate notions of cultural sovereignty and territorial integrity into their articulation of national self-determination. Indeed, as stated by Hannum, Ethnic wars of secession highlight the inherent tension between "self-determination" and

Native Americans Trailer Feather War Bonnet and Tipi Essay - 51

Native Americans Trailer Feather War Bonnet and Tipi - Essay Example There is also a window which makes it possible to think that the tip is placed inside a bigger room probably a tent, and thus maybe the structure is used to display the Native Culture. Most of the time nowadays, this kind of a war bonnet is seen by the young generations during movies, because most of these native wears are not concentrated on in today’s societies. The Indian tribes associated with such headdress and housing includes the Sioux, Crow, and Blackfeet, Cheyenne, and Plains Cree. They are commonly found in the Great Plains region, which is concentrated with tribes of the Native Americans. A war bonnet is a very important attire worn during important ceremonies by the Native American chiefs and warriors. These headdresses are only worn by men in the Native American tribes, and especially during the fighting. There are different kinds of war bonnets such as the Halo war bonnet, which is a combination of eagle feathers, spread out around the face and fashioned in an oval shape. There is another one which is known as the straight-up feather headdress; it is a taller, narrower and in this kind of headdress, the eagle’s feathers stand up straight. In the picture, the kind displayed is a trailer headdress. It is a headdress with single or double rows of eagle feathers designed in a long tail that touches the ground. The tipis are houses used by the red Indians for shelter. Every Native American tribe had a different kind of tipi that would serve their needs and especially one that would suit their particular lifestyle. It looks like a cone-shaped wooden house. It is made of a wooden frame and is covered with hiding and especially with buffalo hide. Tips are very easy to construct and also to bring down, as the tribes that use them are pastoralist, hence, they do not need permanent residence.

Rational Decision-Making Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Rational Decision-Making Model - Essay Example According to the research findings, rational decision creation model is a cognitive progression which requires that each step must be followed in a logical manner and in an organized manner. The cognitive process of rational decision-making model requires thinking and evaluating the alternatives for attaining the best possible result. There are various rational models available all of which have various steps involved and the steps which are inter-related also differ in different models. Some people are of the opinion that rational decision creation is comparable to trouble solving. It is evident that some resolutions are not dilemma oriented and does require telling the common delineation of a rational representation. Rational decision making is considered a multi-step procedure which requires logical and sound decisions to be made executed in an orderly manner starting from problem initiation through a solution. The entire process starts with a formulation of goal, identification o f criteria for decision making and then working on the alternatives for making analysis and making the finalized decision. The other area of rational decision-making model requires management to make some vital assumptions about a particular decision. Hence it requires that the person should have complete and precise information available about the selected preference which has been made. Moreover, the person should have cognitive ability and time for weighing every choice available to them which will allow them in making an efficient decision. However, it can be asserted that rational decision making is completely designed using scientifically collected data which allows making informed decision making. Once the data is carefully selected and analyzed it helps in reducing the chances of errors and misrepresentation. The assumptions and conjecture combined with subjectivity are all considered as the leading causes for poor and inequitable judgments. The biggest advantage is that inf ormation and knowledge are all based on performance which must be consistent, reliable and of high quality. It helps greatly in reducing risks and uncertainties associated with the concerned resolution. The rational decision-making model instills a proper strategy for making decisions which must be disciplined, consistent and logical in manner. As it is a step by step methodology which requires that problem must be defined clearly before taking any decision and action. Once the problem is precisely defined and particular decisions are identified using weights.

Critiquing and Evaluating a Rheumatoid Arthritis qualitative research Essay

Critiquing and Evaluating a Rheumatoid Arthritis qualitative research paper - Essay Example The domain is chosen because in the process of treatment, patients are questioned about their condition and expert in healthcare are able to study the condition and prescribe care for them. The domain aims to make steady the state of patients (Mason-Whitehead, 2008, p14). This is the data acquired after researches done on patients (Nestor and Schutt, 2012, p24). Although the means to collect the data may not assure 100% credibility, it informs the kind of issues that happen to realise high quality of life. To obtain the qualitative data, a researcher interviews large group of people with the condition, only rheumatic arthritic victims were considered (Creswell, 2012, p.73). Main Body Evidence based practise is an approach in clinical care that is interdisciplinary and which is involved in assessing a condition of health from different angles before recommending the steps to be taken. Evidence based practise entails integration of the available evidence to practitioners and other reso urces to give the required care and promote health with the consideration of the affected (Lewenson and Truglio-Londrigan, 2008, p.18). This implies that circumstances should be looked at to establish the various factors that influence them. From the research evidence, that person will be able to make decisions. In health and social care, evidence based practice helps practitioners to choose the most appropriate care programme to implement on a patient. Through this, the sick are get quality care (Ellis, 2010 p43; Cashin and Cook, 2011 p33). The principles of evidence based practice are that the validity of a decision can only be verified only when research has been conducted in order to inform the situation. In enhancing the life of patient faced by rheumatic arthritis (RA), it is necessary to assess different means to provide care so that a person may be able to understand the issues that are related to provision of care (Madison, Sadowski and Savard, 2009, p87). In caring for pat ients with RA, evidence based practice provided a broad perspective in the information of the processes that work and those that do not assure good results. The domain for enhancing life for patients with long-term conditions is necessary to assess different care programmes that prevail in the process of health care (Eizenberg, 2011, p35). The research paper on the RA was used because choices of steps that are taken to mitigate the condition of the patients take some time to be carried out. The qualitative research evidence it provides can be used to understand the perspective through which people look at the medication they receive. In assessing the research paper on the RA patients, it is important to consider the various aspects of the research framework, which inform the whole paper. For example, it is important to consider the various areas of interest like the statement of goals, objectives as well as present the different issues that are important to the research. The stateme nt of goals of study in a research paper was not done clearly. However, from inference, a reader is able to deduce the objective of the study, objective of the research was stated as a way to examine prescription for patients infected with RA. This step was inevitable to specify activities that can be carried out in order to come up with the evidence, the

- Art and Music Appreciation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

- Art and Music Appreciation - Essay Example bit of a sunset: at first you are sad to see the day go, but as the sun sinks down and the sky turns pink, you think, â€Å"Ah, the beauty of the sunset is worth the fact that it is now night and a bit cold out.† It is a fine song to relax to. There is a constant shift from soft notes to hard ones, marking it as a very dynamic piece. It requires a great deal of dexterity from its performer, especially to keep the constant swarm of notes going. It is very brisk and seems to be in a great rush, bouncing off the walls at a dizzying pace. In the middle, it begins to slow down a bit, before playfully speeding up again. I find this to be a cheerful, funny piece, and can easily imagine people smiling as they try to dance to it. 2.) Discussion Questions: Art. The impressionist style of painting is characterized chiefly by concentration on the general impression produced by a scene or object and the use of unmixed primary colors and small strokes to simulate actual reflected light. -Nicholas Pioch Impressionism is often a kind of soft-focus style of painting where the figures or objects appear in varying levels of detail. The world of light has more influence on our sight than you might expect, is what impressionist seem to be saying. They try to shift our allegiances from strict forms to a vaguer, airier world. They use soft colours that blend into one another and often capture pastoral scenes. They question how we perceive the world and what our visual prejudices might

Consumer Behavior In The Fashion Industry Essay Example for Free

Consumer Behavior In The Fashion Industry Essay Introduction This study is aimed at analyzing the consumer behavior towards the fashion industry especially in consideration young and mature women in London. Fashions are concerned with the production of fashion clothing. Most consumers in the world today are concerned with the features of the product as they form most important factor in determining the consumer behaviors. Take for example of products of fashion show for young and mature women. The industry is involved in the manufacture clothing. Due to increase and growth of consumerism, the clothing should come up with clothes that make women move with times thus increasing consumption and production. Consumer behavior in the automotive industry especially in consideration to general motors is influenced by culture factors, social factors, Personal factors and Psychological factors. Look more:  the consumer buying process begins when essay RESEARCH OBJECTIVES   The answers to this question will enhance my professional knowledge and competence in many ways.   As a professional I will understand factors influencing consumption in the industry and will enable me make recommendations on improving the fashions market share.The answers to this question also will assist me as a professional by motivating me to ensure that that I work improves their products. 1)To review literature on fashion behaviour and the factors influencing 2)To compare and contrast the buying behaviour of mature and young woman in London regarding buying of fashion clothing 3)To identified the key factors influencing the buying process of fashion clothing in young and mature woman in London 4)To provide recommendation to manufacture of fashion clothing and fashion retailer. Scope of the study The scoop of the study follows literature review of factors influencing. The researcher manages the entire gamut of processes from initial stage of identifying the problem to final stage of report writing. The capabilities required by the researcher in this research in managing the entire project and providing real time for information sharing, decision synchronization and research optimization to all stake holders. What are necessary attribute required by a researcher to manage the dynamics of marketing based on the requirements by industry. However, this study assumes that other factors like family background financial, stability of the family place of birth, race, have no impact on the consumer behaviors. The proposed study will be used as a supplementary framework to focus entirely on the competence of the research. The objects of the study will include; Experimental Correlation Survey Grounded theory Ethnography Narrative Mixed method Action research. This study will be based on a process based on experiment using practical’s as a platform to develop method which will be used as evaluation criteria for the research and researcher in this research question and future researchers The critical review Literature review Consumer behavior in the consumption of any product any where in the world is influenced by culture factors, social factors, Personal factors and Psychological factors. Culture factors In world today culture is one of the most fundamental determinants for one when deciding the product to consume. This is because of a wide range of products and services.   Most of the people due to their cultural influence have started preferring certain products.   Children growing up will learn the culture of parents or peers thus preferring specific values that are crucial to a determining consumption. One of the values they like most is comfort.   These values common in children remain in them even if they grow up. From the culture, somebody may develop certain spending patterns is not something strange.   A child growing up in specific culture is exposed to achievement, success, beliefs and other cultural factors that influence behavior towards consumption. Cultural factors real influence a consumer behavior. Where people believe in values like efficiency and practicality it will influence their consumption is such a situation products that are known to be very efficient in their operations will be preferred. Each culture consists of smaller subcultures that provide more specific identifications.   To its some people consist of racial groups such as the Africans, Americans, Europeans and Asian each have good distinct cultural styles.   They are known to prefer products for example consumption of pork may be rare in middle east because culture and religion. Social factor   Another factors consumer behavior is greatly influenced by social factors like statuses, family and reference groups.   When once goes to the market to purchase a product he will take consideration to his membership groups, social class and family.   These are groups having direct influence to once buying decisions.   These are the groups one associates with most of his time. We have some groups like the upper class prefer buying some products which are not preferred by lower class.   Since companies produces many types of products that fulfill needs this groups and attracts many people.   The influence of a family is very great.   These families using specifics brands greatly encourage their family members to also consume similar products. Co-worker also influence one’s buying decision.   If a boss buys a given commodity the juniors will also try to buy the same. People are also influenced by reference groups in three ways.   Reference groups usually expose a person to a new behavior and lifestyle.   One can belong to a group whose lifestyle believes at consuming a certain product.   If a company produces high quality brands it stands at a better chance of making more sales to such reference group. Reference groups also influence one’s attitudes because their desires fit in these groups. People may prefer some products from a certain company, hence once could like to join his friend or family member towards belonging to the same social class by buying a that product. Also reference groups influence similarity and conformity that may make a person to alive at a specific decision.   So doing one will eventually buy a product similar to that of his friend. People who are in the same social class share similar values, interests, and behavior.   For example there is upper class people who are social elite with a good family background. Personal factors Age and life cycle stage greatly influence consumer buying behavior of almost all products from all industries. Most Bachelors tend to prefer specific brands associated by most youths. But those who are newly married, young and better of financially prefer buying consume different products. In making the final decision of buying a product one’s personal characteristics like his age and life-cycle stage, lifestyle, occupation, economic circumstances and personality will influence his choice. Companies take much consideration to personal characteristics of various groups of people before coming up with a product in order to meet the needs and demand of its people. A child growing up and exposed to some values like material comfort, external comfort and achievement and success will be influenced by those characteristics to consume. For example in America people like buying products that gives them external comfort. People in various professions like occupation managers, school heads, senior government officers, mayors, engineers, lawyers and physicians usually buy some products with the most recent technology. Economic circumstances also influence once buying pattern.   Most people especially those who are highly paid with good saving and with good personnel incomes buy expensive products. The lifestyle of a person influences his or her buying pattern.   People may belong to the same occupation, social class and subculture but leading different lifestyles usually prefer products that feed that group. Personality and self-concept: Personality and self confidence also influence consumers buying behavior products and services. For example expensive car, which are electronically controlled and having four wheel drive systems are associated with people who have high Self-confidence Psychological factors Motivation: some people get satisfied when they buy specific products.   people feel that they have satisfied specific needs by buying certain goods and services. Perception: once a person has been motivated he is willing and ready to act.   Most people to be motivated in order to act will depend mostly on their perceptions of the situation. Two people in the same motivated state may act differently depending on how they perceive the situation. A product may appeal to the perception of a specific customer.   For example various colors that cars are attractive giving customers a good picture of the real quality of this car. Beliefs and attitudes: most people follow some set of belief when making a decision on the type of product to consumer. A belief about a certain product will also influence consumption.   These beliefs make up brand images and most people have been proved to act on these images. People always have good attitude towards specific products and if this product meets the performance according to the needs, desire and attitudes consumption will be influenced. METHODOLOGY: The purpose of the study is to find out factors that influence fashion consumption in UK. The phenomenological research design that will be used will involve a study of the consumer behaviors and consumption in fashion industry. This particular study will be done in two phases where the first phase will involve completion of a questionnaire which is commonly known as a questionnaire survey by individuals. This questionnaire survey will be done on a sample of twenty fashion show owners within London . And the second phase will involve the use of some interview which will be in some way semi structured. Each given phase in this design will address the different research questions and their concerns. At some point within the first phase, there will be cases of the first qualitative phase relying on the some quantitative phases that might have been in use in the design. The interviews that will be used in the design will be carried out in a sample of twenty fashion show owners. The interviews will serve to give out information concerning buying behaviors’ among women. These surveys will therefore give some contextual information about the consumption of a specific fashion. Some studies will be conducted using single stage designs and others like this one will be conducted using the two-stage design. When using the two stage design, the contextualization that will be given in the first stage will be very much helpful (Jasper, 1994). The survey will provide a specific frame for which sampling will be done from for the semi structured interviews that will be done on the fashion operators and buyers. And gaining access to the twenty fashion owners will be very essential to getting the right information concerning the consumption of fashion among young and mature women from the sampled group of a given part of city which will be a representation of the whole population of the young and mature. The given questionnaires will have the contacts so that the used sample can be contacted incase more information will be needed. The quantitative data that will be gotten from the phase of questionnaire survey will now be used to get through to the qualitative sample. The questionnaire surveys have always been made with the above additional purpose in mind. In the cases where one researcher will have to make attachments of qualitative sub samples to samples that will be statistically derived will lead to another mixed method of designs in qualitative research methods (George, 2000). Such mixed methods of designs will most of the time benefit the qualitative researchers in that they give them the chance to have a selection of the specific cases from which they will be able to draw upon information that will be contextual that will also enable them to put their hypothesis under test on a large samples that will be statistically be represented. Therefore in most cases, the researcher will have to be decided on which research design he will use in his project. Some researchers do use multiple designs while others will use single designs. This purely depends on the project that one is doing and which research design the researcher will be most comfortable with. There are three major components in a research design model and they are; determination of the limits of the people to be investigated and also what will be investigated, the collection of data and the last component is the analysis of the collected data in a phenomenological manner. In the first component, the researcher will have to know to what limits the participants in the survey will get in trying to give him the required information. Here the researcher will have to put in mind the limits of the twenty fashion owners in trying to give him information as far as matters of fashion consumption. In addition, the researcher will have to have specific issues which he would want to research on (Joan, 2004). At this point in time, the researcher will have to carry out his project purely on the safety of the crane operators. In trying to get information, the phenomenologist will have to engage himself in an in-depth probing so that quality information may be found. After identifying the sample group that will help in giving the required information, the following step will now involve identifying the most efficient data collection methods. The following methods will be the most preferred methods for this particular survey; the in-depth semi structured interviews that will have to be tape recorded and later on be transcribed. The second data collection method will be the use of a documentary study from which the writings of the subject matter will have to be reviewed so that their meanings can be properly derived from them. This second method will be used hand in hand with the first method (Johnson, 2000). The third and the last data collection method will be the technique of the participant observation. This particular technique will lead to a generation of some kind of an interview. It will be worth noting that in phenomenological research tape recording is important because the tapes will later be transcribed. Sampling designs strategies in qualitative research. There are many different qualitative sampling designs that will be used at the different stages of the research or still they will be used for the different purposes of the research. There are those questions that the researchers should constantly be asking themselves which will serve to give relevant information on the sampling strategy design that the researcher would have chosen to use. It will be very crucial for the researcher to give a clear definition of the objectives of the research. The time that will be spent making clarification with the client will be a time that will be well spent (Kendy, 19976). Most of the times, in qualitative research, the objectives of the project might be refined as the research will keep on progressing. Sometimes the available resources will try to undermine the progress of a researcher’s project. This should be prevented to happen by considering the available human resources to the project at hand and also the nature of the method of data collection. The length of interview that is the qualitative interview will have a great impact on the qualitative sampling design strategy and the final decision of the given sample size. For instance longer interviews will provide detailed data than shorter interviews. With this in mind a decision may be taken on whether to carry out longer or shorter interviews.The sampling size should also be put in mind. This will basically depend on the homogeneous or the heterogeneous nature of the population to be sampled and the requirements of the methods of the data collection that will be employed in this research. Data analysis After the researcher will collect the data, she/he will tabulate the data into tables and analyze it using frequencies descriptive and percentages. The processing of the survey results. The processing of the survey results need not to wait until has been completed, but can begin as soon as the first questionnaires are received. The main steps are; Coding. Nowadays the computer is used widely to process information. For that reason it is often advisable to code the information or even use a preceded questionnaire to facilitate the necessary processing and calculations. Punching. Subsequently the information can be punched for computer purposes. Data tabulation. With the aid of a computer, raw tables may be compiled. These tales are often only preliminary and may serve as guidelines for further analyses and condensed into possibly more meaningful tables. Statistical processing. With the previous step as a basis the information can be processed further until it yields objectives and clear answers to the problem or opportunity which is being investigated. REFERENCES Aaker, D.A., Keller, K.L. (2000), Consumer evaluations of brand extensions, Journal of Marketing, Vol. 54 pp.27-41.    Bloom P.N. and   Greyser S. A. (1981);   ‘The Maturity of Consumerism’ Harvad Business Review, Nov-Dec. 1981 pp 130-139) Charles, K. (1990). Methods used in Research. Social Science, 29(10), 1160-1178. Cole Gerald ‘2004; management theory and practice; 6th Edition, TJ International, Pad stow, Cornwall. Creswell, J. (1998). Guidelines to choosing the best research design. Phenomenology, 34, 234-245. Dacin, P.A., Smith, D.C. (2004), The effect of brÐ °nd portfolio characteristics on consumer evaluations of brÐ °nd extensions, Journal of Marketing Research, Vol. 31 pp.197-207. George, H.   (2000). Qualitative research design illustrated.   Journal of Qualitative Methods, 34, 246-257. Jasper, A.  Ã‚   (1994). Phenomenological issues for project researchers.   Phenomenological research method, 4 , 409-414. Johnson, K. (2000). Commonly used research methods. Boston: St. Martin’s Keller, K.L. (2003), Conceptualizing, measuring, and managing customer-based brand equity, Journal of Marketing, Vol. 57 pp.1-22. Keller, K.L., Aaker, D.A. (2002), ThÐ µ effects of sequential introduction of brÐ °nd extensions, Journal of Marketing Research, Vol. 29 pp.35-50. Klein, A. (2003). What is phenomenology?   New York: SUNY Press. Kotler P., 1989, marketing management; Analysis, planning, implementation and control, 6th Edition; Prentice-hall, India (NewDelhi) Loken, B., John, D.R. (2003), Diluting brand beliefs: when do brand extensions have a negative impact?, Journal of Marketing, Vol. 57 pp.71-84. Nakamoto, K., MacInnis, D.J., Jung, H-S. (2003), Advertising claims and evidence as bases for brÐ °nd equity and consumer evaluations of brÐ °nd extensions, in Aaker, D.A., Biel, A. (Eds),BrÐ °nd Equity Advertising: Advertising’s Role in Building Strong BrÐ °nds, Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, pp.281-97. Park, C.W., Jaworski, B.J., MacInnis, D.J. (2006), Strategic brand concept image management, Journal of Marketing, Vol. 50 pp.135-45. Park, C.W., Milberg, S., Lawson, R. (2001), Evaluation of brÐ °nd extensions: thÐ µ role of product feature similarity and brÐ °nd concept consistency, Journal of Consumer Research, Vol. 18 pp.185-93. Richard, S. (2002). Methods used in social research. Oxford: OUP. Ries, A., Trout, J. (2006), Positioning: ThÐ µ Battle for Your Mind, McGraw-Hill Inc., New York, NY., . Robson, C. (2000). The Handbook of Research Methodology. Oxford: Blackwell. Romeo, J.B. (2001), ThÐ µ effect of negative information on thÐ µ evaluations of brÐ °nd extensions and thÐ µ family brÐ °nd, in Holman, R.H., Solomon, M.R. (Eds),Advances in Consumer Research, Vol. 18.   Rowe, D., Bartleman, D., Khirallah, M. Smydra, M., Keith, G., and Ponder, M. (1999), .Reduce cynicism and apathy and create positive change agents: Essential and missing components of our educational curricula. Tauber, E.M. (2003), Fit and leverage in brÐ °nd extensions, in Aaker, D.A., Biel, A. (Eds),BrÐ °nd Equity Advertising: Advertising’s Role in Building Strong BrÐ °nds, Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, pp.313-18. Wright, T., (2001), .A review of definitions and frameworks for sustainability in higher education draft, Assessing Progress Toward Sustainability in Higher Education consultation presentation paper, Washington, D.C.

Cherokee Indians Essay Example for Free

Cherokee Indians Essay The word Cherokee is believed to have evolved from a Choctaw word meaning â€Å"Cave People†. It was picked up and used by Europeans and eventually accepted the adopted by Cherokees in the form of Tsalagi or Jalagi. Traditionally, the people now known as Cherokee refer to themselves as aniyun-wiya, a name usually translated as â€Å"the Real People† sometimes â€Å"the Original People. † Cherokees’ have had a democratic government (Conley, Robert J. 2000). The Cherokees’ first experience with the invading white man was almost certainly a brief encounter with the deadly expeditionary force of Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto in 1540. English colonial traders began to appear among the Cherokees around 1673. Such interactions produced some mixed marriages, usually between a white trader and a Cherokee woman. There were three main events during the 18th and 19th centuries: war with the colonist in 1711; epidemics of European disease (primarily smallpox); and the continual cession of land in 1775. The Cherokees were forced to sign one treaty after another with the new United States government, each one giving away more land to the new nation. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson planned to move all eastern Indians to a location west of the Mississippi River, and signed an agreement with the state of Georgia promising to accomplish that deed as soon as possible. Andrew Jackson actually set the so-called â€Å"Removal Process† in motion. Meantime the government had been oing everything in its power to convince Cherokees to move west voluntarily, and the first to do so were the faction known as Chickamaugans (Conley, Robert J. 2000). The history and traditions of the Cherokee Indians of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries are inextricably linked to the history and traditions of the white southerners. Many facets of Cherokee lifestyle and other Indian tribes in the Southern United States were modified and adapted from white methodology. Aspects of those cultural features were rooted in Pre-Columbian traditions. The Celtic culture of people who colonized the Southern United States and the culture’s charcterictics were the catalyst of what was arguably the most pivotal event in American History, the War Between the States. Many respected scholars have argued that the Ante-bellum south was different than the north, in its lifestyles, philosophies, and more. The southern states and their populations were undeniably different in nearly every socioeconomic and political aspect from the northern states and their respective populations. The destinies of the white southerners and Indian were connected in many ways. They had a number of common interests, traditions, ideals and goals. Some of these similarities were chance; others were due to an intimate relationship developed over centuries of close contact, a relationship created by the dynamic elements in the Cherokee’s new familiarity with their white neighbors and their culture (Bullard, F. B. 1989). The Cherokee adopted some practices willingly, others were forced upon them and some were already in place in some form in their traditional culture. Charles Hudson speculates in his work that the Cherokee and other tribes adopted the measures of civilization in acquiescence to the inability of the Cherokee to compete militarily with the white populous. The Cherokee and other tribes had adopted the techniques and social concepts of white â€Å"civilization† long before they were encouraged to do so by whites and their military intimidation. For the Indian, all white men were a threat to their traditions and cultural tenets. Use of a caste system was a part of the Cherokees ‘social structures before contacts with whites. The white south created its own social caste system with white planters as the aristocracy and the African slave at the peon (Bullard, F. B. 1989). The colonists who settled in the south were different than their counterparts in the North. The main heritage of the southern colonists was the Celtic in contrast to the English heritage of the colonists who settled in the north. The Celtic heritage these southerner colonists brought to North America from Europe had a profound effect on their folkways as well as influencing their Indian neighbors. Traditional Cherokee lands had incorporated ass of Kentucky, much of Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, North Carolina and a small part of Virginia and what is now West Virginia. The spatial proximity was one reason for the development of an identity with the Southern colonist and their institutions and traditions (Bullard, F. B. 1989). Indian agent for the United States, George Butler, commented that he felt the majority of the material progress in the Indian Territory was a result of slavery. The age of masters measured in the distribution in slaves provides evidence for the upward mobility of slavery for the Cherokee. The principal difference from the white south was the treatment of slaves in the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee avoided mistreatment of the slaves and Major Ridge’s wife Susanna would not even use the word â€Å"slave†. There are many indications that the Cherokee treated their slaves comparatively well, one former slave of Martin Vann, commented that â€Å"they the slaves had to be feed well, clothed well, and housed well to get the best labor attainable from them† (Bullard, F. B. 1989). The most common agents of change among the Cherokee lifestyle were resident traders, missionaries and government agents. The Cherokee Indians modified their traditions for many reasons, among these reasons were: to placate white politicians and land grabbers and reinforce the federal government policies, philanthropists who wanted to â€Å"civilize† them and most important of all voluntary adaptation in an effort to preserve at least some government policies (Bullard, F. B. 1989). Cherokee Indians religion: It would be a mistake to see these two Cherokee spirit worlds as heaven and hell. They are not defined as good and evil, although the one below is seen as tremendously chaotic. They are thought of simply as being opposed to one another. We live our lives between them in a constant state of precarious balance. This dangerous situation, although the most important aspect of life in this traditional Cherokee view is to maintain balance and harmony. If the Cherokees are Christian, they might be Methodist, Presbyterian, Unitarian, or other Christian denomination. Although the more traditional Cherokees is a large group of Cherokee Baptists. Cherokee Baptists attend what are called Indian churches, where they make use of the Cherokee language (Conley, Robert, J. 2000). Cherokee Indian tribes were one of the largest of five Native American tribes who settled in American Southeast portion of the country. The tribe came from the Iroquoian descent. The Cherokees’ actually lived in cabins made of logs instead of the stereotypical tee pee. Very strong tribe with several smaller sections, all lead by chiefs. This tribe was highly religious and spiritual. Around the 1800’s the Cherokee Indians began to adopt the culture that the white man brought to them. At this time they began to dress more European, and adopted many of their farming and building methods. In 1828 gold was discovered on the Cherokee’s land. This prompted the overtaking of their homes, and was forced out. They had been settled in Georgia for many years, but now they were being made to leave and find a new place to settle/live. This was the historically popular Trail of Tears, where men, women, and children had to pack up their belongings and find new homes, and marching a span of thousands of miles. Today’s Cherokees’ have a strong sense of pride in their heritage (Indians. org 2011). A Historical person during this time Was John Ross in which became principal chief of the Cherokee nation. In 1827, following the establishment of a government modeled on that of the United States. He presided over the nation during the apex of its development in the Southeast, the tragic Trail of Tears, and the subsequent rebuilding of the nation in Indian Territory, in present day. Accompanying his people on the â€Å"trail where they cried,† Ross experienced personal tragedy. His wife, Quatie, died of exposure after giving her only blanket to a sick child. Once in Indian Territory, Ross led the effort to establish farms, businesses, schools, and even colleges. Even though the Cherokee Nation was torn apart politically after the fight over the removal treaty, Ross clung to reins of power (Moulton, Gary E. 004). In conclusion, Although Cherokee Indians were a very diverse tribe and had very many different talents. They were very spitural and worshiped only one spirit and that was good spirit, and eventually followed christanity. Trail of Tears was a very emotional time for all Cherokee Indians the time when they were forced out and were here before anyone ever settled America. This time for Men, Women, and Children was a shame. My grand dad always take for granted what you have cause someone can take it away in an instant; as they did to the Indians.

Nestle Boxed Water Executive Summary Management Essay

Nestle Boxed Water Executive Summary Management Essay The main point of this report is to show how Nestle will implement their Boxed Water products in the United Kingdom for diversification of their product line. The report starts by giving some historical data about Nestle, and providing a list of products that Nestle offers to their customers worldwide. It will analyze the business proficiency of Nestle, and analyze the bottled water industry, supplemented by a further analysis of our competitors and the macro environment. It continues by discussing the business principles of the United Kingdom, and show some key business challenges for Nestle. Finally, the study recommends some suggestions to Nestle regarding the business principles and products required to achieve sustainable growth in the long run and the process of the manufacture and sale of Boxed Water in the United Kingdom. Table of Contents 1.0 Nestle Nestle is a well-known Swiss multinational company that specializes in nutritional food and consumer goods. The company is headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, and was established by Henri Nestle in the year 1866. In its initial year they were named Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, and in the next thirty nine years the company would change their name twice. Finally, in the year 1905 the company changed their name to Nestle. Nestle is the largest food company in the world in terms of annual revenue, and also acts as major shareholder for LOreal (largest cosmetics company in the world). Nestle offers various products such as Maggi, Stouffers, Nespresso, KitKat, Nescafe, Smarties, Vittel, and Nesquik to global customers. Nestle employs more than 330000 people all together in over 150 countries, and has 461 factories established across the globe. Sales revenue for the company in the year 2011 was CHF 83.7 billion. Major milestones for the company can be summarized in the following man ner: Time Period Event 1866-1905 The Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company merged with Nestle. 1906-1918 Number of factories decreased due to world war I but the company started their operations in the USA. 1919-1945 The company launched Nescafe. 1946-1975 The company acquired Alimentana in order to gain access to Maggi products. They also became a major shareholder with LOreal. 1976-1980 The company entered in pharmaceutical market by acquiring Alcon Laboratories of USA 1981-1995 The company acquired American food giant Carnation to improve their bottom line. In 1986, the company entered espresso coffee segment by launching Nespresso. 1996-2005 The company expanded their operation in the segment of health, nutrition, and wellness with the help of series of acquisition. 2006-2009 The company acquired Medical Nutrition unit of Novartis. The company established shared value forum in New York. 2010-2012 The company launched Cocoa Plan in order to supply disease resistant plantlets to farmers. (Source: Nestle, 2012) 1.1 Nestle Bottled Water The bottled water segment contributes a significant amount of product diversification for the company. A way that Nestle has been able to maintain their dominance of the bottled water industry worldwide is through offering different brands of bottled water. Some of these brands are: Nestle Pure Life The company launched Pure Life in the year 1998. This product is currently being sold in over twenty countries. Perrier This is a form of sparkling mineral water. Nestle introduced this brand in order to enter the sparkling mineral water segment. Poland Spring This is the oldest mineral water brand in the world. Nestle has maintained the brand for many years. S. Pellegrino Nestle launched this brand in order to gain access to top restaurants in the world. S. Pellegrino is a form of drinking water mixed with minerals (Nestle, 2012). 1.2 Analysis of Product portfolio of Nestle Most people know Nestle by their brand and product portfolio. The product portfolio of Nestle can be summarized in the following chart: (Source: Nestle, 2012) The company maintains a broad product portfolio in order to compensate loss from any single segment. Sales volume for the company is increasing at a rate of more than 3% during the last few years. Segment wise product portfolio can be divided into three segments like food beverages, nutrition and ice cream. The company is always thriving to find excellence in product innovation and service delivery. The company achieved 7.7% of organic growth in the year of 2011 by maintain their large product portfolio. The following section will discuss about product innovation in Nestle. Segment Product Target Market Business Strategy Ice Cream Nestle Gold Portugal, Spain, and Greece The company collaborated with Haagen- Dazs in order to provide premium quality ice cream to customers and they did it in order to achieve product diversification Water Perrier 150 countries across the globe Nestle diversified their business into the bottled water segment. The company used a digital platform to engage customers with the Perrier brand Coffee Nescafe Alegria More than 60 countries The company launched an easy to use instant coffee machine to flip the brand. Pet Product Purina Netherlands , Austria and Germany Special TV commercial for dogs and dog owners. With help of this activity the company entered the web 4.0 era Nutritional milk MOM me South Asian countries They expanded their distribution channels by recruiting nutrition officers (Source: Nestle, 2012a) Top performing brands of the company have helped them earn respect from customers. The following section will discuss contribution of brands carried by the company towards overall organic growth. Overall Organic Growth 7.7% Nescafe Nan Milo Nespresso Pure Life Nido Maggi 11% 18% 13% 22% 11% 11% 10% (Source: Nestle, 2012) 1.3 Organizational Structure of Nestle (Nestle, 2012) D. P. Frick (Corporate Service Governance) J.-M. Duvoisin (Human Resource) R. Ramsauer (Corporate Communication) P. Bulcke (CEO) L. Cantarell (Nestle Health Science) P. Brabeck-Letmathe (Chairman) Executive Board (P. Bulcke, W. Bauer, J. Lopez, J. J. Harris, L. Freixe, C. Johnson, P. Bula, N. Nandkishore, W.L. Martello, M. Caira, J.-M. Duvoisin, K. Schmidt and D.P. Frick C. Johnson (USA Head) N. Nandkishore (Asia/Africa/Oceania Head) L. Freixe (Europe Zone Head) J. J. Harris (Nestle Water) M. Caira (Nestle Professional) K. Schmidt (Nestle Nutrition) W. Bauer (Technology, RD P. Bula (Marketing Sales) J. Lopez (Operation) W.L. Martello (Finance Control) P. Bulcke (CEO) 1.4 Global Presence of Nestle The company operates in more than one hundred and fifty countries. Recently the company has launched their nutrition product segment in the South Asian Market. Africa is also becoming lucrative in terms of nutritional product for the company. The corporation started their first global operation almost 100 years ago, and the business has segmented their international operation into two parts: developed market and emerging market. The following chart will explain the international business growth of Nestle. Developed Market Total Contribution to group Sales Organic Growth 60% 4.3% France 6.4% Portugal, Spain, UK 3.7% Japan 3.6% North America 2.5% Emerging Market Total Contribution to group Sales Organic Growth 40% 13% China 23% India 20% Africa 18% Mexico 14% (Source: Nestle, 2012) Global operation of the company understood with the help of zone wide analysis: 1.4.1 American Zone The American market is already saturated due to the presence of a large number of consumer durable companies. In this situation Nestle has diversified their business into the frozen foods and chocolate segment by launching DiGiorno and Skinny Cow to attract customers. The company also did partnership with Hà ¤agen-Dazs in order to increase variation in their ice cream products. In Latin America, the company performed well with their soluble coffee products and achieved double digit growth. 1.4.2 Europe Zone The European market is going through a financial crisis, so overall sales growth for the company has not been very attractive for last two years. In this uncertain period, Nestle has adopted an innovation strategy to counterbalance poor performance in their different product segments. Nestle has introduced an innovative product line: Nescafe Dolce Gusto, Herta, and Nescafe Sensazione, to attract customers. This strategy was successful for the company to fetch sales from east and central Europe. 1.4.3 Asia, Africa Oceania Zone The company has had a presence in this region for more than 100 years. Recently, they have celebrated their 100 year anniversary in the following countries: Turkey (1908-2008), Philippines (1911-2011) and India (1912-2012). Maggi and Nescafe are one of the most popular products in this region while the company extended their product line with Nido essential and Nescafe Milky in order to cater demand of people belong to the Afro-Asian region. The company recently launched their nutrition division to increase penetration in the region. 1.5 Mission Objective of Nestle The company always thrives for achieving leadership position in Health Wellness, and nutrition segment. Nestle also wants to be a reference in the industry for their financial performance. 1.6 Strategic Advantage of Nestle 1.6.1 Competitive Advantage The company has carefully designed their product portfolio in order to a maintain balance with market demand. The product portfolio maintained by the company cannot be easily copied by their competitors. The company has planned their product portfolio in accordance to demand of each zone such as America, Europe and Asia. The corporation invests large amount of capital on research and development to produce better products. The company already made an agreement with a renowned university to open a research division for their nutritional products. Nestle emphasizes on using local ingredients in their products in order to satisfy demand of local customers. For example, in Malaysia, the company introduced a nutritional product complemented with Asian ingredients such as ginger, Chinese red grass and ginseng to lure local customers (Oxford Business Group Malaysia, 2008, p. 132). The brand has presence in more than 150 countries. They have the opportunity to channelize revenue from strong business unit to a poor performing region. The company also adopted a parent company strategy to control business operations internationally. Nestle has opened multiple strategic business units (SBU) across the globe to expand their business (Pride Ferrell, 2007, p. 32). The company believes employees are their asset and treat them with utmost care. Nestle feels that their employees are their biggest strength. The company has also adopted green earth strategy to decrease their carbon footprint caused by their products, working with Forest Trust in order to prevent Deforestation and decrease carbon footprint in the supply chain (Emmett Sood, 2010, p. 192). The company has announced that they will use befouls instead of tree oils in their future products in order to make their products more environment friendly. 1.6.2 Growth Drivers The business has understood that the consumer food market is becoming saturated day by day due to presence of many players. Nestle has diversified their business into Nutrition Health, and Wellness segment in order to avoid saturation in food market. Nutrition segment is showing more than 20% growth rate for past three years, which is greater than their overall organic growth of 7.7%. The company has shifted their focus on emerging markets because developed markets are already becoming saturated. Nutrition product segment of the company has readily become popular in Asian markets, while Oceanic region has contributed high sales volume for the companys coffee segment. Nestle has recently launched instant coffee machine for customers in order to give them out of home consumption experience. Many schools, colleges, and offices have already installed instant coffee machine to enjoy Nescafe. The strategy helped the company to increase their brand equity among young people. The company adopted premium pricing for their products in order to show status and quality to customers. Customers purchase Nestle products in order to experience high quality products and they are ready to pay for it. 1.7 Shared Value Model for Nestle Shared value model for the company works in triplet format such as sustainable development in water management and nutrition products, protect environment, and maintaining ethical business practices. Stage 1 The corporation invested a huge amount of money in research and development in order to create nutritional products for customers. In recent times, the Vevey based company has introduced nutritional compass customers to measure the nutrition value of food. Nutritional compass is complemented with the nutrition information box, which indicates amount of specific nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, protein and sugars present in a Nestle product, as well as health related tips, and question boxes. In Poland, the company has partnered with two major retailers to provide health related advice to customers. Ninety nine percent of Nestle products contain nutrient specification in order to provide information to customers. The brand has opened rural factories in order to provide agricultural support to farmers. They have taken an open system approach to boost the growth of the rural economy. Nestle established factories in order to employ rural people and help farmers to sell their product without any middlemen. Survey reports suggest that the company is performing pretty well in developing nations to generate revenue and incentivize the morale of rural people. The company took various initiatives for water resource management. They have planned to implement aquifers, watersheds, and artificial river basins to create efficient water resource management. Nestle started water management initiatives by engaging stakeholders into multiphase pilot projects to increase sustainability of the development. (Sources: Nestle, 2011) Stage 2 Nestle has changed their supply chain management and product packaging in order to decrease their overall carbon footprint. The company uses 12% renewable energy in their factories and also they have planned to achieve zero wastage within the next two years. The company is using recyclable products for packaging in order to decrease plastic contamination and hazards. For example, the company used recyclable packaging products instead of plastic for Ninho caps in Brazil and Purina ONE packaged drinking water in France. The corporation not only reduced the use of plastic in their product, but also optimized environmental performance of the product. Nestle uses Global Environmental Footprint (GEF) and Packaging Impact Quick Evaluation Tool (PIQET) to measure the environment sustainability of bottled water. Environment impact of new packaging systems for bottled water can be analyzed by the following picture: (Source: Nestle, 2011) Stage 3 Nestle has established an Alignment board to measure quarterly performance share value objectives. This board acts as an Umbrella Corporation to design strategic implementation Shared Value objectives. The company implements leadership principles to design proper business ethics conduct. Also, United Nations Global Compact Principles helped the company to create a sustainable business environment. Nestle follows the United Nations guidelines for creating shared value in terms of labor law, human rights, corruption free business policy, sustainable environment, and other important issues. 1.8 Value Chain of Nestle (Bottled Water) 1.8.1 Source The company has developed spring water sites to source their water products. Nestle has transformed open land sources into spring water resources to strengthen their value chain. Generally, the business uses 87% of their spring water sites to source water products. 1.8.2 Manufacturing Nestle has implemented solar panels in their water plants in order to reduce energy consumption and maintain purity of minerals used in the manufacturing process. The company manufactures 98% of packaged bottles in their owned plants in order to reduce cost regarding transportation of empty bottles. The total manufacturing process saves 6.5 million gallons of fuel and eliminates more than 6,100 metric tons of CO2 emissions. 1.8.3 Packaging Nestle has invested a huge amount of capital to change packaging of the water bottles in order to create an eco-friendly bottled water. The corporation is planning to use paper instead of plastic to reduce the carbon footprint produced by their company. The Vevey based company has already introduced the Eco Shape bottle which contains only 60% PET plastic in order to save 250 million pounds of plastic per year. Nestle reduced the bottle size by 33% in order to save 10 million pounds of packaging paper yearly. 1.8.4 Transportation Nestle started to use hybrid vehicles for transportation in the year 2008. Heavy duty trucks and environment friendly trucks are used by the company for transportation purposes. The company has forecasted that they will reach 25% fuel economy within the next three years by using hybrid transportation models. 1.8.5 Retail Retail channels for Nestle water products are focused regionally in order to increase penetration levels. The company transports 90% of bottled water directly to the retailers in order to eliminate warehouse storage and costs associated with storing products. The whole process helped the company to reduce 10,900 metric tons of carbon footprint or carbon dioxide emissions yearly. Benefits of green value chain maintained by Nestle can be summarized in the following chart: (Source: Nestle-water, 2011) 1.9 Financial Performance of Nestle Total group sales for the company were $ 83.6 billion in year 2011 with an organic growth of more than 7.5% annually. It is interesting to note that the company has achieved annual sales growth in a multi-dimensional way without depending on a single product segment. The company achieved maximum sales growth from their nutritional product division. Operating profit has also increased to $ 12.5 billion with a growth rate of 15.0%. The company has also performed well in terms of shareholders value and return on investment. Shareholders return can be analyzed in the following table: Net Cash Returned to Shareholders Return on Investment Dividend per Share $10.7 billion 44.4% $ 5.9 billion through dividend $ 4.8 billion through share buy back 14.1% from goodwill 30.3% from external operation $1.95 + 5.4% (Source: Nestle, 2012) Financial statement of the company is explained in the Appendix A to C. 2.0 Global Bottled Water Industry Research scholars and market research reports suggest that the bottled water industry is dynamic as well as multidimensional. Global reports suggest various companies sold more than 200 billion water bottles in the year 2011. Consumer Food Companies such as Nestle or beverage giant, Coca-Cola, and many others have entered the bottled water market in order to explore business opportunities. Retail channel sales are growing at rate of 11% and analysts have forecasted that the market will reach $150 billion within next couple of years. Although bottled water market is growing at a steady rate, the penetration level is not homogeneous in the entire region. Customers prefer to drink mineral water in order to experience purity and freshness. Nestle also emphasizes on the purity of their bottled water in order to sell the item. Global players try to create their bottled water using underground aquifers, minerals, and springs in order to show purity. Nestle also did the same by changing their product line by adding minerals and aquifers in three of the products: S.Pellegrino, Perrier, and Poland Spring. Industry analysis shows that bottled water market can be segmented into three portions. 2.1 Product Characteristics Bottled water can be segregated into three types: Still (dominant with more than 70% penetration), Sparkling (penetration level is low such as 21%), and Flavored (near about 6% penetration). Nestle has maintained a product line complemented with Still and Sparkling category while they have not took any initiative to add flavored water in portfolio 2.2 Water Source Two types of water sources are available for manufacturers are chemically purified and natural spring water, and both are used in order to manufacture bottled water. Water sourced from natural spring has two subdivisions: Single Spring (bottled near the source location without any chemical treatment except filtration) and Multiple Spring (bottled far from source location after multiple chemical treatments). Nestle offers customers only Single Spring bottled water but they have a future plan of entering in the Multi Spring segment. 2.3 Marketing Channel Companies in the bottled water industry follow two types of marketing channel: on trade- off trade, or retail sales in order to distribute their products to customers. On trade channels focus on distributing bottled water directly to business, houses, hospitals, catering, and various event sponsors while retail channel focuses on tertiary sales. Global sales volume in terms of unit for on trade channel is only 16% but striking fact is that sales volume in terms of monetary value for on trade channel is 55%. These differentiation occurs due to the fact that water bottle price is three times higher in contrast to off trade channel (Gimeno, 2012). 3.0 Competitors Analysis 3.1 Danone Danone is the major competitor for Nestle in the water industry. The company is the market leader in Spain and United Kingdom for purified water business. Danone uses merger acquisitions in order to expand their business and they have achieved more than 24% market penetration by following the same strategy. The company maintains product portfolio complemented with Sparkletts, Alhambra, and Crystal in order to offer still and spring water to customers. 3.2 PepsiCo The company entered the packaged drinking water industry in the year 1994 by establishing cooperation with bottlers. The company provides spring, flavored, and still water to global customers. Aquafina is the major bottle water brand for the company while the brand has achieved more than 10% penetration in UK market. Distribution channels maintained by the company can be termed as their core competency. PepsiCo sells their water product in UK with the help of Directo Store Delivery Method (DSD) and also the company is planning for category extension in the sparkling water segment. 3.3 Coca Cola The company launched their bottled water brand Dasani in the year 1999, spending more than $20 million dollars in sales promotion and advertising to push the brand during its initial period. Coca Cola Enterprise (CCE) is also a big bottler worldwide. The company has launched their multi spring water brand BonAqua in European countries. Market share for the company in the UK is not more than 3%. Hence they have planned to increase market share by incorporating product differentiation in the future. 4.0 Analysis of the Packaged Water Industry in United Kingdom 4.1 SWOT The SWOT analysis method can be done in order to analyze business scenario for the packaged water segment in UK (Ferrell Hartline, 2010, p. 122). 4.1.1 Strength The lifestyle of people in the country is changing with time, and as a result, the demand for pure water is increasing. Packaged water gives people the opportunity to carry mineral water or sparkling water with convenience. 4.1.2 Weakness Companies need to find open water sources to manufacture bottled water, but availability of such resources is low in the UK compared to other European countries. Government is strict about environment norms and pushes foreign companies to decrease carbon footprint throughout business operation. Companies trying to expand business in UK need to redesign value chain in order to decrease environment pollution. Because of this, the Boxed Water product is fitting to combat this weakness. 4.1.3 Opportunity People in the country have become more health conscious in recent times due to the increase of epidemic diseases. The quality of open source water has also degraded randomly within the last ten years. Companies have the opportunity to manipulate market demand by offering mineral and spring waters to customers of the country, and it is Nestles opportunity to offer the Boxed Water idea to fulfill this demand. 4.1.4 Threat Multinational companies are facing threat from regional and small local players in the country. Many small level companies are counterfeiting and imitating product portfolios of large players such as Nestle, Danone, and others. Counterfeiters are selling products at a price lower than market average in order to spoil competition. 4.2 Porters Five Forces Porters five force model can be used to analyze bottled water industry in United Kingdom (Ahlstrom Bruton, 2009, pp. 131-140). 4.2.1 Threat of Substitute There is no substitute for water but the same cannot be said for bottled drinking water. Substitutes such as vitamin and mineral water, and single and multi-spring water can be termed as close competitor for purified bottled water. Tea, beer, and soft drinks are the distant competitors for packaged drinking water; therefore, the threat of substitute for packaged water is moderate. 4.2.2 Threat of New Entrants Threat of new entrant is low for the packaged water industry due to three reasons. Huge financial resources are needed to establish water plants and a wide distribution channels to retailers nationwide. Companies must have sufficient resources to offer high retail margins to distributors (industry average is more than 15% but Nestle offers 33%) in order to survive in market competition. Companies must have the capability to compete against multinational giants such as Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, and Danone to be successful in the long run. 4.2.3 Bargaining Power of Supplier Nestle uses their own hybrid transportation model in order to decrease dependency on suppliers. In general, companies manufacture and bottle their products near the water source in order to decrease stages of value chain. Large bottlers can purchase bulk volume of 1 liter, 2 liter or 5 liter bottles from manufacturers at minimal cost. Presence of many alternatives has decreased bargaining power of suppliers. 4.2.4 Bargaining Power of Customers Packaged water is seen as a basic product and price sensitivity issue of customers is not a major concern. This means that big brands such as Nestle can charge a premium price for their multi spring and single spring water segments. Bargaining power of customers is moderate for the industry. 4.2.5 Competition Market competition is high for the bottled water industry due to presence multinational players as well as regional sellers. They mainly compete in terms of retailer margin, product price, and product differentiation. Companies are investing a huge amount money in developing distribution channels while there is no doubt that beverage giants such as PepsiCo and Coca Cola have a clear advantage due to their long association with retailers. Nestle needs to design distribution network by maintaining equilibrium between on trade and off trade channel. Factors Threat of new Entrants Threat of substitutes products Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining Power of Suppliers Existing Rivalry Level of Impact High Medium Low 4.3 Porters Diamond Model Nestle needs to use porters diamond model in order to explore opportunity in the country (Walker, 2003, p. 177) Uncertain events such as Euro zone crisis can impede the growth of business Market competition in bottled water industry is high from both regional and international players Demand for packaged drinking water is high in the UK Nestle can use both skilled and unskilled labor for their business due to abundance of human resource pool in the country Presence of supporting players such as paper suppliers and other members of the value chain is abundant Government of the country provides tax exemptions to companies investing more than  £10,000 on research development 5.0 Why the United Kingdom?   Ã‚  Ã‚   There were three countries, each in three different continents that seemed very interesting for Nestle to introduce the idea of a new packaging, Boxed Water. The idea of boxed water consists of redesigning the container into a complete new design with no damaging chemicals for human consumption, and at the same time being better for the environment. The first country taken into account in this report is Singapore.   Singapore is one of the nations in the world with a well-established and efficient free-market economy. The government of Singapore has a significant control in most corporations, which constitutes about 60% of the GDP through business entities like Sovereign Wealth Fund. The country has a free business environment with comparatively low levels of corruption, transparency in management of public affairs and constant/predictable prices changes. Compared to other developed countries Singapore has low tax rates with a very high per capita GDP globally. Singapore has a very innovative and stable economy, which is merged with efficient economic planning under the Economic Development Board that helped to establish a free market. Moreover, Singapore has a port that is strategic enough to give it an edge over the neighboring countries that carries trade. Most of its labor comes within the population, which is owed to the efficient education policy in the country that produces skilled labor for the industries in the country.   The government