Assignment Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Assignment - Case Study Example already established is growing as the rate of competition goes high with the example of Mini-mills taking over and setting a price war in the industry. There is also an increase of foreign companies taking the market shares. The third force is the bargaining power that suppliers have. The suppliers are decreasing due to bankruptcy thus; the number of suppliers is low. Few suppliers makes the services that the industry offers to be the same and not unique in any way (Steel Industry Profile, 2013). The fourth force is the buyer’s bargaining power and the number of customers is high. When the number of customers is high then the supply price becomes sensitive. The costs that customers have to go through to switch to a differential product are relatively low. The fifth force is a threat to the substitutes where the prices of switching to substitutes is high and thus the companies must adjust their prices so that they are able to compete with plastics, composites, and aluminum which are

Launching Strategy Essay Example for Free

Launching Strategy Essay Purpose: Alpen Bank is facing potential growth opportunities in terms of launching a credit card to the Romanian market. The overall goal is to increase annual profit by â‚ ¬5 million within two years of launch. Selection of the right target audience, while applying the appropriate launching strategy is the direction of our focus. Our goal is to extend the Alpen Bank premium service to customers via a new product market. Predictions of economic growth in Romania, proves that the market is growing increasingly ripe for credit cards. Therefore, the issue is not whether or not Alpine Bank should launch a credit card in Romania. The concern of Alpine Bank should be when to launch said services in Romania. Current models, statistics, and research are conclusive; the time to invest in Romania is now. Position Statement: The recommendation standing and supported by enclosed financial statements are as follows: Launching a credit card in the Romanian market would meet the stated purpose by targeting the affluent and most affluent audience (Exhibit 1). The marketing approach will consist of direct sales in conjunction with branch cross selling (Exhibit 2). Also the use of magazine and television advertising strategies will enhance our position. This approach will add support for the recommendation of taking advantage of a primarily non-penetrated market. Reason: The opportunity to invest in the Romanian credit card market yields potential revenue growth, along with increasing the life time value of each customer, new and existing. With Romania entering the European Union, Alpen Bank has been prompted to re-visit its previous credit card approach in the emerging economy. Additionally, there has been an increase in luxury products and purchases, displaying increased consumer purchasing power, a potential indicator of an increased interest in credit card. Furthermore, Romania is in a transition period, with cards gaining favorability over cash payments. Alpen Bank hopes to build upon prior methods explored in Romania by competing banks in penetrating the credit card market. Decision Options (Exhibit 6): 1.Launch a credit card in Romania. 2.Do not launch a credit card in Romania. Decision Option 1 a.Add a new market: Alpen Bank can continue its successful venture in Romania by adding a credit card to its portfolio. This will foster a continuing growth in an increasingly affluent Romanian upper class. As purchasing power is determined by income level and accumulated wealth, the affluent class is more able than the middle class to make purchases on credit. b.Increase revenue: Current models and predictions indicate a strong opportunity to significantly increase the yearly revenue by investing in the credit card market. Calculations display how the venture will increase the life time value of each customer, ensuring future growth. (Exhibit 1) Decision Option 2 a.Focus on existing markets: Venturing into the credit card market could draw resources away from core Alpen Banking services already in effect for the Romanian market. b.Assure no potential risk: All investments come with inherent risks. By investing substantially into an exploratory market, Alpen Bank is running the risk of not meeting the expected outcome. The potential monetary risk could run into the millions of dollars, along with an incalculable risk to reputation. How to measure Decision Option 1 a.Establish a customer base with the affluent and most affluent: By building upon the currently excising clientele, along with attracting untapped segments of the prosperous Romanian upper class. By comparing the actual number of clients utilizing the Alpen Bank credit card with the models and predictions made pre-credit card launch. (Exhibit 4) b.Increasing revenue from the credit card launch: Expected revenue from the credit card enterprise is projected to be â‚ ¬6,698,391 within two years (Exhibit 2). By updating current calculation models with on-going information as the enterprise proceeds allows for ongoing monitoring of predicted return on investment. The lifetime value of customers will also be assessed on a yearly basis, predicting the value of loyal, long term users of credit cards. How to measure Decision Option 2 a.Projecting further growth without credit card. Venturing into the Romanian credit card market taps resources away from current banking business. Investments could also be put to use in other areas, such as higher frequency of branches opening or improving services currently offered. b.Customer awareness of the bank’s premium brand: By investing in already offered business services. Alpine Bank is committed to improving our superior line of service currently offered to the Romanian clientele. Critique of Decision Options 1 Per limitations of senior management, the investment into the Romanian credit card market must prove itself profitable within two years, yielding at least five million euro. Investing in developing a profitable line of credit cards comes with several risk factors. Predictions of profit could be erroneous, leading to a less than expected return on investments. This in turn could lead to revocable and irrevocable damage to reputation, potentially resulting in a net loss of customer over short and long term. Projections of the positive effects of Romania’s’ recent acceptance into the European Union could also be incorrect. By investing time and energy into a new business venture, current banking services could suffer from subconscious neglect by employees involved in both enterprises. Critique of Decision Option 2 A decision not to invest in the Romanian credit card market will be a hinder of growth. Currently, competing banks are investing and have invested in the growing credit card market. By delaying a venture, Alpen Bank is permitting competitors to gain establishment and credit market branding. Alpen Bank currently holds the potential necessary for a successful venture into the credit card market. By failing to employ said resources, Alpine Bank is neglecting talent and opportunity, which could lead to failure in expected profitability. Being accepted into European Union brings increasing prospect of higher return on investments in the credit card market. By choosing to stay out of the market, Alpine Bank is also forcing excising customers to other banks for credit card services. As experienced in other emerging markets in developing countries, credit card customers are less likely to switch from one credit card to another. Therefore, failing to introduce a line of credit cards now will make it increasingly difficult to attract customers when Alpen Bank eventually starts its credit card venture. Action plan: Goals: †¢Launch a credit card †¢Reach the affluent and most affluent †¢Launch marketing and adverting that appeals to our audience Action Steps: Short term †¢Marketing Plan: Release a Premium Marketing Plan that is focused, achievable, compelling, and simple. As evident by exhibit 1, the chosen target group is the affluent and most affluent segments of the Romanian population. By ensuring a proper understanding of the dynamic characterizing the targeted demographic, we are able to construct the appropriate marketing plan. This will instill the programs, tactics, incentives, and budgets necessary for a strong image and a consistent message reaching the targeted customers. †¢Marketing: Investing in direct sales and branch cross-selling holds the highest effective rate of potential customers reached. These two methods also have the lowest cost per customer. Combined they ensure the most effective tactic in recruiting customers to Alpen Bank’s credit card. (Exhibit 2) †¢Advertising: Magazine and television advertisements. Our advertising goal is to capture the attention of perspective applicants as well as converting prospects involved with other credit card venues. Establishing a clear message for the audience is essential in launching advertising Alpen Bank’s advertising campaign. â€Å"A premium clientele deserves a premium banking experience.† The launch of the campaign considers the sophisticated, vernacular culture of our Romanian clientele. The goal is to assure the same quality experience in our established bank while adding an innovative credit card product to allocate more options for our clientele. -Magazine advertisements could feature admired Romanian model Diana Dondoe, to highlight Alpen Bank’s image of being an upscale and exclusive provider of banking services. -Television advertisements could consist of 30 second runs of a Romanian couple being picked up by their driver and dropped off at the premier launch of the credit card. These are some alternatives in order to illustrate how the product could be marketed. †¢Launch of promotional events by the Alpen Bank’s public relations department. Evening events could be held at elegant local venues for charitable fundraising purposes. Long term †¢Continuing growth in the Romanian market, with special focus on the credit card market. †¢Attracting customers to Alpen Bank by focusing on its premium image and superior services. †¢Expansion in the credit card market, to have established a customer base of 200,000 customers five years following initial launch. †¢As the Romanian economy is growing, the percentage of population with a disposable income is increasing. Alpen Bank will focus on attracting new members of the affluent segment of the population. †¢Increase the lifetime value of each customer, by further expansion of the financial services offered. †¢Increase credit card utilization by informing clientele of benefits associated with credit card purchases, along with temporary potential incentives offered in order to change consumer habits. Risk and Countermeasures †¢The chosen target demographic of affluent and most affluent Romanians could prove itself too limited for effective penetration. However, as the Romanian economy is growing, the targeted demographic is also expected to expand in size. Therefore, even if the current market niche is too limited, it is expected to grow substantially over the next two to three years. †¢The expected profit of five million could not be achieved within the timeframe of two years. As limitations set by senior management calls for a substantial profit to be made within a relatively short amount of time, there is a risk of the time restraints not being met. Yet these restrictions add a clear vision, enabling a structured approach in order to meet the expected outcome within the set timeframe. Final recommendation and conclusion By venturing into the Romanian credit card market, Alpen Bank is capitalizing on a ripe product opportunity. Current predictions and models consistently indicate that by pursuing the recommended strategy, Alpen Bank will see profits grow by a minimum of â‚ ¬6.6 million over two years. Romania’s recent acceptance into the European Union, accompanied with an increase in purchasing power among the affluent fragment of the population will ensure a substantial return on investment. (Exhibit 4, 5)

August Wilsons Rose: Surviving the Love and Deception Essay -- Litera

Alan Nadel in May All Your Fences Have Gates: Essays on the Drama of August Wilson states â€Å"August Wilson’s female characters are represented as nurturers† (6-7).This is exactly how August Wilson presents Rose to his readers. A key element is that Wilson names her after a flower just as his own mother; whose name was Daisy. It is apparent that through Rose, August Wilson wants us to see his mother. He intentionally portrays her as the caring, ideal woman, and one who stands by her man no matter how difficult this may be. Nadel also mentions: â€Å"What differentiates them is how they interpret the concept of nurturing, and what sacrifices they have to make in the process, for Wolfson’s world is always necessarily one of scarcity and limitation† (6-7). Evidently, Rose is submissive, powerful, caring and very nurturing. This is how women were anticipated to be in this era. Although Rose is submissive at the beginning of the play, she becomes a powerful woman at the end. Rose proves this when she decides to raise Raynell and by becoming involved in the church. Rose first marries Troy because she knew he would provide for her and the children they would have someday. Rose is determined to make her marriage work, even if it means giving up a little bit of herself in the process. She was certain she would be able to make Troy happy. The fact that Troy is older and confident is an important factor. Troy provides the stability that she needs. Rose was willing to be submissive as long as Troy remained faithful. Her kind-heartedness was profound. Rose took care of Troy for many years. Her nurturing ways were what made her who she was, the always caring wife, mother, and friend. Everyone who knew Rose knew s... ...right for her family. Rose rarely thought of herself. Her dream of a happy marriage would no longer be. Could she somehow relate to this poem? What happens to dream deferred? By Langston Hughes Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬--- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over--- Like syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? Fortunately for Rose, she did not explode. At the end of the play she still has her pride. Works Cited Hughes, Langston. What happens to a dream deferred? Poem, 1951. Nadel, Alan. May All Your Fences Have Gates: Essays on the Drama of August Wilson. Iowa City: U. of Iowa Press, 1994. Print. Wilson, August. Fences. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2007. Print.

Life of Pi Animals Essay

Acting and speaking before THINKING, this goes back to a humans’ primitive stage. We are all animals, in the sense that we are mammals. Manifested through our psyche or personality, each animal has a different representation. From personality traits, behavior or even symbolism, animals have the ability to portray these features in humans. In Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, four distinct animals are manifested in the main character’s (Pi Patel)spirit. These four animals a zebra, which symbolizes the struggle to survive and docility, the orangutan – a nurturing mother personality, the hyena for desperation and evil, then lastly the tiger, Richard Parker which represents perseverance and companionship. When one visits the zoo, the most submissive creature there to see is the zebra. Marked with bold black and white stripes to show endurance, the zebra is still indecisive and unassertive. Relating back to Pi Patel, even from the beginning of the novel he cannot make up his mind about which religion to follow. This shows when his indetermination leads him from being a Muslim, to Hinduism, to Christianity. Also, as the hyena attacks the zebra for food, the animal strives to defend himself by thrashing about the boat. Severely wounded and painfully struggling to fight the battle, zebras determination to stay alive and survive the attack from the hyena. This is also a small wake up call to Pi who is also growing weak day in and day out while a hungry Bengal tiger sleeps only a few feet away. However the need to survive and the life of force is a character trait that the zebra and Pi Patel have in common, not to mention uncertainty.

After Twenty Years Essay

â€Å"After Twenty Years† by O. Henry, is a great story. It is about two men who are great friends; they schedule a meeting so they can meet after twenty years, hence the title of the story. This story illustrates that people change but that does not necessarily mean in a good way! I had many friends when i changed schools and none of the friends i had changed in a good way, they now smoke and dress inappropriately. â€Å"After Twenty Years† really grabs the reader’s attention and O. Henry made a surprise ending that caused the story to end with a BANG! it truly was an amazing story. Bob and Jimmy were great friends and scheduled an appointment to meet after twenty years in front of an old restaurant. BY the time the day comes, the restaurant is now a shop. Bob was waiting in front of the locked doors that night when a cop approaches him and right away, Bob explains why he is there to assure the cop its okay for him to be there. To me, it seems a little suspicious to explain right away. The cop listens and planned to stay. Then he lights a cigar and the cop got glimpse of his face. After hearing the story he walks away. Twenty minutes later, JImmy shows up. They go walking and talk about how Bob is wealthy and that he lives out West. Jimmy listens for a bout ten minutes then Bob notices his nose. â€Å"Twenty years is a long time but not long enough to change a Roman into a Pug.† He explains concerned. Then the under cover cop explains and hands him a note. The note said, Bob, I was at the appointed place on time. when you lit the cigar i saw the face of a man wanted in Chicago, i knew i couldn’t arrest you myself so i sent and under cover officer, Jimmy. The ending really surprised me and it was a good story. My friends may have never robbed anything from the West but they were bad. Do you have anyone who changed? Perhaps yourself?

Child Labor in Ghana Essays

Child Labor in Ghana Essays Child Labor in Ghana Essay Child Labor in Ghana Essay Project Description and Learning Outcome: According to the statistics of International Labor Organization, there are 250 million children aged 5 to 14 (Todaro Smith, 2009, p. 379) are working in developing countries, and many of them were enslaved or bonded laborers. Of these 250 million child labors, 126. 3 million are doing jobs that are classified as difficult, dangerous and suitable. (Child Labour in Africa, 2006) Africa has the highest rate of child labor in the world, which is 41%. (Todaro Smith, 2009, p. 79) While child labor has been declining in Asia and Latin America, economic decline, war, famine and HIV/AIDS have combined to prevent this in Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa has 49. 3 million children are working and have the greatest incidence of economically active children: 26. 4 percent of children ages 5 to 14 in the region are at work. Also in Africa, an estimated 50,000 children are in prostitution and pornography. Some 120,000 children under the age of 18 are thought to have been coerced into taking up arms as child soldiers, or military porters, messengers, cooks or sex slaves in Africa. Child Labour in Africa, 2006) Children works at earlier age in Ghana and farm labor predominates. According to Bhalotra in a report published by the OECD, â€Å"work on the household farm engages 41% of boys and 44% of girls aged 10-14, while household enterprise work involves 2. 5% of boys and 3. 6% of girls. † (Bhalotra, 2003) This research will discuss the causes of child labor in Ghana and the effect it will have on the child, the family and the economy. The International Labor Organization (ILO) is in forefront in combating child labor worldwide. It has several poverty reduction programs in Africa. This project will be done in 4 phases as follows: Phase1: Introduction We will briefly discuss the general theory of child labor, what are the causes of child labor and general situation of child labor in Ghana and its effects, as well as our objective in this research project. Phase 2: Description of project, and project results In this phase, we will tackle the main issues involving child labor in Ghana, as well as researching the ways on how the government of Ghana is handling the situation, as well as the support coming from international organizations such as ILO. We use extensively research database of the Centennial library, as well as Toronto Public Library. We also researched on books that are available in the library and online reports published by reputable organizations such as the World Bank, ILO, OECD and several academic journals. Phase 3: Analysis We will analyze the problem and causes of child labor in Ghana, as well as the effect it will have on the child, the family and the economy based on the research materials on hand, and arrive at possible solutions on how to help eradicate child labor in Ghana and how these can contribute to the work of ILO. Phase 4: Conclusion We will then have our conclusion based on the possible solutions for child labor in Ghana. Reference Bhalotra, S. (2003). Child Labour in Africa. OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers, No. 4. OECD Publishing. doi: 10. 1787/582055427126 Child Labour in Africa. (2006). Retrieved November 14, 2010, from International Labour Organization: ilo. org/declaration/info/factsheets/langen/docNameWCMS_DECL_FS_38_EN/index. htm Todaro, M. P. , Smith, S. C. (2009). Economic Development (10th ed. ). Boston: Pearson Addison-Wesley.

Folks versus People

Folks versus People Folks versus People Folks versus People By Maeve Maddox Recently I was amused to hear Jon Stewart express bewilderment at George Bushs continued use of the word folks in inappropriate contexts. This is one of many of the Presidents peculiarities of speech that has bothered me for some time. Stewart was referring to this remark in the Presidents July 4 speech: Many of the spectacular car bombings and killings you see are as a result of al Qaeda the very same folks that attacked us on September the 11th. Folks is notat least it hasnt been since Chaucers timean exact synonym for people. Whereas people is a standard word that may be used in any context, folks is a colloquialism with definite connotations. Folks generally suggests a certain warmth and down home flavor. Just as kids is not the most appropriate word to use when talking about young people who have robbed a store and beaten its owner, folks is probably not the best word to use when referring to people who go around blowing up shoppers at the local market or mourners at a funeral. The word folk can refer to a group of people related in some way, either by blood or by occupation. For example, one can speak of farmer folk as well as the German folk. When used to refer to members of a nation, folk usually carries the connotation of the common people. Folklore is the study or body of stories and beliefs of the common people. Likewise folk music is less sophisticated than classical or pop. The adjective folksy implies the relaxed, informal behavior and speech associated with rural people. President Bush, for example, wins many of his supporters by projecting a folksy Texas image that belies his expensive education at an Andover prep school and at Yale and Harvard universities. The word people can mean something other than human beings in general. In expressions like the motto the People rule, people has the sense of the public, all of the people as a political entity. The phrase you people is sometimes used to lump people for criticism, as in You people dont know what youre talking about! or even simply You people! Small mythical humanoid creatures, like leprechauns, may be called either the Little People or the Little Folk. In addition to being the most usual noun for human beings considered collectively, people can also be used as a verb meaning to populate or give birth to more human beings: According to the Hebrew Book of Genesis, Adam and Eve peopled the earth with their descendants. Unlike my folks which means my family members, the expression my people seems to mean people who work for me or people who look out for my interests. Only time will tell what finally happens with folks. Heard frequently enough, nonstandard usage comes to sound right. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to Use â€Å"That,† â€Å"Which,† and â€Å"Who†The Four Sounds of the Spelling OUHow to Write a Proposal