Free Canterbury Tales Essays: The Knight and the Wife of Bath :: Wife of Bath Essays

The Character of the Knight of the Wife of Bath  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The knight from the "Wife of Bath's Tale" is not a very likable personality. His actions suggest he is just an abstract character, a receiver of the actions, who is used to give the tale's plot a meaning. Neither he nor other characters in the story are even mentioned by name. However, the traits of his character are very real and do exist in the real world. Brought together, they create an un-exciting personality of a man without a purpose in life. The knight is not very smart; he does not think about the consequences of his actions. Raping the girl is one example. In this act, he is guided only by his desires, without considering how right they are. But he doesn't think about the punishment either. The knight lives only for the present moment. Another example is the rash promise that he gives to the old hag. He agrees to do anything she wants in return for hearing the answer he is looking for. True, if he doesn't get an answer, he will lose his life. However, he doesn't think about the possibility that what the hag will want may turn out to be even worse, considering the fact that honor and personal integrity were valued more than life in those times. A thoughtful person, such as Sir Gawain from Morte Darthur, would have inquired more about the woman's wish, before making such an agreement. The knight is also an ungrateful person. The hag saves him from a certain death and then requests that he marry her. In light of the events, the knight should be grateful to escape death, but instead he views the marriage to his savior as another form of the same punishment. He agrees only because he is bound by the promise, and the chivalric code forces him to keep it. In addition, the knight's thoughts are easily influenced by other people. Apparently, he recognizes the fact that he is often wrong and listens to the opinions of others. But he adopts those opinions without thinking them through for himself. This happens when the old hag says she knows what women most want; the knight doesn't question that knowledge. However, by the time he meets the hag, he has listened to many other women who weren't very consistent in their suggestions.

Essay --

SARATU ELRUFAI M4 DANGOTE PLC Provides us with our needs†¦. Introduction†¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Board of directors†¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Strength†¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Weakness†¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Opportunities†¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Threats†¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Conclusion†¦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‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. INTRODUCTION Dangote is one of the largest and most successful companies in Africa. The company is owned by the famous billionaire Aliko Dangote .The business is controlled by a great management team which consists of the President Ali`ko Dangote, Vice president, Sani Dangote, Executive director, Abdu Dantata, chief operating officer, Okakunlew Alake and other group directors. It has a reputation for outstanding business operation and products ‘quality. (Dangote, 2013) .The headquarters is in the western part of Nigeria, Lagos. The company’s enterprises include salt, sugar, cement, flour, pasta, real estate, noodles, fertilizer, spaghetti, oil, gas, steel, macaroni, logistics and poly products and runs in fourteen African countries. The following are their brands: Dangote sugar Dangote cement Dangote macaroni Dangote spaghetti Dangote Noodles Dangote flour Danvita Petit tomato paste Dangote salt Dangote snacks Mowa water Ziza milk Dansa juice Dangote rice STREGHTS The company has the second largest sugar refinery in the whole world. Dangote is the only company in Nigeria that provides all those goods and Nigeria depends on the company a lot. People in Africa prefer dangote because of their good quality products and that is the main advantage they have to others. The group consists of a good management team, which is also strength to them. The main character the group shows is loyalty. Dangote is well ... ... [online] Available at: http://www.blackentrepreneurprofile.com/profile-full/article/aliko-dangote/ [Accessed: 19 November 2013]. African Business Review (2013) Company Reports: Dangote cement plc.[online] Available at: http://www.africanbusinessreview.co.za/reports/dangote-cement [Accessed: 19 November 2013]. Dangote (2013). Dangote Group [online] Available at: http://dangote.com/aboutus/managementteam.aspx [Accessed: 19 November 2013]. Mail and Guardian (2013)Nigeria’s dangote uses $3.3bn loan to build Africa’s biggest oil refinery .6:23.Available at: http://mg.co.za/article/2013-09-05-dangote-33bn-refinery-to-turn-nigeria-into-oil-exporter [Accessed: 5 September 2013] Cement china (2013). Dangote invests $28M in Ghana cement packaging plant.[Online]Available at: http://www.cementchina.net/news/shownews.asp?id=7442[accessed November 21 2013]

Parable of the Sadhu

Ethical Decisions Tough decisions are scary to most people. Therefore, we have guidelines or theories to help us make these decisions. The most effective managers are ideally those that simply don’t crack under pressure and are â€Å"action-oriented people. † Sometimes, people do not dedicate any of their time to the decision in front of them, and make decisions based on their situation. This is one of the many issues that arise in The Parable of the Sadhu. Buzz McCoy went on an adventurous six-month sabbatical program with his friend, Stephen, and when they were hiking in Nepal, they came across a serious ethical dilemma.As him, Stephen, and a few other hikers were hiking up the treacherous Himalayan mountains, they came across a sadhu. Stephen had been showing symptoms of altitude sickness and they had decided to rest for a bit, when one of their fellow hikers found this man. The sadhu was barely clothed, and was consequently suffering from hypothermia. The man who fo und the sickly sadhu grew irritated, as he wanted to continue on because he â€Å"[did] what he [could do]. † He left soon afterward, leaving the sadhu in the hands of Buzz, Stephen and a few other hikers.We are all less likely to take charge of a situation if there are people around us. We simply assume that someone else will take full responsibility and get our wheels turning. They had all given him clothing and tried to warm him up a bit, but none had stepped up and taken full responsibility. Buzz then also gave in, as he grew afraid of the â€Å"heights to come,† and â€Å"without a great deal of thought,† continued on. Looking back on this moment, Buzz regrets how he handled the situation. In all actuality, he never handled it at all; he never even gave it a thought.With all the adrenaline and the possible ecstasy that awaited his arrival at the peak, he never thought of the consequences of this decision. Buzz states, â€Å"I felt and continue to feel guil t about the sadhu. † If he had thought it through, he probably wouldn’t be carrying this burdenous regret. He later goes on to mention, however, that the situation he was in is parallel to a corporate situation, wherein people need to make split-second decisions (no matter the consequence). This is not an ethical method in any ay, shape or form. Buzz was not thinking about the â€Å"best option† or the â€Å"decision that would make for the greater good. † He was focused on himself, and reaching the peak of that mountain. Buzz never thought that this decision would haunt him for the rest of his life. In applying the universalization test to McCoy’s decision, I am left with a serious question: what if everyone were to act as McCoy did. What if, when faced with a challenge, or an annoyance, or simply something unexpected, everyone were to simply give up?What if everyone in the world were to walk away saying, â€Å" oh, I gave him some clothes†¦ therefore I did all I could do. † Just because they aren’t personally responsible for the sadhu, doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t care. They needed to be responsible human beings, like Stephen. What if we lived in a world where everyone was out for his/her own gain? Although it may seem like it, there are still glimmers of hope once in a while, and we, as inhibitors, must fight for them. If everyone was out for their own personal gain, nothing would be accomplished.Ethical guidelines, such as the universal test, are definitely more relatable and easier to apply. The theories, on the other hand, are much more malleable and subjective. There was really only one answer when I asked myself, â€Å"what if this were the behavior of everyone on this planet? † Though, when I asked myself, â€Å"what would have been the best outcome for everyone? † the lines got a little blurry. One final thought: a valuable piece of information is the sadhu’s intentions.If he had gone to the mountain to die in the first place, then taking him down and saving him would be completely against his own intentions. The story states that he was an elderly man with hardly any clothes and no food; thus, he could have wanted to go in peace, on his own terms. Here in lies the problem: we never are given all of the information necessary to make an educated informed decision. This is why we have ethics, or guides for us to follow in situations that we seem to be blindly coming to decisions. They can help us come to ethical decisions for the situations before us.

Biotechnology Essay

Biotechnology is a subfield of biological science linked to research areas such as recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering. As a result biotechnology is applied in a wide range of industries (Chen & Marchioni, 2008). According to the Biotechnology Industry Organization, one fourth of the Biotechnology industry’s financing comes from venture capital and it is not just in terms of money but also managerial guidance to the biotechnology firms. This is attributable to the fact that biotechnology is a knowledge intensive industry and a large amount of capital is needed for research and development (Chen & Marchioni, 2008). Venture capital financing is favored by the majority of business startups including the biotechnology companies. Venture capital is an equity investment until the company matures. Venture capitalists are involved in the development of a biotechnology firm by becoming board members. The venture capitalists also advice the biotechnology firms on potential strategic partnerships (Munroe & Gary & Hutton, 2002). This gives the venture capital backed firms an added advantage over the non-venture capital backed firms. Literature Review Although venture capital accounts for a small fraction of the entire funding in the United States, it plays a major role in the financing of biotechnology companies. The biotechnology companies that are funded through capital venture outperform their counterparts in job creation and revenue growth. In the first quarter of 2009, the biotechnology sector received the biggest amount of funding in comparison to the other Life Science companies. This was however, a 16% decrease from the fourth quarter of 2008, constituting a downward tread in the funding of Biotechnology, Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals (VentureDeal, 2009). Due to the prevailing economic crisis, the funding in biotechnology has reversed from an upward tread as the amount of funding has decreased as well as the numbers of companies funded. Sangart Company which researches and commercializes technologies related to oxygen transport agents received $50 million in the sixth round, the largest venture funding during the first quarter. BioVex Company on the other hand received $40 million from a large syndicate of venture capital firms in the sixth round of funding (VentureDeal, 2009). There are success stories in biotechnology venture capital. One example is the case of Thomas Tedder. Tedder collaborated with a venture capitalist, Intersouth and the company provided seed money that helped Tedder’s company called Cellective Therapeutics to develop a business plan and to finalize the licensing agreement. This helped Tedder to focus on the technology development. In due course, Cellective Therapeutics proved a success and the company was sold off at the one year anniversary to MedImmune (Gwynne, 2009). From the venture capitalists point of view, there are issues that are unique to a biotechnology perspective. The venture capitalists look for unique technologies which are critical to the biotechnology field as they are also looking for a market. This means that the venture capitalists are keen on areas such as disease areas which have a large market. The attractive types of research are those that have a widespread target such as cancer, diabetes and infection areas (Rosenman, 2001). Some of the major venture capital firms in the United States are Alta Partners, BA Venture partners, Forward Ventures, Genentech, Latterell venture partners, MedImmune Ventures, Soffinnova ventures and Intersouth (Gwynne, 2009). The geographic clustering of venture capital financed biotechnology firms is similar to the geographic pattern of the biotechnology industry. The biotechnology businesses are clustered together in a region for several benefits. Through the clustering, the companies achieve scale economy; have knowledge and technology spill over in addition to labor pooling and a decrease in transaction costs. The clustering of firms in similar locations makes it easy for workers to change jobs without the need for traveling long distances for interviews and they may not need to relocate homes after a transfer. Labor mobility hence facilitates the exchange of technology, information and knowledge among the biotech firms. Through geographic proximity, the transaction costs are decreased in addition to personal contact being maintained (Antonelli, 2000). This allows in-depth and fast feedback among the economic agents involved and helps build trust, and incentives in economic relationships thus reducing transaction costs. This enhances socialization within the professional network and stimulates co-operation, competition and innovation (Storper & Venables, 2004). These are important factors for life science knowledge. The clustering of biotechnology industries relies on venture capital availability, life science knowledge, large pharmaceutical firms and urban diversity. Before the first biotechnology firm, Genetech, was established in 1977, practitioners of genetic engineering were located around universities and research institutes. These universities and institutions also provide quality labor force. Consequently, the areas that are in close proximity to the science research institutions have better access to trained graduate and post graduate students. In the biotechnology industry, much of the venture capital is concentrated in California and Massachusetts, including San Francisco, San Diego and Boston (Gompers & Lerner, 2006). Methodology This research employs several methods to investigate the importance of venture funding to the biotechnology firms. Examination on the literature review on the subject of venture funding in biotechnology firms supports the conclusions on the industry. However when conducting research, a researcher is always faced with the task of identifying the methodology to use. This is due to the fact that the researcher has to consider the research question (Morgan & Smircich 1980, pp. 491-500). A researcher can lay more adopt either a positivist or post-positivist approach depending on whether the research focuses more on social sciences or natural sciences. The literature review in a research plays an important role in the research as the researcher needs to consider the different perspectives and possibilities before making any conclusions (Armitage & Keeble-Ramsay 2009, pp. 1-36). The review of various information sources helps the researcher in understanding the implications of the research process. According to Knalf & Breitmayer (1991), the authenticity as well as reliability of the literature review is key in any research. The researcher first has to consider the research options in addition considering the data collection methods. This said, the accessibility and availability of numerous sources of information has necessitated the need for a systematic methodology that can be used in decision making. In this research on venture capital in the biotechnology industry, the emphasis is on the existing firms, the firm’s location and funding. This is mainly achieved through analysis of documented sources and case study reviews. The case studies have inherent strengths that allow tailoring of data collection processes to the research question. Nowadays it has become common for researchers to combine both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods so as to increase the validity of the data collected (Denzin & Lincoln 1994). Data Analysis Data analysis helps the researcher interpret the findings of the research hence it is crucial in any research. According to the research, the majority of biotechnology firms depend on venture capital funding to a greater extent. This study investigated the funding of biotechnology firms in relation to venture funding. All proposed hypotheses are supported using analysis, indicating that biotechnology firms favor venture funding. It also shows that the biotechnology firms are clustered in the same areas where there are life science research base, large pharmaceutical firms, many capital venture providers and a large pool of scientists. There is no surprise that biotechnology firms use venture capital as opposed to other forms of lending. The finding that the biotechnology firms are also located in urban areas with talent and a favorable environment for new ideas and breakthroughs is also in line. On the other hand, venture capital is not only important in terms of financial support but also in providing insights, managerial skills and entrepreneurial spirit to the newly established biotechnology firms. Results Biotechnology funding however still has many huddles one of them being lower IPO valuations which has quashed early venture capital funding. The majority of the venture investment has avoided the innovative early stage research and opted for the specialty established companies (Robbins, 2005). Conclusion This study examines venture capital funding in the biotechnology industry. The research examined the sequence of events that take place during the funding and subsequent setting up of the biotechnology firms. The research objectives require the involvement of both the biotechnology firms and the venture capital firms in order to fully understand the relationship as well as the key factors in their relations. The researcher designed and put to use several research instruments to facilitate in the research. The main aim of the research was to bring to the fore the issues involved in the funding process.

Strategies of Body Shop

Due to the advanced technology and creative mind of the marketers, the marketers need to face different challenges and issues in the twenty-first century. Now I want to have a brief introduction of different issues including Globalization, Consumerism, Price War, Green Marketing, Tailor-Made Products and Copied Product. After I will further elaborate the Green Marketing issue which illustrate the example of The Body Shop. Globalization Many companies changed from local competition to globalized competition. They have developed truly global operations, making and selling their product worldwide. They are not only trying to sell more of their locally produced goods in international markets, they are also buying more components and supplies abroad. Even they are forming strategic alliances with foreign countries. Winning companies in the next century may well be those that have built the best global networks. For example, coca-cola company sells more than 200 countries. It is the world dominance of the soft drink market. Consumerism A movement to promote consumer interests, including improved safety standards, better dissemination of information, and greater value. It is the protection of the rights and interests of consumers and avoid misled by the company. It is the belief that it is good for a society or an individual person to buy and use a large quantity of goods and services. For example, money back guarantee in slimming & beauty centre, voice recording in customer service centre, terms and conditions in bank. The consumers can complain to consumer council if they dissatisfy the services. Price War It is a situation in which companies or shops keep reducing the prices of their products and services in order to attract customers away from their competitors. If competing companies are involved in a price war, they each try to gain an advantage by lowering their prices as much as possible in order to sell more of their products and damage their competitors financially. Sometimes lowering their prices is difficult to build up its specific corporate image. So the company needs to produce the product with high quality, superior performance and innovative features in order to enhance differentiation of the products and services. For example, telecom company, supermarket etc. Green Marketing It is the marketing of products that are presumed to be environmentally safe. Green marketing incorporates a broad range of activities, including product modification, changes to the production process, packaging changes, as well as modifying advertising. It refers to process of selling products or services based on their environmental benefits. Such a product or service may be environmentally friendly or produced and packaged in an environmentally friendly way. For example, Hong Kong Electric, Central Light Power, The Body Shop etc. I will further discuss this part in detail as mentioned below. Tailor-made Products. The products or services are made or provided and fully satisfy customers. Also, it creates superior value to the consumers. The consumers demand in high quality of products or services and less sensitive to the price. They are quality conscious. The company focuses on needs and wants of target markets and delivering satisfaction to the consumers. For example, Life Insurance, different plans can be given which can fully satisfy the consumers. Copied Products The company uses product concept to develop its product with innovative features, most quality and performance. If the new products are sold in the market successfully, they will get first mover advantage. Whatever the product is success or not, they need to take risk before the company works on this product. Although it has first mover advantage, they still need to take risk that their products may be copied by others. For example, Samsung MP3, the logo of Gucci which is copied by Playboy etc. Today I want to focus on Green Marketing issues and give more details on how The Body Shop runs Green Marketing. Green Marketing of The Body Shop The Body Shop has always been recognizable by its green color. The Body Shop has over 1,500 stores in 47 countries. It has successfully manufactured an image of being a caring company that is helping to protect the environment and indigenous peoples, and preventing the suffering of animals, whilst selling natural products. It is a leader in promoting greater corporate transparency. It has been a force for positive social and environmental change through our campaigns around five core values, Support Community Trade, Defend Human Rights, Against Animal Testing, Activate Self-Esteem and Protect Our Planet. Anti-animal Testing Every one of the products is animal cruelty free and vegetarian. The Body Shop was the first international cosmetics company to sign up to the Humane Cosmetics Standard, supported by leading international animal protection groups. The Against Animal Testing campaign leads to a UK wide ban on animal testing of cosmetic products and ingredients. It supports environmentally responsible materials and technologies by promoting the use of renewable resources and sustainable raw ingredients. In 2004, it was the first global retailer to join the Broad of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil in which is to avoid animal testing. It worked with NGOs and plantations to protect tropical rainforests. During 2005, The Body Shop is awarded for achieving higher standards of animal welfare in the cosmetic category at the first annual rewards of the Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the UK. In 2006, The Body Shop wins PETA’s Proggy (Progress) awards for its ongoing commitment to avoid animal testing. Environmental Protection. The Body Shop focuses on refilling, reusing and recycling. It minimizes wastes and use of resources through minimal packaging and use of recycled materials. It avoids using PVC. Most bottles contain 30% recycled content. This saves 10 millions virgin bottles a year and we are currently moving to 60% recycled content. Less than 3% of products are packaged in separate cartons. Every store recycles. The Body Shop Foundation is established in 1990 which funds human rights and environmental protection group. It continues to increase its positive environmental practices. In 2001, The Body Shop UK region and service- centre head offices in Watersmead, it provided them with energy from renewable sources. In addition, a number of The Body Shop stores have now converted to green electricity. During 2002, it runs a global campaign with Greenpeace International on promoting renewable energy. It further its commitment to environmental sustainability through investment in renewable energy, funding of energy efficiency projects in the developing world and incorporating post-consumer recycle into its packaging. Educating customers is important to let people know you're doing whatever you're doing to protect the environment, but also a matter of letting them know why it matters. Giving customers an opportunity to participate means personalizing the benefits of your environmentally friendly actions, normally through letting the customer take part in positive environmental action. The company needs to contact the local utility company to request an audit. Many companies offer an audit at no charge and provide recommendations of ways to reduce costs. Also, they need to take the list of recommendations and create a plan of action to follow. By implementing sustainable practices, retail businesses can become more efficient and save money in the process. The small business owner may think the cost and trouble of going green isn't worth the return, but the fact is each eco-friendly idea retailers adopt can make a huge difference to our planet. Have a meeting and share the new business practices with staff. Solicit input and offer employees incentives for submitting green ideas. Reward those staff members that walk, bike or use other alternative methods to get to work.

Supply Chain Management - Benchmarking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Supply Chain Management - Benchmarking - Essay Example Coca-Cola Amatil Company (CCA) is the largest soft drink bottler in Australia. Its headquarters is at Sydney and it supplies to a host of countries in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, where it has a 60 percent share of the soft drink market, Coca-Cola Amatil has eight manufacturing and more than 70 distribution sites, each with different products and distribution requirements. It requires several suppliers across many countries to supply various products that go into manufacture of its soft drinks and juices. The presentation covers the need and importance of Supply Chain Management (SCM) for the company. Purchase is the foundation of making an effective Supply Chain. A good purchase will often result in better margins. Organizations have specialist purchase departments. They are informed of the requirements and in turn they organize purchases according to previously laid down policies of the organization or company. Larger organization may have more than one purchasers or even a group of people making purchase decisions. Since there are individuals who finally make decisions their judgment, whether individually or in groups, are influenced by the environment they work in. Kohli (1989) proposed that influence is a function of personal resources or power. Every person has a demographic background that largely consists of his personal resources comprising mainly of ethics and education. His decision is influence by these. The status hierarchy determines the level of power but that can be moderated by the influence of the size, similarity and cohesiveness of the group he works in and th e risk, time and pressure of the situation. These factors when combined influence behaviour in purchase decisions. Sheth (1973) maintains that the psychological world of the decision makers affects purchasing behaviour. This will include the special

Feasibility and Research Report--Tax on Cigarette and Demand on Essay

Feasibility and Research Report--Tax on Cigarette and Demand on Cigarette - Essay Example This objective is scheduled to operate within a seven year duration, whereby the expectation will be of high government revenue and a reduced level of smoking. The results of this project will benefit government, society, environment, smokers and non-smokers. Cigarette contains over 4000 chemical compound and 69 of those chemicals cause cancer. Cigarette harms health by causing diseases such as lung cancer or heart diseases. There are numerous organizations that can help smokers to quit smoking and the government work closely with such organizations to create awareness about the effects of smoking. Other than its addictive characteristics, this study sought to actualize the drive to smoking despite the awareness of its effects to health and spending. The outcome of the study is therefore very important to the Federal U.S. government as well as the Anti-Smoking Agencies. The outcome of the study was not intended to please tobacco manufacturers as this would affect their business, and to some extent the some government agencies were expected to reject the outcome of the study as well due to tax revenue they get from tobacco. However, the study was focused in revealing the truth of tobacco in relations to health effects. Many studies have been done on the health and economic effects of smoking tobacco. Such studies, discussions, or journals were limited to finding the real weight on health, spending etc of smoking cigarettes. Micklethwait, (2013) of the Economist Magazine acknowledges the effects of cigarette products affect the whole society in U.S. According to weekly news involving the economy and business within the U.S. and international business, the Smoking Weight, and Micklethwait, (2013) data percentage showing the rational of teenage smokers reveals that there are 46% teen girls and 30% teen boys do not smoke