The Victory of Spanish over the Aztecs

The victory of Cortes over the Aztec was the result of certain military advantages the conquistadors enjoyed, as well as specific problems that weakened the Aztec people and made the empire more vulnerable. It is almost impossible to believe that a small amount of Spanish soldiers were able to conquer the mighty Aztec empire in this historic battle. As soon as Cortes and his army arrived to Mexico in 1519, where the Aztec used to live.They were kindly received by the emperor Montezuma, and their main goal of coming to Tenochtitlan was the gold. According to Sahagun, (2009), ‘’ when the Spanish had given the gold, they seemed to smile, to rejoice and to be very happy. Like monkeys they griped the gold’’, (p. 112). Despite their small number, the Spanish has defeated the Aztec, because of many advantages, such as the military technology they had, which were based on firearms, swords made by steel and iron and riding horses were a great advantage.Also, they ha d better weapon and a lot of the Aztec were scared of horses. Moreover, the Spanish looked like gods to the Aztecs, because of their aggression in killing people. What is more, the diseases that the Spanish carried, like smallpox and malaria, helped them a lot in victorious. â€Å" The pustules that covered people caused great desolation; very many people died of them, and many just starved to death; starvation regained, and no one took care of others any longer† (Sahagun, 2009, page 114).On the other hand, before the Spanish reached Mexico, there were many problems that faced the Aztecs, for example because of the Aztecs religion, it requested a large number of human sacrifices, which considered as an honor, where to be made to the Gods. â€Å" Once when Duran asked why the people were not content to sacrifice animals, he was told that the sacrifice of humans was the honored offering of a great lord â€Å" (Duran,2009,page 407). Furthermore, the Aztecs were not able to be united with other tribes, so the Spanish took this point as an advantage, by united with other tribes to fight the Aztecs.All of these factors were important reasons to destroy the Aztec’s civilization. In conclusion, the Spanish had no mercy in fighting with Aztec and they made many massacres back that time. They used many powerful battle methods against the Aztec, like swords, horses and diseases . Also, there were some interior troubles inside the Aztec society such as human sacrifices. after long battle between the Spanish and the Aztec and a long siege of the capital Tenochtitlan, where much of the population died from hunger and diseases.

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 41

How Is She? My birthday falls on a Friday. December 29. In the afternoon, Mom helps me tape trash bags around my cast so I can take my first shower since I broke my leg. This is sort of embarrassing to talk about, but Mom has to help me keep my cast out of the shower, so she holds the shower curtain for me, protecting the cast, as I straddle the edge of the tub, trying to keep my weight on my good leg. Mom hands me the soap when I need it and also the shampoo. She pretends not to look at my naked body, but I am sure she gets a glimpse at some point, which makes me feel strange. I haven't worked out in days, so I feel very small and weak – but Mom doesn't say anything about my diminished girth, because she is a kind woman. After my shower, Mom helps me put on a pair of sweatpants she has modified, cutting one leg off at the thigh so my cast can fit through. I also put on a button-down shirt from the Gap and my new leather jacket. I hop down the steps, crutch my way out the door and into the backseat of Mom's car, sitting sideways so my cast will fit. When we arrive at the Voorhees house, I crutch my way into Cliff's office, pick the black recliner, prop my cast up on the footrest, and tell Cliff everything. When I finish my story, Cliff says, â€Å"So you've been in bed since Christmas?† â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"And you have no interest in reading or watching television?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"And you're not working out your upper body at all? No weights?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"What do you do all day?† â€Å"I sleep, or I think. Sometimes I write, but Danny has been coming to visit me too.† I had already told Cliff all about God reuniting Danny and me, which even Cliff had to admit was a bit of a miracle and maybe the silver lining to my awful Christmas. â€Å"What do you and Danny do when he visits?† â€Å"We play Parcheesi.† â€Å"Parcheesi?† â€Å"It's the Royal Game of India. How can you not know it?† â€Å"I know Parcheesi. I'm just surprised you and Danny play board games together.† â€Å"Why?† Cliff makes a funny face, but doesn't say anything. â€Å"Danny brings his Parcheesi game all the way from North Philly. He rides the trains.† â€Å"That's good, right? It must be nice to see your old friend.† â€Å"I was sorry to learn that he still can't rap, even after a second operation, but his aunt got him a job doing the janitorial work at her church, which is also a day-care center. He wipes down the pews with pine oil and mops the floors and empties the trash and vacuums every night – stuff like that. He smells like pine trees now too, which is sort of a nice bonus. But Danny is quieter than I remember him being in the bad place.† â€Å"Did you tell Danny about what Tiffany did to you?† Cliff asks. â€Å"Yeah, I did.† â€Å"What did he say?† â€Å"Nothing.† â€Å"He didn't give you any advice?† â€Å"I didn't ask him for any advice.† â€Å"I see.† Cliff grabs his chin, which lets me know he is going to say something my mother has told him. â€Å"Pat, I know how you lost your memory. Everyone does.† He pauses here, gauging my reaction. â€Å"And I think you remember too. Do you?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Do you want me to tell you how you lost your memory?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"Why?† I don't say anything. â€Å"I know Dr. Timbers used to tell you the story every day as part of your therapy. That's why I never brought it up. I thought maybe you would talk about it when you were ready, but it's been almost five months – and now you have a broken leg, and things seem to have gotten worse. I can't help feeling as though we need to start trying other tactics. What Tiffany suggested about closure is true. I'm not saying her methods were honorable, but you really do need to come to terms with what happened, Pat. You need closure.† â€Å"Maybe my movie isn't over,† I say, because sometimes moviemakers trick the audience with a false bad ending, and just when you think the movie is going to end badly, something dramatic happens, which leads to the happy ending. This seems like a good spot for something dramatic to happen, especially since it's my birthday. â€Å"Your life is not a movie, Pat. Life is not a movie. You're an Eagles fan. After watching so many NFL seasons without a Super Bowl, you should know that real life often ends poorly.† â€Å"How can you say that now, especially since the Eagles have won four straight and are headed into the play-offs – even after McNabb went down!† Cliff just looks at me, almost as if he is scared, and suddenly I realize that I was just yelling. But I can't help adding, â€Å"With a negative attitude like that, it will end poorly, Cliff! You're starting to sound like Dr. Timbers! You better watch out, or you're going to be defeated by pessimism!† There is a long silence, and Cliff looks really worried, which begins to worry me. On the drive home, Mom tells me that people are coming over for my birthday. She is making me a birthday dinner. â€Å"Is Nikki coming?† I ask. â€Å"No, Pat. Nikki is never coming,† Mom says. â€Å"Never.† When we arrive home, Mom makes me sit in the family room while she cooks meat loaf and mashed potatoes and green beans and an apple pie. She keeps trying to talk to me, but I really do not feel like talking. Jake and Caitlin arrive first, and they try to cheer me up by talking really enthusiastically about the Birds, but it doesn't work. When Ronnie and Veronica arrive, Emily climbs onto my lap, which makes me feel a little better. Caitlin asks Emily if she wants to draw a picture on my cast, and when she nods, Mom finds some markers and we all watch little Emily draw. She starts off by making a wobbly circle, which is understandable, since the cast is not perfectly flat, nor smooth. But then she just scribbles all sorts of colors everywhere, and I cannot tell what she is up to until she points to her creation and says, â€Å"Pap!† â€Å"Did you draw a picture of Uncle Pat?† Ronnie says, and when Emily nods, everyone laughs because it looks nothing like me. When we sit down at the dining-room table, my father is still not home. Even after the win over Dallas, he has been pretty distant lately, hiding in his study again. Nobody mentions my dad's absence, so I don't either. Mom's meal is delicious, and everyone says so. When it is time for pie, they sing â€Å"Happy Birthday† to me, and then little Emily helps me blow out the candles that make the shape of the number 35. I hardly believe that I can actually be thirty-five, because I still feel like I am thirty – maybe I only wish I were thirty, because then I'd have Nikki in my life. After we eat our pie, Emily helps me open my presents. I get a brand-new wooden hand-painted Parcheesi board from Mom, who says she invited Danny to my party, but he had to work. Ronnie, Emily, and Veronica give me an Eagles fleece blanket. Jake and Caitlin give me a membership to a gym in Philadelphia. The brochure in the box says the club has a pool and a steam room and basketball courts and racquetball courts and all types of weight-lifting equipment and other machines that build muscles. â€Å"It's where I work out,† my brother says. â€Å"And I was thinking we could start working out together once your leg mends.† Even though I'm not all that interested in working out so much anymore, I realize that the membership is a nice present, so I thank Jake. When we retire to the living room, I ask Veronica about Tiffany. â€Å"How's Tiffany?† I say. I'm not really sure why I ask. The words just sort of slip out of my mouth, and when they do, everyone stops talking and a silence hangs in the air. â€Å"I invited her to your party,† Mom finally offers, probably just so Veronica will not feel badly about her sister being excluded. â€Å"Why?† Jake asks. â€Å"So she can lie to Pat again? Set him back a few more years?† â€Å"She was only trying to help,† Veronica says. â€Å"Your sister has a funny way of helping.† â€Å"Stop,† Caitlin says to Jake. And then the room is silent again. â€Å"So how is she?† I ask, because I really do want to know.

Using Teams in Production and Operations Management Essay

Using Teams in Production and Operations Management - Essay Example A fundamental accountant should be conversant with information research and gathering (Pedneault, Rudewicz, Silverstone & Sheetz, 2012). This skill is very important in the field of forensic accounting because to be able to undertake an investigation the accountant will first have to obtain all the information concerning the company. It is also needed since if for example conducting a research about fraud, the forensic accountant should be able to find all the information about the auditors of the company, the management and all other people concerned with the financial matters of the company. The relationship between this skill and its application in the business is that since a business is conducted by a large number of people and contains a wide range of information, it will thus require a forensic accountant who can search for the information. Analytical; a second skill to be possessed by a forensic accountant is the skill of analysis. He or she should be able to analyze data items critically and all information gathered should be scrutinized keenly to come up with all the minor details which might be taken for granted. This skill is needed since it enables the accountant obtain results which are not compromised. He or she will also be able to maintain high standards of accuracy in his work. This skill is very important in business operations because, fraud in a company is usually carried out by highly qualified people and thus they will use all ways to hide this fraud. Thus, to identify it, the forensic accountant will need to conduct and in-depth analysis. Investigative and communicative skills; a forensic accountant should be able to conduct a thorough investigation on all people concerned with the work being investigated. This is only possible if he or she has good communication skills; where he can question people without hurting their feelings or harassing them. He should not be

The Impacts of International Expansion by Foreign Direct Investment in Essay

The Impacts of International Expansion by Foreign Direct Investment in European Countries - Essay Example Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended; Signed †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Date †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. STATEMENT 3 I hereby give consent for my dissertation, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Date †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Abstract Prior to the 1960s, it was generally perceived that international expansion would flow primarily from countries with capital abundance into countries with little capital. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the 195 0s were primarily occurring among businesses in Western Europe and North America. The result was international expansion was limited to the extent that capital was not shared globally (Oxelheim and Ghauri 2004, p. 323). Essentially, developed countries dominated both the source and host venues for FDI flows. Significant changes occurred in the 1990s that would have profound consequences for international expansion through FDIs in Europe. ... Even so, the international expansion of Europe by FDIs has not developed as expected. With the expectation that a number of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries will eventually become members of the European Union, several questions relative to the impacts of international expansion in Europe arise. The first question is whether or not this prospect will contribute to European internationalization via FDIs. This paper investigates this question since Europe represents a unique conglomeration of developed and developing countries, an essential feature of the internationalization. The main objective is to ensure that developing countries share in international capital flows. Another relevant question for investigation is whether or not FDIs will introduce the skill and capital necessary for modernizing CEEs in Europe or will it encourage monopolies and rent-seeking practices. If the FDI can be beneficial in terms of internationalization in Europe, what factors are essentially fue ling its development and growth and what can European countries do to make the FDI more appealing? Ideally, the impact of internationalization by FDIs in Europe should be the supply of cheap labor with a reciprocal infusion of capital for the funding of privatization and industrialization (Morgan, Kristensen and Whitley 2003, pp.43-44). In this regard, Western European and other foreign companies would assist in the transitioning of these socialist states to open-market economies by not only providing investment capital, but by virtue of technology and management transfers. This is the intended consequence of economic integration under the auspices of internationalization. More importantly, this is the way forward if Europe intends to achieve its goal of

World History since 1945 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

World History since 1945 - Essay Example The doctrine also promised to help Turkey and Greece economically and through military actions against the communists this after Britain announced that they would be withdrawing their support. These countries were to receive $400,000,000 aid. The doctrine contents were justified by the need to help free people in their fight against totalitarian rule which would undermine international peace, and as a result affect the state of security in the United States (Jones 36). The National Security Council Paper NSC-68 was a top secret report meant to confront the treat the hostile design of the Soviet Union had on the USA. The report banned the regeneration of US isolationism arguing that it will result in Soviet Union supremacy of Eurasia, and leave the USA stranded on the western hemisphere, away from its allies and assets need to push away Soviet infringement. Additionally, the report ruled out a deterrent strike against the Soviet Union since it will result in tit-for-tat action that would be devastating to Western Europe. The report also paved way for possible future negotiations with the Soviet Union. In its conclusion, the paper called for massive development of both conventional and nuclear arm in order to prevent the Soviet Union. However, this could only be achieved through increased taxes as well as the reduction of expenditure. The report was widely criticized with the critics arguing that USA already had a significant military edge over the Soviet Union. However, in June 1950 the recommendations were adopted as policy (Jones 72). When Mao took over the leadership of China in 1949, the country was witnessing a lot of problems. For instance, the country had fewer industries, unemployment levels were high, food shortages coupled with increased population. In 1949, 85 percent of chinas population were peasants. Mao

Variance analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Variance analysis - Essay Example The overall costumers’ performance in 2008 was better. In fact, it was also exceeded the anticipated average customers’ spending by $1,520.Nontheless, there was a variation in the individual customer’s spending. The company’s top 20 customers are include: Webber Rob ,Chandler Laverne, Locke Lanny, O Malley Grace, Antekier Gigi, Chubin Spencer, Harmon Majorie, Stuart Nathan, Galaviz Aldon, Sample Lorrie, Badillo Murrel, Sheppard Caroline, Shenton Bartley, Felt Dominic, Lockard Roz, Fain Mina, Waterworth Vera, Abrahamson Gaige , Britton Alisa, and Spencer Jude. On the other hand, the worst 20 customers include: Chivalan Rebecca, Cobb Petr, Dahlbeck Augie, Fowble Pat, Furst Gardner, Holzer Tracey, Hull Lorvel, Robinson Alpha, Talman Holly, Wayne Dayle, Allbritton Tad, Grenier Elsa, Hendricks Audrey, Innes Gilbert, Ledford Wendel, Stephens Sylvain, Yadon Kate, Daniels Kethy, Jackson Sophia, and Wilkins Rom. With reference to product performance, the company’s products recorded astounding performance, better than the expected. In this regards, the average sales were $ 1,795,664.76. in terms of individual product performance, the top 20 best selling products are: Electronics Sony, Electronics RCA, Electronics Sharp, Movies Matthew Broderick, Electronics Panasonic, Electronics Hewlett Packard, Movies Eddie Murphy, Movies, Liam Neeson, Movies Jack Nicholson, Electronics GPX, Movies Tom Hanks, Electronics New Media, Movies Richard Bradley, Music Alison Krauss, Books Geneen Roth, Music Blackhawk, Music Live, Music Aaron Tippin, and Electronics 3Com. On the contrary, the bottom 20 products in terms of sales are: Books Mark Wilson, Books Young, Music Sound Effects, Movies David Barton, Books Doug Hall, Books Jonathan Baird, Books David Miles Huber, Movies Robert Powell, Books Edward R. Tufte, Movies Billy Blanks, Music Doo Wop Box, Music Various Artists , Books Andy Rooney ,Books Stephen Sacks, Music

Globalisation and the State. Discuss Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Globalisation and the State. Discuss - Essay Example Initially, globalization seemed to be supportive towards the economic and social development of states; however, through the years the actual role of globalization has been revealed. Globalization has been introduced for supporting the interests of specific groups of people, of rich, a mission that it is aligned with the principles of neo-liberalism. The relationship between globalization and the state from a theoretical perspective is explained in this paper. Emphasis is given to neo-liberalism, a theory that it is closely related to globalization as analyzed below. The literature review developed for this study has revealed that globalization has contributed in the limitation of state’s powers and this activity has been based on the rules of neo-liberalism. The chances for the states to recover their powers seem to be limited and they are depended on the ability of governments to control the expansion of neo-liberalism worldwide. 2. Globalization and the state 2.1 Globalizat ion as a concept Globalization has been described as a process ‘of double polarization, of cultural fragmentation and of formation of transnational networks’ (Friedman 2003, p.17). In its common form, globalization can be characterized as an unfair political and economic framework. ... These networks aim to support the exchange of culture and the free movement of people, goods and capital worldwide (Westerfield and Abbink 2004). According to its supporters, globalization can highly benefit economies worldwide since it supports ‘trade liberalization, capital-labour mobility and exchange of information’ (Basu 2008, p.1). However, the relevant schemes are organized in such way that finally poor and people of low income are excluded from any benefit (Basu 2008). In this context, it can be said that globalization addresses the interests of a specific social group, the rich; the latter are the main beneficiaries of globalization’s benefits (Basu 2008). A clear example of the above case is the following: under the influence of globalization the concept of transnationalism has been promoted worldwide (Friedman 2003). Transnationalism is based on the elimination, or the limitation, of national identity and the creation of populations that represent diffe rent cultural and social ethics (Friedman 2003). However, such plans have led to the radical increase of violence worldwide (Friedman 2003), a fact that shows the inability of globalization to serve national interests and its close relation to personal interests, meaning the interests of groups of people. In other words, globalization is highly involved in activities that should be, normally, monitored and initiated by the state and not by global networks, i.e. groups of individuals who support the expansion of globalization. The relationship between globalization and the state is analytically explained in section 2.3.2 using the neo-liberalism approach. 2.2 Which are the key characteristics and the role of state? Different criteria have been used in the literature for describing

A Strategic Alliance of UTV and Disney Case Study

A Strategic Alliance of UTV and Disney - Case Study Example The UTV company was started in 1981 by Screwvala (UTV and Disney). At the time it was India’s first cable TV entity. While the company originally started out for several channels, it would late expand to include international content for channels such as BBC, CNN, and National Geographic. Later ventures in the US and UK markets significantly increased the company’s market share. The company is noted to have three verticals. The first is the company’s television content production; the second is the movie production and distribution; the third is post-production and special effects development. In terms of the company’s business relationship with Disney, the primary concern is with UTV’s Hungama TV. This entity is the company’s kids’ channel – the first of its kind in India. It was strategically hoped that in cooperating with Disney within the confines of Hungama TV, the company would also gain furthered access to international m arkets. Disney is one of the world’s largest and most recognized companies. Since originating over seventy-five years ago, the company has diversified into the major segments of Media Networks, Studio Entertainment, Disney Consumer Products, and Parks and Resorts. Most notably, in 2004 Disney launched a business venture into India. This venture was a major company element, reaching over 107 million homes (UTV and Disney). While Disney controlled Toon Disney and the Disney Channel in the Indian market, they desired to further expand through the acquisition of UTV’s Hungama TV. From Disney’s perspective, the acquisition of Hungama TV would further grant Disney access in the Indian market, as well as give the company increased access to UTV’s many media outlets.

Pizza Pan Business Plan Essay Example for Free

Pizza Pan Business Plan Essay P ? ? ? ? izza Pan is an Australian Company, has developed two new styles of frozen pizza that is lite-cheese, single size whole meal pizza and a jumbo, topping-plus pizza. Pizza Pan is considering undertaking a promotional campaign to market these new varieties in Malaysia. As a marketing manager, we are required to: To outline possible marketing goal for Pizza Pan in promoting these new products. To identify and analyses target markets for these two products. To develop a marketing mix for ONE of these product. To develop an appropriate competitive marketing strategies for Pizza Pan ? In order to outline possible marketing goal for Pizza Pan in promoting these new products. So fast food is one of the worlds largest growing food types. As such Pizza Pan is also one of the well known companies in frozen pizza. This has currently developed two new styles of frozen Pizza. One of the pizzas is a light-cheese, single-size and whole meal pizza whereas another pizza favor is a jumbo, topping-plus pizza. As all of us knew, Malaysia which is a multicultural country which populate by more than 2. 8 million people and they loves experiencing new products and specially food and this country surrounded by hyper-competitors, yet Pizza Pan is considering undertaking a promotional campaign to market these new varieties in Malaysia. Obviously in order to promote these products effectively and efficiently the company needs planning ahead the marketing goals and strategies. Since Malaysia population was 28,728,607 during July 2012. Meanwhile there are 28,728,607 people on Malaysia, out of 29. 6% of Malaysian was 0-14 years old; 65.4% who are in 15-64 years old and there are also over 5% of Malaysian are 65 years old and above. Refer to the index shown; we had decided the goal of Pizza Pan is within one year 80% of Malaysian will get know Pizza Pan. We set the goal at 80%, there are 29. 6% of people are 0 to 14 years old in Malaysia let ignore the baby so we minus out 15 % on the group of age in 0 to 14 year olds so it will be 14. 6% of people who are in 9 to 14 years old. When added up with the group who are in 15 to 64 years old, 65. 4% + 14. 6% there are 80%. Now 80% of Malaysian there are all who can have Pizza or who love Pizza. It’s because baby who just born will not able to enjoy Pizza Pan and People Who over 65 years old will not like fast food or less although when they are young they like to have it. So we decided to minus out this two group therefore Pizza Pan has specific segments to achieve. Then, another goal would be associative in promoting these new Pan Pizza. One of it is to become the market share leader of frozen pizza products amongst its other competitors. Due to that creating customers awareness is also another important goal in promoting these new products. Whereby the company is aiming of rising up to 80% awareness towards these products and beat the rest of the competitors. In simple word, Pizza Pan Company also aims in retaining new customers into long term customers. With this, sales of the new product can be increased due to excellent brand image, attractive advertisement, showing the temptation to eat the product which has been positioned in consumers mind and their willingness to spend the money or experience new products on how creativity of the product can meet their satisfaction comparing to the standards favor of frozen pizza. In brief, we expect customers be aware of these new products in the market. For instance, during the first promotional period of these products, we are targeting the sales of RM2 billion for the frozen pizzas with low price strategy to gain the market share during the growth of life-cycle. In addition achieving true and loyalty customers towards the products is also our objective. In order to be first among equals in a category, the company needs to be more innovative by designing more alternatives selection for consumers. Besides, the company needs to promote the category brand first after only individual brand. Due to promoting frozen pizza it has an advantage like promotional saying â€Å"let frozen pizza refresh you today†, â€Å"Eat fresh anytime frozen pizza†, â€Å"Instant pizza, frozen pizza† â€Å"Ready to eat any time† etc†¦. ? In order to identify and analyses target markets for these two pizza products target markets for Pizza Pan Company are demographic, geographical, psychographic and behavioral. The company is intending to promote the two new products into the selected target markets. This would be metropolitan cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Selangor, Penang etc†¦ From the demographic market point of views, Pizza Pan Company is targeting for the highest expiation of consumers which are between 18 to 48 years of age and the expiation is starting to drop at the starting ages of 49 for the people. Besides, the company is not fixing the gender of consumers of selecting the products. Demographic speaking, the company is targeting for the single and married people who are like main customer for the company. It can be easy for the people who are individuals or even working marriage couples who are likelihood to consume frozen pizza and having busy life style and have to prepare meals for themselves. So it’s time consuming and full satisfaction for busy people. Moreover it will also ease the burdens of parent as even children can prepare their own meals in a very safe way. Not only income and occupation of consumers are included in the demographic market. For example, a person who is holding the high-position in the rapid changing world, can means he/she is high income earner who has to responsible with amount of workloads through working against its time. Hence, they are encountering frozen pizza is fast food and best convenient option for them to work through their days. Besides, the company is targeting for the Englisheducated students who are more likely to follow the western style by consuming frozen pizza as their priority frequent meal whereas Chinese -educated students are preferred in consuming flour products as their elementary needs such as rice. Since Malaysia is multicultural country and comprising of variety race with different religion. Therefore, Pizza Pan Company is taking into consideration of religion respects as their target market. As a result, two new frozen pizzas are promoting but restricting with no pork contents, namely Halal in order to be available for Malaysian consumers. Also, the young generation has becoming the target market to focus on nowadays. Owing to the lack of responsibilities that teenagers have and the lack of home cooked meals whiles home alone, along with current trends of impatience youngsters that everything must be simple and fast, thus frozen pizza is a quick alternative for meal. The geographical target market for the company is Malaysia. The company is targeting for the metropolitan such as Kuala Lumpur which is the capital of Malaysia and Penang as the second high population area. Johor Bahru with high population and the people who works in Singapore, so basically they don’t have time to cook or even eat outside food. However, the company would only develop the two new products to other urban area and rural area when the company’s see some progress or growth in economic situation. Besides that, it is also due to the reason that rural area people spending power is dependable on their own economic growth. This is generated in a traditional way for many decades instead of spending on a new product. Moreover, the new products are available in shopping malls, grocery shops and even schools. Another target markets owing to psychographic is individuals who value their health and diet. They are those who have a fast-paced life and dont seem to have much time on their hands. They are those who find it difficult to fit in something health for lunch as anything that is fast is fast-food. For example, frozen pizza is quick, easy and delicious at the same time can have for lunch. The home oriented is the people who are willingly to stay in the house rather than hanging out for their lunch or dinner. Besides, target market to focus on for Pizza Pan is all social class can enjoy the frozen pizza as it is economical for everyone. With the outgoing and energetic personality individuals are on the list of target market because they might curious to come across of how delicious a new frozen pizza can be. The target markets for behavioral segmentations are benefits, usage status and attitude towards product. Attitude towards product is the emotional response in which positive attitude would affect the usage and loyalty status to a company. If the new frozen pizzas are meeting the customers satisfaction, hence new consumers would insist of consuming the pizza by shifting to the regular consumers. In order to benefits the on diet or health conscious consumers, Pizza Pan is designing the light-cheese, single -size and whole meal pizza with adequate nutritious guaranteed on the package. Moreover, the advantages of new frozen pizzas are only to be cooked in just 5 minutes. It would beneficial busy workers who are working around the clocks to be fast and convenient for their time efficiency yet economical for their livings in the rat race world. ? In order to develop a marketing mix for ONE of the products. The marketing mix is primarily made up of four variables and they are 4p’s which is Product, Place, Price, and Promotion. The marketing mix is often described as a method used in developing a viable marketing strategy, with each ingredient being used different ways and at different times based on the product or service one is trying to market . The type of place channels used by Pizza Pan is the direct channel. The direct channel is successful when there is a very large market that is geographically dispersed. The direct channel is also useful when there are a large number of buyers, but a small amount purchased by each. Pizza Pan uses two different methods of selling its products directly to the market. The first method of place used by Pizza Pan is free delivery as suppliers . The Company would supply their products to wholesalers, retail chains, supermarkets and online but with certain amount of purchase or even small neighborhood grocers for their mass selling. The advantages of using the method are a lower search cost or easy to find for our consumer. Consumers will not have to search the lengths of the earth to find our product. Basically they could find it anywhere. Another method of distribution is for consumers to dine-in especially those who are travelers can go to the highway recreational stands or even conveniences stores like 24 hours Seven-Eleven shop to purchase the fresh from oven frozen pizza. It can mean convenient as quick and take-away products for the travelers eager of reaching the destination. Product Pizza Pan should offer a new product called The Deluxe Plus pizza. The Deluxe Plus is a light-cheese, single-size, whole meal pizza which is the alternative choice for the health-conscious who is on diet with light cheese content pizza along with the current trend that slim is beautiful for female who is likely to consume whole meal foods rather than origin flour foods. This new pizza will have many different competitive advantages. The first competitive advantage of The Deluxe Plus is dietetic food concerned for consumers. The second competitive advantage is the whole meal pizza which is in reasonable price and single-size than any other pizza on the market which is a jumbo pizza. In simple words, it would be a waste for an individual finish the pizza on time. Thus, The Deluxe Plus helps for cost-saving. Another competitive advantage is the Pizza Pan brand name. Pizza Pan has built an international brand name which means quality products. Since Pizza Pan will be introducing The Deluxe Plus customers will automatically think this is a high quality product. The final competitive advantage is that this product will be the special designed pizza to target Malaysian youth. The Deluxe Plus will target young generation or people between the ages of 18 and 48. This market purchases a lot of pizza each year, but very few pizza restaurants actually target them. It will be introduced on Rtm1, 2, 3, 8TV channel. During the introduction stage of the product life cycle, Pizza Pan will try to establish a market for the product and persuade early adopters to buy. The Deluxe Plus is expected to begin and declining the purchase intent after one year on the market. Pricing strategy plays an importance role too because it affects both revenue and buyer behavior. The retail pricing strategy allows Pizza Pan to charge a price that is lower than the competition, in order to promote the frequent sales since the market of the demand of suppliers and consumers are elastic. Customers are price sensitive and the quantity demanded will increase significantly as price decline. Therefore, several sales promotions and coupons will be used to lower the price below those competitors. For example, Pizza Pan is offering free pizza on purchase on two pizzas on special occasions like Chinese New Year, Deepavli or Raya holidays etc†¦ The high or low pricing strategy has several advantages. Firstly, pricing strategy will help to segment the market. Different groups of customers are willing to pay different prices for the same product. Pizza Pan is enabling to sell The Deluxe Plus to the consumers who are first-come-firstserve with economical price. Customers will be able to try something new when they purchase The Deluxe Plus and this exciting experience may bring those customers back to purchase other products. The main theme that will be used to promote The Deluxe Plus is youth. Since Life brand of tomato, chili or BBQ sauce is becoming the non-substitute items for Pizza, therefore it will be included in promotions like KFC. The main promotion will be a coupon to purchase The Deluxe Plus and receive a bottle of sauces which includes many favors. The objectives of this promotion are to introduce a new product, stimulate demand, change the short-term behavior of the customers; This promotion will be distributed mainly by mail, but also by fliers on college campuses or supermarket malls in order to reach the target market. The Deluxe Plus will be published in the newspapers or magazines that are popular with the target market such as STAR, New Straits Times, Woman weekly, Apartments post box and Seventeen. Although advertisements are not cheap, Pizza Pan is an Australian company who is preparing the financial resources to advertise. The young people will then eat The Deluxe Plus with their favor sauces. There will also the teaser banners will be bought to be displayed on bus stops, lampposts or even the Billboard announcements will be placed wherever on the highways for the travelers to notice it. Thu, the advertisements campaign can create awareness of the new product in the target markets. ? In order to develop appropriate competitive marketing strategies for Pizza Pan, Pizza Pan has tough competitors such as Pizza Hutt, Dominos, Barista, Papa Johns, Subway and many others. Hence, there are several competitive marketing strategies that are developed in order to compete with them. Our main intention is to be overall cost leadership, for offer lowest price to the consumer. We are also planning to practice differentiation by offering products with unique customers benefit or features which is not available from the competitive offerings. For instance the The Deluxe Plus which is a health concern product. We want to create a unique selling proposition that gives a real competitive edge Pizza Pans business growth strategy starts with a strong competitive positioning strategy in the marketplace there will discounts offered as a part of a grand opening campaign. Moreover we should watch on over competitor’s strategies too whatever they apply for their product we could plan for it too. Such as Pizza Hutt is offering buy one get one free so pizza pan could work on that too. Then, product leadership is also another strategy as we aim in leading in frozen pizza In Malaysia. Hence, before leading in we have to enter the new global markets; we also intend to create a local partnership with Malaysian businessman. For example, Pan Pizza that originated from Australian company would identify local partners in Malaysia like share holders in food industries so that it will be easier for them to markets the new variety products in Malaysia. This is because local partners know on how to attract their country people and to bring these products to customers as they can receive a good response. Another marketing strategy would be balancing customers and competitor orientations. In specific, we focus on being market centered company. This actually focuses more on customers development in designing strategy. Whereby strategies that can increase products availability and promotion in existing markets. To enter new global markets, the we would make a sponsorship within targeted countries. For example Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain International franchise having their store locations in Malaysia and they achieve their goals and objective of their company like sponsoring shirt for English football club or become a part time sponsor of Galaxy M. Thus, we would also sponsor for Malaysian tennis or squash team during tournament. Finally, a small-scale trial can be a good way of testing a marketing strategy without committing to excessive cost. Whereby, a SWOT analysis would be carried out that includes strength, weakness, opportunities, threats. As for strengths, Pizza Pan is known for personal and flexible customers and service, depth industry experience, creative yet practical product designer, the use of highly flexible and efficient utilizing direct customer’s sales and distribution, varied menu items for broad appeal, high/consistent quality, and strong advertising marketing promotion. Then, weaknesses of lack of an established reputation of frozen Pizza in Malaysia, In conclude, promotion methods used by Pizza Pan tend to create product awareness amongst its new consumer in frozen pizza market. As mentioned earlier segment of the market that we have targeted is a very diverse group whereby promotion of the product has to be done in a very diversify style and unique. It is also believed that The Deluxe Plus will bring Pizza Pan a great success by using effective marketing mix strategy which may even consume high cost in its promotional campaigns but, however we strongly believe that, our potential product will cover the cost and gain maximum profit. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Demographics_of_Malaysia http://www. pizzapanonline. com/ http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Pizza_Pan http://www. marketingteacher. com/lesson_marketing_mix. htm http://www. markedbyteachers. com/catalogsearch/result/index/? http://in_defense_of_frozen_foods_9907348. html http://www. quickmba. com/marketing/mix/ Uk marketing uni. Kotler keller,(2006),marketing management.

Strategic Adaptability Essay Example for Free

Strategic Adaptability Essay Strategic adaptability is the ability of an organization to make changes in the way they conduct business and look at the various situations which arise. It is imperative that companies remain flexible enough to make adjustments that will beneficial to the well being of the company. There are many different aspects of the business world which can be benefited by the company remaining open to new ideas and options thereby being able to adapt their strategic plan to the current situation. In the case of Queen’s Hotel, changes in the hospitality industry create the need to stay current and flexible in order to maintain a competitive edge. By adapting to the changes in the hospitality industry, Queen’s Hotel will be able to attract customers by offering better customer service. SendOutCards is a company which conducts business solely online. With the growing popularity and convenience of the Internet, more and more companies are seeing a dramatic increase in the electronic side of their business. Because of the wider competition base, it is necessary for SendOutCards to find ways to set themselves apart from the other companies out there. By offering additional services, such as gift baskets, gift cards and e-cards, SendOutCards will be able to increase their sales and customer base by offering more options which will appeal to more people. 3M is a company which manufactures a wide variety of products and has a bigger opportunity to find ways to be adaptable. They can use the example of other companies which are in similar circumstances and learn lessons without the need to experience the event. By adapting in this manner, 3M will be proactive in making sure they are current with the trends and forces which may impact them. Odwalla is in the food and beverage industry and must look to the consumer for the trends which will affect their business. By staying on top of what people are looking for in their snack bars and beverages, Odwalla can provide products which will not only be natural and healthy, but they will satisfy the ever changing preferences of the health conscience consumer. The forces and trends which affect each of these businesses are many and constantly changing. We will address a few of these trends and discuss how these companies can adapt and improve their business by making strategic changes which will turn what could be a potentially difficult situation into a chance to grow and improve. Trends in the Hospitality Industry Every industry has trends and they play a big role in our society. The bell-bottom trend in clothing, the DVD player in an SUV in the car industry, the flat screen T. V. in your living room, but the most important trend is in the travel industry. What is a trend? According to dictionary. om, a trend is the general course or prevailing tendency; drift. If this is a direct quote it needs to be in parenthesis and not italicized! In marketing, it is the direction the market is heading . In economics, it is the behavior of the society. In this synopsis, three trends will be identified, their relevance in the hospitality industry explained, and how Queen’s Hotel has used the trends to strategically plan ahead. The tren ds-Travel, Internet, Casino hotels Travel: According to Plunkett, the travel business is now emerging as a more streamlined, efficient and focused industry. Many of the biggest, most successful firms are becoming extremely global in nature Is this another direct quote? (Plunkett, 2008). Many people are finding ways to travel, either for vacationing, business, or personal reasons. Internet: The information technology highway has found a way to help the consumer plan all their needs with the click of a mouse. The internet provides a simple way for consumers to shop in the privacy of their home. Casino hotels: Many hotels are now casino ready in most parts of the developed world. Casinos have become a trend that people have come to gamble with. Casinos have become part of the entertainment industry and provide a way for clients to book hotel with such amenity. Relevance of the trends in the hospitality industry Because the hospitality industry has become a way of life, many managers face unlimited opportunities to grow their businesses through the rapidly changing demands of their clients. Many hotels are partnering with travel agents to provide package deals for their clients. The travel agents are able to book hotels, tours, and attractions included with the plane ticket. Customers are able to use the internet to find deals. Not everyone prefers travel agents as they also come with a fee, therefore, many people are using the internet to package their travel needs. The internet has become a way to reward people for doing it themselves with online discounts, etc. According to a web article, 15 million people are addicted to gambling, casinos gross more than $30 billion dollars annually, 49% of 15 year olds, 63% of 16 year-olds, and 76% of 18 year-olds gamble (http://www. overcominggambling. com/facts. html Not correct citing) and this statistic is only in the U. S. Many people are attracted to casino hotels as it’s a form of entertainment. Queen’s Hotel Strategic Plan to the trends Queen’s Hotel realizes that travel, the internet and casinos are popular trends in the hospitality industry. The hotel has a website that allows customers to book online. If they do, they are given a 10% discount. The hotel has partnered with many online travel agents to provide package deals to customers. The hotel is looking to undergo a renovation to add a casino. Adding a casino in a third world hotel will give it an edge. Carlos Gift Basket Giving This trend of giving gift baskets has grown extensively in the 21st century. Gift baskets are easily available for purchase online and even more personalized than other items that you can give someone, such as flowers or candy. They allow the buyer to be more creative in their gift choice and they are a little more exciting for clients to receive. â€Å"They are beautiful and brimming with unique gifts and tasty treats. They are a more personalized gift than balloons, and more practical than sending flowers† (James). This trend has given corporate America other alternatives to market to clients, show appreciation or just to increase customer loyalty. It gives them the ability of giving something to their clients, or potential clients, which doesn’t come across as too over the top or too cheap. Relevance The reason why the trend of giving gift baskets has developed so quickly and has gained lots of popularity is that people feel they have more of a personal touch; and with the ease of ordering your gift basket over the internet, the convenience has made it easier for people to choose their options, on their own time frame, without having to go shopping at different stores or even package it nicely for the intended person. Since SendOutCards does all of their business online and offers a wide range of cards for different occasions at prices which are cheaper than those found at your local stores, the option to offer a service to clients other than cards just makes sense. Adaptability SendOutCards has decided to take the time to take advantage of this part of online business as well. Not only is their business based on the same concept of internet ease and options, they are now giving the option to send out a gift along with your card, in the form of candy, books, gift cards, gift baskets and other items. The gift basket, or gift giving industry, is a simple and convenient way to promote more business and to take advantage of a growing need for online purchasing of gifts. As Jennifer James states in her article on Fabjob. com, â€Å"Not only is the work fun and creative, but you can also start a gift basket business easily from home, by setting up a small space where you design and build your gift baskets† (James). Gift Cards The giving of gift cards has become an automatic option for business owners to give to their clients, or even as gifts. It has become so popular that people tend to give them to their family and friends for holidays and birthdays instead of taking the chance of purchasing something that may not be wanted or appreciated. Gift cards have become increasingly popular and can be found in almost any retail business. They are even found in grocery stores. It is almost to the point that people expect to find a gift card at their local retail store. Relevance According to an article in USA today by Rhonda Abrams in 2004; Two recent studies (by the National Retail Federation and by the accounting firm Deloitte and Touche) show the explosive size of the gift card market: †¢ 74. 3% of consumers will buy a gift card this holiday season †¢ 81% of consumers received a gift card last year †¢ 50. 2% of consumers would like to receive a gift card †¢ 12% of shoppers bought gift cards for their own use †¢ 11. 5% of the average consumers holiday budget will be spent on gift cards. (http://www. usatoday. om/money/smallbusiness/columnist/abrams/2004-12-10-cards_x. htm) This is not listed in References and is not correct citing! As we can see, there is a demand for gift cards and corporations are taking advantage of them. Not only do the companies use the gift cards as a selling point for people to buy gifts, they will have the opportunity to get new business from people using the cards and spending more money than what is actua lly on the card because they cannot cash out the card. According to Abrams article, â€Å"Customers buy more. 1% of gift card users spent more than the face value of the card. The average face value of a gift card in 2003 was $47. 20; those who spent more averaged a whopping $90† (Abrams, 2004). Adaptability This is an area that SendOutCards has tried to take advantage of. They do offer gift cards, but only from other businesses. They have not made the move to offer their own gift cards for their own products. It probably is not as feasible for them to do so as it may be more costly for them to pay for the cards and not have people use them since people could only use it for their products. Since most people don’t send themselves a gift or a greeting card, it would be like giving them a gift card so that they can give a gift to someone else, which defeats the purpose of giving a gift. SendOutCards has taken advantage of offering gift cards from other companies because they know there is a demand for them. They have negotiated a deal with these companies and buy them at a discounted price and have created a win-win situation for both them and the retailers who will see the extra revenue. E-Cards E-cards have developed ever since the internet has taken off. You can find about any card and in almost every language on the internet. According to an article by Keith Regan in the E-Commerce times in 2005, â€Å"According to Branch Internet Services, the first e-mail Christmas greeting cards were sent 10 years ago this season, when Dominos Farms Christmas Light Display worked with Branch to offer Web users the chance to e-mail photos of the holiday display. Fewer than 15,000 cards were sent that year, according to Branch† (Regan, 2005). Free E-Cards are offered all over the internet, but the businesses are not making much money. They were relying heavily on advertisement payments through banners and popup on their websites. Sally Babcock, of the e-card giant American Greetings Interactive said, â€Å"Since its inception, AGI, the online unit of the cards giant, has gone from a paid model to a free, ad-supported approach and has returned to a blended, mostly paid model once again† (Regan 2005). Many customers are seeing them as a real alternative to sending out a card in the mail and are even willing to pay the fees for the services. Relevance Ecards are still very popular amongst many internet users. The problem is that they still don’t have the personal touch that a physical card has. According to Babcock, â€Å"Even those who sell them for a living acknowledge that the day may never come when electronic greeting cards replace paper cards. But eCards are already far more than just a time-wasting diversion or a low-cost alternative to the real thing† (Regan, 2005). Some backers like the ecard approach because of the environmental friendly aspect of it. Adaptability The way SendOutCards has adapted to this industry is to offer a service that the online E-cards have not offered to this point. They offer to actually send out a physical card to a client, family, friend or acquaintance directly to the persons’ home. They have even offered the option for their users to send the card in their own handwriting, which personalizes the card that much more. They know that the e-card business is good for their target market, but the market which SendOutCards wants to target is those who want to make a bigger impression. AGI has tried this in the past but has not been successful in its attempts. Babcock admits, â€Å"Also gaining traction are online options to have cards personalized, printed and in some cases even mailed. In those cases, the customer is paying for convenience, said Babcock. â€Å"AGI also offers a print-at-home line of cards, she noted† (Regan, 2005). SendOutCards wants to be able to make a difference in people’s lives. They have the idea that it is more meaningful for people to go to the mail box, open it up and have the physical experience of reading the personalized card. SendOutCards has made it more affordable to be able to send out a card from your computer than it would cost you to go to the store, pick one out, stamp it and physically mail it out. They will do it for you, which takes about 60 seconds to do it all (Eliason, 2008). This is their niche that the industry has not caught up to as of yet. Being able to adapt to the economy and your competition is what will set you apart from others. SendOutCards has the difficult task to stay on top of its competitors by being able to offer a service that other businesses don’t have. They have taken the example of the gift basket industry and implemented what they could to be competitive in the gift giving industry. They know that they can gain clients who want more than just a greeting card. With this knowledge, they have implemented the procedure of offering other options besides just the greeting cards. SendOutCards also applied the example of the demand for the convenience of a gift card. This is an option which they developed in partnership with various retailers. They receive a discounted price for the gift cards in exchange for offering clients the option to purchase them thus allowing both to make money from the proceeds of the card. This also gives clients a larger variety of options. SendOutCards has an advantage over the E-Card industry by offering not only to package and send an actual card, but to do so in the handwriting of the client. They have developed a system which allows people to send the card without leaving their home to shop for the card and the hassle of finding a stamp to send it. They are trying to appeal to the people who still feel it more personal to send a card by traditional mail rather than by e-mail. Johnson and Johnson, Inc. Johnson and Johnson, Inc. s an example of an organization that has had to adapt with strategy to forces or trends that have surrounded the corporation. Johnson and Johnson recently fell into a safety predicament which required immediate action by the company to salvage its image. Johnson and Johnson found themselves losing customers and sales due to the danger of one of their products. Following the death by overdose of several individuals, including youth and child ren, Johnson and Johnson was forced to recall thousands of unsafe bottles of Tylenol (Macdonald, 2007). The primary changes that the company made were in relation to the bottle the Tylenol came in and the removal of a potentially deadly ingredient in the Tylenol. Immediately Johnson and Johnson recalled the entire defective product line and removed all existing product from the shelves. This act alone cost the company millions of dollars and substantial time in revamping the new bottle and new Tylenol formula. Despite this great challenge, Johnson and Johnson was able to seize the opportunity to remarket their product as a newly revamped and safer product. After recalling and removing the defective product, Johnson and Johnson set out a new marketing campaign to reestablish their public image as a safer and more consumer conscience product. The ad campaign worked. Tylenol is now viewed as one of the safest products on the market. 3M could benefit from such a marketing campaign. 3M is a company much like Johnson and Johnson. They both manufacture and distribute millions of different products used all across the globe. Because of the expanse of the market that 3M is targeting, the potential for safety concerns and problems is dramatically increased. M must constantly keep a watchful eye to be apprised of any issues that should arise. An environmental scan will also keep 3M apprised of any safety concerns which arise within the market that could affect their company. Strategic planners with 3M can learn from those at Johnson and Johnson because of the accuracy and timeliness which they responded to the challenge, thus turning it into an o pportunity. In the future, 3M is sure to encounter environmental factors that will place their products in the path of new regulations or circumstances that could threaten the success of the organization. M must act as Johnson and Johnson did by using accurate environmental scanning and acting in a timely manner to save the company. Southwest Airlines Another paramount example of environmental scanning used by strategic planners to help an organization thrive is Southwest Airlines’ use of fuel hedging. â€Å"Using some simple and some complex investment strategies, Southwest has for a decade locked in the prices it pays for large amounts of jet fuel months and even years ahead of time. Its success at that has protected it from run-ups in crude oil prices and dramatically cut its fuel expenses† (Reed, 2008). One area of grave concern in the U. S. economy is the cost of fuel. People all across the country are looking for alternative fuel and cheaper transportation as a means of saving money. The airline industry, on the other hand, has no other resource available. There is no hybrid airplane neither is there one which can run on alternative fuel. Therefore, airlines are forced to look elsewhere to save money. Southwest Airlines has used environmental scanning to conclude that fuel prices are constantly on the rise and can be locked in a contract to be purchased in mass quantities for a cheaper price. By allocating additional funds to pre purchase fuel at a lower cost, Southwest Airlines is placing themselves in a win-win scenario. The oil company would be glad to secure an agreement for guaranteed sales and the Airline Company will jump at the opportunity to save money on fuel that they are certainly going to use. Fuel hedging has proven effective for Southwest Airlines and a similar approach can be an effective money saving technique for 3M as well. 3M constantly manufactures millions of products. The company is constantly receiving supplies of materials from distributors. M must always be on the lookout for trends in the environment that could affect the prices of the products they use in manufacturing. If the company can accurately predict which products will rise in cost due to extenuating circumstances, they can either look for an alternative product or seek some sort of pre purchase order price for said product similar to Southwest Airlines’ use of fuel hedging. Toyo ta Toyota Motor Corporation is a classic example of an organization that is constantly scanning the environment for forces or trends that can affect their business. This strategy has enabled Toyota to become the number one automobile maker in the world (Liker, 2004). When a customer purchases a Toyota they are getting a quality product. Toyota has been successful in environmental scanning in several areas, but in particular they have excelled in a market that is increasingly concerned with fuel economy. Toyota has constantly been at the forefront of knowing what the customer wants and when they want it. Amid the crisis we are facing with the economy, and especially the rising fuel costs, Toyota is able to provide customers with a fuel efficient car. The difference between Toyota’s fuel efficient cars and those of the competition is timeliness. Toyota had anticipated the need for a fuel efficient car long before it became a priority for the competition. Now while the competition scrambles to make a vehicle similar to a fuel efficient Toyota, Toyota is focusing on bettering their product and placing themselves even further ahead of the competition. This is an example of how Toyota has done accurate scanning of the remote environment. The remote environment includes: economic factors, social factors, political factors, technological factors, and ecological factors. Managers must consider the availability of credit, level of disposable income, and the propensity of people to spend when considering economic factors. Other things to consider are the prime interest rates and the gross national product (Robinson, 2004). Toyota has taken into consideration these factors. They have accurately looked at the environment and what the consumer is dealing with and they have catered to the customer accordingly. 3M would do well to follow suit. Much like Toyota, 3M manufactures products for their customers and is not immune to environmental factors. Because of these facts, 3M must adopt an environmental scanning strategy that will enable them to adapt to forces in the environment and come out triumphant. ODWALLA Functional Beverages â€Å"Functional beverages are drinks that have been enhanced with added ingredients to provide specific health benefits beyond general nutrition†¦Consumers are seeking specific health benefits in their foods and beverages and these functional drinks fit neatly into the ‘healthiness-on-the-go’ market† (Sharon Palmer, 2008). Functional beverages are gaining popularity over soft drinks as more and more people are looking for healthier alternatives. These drinks have added ingredients which help to promote a healthy image. Some of these functional beverages have FDA approved claims while others have only minimal amounts of vitamins and minerals and do not provide any real health benefit (Sharon Palmer, 2008). Many companies are beginning to offer a wider variety of functional beverages. Even companies in the children’s beverage market are capitalizing on the turn towards better for you foods and beverages. ‘[A]s more parents seek healthier beverage options for kids, I foresee the continued trend toward more products being all natural, organic, lower in calories, lower in sugar, or having more specific fortifications within their formulations,’ predicts Phan† (Goldschmidt, 2008) senior brand manager at Hansen’s. With this trend gaining popularity among consumers of all ages, it is more than just a passing phase; it is the new way of thinking. Relevance Because functional drinks are quickly becoming an industry staple, Odwalla Inc. is constantly gaining new competitors. With the increase in the number of competitors, Odwalla must always be innovative in its product development. While Odwalla’s products are all natural and retain as much of the natural vitamins and minerals found in the ingredients used, there is a more pressing need for Odwalla to make these benefits known to consumers as the options available are becoming greater. Strategic Adaptability As Odwalla analyzes the growing competition, they will need to remain innovative with their marketing and advertising. They will want to make sure that consumers are aware of the many health benefits already available in their products. They will want to emphasize the fact that their products have always been all natural and fresh with the least amount of processing possible in order to maintain the inherent nutritional value of the ingredients which go into each and every product made. By highlighting these strong points, consumers will be able to see why paying a little more for a much better product really is a better value. Probiotics â€Å"Probiotics are a host of healthful bacteria that help break down and assimilate food† (Kane, 2008) and can be found in a wide variety of foods. Yogurt contains probiotics and many food manufacturers are adding probiotics to their products because of the great health benefit. â€Å"WITH BENEFICIAL LIVE BACTERIA CALLED PROBIOTICS. yogurt bolsters the bodys ability to fend off certain infections and helps keep the intestines healthy, allowing them to absorb more nutrientsand energy-from food† (Boone, 2008). Relevance Odwalla prides itself on providing its customers with fresh, healthy beverages and snack bars and they are always looking for new ways to make their products the best they can be. Probiotics are both healthy and natural and fit right in line with the goals of Odwalla. Since more and more companies are incorporating these bacteria into their products, probiotic additives are going to become better known by consumers and thus sought out because of their natural benefits. Strategic Adaptability Odwalla has the ability to develop a new product which would incorporate probiotics. This would enhance the benefits already afforded by consuming the all natural products of Odwalla. With more people being educated on the benefits of probiotic bacteria, there will be a demand for products which incorporate this. By adding probiotics, Odwalla would help to fulfill its mission of â€Å"soil to soul† (Odwalla President Discusses Strategy with GreenMoney Journal, 2004) because it would allow more of the natural goodness contained within each bottle of juice to reach the soul of the consumer. Specialty drinks in a declining economy The world’s economy has been stagnant and is now in a state of decline. In spite of a tough economy, consumer products manufacturers have continued to experience growth (CPG Industry: Sales Growth in Challenging Economy, 2008). The economy is not showing signs of improvement and things are only going to be getting tougher. With commodities’ prices continuing to rise, consumer products manufactures will need to adopt successful practices in strategic areas in order to continue to grow (CPG Industry: Sales Growth in Challenging Economy, 2004). Relevance The cost of commodities greatly affects the profit margin of Odwalla. They rely on having fresh products available at all times and can be crippled by shortages due to natural disasters as well as price hikes caused by the increasing cost of doing business. These things take a toll on the bottom line and can lead to financial struggle within the company as well as strained relationships with suppliers. Strategic Adaptability There are different options available to Odwalla to help them through the period of economic hardship. As they contract with suppliers, they can negotiate pricing which will benefit both parties. They have the option of purchasing farms which would produce the produce needed for their products, thereby eliminating the need for a middle-man supplier. Also, plans to produce new products can be put on hold until the economy recovers. By holding off the added expense of developing and marketing a new product, Odwalla would be able to focus on their better sellers and allow them to carry the company through the difficult times. Conclusion The world of business can be challenging and exciting. By staying on top of current forces and trends, managers are able to help their businesses thrive in an ever changing market. Change is not limited to one area or aspect of a corporation and by following the examples of other companies, change can provide a new opportunity for growth and development. Retaining the ability to adapt the strategic goals of the corporation can mean the difference in being an industry leader, or a company which has already had its day and is on its way out.

The Motivational Issues Of Dominos Pizza

The Motivational Issues Of Dominos Pizza This project proposal is been undertaken to investigate the motivational issues of Dominos Pizza which is located on Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand. This branch was made in the year of 2009. This research is tremendously valuable as it will provide an in depth detail of the source of the problem which is affecting Domino`s Pizza. This research will exactly pin point the root of the problem and according to the problem measurable decisions can be taken to resolve it. The research process I have used to gather primary data is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research. Where firstly is questionnaires which I distributed a set of questions to all the low level management employees of the company. Secondly I conduced an interview with Ishwar Chawla who is positioned as a Shift Manger. Then I did a literature review by browsing the internet and gathering information from the company`s official website. Then finally while they were working I was observing them on how they work and perform. After identifying the problem I distributed the questionnaires to the staff members to get it filled where there are total 21 employees but only 10 forms came back to me from the 12 I sent. After gathering the crucial information such as the culture and how things work in Domino`s Pizza; which would help me in my research through literature review. Then I used Maslows Hierarchy of Needs as every person has different needs and they go from physiological or basics needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs and self-actualization. From the total number of workers which is 21 the most workers in the business are still on the physiological or safety needs as maximum number of employees are part-time workers from which only 3 of them are full time employees in that branch of Domino` Pizza. Which creates a factor of job security because if there had to be any redundancy the first employees to be layoff will be part-time workers which could be a major demotivating factor to the employees. Then there is a list of strengths and limitation explained about the study or research which I conducted. I have explained the methodology and the relevance using a management theory and I have used four instruments such as interview, questionnaires, literature and observation. The theory I have used is Douglas McGregors theory and I have also drawn up a fishbone diagram for lack of motivation (figure 3). The Primary research results summary is showing signs of motivational issues. There is a communication problem between employees. Then I analyze the data based on the questionnaire results the employees are concerned about the communication pattern that it should be done directly which means face to face rather than putting it on the notice board. Listed down possible solution and their possible consequences. Then I related Herzberg The Two Factor Theory with the findings which motivation and hygiene factors. In the conclusion and recommendation I suggested the possible solution to the problem such as being more democratic and let the employees put some input into the decision making process. To get rid of delays and shortage of resources I suggest to adopt the Just-In-Time concept. Which will avoid overstocking and will have fresh stocks and it will making the production process quicker and efficient. Introduction: Setting Of Project: This is a project proposal and is been carried out to investigate the motivational issues of Domino`s Pizza which is located on Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand. This is a multinational company which is a fast food restaurant and this branch was established in the year 2009. Domino`s Pizza produces pizza and has an image of fast delivery of the pizza and has a variety of pizza. This company is established worldwide and has many branches in New Zealand. This particular branch is a franchise and it has a multi-divisional structure. It has a decentralized and they have bureaucratic decision-making. The structure will evolve over time with the changes in strategy, degree of diversification, geographic scope and the nature of competition. Research Problem: The major problem identified is Motivation. This is the factor that keeps the employees work efficiently and effectively. Motivation affects the operations or tasks carried out in the company. The company`s only way to be successful is by having a healthy staff which is well motivated and enthusiastic with their roles in the company. Motivation keeps employees active and be productive in the task they perform. I also have my personal interest to doing this assignment on my company. The Importance of this Research: This research is extremely valuable as it will give an in depth detail of the cause of the problem and find out the source of the demotivation which is affecting Domino`s Pizza. This research will exactly pin point the root of the problem and according to the problem measurable decisions can be taken to resolve it. Domino`s Pizza is linked with suppliers where they purchase the ingredients (raw materials) such as pizza base, chicken, pork and much more. Use it to makeup the pizza`s. The absence of motivation impedes the performance of the workforce and therefore they dont accomplish successfully in order to meet their goals to make as much as profit as possible.in this situation administration principles of management functions can be kept in place. These functions are as follows: Controlling Organizing Planning Coordination Commanding The above functions could be the solutions of the problem as they may bring in some positive results to the company in terms of performance and the motivational level of the crew. There can be certain reconstructive changes to gradually eliminate these problems which effects and accurate motivation for team to grow in the correct course. These minor problems need to be solved right now they become enormous and go out of control and lead to a destruction of the company if not taken immediate action. The Aim and Purpose of the Study: The aim of this research is to identify the common business problems which in this case is the motivational issues as it is affecting the company negatively. To keep the crew or workforce highly motivated and keep on training them with new skills which will improve productivity. Also motivate them on an individual level to help them accomplish their personal and company goals or aims. To apply and relate motivation theories to the staff or employees and make production efficient. The aim of this research is to identify the problem, solve it and improve on it. To find out the reasons behind the problem which is causing it. Methodology: Research Process Used to Gather Primary Data: The methods I used to collect information is by four methods and I have combination of both combination of qualitative and quantitative research which means there is both numerical values and statistics and depth understanding of behavior and why they tend to behave in that manner? Firstly was the questionnaires where I kept 10 set of questions and distributed between the 12 employees but I received back only 10 questionnaires filled. This was to see the satisfaction level of the employees with various aspects of the company affecting their work and life. This will show if the company is following the rules and regulations such a minimum wage and maximum number of hours the employees are lead to work. Secondly is the interview which was conducted with the Shift Manager of the Domino`s Pizza Branch on 5/205 Queen Street. The name of the manager is Ishwar Chawla and he is working in Domino`s Pizza since last 4 years. I asked him a different questions but these questions where no completely fixed as it was an interview. They would change according to the answer of the manager. Thirdly is that I used secondary data or literature review which was using the internet to get some details of the company`s goals, missions and values. Such as going to the official website of the company which is (http://www.dominospizza.co.nz/) to have some information about the company. Lastly is through observation. I watched how the employees working coordinating and looking at tasks which they were performing. I agree this method is not that accurate compare to others as the employees make act differently if someone is observing. I did ask a few questions face to face to the workers (unpretentious questions). SWOT Analysis: Domino`s Pizza Strength: Location: it is located in the CBD which attracts maximum number of customers. Brand Name/ Image: it is a multinational company therefore it is well known and well established and does not to get established. Financial: as they are well established and have high revenue they do not have to borrow money to invest in its company for expansion. It will insource and does not require outsourcing to be done. Technology: they have new technology and equipment to make pizza quicker and of better quality. Offers: new offers or innovative various pizza flavors are being launched to maintain their sales. Weakness: Customer Service: they sometimes do not deliver the pizza in time as specified. Demotivation: the staff is not motivated so they are not working efficiently. Allocation of Resources: resources are not allocated or not put together properly. They run out of resources or toppings which delays the delivery time. Opportunities: New types of pizza or flavors are being launched. Low price compared to the competitors prices. Bringing in new products such as Lava cake and muffins. Threats: Competition: competitors of Domino`s Pizza such as Pizza Hut Hells Pizza. Environment: the working environment is not satisfying. The kitchen is not well managed. Information about the Size of the Sample Population and Its Adequacy: After identifying the problem I distributed the questionnaires to the staff members to get it filled where there are total 21 employees but only 10 forms came back to me from the 12 I sent. This means 83.33% of adequacy sampling size was received of the employees received and the rest 2 forms were not given back. This took a lot of time due to tight schedules. Figure Pie Chart What do the employees feel about the working conditionStatistical Techniques: According to the questionnaires it shows that most of the staff voted for the number 4. Which means that they feel it is good which is 60% in percentage.no one kept 1 nor 5 as their rating. 30% of the employees rated 3 and 10% rated 2. This means only small percentage of the employees are demotivated from the factor of working condition. The mode is 4 as it appeared the most. Literature Review: After having a detailed view of the website of Domino`s Pizza (http://www.dominospizza.co.nz/corporate/inside/InsideDominos.aspx). I found out about their vision, mission, food safety and many more crucial information about it which would help me in my research. It explains its culture and how things work in Domino`s Pizza. Figure Maslows Hierarchy of NeedsI will be using Maslows Hierarchy of Needs as every person has different needs and they go from physiological or basics needs going upwards towards self-actualization. Most employees in the company are still on the physiological or safety needs as most these employees are part-time workers. Only 3 employees are full time employees in that branch of Domino` Pizza. Therefore job security is not really there because if there was cost cutting to take place then the part-time employees will be the first ones to be layoff. Which implies that the employees are not motivated and they are always looking for another job and they are sticking to this job just to satisfy their basic needs.C:Usersishant1000DownloadsMaslow_Needs_Hierarchy.jpg Once the employees have satisfied their basic needs which is food, shelter then they would make sure that their job is secured. If they are assured that their jobs will not be lost and the company needs them then they will move towards social needs. Which means making new friends getting along with colleagues and working as a team together which will solve the problem of delayed producing and delivering to the customer. Working together to meet the target faster than expected and receive incentives from the hard work deployed into the work through team work. Then they go for esteem needs which is recognition, reputation and attention any many more. Then finally is self-actualization where he or she wants more responsibilities and wants everyone to trust him or her. Strengths and Limitations of the Study: Strengths: The people who are working are very cooperative and are taking out time to fill up the questionnaires I handed them. The manager had given me access for a week and I could come at any time for doing my research which gives enough time to finish my research easily. As some of my friends work in this company it is easier for me to take crucial and detailed information for the research. As the company is not huge so the information collection section is done very quickly. This means less time wasted. Limitations: Not all the employees are available at the same time as they all have different shifts and different times they come to work for. Which makes data collection more time usual. The manager is not always available. During observation people where acting differently as they knew that they are being watched. Which may have given misleading results. Not all information was exposed or shown to me and was kept close. Methodology and its Relevance Using Management Theory: I have used four instruments such as interview, questionnaires, literature and observation. I gave the questionnaires to the 12 employees working in the small branch of the Domino`s Pizza on Queens Street in which I received 10 questionnaires out of 12 back. Then I did a personal interview with Ishwar Chawla and before doing these two I did an internet research over Domino`s Pizza product range and offers. Then while they were working I was observing them of how they were performing their tasks and I would ask some simple and quick queries or questions while they were working. Figure Fishbone DiagramFigure 3: Fishbone Diagram for lack of Motivation I will be using Douglas McGregors theory according to my research Theory X matches or fits in well. The managers of Domino`s pizza leans towards more upon theory X then Y. This means there less participation of employees and more authorization. Where the workers would try to avoid work and be very lazy and do not want any responsibilities thus they have to be pushed to work for them to work or perform efficiently. This shows that the employees are highly demotivated. The manager is of a Theory X. Figure McGregor Theory X and YFigure 4: McGregor Theory X and Y:C:Usersishant1000Downloadstheory_x_y.gif According to the plan I reviewed the information from the internet and the surveys and according to the plan I had to take at least 5 questionnaires and I have done total 10 and I performed the interview as well and even the observation process. I had a time period of only a week and the plan was of 5 weeks. I managed to undertake all the tasks in 6 days as they were very cooperative and helpful with my research. This boosted my data collection for my research as I did it 4 weeks earlier which gave me more time to analysis the problem in hand and figuring out how to solve it. The relevance of the business problem which maybe lack of motivation could be solved through this research. This could also increase the productivity of the company and become more efficiently. If they have any time management issues; then that issue could be amended by my research result. This could also give solutions of keeping the organizations employees efficient and this means less resources wasted and all the resources will be allocated. The organization will get an idea of how to motivate the employees. This means they will find out the motivation factor. This will help to improve your output and that will increase your profit as the expenses reduced. This research will help the managers to better understand their employees and makes it easy for managing the workers more efficiently. Results and Discussion: Primary Research Results Summary: The study is showing signs of motivational issues. There is a communication problem between employees and there is more of autocratic leadership taking place which means no interaction and contribution in the decision making process. They simply just have to follow orders which could be a problem. They have recently renovated the place and they have made it smaller then before which is making the work place small and uncomfortable. Keeping the employees demotivated as the working environment is unpleasant. Some employees are really working hard but they are not being recognized as they are supposed to. The employees are not told or informed about the long term plans; they are only told about the short-term. The employees are not being recognized for their job well done and the manager is not satisfied with the performance of the workers. There is only one way communication which means no contribution of the employees to the businesses decision making process. This will make them feel invaluable and unwanted by the company which can lead serious demotivation and reduce productivity and quality of the production. This would keep the labor turnover high. Analysis of Data: Based on the questionnaire results the employees are concerned about the communication pattern that it should be done directly which means face to face rather than putting it on the notice board. They also prefer to have a bigger work place so that they can freely move. They also complained about the cleaning procedure as the work place gets very dirty. They clean every 2 hours. They want the company to Introduce some new vegetarian pizza`s for the vegetarian customers. The employees should be given more staff discount as they are working for the company. This will make them feel that they belong somewhere and they will motivated and become more productive which may improve the performance and sales of the branch. Possible Solution: There are particular things which motivates them such as good aptitude and a larger and comfortable place to work at. The management ways must be modified at ground level. A lot of importance is required for smooth communication process. They should get a bigger working place. There should introduce some tangible incentives and appreciation for the work will done of the employee. Possible Consequences: More services will rise costs but as they will get motivated and work more efficiently which will increase profits. This means in the long-term it will be beneficial. They should provide some training to the workers so that they can become more effective. This means it will reduce the time consumption and become specialized in their work. Herzberg The Two Factor Theory: Where there is a motivation factor and hygiene factors. Motivation factors such as achievement should be recognized so that the employee is willing to perform again as he will be recognized for his work well done. They should provide responsibilities to the employees so that they feel valuable and let them give some input in the decision making process. Some employees are working very hard and not being recognized so they should award him or her by giving incentives or give promotion and this will provide personal and position growth. The hygiene factors are factors which have a big role in motivating the staff as it links the business and the employees together. The manager should have interpersonal skills so that they have good interpersonal relationship with the employees. If the employees are supervised they tend to work harder that is why collecting information through observation is not always accurate. The positive factor with Domino`s Pizza according to the employees is that the salary or pay rate per hour is good but many complaint that they work extra hours when you have to close the restaurant and they do not get any extra pay for the hours worked which can lead to demotivated staff. But the staff who closes the restaurant can take the extra pizza`s left. Conclusion Recommendation: After the methodology, the results discussion the problem has been identified and in his I will provide the possible solutions to overcome the problem. These problems have been identified and confirmed by the interview, questionnaire and observation. The manager does not provide the long term plans which they should provide. They should provide both short-term and long-term plans so that the employees know what is going on in the company. The employees need to be motivated so that the use their full potential as the managers want. The manager does not give any tangible awards or incentives. He should give a gift even if it is small but that gift will be valuable for the employee as it will be an appreciation token. The manager should not only see the performance, he should also see the effort he or she is putting in her work and appraise the employee foe the employee. There is no much contribution of staff because the orders come from top level management and those instructions need to be followed; in this case they have to bring in some involvement as they may provide very good ideas to the company and they we fell wanted by the company which will increase their confidence the way they work. Training should be provide regularly so that the employees are productive all the time and resources are not wasted. This will be beneficial as they employees will become multi-tasking. The purpose of this research is to overcome the problems which are affecting the performance and this research is mainly based on the motivational factors which is one of the major part of productivity. If the employees are not motivated then they will not put any effort in their work and this can lead to low quality production. Where quality control is concerned new equipment are needed and this will reduce wastage and utilize resources efficiently. Staff should be provided with annual bonus and appraise them for their work well done. The manager should have a good relationship with the employees to know the employees needs and keep constant communication between the manager and the low level management. The manager should constantly give targets to his subordinates and give some responsibilities so that they would work for it as if it is their own business. They should be trained constantly to inherit them with new techniques and tactics to perform the tasks and try to keep rotation on the tasks so that they do not get bored of doing the same task again and again. They should throw an annual party for the staff as an appreciation of the effort put into their work. This will keep them happy and maintain positive environment around the working place. The problems should be prioritize; the ones which require instant or immediate attention should be solved such as paying extra pay for the extra hours they work for when closing the restaurant and get bigger kitchen and place for the customers sit and have their pizza`s. the employees should be recognized for their hard work. They should adopt the Just-in-time. Is a production strategy that attempts to develop a business return on investment by reducing in-process inventory and associated carrying costs. To meet JIT objectives, the process relies on signals between diverse points in the process, which tell production when to make the following part. They should apply just in time as this will increase the speed of production of pizza`s and the problem of running out of toppings or resources on pit time will be solved because just before the resources finish the next batch will come in. This will reduce the time wasted in waiting for the resources. This will improve the delivery time and keep the customers satisfied. This will reduce congestion which is created at lunch time and weekends. They should expand the work place and get more employees because when there is a lot of customers it becomes very difficult to make the pizza as they are understaff. They should employee more full time workers so that they can supply the demand completely. References ^ Herzberg, F.I. 1987, one more time: How do you motivate employees? Harvard Business Review, Sep/Oct87, Vol. 65 Issue 5, p109-120 (note: the reference to sales numbers is in the abstract written by the editors.) ^ Feder, B.J. 2000, F.I. Herzberg, 76, Professor and Management Consultant, New York Times, Feb 1, 2000, pg. C26. Available from: ProQuest Historical Newspapers the New York Times (1851 2003). [October 28, 2006]. ^ Herzberg, Frederick (1959), The Motivation to Work, New York: John Wiley and Sons, ISBN 978-1-56000-634-3 Domino`s Pizza referred from http://www.dominospizza.co.nz/corporate/inside/InsideDominos.aspx Just In Time JIT. (n.d). Retrieved from Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/j/jit.asp#axzz25LU9aWVZ

Homeless Children in America :: essays research papers

Children have never been on out nation’s streets in significant numbers. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 1.2 million children are homeless on any given night. homelessness makes children sick, wounds young children, & homeless children often struggle in school. Homeless children are in fair or poor health twice as often as other children. They have higher rates of low birth weighted need special care right after birth for times as often as other children. Also have very high rates of acute illness, with half suffering from two or more symtoms during a single month. Such as ear infections, and stomach problems. Are more likely to suffer from speech and stammering problems, as well more likely to be asthmatic. They also go hungry at more then twice the rate of other children. Each and every day, homeless children are confronted with stressful, often traumatic events. They worry they will have no place to live, have no place to sleep or worry that something bad will happen to their family. Mostly all homeless children move up to three times in a single year. Almost 25% of children have witnessed acts of violence within their family. Homeless children between the ages of 6 and 17years struggle with very high rates of mental health. Homeless babies show significantly slower development than other children . These children are particularly at a hirer risk for viewing placed in foster care. Despite state and federal efforts to provide homeless children with improved access to public school, at least one-fifth of homeless children don’t attend school. This is because they either have no transportation from the shelters to school or lack of school and medical records makes registration harder. Daily demands of finding food and shelter push childrens educational needs aside. If they are able to get to school most face delayed development and have more educational problems then other children.