Theme Of Love In The Canterbury Tales - 887 Words

Literature has played a major role in conveying messages of love throughout the centuries. There exists many tales and accounts that teach important lessons to the society. The writers have taken the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings about the society as a whole. For instance, in these Canterbury Tales, love has been painted in many different ways. This paper is going to explore the theme of love in these three chosen Canterbury Tales: the Knight’s Tale, the Wife of Bath’s Tale, and the Miller’s Tale. â€Å"The Knight’s Tale† is the first story in the Canterbury Tales. In â€Å"The Knight’s Tale†, love is portrayed like a disease that has the power to change the health and physical appearance of those whose love is not well†¦show more content†¦However, as she goes on with her tale, she begins to describe her love for money and how much she has made through holding back her existent feelings. Overall, she states that love given freely is cheap and meaningless. Further on into the text, the Wife of Bath’s speaks of how she loved Jankyn, her husband. At this time, the reader is able to depict that Wife of Bath is talking about real love to represent the feelings she has for Jankyn (Chaucer 181). One is able to finally connect the â€Å"Wife of Bath’s Tale† theme of love as it is obvious that after accumulating wealth from the many husbands, she finally settles down to marry a poor fellow, Jankyn. She finally got to be with t he man she longed for which for her depicts real love. In â€Å"The Miller’s Tale†, a complete mockery is made of love and everything it stands for. Chaucer makes courtly love seem so insensitive by talking about the characters in a very sexual manner and their deeds, â€Å"She was a primrose, and a tender chicken/ For any lord to lay upon his bed,/ Or yet for any good yeoman to wed.† (â€Å"The Miller’s Tale† 165-167). In this story, Absolon is trying hard to win Alison’s love, â€Å" The moon, when it was night, full brightly shone,/ And his guitar did Absalon them take,/ For in love-watching he’d intent to wake†¦Until he came unto the carpenter’s house†¦ (â€Å"The Miller’s Tale† 244-248). However, despite his efforts Alison never reciprocated his love, and insteadShow MoreRelatedEssay on the Knights Tale1622 Words   |  7 PagesDiscuss Questions The Knights Tale. 1. Do you admire Palamon and Arcite for sacrificing everything, including their friendship, to pursue Emily? Or, like Theseus, do you think its sort of stupid? 2. Are Palamon and Arcite two different characters, or the same character in two different bodies? 3. Why is Emily the only character whose prayer to the gods is not granted. The Canterbury Tales: The Knights Tale Theme of love and order that is combined The Knights Tale shows what happens whenRead MoreCharacteristics Of Middle English Literature1356 Words   |  6 Pagestold their stories so fluidity and included many linguistic elements that helped mold the many themes and directions the writings went in. The literature during this era reflected mostly on current social structures, class and the importance of religion. The Middle English era has had some great stories written Some important examples of literature during the middle English era are: The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, Gawain Poets life and works, and The Death of Christ by The York Mystery Play. DuringRead MoreKing Lear Love And Duty1101 Words   |  5 Pagesare two themes that seems to appear. The themes that appear are love and duty. These themes I think are seen more clearly that the other themes that appear in either of their works. In The Miller’s Tale, there is something in it that relates to the theme of love. John shows real true love because he tries everything to save Alisoun. In The Clerk’s Tale, it talks about a character named Walter who tries to fulfill his duty but failed. In Shakespeare s play, King Lear, it shows both love and dutyRead MorePotrayal of Women in The Ancient World, The Middle Ages, and The Renaissance992 Words   |  4 PagesTroy, by Paris. In The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, it is about a group of 29 people who are all on a pilgrimage to Canterbury to worship St. Thomas’s shrine; however, as Chaucer describes all these types of people not many of them are very religious and the stories they tell show the perspective and portrayal of women in this time. In Francis Petrarch’s poetry Rhymes, he describes his love and admiration for a woman who doesn’t love him back, yet Petrarch still confesses his love for her through hisRead More Canterbury Tales - Comparison of the Millers Tale and the Knights Tale1638 Words   |  7 PagesA Comparison of the Millers Tale and the Knights Tale  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   It is common when considering The Canterbury Tales to discuss how some tales seem designed to emphasise the themes of others. Two such tales are the Millers Tale2 and the Knights Tale3. At first glance these two tales seem an incongruous pairing. The Knights Tale is told by an eminent person, is an historical romance which barely escapes a tragic ending, and its themes are universal: the relationship of individuals to providenceRead MoreSex in The Canterbury Tales Essay937 Words   |  4 Pagesinstrument in The Canterbury Tales. Portraying sex as a power that women exert over men rather than the marital bond of â€Å"making love† makes evident Chaucer’s skewed views of love and marriage with underlying tones of misogyny. He expresses these views throughout the work, however, the theme of love and sex is most evident in the sub-stories of The Wife of Bath and The Miller’s Tale. Chaucer breaks the topic of sex into two basic parts: carnality and romanticism. Although carnal love is a controversialRead More Epiphanies in Joyces Dubliners and Chaucers Canterbury Tales1179 Words   |  5 Pagesthemselves or the reason behind their actions. Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales contains at least one tale that relies on an epiphany to help develop theme but it doesn’t change the tone or course of the story, it just helps to portray the true meaning of the character. The Pardoner becomes a deeper character because of his epiphany, which is what makes it important to the rest of the work. The main difference between Canterbury Tales and Joyce’s Dubliners is the change each epiphany brings to theRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By William Shakespeare1708 Words   |  7 PagesThe Canterbury Tales are told in the passage of a Pilgrimage to Canterbury. We see that these characters all interact with one another, they all have different points of view o n several topics. â€Å"The portraits [of the pilgrims] which appear in the General Prologue have a decided togetherness, that the portraits exist as parts of a unity† (Hoffman 492), Their actions and their tales should be thought about in context, who tells the tale, what is their age, what is his or her profession and how he orRead More Compare and contrast how the three male characters are presented to us913 Words   |  4 Pagesto us in The Millers Tale and consider their roles in the Fabliau. The three male characters in Chaucer’s ‘The Millers Tale’ present many of the classic themes in and genre ‘Fabliau’. In English literature there is only a small amount of these tales and half of those are Chaucer’s. While in French literature there are over 300 stories. Nicholas is presented at the start of the ‘tale’ as gentle (hende) shy and therefore trusted and experienced in passionate courtly love, we can tell from hisRead MoreChaucer s The Canterbury Tales1064 Words   |  5 PagesGeoffrey Chaucer, The Author of the Canterbury Tales, is known as the Father of English Literature and is one of the greatest English Poets of the Middle Ages. Chaucer was a soldier, a diplomat, a civil servant, and a courtier, enabling him to experience different aspects of each social ranking, which he demonstrated through his poetry. The Canterbury Tales, his most famous work, is a collection of short stories within a frame story, making for an interesting and memorable narrative about 29 pilgrims

Conflict in August Wilsons Fences and How it Affects the...

Fences, by August Wilson, is a drama that focuses on the characteristics of black life in the mid to late twentieth century and the strains of society on African Americans. Set in a small neighborhood of a big city, this play holds much conflict between a father, Troy Maxson, and his two sons, Lyons and Cory. By analyzing the sources of this conflict, one can better appreciate and understand the way the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. The first conflict in this play develops between Troy and his 34-year old son Lyons. This conflict is introduced when Lyons appears at the house on Troy?s payday to borrow 10 dollars, an occurrence that is common at the Maxson household. Although Troy knows that he will†¦show more content†¦I done spent too many years without.? Lyans, on the other hand, is part of a new ambitious generation of blacks who believe that they can make something of themselves in an opportunistic world. It is evident that Lyans believes that there is a hope for success for blacks in the world?s society. Lyans deals with the world and its struggles through his music and feels that his music gives him a sense of belonging and a reason for existence. Lyans, in contrast with his father, believes that they are ?...two different people...? and that they just have different methods of handling the world. Troy believes that Lyans is blind to the harshness of society on blacks and reacts in scrutiny to his son?s wanting 10 dollars. This conflict between Troy and Lyans emphasizes Troy?s flaw in his relationships. Troy is so worried that he is going to be taken advantage of and is so bitter because of his past experiences with whites, that he creates a ?fence? or barrier between his relationship with his family. It is evident that Lyans, who quickly pays back the 10 dollars, wants a closer relationship with his father but does not succeed due to his father?s bitter words and naive attitude. The second conflict in Fences involves Troy and his youngest son, Cory. Cory is a 17 or 18 yr. old boy who enters coming home from football practice. Troy, when seeing Cory, immediately attacks him verbally: ?...TheShow MoreRelated August Wilsons Fences - Building Fences Essay3028 Words   |  13 PagesAugust Wilsons Fences - Building Fences The first time I read August Wilsons Fences for english class, I was angry. I was angry at Troy Maxson, angry at him for having an affair, angry at him for denying his son, Cory, the opportunity for a football scholarship.I kept waiting for Troy to redeem himself in the end of the play, to change his mind about Cory, or to make up with Ruth somehow. I wanted to know why, and I didnt, couldnt understand. I had no intention of writing my research paperRead MoreAnalysis of August Wilsons Short Story Fences2029 Words   |  8 Pageswhat it means, other than life is hard (Calvert, n.d.) In so many ways Fences is such an ordinary story that its power comes from the ways in which ordinary people hear and view it. There is no doubt but that the metaphor of the fence prevails, working its way across work, family, friendship and the emotional pain of living a life literally dependent on garbage for survival. This is what Wilson wrote about in his Fences of the 1950s. In retrospect, however, it doesnt take a lot to put some ofRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Fences 1798 Words   |  8 Pages Symbol of Fences: Defying Reality August Wilson’s Fences, is a dramatic play that spotlights on the attributes of black life in the mid to late twentieth century and emphasizes the strains of society on African Americans. Focusing on the lives of normal African Americans, the author also recognizes the significance of the family ties and how they relate to the society. He mentions symbols such as sports and fences in the story to relate to many topics mainly allRead MoreEssay on Fences, by August Wilson1097 Words   |  5 Pagescontext in which it is used. The play Fences by August Wilson, takes place during the late 1950’s through to 1965, a period of time when the fights against segregation are barely blossoming results. The main protagonist, Troy Maxson is an African American who works in the sanitation department; he is also a responsible man whose thwarted dreams make him prone to believing in self-created illusions. Wilsons most apparent intention in the play ‘Fences’, is to show ho w racial segregation creates socialRead MoreAugust Wilson3685 Words   |  15 PagesAugust Wilson: Poet, Playwright, and So Much More August Wilson is a man who, outside of the theatrical world, is not very well known. Yet there are those, like Paul Carter Harrison, who would rank him in the same artistic continuum as Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, and Thelonius Monk.1 When I began research on August Wilson I asked myself, so what? So what if hes won awards and recognition? What has he done to merit them? What makes this man important enough to do a research paperRead MoreFences Racism Essay1734 Words   |  7 PagesBy citing the works of August Wilson and Susan Koprince we can try to understand how racism affected the black people of the era and how that affected the way they were to others. In the early 1900s, racism was prominent and wasnt sugarcoated at all. Negros had to deal with several obstacles around this period because of discrimination in certain activities they wanted to participate in. These actions effected many negros because it forced some of them to look at the world with hatred and it limitedRe ad MoreAnalysis Of `` Fences `` A Generational Story About Troy Maxson, The Son Of A Black Son1845 Words   |  8 Pagesdynamic period of change, August Wilson wrote the play Fences, a generational story about Troy Maxson, the son of a black sharecropper father. Highlighted by the play’s title, a particularly important motif of Wilson’s work is the concept of â€Å"fences† regarding how they both â€Å"trap things in† and â€Å"keep things out†. As both Troy and his wife Rose have different conceptions of fences regarding the land they enclose, the trapping in of family, and the keeping out of â€Å"death†, their fence represents their ownRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesBenson, Stephen Brier, and Roy Rosenzweig Also in this series: Paula Hamilton and Linda Shopes, eds., Oral History and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian and Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left

Analysis of a Possible Merger Between Vodafone and Verizon Communication Free Essays

string(242) " be helpful foe Verizon wireless future but they also think merger would be more complex because of competition between UK and USA businesses compared to the other option such as separation between Verizon communication and Verizon wireless\." Introduction: Mobile evaluation is only three decade old but there are major changes been seen year after year. There are more than 5 Billion mobile users all over the world which is served by different service provider. The major names in UK are:- Vodafone Orange Three T-Mobile O2 The services include voice calling, Internet service, multimedia messaging, video conferencing, fixed line internet etc. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of a Possible Merger Between Vodafone and Verizon Communication or any similar topic only for you Order Now Vodafone Group In 1982 Racal Electronics won a private sector UK cellular licence and they set up a new network although The first call was made by using Vodafone service is few minutes passed midnight on 1st January 1985, and by 1987 Vodafone was known as largest telecommunication company in the world. They are the first in business to launch Vodapage which provides 80% of UK population paging service. By year 2010 Vodafone proved their significant global presence over 30 countries and over 40 partners markets in Europe and worldwide. The Group operates in three geographic regions Europe, Africa and Central Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East and has an investment in Verizon Wireless in the United States. By market capitalization, Vodafone Group plc. Is one of the largest companies providing service to more than 500 million users in Europe and worldwide. The group’s main principal activity is to provide mobile telecommunication service to mobile users and operate a fixed line services for business and offices in privet and government sector. Vodafone has tried and retain their leadership in telecommunication market by providing better value, better product, and services in Europe and worldwide .Their global strategy is to embrace voice, data and internet service and to focus on satisfying customer’s needs and for that they had invested large amount for developing and launching new services for customers such as free mobile application, money transfer service, fixed and individual line internet service, Vodafone 360 etc. Vodafone group’s objective is to achieve and maintain a position of dominance in its markets in worldwide .The company has maintained a strategy of focusing on global mobile communication and providing network to allow its customers to communicate using mobile product and services. Their growth strategy is Attract, service and retain high value customers Continued geographic expansion Provision of new products and services to support growth in revenues from both voice and data. http://online.vodafone.co.uk/dispatch/Portal/appmanager/vodafone/wrp?_nfpb=true_pageLabel=template09pageID=PAV_0015 Vodafone and Verizon Wireless Merger Vodafone group has able to establish his network and on several continent including Europe, Asia, Africa, north and South America. Joint venture with Hutchison Essaar is their one of the biggest investment. Vodafone group had developed their business successfully all over the world apart from America. They had entered to USA in 1999 merger with air touch communication and later in 2003 they also invested in Verizon wireless in which they hold 45% but still after all these they are not able to get success which they achieved in other countries. Verizon communication who owns the 55% shares in Verizon wireless is formed in 2000 mergers between two biggest companies in USA Bell Atlantic and GTE. The merger also made Verizon wireless a largest wireless network provider in USA and after that they had managed well to involve in good deal such as acquisition of Alltel Corporation who ranks eighth largest wireless network provider in USA with approx. 800000 customers. Currently Verizon communication owns most of the shear in company and management decisions in Verizon wireless. Ownership Issue Vodafone group has successful business in UK and Europe but even after 10 years in USA telecom Market they still not able to expand their business. After investing in Verizon wireless they are trying to grow in USA but they are still waiting to achieve that. At one stage there was a persistent speculation of possible merger between these two companies which will be helpful for the future of both the companies. There is huge battle going on these companies for ownership of Verizon wireless and both companies had shown interest buying out the rest of the shares. The USA telecom market is growing rapidly and with every opportunity these two companies try to be on top of each other which are one of the reasons behind delaying the possible merger between Vodafone and Verizon wireless. After financial downturn CEO of Verizon communication advised Vodafone to sell their shares in Verizon wireless which also shows the business environment between these two organisations is unstable. As research figure shows that if Vodafone and Verizon wireless obtain full merger in future the company could worth ?120 billion .Vodafone group had a market value of ?77 billion and Verizon communication $86 billion (?57billion). Vodafone group had been expecting merger between two companies should be 60:40 in Verizon wireless but the partner company is not agreed on these terms. Although with less market value Verizon wireless generates significant and continuous cash flow. They had paid dividends to his shareholder which is Vodafone group till 2005 but after they st op explaining reason is to reducing a down debts of the company. As per Bloomberg report there are three possibilities could be seen between this two organisations 1) Full merger of these two companies 2) Verizon wireless would start paying dividend to Vodafone 3) One of the partners to sell their share either to each other or to the third party. Many of the city business analyses have seen potential in these companies and they think they should solve their problems and issues in Verizon wireless which could worth ?40 billion. Royal bank of Scotland one of the largest organisations in banking sector in UK suggested that Vodafone should either merge with Verizon communication or they should sell their stake in Verizon wireless for better profitability. Vodafone CEO Vittorio Coalo also thinks the same way and he said merger is the best alternative to solve the problems in Verizon wireless than other. They had discussed number of options earlier in 2010 which could be helpful foe Verizon wireless future but they also think merger would be more complex because of competition between UK and USA businesses compared to the other option such as separation between Verizon communication and Verizon wireless. You read "Analysis of a Possible Merger Between Vodafone and Verizon Communication" in category "Essay examples" http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b1d3df72-43e7-11dd-842e-0000779fd2ac.html#axzz1KDYiXA2E http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/90bb3ae4-3ab5-11df-b6d5-00144feabdc0,s01=1.html#axzz1KDYiXA2E http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/mar/07/newmedia.citynews Business environment with USA Partner External environment Vodafone group is facing huge competition from his American partner and their rivals in business such as ATT wireless. Verizon communication had a joint venture with Vodafone in Verizon wireless putting pressure to sell their 45% stake in company. Expected merger between Vodafone and Verizon wireless is still on hold but in competitive telecom market partner group is bearing down Vodafone. The group operates their business from United Kingdom and provides services more than 27 countries in 5 continents. The group 80% of revenue is comes from their UK business but existence in emerging markets like India makes their position strong in telecom sector. Verizon communication is trying continuously to buy the Vodafone stake in company and ruled on Verizon wireless. In 2006 both group had played down ownership battle for Verizon wireless but they failed. Since 2000 when Vodafone group was new to US telecom market and Verizon communication was newly formed company had pooled out their US wi reless assets. Both are the largest wireless network providers in world had suffered from periodic tension. Mr Seidenbeg CEO of Verizon communication said in an interview that he would like 100% of earning from Verizon wireless because they are doing 100% work. In 2008 business analysts reported the Vodafone stake value in Verizon wireless is been increased by $10 billion to $60 and even after 2005 they had not received a dividends from Verizon wireless it seems that group thinking positive about the merger with Verizon communication. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c20625be-44a7-11de-82d6-00144feabdc0,s01=2.html#axzz1KDYiXA2E http://www.ft.com/cms/s/b1d3df72-43e7-11dd-842e-0000779fd2ac,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2Fb1d3df72-43e7-11dd-842e-0000779fd2ac.html_i_referer=#axzz1KDYiXA2E PESTAL Analysis Political Vodafone group had always focused of customer satisfaction for that they had shifted their business approach towards customer benefits. They had moved on from unit pricing to unit based tariff. Vodafone group had invested in United States to explore their business and make more profit from highly developed market. The group outsource their US business from outside and so they had considered different international laws in order to explore their business in other countries. They had considered the tread restriction which is also important in political factor. Recently communication commission in USA made attempt to bring telecommunication sector under government oversight more specifically put under government regulation but apparently US court denied this appeal for the D.C. circuit ruling which regards information service underlying of telephone rules. Economical Economical factors are interconnected with political factors which might affect the development of the company. The economic factors include growth rate, exchange rates, interest rates and inflation. These factors are pretty important which gives right and accurate cost to the customer so that everybody can aware of their product. During the investment in Verizon group Vodafone group had received returns in form of dividend till 2005 but after that they stopped paying explain reason to reducing the lower debt. In 2009 Verizon communication used Verizon wireless $5 billion to pay off their debts. Vodafone and Verizon wireless have 87.8 million retail customers all over America. Vodafone group owns 45% share and both the partner companies are made compelling amount of stock in telecom infrastructure class. According to Bernstein Report there are four option Verizon communication have to pay the internal borrowing which are either they could rebuilt their debt level or they could just buy Vodafone 45% share which could be more expensive. Another option they have is to start paying dividends to Vodafone or a merger with partner group. Social factors Social factors are very important for the development of the company more than any other. This is because social factors have more impact on customers regarding to the product and services. Vodafone group had invested in social factors and to make them effective they are mainly focusing on education, enterprise, health and welfare. The group runs several charitable trusts in USA and Europe which is making positive contribution to the local communities in specific projects which are run by Vodafone and Verizon group. The group had also made investment in youth projects to draw a traditional philosophy. In 2001 they had managed to raise ?3 million donation through these welfare which helped youth people all over the world to take informed decisions and choices. The group also founded Peace Parks international foundation which supports in sustainable economic development conservation of biodiversity and regional peace. Both groups also a part of voluntary service champagne to fight aga inst HIV and AIDS and other deceases like Cancer. Technological factors Technological factors focuses on research and development activities which includes development of new technology and services. Mobile phone industry is growing rapidly a great deal of technological changes and development is continued to be seen. Vodafone group offers variety of mobile phones with latest technologies to their customers. 3g technology is already helping companies to increase their sales revenues. However Vodafone has brought additional responsibility to protect young people from inappropriate content, gambling and violent games. Environmental Factors Environmental factors also important in successful business although telecom industries impact on environment is very small as compare to other industries however these companies have to work on to reduce it . Vodafone group has started CO2 ring to reduce energy consumption which will produce less carbon. Company estimated during year 2008 their business in Europe, Australia, NZ had produced 1.23 million CO2 and they aims with this ring they will reduce emission by 50% by 2020. Vodafone group is also worked in mobile phone disposals in which they helped to developed support industry to minimize phone disposals. They also had developed guidelines to reduce greenhouse gas emission and to monitoring progress. Legal factors Legal factors are very important for any organisation to form a business and it’s also important for organisation to follow them. Vodafone group have their business all over the world and throughout their business journey they had worked as per the laws and restrictions. However in some issues they had gone beyond government regulation while working in competitive market. Group also believes to retain the position in market companies must exceed the legal and industry self regulation. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/apr/22/vodafonegroup.telecoms http://www.vodafone.com/content/dam/vodafone/about/sustainability/reports/2000-01_vodafonecr.pdf http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_809fa95b-31a9-5f14-aa3f-c3c97cf20cb6.html http://www.iese.edu/research/pdfs/OP-0155-E.pdf http://www.bignerds.com/papers/17537/Pestel-Analysis-Of-Vodafone/ Internal Environment Verizon wireless works under management board of Vodafone group and Verizon communication. Although it’s true that Vodafone is included in board decisions but still they don’t have full control because of fewer stakes in firm. It’s been seen several times when Verizon communication opposed the Vodafone decision. Both companies had shown interests in buying Verizon wireless not ready for any settlement which shows their business instability. It all started in 2000 when Vodafone and Verizon communication bided for air touch communication and apparently Vodafone group won the bid which helped them to enter into USA telecom market. In March 1995 US cellular AB PCS auctioned for spectrum in 1900 MHz range in which Air touch USA, Bell Atlantic, Nynex and US west formed their joint venture called Prime co communication. Later in 1999 when Vodafone merged with Air touch Partner Company approached Air touch Vodafone about the merging wireless communication (air touch Voda fone, bell electronics, prime co) to form a Verizon Wireless but due to FCC regulation prime co and Verizon territories and region was split. When Vodafone merged with air touch CEO of Vodafone Air touch Arun Sarin was involved in various other formations of partnership’s and technology dimensions as well. Sarin was also involved in decision to use CDMA technology over GSM in root of Verizon wireless network but Verizon communication opposed to this decision specifying CDMA technology to use on Vodafone network. Both the group had formal meeting about the company expansion it seems very often when these come to any mutual decision. In 2004 Vodafone considered to buying ATT wireless Verizon communication turn out the deal to take over joint venture. Vodafone however managed well to gain profit from their business and Verizon wireless also started paying dividends in 2009 and continued to gain its value. Michel Porters Diamond Model Michel Porters diamond model form competitive advantage helps to understand the comparative position of the organisation in global competition. The model helps to measure company performance over geographic regions. Rivalry, Firm strategy, structure Vodafone group business strategy is to meet social needs of the customers which create opportunity to increase profit. Vodafone group also made consideration in developing product and services which meet the specific needs of customer in local market. The group had set their goals to be leading communication provider but huge battle with competitor and instable business in USA they are facing problem to keep up the leading position. Vodafone group runes their business all over the world and major parts covered by group are in UK and Europe. Their UK business produce 80% of revenue were they are facing competition from O2, Orange, and T-mobile. Were in USA they are competing by their partner firm who is second largest in USA and who owns most of the Verizon company stake. Verizon wireless have their business all over the America who competing against ATT who recently announced merger deal with T-mobile USA which made them strongest and leader in US telecom wireless network. Demand Conditions Demand condition plays crucial role in porter’s diamond model in business. Vodafone group have successful business in UK and Europe because they are able to evaluate demands and expectations and to fulfil them. In late 90s telecom sector was focused on providing fixed line services and in early 21 century wireless technology was introduced who gains popularity in very quick session. So as demand changed mobile companies are grown in telecom market. Vodafone group also considered customers demand they introduced I-Phone in 2010 and in first week they sold more than 400000 cells. In USA also they sold I-phone through their joint venture company and group was aware of the demand but they did not imagined the sales figure could go so high were demand was more and supply was less and therefore it is very important in business to measure demand in customer satisfaction point . Related Supporting Industries Related supporting industries are very important in relation to the grown of business. Vodafone group is working with few other companies on their territory. Vodafone group have been supported by air touch communication their partnership with Verizon communication is also somehow helping them to grow in US telecom market. Vodafone group also developed good relationship with mobile phone producing companies which is helping them to fulfil customer demands. In 2010 they made partnership with Apple to launch I-Phone which was great hit. The group also helped to develop mobile disposal industries they think disposal of mobile phone is very big problem and with their help this industries trying reduce this problem and help environment. They are also working with few other companies in telecom market to reduce CO2. Factor conditions Vodafone group had always looked for the opportunity in other countries to grow their business. They had considered emerging countries and made investment. Competitive environment also affects factors condition customers always have choices to choose between fixed lines or mobile its companies have to attract them to be in competition. http://incarnationrocks.com/2010/11/14/information-about-the-history-and-evolution-of-vodafone-as-a-companyhistory-of-vodafonevodafone-history/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20055922-266.html http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-02-01-iphone01_ST_N.htm http://www.vodafone.com/content/annualreport/annual_report09/exec_summary/op_environment_and_strategy.html Recommendation and Conclusion Vodafone group has got successes in America but their business and relationship with partners is not stable. Vodafone group had already shown their co-operation while developing their business in US telecom market and working with Verizon communication. I think Vodafone group should try for merger with Verizon communication to obtain and retain their leading position. Verizon had a control over management decision and they had paid return in form of dividends to Vodafone until 2005 but after that they stopped paying explain reason is to reduction of lower debts and for almost four years Vodafone group did not received any returns for their stake. USA telecom market is moving rapidly so buyout of Verizon wireless or 50:50 partnerships could be a very good option for Vodafone although both options are never opened for group. I think they should try to maintain good relationship with partner group for the better future of Verizon wireless. Currently Verizon wireless is a second largest wireless network provider in America which was takeover by ATT in 2010 in multimillion dollar merger with T- mobile USA. Verizon communication should pay the dividend to their partner group in future or they could try to buy Vodafone stake in Verizon wireless which are quite expensive. The company currently serves nearly 93 million customers all over the America which shows the strong position and settled business of the Verizon wireless in American market. But recent controversial business environment between partner group could affect the market value and shares of Verizon wireless. Vodafone group had experience in managing business in different countries so they can be useful for Verizon wireless in subject of developing new products and services, entering new markets. The recent merger between ATT had already affected the positions of Verizon wireless which also knocked them out from top position to second and so if the new group’s strategy is to pay off then Verizon wireless will suffer in business. http://blogs.investors.com/click/index.php/home/60-tech/1656-would-dividend-payments-kill-talk-of-verizon-vodafone-merger http://incarnationrocks.com/2010/11/14/information-about-the-history-and-evolution-of-vodafone-as-a-companyhistory-of-vodafonevodafone-history/ Appendix 1.SWOT analysis on Vodafone To identify company’s internal and external strength and weakness swot analysis is very important. Strengths Vodafone group have their business all over the world and they have ability to grow in many countries. Vodafone group have nearly 500 million customers in nearly 40 countries and 5 continent. They have very strong platform which gives them power to work in RD to innovate new products and devices in subject to the growth of the market. Group’s biggest strength is their customers. They had managed well to maintain good relationship with their service users. Good decision makers and efficient people on the board is also Vodafone group’s strongest link. Weakness Vodafone group’s biggest weakness is the capital expenditure over fixed tangible assets. In past five years their average depreciation charge been exceeded by 58% which also suggest that group might have cash shortage in future. Vodafone group has been spending lot of money on research and developing new product and services. So if the product fails in market group could face heavy loss. Legal issues with partner companies are also their business weakness Opportunity New innovations and technologies and services are expected to be major hit in telecom market. Vodafone group always try to bring new services for their users which will use by them for data transfer, calling and internet. Mobile phone industry is growing very rapidly were persuasion to have at list 1 mobile gives opportunity to mobile companies to increase their size and share in market. If Vodafone merge with their US partner will give them opportunity to establish and make their position stronger in US market. Threats Vodafone group work in developing new technologies and services and if something goes wrong with product it will leave company with heavy loss. As industry grows mobile companies have to take special care so that no one can misuse the technology and at some point they also have to accept the decisions made by social or political reasons. Competition from other companies who serves same product and services. 2) Porter’s generic strategies Relating to the SWOT analysis, Porter (1980) identified three generic strategies for competitive advantage, which can represent a distinctive strength of a company. These are shown in the diagram below: Vodafone use the cost leadership strategy and differentiation but do not adopt the focus strategy as they do not focus on a niche market. Vodafone needs to compete on a cost leadership strategy because number portability means that people will move to whoever can provide a reliable service the cheapest and by becoming the lowest cost producer in the industry through economies of scales allows Vodafone to compete on price with other producers to earn higher unit profits which in turn achieves competitive advantage through driving down costs. Vodafone also differentiate themselves through providing customers with added value through their product features and quality that are unique and different from their competitors. Marketing strategy In order to retain market leadership, Vodafone has established a set of marketing objectives. These are to: †¢ Obtain new customers †¢ Keep the customers it already has †¢ Introduce new technologies and services †¢ Continue to develop the Vodafone brand. Vodafone is achieving these objectives by continually updating their range of phones and services offered to keep ahead of its competitors. Vodafone also communicates with its customers to keep them well informed of the benefits of all Vodafone products. Marketing mix The marketing mix consists of many different factors, which are grouped together into four main categories: product, place, price and promotion. †¢ Product Vodafone’s products have many different features which provides customers with opportunities to chat, play games, send and receive pictures, change ring tones, receive information about travel and sporting events, obtain billing information and view video clips and send video messages. †¢ Place Vodafone UK operates over 300 of its own stores it also sells through independent retailers e.g. Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4 U. Customers are able to see and handle products they are considering buying and staff are on hand to ensure customers’ needs are matched with the right product and to explain the different options available to them. †¢ Price Vodafone offer various pricing structures to suit different customer groups, monthly price plans are available as well as prepay options and phone users can top up their phone online. Also Vodafone gives NECTAR reward points for every one pound spent on calls, text messages, picture messages and ring tones. †¢ Promotion Vodafone has worked with icons in the past such as David Beckham to communicate its brand values they use advertising on TV, billboards, magazines and in other media outlets to reach large audiences and spread their brand image and message effectively. Their stores have special offers, promotions and point of sale posters to attract customers inside the stores to buy and Vodafone actively develop good public relations through sending press releases to national newspapers and magazines to explain new products and ideas. Also relating to the product aspect of the marketing mix, the Boston matrix represents the company’s portfolio according to where the products stand regarding market share and growth. Bibliography Caroline Booth (2010) Strategic procurement (electronic resource through Anglia Ruskin library) organisation suppliers and supply chain for competitive advantage, London Philadelphia New Delhi page 26. David L. Rainey (2010) Enterprise- wide strategic management (electronic resource through Anglia Ruskin library) Cambridge university press page 70 J. Brits and G.H.K. Botha ,M.E. Herselman, Tshwane Conceptual Framework for Modelling Business Capabilities Retrieved from http://proceedings.informingscience.org/InSITE2007/InSITE07p151-170Brits297.pdf Claire Capon Understanding Strategic Management (2008) Pearson education ltd (page 33-53) retrieved from http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BvD4FtMWAloCpg=PA27dq=White+C+Strategic+Managementhl=enei=xkG2TfHEOpHP4wb4odT0Dwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=book-thumbnailresnum=1ved=0CEEQ6wEwAA#v=onepageq=White%20C%20Strategic%20Managementf=false Robert M. Grant (2007) Contemporary Strategy Analysis John Wiley and Sons (page 271-322) retrieved from http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zFkXk7KbM-kCpg=PA148dq=Grant+R+M+(2007),+Contemporary+Strategy+Analysis,+Blackwellhl=enei=YES2TY6YNs7j4wbp_qQJsa=Xoi=book_resultct=book-thumbnailresnum=1ved=0CEUQ6wEwAA#v=onepageq=Grant%20R%20M%20(2007)%2C%20Contemporary%20Strategy%20Analysis%2C%20Blackwellf=false Website www.ft.com www.dailytelegraph.com www.gurdian.co.uk www.vodafone.co.uk www.verizonwireless.com www.bigneard.com www.academic.mintal.com How to cite Analysis of a Possible Merger Between Vodafone and Verizon Communication, Essay examples

River in Siddhartha free essay sample

Siddhartha many times in the book, and has many meanings. In the first chapter, Siddhartha visits the river to bath and to make holy sacrifices. â€Å"The sun browned his slender shoulders on the river bank, while bathing at the holy ablutions, at the holy sacrifices. †(pg3) When Siddhartha left Govinda behind, Siddhartha meets with the river again, and crossing this river led him to a new beginning. â€Å"During the night he slept among the boats on the river, and early in the morning, before the first customers arrived in the shop, he had his beard shaved off by the barber’s assistant. He also had his hair combed and rubbed with fine oil. Then he went to bathe in the river. †(pg52) Moving into the town on the other side of the river, Siddhartha got caught up with having money, just like everyone else in the town. â€Å"He was not long in Kamaswami’s house, when he was already taking a part in his master’s business. We will write a custom essay sample on River in Siddhartha or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Daily, however, at the hour she invited him, he visited the beautiful Kamala, in handsome clothes, in fine shoes and soon he also brought her presents. (pg66) After getting tired of the materialistic lifestyle, Siddhartha crossed the river again, he lets go of all the memories he had on the other side of the river. He started to let go, by giving away his fine clothes. So crossing the river again gave Siddhartha a fresh start. â€Å"Will you accept these clothes from me, which I find a nuisance? I should prefer it if you would give me some old clothes and keep me here as your assistant, or rather your apprentice, for I must learn how to handle the boat. †(pg103) Staying with the ferryman, next to the river, was one step closer for Siddhartha to find Nirvana. Whenever Siddhartha meets with the river, it represents rebirth and forgiveness. In this novel, they use the river as a symbol for the stream of life and unity. When Vasudeva teaches Siddhartha to listen carefully for one last time, he hears voices which he always heard before, but this time they sound different, he heard the whole of a thousand sounds, the sound of Om. The river taught Siddhartha unity, that how he left his father and his father was hurt, Siddhartha’s son left him, which left him hurt by the loss. And that the agony is experienced again and again throughout a lifetime.

Why Investing is Important an Example by

Why Investing is Important Investment is not different from gambling. Its concepts revolve around taking risk of your own possession for the hope to gain more out of it. Investing deals with money-making and smart and interesting ways of making money. It requires great decision-making skills. Need essay sample on "Why Investing is Important" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Why should I mind such an investment? Some professionals who earn huge salaries in the present times might ask this question. They think that someday, in the future when they would be already retired in their own jobs, their social security pensions would support their living. But in reality, to somewhat support someones necessities would be a big thing to think about and should not just be relied to the help that would be given by such pension agencies. That means that relying to the benefits would not promise a comfortable life in the future. Security is the most obvious reason why someone should invest. No one can tell you when your car would retire, your house would be ruined by a tornado, your daughter would catch flu, and every other unfortunate thing that require big money just to be surpassed. And when these things happen, you would not be left crying in misery or wasted just because you did not suppose those things to happen. Preparing money from your savings might be a great idea than just to pray that those adverse things would not happen. In modern times, to easily earn money in no time is a prerequisite to live comfortably, unless you are born to be supernaturally lucky that you can sweat diamonds. Its a must that every person should always think about. Why worry investing? Investing is not that difficult at all. Investing is just allotting funds for little money-generating endeavors that would also be interesting for you. An axiom says, You should not work hard for money but the other way around. References: Mousseau, Jessica. (Mar. 03, 2007). Why Invest. Retrieved June 12, 2007, from Associated Content: The Peoples Media Company. Cunningham, Kolb and Cunningham, Rose Mary. (1991). Intro to Investments. Kolb Publishing Company Fisher, Kenneth L. (1984). Super Stocks. Dow-Jones Irwin. Fisher Philip A. (1980). Develping Investment as Philosophy. The Financial Analysts Research Foundation

Concept of Niche Marketing

Concept of Niche Marketing Introduction Niche in French directly translates to nest. Niche marketing thus has the connotation of being cagey meaning it’s focus is on a minute portion of the larger product and service market whose needs are not met in a satisfactory manner (Groucutt, 2004), (Armstrong, et al., 2007).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Concept of Niche Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Most businesses, that are market leaders nowadays, began with an interest in serving a particular small composition of people and developed into bigger outlets with improvements in their products (Moore and Paree, 2009). Niche marketing, however, does not mostly apply to big companies but rather medium to small enterprises that produce specialty products not available in the mainstream markets (Dalgic, 2006). The market size can be geographically chosen, targeting an age group or ethnic community or it can also be a variation of a com mon product not produced by any other firms. There is no difference between identifying potential business ventures with identifying niche markets. In fact, most people who have successfully ventured into the niche market business do so accidentally. The guaranteed way to success lies in persistence and recognition of vacuums in product and service markets. For anyone starting a business, there are several factors they have to consider. First, there is a need to identify the particular niche market you intend to serve and its characteristics. Secondly, one should ensure that the business they are venturing into rhymes with the specific professional goals they harbour. Another factor that should be considered is resources at hand and those that lack and need acquiring. Lastly, one should develop a business plan that details extensively the way they intend to start, run and market the business. A description of the business, an analysis of the niche market, a mission statement, strate gies and objectives of the business, plan of marketing, description of operations, expected sale figures, risk analysis, a financial plan and the expected source of assistance are all details that should be considered and detailed in a business plan.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Case study In the United States, there are immense opportunities that are associated with agriculture guaranteed by the diversity that the population possesses, in terms of the different cultures, hence different staple diets. For example, food that is the staple diet for African-Americans in Harlem is not the same as that consumed in China town, both of these areas being in New York City. Quality, adaptability and novelty are the key factors that determine success in the agricultural industry. As niche marketing is mostly done by small to medium enterprises for a specific market, we wil l discuss Rockridge farm in Seattle, US (DePhelps et al., 2005). The farm is about 41acres in size and specializes in the growth of Asian pears, Japanese and Chinese cucumbers, hothouse tomatoes and bamboo. These four are their specialty crops. However they also grow wasabi, ginseng, lettuces, Asian greens, shiso and a range of over fifty other niche market products that target the Asian community in the region. Their products are marketed using a wide range of methods and they have a solid business plan that they follow strictly. They have also ventured into many different kinds of farm products and this strategy is aimed at spreading risks. Rockridge farm is structured as a sole proprietorship enterprise and is owned by Wade Benett. He has created a model that allows him to market his products using a wide range of avenues. This, he says is aimed at reducing the over reliance on a single market, which may be counterproductive. His products are sold through farmers’ markets, farm stands, grocery stores and restaurants. He began by selling their products in the Seattle farmers’ markets as an experiment and has since diversified in a period of the last 20 years. Having built a good reputation from his top quality products, he has the luxury of choosing which market to serve and he prefers the markets that sell food products only; unlike those that sell both food products and crafts. This, he claims, is because he likes his customers to be solely focused on his products so that they are in good quality when they are purchased by the eventual consumers. He adds that he likes to reduce damage resulting from over handling of his products and prefers markets that are well regulated with clearly laid boundaries for engagement and with fair competition.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Concept of Niche Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are two permanently employed staff mem bers at his farm that are charged with marketing. Together with his wife, wade monitors profitability of his operations while gauging customer satisfaction and the competition. Uniqueness, he claims has been the reason he remains competitive coupled by the fact that he deals with products that are not in oversupply. Wade has also been marketing his products to specific restaurants and most of the other restaurants access his products at the farmers’ markets. There are also those who request that specific products be grown for them, which he sells at a retail price. The products are identified by the farm name and hence a reputation has been built out of this. Most repeat customers in big restaurants are attracted to the food because they know it is grown locally, with care and in the best conditions. Selling to restaurants is more stringent with more boundaries unlike marketing to farmers’ markets. There are more expected in terms of delivery times and the quality and quantity required. However, with this increase in expectations come better responses about product quality. With restaurants, wade argues that he could not afford to fail to deliver in case there is crop failure. He thus asserts that in order to avoid this, he is forced to over plant which curtails production of other products hence a reduction in expected sales figures. Wade markets his products through community supported agriculture. Members of his community usually pay a subscription fee and are given priority whenever they require a product. He has however capped this subscription to only 21 people as he points out the fact that more subscriptions could lead to delivery failure whenever a product is in short supply and hence loss of customers and a negative reputation. Customers with these subscriptions can pick their products either on-farm or in the farmers’ market. Of all the families he has accorded subscriptions, 90 percent have one spouse being of Asian descent and are in a high income bracket.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The program is labour intensive as products have to be packaged specifically for these clients. He also points to the fact that this program is not as profitable as his other ventures but says that since the subscribers pay for the products during the month of April, he is capable of accurately crafting a budget during this otherwise slow period. Another avenue for marketing the products is with the use of farm stands. This entails displaying his products on his neighbours’ farm stands and it gives him the exposure needed for his products and also adds to his diversification policy. He says that due to insurance liabilities and expense in logistics, he stopped operating his own stand and preferred other people’s as it was ultimately cheaper and boosted his products sales. Displaying his products, which are labelled with his farm name, on other farms’ stands helped market his products and build a reputation. He has, however, decreased the number of stands he sell s his products from; to four, as he says that operating from many stands floods the market and this could drive prices down. There is also the intrinsic value of selling through other people as they benefit financially from the sales. This is part of community building that Wade takes pride in. Grocery stores also market Wade’s products and nearly 50 percent of his total production is sold through this avenue. He sells through â€Å"Mom and Pop† stores that are primarily frequented by Asians as well as in Seattle’s international district. It was illegal, several years back, to import fresh bamboo shoots and hence a large untapped market for them was available, as they comprise the Asian staple diet. It is now legal to import bamboo shoots but Wade says that this has not stunted his sales in the product as he had already carved a reputation for himself. As a last result, Wade frequently sells to distributors although he claims it does not please him as he cannot control what wholesalers do to his products. The figure below shows Gross Income from Sales, 2003  iversification as a Strategy in the Business. Diversification as a Strategy in the Business Rockridge farm markets its products through a number of different channels. The major factor that makes this diversification model successful is cost cutting. The farm saves on transportation costs and also on delivery. It is possible to avail the products to different outlets at the same time. They also use the same packaging to deliver to the different markets. Where uncertainties occur in the market causing prices to go down, the firm is somewhat cushioned against excessive losses in comparison to other businesses that take all their products to wholesalers. Wade avoids advertising as he says it is unnecessary because his niche market is not that large (Bose, 2010). He however gets published at least once every month on the local newspaper, magazine articles and also through letters to the editor. The greatest tool for his success in promoting his product comes from his many years of consistently availing to customers top quality products. He, on occasion, requests feedback from his customers and interrogates them on how they came to learn about the farm. Most people get to know about his farm since his packaging is unique and it bears the brand name which has acquired a good reputation. Grocery stores focus on products that have a long shelf life and look good on the outside which according to Wade are tasteless. He however recognizes that those products generate more money for store owners (Economist, 2006). The people that care about taste are particularly home owners and restaurants that are judged according to the quality of the meal. These are the people that Rockrigde is interested in and strives to keep loyal. Marketing Strategies versus Production Techniques Rockridge emphasizes good customer relations which are reflected right from the production stage. The re is reduced usage of chemicals on the farm and use of sustainable techniques that are fundamental to the longevity of the farming practice. Other practices aimed at building confidence around their brands include not raising animals that may increase the risk of pathogen contamination and encouraging customers to visit their farm frequently in order to understand the mode of operations first hand. Wade further explains that he has never held any Food Alliance certificates but rather depends on the reputation he has built by being in the market for product promotion. Growth of the various exotic and lower return crops is both labour intensive and engages extensive research on the best practices. There are many factors considered that make the difference between good and bad products. In order to consistently produce the best products, Wade has adopted the best practices that include possession of agricultural know how which focuses on the optimum conditions needed by every crop gro wn, at different stages of growth and during the diverse seasons in a year. Since 1992, the farm has been making decent profits and not once did it incur a loss. The gross sales from all markets have been steadily growing each year. The plan that Wade has is to increase his markets by one or two each year so that he consistently gets returns on his investments. He attributes his current state to the reception he has received by diversifying and by focusing on the customer. He has also endeavoured into other Asian cultural practices that go beyond diet in a bid to strengthening his relations with the community since they are his primary target. Wade continues to experiment with different crops in order to remain profitable. He has, in the same light, dropped some of the products he used to produce when their reception diminished. The factor that determines whether he farms a specific type of crop or not is whether the customer needs it and is willing to pay a premium for it. Another factor he considers is whether the product elicits interest from him or not. He says that he would not like to farm a crop he does not care for. In order to reduce wastage of products that are over flooded in the market, Wade has invested in equipment that juices certain fruits e.g. pears that are popular but also common. This is another source of revenue that he has ventured into. The farm acquired a license, 1n 2004, meant for the production of hard cider and vinegars. This made it possible for the conversion of lower value plants into high value end products. When prices for pears rapidly decreased in 2003, he juiced them adding raspberries into the juice and sold it at a premium and this proved to be very successful. He points out the fact that, for any business to grow and remain profitable, it must consistently adapt its products to the niche market (Joshi, 2005). This has been very essential at Rockridge as it has helped the business stay afloat even in the most adverse condi tions. Impeccable record keeping, constant involvement and consultation with staff members and experts have assisted Wade’s business immensely. Additionally, his close contact and involvement in the business on a daily basis has also played a major part in its success. He forecasts his sales trends for even up to two years while training a keen eye on other market factors. He can know if and when there is going to be a flood in the market for a particular product and thus predicts the tanking of prices. This information he acquires by making sure he knows what his competitors (Ries and Trout, 2006) have planted and when those crops will be in the market. Conclusion For Wade, his business is his lifestyle which he then translates to a source of revenue. He has passion for the work he is engaged in and this, he says, is what makes the difference between success and failure. He has segmented his market by Geography as he serves a small part of the larger Seattle market. His mark et has also been selected using ethnicity as a factor reflected by the fact that his primary clients are of Asian descent. This has made him focused solely on providing products that are reflective of the staple diet of the Asian people. He has employed a number of techniques that enable him to consistently produce only those products that are not flooded in the market and elicit interest from this segment. In our discussion earlier, we identified niche marketing to be focused on a vacuum in the market where the mainstream marketers do not have products to satisfy that particular market. Rockridge farm can thus be considered to have capitalized on this opportunity and has consistently continued to produce only goods targeting this vacuum. They have, therefore, carved a niche market for themselves and are excelling at satisfying it (Chaston, 1999). Consistency over the years and the possession of a solid business plan, have been the major contributors to the success story at Rockridg e. Employee engagement and use of other labour intensive methods have ensured that the crops harvested in the farm are of the best quality. To have the perfect market mix is the utmost important rule of marketing (Belohlavek, 2008) and Wade seems to have gotten his mix right. The place he chose to market his products is both fertile and large enough to sustain his business. It is also close to the target market hence little costs are incurred in shipping. Wade has done a good job in selecting his target market, ensuring that he has repeat customers and has a secured future. He has, consequently engaged in a number of promotion mechanism suitable for his business without incurring extra expenses. Lastly, for any business to be successful, one must get a premium for his products. Wade only farms crops he believes will fetch the best price in the market. He, therefore, endeavours into other methods like juicing and production of vinegar in order to raise the value of those products tha t are flooded in the market. There are many success stories in the world today; arising from the successful identification of the niche market and Rockridge seems to be doing a great job towards success. References Armstrong, G. M. et al. (2007). Marketing an introduction. New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall Belohlavek, P. (2008). Unicist Marketing Mix.nd. Blue Eagle Group. ISBN 978-987-651-011-0 Bose, C. (2010).Modern Marketing Principles Practice. New Delhi: PHI learning private limited Chaston, I. (1999). New marketing strategies. London: Sage Publications Dalgic, T. (2006). Handbook of niche marketing: principles and practice. New York: Haworth Press DePhelps, C. et al. (2005). Profitable Niche Marketing on Rockridge Farm. Idaho: Rural Roots and University of Idaho Research Team Economist, (2006, November 11). Swarming the shelves: How shops can exploit peoples herd mentality to increase sales. The Economist, p. 90. Groucutt, J. et al. (2004). Marketing: essential principles, ne w realities. London: Kogan Page Limited Joshi, R. M. (2005). International Marketing. New Delhi: Oxford University Press ISBN 0195671236 Moore, K. and Paree, N. (2009).Marketing: the basics (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. Ries, A and Trout, J. (2006). Marketing warfare. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies

Alternative Finance Models Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Alternative Finance Models - Essay Example After the end of World War II there have been various innovations in the Banking sector and communication and technology have played a major role in aiding these innovations. The question is, however, whether the financial system that countries have been following is reliable or not. The system failed in the recent financial crisis and many countries such as Bangladesh are now finding alternative finance models such as Grameen Banking and the Gulf countries have now introduced Islamic Banking. Both of these models have certain attributes that differentiates them from the conventional Banking system. The choice of the system depends on the nature of the country and the series of policies being followed by the government. According to the World Bank estimate, around 1.3 billion people live on less than a dollar per day. Grameen Bank system was formed in 1976 by Muhammed Yunus, with a vision to eradicate poverty from Bangladesh. (Anon., n.d.) This Bank is designed especially for the poor who have no education, no credit history and no assets to offer to the Bank (Latifee, 2008). The bank also aims to empower poor women who are usually the bread earners of the family (Anon., n.d.). Women in Bangladesh are engaged in activities such as farming or raising poultry and they need small loans in order to meet their daily needs. Furthermore, women in Bangladesh are not educated and lack the basic knowledge about banking activities. The Grameen Bank was formed especially for women in the rural areas who do not have the finances to pay for their children’s education or to pay for basic necessities such as food and water. With the Grameen bank designed especially for the poor these women and men can now go to the bank and avail the financial services like any other individual residing in the urban area. For example women can get loans from the Bank and start up their own business. The loan can be repaid within a period of 3 months or 3 years depending on the amount. There are no requirements for getting the loan but members are usually required to memorize the resolutions proposed by the Bank. These resolutions include statements such as â€Å"I will use clean drinking water, I will wash vegetables with clean water, I will use contraception when possible† and so on. It has been estimated that the population growth in Bangladesh fell after the Grameen Banking system was introduced (Yunus, 1999). The concept of resolutions was Muhammed Yunus’s idea and he wanted to educate the women of his own country and help them improve their standards of living. His strategy has worked and over 5% of borrowers from the Grameen Bank rose above the poverty level and extreme poverty decl ined by 70% in a span of 5 years (Yunus, 1999). The Bank also serves the beggars though its struggling members program. The main features of this program are: The rules of Grameen Bank do not apply to these members and they can form their own rules All loans given to these struggling families are free of interest and they can pay installments in any way they are comfortable with The beggars are not asked to give up begging but they are asked to engage in other income generating activities. The main idea behind this step is to slowly move these beggars away from beggary and introduce them to other income generating activities. Such programs help the poor in ways one could not have imagined. Grameen Bank is probably the first Bank in the history of Banking which is 100% made for the poor and of the poor. The poor own the Bank; after a year of membership they can buy shares in the bank and become members. According to the founder Muhammed Yunus around 94% of the bank is owned

Reflection on rural externship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflection on rural externship - Essay Example She then came to the pharmacy for assistance. While observing her, I felt very sympathetic towards her and the pain, discomfort, and the sickly feeling she must be going through. What was good about the experience was that I was able to observe how the pharmacist asked her questions. Our pharmacist was very sympathetic and it helped the patient relax and be more at ease. I was also able to note the right questions to ask a patient with fever – questions which help determine a correct diagnosis for the patient. Fever is a higher than normal body temperature (for most people, higher than 98.6 F or 37 C) and is triggered by an infection or an inflammation (eMedicine Health, 2010). During fevers, the body’s immune response is first triggered by pyrogens (substances which cause fever). These pyrogens often come from outside sources like food, air droplets, water, and similar substances ingested or inhaled. These pyrogens then interact with the existing pyrogens in the body and cause the hypothalamus to increase the temperature set point in the body (eMedicine Health, 2010). As a response to this hypothalamic response, the body begins to shiver and the blood vessels constrict. These symptoms were manifest in the patient. The pharmacist explains to the patient that the patient’s fever may be attributed to a viral or a bacterial infection and further asked the patient pertinent details about her food and water intake. The pharmacist also explained that contact with other people who had the flu, cough, or colds could have triggered her fever. The patient said that her daughter was having flu at the moment. The pharmacist recommended Panadol to be taken every four hours. The pharmacist asked the patient if she had any history of problems with kidney or liver function. She replied in the negative. The pharmacist also asked if she had an allergy to Panadol or to paracetamol in general. She was also asked if she was on a low sodium

How to be Creative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

How to be Creative - Essay Example All animals do possess brains, and have been provided with varying levels of creativity by nature. A sparrow’s nest differs in style and capacity from that of an eagle. A honey bee stores honey in tiny pores. Likewise, rabbits dig holes in the earth to make their tunnels. All of these are signs of creativity in non-human living beings. The fact that humans are the most creative among all living beings can be estimated from the fact that all development in the world is the result of the discoveries of humans. Humans discovered ways to fly not only in the air, but also to float in the space. Humans constructed skyscrapers, invented trains and ships, and developed satellites that record information 24/7. From the first day man was sent on the Earth till today, man has been creating things that would facilitate him and improve his standard of living. The world in which we live today is much different form the way it was few centuries back. Rapid industrialization and advancement i n the field of science and technology has brought an altogether change in the life on Earth. All of this is not the result of the efforts of a single person, community or a group of people. Instead, all human beings have been playing their respective roles in developing the modern world from time to time. The modern world is the outcome of creativity of all human beings. Therefore, there is no doubt in the fact that creativity is a naturally occurring phenomenon and occurs in all living beings, but varies in extent depending upon the level of sharpness and intelligence. This paper discusses some of the ways in which creativity can be improved. Creativity as a necessity of modern age: Competition in the contemporary age has grown manifolds in all fields as compared to the past. With the increase in general awareness, people have become highly educated in order to make full use of the emerging opportunities. This has increased the competition in the market scenario. Business entrepren eurs are looking for ways to be more and more creative and innovative in their approach so as to gain competitive advantage over their parallels in the market. It would not be wrong to say that creativity is the need of the hour in the current business practices. This has generally raised the interest of people in creativity and ways and means are being suggested on organizational level in order to improve individuals’ creativity. The concept of creativity: In order to find out ways to increase creativity, it is customary to discuss the basics of the concept of creativity. Creativity is neither something that can be created nor can it be called as an event that would happen occasionally. Instead it is within ourselves and needs to be explored. It cultivates in human mind and nurtures as we go through various experiences in our life. It slowly shows up in our thinking as we mature. â€Å"There is virtually no problem you cannot solve, no goal you cannot achieve, no obstacle y ou cannot overcome if you know how to apply the creative powers of your mind, like a laser beam, to cut through every difficulty in your life and your work† (Tracy cited in Kotelnikov). Creativity is more often than not, an involuntary action. An individual can not intentionally raise his/her level of creativity at a particular point in time when he/she might need it the most. Creativity can not be invited.

Knauf Corporation Case Study

Knauf Corporation Case Study The following assignment is a case study, in which we are going to analyze the Knauf Corporation worldwide, but mostly the operation of the business in the European countries. The objective of this assignment is, by analyzing the operation of the company inside Europe to be able then to recognize, whether we see a common strategy or if there are any differences on it. In the first part, there is a research about the organizational function and the activities of Knauf worldwide and mainly in the European environment, starting from the past until the year 2009, where you can see the latest actions of the company. In the second part I will concentrate my analysis regarding how the general strategy of the company is differentiated depending on the local requirements, laws, cultures, market potentials, etc. In the end of the assignment we will make an analysis of the Greek market in order a close idea about the business operation. 1. Companys history and profile Knauf Group is a multinational producer of building materials and construction systems based in Germany, in Iphofen, where the head quarters and the master plan are located. In Iphofen exists also the historical museum of the company. Knauf is a family name. The Company began its operations in 1932, when the brothers Dr. Alfons N. Knauf and Karl Knauf established the firm Gebr. Knauf. It was a difficult beginning and at this time, no one could have thought the future big development of the company. Knauf finally became a multinational producer of building materials and construction systems, operating with more than 150 production facilities worldwide. Today the company ranks among one of the worlds leading manufacturers of building materials. Knauf has a workforce of 22,000 employees in 40 countries and in 2009 the company achieved sales of 5, 5 billion Euros. The product portfolio varies from the traditional plasterboard to the production of conveying machinery for construction site logistics, including the segments of gypsum plasters for interior and exterior use, insulation materials made of glass fibers or expanded polystyrene. The wide-ranging assortment also includes some other very special products as gypsum fiber boards for walls and floors, as well as a variety of special ceiling systems. The final aim, which comes out from this wide range of products, is that Knauf Group always focuses its efforts in being the leader producer in the construction sector by fulfilling any requirement of the architects, planners, building developers, etc. A strong characteristic of Knauf is the continuous courage for visions, innovation and investments as well as simple decision-making processes and a wealth of ideas on the part of its personnel. Despite the fact that the company is so large the CEOs of the company Nicolaus and Baldwin Knauf insist that the company is a family business, since it is still managed worldwide by the second and third generation of the family Knauf. The company doesnt belong in any stock market and every investment is created by their own profits without loans from the bank or any other external fund. 2. Companys structure and operation Gypsum plasters (core selling material of the company) The Group started to go international as early as the beginning of the Seventies of the last century and the trend has continued until today. Today the Group produces and sells its products in all European countries. In the developed countries such as E.E. countries, Turkey, Russia etc., the company has production facilities. According to the market demand in some occasions there are two or even three plants, whereas in small countries as Cyprus for example, there is only a local branch and the market is supplied with materials from Knauf Greece. Furthermore, there are factories located in North and South America, in the CIS states, in Northern Africa, in China and in Indonesia. Insulation materials Whereas in earlier times the sectors of dry construction and here we mention plasterboard as the primary product and gypsum plasters were the traditional areas of activity of the Group, meanwhile the insulation materials segment has developed into a further mainstay of the Group. The foundation stone for this was laid in 1978 when a glass fibre manufacturing company in Shelbyville, USA, was taken over. Today the company bears the name Knauf Insulation USA and operates a total of four production sites in the United States. The production of insulating materials on the basis of glass wool and mineral wool becomes more and more important. For about 30 years, the company has gained experience in the production of glass wool in North America. Within the last 5 years, Knauf has acquired 10 glass wool and mineral wool factories throughout Europe and additionally built new plants in Eastern Europe and Russia. Emerging and acquisitions activities Focusing before some years in the developing strategy into further segments of construction, where Knauf didnt have experience, the Company needed the knowledge and the facilities of existed companies well known for their quality in their field. Some of them were bought from the group in order to serve all the local Knauf companies with the special products that theyre producing. Some of the companies that have been bought and managed now from the group are AMF, Danogips, Marmorit, Sacret, Richter Systems, Knauf Perlite, Knauf PFT, Knauf Alutop. EUROPAK3 Most of these companies are selling their products only via local Knauf businesses. The interesting point is that the group doesnt hesitate to change its policy according to the target groups, different distribution channels and market needs. Being more specific, for example AMF Company is operating as a different business in the local markets, who sells products to the local Knauf businesses, but also to several wholesalers for example. PFT Company, which is occupied in machinery equipment (totally different market segment), is also developing separately from the local Knauf businesses in the European markets in order to serve other distribution channels and target groups. Knauf insulation, which is a totally different company is as well acting separately in the markets and sell its products directly to wholesalers without local Knaufs help. In many occasions in the European countries they are also selling only via local Knauf businesses. An interesting history is about a merging that the group has made with its one of the biggest competitors. The company USG is the market leader in United States producing and selling the same range of materials. United States of America is too much mature market in constructing with dry wall systems. Knauf group realized a big gap before some years in their product variety. They didnt have a board suitable for exterior constructions. Then the idea came from USG that had been producing a cement board, which is the ideal product, if someone wants to construct exterior walls facades for example. Then Knauf group in order to gain the technical knowledge and experience in cement board market, has been cooperated with USG. They have created together a joint ventured company under the name Knauf USG Systems, which is an independent company located in Germany and its aim is to produce and sell cement boards in Europe, Middle East, and Africa but only via the local Knauf businesses. 3. Organizational structure Knauf local businesses are managed by CEOs that usually are locals. The Local CEOs are supervised by the regional CEOs who are usually coming from the Knauf family. The local CEOs are fully responsible for the local organizational structure. Usually there is the plant manager, a logistics manager, sales and marketing managers, IT managers, technical department and sales department. Depending on how big the market is, sometimes as in Greece for example the technical department is merged with the sales department, which is finally consisted from sales engineers. 4. Vision and Mission The Knauf vision stems from the model on which the company is based: From a family company to a family of companies  [i]  . Knaufs mission is to remain a family which will always include its employees, customers and consumers. The company mainly emphasizes its philosophy on the following: Sustainability, Ecology and economy. The company produces economic construction systems based on raw materials that come straight from the earth and are completely friendly to people and the environment. Plan innovations to meet tomorrows requirements. To be the market leader in the building materials industry Focusing in long term growth and continuous increase of companys value To be as good as the sum of its total employees. The company depends on its employees skills, efficiency and creativity. In that sense production plants are designed to be pleasant to work in, efficient and to ensure a conscientious approach to resources and the environment. Quality management is a key factor for the group 5. Knauf Business and Marketing Strategy model 5,1 DISTRIBUTION Knaufs general strategy is to sell their products only via wholesalers. These dealers can then sell products further to second hand dealers, contraction companies and technicians (Knauf system installers). This model can be changed if a local market is used to work with another way, as for example in Northern Africa countries. In Europe this strategy is generally followed. 5, 2 TARGET GROUPS If we follow the whole chain of construction industry, we all know that Architects are planning the projects which means, that theyre specifying materials (they create the demand). This means that they are the main decision makers in the construction chain. Contractors are taking over to complete the project, and the technicians as sub contractors they are installing Knauf systems. As you can easily realize, Knauf target groups are all the above mentioned groups. Companys concept, is to follow the projects from the early start of the planning until the final procurement. And that means, that they support all the phases of the construction by being present and service with technical support all the groups referred. In addition they focus a lot to the individuals (private investors). Individuals are Knaufs long term objectives, since they strongly believe that they are at the end of the day the basic mean of continuously adding value in the company and make their products even better known to the market. This sector is going to empower the already famous Knauf brand in the market, and of course the materials demand. 5, 3 COMMUNICATION PR ADVERTISEMENT In this paragraph, Im going to show you a small part of the general ideas regarding the companys marketing approach. Knauf in Europe proceeds in specific advertising actions to introduce its products variety in its all target groups. This marketing approach operates since the start of the company and it is already very successful. A very important thing in business is to follow up your customers. Thus, Knauf via its CRM system saves its contacts and post them direct mails. In addition they are also sending e-direct mails, as is the Knauf monthly newsletter or any other subject they would like to promote. Moreover, theyre participating in exhibitions which are usually taking place in the construction concept with target groups from architecture, planning, decoration, etc. Another way of advertizing is by creating inputs in magazines for architects, contractors and technicians. Except of magazines, they also make inputs in newspapers and daily free presses, so they could be able to approach also the individuals. TV spots, radio spots are as well important ways of advertising their systems. Knauf invests a part of each turnover to offer free advertising gifts to its customers. These gifts might be templates, banners, signs, flags, samples, vehicles and memorial gifts, all having as design the Knauf logos and the Knauf partner s logos as well. Local technical documentation and web sites are other ways to find information for the companys products. These documents are very well developed and they obviously offer an assured technical support to the customers. The corporation invests a lot in education regarding its systems installation. Every local business has its own training center where seminars are taking place in certain dates every year. Those who have participated in the seminars are taking in the end a Knauf graduate clarification that writes Mr à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ has successfully participated in the Knauf seminars the datesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ And this small thing makes them feel that they belong in a special group. Consequently they spread this idea to other people. 5.4 POSITIONING Knauf continues to increase a premium brand and separate its position against competition. Thats why the corporation always invests in developing new products and improving the old ones. 6. Gypsum Industry Market Analysis Europe The gypsum industry belongs into the broader industry of building materials. For the scope of our assignment we will only analyze the gypsum industry and especially the European Gypsum Industry as Knauf is mainly active into the European market. The European Gypsum Industry is characterized as a growing industry in comparison with the US or Australian Gypsum Industries which are already in the maturity face of their life cycles. With a turnover of over 10 billion à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬, the European gypsum and anhydrite industry operates 160 quarries and some 200 factories and generates employment directly to 28.000 people and indirectly for 85.000 people. It is one of the few fully integrated industries within the construction products field. Thirty years ago, the Gypsum Industry was made up of many small manufacturing enterprises mainly producing building plaster and stucco for local markets. The emergence and growth of the plasterboard and the plasterboard solutions market in the 1980s requiring high capital investments, equipment, RD and securing access to natural resources led to a consolidation process within the European Gypsum industry. Currently in the industry nowadays three main operators cover 80% of the gypsum product market  [ii]  . These are Knauf Group of Companies, BPB (British Pasterboards) and Lafarge. BPB, a UK based manufacturer, acquired by Saint Gobain in 2005 and organized within the Saint-Gobains Construction Products Sector  [iii]  and Lafarge, the well known building material manufacturer, established in 1833 in France initially as a limestone mining company  [iv]  . 6.1 PEST Analysis In analyzing the macro-environment via a PEST analysis, we can configure the environment which gypsum industry producers compete and identify the factors that might in turn affect a number of vital variables that are likely to influence the organizations supply and demand levels and its costs. The European building material industry is not that vulnerable to Political issues but into the Greek Construction Industry political issues arise more frequently as the support from the European Union funds have major role into Construction Industry growth rates. From 2001 till 2009 where more and more privately funded big real-estate projects were implemented the industry was growing very fast but the economic pressure that affects, for the last year, all companies and investors involved is slowing down the rates of the industry. In such critical times, most governments are identifying its policies with social and environmental care policies. Into the construction environment there is the need, more than any other time, of energy efficient buildings and construction techniques that exploit those advantages, and governments in assessing the socioeconomic impact of energy spending reduction are already subsidizing such constructions through government or EU fund raising. Technology i tself was always the main concern of producers in order to find ways of reducing their production cost as well as to invest in new RD fields, such as antiseismic technology, for exploiting the unique advantages of gypsum. 6.2 SWOT analysis European Gypsum Industry is a growing one and most European countries only now capitalize the advantages that gypsum offers as a building material. Gypsum is virtually indispensable for the interiors of homes and offices and all types of building where people congregate, such as schools, shops, airports, etc. Its superior performance in providing everyday comfort, in fire resistance and in insulation, heralds an ever greater role for it in buildings of the future. In fact, the safety and protection of people and property against fire, and effective thermal and acoustic insulation of buildings depends, more often than not, on the unique properties of gypsum. And many of the attractive features of the modern interior would be impossible without the versatility of gypsum as a building material. The gypsum wallboard industry is highly competitive. Because wallboard is expensive to transport, does not travel well in large quantities and lacks of product differentiation, producers compete on a regional basis, primarily based on price, product range, product quality, and customer service. The sector is highly competitive especially in Europe and North America with production mostly concentrated among few international players. The drywall solutions are seen in growing countries as a substitute for traditional construction solution like for example cement and brick and block constructions. The unique advantages that systems offered to the engineers made them a huge threat of substitute for the traditional techniques. But, soon the industry will be into the maturity face and new innovative and evolution building materials like magnesium or perlite have already started to threaten gypsums raising empire. The industry has to invest into new materials, new technologies and diversify towards innovative building material and construction system solutions. The capital investment that is required in order to enter into the gypsum industry is high. Equipment is expensive, know how is difficult to acquire, access to natural resources is prohibited and investment in RD is mandatory. That is why in very few years the European Gypsum Industry from the state of many locally situated small producers it transformed into an extremely concentrated market where three companies cover approximately 80% of the market. In global level the same concentrated situation is observed where 81% of the market is covered by 7 players (Georgia Pacific, Knauf, Lafarge, National Gypsum, Saint-Gobain, USG and Yoshino) The Gypsum Industry covers the whole life-cycle of the product. Indeed, the companies which extract the mineral gypsum also process it and manufacture the value-added products and systems. The full integration that characterizes the industry is a fact that removes any danger of suppliers bargaining power but at the same time it leads to higher production costs for the producer. The ownership of the gypsum reserves is a power game between the main competitors of the industry as it is at the same time a main clue of product differentiation and product quality resulting from the mineral gypsum purity. Gypsum reserves are now rare around Europe and that turned the producers to invent new technologies by producing synthetic gypsum mainly from fly ash which is a byproduct of energy production plants. The industry is mainly selling through an extensive dealers network in each country. Those dealers are commercial companies selling a series of building materials either to contractors or consumers. In Western Europe more mature markets dealership is also concentrated into few very big companies (Praktiker, Leroy Marlene, OBI etc) which due to its size and concentration they have already obtained a big bargaining power over the producers. Into the Greek market the dealers network is still based on small, unorganized depots with no special power over the industry but big retailers are already into the market and soon the situation will change. 7. Key Success Factors of the Gypsum Industry The following factors have played a major role in a gypsum companys prosperity: Cost advantages and economy of scale: The recent trend of acquisitions and mergers exploit potential cost advantages to be found in RD facilities serving global operations. They create larger and more diversified market focused organizations. All the top performing companies in the industry have faced, at least once, a major merger in the past. In 2005, BPB, one of the top 3 companies of the industry in Europe, was acquired by Saint Gobain which invested 5.9 billion à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬, for setting itself a step ahead from its major competitors in the building materials industry. Access to natural resources: As previously noticed, the Gypsum Industry covers the whole life-cycle of the product and producers strive for securing reserves all over the world. In that industry, due to the cost structure, privileged access to the raw material is vital for the companys growth. For that reason, companies started investing either in finding new ways of composing synthetic gypsum from several sources (e.g. energy plant waste) or by implementing systems for recycling their the products at the end of their life cycle (demolition waste). Differentiation through technical specifications and customer service quality: The main target for all producers is to offer a complete solution with their systems of products in order for engineers to be able to substitute traditional ways of building. They managed to specify with standard norms the use of the plasterboard walls, ceilings, floor or any other use as well as their technical characteristics like fireproof, sound insulation, thermal insulation etc. With the combination of professional sales and technical support as companies are using only engineers for sales reps with extensive and professional training, in order to serve customers and specify the systems in a market that is constantly gaining market share from the traditional construction methods. 8. Greek market analysis As we previously noticed, into the Greek market there is also one competitor to Knauf, Rigips Hellas (BPB) with one production site situated in West Greece. Both companies have their own reserves of the raw material close to their factories which are both situated into the same geographical area resulting to equivalent quality levels of raw material. A main difference is the production capacities as well as the plants sizes. Knauf operates a plant that was build from scratch in 1991 in Amfilochia, while on the other hand Rigips acquired some years after Knaufs establishment in Greece an old gypsum factory from a local producer. That explains the estimated difference in local production capacities for the two producers. Having the appropriate capacity levels, Knauf can control its production cost and overheads better than the competitors and therefore result to higher margin levels. Knauf from 1991 invested a lot of money for differentiating through technical specifications and customer service quality. In order to achieve that high level engineers were recruited and were extensively trained into Germanys headquarters. The experience and professionalism of the mother company was soon transferred into the Greek subsidiary and the company culture was quickly transformed according to the following: The future lies in the hands of talented and highly motivated employees. An important aspect is the family culture which prevails in the company: Learn from one another, hold together, pass on knowledge, assume the role of mentor, take fast and direct paths and press for special achievements  [v]  . In very few years, almost 10 professional engineers were covering all the Greek territory offering technical support to contractors, extensive training to installers and professional customer service to retailers. Rigips which was established a few years later used same techniques for expanding into the Greek territory but always by following Knaufs steps. That was something that reduces its cost for training the market into new building materials but cost them the reputation of the leader in the market. Knauf was and still is characterized as the leader industry in the gypsum market in Greece. Their competitive advantage in the market is the ability of its people to open the market, train the customers and lead to a new age in construction industry. All the above are mainly achieved by the following: A huge database of active engineers is informed once every month by direct mail regarding new and innovative solutions. Over 7.000 installers are trained for efficient installing drywall systems into Knaufs Training Centre in Amfilochia. Retailers are supported by professional sales engineer all over Greece. Finally, Knauf has invest a lot in marketing by extensive advertising into press, technical magazines, radio and TV, by providing signs to all its retailing network and by participating into all main fairs in Greece. Rigips havent tried to differentiate significantly from Knauf into the market. They have not invest as much as Knauf into penetrating and training the market and their main position in the market is to let the leader open the way and then to follow. The main differentiation point for the two companies was the price. Knauf is the leader and for that the customer has to pay a premium. 9. Strategic recommendations Conclusion As we saw in this assignment Knauf Corporation is developing in Europe with a certain way which is driven by the values, the culture, the ethics and the historical success model, that the family developed for their business. However, we also saw that several differences exist, depending on the needs and the culture of the local markets. Such differences for example could be the style of the management, the variety of products, the developing of the other corporate businesses and so on. Knauf family believes a lot in the different local adaptation of their business model and this is visibly proven from their willing and trust to choose local people as general managers to run the business in the countries. They invest a lot of money and efforts in order to find the correct person who is going to implement Knauf successful business style according to the local needs. Knauf group has proven its ability to penetrate, train and lead new markets. As a group it has a promising future as it is in line with the major key successful factors for the industry. Its competitive advantage is very strong and it is implemented into most countries in the world as it is into the Greek market. The industry is highly competitive and it is getting more and more concentrated. In order for Knauf to continue growing into such a competitive environment it needs to diversify its building material portfolio into more developing and profitable markets. Such a market is the insulation material industry in which the group recently invested by acquiring a lot of local producers in Europe and becoming the worlds fastest-growing insulation manufacturer with full ownership of its activities since 2002. Finally, Knauf should invest into countries that are structurally unexploited like for example in Asian or growing African countries initially by securing raw material reserves into strategic places.