American Association of Retired Persons

American Association of Retired Persons Introduction Social organizations refer to social institutions that are established to serve a specified task usually in the interest of the society at large. Over the years social organizations and groups have played important role in enlightening and mobilizing individuals over various issues facing the society hence contributing to society transformation. In the United States, these groups have significantly influenced the way of life as well as governance.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on American Association of Retired Persons specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More American association of retired persons (AARP) is one of the leading global organizations whose purpose constitutes promotion of positive social change in society. It was founded in 1958 at a time when the elderly experienced a lot of difficulties while acquiring life insurance. John Rother, the organization’s vice president for policy, strat egy and international affairs, approximates the number of members aged fifty and above to be over four million (AARP, 2010). This organization does not approach aging as a negative component in the society but analyses the world ageing demographics as the driving force to enhance transformation of the social policy that aim at improving the quality of life among people of all generations and all ages (AARP, 2010). The organization supports and promotes the ageing process all over the world through encouraging aging members to reside in places that promote decent living with affordable housing and accessible services, empowering and encouraging individuals to maintain their health and productivity, as well as promoting policies that provide healthy older people with opportunities to continue contributing towards the work force (AARP, 2010). This helps the older generation to maintain a source of income and provides diversity in the labor market. The organization further believes impr oved standards of living are directly related to longer lifespan. AARP provides an opportunity in which diverse societies can share the challenges and opportunities encountered as the members advance in age (AARP, 2010). The organization deals with issues that relate to improvement of the overall welfare of the population that is advancing in term of age and advocates for issues such as the elderly population access to affordable health care. In addition, the organization advocates for availability of retirement security through pension schemes as well as ensuring a firm background for traditional informal support system and creating effective policies around the global aging agenda (AARP, 2010).Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Improved welfare among the elderly people in the society is associated with economic growth, social equity in distribution of resource s as well as ecological maintenance and preservation which are the key pillars of overall development in any society (AARP, 2010). AARP is a secondary social group whose functions are geared towards achieving high quality of life among the population. The organization has significantly transformed the attitude of Americans towards old age. National association for the advancement of colored people (NAACP) is a civil rights organization that diligently fights for the social justice of the minority groups in America. It was founded in 1909 and it’s the largest of its kind in the United States (NAACP, 2010). Ever since 1941, the organization has been the driving force behind civil rights advocacy in the United States. The organization spearheaded the enactment of 1964 civil rights act, the voting rights passed in 1965, and the1968 fair housing act among other achievements. It aims at promoting voting and voter education among the youth as a way of airing their preferences as wel l as promoting voting rights (NAACP, 2010). The organization further focuses on diverse issues such as climate change facing the country e.g. the hurricane Katrina. It has established climate justice initiative that was created for the purpose of mobilizing and educating people on the climate issue to enable them address the problem of climate change facing the society (NAACP, 2010). The organization has also devised mechanisms to uplift civil and human rights as they relate to economic opportunities (NAACP, 2010). It aims at ensuring that there is just and fair allocation of resources as the country embarks on a road towards economic recovery. It further promotes national education program by ensuring that American students have access to equal and high quality public education by discouraging racial and ethnic disparities prevalent in public institutions (NAACP, 2010). This organization is also a secondary social group whose aim is promoting the rights of the minority groups in Am erica. Bureaucratic Characteristics of Organizations The above bureaucratic organizations are characterized by division of labor where all tasks are classified into highly specialized fields which are allocated to qualified personnel (Lunenburg, 2007). The organizations also have an outlined hierarchy of authority that flows from the board of directors to the employees through senior staff. Bureaucracies are characterized by Impersonality (Lunenburg, 2007) which checks favorism and prejudice among staff members. In these institutions, recruitment, employment and promotions are based on competence and qualification and every task in the organizations is governed by outlined rules to ensure uniformity.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on American Association of Retired Persons specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, extensive division of labor kills innovation and promotes monotony. Reliance to rules in these s tructures often results in inertia and rigidity and the organizations practically promote downward communication only. Conclusion Social groups play an important role in the society as they strive to ensure that the rights of individuals are not violated against. To ensure their effectiveness, the government and the society should support them in their activities. However, the organization should minimize bureaucratic procedures in order to achieve better results. Reference List Lunenburg, F. E. Ornstein, A. C (2007). Educational administration: Concepts and practices, NY: Cengage learning publishers. NAACP (2010). Advocacy and issues. Official website. Web. Rother, J. (2010). Aging as a global issue. AARP. Web.

Managing Ascii (Text) Files From Delphi Code

Managing Ascii (Text) Files From Delphi Code Simply put, text files contain readable ASCII characters. We can think of working with a text file in Delphi as analogous to playing or recording information on a VCR tape. Although it is possible to make changes to a text file, jump around when processing information or add some data to the file other than at the end, it is advisable to use a text file only when we know that we are working with ordinary text and no such operations are necessary. Text files are considered to represent a sequence of characters formatted into lines, where each line is terminated by an end-of-line marker (a CR/LF combination). The TextFile and the Assign Method To start working with text files you have to link a file on a disk to a file variable in your code - declare a variable of type TextFile and use the AssignFile procedure to associate a file on a disk with a file variable. var    SomeTxtFile : TextFile; begin    AssignFile(SomeTxtFile, FileName) Reading information From a Text File If we want to read back the content of a file into a string list, just one line of code will do the job. Memo1.Lines.LoadFromFile(c:\autoexec.bat) To read information from a file line by line, we must open the file for input by using the Reset procedure. Once a file is reset, we can use ReadLn to read information from a file (reads one line of text from a file then moves to the next line) : var    SomeTxtFile : TextFile;    buffer : string;begin    AssignFile(SomeTxtFile, c:\autoexec.bat) ;    Reset(SomeTxtFile) ;    ReadLn(SomeTxtFile, buffer) ;    Memo1.Lines.Add(buffer) ;    CloseFile(SomeTxtFile) ; end; After adding one line of text from a file to a memo component SomeTxtFile needs to be closed. This is done by the Close keyword. We can also use Read procedure to read information from a file. Read works just like ReadLn, except it does not move the pointer to the next line. var    SomeTxtFile : TextFile;    buf1,buf2 : string[5]; begin    AssignFile(SomeTxtFile, c:\autoexec.bat) ;    Reset(SomeTxtFile) ;    ReadLn(SomeTxtFile, buf1,buf2) ;    ShowMessage(buf1 buf2) ;    CloseFile(SomeTxtFile) ; end; EOF - End Of File Use the EOF function to make sure that you are not trying to read beyond the end of the file. Lets say we want to display the content of the file in message boxes - one line at a time until we get to the end of a file: var    SomeTxtFile : TextFile;    buffer : string;begin    AssignFile(SomeTxtFile, c:\autoexec.bat) ;    Reset(SomeTxtFile) ;    while not EOF(SomeTxtFile) do    begin   Ã‚   ReadLn(SomeTxtFile, buffer) ;   Ã‚   ShowMessage(buffer) ;    end;   CloseFile(SomeTxtFile) ;end; Note: It is better to use While loop than the Until loop to take into account the (unlikely) possibility that the file exists but does not contain any data. Writing Text to a File The WriteLn is probably the most common way to send individual pieces of information to a file. The following code will read a text from a Memo1 component (line by line) and send it to some newly created text file. var    SomeTxtFile : TextFile;    j: integer; begin    AssignFile(SomeTxtFile, c:\MyTextFile.txt) ;    Rewrite(SomeTxtFile) ;    for j : 0 to (-1 Memo1.Lines.Count) do   Ã‚  Ã‚   WriteLn(SomeTxtFile, Memo1.Lines[j]) ;    CloseFile(SomeTxtFile) ; end; Depending on the state of the file provided to the Rewrite procedure it creates a new file (opens the file for output) with the name assigned to SomeTextFile. If a file with the same name already exists it is deleted and a new empty file is created in its place. If SomeTextFile is already open, it is first closed and then re-created. The current file position is set to the beginning of the empty file. Note: Memo1.Lines.SaveToFile(c:\MyTextFile.txt) will do the same. Sometimes well just need to add some text data to the end of an existing file. If this is the case, well call Append to ensure that a file is opened with write-only access with the file pointer positioned at the end of the file. Something like: var    SomeTxtFile : TextFile; begin    AssignFile(SomeTxtFile, c:\MyTextFile.txt) ;    Append(SomeTxtFile) ;    WriteLn(SomeTxtFile, New line in my text file) ;   CloseFile(SomeTxtFile) ;end; Be Aware of Exceptions In general, you should always use exception handling when working with files. I/O is full of surprises. Always use CloseFile in a finally block to avoid the possibility of corrupting a users FAT. All the previous examples should be rewritten as follows: var    SomeTxtFile : TextFile;    buffer : string; begin    AssignFile(SomeTxtFile, c:\MyTextFile.txt) ;    try   Ã‚   Reset(SomeTxtFile) ;   Ã‚   ReadLn(SomeTxtFile, buffer) ;    finally   Ã‚   CloseFile(SomeTxtFile) ;    end;end; Manipulating With Structured Files Delphi has the ability to handle both ASCII files and files that hold binary data. Here are the techniques for working with typed and untyped (binary) files.

Philosophy and Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Philosophy and Technology - Essay Example Given any circumstance he would avoid confrontation and any kind of collision with an opposing party. War or aggression is the last thing on the mind of a pacifist. The author through the above statement is trying to convey that if a person who possesses the characteristics of a pacifist is made to work in a bomb factory he would still come up with a new idea to make a bomb. No matter how opposed a person might be towards the concept of waging a war, if the mind is put to work on a task that needs to be done, the task takes precedence against the principles. The chief duty is to design a bomb, and no matter how opposed the principles of the person concerned are, he would eventually end up innovating and creating a new type of bomb. According to the author technology has shaped the human mind and has been much of a latent threat to the very existence of mankind as much as it has been a boon. The author through his interpretation of the human psychology and the constant struggle betwee n the opposing forces of principle/conscience and duty has tried to convey that the human mind and its intrinsic qualities are overpowered by practicality and the reality of life. In this case the reality is the surrounding, the environment, and the opportunity to design a new type of a bomb. Human beings are thinkers, innovators and are prone to ideate. A constant undercurrent of the urge to experiment and innovate prevails on the human mind. The human psyche by nature is inclined to improvise and invent things from what it sees around it and in this example provided by the writer, he may go against his pacifism to design a new bomb within weeks. Even if this means going against his very fundamentals he would still be drawn to live a life of intellectual prosperity and independence. We live in an age where man’s lust for power and technological superiority overshadows basic principles of humanity and life. Man’s greed for machines and mechanisation is to such an exten t that he would let the machines take over and in turn be reduces to a defunct and cold vestige of sorts. In our age mechanisation and scientific leapfrogging has finally triumphed to an extent that we can actually feel the tendency of the machine to make physically and intellectually challenging human life impossible. (Orwell 193) Building and developing on the central theme of intellectual proliferation, am individual if confined to a secluded environment with a nature work that is opposed to him, he would eventually begin to put his mind over the job and end up doing the task. All the steam in the world could not, like the virgin build Chartres The second phrase is by Mont Saint Michel and Chartres. It exalts the triumph of technology and its ushering through the Industrial Revolution in the Western World. The power of the mother is represented through the phrase given above. It talks about the benefit of technology to the western world and the power of the Lady who ultimately se cures â€Å"†¦the place of woman in the Church to be the guardian of the primacy of the contemplative over the active, of persons over ideas, and of family over economy† (Mary Victrix 1) According to the author the power of technology is immense. Technology is compared to the power of the Lady, Virgin Mary. It was her power, influence and inspiration that led to the construction of the cathedral in Chartres, France. Mary Victrix 1). Technology is viewed

The Impact of using New Technology in Art Exhibitions Essay

The Impact of using New Technology in Art Exhibitions - Essay Example This is followed by a thorough analysis of the various expert viewpoints regarding several issues, such as whether online exhibition seems likely to replace traditional exhibition completely. These viewpoints are extracted from different literatures. For the artistic viewpoint, the research has used ‘Ways of Seeing’ and ‘Management and the Arts’, whereas, management books help elaborate the business viewpoint. 1. Traditional Exhibition: Scientific and technological advancement has dynamically altered the traditional exhibition industry, bringing in innovative technology into performance art, as is present in the London Design Museum. This has enhanced the ability of artistic techniques to express and generate emotion, and has also made the use of network form more efficient. Experts also write about how technological changes have affected the viewership and appreciation of the relevant art forms and their exhibitions. Technology has enabled a whole new segme nt of visitors to visit these art exhibitions and museums to appreciate the work. These audiences are those present worldwide, who can now appreciate the art by visiting online galleries of these museums (Camp, MacFadden and Mercer, 2000). Thus, the visitors are no longer limited to physical visits to the institutions. Their visits are no longer contingent on their geographical location, but simply on their passion and interest in art. Furthermore, technology has made it possible to sort out and cater to each of these virtual visitors individually, based on their educational backgrounds, ages and interests. This helps museums further achieve their goals of educating the public with the various lessons that art has to offer, and expanding their minds to further enable them to understand the depths of each piece of art. Thus, with this technological aide, museums are able to enrich the experience they provide to their visitors (Perlin 1998). Another relevant insight that the available literatures had to offer was about the â€Å"Contaminated Cultural Materials in Museum Collections† workshop that the Arizona State Museum at the University of Arizona in Tuscon held. The planning and implementation was sponsored by a NAPGRA grant, and the event took place from March 16th to 18th in 2000 (Odegaard & Sadongei, 2005). The workshop was held for representatives of the twenty one American Indian tribes in Arizona, aiming to discuss the features and quantity of chemical contamination present on tribal cultural material that the museum possesses. Following this, it aimed to explain the need for using such poisons on the materials. This was accompanied by a brief overview of the health risks, which are potentially attached with preserving and restoring a functional object in order to display to a community. Finally, the workshop aimed to circulate the clearinghouse information pertaining to medical referrals as well as toxicologists, chemical hygienists and other su ch health experts (Odegaard and Sadongei, p xi, 2005). Conclusion The workshop highlighted some important facts that need attention when museums and tribes plan to collaborate in the restoration of objects before sending them back to their place of origin. It shed light on the importance of communication in this ordeal. It is the museums responsibility to actively communicate all issue during consultations, and to keep the tribes informed during the whole process. The chances of uncovering a serious health issue of

UtilityProbability Tree Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

UtilityProbability Tree Analysis - Essay Example However, if these hostages are booby trapped, there is 80% chance that some or all of the hostages will be killed and only 20% chance that all of the hostages will be saved. Considering both events, we can clearly see that in any event our chances of saving hostages are less than 50%. This means that it is more likely that all of the hostages will not be saved and hence we should plan our excursion in a way as to minimize the losses and to see if it is worth undertaking an excursion where all hostages cannot be saved. We should look at other alternative and make sure that if there are better options available where there are brighter chances of saving the hostages than the current situation. If there are other means and methods available then we should focus on the option where there is a most likely chance of saving the hostages. However, if there is no other option available than this excursion is the best possible option, and our team should focus on minimizing the losses as much as possible.

Food And Beverage Industry In India Marketing Essay

Food And Beverage Industry In India Marketing Essay India is one of the largest producers of food and dairy products. But when it comes to processed packaged food and beverages, the market is largely unorganized with huge growth potentials. Continuous urbanization and changing consumer habits, has resulted in greater reliance of people on packaged foods and beverages. With the influx of major international players like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, and efforts by large domestic players like Dabur and Parle Agro, the industry is getting more organized. As a result, the industry is generating more opportunities in sectors like marketing, supply chain, storing, warehousing, manufacturing, packaging and RD. One of the major players, in Indian subcontinent is PepsiCo, Inc. It entered in India in 1989 and established Pepsico India Pvt. Ltd. The liberalization of Indian economy in 1992 helped Pepsico expand its business in India. Currently Pepsico India Pvt. Ltd. has its headquarters in Gurgaon, Haryana. It has facilities for 38 bottling plants and three food plants in India to satisfy the Indian consumer demand. The company has recently faced some decline in profits and increase in the debts but these can be attributed its recent investments in growing Indian market but, overall the financial position of the company is robust and sturdy. The company has got strong laws governing the Intellectual Property and use of companys resources, and is taking initiatives to improve the RD. PepsiCo believes that RD plays a crucial role for the growth of the business and to develops new products and technologies to meet consumer requirements in near future. The major threat to PepsiCo is from the unorganized sector and the large multinational corporations like Coco-Cola Corporation, Pearl Agro etc. PepsiCo is offering substantial product differential by increasingly giving emphasis to health conscious trend, with increasing flavors and verities. PepsiCo plans to invest $500 million in Indian market over the next few years in order to triple its revenues in the region. The investment will spread over half a dozen business areas such as manufacturing, RD, agriculture, product development and market infrastructure. It has taken many steps aimed at tapping the growing market by introducing new products, investing in development plans and Capital expenditure plans. Thus, overall, the companys profile looks promising and ready to strengthen its roots. Contents PEPSICO Food and Beverage Industry in India India is one the largest fastest growing economies in the world with an average growth rate of 7%. With a population size of 1.21 billion it is one of most lucrative markets consumer products. Due to the increase in purchasing power of the people and urbanization of small cities the demand of processed food and beverages has grown manifolds in last few years. Currently the estimated size of the industry is $360 billion. The Ministry of Food Processing has divided the industry into the following areas: Dairy processing, Grain processing, Fish, Fruits Vegetable processing, meat poultry processing and lastly, Packaged goods such as beverages, snacks, processed/ready-to-cook foods. Out of these, packaged and processed food industry is estimated at a smaller US$70 billion. The domestic consumption of non-alcoholic beverages, which include tea and coffee, carbonated drinks and fruit-based drinks account for a little more than US$1.2 billion.  And, with current CAGR of 20% its likely to touch US$2.3 billion by the year 2015. (Chibber, 2011) At present, carbonated or aerated drinks valued at US$370 million contributed to 30% non-alcoholic beverages. Fruit based drinks and energy drinks valued at US $250 million and US$125 million makes for other 30% Structure of the industry Until 1992 reforms and liberalization of Indian economy, the industry was largely unorganized consisting of many small scale firms catering only to domestic market. In packaged food industry size only few organized firms existed with limited product like ketchup, flavors, jam and processed noodles etc. Post liberalization, with the influx of international brands and considerable change in food procurement chain, transportation, storing and warehousing the growth of the industry has been robust and steady. The evolution of innovative food processing capacity and the emergence of organized retail, changing consumption patterns with fast changing demographics and habits has fuelling the next growth trajectory for the food industry in India. With the proposed policy changes in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) by Government of India for retail sector further accelerated growth is expected in the industry. (http://pepsicoindia.co.in/Download) The major players in the industry are Dabur, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Coca-Cola, Pepsico, ITC Ltd, Parle Agro Products, Britannia India, Nestle India, Haldirams, Amul, Godrej Industries, Cadbury Schweppes, Future Group, RPG Enterprise etc. (http://www.ibef.org, 2012) Marketing strategies of the company Indian consumer market is mainly segmented on the basis of geography and demographic. Also the market is highly seasonal and predominantly urban. The products are relatively low cost with low margin but are sold in huge volumes. The marketing strategies are mostly product driven focusing on the masses. Also, innovative products to catering to regional tastes and the needs of niche consumers are been promoted, benefiting in growth of the industry. Most of promotions are done to increase the visibility of the brand. One of the most common practices is to offer the product in wide range package sizes and prices suiting the needs of diverse consumer segments. The promotions and advertisements done by the companies are often large with huge financial costs. The promotions are usually frequent and during popular TV shows, sports event at the peak hour with many celebrity endorsements. Other media like print, digital, banner and hoarding and event sponsorship are also used. (Vora) COMPANY HISTORY: Pepsico Inc., a multinational company, formed in 1965 with the merger of the Pepsi-Cola Company and Fruit-Lay, Inc. Pepsico Inc., since then has expanded from Pepsi to a broader range of food and beverages brands with the largest of which include acquisition of Tropicana in 1998 and a merger with Quaker Oats in 2001, which added the Gatorade brand to its portfolio. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wik) Pepsico Inc. entered India in 1989 and established Pepsico India Pvt. Ltd. It entered India as an industry for food and agro-based products. Since its entry into India, it had already invested INR 18 billion by the year 2000. In 1990, Indian government liberalized economy on account of severe foreign exchange crises, which helped Pepsico to expand its business in India. In 2002, Pepsico Inc. joined hands with Punjab Agro Export Corporation to process citrus fruits for its Tropicana project. By 2003, Pepsis soft drinks, snacks, fruit juices, mineral water business had established itself firmly in India. It is one of the largest food and beverage industry in India with an investment of over $1 billion. COMPANY SIZE: Pepsico Inc., an American multinational food and beverage corporation headquartered in New York, United States, with interests in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products. As of January 2012, twenty-two of the PepsiCos product lines generated retail sales of more than $1 billion each and the companys products were distributed across more than 200 countries, resulting in annual net revenues of $43.3 billion. Based on net revenue, Pepsico is the second largest food and beverage business in the world. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wik) Currently Pepsico India Pvt. Ltd. has its headquarters in Gurgaon, Haryana. It has facilities for 38 bottling plants and three food plants in India to satisfy the Indian consumer demand. It presently employs 6400 people and provides indirect employment to almost 200,000 people through its production and distribution activities. (http://pepsicoindia.co.in/media) GROWTH ANALYSIS: Pepsico Inc., between 1970s and 1990s has expanded via acquisition of businesses outside of its core focus of packaged food and beverage brands. It concluded its disinvestments by 2007 and was followed by multiple large scale acquisitions, as Pepsico continued its expansion beyond snack food and beverage lines. In August 2009, Pepsico made a $7 billion offer to acquire the two largest bottlers of its products in North America: Pepsi Bottling Group and PepsiAmericas. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wik) Growth for 2013 is expected to improve to sales growth of 4.5% and profit of 8.3% to $4.44 per share. (Fuhrmann, 2012) Pepsico in India in a short period, it has grown to be one of the Indias largest and fastest growing food and beverage industry in the country. PepsiCos Indias growth has been guided by PepsiCos global vision of Performance with Purpose. This means, while businesses maximize shareholder value, they have a responsibility to all the stakeholders, including the communities in which they operate, the consumers they serve and the environment whose resources they use. (http://pepsicoindia.co.in/company) Changes in the Environment of Industry: With the growing GDP, the purchasing power of the people is also growing. People nowadays demand convenience and are willing to pay extra for it. As their work habits and lifestyles have changed, its now all about time, and the consumer would rather buy time than prepare food. With busier lifestyle of the people, smaller and more frequent meals are becoming common, resulting in higher demand for the packaged food and drinks. The people have become health conscious, so, nutrition is becoming an important consideration when purchasing food and drinks. In 2003, allegations were made against the major player in the soft drinks industry for using harmful insecticides and pesticides in the soft drink. This lead to drop in sales of the soft drinks for some time, till the time the confidence in the minds of people was restored. The major players are diversifying its product portfolios both in the food, health and soft drinks segment in order to cater different customer segment. Celebrity endorsement has become a differentiating factor in the highly competitive industry. Future Outlook: The per capita consumption of the packaged food and drinks in India is expected to rise with the increase in the disposable incomes of the people. In India, tea is the only product which has a mature market. Other beverages such as carbonated drinks and functional drinks have been experiencing a consistent high growth rate. With the women increasingly joining the work force and households becoming smaller, packaged food products and beverages will be in higher demand. With the increasing urbanization, there is increased acceptance and greater demand for packaged food and beverages product in India. Companys Operational Analysis Marketing and Operation: PepsiCo spends high amount on advertisement to reinforce its product by promotion and quickly make the customer aware about their new products. To enter in the different segments of consumers, it created different verticals in the functions like sales, marketing, operations and distribution. PepsiCo constantly looks for acquisition in emerging markets. It has created the point of difference from their competitors by providing unique taste to its product to suit Indian market needs and also provides the product in lower price compared to its competitors. Pepsi has segmented the market based on income level and tried focus on level 1 and level 2 (Exhibit 1) customers and focused on the age group of 15-30. Pepsi mainly sends out the goods from its plants to retailers directly, from where, they are distributed to small retailers to generate its sales volume. It also helps them to reduce the long journey in poor roads. The increase in use of vending machine helps to decrease the number of refilling. The increase in sales is due to the expansion of super/hyper markets in India. Financial Analysis: Based on the financial statement of the year 2011 of PepsiCo India the operating revenue increased by 23.63%. That is 3,360.85 tens of millions to INR 4,155.14 tens of million. There is 1.62 % change in operating income, it was increased to INR 246.81 tens of million from INR 242.88 tens of million. But the Return on Assets (ROA) went down by 0.02% from 2.79% and Return on equity also went down by 0.04%. Compare to the last year the net profit margin fell by 0.01% from 1.89%. The Debt to Equity ratio was 169.96% compared to 156.98% of last year but the current ratio went up to 2.07 from 1.97 compared to the previous year. (Refer Exhibit 2 for details) (http://www.securities.com/Public) Legal Operations: Using Trademarks and Intellectual Property: The intellectual property of the company is an invaluable asset and must be used properly. No one is allowed to use the trademarks or intellectual property of the company without proper authorization and license agreement that has been approved by Law Department. Email, Internet and other Information System: The PepsiCos information technology must be used only for the business operations of the company and must comply with the Information Security Policy and Acceptable Use Standards. It is not a usual practice to monitor the employees use of companys information systems. (http://pepsicoindia.co.in/Download) RD Analysis: PepsiCo has taken many initiatives to improve its RD capabilities and recently opened a RD department in Germany and Co. Cork, which will support both Europe and other markets where PepsiCo operates. PepsiCo knows that RD plays a crucial role for the growth of the business and to develop new products and technologies to meet consumer requirements in near future. PepsiCo always focused on the outcomes which will help them to get more good ideas and create more good jobs. (http://www.idaireland.com/news-media, 2012) Industry Analysis and Growth plans Worldwide, in the year 2010, top ten soft drink companies, including, PepsiCo, Nestle, Coca-Cola and Suntory Holdings, accounted for 52.3% of overall sales with PepsiCo holding 11.5% share. (Exhibit 3) In India, however, it holds 24.2% market share. (Exhibit4) (Eleanore Alexander, 2011) The Indian beverage and food industry is estimated to grow at a CAGR of about 7.5% during 2009-2013. Introduction of organized retail, innovative food processing methods, changes in consumer consumption patterns and fast changing demographics; has ensured exponential growth. Specifically, the Indian non-alcoholic drinks market is expected to grow at CAGR of 15% during this period. (Anonymous, 2011) PepsiCo plans to invest $500 million in Indian market over the next few years in order to triple its revenues in the region. The investment will spread over half a dozen business areas such as manufacturing, RD, agriculture, product development and market infrastructure. (Pande, 2010) It has taken many steps aimed at tapping the growing market by introducing new products, investing in development plans and Capital expenditure plans. (*Source: Bloomberg, IMAP) PepsiCo introduced following products as per their expansion plans: It launched PureVia (a zero-calorie sweetener) using Setvia, a natural herbal, to cater to health conscious customers. PepsiCo recently acquired Brazilian coconut-water manufacturer Amacoco Nordeste Ltd. to cater to increasing customer inclination towards it. Pushing hard in healthy snack options by expanding baked snack brand Aliva from four variants to six new variants. Eliminating almost all trans fats from their U.S. product portfolio and any of their global products. In India, they have 40  percent reduction in saturated fat in leading products (by using blended rice bran oil) such as Kurkure namkeen snacks and Lays potato chips. Pepsi introduced their latest drink aimed at health conscious customers. Pepsi Next is a right mix of cola flavor and a blend of sweeteners to closely mimic the taste curve is a regular cola. (Morefield, 2012) They have developed a plan to introduce fortified biscuits and snacks at affordable rates to address iron deficiency anemia. Last year they expanded their Sangareddy and Mahul production facilities in India, creating 5,000 direct and indirect jobs. (IMAP, 2010) As per companys annual report, We increased our investment in emerging markets selling and delivery systems by putting more coolers in the market and adding route and distribution capacity ahead of growth in India, China, Russia and other countries. Notably, our India business grew at about 2.5 times Indias real GDP growth rate. (Author, 2010) The company recently took another major step in order to expand in terms of volume as part of promotional offers. It cut the price of 600 ml PET bottles to INR 25 from INR 28. However, its rival Coca-Cola has decided not to follow this strategy. (Bhushan, 2012) Porters five forces analysis As shown in Exhibit, Porters five forces help to analyze an industry taking care of various influencers. The five forces are: (Exhibit 5) Threat of substitutes: Soft drink industry offers substantial product differentiation. However, substitutes like bottled water, sports drinks, tea etc. are increasingly getting popular with health conscious trend. With increasing flavors and varieties, these products pose a strong threat to the industry. Threat of new entrants: Coca-Cola and Pepsi Co dominate the soft drink industry. In addition, the industry is fully saturated and minimal chances of growth making it extremely difficult for new players to start competing. Moreover, huge fixed costs are needed and thus new entrants cannot compete without economies of scale. Therefore new entrants do not create significant threat. Bargaining power of suppliers: Suppliers of bottling equipment and packaging hold no power. Companies mostly own the majority of the bottling and hence suppliers do not hold much bargaining power. For sugar and additives suppliers, since there are a lot of them, soft drink manufacturer can shift supplier leaving almost no bargaining power with suppliers. Bargaining power of buyers: The buyers mainly include large grocers, restaurants and stores. The soft drink companies distribute products to these stores, who later resale to the consumers. Different levels of bargaining power exist with discount stores having a lot of it due to large demand whereas restaurants ordering low volume fail to have any bargaining power. Intensity of existing rivalry: Carbonated software industry is a huge industry. Currently few competitors exist and hence it allows multiple firms and producers to prosper. Overall analysis from the point of view of a summer intern in PepsiCo India: The compounded annual growth of more than 7% and the population size of more than 1.21 billion, India is one of the most promising markets for the food and beverage industry. With the current trend, the industry is estimated to grow to $360 billion by 2015. The industry at large is still unorganized with huge opportunities in retailing, supply chain, marketing and RD sides. With the proposed FDI and influx of international players, the sector will be witnessing exponential growth in its organized sector. This will also allow the expansion of the sector in the rural area which is largely untapped. Currently the organized market employes more than 2 million people and this sector has been given high priority by govt. of India. The major players like Dabur, Coca cola, PepsiCo, and Parle are already investing huge amount in both infrastructure and intellectual talent to capitalize the increasing market share. PepsiCo is one of the largest players in the food and beverage industry with its presence in more than 200 countries. Within its 20 years of operation in India the company has grown by many folds. With the new relaxes norms in FMCG industry, PepsiCo is aggressively investing in the Indian markets. Sensing the chances of increasing market share and performing better by catering to new niche markets, it plans to invest more than $500 million in coming years. The company is also looking forward to diversify its product portfolio either by starting newer products or by acquisitions along with initiatives at improving its supply chain and other manufacturing services. Financial data also looks promising with 23.63% revenue growth and 1.62% operating profit increment. Though, other financial ratios like ROA, ROE and margins have fallen compared to previous year, it is actually infected by the huge investment company is making into Indian market. As per CEO Indira Nooyi, the company plans earned highest profit worldwide from Indian sector in Q3 of 2010. Thus, it is quite evident that PepsiCo India is a market leader. Gradually but steadily, it is closing the gap with rank one player, Coca-Cola. The company looks very promising for learning and developing market understanding. As an intern, this offer would help me apply my ideas backed with the theoretical knowledge gained at my MBA program. With company paying specific attention to various business fields like supply chain, infrastructure and sales, this job will help me learn all these aspects and not limit my learning a particular domain. I look forward to this offer as a chance to ensure a final placement in PepsiCo India to give a kick start to my professional carrier. EXHIBITS Exhibit 1: Breakdown of Indian population by income Exhibit 2: Companies Annual reports Exhibit 3: Worldwide soft drink market Exhibit4: Soft drink industry in India Exhibit5: Porters Five Forces http://www.maxi-pedia.com/web_files/images/Michael_Porter_Five_Forces_Model.png

Mans Need For Woman in the Works of Edgar Allen Poe Essay -- Biograph

Man's Need For Woman in the Works of Edgar Allen Poe      Ã‚   In the beginning, there was Adam.   Adam felt incomplete in the Garden of Eden and needed a companion.   Eve was created and Adam had his woman.   Edgar Allen Poe experimented with man's eternal necessity and drew his final conclusion near the end of his literary career.   With the publication of Eureka, Poe made his final realization that tied every one of his love driven short stories together and triumphantly proclaimed: "I have no desire to live since I have done Eureka.   I could accomplish nothing more" (n. pag.).   Kenneth Graham puts it best:   "For Poe, the most notable glimpse of eternity available to man is in the beauty of woman, always ephemeral, always melancholic" (2760).   With this idea in mind, Poe shows the consequences of losing the love of one's life through his short stories and his poetry, and also tries to bring reason to his own troubled life.   In the works of Poe, a man without his love becomes a man without the most vital part of his spirit and collapses in a horrifying manner.   "For Poe, the most notable glimpse of eternity available to man is in the beauty of woman, always ephemeral, always melancholic" (Graham 2760).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Poe's obsession with dying women stems from his own life.   His mother died when he was only three.   His first love, Elmira Royster was forbidden from associating with him by her father.   His child-wife, Virginia, who was also his cousin, died at the age of 24.   Just when he found Elmira once again, who was by this time a widow, he died of his own health problems.   These stinging losses, especially that of his mother, left a subconscious scar in his already convoluted psyche.   Poe's personal history compelled him... ...r': an Allegory of the Artist." Poe, Poe, Poe, Poe, Poe, Poe, Poe.   New York: Marlowe, 1972. Rpt. in Literary Companion. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1998. Huxley, Aldous.   "Vulgarity in Literature" Music at Night and Other Essays.   New York: Harper & Row, 1930. Rpt. in Poe: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1967. James, Henry.   Dustjacket.   Regan, Robert ed.   Poe: A Collection of Critical Essays.   Englewood Cliffs:   Prentice-Hall, 1967. Lawrence, D.H.   " 'Ligeia': Analyzing Poe's Love Stories."   Studies in Classic American Literature. New York: Seltzer, 1923.   Rpt. in Literary Companion. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1998. Poe, Edgar Allan.   Selected Tales.   Oxford: Oxford UP, 1988 ______.The Complete Online Reference Manual. 1999 ______.Philosophy of Composition.   Rpt. in Literary Companion. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1998.

Kellin Quinn Essay

I. Introduction â€Å" I can’t promise that things won’t be broken, but I swear that I will never leave.† -Kellin Quinn. Isn’t that what everyone really wants- what everyone really needs? Not always is a solution to a problem needed. Sometimes we just need someone to help us through our tough times and to help us learn from mistakes that have been made. Kellin Quinn understands this. Not only does he relate to the need to help friends, but Kellin relates to almost all the struggles most teens and, well, pretty much all ages witness. It shows in his music. You see, Kellin Quinn is the singer and pianist of the band Sleeping With Sirens. Their music is about coming from a broken family and how much it hurts because you feel responsible. Difficulties ranging from self-harm to bullying to love are heard in the meaningful lyrics of their songs. Not only do Kellin and the band write about that, but also they have songs that are inspirational, joyful, and that make you want to s mile and appreciate the good in life. II. Caring Kellin is more than just a musical genius; he is one who cares about people as individuals. For example, Marie Fowler was a nineteen year old cancer patient that was diagnosed with only 72 hours to live. Kellin Quinn, her idol, was notified on Twitter and he Skyped her. He told her to be strong and to savor and appreciate the life she has enjoyed. On top of that, Kellin has dedicated his life to music and to make his fans feel better and blissful. He has definitely made my life easier and made me cope well with tragedies. I’m so thankful that I have Sleeping With Sirens in my life. III. Kellin’s Struggles Kellin Quinn’s father left him and his mother when he was young and they had to work hard to pay the bills and to take care of themselves. Kellin was diagnosed with depression and mental disorders because of his difficulties. With a great deal of effort and persistence, he overcame these challenges and is now helping others do the same. Also, Kellin has â€Å"haters† who call him rude and selfish when actually he is the exact opposite. Other negative comments made about him are that he is â€Å"too punk† or that he â€Å"sounds like a girl.† He mostly just ignores the disapproval. Overall, Kellin is a talented and inspirational 26 year old. IV. Impact Kellin Quinn and the band have made my life so much better. I, like many others, have struggled with bullying and many other difficulties. Meaningful music makes these things easier to cope with and Sleeping With Sirens does an amazing job at portraying a message in their lyrics that their fans can relate to. The band has actually saved countless lives. Some teenagers have depression or are struggling in life and feel the need to commit suicide to end his or her pain. In Sleeping With Sirens’ songs, one may notice how the lyrics are meant to make the listener happy and some songs are even specifically written to help self-harmers. â€Å"One day you’ll open your eyes, take a look inside. I just saved your life. Just take a look inside. I hope you know what it’s like for you to be alright. I am for you.† –In Case of Emergency, Dial 411, Sleeping With Sirens. V. Conclusion Overall, Kellin Quinn is an amazing artist who writes and sings about relatable tragedies and moments in his and others’ lives. He is an inspiration to many teenagers, including myself. I will never forget the impact that Kellin as a person and Sleeping With Sirens have had on my life.

Plan semanal de actividades para el desarrolloEsta Essays

Plan semanal de actividades para el desarrolloEsta Essays Plan semanal de actividades para el desarrolloEstancia Infantil: Brazos de mamID:Nombre del grupo: LactantesLMPeriodo de aplicacin: 7 Sep / 12 Sep 17Nombre de quien elabor el plan de trabajo: Ana Karen Torres Snchez Edad: 1 ao- 1 ao 9 mesesNmero de nios: 8Objetivo: Estimular los cinco sentidos en los nios Da de la semanambito de experiencia a desarrollarEstrategia a utilizar: Juego de caja / Juego de bal / Actividades ldico educativas / ProyectosDescripcin de la actividad (Inicio, desarrollo y cierre)Materiales DidcticosDuracin de la actividadLunesA.L.E "Vista"INICIO: Sentaremos a los nios en circulo y explicaremos la actividad. DESARROLLO: Se le entregar una botella sensorial a cada uno de los nios, cuando terminen de observarla la pasaremos al de enseguida hasta que hayan visto todas las botellas. CIERRE.- Observaremos la reaccin de cada uno de los nios con las diferentes botellas sensoriales.-Botellas sensoriales. -Nios. -Asistente.25 Min.MartesA.L.E "Odo"INICIO: Nos pondremos sentados en circulo, y se les explicara a cada nio que se le entregar un instrumento musical. DESARROLLO: Ya que cada nio escuch como suena su instrumento, cantaremos la cancin "Mi pollito amarillito" pero cada nio tocando su instrumento. CIERRE.- Terminamos con la cancin que ellos eligan y daremos un fuerte abrazo.-Instrumentos musicales. -Nios. -Asistente.MiercolesA.L.E "Tacto"INICIO: Explicamos a los nios la actividad y nos sentaremos. DESARROLLO: La asistente tendr los guantes sensoriales e ir pasando cada nio a sentir cada uno de ellos y que sienta las diferentes texturas de los guantes. CIERRE.- Preguntaremos cual fue el guante que mas les gust y daremos un fuerte aplauso.-Guantes sensoriales (Algodn, arroz, piedras, a gua,bolitas de gel) -Nios. -Asistente.20 Min.JuevesA.L.E "Olfato"INICIO: Sentaremos a los nios en circulo y explicaremos la actividad. DESARROLLO: Estar pasando cada uno de nios con la asistente, el cual olern diferentes frascos (Perfume, naranja, ajo, chocolate). CIERRE.- Daremos un fuerte aplauso y terminaremos cantando.-Frascos de plstico -Perfume -Naranja -Ajo -Chocolate -Nios -AsistenteViernesA.L.E "Gusto"INICIO: Explicaremos la actividad y Sentaremos a los nios en circulo. DESARROLLO: Daremos a proba uno por uno diferentes sabores (Sanda, Sopa, tomate, agua de jamaica, apio) CIERRE.- Preguntaremos cual fue el que mas les gusto y daremos un fuerte aplauso.-Sanda -Sopa -Tomate - Agua de jamaica -Apio -Cuchara -baberos - nios -asistenteNombre y firma de quien elaborNombre y firma de la ResponsableEvaluacin realizada al Plan de ActividadesCumplimiento del objetivo:TotalParcialNuloObservaciones / Apectos relevantesSe logr estimular los sentidos en los nios, era algo nuevo y les gust mucho esta actividad.LogrosEn el sentido "Gusto" se logro estimular ya que algunos hacian gestos al principio, ya despus no.reas de oportunidadA la hora de cantar la bienvenida, estimular con varios instrumentos musicales, aplausos, chiflidos.Autoevaluacin del Agente EducativoEvaluacin del plan de actividadesBuenoRegularMaloObservacionesEl mbito de experiencia a desarrollar fue:Fue una buena experiencia, ya que los nios estuvieron atentos a lo que bamos haciendo.La estrategia a utilizar fue:Exce lente, les llam mucho la atencin las diferentes actividades y no se distraan con facilidad.La descripcin de la actividad fue:Buena, cada nio siempre estuvo enfocado de acuerdo a la actividad.Los materiales didcticos fueron:Les encant trabajar con diferentes materiales, ya que los movan y los vean para ver que era.La duracin de las actividades fueron:Todo de acuerdo al tiempo establecido.Ana Karen Torres SanchezNombre y firma del personal que realiz la evaluacin

Assignment Essay Example

Assignment Essay Example Assignment Essay Assignment Essay Introduction: Electronic commerce or e-business can be defined as the process of buying, selling, serving consumers, collaboration between business partners, transferring information and conducting electronic transaction within organisation via computer network. E-business transactions can be carried out between various parties. The common types of e-commerce tractions are as follows: * Collaborate commerce * Business-to-consumers (B2C) * Consumers to business (C2B) * Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) * Intra business commerce * Government to citizens (G2C) Government Business Person or consumer Supplier Business Partner Questions You are required to choose a (B2B, B2C, C2B or C2C) business and based on the history of the business in the last ten years answer the following four questions Q. No. 1 Applying at least five analytical tools in strategic management formulate a suitable E-business strategy for the company. Your proposed strategy should be based on your analysis, and supported by evaluation of your proposed approach, indicating its suitability for the organisation, and also its relation to the company’s business strategy Ans: I want to choose a Business to Customer Business topic for my assignment Business to customer (B2C) business: 1. Introduction: It is also known as e-tailing. In this type of e- business, the sellers are organisations and the Byers are individuals. It deals about various activities of business about products and services to consumers. It applies that selling of products or services to consumers by any organisation or business over their own use internet. E. g Dell, Amazon etc. Q. NO. 3 In relation to the company, evaluate the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for E-business success in current economic downturn. ANS: To occupy high rank position in online shopping market it is very important for retailers to work hard and to analyze critical success favtors. Such factors are considered as critical because failure to excel any of them may cause considerable damage to the company. These factors include: * Develop customer’s trust: As the retailers take the responsibility of many business processes so it is very important to have customers trust over their retailers. * Developing personal websites for customers: It is very important to tailored individual customer. As for example: when you open the site of Amazon. om then it first greets personally to each individuals and offering a choice of products based upon personal preferences. * Providing a variety of a product: Customer wants varieties of each product. Therefore, online retailers must exceed to offer varieties of product to develop loyalty to the business. * Reliability and quality of the products: It is very important to provide reliable products with excellent quality too attract customers. * Competitive prices: The internet makes pricing visible to every customers so that customers can easily compares between the prices of same product from different retailers. Suitability of available information: Available information should be used in effective ways and try to make it commercially attractive. * Creating suitable payment procedure: Retailers should give more emphasis in payment method and make it easy and error free. There are also many success factors for the development and sustainability of e-business such as: * Technology infrastructure: It includes suitability of the software with other specific software systems. It should be reliable and able to perform with large numbers of members. * Income Stream: There have been various business models to explain how e-marketplace makes profit which are related to services in various markets, commission on trades etc. * Transition administration system: Software of e-business is responsible to carryout payments and contracts appropriately and helps to manage membership services. * Participants: It is generally assumed that, it is better to motivate existing suppliers and customers rather than to involve new participants. Moreover, the existence of any e-business is entirely depends upon its number of members. So that it is considered as major issues. * Fulfilment of participant needs: The success or failure of any e-business can be analysed whether or not they become able to satisfy their participants. An e-business that become able to satisfy their participants are considered as successful e-business. * Relationship management: It is very important factor to develop and maintain trust between the participants of the market place. * Security: It is very important to maintain a security in relation to financial transactions and in the confidential information.

Information Studies on Volkswagen Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Information Studies on Volkswagen - Case Study Example Concluding that the key goal of making mass customized products is to provide a product that customers wanted and when they wanted to use it. The advantage of manufacturing a product such as a Volkswagen from a customer’s perspective is that a customer enjoys the product of their choice for a long time. The other advantage is that there are no surprise prices for the customer while buying. Lastly, customers also get to buy cars that meet their needs. The downside is that the company has to sell it at higher prices which are expensive for customers. The car may at the time not be customized the way a customer wants and one has to pay for charges for having the car delivered to your destination. VW’s mass customization approach faces problems from other competitors because of the dealer because the dealer can replicate the approach used by VW to offer their own way of â€Å"designing and building your own car†. In addition, VW mass customization technique also requires the integration of information systems. Information systems at the tactical and operational level in selling play a major role on e-commerce websites because the systems allow customers to submit their selection and options through the site. The e-commerce website also contains an application where all calculations are made and sent to the client. When it comes to the role of the information system at a tactical and operational level the application and business decisions integrated at the e-commerce website are based on the profile analysis of client. The profile analysis is only enabled through customer relationship management. Prior to the implementation of the CRM, SCM and e-commerce system, I would have suggested 3 main benefits to the CIO at VW.

To what extent does islam impact women's rights in saudi arabia Essay

To what extent does islam impact women's rights in saudi arabia - Essay Example All women, in spite of their age must have guardian. The guardian has the responsibility over, the woman in several aspects of civil life. Legal responsibility of guarding the women is experienced in varying degrees and involves major aspects of the life of the female (Seiple, Hoover and Otis 277). This system is said to originate from collective conventions, including the significance of protection of the women, and from Islamic religious perspective on travel and owning a family, even though the requirements were perhaps confined to some specific situations. The guardian gave the woman the permission for marriage and separation; travel, employment; education and opening a bank account. Gender roles in Saudi culture are derived from the Islamic law and ancestral culture. The Islamic (Sharia) law is based on the teachings of Mohammed. These laws are mostly not written and leave the judges with important unrestricted power, which they habitually implement in favor of ethnic customs. Women have to cover their body parts that should not be exposed. In much of the Islamic communities, womens faces are not considered awrah (not supposed to be exposed) but in the country and some other Arabian states, the entire body is considered awrah apart from the hands and the eyes. For that reason, most women are supposed to wear the head covering full black cloak and a face-veil (Nouraie-Simone 296). Consequently, sex segregation is expected within the community. Social interaction is minimal amongst men and women. Most of the offices, banks, and institutions of higher learning in the country have separate entrances based on gender. According to the law, there ought to be physically and visually distinct sections for the males and female at all gatherings including weddings ceremonies and funerals (CQ Researcher 156). Public transport is segregated and places such as recreational centers and delight parks so that the male