Management strategy and practice of the nokia corporation ltd

INTRODUCTIONNokia Corporation Ltd is one of the topmost mobile phone manufacturing companies. It manufactures a wide range of mobile phone handsets that befit and satisfy consumer demand. It is based in the South West part of Finland.ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTUREWith its headquarters based in Singapore, Nokia Corporation operates in various geographical locations. The enterprise is further categorized into different business segments with each specializing in specific operations:  Nokia Treasury Asia: – This is based in the headquarters and serves the corporation’s subsidiaries of the Pacific (Asian). This region serves as the banking unit by providing a wide range of financial services.Japan/ China region: – These regions specialize in Research and Development. It is the ‘epicenter’ of new innovations/technology and new brand implementation.  Within the America’s region, Nokia Corporation has assembly, IT solutions and program design business units.In general, the company has a flat organizational structure. This is because of few levels of management (about six). The chairman, who doubles as the President is deputized by the vice Chairman (Vice President). This Manager has only four executives below him. This structure is a form of strategy for the corporation as it reduces bureaucracy and enhances both the flow of information and the decision-making process.NOKIA’S INCOME STATEMENTSThe most recent quarte’s Revenue is â‚ ¬ 9,856 millionThe net income figure during the same period was â‚ ¬ 979 million.The company’s current stock price as at 11.03 AM, 07/19/07 is $ 29.81.The previous price was $29.73. I expect the stock price to grow in the next quarter. This is due to the high demand of the company’s stocks due to its high profitability and performance in the Stock Market.FINANCIAL STRATEGIESThe Corporation operates in patents and rights. These include the GSM/WCDMA and CDMA2000. These h ave led to advantages like reduction of production and operating costs. The management of the company uses internal growth/financing that is expensive in terms of interest charges. Because of this, it issues ordinary shares when finances have to be raised. It also uses its retained earnings which are sufficient owing to its optimal dividend policy.In order to increase its profitability and market share, Nokia Corporation has entered into a joint venture with other telecommunication companies like Sanyo.  And in order to attract a competitive advantage over other companies in the industry, Nokia Corporation has embarked on acquisitions. An example is Intellisync plc in February 2006.Another of the firm’s strategy is that of mergers with other telecommunication companies. This has seen the company merging with Siemens AG in June 2006. This according to the management will give the company enviable synergistic advantages such as reduction of operating expenses. It would also e nable the company tap more expertise as well as bar new entrants from joining the industry.The investment division carries out financial plans and analysis before undertaking any financial ventures. This is geared towards risk reduction and investments on projects that can only yield positive net benefits in present value terms.Through the Finance Department, the company also carries out sensitivity analysis to determine the effect of changing certain financial parameters on the outcomes. These include the discounting rates, economic life of projects,e.t.c.In order to reduce its financial risk Nokia corporation diversifies its investments by investing in a portfolio form. These range from treasury bills, to mutual funds and other long-term projects.MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.One of Nokia Corporation’s   management strategies is brand/design. The Corporation is the leading in in product modification, producing a wide range of Nokia handsets. It is through this that a company can gain the loyalty and confidence of the customers. The phones also have very fascinating ring tones, games and even internet solutions. They have designed them in a way that they are user friendly.The human resource department of the company comprises of experienced and highly skilled and motivated staff. The firm employs better recruitment and selection methods in fulfilling the staffing function.The management of Nokia carries out frequent environmental surveys to determine what they can be able to explore from the environment( opportunities) and what dangers the same environment poses on it (threats). This analysis is important because through it, Nokia corporation identifies the strengths at its disposal that can enable them make use of the opportunities. They also determine their   weaknesses   and how these are likely to hinder their success.In order to avoid high labor turnover especially skilled and expertise, the company adopts betters and attractive wage packages for it s employees and other perquisites. They are also actively involved in core decision making processes thus making them feel part and parcel of the organization. When it comes to conflict resolution, the management uses the collaborative style to resolve organizational conflicts. These tend to give both parties in conflict a win-win situation by giving every party equal satisfaction.Another Nokia’s management strategy is time management. In the Nokia working environment, time is the most essential asset. This resource is highly valued as idle capacity is   costly to the organization. The management, in a chart form has laid down ways in which staff and all other employees can be able to properly manage time. Every employee is required to set his/ her objectives which he/she wants to accomplish. The goals have to be prioritized   with each employee having his own individual working schedules.REFERENCEShttps://www.finance.com/credit-cards/compare-credit-cards/citi.action?ID=m ost-popular-credit-cards

My Expectation of Women Role

Throughout the centuries, a woman's role in the society has been dictated by the needs of the then more powerful male gender. The male dictated role of women centered around the predominant needs of the men in the society such as needing a woman to keep house, prepare their meals, and continue the blood line of the males. Women in those times where not allowed to have any lofty dreams and ambition that leaned towards their self learning and fulfillment as an individual with their own rights and needs.This is not to say that all women of today are career oriented. There are still those who wish to become regular housewives and fall into the traditional definition of a married woman. Then, there are those who would rather have a career or a career and a family. Clearly, the expectation men and society now have of the females have continued to evolve and become something that is now acceptable to most men. It has been proven by the period of time known as Women's Suffrage, that women ha ve always wanted to be in an equal partnership with men and they were willing to fight tooth and nail, endure embarrassment, ridicule and jail time, in order to win that acceptance and rights. Now, women clearly work alongside men as an equal in all aspects of society. This, they accomplish even while maintaining their traditional role as homemakers.Forbes Magazine recently came out with their list of the richest and most powerful women in the world. That magazine issue is a testament to how the expectations of women in today's world have changed dramatically. Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, Katie Couric, Barbara Walters, are all but a few of the women today who wield extra ordinary power in the boardroom. Women have proven their worth in all fields of business, research, music, and other various fields. No longer are the descriptions; President and CEO reserved for powerful men. It has become a non-sexist term to define who calls the shots in the company.Oprah Winfrey and Martha Ste wart are self made billionaires and millionaires who worked long and hard to reach the pinnacles of their successful careers. Let us not forget there are also markets where only a woman can be expected to deliver the business needs of the company. The cosmetics field is a major area where only women can be expected to deliver the goods. Pioneering women knew how to succeed in a business area that men had no idea how to penetrate. Fashion and cosmetic companies such as Liz Claiborne, Donna Karan, and Mary Kay were all founded by visionary women of the times they lived in.These women have proven that with the help of dreams, ambitions, a go-getter attitude, and the will to succeed, nothing can stop a woman from achieving a successful career. As such, the women also become important contributors to the development of society at large. A solid example of this concept is the way the Mary Kay Cosmetics company came into being.Founded by Mary Kay Ash, she took ideas she had learned from me n and employed ordinary housewives who evolved into successful businesswomen. Their trademark prize for successful employees, the Pink Cadillac was the status symbol of its time. It signified an independent and successful woman. The Mary Kay agents showed the world that women could use their own ability for successful careers and become important assets to companies.Obviously, human resources also continue to increase by using skilled female labor, a notion much realized in both government and private sectors. Taking advantage of certain abilities brought by women allows achievements on a much more efficient and diverse progression in societal development. These also help in dispelling the old sexist norms that the male thinking of the past put into place. People become more open minded, escaping the trap of ignorance and prejudice. This change in gender roles can also be seen as a reaction to previous and existing economic conditions.This development of the woman’s work ethi c and role is seen as a way for women to break free of the old traditions women were forced to endure in the past because men controlled the world. Women are no longer repressed and have found their voice to declare their freedom and independence. Women now have the choice to be plain housewives or career-housewives. Being at home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is no longer the way to judge the capabilities of wives and mothers.Career wives and mothers have successfully blended their work and home needs seamlessly and have proven that with proper time management, a woman can do what is needed from her. Women are now the examples of their families. They are the examples that their daughters emulate and the training ground for their sons to learn how to treat women when they grow up.   Daughters now have a chance to realize what they have to do in their future, and motivate themselves.If the wife stays with her traditional household position, it could possibly perpetuate the sexist n otion that a woman’s place is limited. For example, in poor family, the wife must also work hard with her husband to support their families. If the children are at a mature age, they can notice their household’s economy and parental support easily. At some point they will understand the tired look on their parent’s faces after a long day of work, and relate their heavy school loads.To some children this motivates them to want to pick up their slack and chip in to help by getting a part time job. Getting a better education not because their parents want them to, but because by that point they are mature enough to see that even when their parents had to lay down the law for their own good to get higher salary job, that at that point not only it was for themselves but for the better of mankind and perhaps to take care of them when they grow old and need that help in return.Every child always wants their parents to be happy. Next example, if the mother is a great ex ecutive person and works in company, it would inspire her children. One of purpose of our lives is to go over our parent’s position. That’s why I believe that they give positive image to children.I foresee that women's roles in the future will be even further enhanced. The differences that used to be in place, as set by man shall be torn down and men and women will continue to compete for jobs and places in society on ever equaling grounds. . This mentality will surely create a better society by setting positive examples for future generations. Women such as Hillary Rodham Clinton and Nancy Pellosi have given a strong voice of motivation and representation to many that are still victims of ignorance. They and many others show, without a doubt in mind, that this trend towards equality is hard earned, yet worth it in the end.Work CitedDaily M., Catherine. † The Evolution of the American Woman – R – Equality in the Workplace – Women in Businessà ¢â‚¬ .   Business Horizons. March-April, 1993

Review of litterature Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Review of litterature - Term Paper Example Public health seeks to address health concerns for human populations. It addresses the collectivity of individual persons within a society to make up the entire society that is then referred to as the public. In this context, epidemiology deals with the prevention and control of disease for the benefit of the human population or the public for that matter (Savitz, Poole & Miller, 1999). Essentially, this definition dictates the application of epidemiology in addressing public heath matter. This is to say, the scope of epidemiology in the public health context is limited to the cause and effect relationship of disease variables that pose health risks to the public. Epidemiology as process is integrated in research work to come up with up to date information about disease trends and prevalence in the public domain. In this line, epidemiology becomes a research technique that aids the process of addressing public health concerns. It is important to point out that public health does not only deal with addressing existing and emerging public health issues, but also alleviating risk factors that are likely to result in public health issues (Kelsey, et al., 1996). In this respect, epidemiology guides the activities and practices of epidemiologists and other involved stakeholders. Epidemiology is also regarded as scientific field that generates knowledge bases that are significantly utilized in public health domains. The generated knowledge base is due for application in evaluating and analyzing epidemiologic evidence in a context within or without science. Amid this, criticisms mount on epidemiology as scholars work to link epidemiology to an applied aspect of public health. However, the common denominator is that epidemiology has a substantial role to play in enhancing public health prospects. Research into epidemiology and all its influencing variables essentially lead to

Critiquing Current Accounting Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critiquing Current Accounting Research - Essay Example This clip brings up one powerful message that research is a very powerful tool that we can use to overcome challenges we face in the course of our lives. Question 2: Can you visualize any relationship or link between the film clip and the field of accounting? If so, can you describe this? If not, can you explain why not? The message in this video directly applies to many other fields including accounting. Accounting, often described as ‘language of business' involves analysis and use of financial information to understand and evaluate the financial position of a given firm or organization. It includes a mess from essential accounting to additional confused administration of accounting reports and salary explanations. An expert bookkeeping capability is not only for individuals who need to be bookkeepers- it will outfit you for an expansive range of auspicious professions in minor and huge business, budgetary administrations, not-for benefit and the legislature segment, all of w hich need a capacity to comprehend and decipher fiscal informative content for utilization in choice making. Bookkeepers can work in any part, from key wanting to hazard examination. Wherever there's a need for somebody with keen bookkeeping information and sharp business abilities, a bookkeeper will be sought after. Hence therefore, accounting is a diverse field which also has its own challenges which hinder its prosperity and so as to beat these challenges, research comes in very handy. Research had led to discoveries of solutions to the most pressing problems affecting the accounting sector. For instance, work has been made easier in the accounting sector by the introduction of computers which are almost adopted in every office and rapidly wiping away the phase where things were done manually. This has increased the speed and the efficiency of carrying out task within a shorter time. The development of computer applications, softwares and programs has aided in working of accounta nts and replaced cumbersome manual methods which were prone to so many errors and mistakes. I believe that research is the perfect tool that is crucial in the development of accounting as a growing field. Try and describe your feelings towards research Research Research is a way of accelerating understanding (Smith et. al., 2002). Research is basically any formal related activity carried out systematically so as to increase knowledge and use this knowledge to devise new applications. There are numerous types of examination: logical, humanities, masterful, budgetary, social, business and expert examination. The major steps in conducting research are: Identification of research problem Literature review Specifying the purpose of research Identify hypothesis and research questions that are specific Collection of data Analysis and interpretation of the data Evaluation and reporting of the research The steps are not generally fixed and are not rigid because the process is ever-changing. Many researchers begin with a general statement of the problem, then purpose for engaging in the study. The literature review is carried out initially to identify gaps in previous research which provide proper justification for the study. The research question may be parallel to the hypothesis. The hypothesis is supposed to be tested through the collection of data. The analyst then examines and deciphers the information utilizing the assortment of statistical systems. Information dissection is

The Concept of Majority Rule Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Concept of Majority Rule - Assignment Example The relationship between the two is that the principles of majority rule and minority rights identically support an egalitarian form of government in the United States of America. An example of this is the â€Å"Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which make illegal employment discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It applies to all colleges and universities, public or private that have at least fifteen employees. The U.S. Constitution prohibits state employment in violation of the equal protection of the laws and applies to all public institutions of higher education. Title VII and the Constitution jointly establish what is required and permitted with respect to affirmative action in higher education† (The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1964). Another example which exhibits the duality of the constitution is the No Child Left Behind Act of the NCLB, a constitutional provision ensuring the right of all children to be studying in school (Henley, Mcbride, Milligan, and Nichols, 2007). Practically, this constitutional provision promotes the need for every citizen of the United States of America to gain the appropriate knowledge for wisdom in any chosen field. This must also be inconsistent with the current global trend towards service industry.

Marketing report (Analysis & SWOT ipod touch or iphone 4) Essay

Marketing report (Analysis & SWOT ipod touch or iphone 4) - Essay Example Apple’s target market is often young and middle aged adults looking for excitement on the go and it’s because of this reason that Apple has developed products which offer the entertainment element on the go. Consumers can rip their music, videos and photos on their devices and carry them and use them wherever they go. Apple has also attempted to target young professionals by offering them products like Apple IPhone and Apple IPad to check their emails, surf internet as well as watch videos and movies anywhere anytime. The overall marketing mix of the company is based upon offering premium products through its own chain of stores and other partners besides having an online store. Further, the brand recognition of Apple has reached to a level where its products are self selling in nature. This report will present a situational analysis of one of its newly launched products i.e. Apple Iphone 4 with special reference to London, UK. Situational Analysis This section will dis cuss both the internal as well as external environment of Apple Iphone 4 with first section will be on the assessment of the internal environment. Internal environment Iphone 4 is a sequel to the much successful Iphone product line of Apple which has overtaken the smartphones market by storm. Based on the Apple’s own mobile operating system, this product combined the Apple’s already successful MP3 Player IPod with the added utility of mobile phone and other applications. The IPhone therefore was the result of the vision to combine music and mobile communication on the go while allowing consumers to check their emails, surf internet and use so called apps on their Iphones. It is also important to note that Iphone 4 comes with added features such as retina display, face time as well as with iBooks where consumers can actually read the eBooks on their Iphone4. (Apple Inc, 2010). These features were absent from the earlier versions of the Iphone. Apps have also proved a re ally an important source of not only improving the productivity but also created fun and excitement for the users also. (Sintumuang, 2011) Like its predecessor, Iphone was targeted as the young and middle age individuals who were looking for some added functionalities in the phone. Apple therefore has followed the segmentation strategy based on people rather than on markets. (Asay, 2010) Iphone 4 comes with the face time utility allowing users to make video calls besides enjoying high speed internet. Consumer trends therefore suggest that the customers are willing to pay the premium price for the product given the brand name and product quality of the phone. It is also important to note that Apple faced a rather tricky situation at the beginning of the launch of Iphone due to some technical issues which somewhat distracted the customers. However, the situation was overcome and the new models are now being sold with further technical refinements. A closer look at the marketing mix si tuation of the product would suggest that Iphone4 is priced at premium and is sold in the range of ?500 to ?6201 for two different models according to the storage capacity. Pricing of the product therefore suggest that Apple is charging premium for the quality and breadth of services it provides through its allied service iTunes. Product is mostly distributed through

Effects of Mass Media Violence on Violent Behavior Research Paper

Effects of Mass Media Violence on Violent Behavior - Research Paper Example Therefore, a foundation must be established on which the arguments of both sides can be viewed impartially, and through which we can reach a valid understanding of the issue of mass-media violence. What makes this difficult is that the criteria of judgment for the question is political, based on the vision or ideal of society that one wants to see manifest. To illustrate this, it is important to start with the opposite, teachers of non-violence such as the Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., etc. and consider what their ideals of a non-violent society are, as well as why they consider violence so fundamental to be opposed. For example, if we judge the question of mass-media violence against the goals of Satyagraha as taught by Mahatma Gandhi, and the vision of society he sought to develop, we might have a very different conclusion than if we judge the question by the values of Bush, Cheney, and the administration that led the United States to war & torture in Iraq and Afghanistan. To reduce this division further, a society that commands the world’s largest military, has over 800 foreign military bases, and is conducting wars on multiple battlefronts might not only have a different goal as a society than a country like Tibet, once a Buddhist kingdom with thousands of monasteries ruled by a reincarnate monk, but the societies might also have very different actual perceptions of what violence is, and tolerance to it. Jains in the ancient world were renowned for sweeping the road in front of themselves when walking and wearing masks to insure that they did not injure any insect while traveling or breathing. A society based on this level of sensitivity to violence may view mass-media imagery of violent behavior in a very different way to our society that has been desensitized to it for years. Thus, we must approach this as

'Trading Places'Film Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

'Trading Places'Film Review - Essay Example They take things for granted that the homeless people do not. The upper class citizens have no idea what it is like to be homeless. The upper-class-level of wealth is glorified simply because two powerful brokers have taken power that they have and have used two people as pawns in their social experiment. The characters have a class consciousness because they both know that neither of them belong in the class that they have ‘accidentally’ been led to. The whole concept of nature versus nurture comes into consideration. When they trade places, they become different people. It would be difficult for a white man to go to a lower lifestyle than he is used to though it would be quite compelling for a poor homeless man to all of a sudden have access to money and luxury. A sociological environment certainly comes into consideration when it affects who the person is and how they identify in class

Discuss the difference between Aristotle and Kant Essay

Discuss the difference between Aristotle and Kant - Essay Example In philosophy classes, one is likely to learn about Aristotle’s system of propositional logic where the concepts of premises and conclusions are used as a structure of reasoning. Contrarily, Kant lived in the 18th Century in the years 1724 - 1804. Kant was a paradigmatic philosopher who played a central role in the structuring of modern philosophy. Unlike Aristotle who was active in medieval era, Kant emerged as a key figure in the European Enlightenment periods (Graham, 23). Conventionally, Kant is alleged to have laid the foundation of empiricism and eradicated any remaining traces of medieval reasoning in philosophy. Each of the two philosophers discussed comprehensively on the concepts of moral propriety, commonly referred to as ethics. Aristotle asserts that there is an extricable connection between psychological and physiological nature in human beings. The consciousness of sensation perceived by the body in the material world serves the purpose of clothing the senses of thought and reasoning. In this context, Aristotle claimed that material knowledge perceived by the body influences immaterial thoughts, thus developing a scale for comparison between distinct objects and thoughts (Sherman, 127). This interaction between psychology and physiology experienced by human beings gives rise to the opposing concepts of virtue and vice. In this case, practical experiences coupled with sensitive existence leads to distinct realization and subsequent differentiation of good from bad. Unlike animals, human beings are in an intrinsic pursuit of favorable experiences manifesting as universal happiness. Acc ording to Aristotle, actions and thoughts that lead to happiness are called virtues, while contrary actions and thoughts are vices. According to Aristotle, the opposing concepts of virtue and vice serve as a scale for measuring extremes. Excess vice lies on one end while deficient vice lies on another end. In this case, virtue is a mean or

Imagine that you are living in colonial America. Write a LETTER either Essay

Imagine that you are living in colonial America. Write a LETTER either supporting or condemning the activities - Essay Example The price of tobacco has declined due to constant wars and we are facing cutthroat commercial competition from Maryland and the Carolinas. Moreover the English manufactured products are high priced and so we can’t afford to buy them. All these cause serious problems that our very basic existence will be difficult if the situation continues. Mr. Bacon’s hostile attitude has taken the lives of our so many of our colleagues. In his expedition to our villages he ruthlessly plunders our homes and destroys our cultivated lands. Mr. Bacon knows that it is not we who are behind the slashing of the prices of tobacco products. We too do suffer terribly from this and still made scapegoats of this ill-fated incident. Our only request to the Queen is to call back Mr. Bacon and provide us the opportunity to live peacefully in our own

Ethics of Marketing to Schools in America Essay Example for Free

Ethics of Marketing to Schools in America Essay Public schools across America are struggling with their budgets and looking to outside corporations for help. Conveniently, private corporations realize the potential buying power of students and have decided that elementary schools are the best channel to reach them. It has become routine for corporations to market there products in schools, and in exchange these schools receive various financial benefits. This new partnership has become the focus of much controversy as 80% of Americans feel that corporations should have no place in schools (). The two most cited concerns are the health of children and the growing commercialization of schools. This paper looks at this issue in detail by answering the following two questions. Is it ethical for corporations to market products in schools? What is the most socially responsible course of action for corporations to take? This paper will use a utilitarian and distributive justice framework to prove that marketing in schools is unethical and propose that the most ethical arrangement is to make schools commercial-free zones. This paper will also discuss the issue of corporate social responsibility through shareholder and stakeholder lenses to prove that there is a strong business case for corporations to? Children in schools are marketed to in a variety of ways. Schools can participate in incentive programs where a school receives funds to take part in a specific activity such as collecting box tops (). Some corporations offer free educational materials to schools that promote their corporate message. Pepsi encourages a thirst for knowledge on a popular textbook cover(). Each year over half of the students in schools in the United States receive free textbook covers(). McDonalds, Burger King and Dominos sponsor reading projects in schools with free meals(). Other schools receive free electronic equipment like computers and satellites for participating in programs like channel one. This is an arrangement where school receive free electronic equipment for having their students watch a 10 minute broadcast of which 2 minutes are corporate sponsored commercials (). All of these marketing techniques pose there own unique ethical dilemmas, however the most controversial type of marketing in schools today is the use of exclusive agreements. This is when corporations give schools a percentage of their profits in exchange for the right to be the sole provider of a product or a service(). The most prominent example of this is the soft drink company, Coca-Cola and their exclusive distribution rights with schools. As a result, Coca-Cola advertisements have become the most visible types of advertisements in schools today (). A US National School Health Policies study found that students could purchase soft drinks in 60% of elementary schools and 83% of middle schools (). Of these schools over 85% were under an exclusive contract with the Coca-Cola company (). For the aforementioned reasons the remainder of this paper will use the soft drink giant Coca Cola as a symbol to make it easier to understand the larger debate of marketing in elementary schools. A deontological framework can not determine whether this issue is ethical or unethical. In 1990 under $100 million was spent on advertising targeted at kids, just a decade later that number was up more than twenty times to over $2 billion (). This large increase in spending indicates that there is a strong motivation for corporations to market to youth. One way to determine if marketing in schools is ethical is to deconstruct these motivations through a deontological framework. The motivation for companies to market in schools could be a philanthropic opportunity to contribute to education. However, I do not believe this because companies like Coca-Cola make schools sign exclusive agreements, which means that they block competition and are profitable. I believe the main motive for companies to market to youth is to make money. Marketing to students in schools is an effective strategy as it reaps both short and long term rewards. Children in elementary schools have a lot of spending power. Kids ages 4-12 spend $40 billion each year (). Furthermore, these same kids influence $600 billion of household spending (). It is wise for companies to try to earn a share of this large market. Surprisingly, the sales of sodas in schools account for a miniscule slice of soda sales worldwide, less than 1 percent of sodas 66billion dollar industry (). Clearly profit in the short run is not the main motivating factor for companies like Coca-Cola. Marketing in public elementary school promises long run benefits. Soft drink companies can create brand loyalty with their consumers at an early age. In other words, they foster and retain a captive audience for its products. If you consider the cutthroat competition among soft drink makers for customers, this brand loyalty becomes a vital business pursuit. A deontological framework can better help us deconstruct the ehics of marketing to youth purely for financial reasons. Specifically, this paper will employ some of W. D. Ross duties. It can be argued that marketing in schools violates the duty of non-malefiicence (to do no harm). Some children will substitute a nutritious meal for a sugar laden soda. That is harmful to their health. Marketing in schools also violates the duty of gratitude. It does not thank customers for their business by protecting their health. Instead, companies like Coca-Cola continue to aggressively market their unhealthy product to vulnerable youth. On the other hand, if one considers a corporation a person, then a corporation fulfils Rosss duty of self-improvement by marketing in schools. It improves its own condition by increasing its profits in the short and the long run. Additionally, if a company honestly abides by the contract it signs with a school then it is upholding Rosss duty of fidelity. The framework of deontology is inadequate to determine the ethics of marketing in schools because it presents us with conflicting duties and no hierarchy to put them into. There is an incompatible difference between the various duties. However, this situation did not become controversial simply because some believe that a corporation might have bad ethics, instead people are worried about the consequences of marketing in schools. A utilitarian framework shows us that marketing in schools is unethical. Marketing in elementary school is controversial because it offers many direct benefits to schools, but negatively impact students. Through a utilitarian framework this paper will deconstruct the pros and cons of the scenario to determine whether marketing in schools is ethical. This paper will conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine what results in the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The main players that benefit in this scenario are schools, shareholders of the Coca-Cola company, and employees. All of these players benefit in financial terms. Vending machines are a valuable source of revenue for schools. They support programs that might otherwise go unfunded. Elementary schools have reason to be concerned about their finances, the state of California cut the elementary school budget by $10 billion dollars in 2003 (). If a school district signs an exclusive contract with a soft-drink company it can generate an additional $3 million per year (). School districts receive all of this money for virtually no additional work on there part. This is why the cliche that: one day our schools will have all the money they need, and the Air Force will have to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber could become true (). Company shareholders benefit in the long run if we assume that marketing in schools create brand loyalty among consumers. Company employees also benefit from the sales of sodas in schools, simply because their company is continuing to be competitive in the marketplace and provide work for them. However, the positive impact of selling sodas in schools impacts company employees considerably less than other players in this scenario, because these employees will not be receiving a pay raise as a result of this practice. While there are some positive effects of marketing in schools, I feel that the cons greatly outweigh the benefits. Students bear the burden of the negative effects of marketing in schools. Marketing to youth perpetrates problems of childhood obesity, materialism, eating disorders, violence, and family stress (). This is especially problematic because children are more cognitively immature and prone to believe that products marketed in school carry their schools endorsement. For instance, if a school sells soda it signifies that it is acceptable to consume drinks that are high in sugar and have poor nutritional quality. A childs health is not an acceptable trade-off for increased revenues. Childhood obesity is an epidemic in America. One-quarter of children in the United States are overweight which means they are at risk for lifelong health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cavities (). Competitors also suffer in this scenario because ? exclusive agreements create a monopoly on a school and therefore promote unfair competition and can charge whatever price they want. The difficulty of examining ethics from a utilitarian perspective is that is impossible to predict the future. It is not clear how much the financial revenue schools gain from executive agreements helps them to fulfill their purpose of teaching. It is also not clear how high the correlation is between marketing in schools and negative outcomes like obesity. What is known is that most of the negative consequences (and there are a lot of them) fall on the shoulders of the students. Having the burden of this issue fall on the shoulders of millions of students nationwide is bad for society as a whole. Children need to be educated in a healthy atmosphere so that they can become productive members of society one day. It is detrimental to the future if children are not provided with the best learning environment possible. The best learning environment possible is one that is free from commercial influences. The Distributive Justice framework shows that monopolies are unethical. According to John Rawls we should determine ethical dilemmas like whether marketing in schools is ethical by making the decision from behind a veil of ignorance. The distributive justice framework tries to ensure that the interests of the worst off in society are considered. According to this theory, students well-being should be put before business interests because students are the most vulnerable group in this scenario. However, there is an inherent conflict of interest within this framework. Corporations believe that marketing in schools is ethical because they are exercising their 1st amendment right to free speech. Everybody has this right, thus they are utilizing the equal liberty principle: equal rights to liberties as long as all may be provided such liberties. The problem is that not even all corporations are being provided the liberty of free speech. As previously mentioned Coca Cola has an exclusive agreement with 85% of elementary schools in America, this is just a nice way to say that Coca Cola has a monopoly on the elementary school market (). Companies that engage in exclusive distributive contracts are trying to block competitors. They can not justify this action on the ground that they need to do this to spur innovation, they want a monopoly so they can control the school market. Thus the difference principle comes into play because the inequality that these companies are creating in the market place needs to be addressed. The most ethical thing to do is to make schools commercial free zones. Marketing in schools is unethical. The most ethical thing to do is to make elementary schools commercial-free zones. Students should be able to pursue learning free of commercial influences and pressures. Eighty percent of adults in the United States agree that schools should be commercial-free zones as well (). While this may be the most ethical course of action, it seems highly unlikely as marketing in schools has become entrenched. Schools continually need more money and the government is unable to provide it. If marketing in schools must continue at the very least it should be regulated. It does not seem probable that the industry will regulate itself, so it should be subject to more government oversight. Right now there is very little the government has done to restrict marketing in schools. Laws forbidding it are perceived to be a breach of the 1st amendment. A study found that only nineteen states currently have statues or regulations that address school-related commercial activities (). This number includes states that have statues that encourage commercial activities. The government should establish an independent commission to regulate marketing in public schools. This agency should make regulations that encourage schools to provide a healthy learning environment for students. The agency could regulate the sale of foods high in fat, sodium, and sugars. For example, it could decide that vending machines can not be stocked with sodas; however juices (100%) and water could still be sold. There would be greater social acceptance of this issue if it were implemented more appropriately. The business case for CSR prevails. This paper has established that the most ethical thing for corporations to do is to stop marketing to students in schools, or at the very least to regulate what they market to children. If a company were to stop marketing to children for the aforementioned ethical considerations it would be following a normative line of reasoning. The company would be interested in doing the right thing for society with little regard for how the proposition would effect its own bottom line. While I would applaud its efforts on a moral basis, this would be a very poor reason to engage in Corporate Social Responsibility. There needs to be a business incentive for corporations to engage in Corporate Social Responsibility. A company has to be successful financially if it is going to survive in the long run. However, there is always a business case for corporate social responsibility with respect to companies that sell consumer products. In the long run the closer a company aligns with the values of society the more successful it will be. Good ethics and good business are mutually reinforcing. In this case 80% of society wants commercial-free schools or at least commercialism that is regulated. It is socially responsible for a company to accommodate the wishes of society because it is in their long run interest to build a good reputation. A company like Coca-cola may be more successful at recruiting, retaining, and engaging with its employees and customers if it demonstrates that it is socially responsible. Critics might argue that this is just mere window dressing. However, a good reputation leads to higher sales in the long run. Both shareholder and stakeholder frameworks would support the business case for corporate social responsibility in this scenario. Milton Freidman is an advocate of the shareholder theory which maintains that a companies corporate social responsibility is to maximize profits without breaking the law or violating basic rules of society. Coca-Cola is not breaking any laws by marketing in schools, it is merely exercising its first amendment right to free speech. It is also not violating any social norms, children get to choose whether they want to buy unhealthy products. On one hand it may seem that Freidman would say that corporations should continue to market in schools because they are making a profit and therefore helping society. However Freidman would agree that companies need to balance there short term gains against their long-term interest. In this case, Freidman would advocate for the restriction of marketing in schools because it is in the long run self-interest of the company because companies like Coca-Cola needs to reassure their customers that they care about them. . An alternative approach to corporate social responsibility is the stakeholder theory. This theory maintains that companies should balance the interests of all stakeholders involved. In this scenario the stakeholders would be the students (customers), parents, teachers, corporations, suppliers, employees, shareholders, and society. Students are harmed by marketing in schools because marketing is correlated with problems like obesity and materialism. On the other hand these same students benefit because their schools are receiving additional funding for programs. Parents suffer because they have less control over what their children are exposed to, and it could undermine their values. Shareholders may benefit in the short run from marketing in schools, but in the long run the values of the company must be aligned with society if it is going to succeed. Therefore, the stakeholder theory would advocate a business case for Corporate Social Responsibility as well: to limit marketing in schools. Marketing in schools is a complex issue with many players. In this case, students are the most important players because schools are public institutions and schools are supposed to make students a top priority. Marketing in schools can not stop on its own, it needs to be either strictly prohibited or at the very least limited by the government.

The Cause Effect Of Green Electronic Products Marketing Essay

The Cause Effect Of Green Electronic Products Marketing Essay Today there is growing concern for environmental friendly product because of the environmental issues faced by the world. Industries, factories, fume emitting tall chimneys, vehicles, household appliances; heaps of garbage and extreme pollution have altered the environmental conditions and disturbed our biome. Chloroforo carbons from refrigerators, air conditioners, deodorants, etc are responsible for depletion of ozone layer; Green house gases like carbon dioxide, methane, etc are contributing to the global warming. Government, companies, industries are taking initiative to reduce this pollution for our healthy living and also for our future generations. Owing to this fact companies are producing environmental friendly products which in turn help in reducing pollution and help in saving environment. The most important reason why one should use Eco-friendly products is because of the devastating effect of harmful gases, non-biodegradable plastics, dangerous gases which not only pollutes the environment but also causes respiratory problems, skin diseases, etc in human beings. Due to this polluted water and air there is a danger of complete extinction of various rare species of animals and birds. There are lots and lots of harmful effects of plastics, chemicals, non biodegradable items, which is the main reason to start using Eco friendly products as soon as possible. And not only that we should also start changing our lifestyle like usage of air coolers only when there is at most need of it, using jute bags or paper bags instead of plastics covers, taking up drinking waters in safe utensils rather than plastic bottles, making the pollution check regularly in our vehicles . Eco-friendly products have slowly and slowly entered every market considering cosmetics, medicines, electronics, paints, automobiles, manufacturing machines, smart city concept and more. Companies not only produce eco-friendly products but they also have eco-friendly packaging, eco-marks on packages. Measures have been taken by government, companies to produce eco-friendly products which in turn slowly and slowly reduce the impact of pollution on our environment. Eco-friendly has several meanings. There was a time when you were eco friendly if you just stopped using paper. But the definition of eco friendly products changed over the times. In more recent times, if you used predominantly natural products, or their derivatives, you were using eco friendly products. However, today, the definition has broadened more. Today, you are eco friendly not just by using eco friendly products, but also by taking care that the environment is not harmed in any way by the way you are using these pro ducts. Although the meaning has changed but the essence is same as before, one has to be friendly to the environment. The domain of eco-friendly product is very wide so I have restricted my research to the household electronic products which are used by consumer on daily basis. This include television, washing machine, microwave, CFLs, AC, refrigerators, etc. People deal with these products daily and hence they can easily tell about these products. What are the factors they prefer before buying these products? The project conceptualizes the recent market trend of green electronic products and consumer buying characteristics. To understand the meaning of eco-friendly electronic and what people think eco-friendly electronics are. Eco-friendly electronics are expensive, and then also companies are manufacturing them, what are the various factors why companies manufacture eco-friendly electronics. What makes todays customer to go for eco-friendly electronics, is it only to save the planet or some other reason. All such questions will be answered in this paper. Explain in 4-5 sentence the approach adopted by you and results/findings A distinct approach and questionnaire would be helpful for the evaluation of electronic consumer products, even though some usability questionnaires claim to be relevant to products other than computer software. Current usability questionnaires also seem to measure various usability dimensions, but the dimensions are not necessarily identical across questionnaires. Thus, the exploration of the available questionnaires provides a sound background to the development of the questionnaire items for this study. LITERATURE REVIEW While green marketing came into prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was first discussed much earlier. The American Marketing Association (AMA) held the first workshop on Ecological Marketing in 1975. The proceedings of this workshop resulted in one of the first books on green marketing entitled Ecological Marketing (Henion and Kinnear 1976a). Since that time a number of other books on the topic have been published (Coddington 1993, and Ottman 1993). Green marketing incorporates a broad range of activities, including product modification, changes to the production process, packaging changes, as well as modifying advertising. (Polonsky, 1994) World-wide evidence indicates people are concerned about the environment and are changing their behavior accordingly. As a result there is a growing market for sustainable and socially responsible products and services. (Environmental protection agency -2000) Green consumerism is often discussed as a form of pro-social consumer behavi or (Wiener and Doesher, 1991). It may be viewed as a specific type of socially conscious (Anderson, 1988) or socially responsible (Antil, 1984) consumer behavior that involves an environmentalist (Schlossberg, 1991) perspective and may thus be called environmentally concerned consumption (Henion, 1976). A classic definition (Henion, 1976) describes environmentally concerned consumers. Business organizations tend to concern about environments issues due to several reasons such as environmental pressure, governmental pressure, competitive pressure, cost or profit issues (Environmental protection agency -2000) Unfortunately, a majority of people believe that green marketing refers solely to the promotion or advertising of products with environmental characteristics. (Polonsky,1994) and terms like Phosphate Free, Recyclable, Refillable, Ozone Friendly, and Environmentally Friendly are some of the things consumers most often associate with green marketing. . (Polonsky, 1994) While these terms are green marketing claims, in general green marketing is a much broader concept, one that can be applied to consumer goods, industrial goods and even services (Roberts and Bacon, 1997). Hopes for green products also have been hurt by the perception that such products are of lower quality or dont really deliver on their environmental promises. And yet the news isnt all bad, as the growing number of people willing to pay a premium for green products from organic foods to energy-efficient appliances attests. (DSouza et al. 2004)Green or Environmental Marketing consists of all activities designed to generate and facilitate any exchanges intended to satisfy human needs or wants, such that the satisfaction of these needs and wants occurs, with minimal detrimental impact on the natural environment. [Polonsky 1994b, 2] Green marketing has not lived up to the hopes and dreams of many managers and activists. Although public opinion polls consistently show that consumers would prefer to choose a green product over one that is less friendly to the environment when all other things are equal, those other things are rarely equal in the minds of consumers. (Hackett, 2000) They must always keep in mind that consumers are unlikely to compromise on traditional product attributes, such as convenience, availability, price, quality and performance. Its even more important to realize, however, that there is no single green-marketing strategy that is right for every company. (Prothero,, and McDonagh, 1992) Despite the increasing eco-awareness in contemporary market economies, it is generally recognized that there are still considerable barriers to the diffusion of more ecologically oriented consumption styles. In lay discourse as well as in much of consumer research, these barriers are usually attributed to the motivational and practical complexity of green consumption (Hackett, 2000). Increased use of Green Marketing is depending on five possible reasons. (Polonsky 1994b) Organizations perceive environmental marketing to be an opportunity that can be used to achieve its objectives [Keller 1987, Shearer 1990] Organizations believe they have a moral obligation to be more socially responsible [Davis 1992, Keller 1987,] Governmental bodies are forcing firms to become more responsible [Davis 1992]; Competitors environmental activities pressure firms to change their environmental marketing activities [Davis 1992] Cost factors associated with waste disposal, or reductions in material usage forces firms to modify their behavior [Keller, K.L. (1993] Moreover, environmentally responsible behavior usually involves difficult motivational conflicts, arising from the fundamental incompatibility of environmental protection-related collective goals and individual consumers personal or self-interested benefits and the resulting free-rider problem (Wiener and Doesher, 1991) Public policymakers will continue to develop more efficient ways to regulate waste and pollution, and scientists will continue to gather information about the environmental risks from various substances or practices. As they do, pricing structures will evolve that communicate even more accurate information to manufacturers and entrepreneurs about the true cost of commercial activities and the potential rewards from innovative solutions to environmental problems. This definition incorporates much of the traditional components of the marketing definition that is All activities designed to generate and facilitate any exchanges intended to satisfy human needs or wants (Sc hlegelmilch et al,1996). There are usually severe external constraints to green consumerism, arising from the cultural, infrastructural, political and economic circumstances in the markets and society (McIntosh, A. 1991). Both individual and industrial are becoming more concerned and aware about the natural environment. In a 1992 study of 16 countries, more than 50% of consumers in each country, other than Singapore, indicated they were concerned about the environment (Ottman 1993). A 1994 study in Australia found that 84.6% of the sample believed all individuals had a responsibility to care for the environment. A further 80% of this sample indicated that they had modified their behavior, including their purchasing behavior, due to environmental reasons (EPA-NSW 1994). Owing to the conceptual and moral complexity of ecologically responsible consumer behavior and to the perplexity of ecological information, different consumers have different conceptions of ecologically oriented consumer behavior and, thus, myriad ways of acting out their primary motivation for being green consumers (Antil, 1984). These innovations arent being pursued simply to reduce package waste. (Prothero, 1990) Food manufacturers also want to improve food preservation to enhance the taste and freshness of their products. The cost of the foods would be lower; consumers could enjoy the convenience of pre-sliced ingredients, and waste peelings (Prothero, 1990). It can be assumed that firms marketing goods with environmental characteristics will have a competitive advantage over firms marketing non-environmentally responsible alternatives. There are numerous examples of firms who have strived to become more environmentally responsible, in an attempt to better satisfy their consumer needs. (Schwepker, and Cornwell, 1991) While governmental regulation is designed to give consumers the opportunity to make better decisions or to motivate them to be more environmentally responsible, there is difficulty in establishing policies that will address all environmental issues. (Schwepker, and Cornwell, 1991). Hence, environment-friendly consumption may be characterized as highly a complex form of consumer behavior, both intellectually and morally as well as in practice. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE The purpose of this research is to investigate the cause effect of green electronic products consumption in India. What are the factors responsible for the manufacturing of eco-friendly electronics? What makes companies to for green marketing? What are the factors that make customers buy such eco-friendly electronics. How aware consumers are about the green electronics? Also understand the meaning of eco-friendly electronics. Do these green electronics really are green? The OBJECTIVES of the research are: To explore analyze the driving force behind green marketing in Electronic products This objective states the reason why companies are going for green marketing although it is very expensive. Today in the market we can see many products which have the eco-friendly constituent, electronics, cosmetics, automobiles, manufacturing machines, paints, etc all have some eco-friendly component. What are the factors which have forced the companies to go for such strategy? This is studied through the secondary research from magazines, newspaper, brochures, pamphlets, articles, case studies. To study the consumer buying behavior towards green electronic products The consumer buying behavior for electronic product is studied and objective is to find the impact of environmental friendliness, consumer awareness for green electronics and what are the parameters which consumer prefer before buying the electronics. Also study the impact of eco-friendly electronics on consumer buying behavior. This is studied through the survey of consumers. Major Hypothesis (s): H0: Current trends indicate the inclination of customers towards environmental friendly electronic products H1: Current trends does not indicate the inclination of customers towards environmental friendly electronic products RESEARCH METHODLOGY The project work includes the collection of data about the electronics companies, their various products including eco-friendly, environmental policies, eco-labels used by companies. Also customers are survey through a questionnaire, to know the consumer buying behavior towards green electronics and also check their awareness towards eco-friendly products. Methodology Used TYPE OF RESEARCH: Exploratory Research, Descriptive Research I have collected Secondary Data from Internet, magazines, newspapers, articles, brochures, and company websites. GREEN MARKETING Green marketing is a concept which uses the environmental benefits of a product or service to promote companys sales. Todays consumers choose products that do not damage the environment over less environmentally friendly products, even if they cost more. With green marketing, advertisers focus has shifted on environmental benefits to sell products such as biodegradable diapers, energy-efficient light bulbs, and environmentally safe detergents. People spend billions of dollars worth to buy goods and services every year-many of them harm the environment in how they are harvested, made, or used. Environmentalists are supporting green marketing to encourage people to use environmental alternatives, and also offer incentives to manufacturers that develop more environmentally beneficial products. Without environmental labeling standards, consumers can not tell which products or services are truly beneficial. Consumers end up paying extra for misrepresented products so called green product or service. Then new term greenwashing came into existence which describes such cases where organizations misrepresented themselves as environmentally responsible. Environmentally preferable products as products and services which have lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment around them when compared to other products and services that serve the same purpose. The label environmentally preferable or environmental friendly considers various scenarios like how raw materials are acquired, produced, manufactured, packaged, distributed, reused, operated, maintained, and this also include how the product or service is disposed. Today, special labels are there which help the public identify legitimate environmentally preferable products and services. Several environmental groups or committees are there to evaluate and certify products and services. According to the American Marketing Association, green marketing term is defined as the marketing of products that are presumed to be environmentally friendly and safe. As a result, green marketing incorporates a broad range of activities, which includes product modification, production process changes, changes in packaging, as well as modifying advertising. Defining green marketing is not a simple task as several meanings intersect and contradict each other; Environmental Marketing and Ecological Marketing can also be used and are synonyms for green marketing. Green marketing is considered as a golden goose. As per Mr. J. Polonsky, green marketing can be defined as, All activities designed to generate and facilitate any exchange intended to satisfy human needs or wants such that satisfying of these needs and wants occur with minimal detrimental input on the national environment. Environmental issues the product intends to address Consumer is the king in todays market and its important that he should understand environmental issues prevailing. Today the focus is on global warming and resource consumption. Issues related to pollution and contamination of air, water, and soil, are serious issues in developing economies. Waste disposal is also a major issue. Global warming prevention Helps reduce emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. This initiative includes the direct reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as well as energy saving and the reduction of deforestation. Air/water/soil pollution prevention Helps reduce emissions of substances contained in the air, water, and soil, such as photochemical oxidants (e.g., nitrogen oxides) and suspended particulate matter (e.g., sulfur oxides), which are substances restricted by environmental standards including air pollution control laws. This includes products that contribute to preventing ozone depletion and product oxidization. The clean-up of air/water/soil pollutants is also included. Chemical substance reduction Helps reduce and clean up eco-toxic chemical substances harmful to humans and the environment. These chemicals include substances specified by laws that identify the environmental impact created by emissions of specific chemical substances and that promote better management of such substances. This includes the reduction and purification of hazardous substances by recycling and reuse as well as products containing low levels of or no hazardous substances. Waste reduction Helps reduce the final disposal volumes by changing products, manufacturing processes, and packaging. This includes waste weight/volume reduction within the circulation system. Resource saving Helps reduce the consumption of resources, such as mineral, forest, and water resources. This includes resource saving by reuse and recycling as well as resource saving in products and the manufacturing process. Biodiversity The product contributes to the conservation of biological diversity, through a sustainable use of the components in the eco-system and promotes the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. How does the product address environmental issues? This explains how the products support environmental impact reduction. The category is subdivided to provide comprehensive support for various environmental measures widely exercised at present. This clarifies whether resource saving is achieved through enhanced product performance, longer product life, or improved product recyclability. Recyclability/reusability/refill-ability Raw materials can be recovered, processed, and recycled for reuse. Alternatively, they can be recycled efficiently by using designs that are easily disassembled. Reusable and refillable designs may be used in packaging and products. Long life With long-life designs, enhanced durability, and continued performance with repairs and maintenance, product life can be prolonged, leading to the reduction of raw materials and waste. Degradability/compost-ability Products, packaging, and their components are biodegradable and produce substances that are relatively homogeneous and stable. They can also be degraded to a degree under certain conditions within a predetermined period of time. High quality/performance Product quality and performance improvements enable environmental impact reduction, subsequently leading to material and waste reduction. Energy saving Efficient process designs and product weight reduction enable energy saving. This initiative includes the use of energy recovered instead of disposal. Environmental clean-up products The use of hazardous chemical substances in product manufacturing is reduced through the development of alternative materials, etc.; or the use of the product helps clean up hazardous substances. Using recycled materials Recyclable materials (pre- and postconsumer) are recovered and recycled materials are used in the manufacturing process, either entirely or in high volumes. Eco Labels Many products and services come with environmental labels that state product features to inform and appeal to consumers. They certify that items are environmentally friendly according to standards independently set by countries, regions, organizations, and providers. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) classifies environmental labels into Type I, Type II, and Type III and environmental labels are then given based on compliance certification, producers self-declaration of commitment to environmental preservation, and the verification and disclosure of quantitative environmental impact data. Additional environmental labels are awarded under standards and criteria of other bodies. In addition to environmental labels, other initiatives are intended to raise consumers environmental awareness, including the creation of databases where self-assessed products may be registered. Type I (ISO14020, ISO14024): Seal of approval-compliance approval. Description: Type I labels are managed in accordance with the standards and principles of the ISO. This system ensures that the use of the label is accepted by a third party based on an independent, multifaceted standard. The standard covers the entire product life (resource extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, disposal, recycling). The submitted products are assessed for approval and if successful are awarded the Type I label. Examples: Type II (ISO14021): Single attribute-producers self-declaration of commitment to the environment Description: Product providers independently incorporate environment-related improvements in their products. There is no intervention by any third party. Examples: Type III (ISO14025): Report card-verification and disclosure of quantitative environmental impact data Description: Type III labels are managed in accordance with ISO14025 (environmental declarations). They use the life cycle assessment (LCA) method to show environmental information on products quantitatively from resource extraction to manufacturing/assembly, distribution, use, and discarding/recycling. Only the reliability of disclosed data is verified and product evaluation is left to consumers. Examples: Other environmental labels There are other environmental labels apart from those of the ISO. Various environmental labels have been created in many areas including the consumer electronics industry and automotive industry. Driving forces for organizations to go for green marketing Organizations perceive environmental marketing to be an opportunity that can be used to achieve its objectives. Organizations believe they have a moral obligation to be more socially responsible. Governmental bodies are forcing firms to become more responsible. Competitors environmental activities pressure firms to change their environmental marketing activities. Cost factors associated with waste disposal, or reductions in material usage forces firms to modify their behavior. OPPORTUNITIES All types of consumers, both individual and industrial are becoming more concerned and aware about the natural environment. In a 1992 study of 16 countries, more than 50% of consumers in each country, other than Singapore, indicated they were concerned about the environment. A 1994 study in Australia found that 84.6% of the sample believed all individuals had a responsibility to care for the environment. A further 80% of this sample indicated that they had modified their behavior, including their purchasing behavior, due to environmental reasons. As demands change, many firms see these changes as an opportunity to be exploited. It can be assumed that firms marketing goods with environmental characteristics will have a competitive advantage over firms marketing non-environmentally responsible alternatives. There are numerous examples of firms who have strived to become more environmentally responsible, in an attempt to better satisfy their consumer need. McDonalds replaced its clam sh ell packaging with waxed paper because of increased consumer concern relating to polystyrene production and Ozone depletion. Xerox introduced a high quality recycled photocopier paper in an attempt to satisfy the demands of firms for less environmentally harmful products. This is not to imply that all firms who have undertaken environmental marketing activities actually improve their behavior. In some cases firms have misled consumers in an attempt to gain market share. In other cases firms have jumped on the green bandwagon without considering the accuracy of their behavior, their claims, or the effectiveness of their products. This lack of consideration of the true greenness of activities may result in firms making false or misleading green marketing claims. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY GREEN MARKETING Many firms are beginning to realize that they are members of the wider community and therefore must behave in an environmentally responsible fashion. This translates into firms that believe they must achieve environmental objectives as well as profit related objectives. This results in environmental issues being integrated into the firms corporate culture. Firms in this situation can take two perspectives: They can use the fact that they are environmentally responsible as a marketing tool; or They can become responsible without promoting this fact. There are examples of firms adopting both strategies. Organizations like the Panasonic heavily promote the fact that they are environmentally responsible. While this behavior is a competitive advantage, the firm was established specifically to offer consumers environmentally responsible alternatives to conventional electronic products. This philosophy is directly tied to the overall corporate culture, rather than simply being a competitive tool. An example of a firm that does not promote its environmental initiatives is Voltas. They have invested large sums of money in various recycling activities, as well as having modified their packaging to minimize its environmental impact. While being concerned about the environment, Voltas has not used this concern as a marketing tool. GOVERNMENTALPRESSURE As with all marketing related activities, governments want to protect consumers and society; this protection has significant green marketing implications. Governmental regulations relating to environmental marketing are designed to protect consumers in several ways, Reduce production of harmful goods or by-products; Modify consumer and industrys use and/or consumption of harmful goods; or Ensure that all types of consumers have the ability to evaluate the environmental composition of goods. Governments establish regulations designed to control the amount of hazardous wastes produced by firms. Many by-products of production are controlled through the issuing of various environmental licenses, thus modifying organizational behavior. In some cases governments try to induce final consumers to become more responsible. For example, some governments have introduced voluntary curb-side recycling programs, making it easier for consumers to act responsibly. In other cases governments tax individuals who act in an irresponsible fashion. COMPETITIVE PRESSURE Another major force in the environmental marketing area has been firms desire to maintain their competitive position. In many cases firms observe competitors promoting their environmental behaviors and attempt to emulate this behavior. In some instances this competitive pressure has caused an entire industry to modify and thus reduce its detrimental environmental behavior. For example, it could be argued that Xeroxs Revive 100% Recycled paper was introduced a few years ago in an attempt to address the introduction of recycled photocopier paper by other manufacturers. In another example when one tuna manufacture stopped using driftnets the others followed suit. COST OR PROFIT ISSUES Firms may also use green marketing in an attempt to address cost or profit related issues. Disposing of environmentally harmful by-products are becoming increasingly costly and in some cases difficult. Therefore firms that can reduce harmful wastes may incur substantial cost savings. When attempting to minimize waste, firms are often forced to re-examine their production processes. In these cases they often develop more effective production processes that not only reduce waste, but reduce the need for some raw materials. This serves as a double cost savings, since both waste and raw material are reduced. In other cases firms attempt to find end-of-pipe solutions, instead of minimizing waste. In these situations firms try to find markets or uses for their waste materials, where one firms waste becomes another firms input of production.

The Chocolate Market In India

The Chocolate Market In India This is a brief report regarding Cadburys organization covering all its segments in the market. It starts with an introduction about chocolate market in India followed by a brief about Cadburys establishment in India. It also gives a clear picture about all the brands of Cadbury India. This report also includes the PEST analysis, Porters 5 Forces Model and the SWOT analysis which shows an internal architecture of the working of the Cadburys business. It gives a brief detail about the issues that the company would face for starting a new store in Mumbai and its implementation respectively. 2. INTRODUCTION: 2.1. The chocolate market in India: In India chocolate consumption was very low in the early 90s but as the decade advanced the consumption drastically increased. The late 90s witnessed a good chocolate market condition. The chocolate market in India is dominated by two multinational companies Cadbury and Nestle. The national companies Amul and Campco are other candidates in this race. Cadbury holds more than 70% of the total share of the market. Nestle has emerged by holding almost 20% of the total share. Apart from chocolate segment, there is also a big confectionery segment which is flooded by companies like Parrys, Ravalgaon, Candico and Nutrine. All these are leading national players. The multinational companies like the Cadbury, Nestle and Perfetti are the new entrants in the sugar confectionery market. (Management paradise) There are several others which have a minor share in these two segments. According to statistics, the chocolate consumption in India is extremely low. If per capita consumption is considere d, it comes to only 160gms in the urban areas. This amount is very low compared to the developed countries where the per capita consumption is more than 8-10kg. Observing this fact it would not be appropriate to consider the rural areas of India as it will be extremely low. This low consumption is owing to the notion behind consuming chocolates. Indians eat chocolates as indulgence and not as snack food. The major target population is the children. India has witnessed a slow growth rate of about 10% pa from the 70s to the 80s. But as the century advanced the market stagnated. This was the time when Cadbury launched its product- Dairy Milk as an anytime product rather than an occasional luxury. All the advertisements of Dairy Milk paid a full attention to adults and not children. And this proved to be the major breakthrough for Cadbury as it tried to break the conventional ideas of the Indians about chocolate. One of the oldest products of Cadbury which is still going strong is the C adburys Five Star which was launched in the year 1968 in India. Cadburys Five Star is the most resistant chocolate to temperature and hence it is widely distributed all across the country. In early 90s, the Cocoa prices became high due to which the manufacturers were forced to raise their product prices. But as the new variety of chocolate was launched the wafer and the chocolate variety with the brand name Perk, the volume grew significantly. In the late 90s new players like Nestle also introduced these wafer chocolates with the name Kit Kat resulting into the growth of the market. (Management paradise) 2.2 Cadbury in India: Cadbury in India began its operations in the year 1948. After 60 years of existence, it has got five company-owned manufacturing facilities at Thane, Induri (Pune) and Malanpur (Gwalior), Bangalore and Baddi (Himachal Pradesh) and 4 sales offices (New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai). The corporate office is in Mumbai. There are 4 major segments under which the Cadbury operates Chocolate Confectionery, Milk Food Drinks, and Candy and Gum category. Cadbury has maintained its undisputed leadership in the chocolate confectionery segment enjoying over 70% of the total market share. Cadburys Dairy Milk is considered as the Gold Standard for chocolates in India. Cadbury India Ltd. is a subsidiary of the Cadbury Schweppes and employs over 2000 people across the country. Since 1965 Cadbury has pioneered the Cocoa cultivation in India in association with the Kerala Agricultural University. The research on Cocoa has resulted in numerous releases of clones and hybrids improving the cocoa yield. Cadbury has formed a separate Cocoa team which visits the farmers, conducts seminars and advises them on cocoa cultivation. Hardly surprising then that the Cocoa tree is called the Cadbury tree! Cadburys India Ltd has achieved great success due to its global and local management processes combined with unique customized business models. Along with these Cadburys has improvised their techniques of manufacturing leading to huge amount of cost savings. (Cadbury India) 2.3 Cadbury and premium segment in India: Currently Cadbury has various brands like Cadbury Dairy Milk, 5 Star, Perk, Eclairs and Celebrations. And now Cadbury India has launched a premium segment Cadbury Bournville Fine Dark Chocolate. With this move, the company aims to launch a new category of dark chocolates in India. Dark Chocolate is growing at a rate of 13% globally. But India is still at nascent stage. There is less than 25% awareness amongst the young age segment. Thus, its almost like a category creation with this launch. Since this is a new category, a lot of sampling will be required in terms of marketing. Besides traditional media campaign, there will be below-the-line activities. (Media newsline) The launch of Bournville Fine Dark Chocolate in India is timely, as it will cater to the evolving consumer preferences and serve as a treat for consumers looking for a moment of sheer indulgence. It contains 44% cocoa from the worlds finest Ghana beans and an ever so smooth texture, each little chunk is dark and undeniably good. The chocolate is available in four variants: rich cocoa, hazelnut, almond and raisin and nut and plans to target, 20-30 age bracket. Dark Chocolate acts as a mood-booster; by boosting serotonin and endorphin levels that generate the feel-good factor. This more than a perfect bar of dark chocolate turns the simple act of eating it into a form of art. It demands a certain ritual, where, in a way, each of its steps offers a tribute to every stage of your journey. Made from the finest ingredients, each individually presented Bournville Fine Dark Chocolate is an irresistible in-the-mouth delight specially created to savour the Indian palate. (Campaign India) 3. Situational: 3.1 PEST analysis of the Chocolate Segment in India: Growth and progress of a company depends upon multifarious factors which are known to have direct and apparent effects on the overall target and functioning of that company. For a gargantuan corporation like the Cadburys, it is very important to keep an eye out for the butterfly effects of the political, social, economical, technological and environmental factors. Any changes in the laws or regulations, especially concerning international trade and food labeling could greatly affect the chocolate industry. Awareness of the Food Safety Act will help the chocolate industry for sustaining in the ever growing market. The chocolate manufacturers need to make sure that none of the companies are breaking laws regarding production. For example, employing children or paying under minimum wage. Otherwise, scandals and lawsuits would greatly hurt their reputation. Inspite of the economy being relatively down at the moment, it is observed that the chocolate industry has not been affected much. A s a result it would support the launch of a new chocolate product or a new store. High consumer spending and low interest rates also encourage a new product. Confectionary market is growing at a very high rate and there are still many uncovered segments that require appropriate strategic approaches. Many people are trying to eat healthy and cut down on confectionary goods and soft drinks due to the current skinny is beautiful trend. Public opinion of chocolates is very high, so no major concerns are there to stop consumers from buying their products. Production is high due to advanced technologies and well equipped factories which enables high quality mass production. Medias such as the internet, television and the radio enable large amount of cheap advertisement. Internet is a good place to sell goods, even confectionary ones. Provides a new consumer group with access to Cadbury and allows even larger sales due to a larger overall consumer group. (Business studies) 3.2. Porters 5 Forces Model: Porters Five Force Analysis of Cadbury provides a deep insight into the various aspects which influence the companys structure and growth. The constant change in the market structure, shares and prices, due to the emergence of new chocolate manufacturers, demonstrates a threat for the existing chocolate and confectionery companies like the Perfetti, Parle, Ravalgaon, Nutrine Parrys, etc. But for a giant like Cadbury such threats are of no substantial value since it is such a big and reputed company. In fact Cadbury itself becomes an exceedingly bigger threat for the upcoming companies. Thus there is no question of rising competition and dispersion of the customers across all these new manufacturers. Therefore this factor does not significantly affect the total turnover of Cadbury. Recent reports of US chocolate major Hershey entering the Indian market is not worrying the company because a lot of home work in terms of knowing the Indian consumers, brand building and wide distribution network needs to be done by it. At the same time, the rivals should never be taken for granted as this is an evergreen sector with ample profit margins and with potential initial investments and appropriate market analysis any emerging company can spread its wings to become a huge success. (Myiris) Another threat which could possibly affect sales of the Cadbury is the threat of substitute products or services. Now, if the general eating habits of the consumers are taken into consideration, substitutes would definitely point out at the sweets dominantly omnipresent in the Indian market. Festive seasons witness a big sale in both sweets and chocolates. Advertising and a strong market analysis during such peak periods helps a company in making profits. It should be noticed that even cookies, carob confections, ice creams and the other bakery products like cakes and pastries present themselves as a good substitute for chocolates. In todays health conscious world fruits and other natural products are rising up to become a substitute for chocolates. (Good housekeeping) Another important force is the Bargaining power of supplier. It is the pressure that the suppliers can impose on sources for inputs that are needed in order to provide goods or services. Supplier bargaining power is likely to be high when, the market is dominated by a few large suppliers, the switching costs from one supplier to another are high, threat of forward integration by suppliers and the buying industry has low barriers to entry. Cadbury seeks high quality, great value and excellent service from all of its suppliers. Hence, it has formed an Ethical Sourcing Program which is a fundamental element in ensuring that the standards are met at every step in the supply chain. Also, Cadbury is developing a Supplier Diversity Program to enhance its supplier base and ensure that it reflects the markets they serve. Cadbury itself selects such suppliers who deliver the best overall value; value that consists of competitive pricing, technological foresight, customer service excellence an d the ongoing achievement of its supply chain and material standards. (C.S-supplier) Some what similar to the above would be another force which is Bargaining power of the buyers. Customers bargaining powers are likely to be high when they buy in large volumes, when they have knowledge about the production cost and most importantly when there are other potentially competitive companies selling the same type of product at reasonable costs. Cadbury faces tough challenge in this aspect as the customers are very well aware of all the above factors. Cadbury has thus designed the overall strategy to maintain its market dominance along with targeting the impulse buyers. (Hinduonnet) The most important force amongst all the Porters 5 forces is the Rivalry among existing firms. Cadbury currently faces tough competition from the international giants like the Nestle and Hersheys and national giants like the Amul and Campco. The company profit is inversely proportional to the intensity of rivalry. But it is observed that Cadbury has always welcomed strong competition (like that from Nestle from past 7-8 years). Cadbury believes that strong competition increases the market pie. This confidence is very well reflected from that fact that, despite Nestle launching its famous Kit Kat brand, Cadbury India has maintained its market share. 3.3. S.W.O.T Analysis: Based on the above introduction to Cadbury, the Porters Five Forces and PEST analysis a new SWOT analysis can be charted out. It is observed from the following analysis that Cadbury holds a bright future provided they fill in for the loop holes existing in their system. Cadbury being a reputed company has its brand name as one of its biggest strengths. It has been present for over 50 years even before competition could peep-in. Due to its presence for so many years people tend to associate chocolate with Cadbury. It is almost as if Cadbury is synonymous with generic category chocolate. Cadbury Schweppes is a very profitable organization, generating revenue in billions. The company recorded revenues of  £7,157 million during the fiscal year ended December 2005, an increase of 6.2% over 2004. Cadbury India Ltd is supported by its parent company, Cadbury Schweppes. A large range of products like chocolates, beverages, malted foods etc. are manufactured by Cadbury. These products are reasonably priced to suit different economic consumer categories. Celebrity endorsements have increased sales and also added glitter to the brand name. Cadbury India has the biggest market share at 60 per cent while Nestle is the second largest at 25 per cent. Amul holds the rest. In spite of innovation in the chocolate segment, their basic chocolate, Dairy Milk, still seems to remain the all time favorite of most people. The scenario of worms being found in Cadbury chocolates lead to a temporary decline in sales. Also Cadbury offers a limited variety of products as opposed to other leading competitive brands, e.g. Amul and Nestle that offer an array of products like biscuits, dairy products, etc. One of the major raw material i.e. Cocoa has to be imported leading to bunched imports and higher inventory. Also majority of markets in India are not Air conditioned and hence cannot store chocolates at least during hot summers, which limits the market access. As Cadbury has established i tself very well in the Indian market, it can now narrow down to some popular products and can bring down its own individual Cadburys store. It has capabilities to increase the range of products manufactured. The company can easily venture into new segments individually or jointly. Another very important opportunity that can be observed is the introduction of foreign products in India. The company can focus on targeting urban areas and developing sectors by working on availability and affordability. As observed in the Porters 5 forces, the company aims at bringing efficiency in logistics and distribution. This can very well be achieved by using information technology. Cadbury can also focus on gaining profits through chewing gum market in India. As Cadbury has already faced a worm scandal, its reputation has been put at stake by the competitors trying to exploit this situation. Also as earlier observed in Porters five forces, Cadbury faces a serious threat in the confectionery segmen t from companies like Amul, Nestle, etc. As Cadbury produces chocolates and a few related products, effective management of all the areas proves to be difficult at times. Trends of purchase may change with the ever-changing taste preference of consumers. Changing restrictions and rules from Government quality control boards may result in pressure on the production of the company cost increase. Also, Cadbury is exposed to rise in the cost of cocoa beans, dairy products and other vital ingredients. 4. Issues identification: After going through the important aspects of Cadburys, what issues I have come through are that Cadburys has a strong market position and is a major player in confectionary and chocolate industry. It serves in all segments like the chocolate confectionary, bars, candy, gums, milk food drinks and premium segment. Cadburys have a great brand name and it is well established from many years. Cadbury India has the biggest market share at 60 percent and it is expected to increase year by year. Also, due to its presence for so many years, people have started to associate chocolate with Cadbury which is a great advantage and achievement. They have a good rivalry with the existing companies and it doesnt bother much because of the goodwill created. As all these points shows how well established the company is in India, I think of recommending them to launch an individual Cadbury store where in all the products of different segments will be there in that store. And the brands which are not in India, I think of launching those brands with this store. There are already successful stores like Candies, Fantasie and Birdies in India and launching this would bring a tough competition in this new market sector. 5. Implementation: I believe that the stores should come up in Mumbai city because it is a metropolitan city and it is really a fine area to look out for potential customers. The stores should be located at places in Mumbai which are Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus, Bandra and Vashi. I think that these places are densely populated and the crowd is very happening. These places are also the hubs because many people from different cities prefer to go to these places for work, spending leisure time and to meet people. Chattrapati Terminus is located in South Mumbai. It is a market area; where millions of people go to and fro daily and therefore it would be easy to target the customers coming there for work and who stay there. It is also very close to Nariman point, Colaba and Marine drive and it would be easy to grab the attention of people coming from such extreme end of the city. Now about Bandra, it falls in the suburban side of Mumbai and it has a large multipurpose population. Bandra is also known for be ing the favourite shopping spot in the entire Mumbai. People go there for their daily work and also a huge amount of population resides there. So it is a nice place for the Cadbury store to flourish. Vashi is a huge market residential place as well as a commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is the prime locality in New Mumbai. The store must be located in any malls such as In-orbit, Centre one, Raghuleela or Palm Beach Galleria as many people visit these malls on a daily basis mainly for shopping and for fun. Bringing Cadburys store would serve as a competition for the retail stores such as Birdies and Croissant which are already in these malls. So these places come to my mind when I think about launching the store. 6. Conclusion: The Indian Chocolate Industry is a unique mix with extreme consumption patterns, attitudes, beliefs, income level and spending. Understanding the consumer demands and maintaining the quality will be essential. Pricing is the key for Cadburys to make their product reach to every consumer houses. Right pricing will make or break the product Success. Theres also an immense scope for growth of chocolate industry in India, geographically as well as in the product offering. So I think that bringing a store would bring prosperity and increase the sales of Cadburys as a whole again resulting in the goodwill of the company.

The Problem of Racism :: essays research papers

Racism has many meanings, one of which is the discrimination of a group of people due to their race, color, and religion. In addition, racism is hatred for all races apart from one that is considered the master race. Racism stemmed from the past and is still active today. Racism in the past was purely violent especially in the early 20th Century. When slavery was abolished in America in 1865 racial tension settled in. As the free slaves, where allowed to move freely around the land a majority of the white population still saw them as slaves and did not want to mix with them. Fewer than 50% of the population supported the abolition of slavery. The South was a hotbed for racism in the late 19th Century. Segregation was introduced in the 1920's and 30's. Blacks and whites were kept apart from each other. Sometimes there was a single white line between the races, the blacks were given poor surroundings to reside in, while the whites had comfortable surroundings. People found crossing the line on both sides were given severe punishments especially on the white side of the town. Lynching was a common punishment that was used many times by the white community, sometimes it was arranged. There were separate toilets, separate washbasins, separate shops, separate restaurants and coffee houses and even separate drinking fountains and in schools. The schools were separated for the blacks and the whites it ended in 1954 with schools being told to let the black children go to the same schools as the whites. There were countless demonstrations from the white parents. Segregation was also present on the buses, blacks had to sit on the three back seats and if the bus was full and a white person got on the bus the black person had to give up his/her seat. There was an incident that sparked the whole pacifist movement from Martin Luther King. Rosa Parks was going home from a day shopping, the bus she was on was packed. A white person got on the bus and told her to get up and let him sit down. She refused profusely and was physically thrown of the bus. She was then arrested and imprisoned. This caused a boycott of the bus service from the black population. Many businesses went out of business and the segregation on the buses came to an end. This forced a bill to be