Marketplace consideration Essay Example

Marketplace consideration Essay What are marketplace considerations for implementing ISO 14000? Does implementing ISO 14000 provide a company with a competitive advantage? If so, how? Discuss. ISO 14000 is a standard meeting criteria for any organization. Implementation of ISO 14000 requires some huge considerations. One of them is marketplace considerations; you have to look for the standards of your market and your competitors, it may be very essential to survive in your market place. For example consider food industry and toilet paper industry, if you are a mineral water producer, and 60% of your competitors are ISO certified, you may loose a major chunk of your market share, just because you are in a food industry and people are much conscious of their health standards specially people of 3rd world who drink mineral waters to ensure health and quality of water. Even reduced prices or competitive prices may not do the miracle which an ISO certification can. Yes, the title brings along a competitive edge, but yet it depends on nature of your market, your competitors and your product. Even it may be a necessity more than an edge. What is a GAP analysis? Why is it important to the ISO planning process? Discuss. GAP analysis a technique used to measure the standards of your organization and compare with the standards of ISO implementation. You find the shortcomings, the problems and try to fill in the gaps. A GAP analysis may provide a basis for drastic change, thorough improvements, and radical developments; it may lead to an opportunity also. We will write a custom essay sample on Marketplace consideration specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Marketplace consideration specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Marketplace consideration specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer As a transformer you must apply all the required transformations on an organization in all of the departments to fulfill the specific criteria laid by the ISO. The minimum criteria can only be measured against some benchmark and you have to work at your bottlenecks to improve in all and off course required dimensions. How does a sustainability plan positively affect internal stakeholders? How quickly would they see benefits? Discuss. A sustainability plan serves as a rescuer for sinking organizations, there are many dimensions of sustenance and the internal stakeholders can experience the ways in many dimensions. New horizons to business The benefits are tangible and intangible, they may be visible or invisible, but yet there are many things which are apparent but yes they take time to appear, because after change success comes after a certain while and you can enjoy the results only after the dust of movement has settled upon the road. But often a sustenance plan may cater a prototype limited kind of change in selected business area or functionality. References Eduardo Alvarez, Ian Buchanan, Jong Hyun Chang, Vinay Couto, Peter von Hochberg, David Humenansky, Paul Hyde, Narayan Nallicheri, Gary Neilson, Paolo Pigorini, Joe Saddi, and Akira Uchida, Booz Allen Hamilton (2003). A New take on Business Process Redesign. Accessed on April 30, 2010 from eiltd.net.

Panera Bread - Marketing Business Analysis

Panera Bread - Marketing Business Analysis Free Online Research Papers Executive Summary â€Å"Over the last half century, eating out has gradually become a way of life for many Americans† (Basham Menza, 2007a, para.1). For this reason, the restaurant industry is a fast-growing, diverse and prosperous industry, with many interesting facets. The restaurant industry includes a wide range of food and beverage establishments within the United States. There are three main industry segments: fast-food, full service and specialty. Since the restaurant industry is extremely broad, this paper will specifically focus on the fast-food segment of the industry. The fasts of these chains are KFC Corp, Chick-Fil-A Inc., Popeye’s Chicken Biscuits and Church’s Chicken (Basham Menza, 2007b). Although it is not the industry leader yet, Panera Bread, Co. is an up and coming company that has much potential for growth and development. Panera was the sixth fastest growing restaurant in America as of December, 2006 with 20.3% increase in revenues from December, 2005 (Basham Menza, 2007b). Due to growing health food concerns worldwide and the increase in busy lifestyles in America, restaurants such as Panera, that offer quick service, relatively healthy menu items, and a clean, warm and homey atmosphere are up and coming. Despite the vast opportunities for Paneras growth due to these economic conditions, many other companies want in on the profit and have begun to saturate the market with very similar products and services. Direct competitors include, Cosi, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Starbucks, Corner Bakery Cafà ©, and Au Bon Pain while companys like McDonalds, Subway, Yum Brands and Starbucks also have the potential to pose threats. This analysis will highlight the economic, social, and legal environment as well as provide a Porter’s Five Forces analysis of the fast-food restaurant industry. This paper will then present a SWOT analysis of Panera Bread, Co., and discuss the company’s marketing mix. Paneras business strategies will be compared and contrasted to that of another popular fast-food restaurant; McDonalds. As a concluding note, strategic problems and alternatives will be mentioned, followed by recommendations for Panera in the future. Industry Structure Within the fast-food restaurant industry, small businesses have the opportunity to dominate because of the low entry barriers and possibility of high returns. Unfortunately, it is difficult for these smaller operators to survive because of the large chains and franchises that serve as major competition. Some pros to becoming a franchise are higher returns, strength in brand name and less day-to-day responsibility for the franchisor. Despite these positive aspects, if one individual restaurant in the franchise is poorly managed or operated, it may give a bad reputation to the entire franchise. Many restaurants that do franchise have the option of re-franchising, which means that the franchisor will buy and sell restaurants that are not performing up to standards. In other words, the franchisor is able to free up capital by selling off underperforming restaurants to create funds for research and development of new ventures (Basham Menza, 2007a). Economic Environment Due to poor economic conditions, such as rising gasoline prices and an uncertain real estate market, many Americans have had to cut costs in 2007, including the cost of dining out. The poor economy coupled with the fact that labor and food costs are increasing is putting a damper on profitability within the restaurant industry. Competition is tough for many establishments that have little to no competitive advantage. Unfortunately, the common trend for 2007 seems to be the merging and disposition of many restaurant chains. Despite these trends, Americans are still eating out, but as inexpensively as possible. As a result, fast-food chains have exhibited the most growth during the past years and the restaurant industry has become the largest private sector employer in the United States (Basham Menza, 2007c). Social Environment Two social environmental issues are present within the restaurant industry. First off, people are becoming more concerned with health related issues. As more consumers become educated about the risks of eating fattening foods, restaurant companies are focusing on the trend toward healthier eating by offering low calorie and low fat menu items to appeal to the health food craze in America. The health craze in part resulted from the many lawsuits filed against fast-food chains for child obesity and other health problems related to obesity. McDonald’s and Wendy’s have both tried to introduce fruit, vegetables and milk into their value meals for children rather than fries and soda. Applebees, Chili’s and Ruby Tuesday are three restaurants that offer smarter menu options for dieters. Burger King and Wendy’s are both experimenting with healthier oils used for frying that will reduce amounts of trans fat in their fries (Basham Menza, 2007b). Second, due to the increase in Hispanics within the US, restaurant companies have been focusing on appealing to many different target markets through either diversifying the menu at a restaurant or by acquiring different types of chains that will appeal to different people. For example, Yum! Brands Inc. (which is the parent company of AW Restaurants, Inc., KFC Corporation, Long John Silvers, Inc., Pizza Hut, Inc., WingStreet and Taco Bell Corporation) and Jack in the Box both have tried to appeal to the Hispanic population, by offering Hispanic foods and hiring more Hispanic employees (Basham Menza, 2007b). Lastly, most families in America have two incomes, meaning there is not much time to cook, and there is more spending money available. Because of these factors, restaurants are a perfect option to the busy family (Basham Menza, 2007a). Most restaurant chains have offered to-go and drive-thru service in the past, but the new trend is for the buffet restaurant chains to offer this service (Basham Menza, 2007b). Legal Environment There are several state and local government regulations that may put a damper on the fast-food restaurant industry. First, many states have now banned smoking in public areas, which includes all restaurants and bars. This rule may cause smokers to opt to eat at home or even forego an after dinner coffee, drink or dessert so they can enjoy their cigarettes after a meal. dSecond, there have been many laws concerning employment compensation. For example, San Francisco now requires employers to compensate employees with higher wages than the federal or state minimum mandates. Health insurance is now a mandatory benefit for even part time employees in several states (Massachusetts being one of them), which significantly contributes to compensation expenses. In 2007, the federal minimum wage was increased from $5.15 per hour to $5.85 per hour and will continue to rise by $0.70 each year until 2009 (yielding a federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour). Many states already enforce an additional state minimum wage, which may cushion the blow that the restaurant industry will face in 2009. Most new legislation and regulation has the potential to add to the cost of owning and operating a restaurant in the United States, which may decrease profitability within the industry (Basham Menza, 2007b). â€Å"According to the CDC and USDA, food poisoning sickens 76 million people a year in the United States, sends 325,000 to hospital, and kills 5,000† (Reuters Health E-Line, 2006, para.9). As a result, the government sends official in to inspect individual restaurants all over the country to ensure that each restaurant maintains a sanitary and healthy environment for cooking and serving food. Restaurants that do not meet the governmental standards are slapped with high fines or in some cases closed down (Jones et al., 2004). Interestingly, according to former restaurant inspector and current vice president of health and safety regulatory affairs for the National Restaurant Association, Steven Grover, the restaurant industry as a whole is getting better each year as far as reducing the number of Americans infected with food-borne illness. Although numerous restaurants are still not up to governmental standards, dining out today is safer now than it has ever been (Garber, 2003) . Porter’s 5 Forces Analysis of the Fast-Food Restaurant Industry Panera Bread is not the typical fast-food restaurant in that it offers a more upscale product for a few dollars more than an ordinary fast-food restaurant. Although Panera does have this competitive advantage, there are many industry wide threats that it faces. The following paragraphs will discuss five primary industry threats and whether or not each is applicable to the fast-food restaurant industry. New Entrants The threat of new entrants is high within the fast-food industry. There are low barriers to enter this market and there is great opportunity to become very profitable. The only large up front capital cost to a potential new entrant would be that of building and equipment. Labor and commodity items are typically low cost items in the fast food industry (Basham Menza, 2007a). Panera itself is a relatively new entrant along with two of its direct competitors; Corner Bakery Cafà ©, and Cosi. Corner Bakery Cafà © offers pastries, salads and cafà © sandwiches with table service while Cosi offers flatbread pizza, sandwiches, pastries, salads and entire entrees. Both offer catering and both have a little over 100 locations throughout the US. Panera, Corner Bakery Cafà © and Cosi all originated throughout the 1990s (Feed the Day Corner Bakery Cafà ©, 2008; Panera Bread, 2008; Cosi Simply Good Taste, 2008). It seems that the new up and coming fast food restaurants are all catering to the ever-changing demands of society. Its like society is over the cheeseburger and french-fries, slice of pizza, drive through phase and moved on to a more sophisticated, healthier taste. The restaurant industry is unique in that consumers are always on the look-out for new entrants into this market. Since people get sick of eating the same foods over and over again, many consumers are eager to try new restaurant ideas (Basham Menza, 2007a). Rivalry The threat of rivals in the fast food industry is also high. With hundreds of choices and in most cases very little differentiation, it is difficult to stay afloat in this industry. Below, in Figure 1, is a depiction of the market share of top fast-food companies in 2007, including Panera. It is interesting to see that the most internationally and nationally well known and largest fast-food companies, including McDonalds, Subway, Starbucks and Yum Brands, make up only 37% of the market. Other restaurants make up more than half of the market which is one of the reasons why rivalry is such a large threat within this industry (Panera Bread Company (PNRA), n.d.). Figure 1 There are two ways to look at Panera and its competition within the industry. If a customer is just looking for any quick service restaurant to grab a bite to eat then Panera is competing with McDonalds, Yum Brands and Subway. If a customer is specifically looking for an upscale cafà © and bakery, then Panera is competing with Cosi, Corner Bakery Cafà © and Au Bon Pain. When looking at Panera as a player in the fast-food industry as a whole, as far as revenues and profits go, Panera is at the bottom of the chart compared to most other companies. Part of the reason is because Panera is a newer company and it does offer a premium product, which may not appeal to lower income level people. Some top fast-food chains are McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys, Subway (Doctors Associates), Yum Brands and Starbucks. Figure 2 below is a graphical depiction of Paneras revenues as of the end of 2007 compared to some top fast-food restaurants (Panera Bread Company (PNRA), n.d.). Figure 2: 2007 Revenue in Billions of Dollars of Key Fast-Food Players Although Panera is in the bottom region of this chart, it is definitely producing more revenues than Cosi, who is one of its direct competitors, which will be discussed next. In many cases, people know what they want to eat and compare Panera to other upscale bakery and cafà ©s such as Au Bon Pain, Cosi, Corner Bakery Cafà © and The Einstein Noah Restaurant Group. Because Panera is a company that has differentiated itself from others based upon its product and price, competitors such as McDonalds and Yum Brands and even Subway do pose a threat but are not direct competition to Panera. When looking at Panera in this sense, the threat of rivalry is still high due to the fact that there are many other similar companies out there offering similar products, but not as high as it is within the entire fast-food restaurant industry. Aside from Au Bon Pain, Panera is the most well known between the bakery and cafà © competitors mainly due to its presence in 40 of the 50 states. Many of these direct competitors have yet to expand out of 10-20 states and none, with the exception of Au Bon Pain have ventured outside the US yet (Feed the Day Corner Bakery Cafà ©, 2008; Panera Bread, 2008; Cosi Simply Good Taste, 2008). Substitutes Although there are many substitute products for a fast-food meal, the threat of substitute products within the fast-food industry is moderate. Two substitutes are eating at home or eating at a full service restaurant. Of course it widely depends on the economy as to whether or not people have the money to eat out, but most people eat fast food for convenience sake. In other words, people eat fast-food when they are either unable to cook or do not want to cook. In the event that prices among fast-food restaurants drastically increased or disposable income drastically decreased, the threat of substitutes would become more severe. On the same token, if disposable income drastically increases people most likely would opt to eat at full service restaurants for better quality food. Again, there really is no threatening substitution for the convenience of fast-food (Vanden Boogard, 2006). Suppliers Since most of the supplies within the fast-food restaurant industry are commodity items, the threat of suppliers is low. Despite this low threat, one common trend within the industry is the rising prices of commodities. First off the cost of labor is increasing due to the continual increase in federal and state minimum wage and new laws enforcing employers to offer benefits to all employees. Second, chicken prices rose by 17.7% while dairy product prices increased by 29.8% throughout 2007. Reasons for these price increases trace back to an increase in the price of corn which is used as chicken feed in most farms. Corn is now being used as a bio-fuel ethanol product which is driving it price up. Corn syrup prices have also increased because of this, which will lead to increases in pricing for beverages, as corn syrup is used as a sweetener in most soft drinks. Unfortunately, these supplier price increases are eating away at profits within the industry as many companies cannot afford t o increase their own prices. On the other hand, many companies have increased menu prices, meaning the consumer is absorbing the increase in commodity costs. The National Restaurant Associations reported that menu prices on average increased by 3.1% in 2006 (Basham Menza, 2007c). Buyers The threat of buyers within the fast-food industry is high. As previously discussed, because there is such a large range of competition and always the option to move on to the next restaurant the cost for a buyer to switch restaurants is low. In many cases, there are several fast-food restaurants within a small radius, so if buyers have a negative connotation with a restaurant (such as experienced a food-borne illness, or poor service or quality of food), very little will prevent that buyer from driving or even walking the extra tenth of a mile to reach another fast-food restaurant. For this reason, it is extremely important for companies to focus on customer demands and keeping the customer happy. It is also important for companies to keep the appearance of each restaurant up to standards and provide a clean and welcoming atmosphere. Now that the industry is defined, discussion will ensue to the target company: Panera Bread. It will be interesting to look at where Panera falls within this industry, what it is doing correct and incorrect, and what it should be doing better. Target Company Analysis: Panera Bread Organizational Culture Panera Bread is a bakery and cafà © that offers bagels, pastries, sandwiches, pizzas and specialty drinks. There are 1,230 individual Paneras across the US and most are franchised (698 to be exact). Last year Panera Bread, Co. acquired 51% of Paradise Bakery Cafà © which is a similar entity that operates in the Southwest region of the US. Panera has yet to venture into the international market but does plan to expand into Canada in the near future (Rozhon, 2006). Ironically, Panera Bread, Co. has roots with its one of its direct competitors, Au Bon Pain. In the late 1970s and early 1980s Au Bon Pain, Inc. originated in Boston. As the company began to grow as a bakery and cafà ©, it acquired a similar company and competitor, St. Louis Bread Co. During the mid 1990s Au Bon Pain, Inc. began franchising its St. Louis Bread units out as Panera Bread. Although Panera began to do well with revenues and growth, Au Bon Pains sales were suffering and by the late 1990s corporate decided to sell off the Au Bon Pain units entirely and become Panera Bread, Co. The current CEO and Chairman, Ron Shaich, was actually one of the co-founders of Au Bon Pain, Inc. in the early 1980s. He has been the CEO and Chairman of Panera Bread since 2001 when his fellow co-founder of Au Bon Pain decided to pursue other business ventures (Panera Bread Company, 2008). The culture at Panera is quite different from most restaurants. Whereas most companies have high turnover rates amongst management, Panera Bread has had the same leader since its beginnings back in the mid 1990s. Ron Shaich is not the only Panera lifer. Several other members of Au Bon Pain management came with Shaich in the late 1990s when Au Bon Pain was sold off and have stuck with Panera since then. Shaich is an intelligent leader who is dedicated to hard work, and committed to his customers. Panera is successful due to the fact that Shaich conducted ample research that determined what the people wanted. That explains why each Panera is decorated with original artwork, always has a fire burning in its fireplace and offers sofas and arm chairs along with typical table seating. He is the type of manager who despite his high ranking position will still be seen serving customers behind the counters of one of his Panera restaurants. Loyal employees who truly care about the business are most valuable in Shaichs eyes (Stewart, 2007). It is also interesting to note that Shaich owns 14% of Paneras voting rights, meaning he has enough faith in the company to invest a portion of his own funds. Not only that but he has an additional motivation to continue to grow the company (Vanden Boogard, 2006). SWOT Analysis: Panera Bread Strengths Panera has many strengths as a company but for the purposes of this paper its top four will be discussed. First, one of Paneras greatest strengths is its leadership and management structure. As mentioned previously, Shaich has been with the company for many years and has much experience in running a successful restaurant (Especially since he was lucky enough to have Au Bon Pain as his trial run). Panera also has a bit of a unique franchise policy in place that adds to its strong management feature. In order for an individual to open a franchised Panera, he or she must purchase a market area in which he or she is to open approximately fifteen Panera restaurants within six years. This strategy prevents people without the appropriate amount of capital and without the will to put their heart and soul into the company from becoming part of the Panera team (Panera Bread, 2008). The company has realized that if it wants to franchise to expand, it needs reliable managers who will work hard a t keeping up the good reputation of Panera. If someone is forced to take on fifteen restaurants, he or she must be a good manager and maintain each individual entity so as to continue to grow. Secondly, Panera has great product. For the price, its food is a great value. According to its website, Panera has won numerous awards all over the country, including Best Bakery, Best Bread, Best Dessert, Best Lunch, Best Summer Beverage, Best of the Best, Best Fast-Food and the list goes on from there. Not only does it offer healthy menu items but service is quick and the atmosphere is comfortable and homey (and includes free Wi-fi). The company continues to be creative and add new menu items, such as the Crispani flatbread pizza, mini breakfast quiches and a wide variety of soups and salads (Vanden Boogard, 2006). Third, Paneras finances are just another strength. For the past five year the company has had positive and growing net incomes. This is mainly attributable to the fact that in 2007 revenues had nearly tripled from 2003. In 2003 net income was approximately $30.43 million while in 2007 it reached approximately $57.46 million. Although the company did experience some negative cash flows back in 2004 and 2005, in both 2006 and 2007 cash on hand increased by $27.65 million in 2006 and $16.15 million in 2007 (United States Securities and Exchanges Commission Form 10-K, 2008). Lastly the brand name and image associated with Panera is a strength. The company has 1,230 stores throughout the US, meaning that most likely a great deal of consumers have heard of Panera. Panera is considered an upscale fast-food establishment and is known for its fresh breads and pastries, comfortable and clean atmosphere and healthy menu options (Panera Bread, 2008). Weaknesses There are a few weaknesses associated with Panera Bread that come to mind. First, Panera has yet to expand internationally. Although the company said that they expected to enter Canada in 2007, that is yet to happen (Rozhon, 2006; Panera Bread, 2008). If Panera wants to play with the big boys (for example McDonalds, Starbucks, Yum Brands and even its top competitor Au Bon Pain) it will have to make a plan to go international and follow through with it. Another company weakness is its dependency on franchising. Although Panera has a good strategy to pick up strong franchisors, the majority of its units are franchised. Industry leader, McDonalds Corporation, also franchises the majority of its units and does just fine, but less revenue comes from franchising and there is always the possibility that the franchisors could destroy the company reputation if they do not adhere to company policy (Panera Bread, 2008). Next, Panera uses all fresh ingredients and in some cases rare ingredients (such as anti-biotic free chicken) in preparing its menu items, meaning supplies are delivered three times per week at a minimum to each Panera restaurant. Panera receives 98% of its ingredients from only three suppliers. Unfortunately this high dependence on such a small number of suppliers may disrupt regular business operations. If bad weather occurs, vehicle problems are encountered, or even if one supplier experiences business problems and shortages Panera will not have enough ingredients to operate, which may upset customers and result in a loss of revenue (United States Securities and Exchanges Commission Form 10-K, 2008). Lastly, there are still many people who would prefer to eat at Subway or McDonalds as they are not convinced that it is worth the extra couple of dollars to eat at Panera. Panera needs to bulk up its marketing and advertising to ensure that it convinces as many customers as it can that they are worth the additional price (United States Securities and Exchanges Commission Form 10-K, 2008). Threats Along with the aforementioned weaknesses, there are a few threats that Panera faces. The economy poses a large threat to Panera. Paneras product is not a necessity and it may be considered a luxury product. This means if people do not have the money to spend due to a poor economy including rising gasoline prices and high unemployment rates, they will either opt for a substitute such as eating at home, or head to McDonalds or Subway for a much cheaper meal (Vanden Boogard, 2006). Competition is another large threat to Panera. In the fast-food restaurant industry, there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of companies, both small and large for consumers to choose from. Within most suburban areas throughout the country consumers only have to drive a few miles for at least five or ten different fast-food restaurant options. Although Panera offers a premium product it is still just fast-food and must constantly stay on its toes to meet the consumers ever-changing demands, especially since there is no cost to the consumer to switch from one restaurant to the next (United States Securities and Exchanges Commission Form 10-K, 2008). Currently, 8% of Paneras locations are in Florida and 6% in California (Panera Bread Company, 2008). This geographic concentration in two natural disaster prone states poses a threat to Panera. If a hurricane or earthquake reeks havoc over either state Panera will suffer a large loss (Vanden Boogard, 2006). Yet another threat is that of management. A great deal of Paneras success can be attributed to Ron Shaich. Part of this success stems from the fact that Panera’s roots really started with Shaichs own little bakery in Boston which he eventually built up to a national restaurant chain. Shaich has been in the business for 25 years and is passionate about Panera because it is his own creation. Although he is not really that old, he will retire someday. The threat here is finding another leader with as much passion to succeed and as much personal baggage invested in the company as Shaich (United States Securities and Exchanges Commission Form 10-K, 2008). Lastly, the following is a threat that all restaurants face. That is the threat of food-borne illness. If one individual restaurant has a bout with salmonella or e-coli or even the avian flu (which is unlikely but it is mentioned in Paneras 10K), the entire brand name will be defamed and most likely sales will drastically decrease (United States Securities and Exchanges Commission Form 10-K, 2008). Opportunities As is the case with many young companies, Panera has various opportunities in its upcoming future. Three primary opportunities come to mind. The first is that of growth and development through expansion. Panera is currently located in 40 of the 50 states, but in most states there are only a few individual locations. On the same token, Panera has yet to go international. The company should test the waters by choosing a specific market, performing research and then dive in. International growth will take the company to the next level by continuing to increase its sales and earn world-wide recognition (Panera Bread, 2008). Another opportunity that Panera is facing is to capitalize on the health-food craze in America. Society has become obsessed in some ways with eating healthy, which could pose large threats to the typical cheeseburger and french-fry fast-food chains. Panera is in a great position because they already offer a healthy-themed menu. Although bread is high in carbs, which most dieters try to stay away from, Paneras soups, salads, and new Crispani flatbread pizzas are all healthy options. If Panera continues to introduce healthy menu items such as by offering low fat wraps rather than bread or expanding on their salad selection, they have the opportunity to capture a larger market share. Lastly, Panera has the opportunity to diversify its menu. For example, by adding alcoholic beverages to its menu after 5pm it may attract a larger dinner crowd. Panera could offer alcoholic coffee drinks with pastry for dessert and wine and beer with sandwiches and salads for dinner. Since it already has most of the ingredients, Panera could introduce calzones and thick crust pizzas. It could even introduce grilled chicken entrà ©es with side salads without altering its supply chain too much. Panera Breads Marketing Mix Product Although Panera does have an opportunity to diversify its product line, its current products are not doing all that bad. Panera offers a bakery menu and a cafà © menu. Items on its bakery menu include bagels, pastries, muffins, freshly baked breads, breakfast sandwiches and soufflà ©s. Items on its cafà © menu include salads, soups, sandwiches, Crispani pizza, hot and cold beverages and a kids menu. With each season, Panera features new products that are seasonally themed. For example, this summer its cafà © menu features a strawberry poppy-seed salad, which includes an assortment of fresh fruit on a bed of lettuce with signature poppy-seed salad dressing. Summer features also include a frozen lemonade beverage and an egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on fresh bread. Panera is also known for its unique soups, which also tend to change with the season and in some cases the day. Each day a different variety of soups are offered on the menu, which are listed on its website. There ar e special seasonal soups as well, such as the summer corn chowder (Panera Bread, 2008). Another product that Panera offers is called Via Panera. This is the companys catering service. Via Panera offers boxed lunches or breakfasts that are delivered to parties of five or more. Along with the food, the customer receives a catering coordinator who is in charge of delivery if applicable and helps the customer make menu selections for large groups such as office meetings or even parties and other functions (Panera Bread, 2008). Aside from the physical product that Panera offers, they offer a psychological product as well. As previously mentioned, each individual Panera is decorated to feel comfortable and homey. Panera is a place where people can gather and relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Although the food is slightly more expensive than McDonalds, Panera offers couches, fireplaces and even free Wi-Fi for its customers to enjoy (Panera Bread, 2008). Price Paneras pricing is by far much higher than the typical fast-food restaurant. Although it charges much higher prices, it offers a higher quality product and atmosphere than the typical fast-food restaurant. As of November 2007, Panera was experiencing a drop in margins mainly due to the increase in commodity supplies and had to determine a strategy to deal with this problem. Shaich decided to raise menu prices by about 2.5% in the cafà © and 5% in the bakery section. Shaich also determined a new promotion strategy to deal with this problem, which will be discussed next (Walkup, 2007). Promotion Panera has many cost efficient successful ways of promoting its products, including newspaper and magazine ads, billboards and most importantly, word of mouth (Panera Bread: Some History and Commentary, 2004). The company posts its menu and soup flavors of the day on its website and has different seasonal menu items featured each season. Some well known menu promotions include the You Pick Two menu item, which allows consumers to pick any two items featured on the salad, sandwich and soup menus and receive one half of each item for about $7. Panera is also known for offering a bakers dozen of bagels rather than they usual dozen. Similar to other bakery chains, Panera also offers a box of coffee to accommodate large groups or tubs of cream cheese to go along with the bakers dozen of bagels (Panera Bread, 2008). Panera has relied upon the fact that its customers will enjoy their experience so much that they will come back and bring friends. This is just another reason for Paneras conce rn with its customer demands (Panera Bread: Some History and Commentary, 2004). As mentioned previously, in late 2007 Panera had been experiencing declining margins and came up with a promotional strategy to combat the problem. Rather than dropping products that yielded low margins, Shaich revamped the menu boards at each Panera to list the products that had the highest margin first. The hope here was that people would see the most profitable menu items first and out of partially convenience sake and partially intrigue order these items. Panera had decided to increase costs meaning each menu board had to be updated, so why not move the items around to put the spotlight on the most profitable items (Walkup, 2007). Panera also offers a wide price range of products to accommodate consumers from a wider budget span. Shaich believes that many of Paneras competitors have already implemented this strategy so it was necessary for Panera to follow suit (Walkup, 2007). Placement Panera is located throughout the US mainly in suburban communities where the cost of living is above average. As Shaich discussed in a recent interview, From the beginning, we focused on one group of customers, those who appreciated an inviting environment and were willing to pay for real food based on homemade artisan bread†¦We only open in community-oriented spots and try to create a place where shoppers, residents, and daytime workers can gather (Stewart, 2007, p. 2). Panera is creeping into the larger cities as well as hopefully expanding to international locations soon (Stewart, 2007). Competitor Analysis: McDonalds Panera is a great company that is currently doing very well. The future for Panera is only to expand and hopefully become a worldwide sensation similar to McDonalds. Although McDonalds is not one of Paneras direct competitors or worst threats, it will be interesting to look at the two companies side by side, since Panera is reaching to grow and gain a larger presence, while McDonalds is the perfect example of a company who has achieved vast growth and worldwide presence. Perhaps Panera can learn a thing or two from McDonalds. Organizational Culture McDonald’s restaurant is a fast-food chain well known for its Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets and Egg McMuffin. The restaurant appeals to people of all genders, races and ages due to its speedy service of value-priced food, which may be one of the reasons for its success. Currently, McDonalds Corporation is traded publicly on both the New York and Chicago Stock Exchanges under the ticker symbol MCD. As of the end of the fiscal year in 2007, McDonalds had about 1165.3 million shares of common stock outstanding and was worth about $58 per share (Value Line Industry Report, 2007) The concept for McDonald’s originated in 1955 by Ray Kroc, a milkshake machine salesman. Ray had sold eight of his milkshake machines to the McDonald brothers hamburger restaurant in California. Desperate to sell more machines, Ray suggested to the brothers that they open up more McDonalds hamburger restaurants across the country. The brothers liked the idea but had no one to run their restaurants, so they appointed Ray to take on the challenge. Ray Kroc opened his very first McDonald’s in Des Plaines, Illinois (which is no longer in operation today as it is a museum containing historical articles from the companies past). In 1965 McDonalds went public with only 100 shares of stock, valued at $2,250 (equivalent to $3.3 million today). During the 1970s and 1980, McDonalds grew at a rapid rate. Besides significant domestic growth, where McDonald’s restaurants popped up anywhere from gas stations to shopping malls, the company also founded a charity for sick childre n and their families, and established a global presence. Today, McDonald’s Corporation is arguably the largest restaurant company in the world. It has rights to more than 30,000 McDonald’s restaurants worldwide, most independently owned and operated. (Note: McDonalds also owned Boston Market and Chipotle Mexican Grill but recently sold these chains) (McDonald’s, 2005-2006). Competitive Advantage The following points are just a few reasons why McDonalds owns 19% of the fast food market while Panera has just about 1%. McDonalds has been around for 50 more years than Panera. It has had more time to grow, develop and penetrate the fast-food market. McDonalds offers a good valued product for a cheap price. Although most people do not associate McDonalds with being healthy, most people do recognize the fact that its food tastes good and will not burn a hole in your pocket. McDonalds has better locations. While Panera has been concerned with remaining in well-to-do communities and suburban areas, McDonalds is everywhere. McDonalds targets a larger market. Due to Paneras cost and upscale atmosphere, McDonalds is more conducive to families than Panera. McDonalds also offers play-places and toys with kids meals. Not only is McDonalds kid friendly, but it is much more affordable for the average family. McDonalds has become an industry leader in charitable giving. One of Paneras key focuses is community, but due to the fact that McDonalds has more money, and prides itself on charitable giving, community charities are more likely to receive money from a McDonalds rather than Panera. Although Panera has begun to implement drive thrus at some locations, all McDonalds have drive-thrus. Because of its age, McDonalds has better distribution and supply chains. Unfortunately for Panera, the list could continue on and on. On a better note, Panera should not be discouraged because of this for two reasons. First off, McDonalds has much more experience and has been around for many more years. And secondly, Panera most likely is not losing tons of customers to McDonalds. Panera does have great product differentiation and caters to a slightly different market than McDonalds. The way I see it is McDonalds is the old and Panera is the new. Panera caters to what our society is becoming while McDonalds may eventually lose market share if it does not keep up with societies demands. Problems and Strategic Alternatives One important problem with Panera is its lack of international growth. In order to gain market share and increase revenues, the company must expand outside of the US. There was talk of Panera opening in Canada in 2007 but it is yet to occur. Although it is important for a company to do its homework and only expand when ready into markets that it becomes familiar with through research and experimentation, Panera is ready. Secondly, Panera needs to develop relations with local suppliers. Since it prides itself with always having the freshest ingredients but only does business with three suppliers, severe problems have the potential of occurring as a result of one little snafu with one of the three suppliers. Although this would create cost and possibly menu pricing differences depending upon the region of the country, if Panera builds relationships with many local suppliers the risk of losing large amounts of revenue over one problem with one supplier will dissipate. Lastly, Shaich is Paneras reason for success. He needs to be on the lookout for his replacement soon and begin training his protà ©gà © as soon as possible. By leaving Paneras future in the hands of a leader who does not have the same passion for success and work ethic as Shaich there is no guarantee that the company will continue to grow, or even survive. Recommendations After learning a great deal about one of my favorite fast-food restaurants, I have a few recommendations for the company. First off in order to grow, Panera should research other markets and cautiously make an entrance. The company has had little advertising expense within the US but it may have to resort to commercials or billboards in its new markets. Panera will also have to cater to international tastes through diversifying its menu in its new markets. Perhaps adding pancetta to its sandwiches in Italy or flan and churros y chocolate to its dessert menu in Spain will help to attract customers in these new markets. I also think that Panera will attract a larger customer base by offering alcoholic beverages during its dinner time hours. Since it already has a homey atmosphere perhaps the sale of alcohol will attract an older crowd to gather in the evenings and enjoy a pastry with an adult coffee beverage or one of Paneras gourmet salads with a glass of wine. Overall I think Panera is a good company that has a good foundation laid and is in an opportune position to grow. It has strong management, a good product and is strategically located. As long as the company continues to listen to and meet societys demands, it will continue to grow. References Basham, M. Menza, J. (2007a). How the Industry Operates. Standard Poor’s Industry Survey: Restaurants. Retrieved March 2, 2008, from Standard Poor’s NetAdvantage. Basham, M. Menza, J. (2007b). Industry Profile. Standard Poor’s Industry Survey: Restaurants. Retrieved March 2, 2008, from Standard Poor’s NetAdvantage. Basham, M. Menza, J. (2007c). Current Environment. Standard Poor’s Industry Survey: Restaurants. Retrieved March 2, 2008, from Standard Poor’s NetAdvantage. Cosi Simply Good Taste. (2008). Cosi. 27 July 08 . Feed the Day Corner Bakery Cafe. (2008). Corner Bakery Cafe. 27 July 2008 cornerbakerycafe.com. Garber, A. NBC health inspection expose sparks fast-food furor. Nations Restaurant News. Dec 1, 2003. FindArticles.com. 01 Aug. 2008. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_48_37/ai_110963606. Jones, Timothy, Boris Pavlin, Bonnie LaFleur, L. Ingram, and William Schaffner. (Apr, 2004). Restaurant Inspection Sources and Foodborne Disease. CDC. 27 July 2008 McDonald’s. (2005-2006). About McDonald’s. 27 July 2008 Panera Bread. (2008). Panera Bread. 27 July 08 . Panera Bread Company. Hoovers Company Records. 1 August 2008. Hoovers Company Records. ProQuest. University of West Florida Online Database, Pensacola, FL. 2 Aug. 2008 Panera Bread Company (PNRA). (n.d.). Wikinvest investing, simplified. 27 July 2008 Panera Bread: Some History and Commentary. (23 Dec. 2004). Truck and Barter. 27 July 2008 Reuters Health E-Line. (2006). Taco Bell says told E. coli outbreak over. Reuters. Retrieved February 29, 2008, from Factiva. Rozhon, Tracie. (23 Sept. 2006). Inspiration: Seeing Meat Put on Bread. 27 July 2008 Stewart, Brandi. (7 Dec. 2007). Pastry parlay: From Au Bon Pain to Panera. 27 July 2008 United States Securities and Exchanges Commission Form 10-K. 22 February 2008. EDGAR Online. 27 July 2008. Value Line Industry Report. 2007. Value Line. 24 July 2008. Vanden Boogard, Rich. (22 Mar. 2006). Why I Still Like Panera Bread (PNRA). Seeking Alpha. 27 July 2008 . Walkup, Carolyn. (12 November 2007). Panera readies price hike, menu revamp to combat soft sales. Nations Restaurant News. Retrieved July 27, 2008 from Factiva. Research Papers on A Marketing Analysis of the Fast-Food Restaurant Industry Targeting Panera BreadDefinition of Export QuotasAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeGene One the Transition from Private to PublicGenetic Engineering19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Hockey GameBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceAmerican Central Banking and OilThe Effects of Illegal Immigration

Setting team objectives in the workplace Assignment

Setting team objectives in the workplace - Assignment Example Good time management is also attributed to doing things in a faster way. In fact, there is nobody who would not want to do things in a faster way. Therefore, it is no secret that things can be done much faster when the time is managed in a better way. Finally, good time management is an incentive that leads to improved productivity. When employees utilize techniques of time management such as calendars, their organization is improved. A well-managed time is equated to higher output, and it in turn creates more opportunities. One of the workplace time management techniques that can be employed to attain a personal objective is ‘make and use lists’. They are four basic lists, which include (1) my schedule, (2) Things-to-Do List, (3) people –to Call-list, and (4) conference planner. My schedule is the list for the entire year, day by day, which can be employed to attain personal objectives. The list helps one to focused and manage time well. The things-to-do list is a list if things to be done, organized by month, week and day. This list is prioritized alphabetically. People –to-call list comprises of individuals to be called and is organized alphabetically. The last one is conference planner is a page for each individual one’s interact with a lot. Concisely, an individual to achieve his /her objectives can use make. Workplace team objectives are an important tool for the organization because of the various benefits associated with it. As a matter of fact, every group that wants to achieve its goals has to be deeply founded on a sense of mission. Workplace team objectives are more important to the organization than individual agendas. Through team objectives, a team is bound together and kept in a unified manner even when internal disagreements or obstacles are high. Additionally, workplace objectives can become an incentive to productivity if everyone involved understands the mission and buys into the idea of moving

Proactiv advertisment Analysis Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Proactiv advertisment Analysis - Term Paper Example Other items that are in the website are different success stories, information about acne, acne-related health information, customer service and other online connections [Facebook, Twitter, Pin us, YouTube and Google Plus] that are linked to the website. The general public forms the target audience. The types of pictures that are in the advertisement are those of people who have used Proactiv and had their acne disappear and those of active members. These factors help the advertisement being analyzed by making them more popular and readily accessible (Proactiv, 1). In particular, the advertisement is a marketing strategy which focuses on the effective of Proactiv as the most appropriate solution for treating acne. The advertisement features Katheryn Elizabeth [who is better known by her stage name, Katy Perry] giving her testimony of her struggle with acne, until she tried using Proactiv. Proactiv not only helped her get rid of acne, but also gave her a smooth skin and a subsequently high self-esteem. There are elements in the advertisement which makes someone want to buy the product. One of the elements is the very ingredients which make up Proactiv. Particularly, Proactiv contains micro-crystal medicine which penetrates the skin to open up skin spores, so as to give the user a smooth and healthier skin. The same advertisement has also used strong rhetorical devices, especially, logos, pathos and ethos. The strongest of these rhetorical devices is the use of pathos: Katy Perry, a celebrity, singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist and businesswoman is a woman of great renown and is therefore a person of great appeal and persuasion. This fact is underscored by Perry presenting herself as a person who had a problem with acne, to the point that the problem gnawed away at self-esteem. The strength of the matter at hand is that all people can testify of Perry’s now smooth skin and blossoming career as a celebrity and as someone whose celebrity status has been occasioned by a heightened self-esteem. This is presented in a matter-of-fact manner which makes people to identify with Perry and to get easily persuaded with the notion that if Proactiv made it work for Perry, then trying it out will be not a foolish, but an expedient venture (Proactiv, 1). Another form of rhetorical analysis which has been used to persuade both potential and prospective clients is the use of pathos [the audience’s passions and emotions]. The depiction of Perry as performing before large audiences at different times, vivaciously also reinforces the emotional appeal of the audience. Again, the use of Perry, a well-known celebrity to speak up-close and candid on her struggle with acne, her conquering over acne through the use of Proactiv and the picturesque depiction of Perry and Perry’s face are all elements which appeal to the target audience’s emotions. In a similar wavelength, the fact that a lady who was struggling with acne should per form before an exhilarated and ecstatic crowd full of lover for her physical appeal is a matter that immediately awakens the emotions and resolve of those who may be struggling with acne and pimples. In another wavelength, logos is also seen as another element which compels the audience towards believing in the crux of the message. The advertisement is made in a way which instills logical appeal and stimulates logical appeal. This is done at two levels in the advertisement. The first level of advertisement exists at the surface level, in the sense of being superficial and less concerned about divulging the actual truth of the matter.

Enlgish 2 ( Water Pollution ) Research Proposal

Enlgish 2 ( Water Pollution ) - Research Proposal Example Water pollution refers to the human-induced changes to water quality. Scholz contends that contamination of ground water, rivers, lakes, wetlands, estuaries, and oceans can threaten the health of humans. Contaminated water has threatened the health of humans for centuries and continues to pose the same threat even today. Water is crucial for the welfare of the humanity and it is the quality of water that matters, not the quantity (Myllyntaus, 2005). Water occupies more than 71 percent of the earth’s surface but only 2.5% of it is fresh water, meant for human consumption. Again, 1 percent of this fresh water is divided into lakes (61%), atmosphere and soil moisture (39%) and the streams make up for less than 0.4 percent (Frank, McClure, Press & Walsh, 2001). The streams including the rivers constitute the smallest percentage of river distribution, most of the water for human consumption is provided by them. Drinking water accounts for even less because much of the fresh water in undrinkable (Myllyntaus, 2005). About 20 percent of the fresh water is stored in fresh water form and this is not a quickly renewable natural resource. Rainwater is the only naturally renewable form of water. Water pollution can be divided into two categories – point-source pollution and non-point-source pollution. When contaminants are discharged from a discrete location, as the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, it is known as point-source pollution (Scholz, 2003). Non-point-source or diffuse pollution refers to all other types of contaminants that polluter the water body. Acid rain is an example of non-point-source pollution. Water pollution poses threats to human health in different ways. The pollutants enter the body via skin exposure or when drinking water or contaminated food is consumed directly (Scholz, 2003). Mercury has been detected in fish tissues that are found in contaminated water bodies and

Impacts of Terrorism, Political Conflict and War on Children

Impacts of Terrorism, Political Conflict and War on Children Asrar Ali Abstract In the light of literatures, this paper will discuss the acute psychological responses of children during terrorism, the psychological impacts throughout the childhood period. The long term psychological effects of armed conflicts on the child’s life and personality and finally, exploring the important, resilient characteristics of children from the literature, to integrate them for the psychological well-being of victim children of Pakistan. Introduction to Pakistan’s Socio-Political Situation and The Rationales for Choosing the Topic Pakistan, the country with a very significant geographical location, is also a front line in the war against terrorism. The country allied with the USA in the war against the Soviet Union and then against the Taliban. The war resulted in drastic socio-cultural damage, economic loss, and destruction of schools and educational organizations. The people faced multiple forced internal displacements and also loss of thousands of innocent Pakistani citizens, including children (Khan, 2011). The country faces political issues and conflicts every day and the situations are still in a treacherous and unrest political condition. As a result, the country has faced multiple military takeovers in the past. These are open and obvious losses, but there is an additional cost that the country’s children are paying every day, a psychological cost. Children’s exposure to the severe traumatic situations cause toxic psychological shock. Loss of family members in the war field has left the c hildren in an insecure and hopeless position. The disabilities caused by the wars have lifelong social and psychological impacts. The rationales behind choosing this topic as a scholarly paper of psychology are: Firstly, political conflicts and terrorism are the priority and current issues of Pakistan, making the paper very relevant in the Pakistani context. Secondly, no doubt every individual citizen is suffering, but children are the most vulnerable group for the drastic psychological distresses caused by these situations. Thirdly, the literature states that during childhood, the brain develops rapidly and events in this period have immense effects on the psychological development. Lastly, exploring the resilient characteristics, which can protect the child from harmful psychological consequences of brutal terrorism and rough political conflicts. Acute Psychological Response of Children in Terrorism, armed Conflicts and War Children exposed to terrorist activities including bombing, slaughtering of human beings in front of their innocent eyes, killing of their family members, friends, or relatives, and the non-human brutal acts of terrorists can be toxic to child psychology. About 88% of children’s psychological reaction to traumatic events such as terrorism are signs of Acute Stress Reaction (ASR), including severe anxiety, low mood, irritability, emotional ups and downs, emotional numbness, and poor sleep and concentration problems (Moscardino, Axia, Scrimin Capello, 2007). As an Afghan citizen, I had harsh childhood experiences. During the Taliban regime, I have been exposed to severe terrorist activities. I have seen people being killed, bombed, executed in the streets, and my own house and neighbors have been hit by missiles, in the incident, I have almost lost my grandfather. I can deeply understand the psychological pain of children exposed to such a brutal non-human situation. In additio n to Acute Stress Reaction (ASR) signs and symptoms, I do remember, I had severe separation anxiety, I had fears of losing my significant figures and an intense feeling of uncertainty about death and life deep inside my heart. Children manifest anxiety in a variety of ways (Saraiya, Garakani Billick, 2013). Children may have difficulty in separating from parents, unrelated anxiety and they can develop somatic complaints (frequent headaches and stomach aches) due to anxiety. The literature further narrates that children develop a sense of hopelessness, loss of self-control and may develop difficulty in trusting adults. An 8-year old girl, M, said â€Å"My father died in the blast. I don’t want to live here any longer† (Aijaz Ambreen, 2014) Children develop complaints of unexplained low appetite, sleep disorders and nightmares. An 11-year old boy, who was at home when the blast (Abbas Town, Karachi) occurred, was crying when he told us, â€Å"I have been feeling reall y anxious since the blast. I cannot sleep† (Aijaz Ambreen, 2014). Psychological Impacts of Terrorism, Political Conflicts and War throughout the Childhood Period The psychological impacts of terrorism are not only limited to acute exposure to traumatic events but have effects throughout childhood. Regression manifests in children who witnessed or exposed to terrorism. Thumb sucking, bed wetting problems, lack of interest in play, increased fear of the dark and, greater difficulties in separating from parents have been noticed in children (Saraiya, Garakani Billick, 2013). Developmental delays, a state when a child cannot achieve appropriate milestones of age, have been recorded in children (Ullah, 2010). Academic and educational performances of children exposed to terrorism are highly suffered (Waheed Ahmad, 2012). I have noticed that, loss of parents, change in family structure and, low support from family result in poorer academic achievement. Development of learning difficulties and attention problems are other reasons for low academic performances, (Saraiya, Garakani Billick, 2013). I remember, when we migrated from Afghanistan to Paki stan for the search of peace and security, we got admission in the school. I, my siblings, and other Afghan classmates, exposed to extreme traumatic events of terrorism, had learning difficulties at school. Once, I failed grade 4 and had to work very hard to catch up with the studies. Children who experienced or witnessed violence acts of militants, developed phobias (Khan, 2011). The phobia can be related to animals, monsters, or any symbols not related to terrorism. Irritability, aggression and, an unusual outburst of anger has reported about children exposed to militancy. A mother complained about her son, ‘‘His character has changed. He generally reacts more strongly now, with much aggression. He thinks that someone wants to hurt him, he feels very offended if you tell him what to do’’ (Moscardino, Axia, Scrimin Capello, 2007). Long Term Psychological Effects of Terrorism, Political Conflicts and War on Personality and Life of Children A vast number of literatures support that, Childhood experiences have significant outcomes in the life and personality development. (Heckman et al., 2012; Black et al., 2007; Alderman et al., 2006; and Almond et al., 2005), as cited in (Kim Lee, 2013). The developmental Psychology shows that early childhood experiences are crucial for the personality development in the long-run. The study of the behavioral genetics shows that differences in temperament measured in the first few years of life do not entirely depend on hereditary factors, but also the environments (Emde, Hewitt Kagan, 2001). Terrorism and conflicts in the environment can be a serious issue for the child psychology. Children exposed to war, witnessed torture or killing of family members and those who lost significant figures in the act of terrorism, are at a higher risk of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Ahmada, 2010). PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can be developed after exposure to one or more tr aumatic events that threatened or caused great physical harm (Widiger Costa, 2013; Brunet, Akerib, Birmes, 2007). It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to extreme psychological trauma. Individual with PTSD can have the signs and symptoms for up to 20 years after the traumatic event (Boscarino, 1997) cited in (Ahmada, 2010). Antisocial personality and aggressive behavior development are other long term psychological consequences of child exposed to terrorism. According to Qouta, Punamaki El Sarraj, (2008) aggressive and anti-social behaviors are more likely to develop if children are directly exposed to terrorism, including physical violence, being wounded, beaten, detained, or may have lost loved ones in the event. In another study by Yule et al., (2000) showed that survivors have a higher risk of developing specific phobias in the long-run. Ahmada (2010) explains that racial discrimination and blaming wording of society, leads to social isolation and drug abuse. If the w orld blames and discriminates a Pakistani child as a terrorist, the child may be isolated and may adapt drug abuse as an ineffective coping mechanism. Exploring Resilience in Children to Combat Adverse Psychological Effects of Terrorism, Political Conflicts and War War and terrorism adversely disturb the psychology of children, still many children survive and grow healthy, competent, well-adjusted and caring adults. Although many children succumb to serious psychological and physical problem, a substantial number manage to survive and thrive, despite facing adversities (Levine Ion, 2002). Many questions can be posed that, how these children were able to carry on healthy lives? Kanji Cameron, (2010) answer the question in their research, â€Å"exploring the experiences of resilience in Muslim Afghan refugee children†. Each child has unique stories to tell and within their experiential stories are essences of resilience. Drawing Strength from Family Support: In Kanji Cameron’s (2010) research, the Afghan refugee children confidently expressed that their strength came from their family’s enormous support. Family togetherness, not only instills courage, but also gives support and protection. Researcher (Garmezy, 1991; Luther et al., 2000; Masten Coastsworth, 1998) as cited in (Kanji Cameron, 2010) has also identified the presence of caring adults either during or after major stresses as the most important protective factors for children. The extended family structure in Pakistan can enhance more caring and supportive environment for the child. Therefore, families should be advised, to be more helpful, kind and caring during or after the traumatic events. According to Luther, Sawyer, and Brown (2006) as cited in (Kanji Cameron, 2010), their research review of over 50 years on childhood resilience showed that good positive parent-child relationships can generate â€Å"feelings of confi dence, security, and self-efficacy† in children. Community and Social Support: According to Garbarino and Kostelney (1996), as cited in (Kanji Cameron, 2010), in addition to children having individual strength, â€Å"successful adoption and resilience lies in the balance of social supports from and for parents and other adults. It is very important to attract social, governmental and non-governmental organizations’ support for the victim children. National and International media channels can play an important role in drawing attention of these organizations. The organizations can work on maintaining and improving daily activities of children (e.g. Schooling, etc.). Researchers found that, when displaced children attend school, it gives them stability and increase their confidence, self-esteem, problem-solving abilities, and career opportunities (Garbarino Kostelny, 1996; Hek, 2005; Machel, 2001) as cited in (Kanji Cameron, 2010). The support system from social worker and NGOs can have a positive impact on child psycholo gy. Drawing Strength from the Divine Support: The participants in Kanji Cameron’s research (2010), shared their experience of strength from the divine. They explained that they recited the name of Hazrat Ali (The First spiritual leader of Shia Ismaili) as a way of overcoming the fears. According to (Joseph, 1994; Ratrin Hestyani, 2006; Walsh, 2003) as cited in (Kanji Cameron, 2010), practicing faith is also a way of promoting and sustaining resilience within a person in the face of adversity. Personally, when I experienced traumatic terrorist exposure during the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, I recited Naad-e-Ali (Special Shia prayer for overcoming trouble) 3 times. The divine practice gave me a strong sense of resilience. Therefore, promoting divine and religious practices in children can be useful in psychological well-being. Conclusion The major acute psychological responses of children, when exposed to terrorism are Acute Stress Reaction (ASR), severe anxiety, emotional numbness and sleep disorders. Development of hopelessness and the difficulty in separating from parents are the main acute concern. The impacts are not limited to the acute phase of trauma, but the events have an effect throughout the childhood. Regression and developmental delays are noticed in children. The academic and educational performances of children are suffering. Low grades, avoidance of school, poorer academic achievements and learning difficulties are the major concerns. The literatures give evidence of long-term impacts on personality development of children. Development of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was the most evident impact. The sign and symptoms of the disorder can be manifested for up to 20 years after the trauma. Anti-social and aggressive personality developments are vital long-term consequences. Furthermore, childre n develop specific phobias, social isolation, and involve in drug abuse, later in their lives. The literature explains that although terrorism and armed conflicts have adverse effects on children, still they can grow up as a healthy, competent and caring adult, by having certain resilient characteristics. The resilient characteristics are strengthened by support, love, kindness, and protective nature of family. At the last, the literatures and researchers showed that, during warlike situations, social support, religious and divine practices play an important role in children’s psychological well-being. References Ahmada, A. (2010). War and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children: A Review. Aijaz, A., Ambreen, U. (2014). Case Studies: Female and Child Survivors of a Bomb-Blast in Pakistan.J Trauma Treat S,4, 21671222. Emde, R., Hewitt, J., Kagan, J. (2001).Infancy to early childhood(1st Ed.). Oxford:  Oxford University Press. Kanji, Z., Cameron, B. (2010). Exploring the experiences of resilience in Muslim Afghan refugee children.Journal Of Muslim Mental Health,5 (1), 2240. Khan, Z. (2011). Military Operations in FATA and PATA: Implications for Pakistan.  Institute  Of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI). Kim, Y., Lee, J. (2013). The long-run impact of traumatic experience on risk aversion. Levine, S., Ion, H. (2002).Against terrible odds(1st Ed.). Boulder, Colo.: Bull Pub. Co. Moscardino, U., Axia, G., Scrimin, S., Capello, F. (2007). Narratives from caregivers of  children surviving the terrorist attack in Beslan: Issues of health, culture, and  resilience.Social Science Medicine, 64 (8), 17761787. Qouta, S., Punamaki, R., El Sarraj, E. (2008). Child development and family mental health  in war and military violence: The Palestinian experience.  International Journal Of  Behavioral Development,32(4), 310321. Saraiya, A., Garakani, A., Billick, S. (2013). Mental health approaches to child victims of  acts of terrorism.  Psychiatric Quarterly,84 (1), 115124. Ullah, J. (2010). The Life of Children After the War on Terror.  Pakistan Journal Of  Criminology, 2 (1). Waheed, A., Ahmad, M. (2012). Socioeconomic Impacts of Terrorism on Affected Families  in Lahore, Pakistan.Journal Of Aggression, Maltreatment Trauma,21 (2), 202222. Widiger, T., Costa, P. (2013).Personality disorders and the five-factor model of  personality(1st Ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Yule, W., Bolton, D., Udwin, O., Boyle, S., ORyan, D., Nurrish, J. (2000). The long-term  psychological effects of a disaster experienced in adolescence: I: The incidence and  course of PTSD.Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry,41(4), 503511.

The Awakening and Butterfly Burning Essay -- Literature Comparison Pap

The Awakening and Butterfly Burning The summaries do not add anything to the paper and could (should) have been skipped. Given the thesis of the paper, I would have liked to have seen a discussion of the male / female conflict, and a more detailed discussion of the individual / society conflict. The two women's struggles "to find their own sense of individuality" are, after all, attempts to free themselves from the expectations of their husbands and of the societies in which they live. Such an exploration might have led the writer to some conclusions about the major differences in the two novels. (Note that the conclusion basically summarizes similarities.) The writer of the paper might well have come to conclusions different than those I am about to describe -- the following comments, in other words, are meant to suggest the type of discussion that I would have liked to have seen. Edna's husband (The Awakening) is financially much better off than is Phephelaphi's (Butterfly). He is, however, portrayed as not particularly loving -- he prefers to spend his time either at work, or gambling with his friends. Phephelaphi's husband spends time away from her, but he needs to do that in order to earn a living. Indeed, Edna's husband is basically indifferent about whatever she does. Phephelaphi's seems to care more about her, but he is clearly upset about her abortion. This leads, if I remember correctly, to his having sex with another woman, just the opposite of the situation in The Awakening, where Edna is the one whose extra-marital affairs are emphasized. Edna is, throughout the novel, much freer from her husband than Phephelaphi is from hers. Phephelaphi's is, in other words, the more difficult marital situation. ... ...hin both novels. In Butterfly Burning, Fumbatha was older and more experienced in the ways of the world than was Phephelaphi. Conversely, in The Awakening, Robert was younger than Edna and much less experienced in life than was Edna. The age differences played key roles in each novel. Age seemed to be the difference in how the world was viewed and the responsibilities required of each person. In Butterfly Burning the man was the older, seemingly settled, and wiser where in The Awakening, the man was younger and much less worldly, settled, and content. 28 In summary, both novels were a reflection of a woman’s struggle and quest to find a new identity for herself. Both novels use water as a symbol of life, death, and a gentle friend. The novels were both an awakening of the spirit and a burning of a spirit crushed like the fragile wings of a butterfly.

Public life Essay

Early Years When Brown and his family moved to New York, he learned that the pro-slavery forces in Kansas were confrontational. Brown left for Kansas after learning that the families of his adult sons were completely unprotected from any possible attack. He collected funds and weapons along the way and even held an anti-slavery convention in Albany. Despite the stir because of his support for unrest to liberate, Brown still managed to get financial support. He gathered more anti-slavery forces in Ohio. Brown and his forces were going to stop at nothing to stop the pro-slavery actions in Kansas. He believed that the pro-slavery forces, or the Border Ruffians, will eventually become violent themselves. He used this as justification for his disregard for the law. Brown was angered by the violence displayed by the Border Ruffians, and also the political manipulations happening to quell the northern abolitionist movement. Brown learned that his family was to be attacked next by the Border Ruffians and the pro-slavery neighbours squealed about the support that his family was giving him. In May 1856, five pro-slavery settlers were killed by Brown’s men. They were taken from their homes and slashed to death by swords. According to Brown, he did approve of the murder, but he never participated in it. Two of Brown’s sons were captured by Henry Pate, a pro-slavery captain. But Pate was soon captured with twenty-two men. Pate was forced to sign a treaty that exchanges their freedom with the freedom of his two sons. Pate was released, but his sons’ release was to be postponed till September. Pro-slavery forces from Missouri came to Kansas under the command of Major General John Reid. They headed towards Osawatomie, Kansas, determined to crush the abolitionist forces there. Some of Reid’s men killed one of Brown’s sons in the morning of August 30, 1956. Brown was clearly outnumbered by Reid’s pro-slavery forces, but they still defended their posts. They managed to wound 40 and kill 20 of the Reid’s men. Reid ordered his men to retreat into the forest, and Brown’s men managed to capture four of Reid’s men. This display of bravery in that situation that clearly went against him was viewed as an act of heroism by Northern abolitionist forces. Brown was then known by the nickname, Osawatomie Brown. A month later, Brown met Free State leaders in Lawrence to help plan for a possible assault by the pro-slavery forces. Pro-slavery forces from Missouri were engaging attacks in Kansas. Battles ensued, though large damages were nipped in the bud when Kansas governor John Geary called for disarmament and offered clemency to soldiers of both sides. Brown fled from Kansas with his sons to gather more funds and support from the north. Brown travelled eastward to collect more funds. In his travels, he met with many prominent abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison and Gerrit Smith. Some of the wealthy abolitionists he met agreed to provide Brown with funds. This group of financers become known as the â€Å"Secret Six†. How much of Brown’s plans the Secret Six knew still remains a mystery until today as these men were just there to fund Brown with â€Å"no questions asked. † On January of the following year, Brown received pledges of weapons from different abolitionist organizations and individuals. He travelled more and continued to look for funding. He received help in forms of numerous pledges but little of these pledges were translated to cash. Brown met with Hugh Forbes in New York in March. He hired Forbes to be the tactician and drillmaster of his army. Both met in Tabor and formulated a plan for their anti-slavery crusade in the south with them disagreeing with some of the details of the plan. They left for Kansas six months later without Forbes receiving his salary. He decided to leave for the east instead of going with Brown to Kansas. Brown travelled to Ontario to attend a Constitutional Convention. Chatham, Ontario’s population were mostly dominated by slave fugitives. It was here that Brown’s provisional constitution was adopted. Brown was elected as the commander-in-chief and Elder Monroe, an African man was elected as minister, and shall act as president until a new one was elected. Many of the delegates signed the Constitution, but only a few joined Brown’s forces. Many intended to join but Forbes attempted to reveal the plans to Henry Wilson, a Massachusetts senator. Many of the members of Brown’s inner circle felt fear that their names will go revealed to the public. The members of the Secret Six were divided. Some of them wanted Brown to execute his plans rapidly, while some insisted for postponement. To derail Forbes’ knowledge of his plan, Brown returned to Kansas and remained there for 6 months. He joined forces with James Montogomery, the leader of the raids in Missouri. Brown led his own attacks, managing to set 11 slaves free. He took the liberated man with him to Detroit and to Canada. He went from city to city to collect more support. He reconnected with the Secret Six, visited his family and departed for Harpers Ferry. Upon arrival in Harpers Ferry, he rented a farmhouse nearby for his new recruits. He never received the number of recruits he expected to come to support him. He revealed the plan to some of his supporters and some of them expressed their worry and qualms about the plan. One of them, Douglass, already knew of Brown’s plan since 1859 and has tried numerous attempts to avert the enlistment of blacks in Brown’s army. Some of the weapons fit for a thousand men arrived late September, but Brown only had 21 men. A month later, Brown led 19 of his men to attack the armory of Harpers Ferry. He planned to distribute the weapons here to arm the slaves in the locality. He would then lead these men to the south to liberate more slaves. His plan was to free the slaves of Virginia to maim the institution and kill off the life-line that kept the economy alive in the south. They easily entered the town and they captured the armory with no resistance. They also spread the news to the local slaves they were going to be freed soon. Things went awry when a passenger train arrived in town. One of the train staff warned the passengers about Brown’s men. Brown ordered him to halt then, but seeing that his warning was not heeded, shot him openly. News of the raid reached Washington by late morning. Brown’s men were held inside the armory by the angry residents of the town. Military men sealed off the bridge, the only escape route available. Brown moved inside the armory and had the doors and windows blocked. The soldiers and townspeople outside prevented the exit of anyone inside the armory, and sometimes, Brown’s men would shoot at the people outside. Brown sent out his son, Watson, and one of his men under the bearing of a white flag and yet the men outside shot them. Exchanges of shots were fired, and Oliver, another of Brown’s sons were wounded and killed. On October 18, John Brown’s fort was surrounded by the military. They were encouraged to surrender, but Brown refused, saying that he would rather die there. The military men then broke the doors and walls of the armory down and captured the men inside. Brown was charged with murder of 5 men, instigation of a rebellion among the slaves and treason against the state of Virginia. The court found him to be guilty on all three counts on November 2. He was sentenced to be publicly hanged a month later. On November 2, after a week-long trial and 45 minutes of deliberation, the Charles town jury found Brown guilty on all three counts. Brown was sentenced to be hanged in public on December 2. Before he died, he wrote, â€Å"I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done. † METHODOLOGY The results of this study were obtained via data collection from documents from the internet, several books and journals. Data analysis of the information was performed and some personal opinions of the author were also injected into the analysis of the data gathered.

Free Essays on American History

1640-1720 The period in American history from 1640-1720 can be characterized by much crisis and conflict. This era saw the establishment of the African slave trade, political unrest aimed towards England, and increasingly violent clashes with Native Americans amidst an expanding frontier. The French were settling the great lakes region, the English and Dutch in the northeast, while Spain had colonies out west. As economies grew and trading expanded, all 3 ‘Old World’ settlements began to overlap into each other which resulted in hostility and war. At the same time, all 3 groups began clashing with Native Americans, mainly over land. Many Puritans insisted on trying to convert the natives to Christianity, with limited success. As colonial populations expanded, so did their need for new land acquisitions. With colonial expansion, the slave trade began to develop, and then flourish to become the mainstay or linchpin of the American economy by 1700. Plantation owners relied heavily on manual labor to cultivate their crops, as fewer and fewer Europeans were willing to indenture themselves for long periods of time, which was common practice before slavery. They were also considered ‘free’, and therefore had better access to decent wages and living conditions elsewhere. This was a problem for landowners, and they found a solution in the â€Å"Triangular Trade†. Mass quantities of slaves were imported from Africa, often through the West Indies. A cycle soon developed, whereby goods produced by slaves were then traded to bondsmen in Africa for more slaves in return. In effect, slaves indirectly funded their own exploitation. Politics began to shift in the colonies during this time. England developed a collective theory on economics called mercantilism. From 1651 to 1673, a series of laws known as the Navigation Acts were put into effect. These were designed to isolate trade markets between England and the colonies. They include... Free Essays on American History Free Essays on American History Schools in the 1770’s Schools back in the 1770’s were very different, Massachusetts and Connecticut both had laws saying every town with fifty families or more in the town must hire a teacher and build a schoolhouse. Most schools in the 1770’s had only one room; witch was freezing cold in the winter. Some towns are considered very lucky to have a schoolhouse because most towns don’t have any! The teacher of the schoolhouse actually held classes in her home. The puritans thought paper was way too much to waste on the students. They wrote on birch bark for their lessons they worked on. There were no chalkboards, globes, or maps for the children to use. The puritans believed that everyone should be able to read the bible. When the children are not working at home, they had to go to school. In school they are taught to read, write, and do arithmetic witch is practically like math. They need to learn all of this stuff above so then they could read the bible, write letters to people, and keep track of their amount of money. Older boys went to grammar schools for the next six years. Most boys sat on hard, cold benches studying Latin, Greek, arithmetic, and geography. Puritans didn’t think that girls needed anymore education then what they all ready learned in a regular schoolhouse. For girls it ended with dame school. Some other young children went to private schools; they were also called dame schools. The villagers put their best clothes on and then walked to the meetinghouse for religious worship. Each one of the schoolmasters had one of the most important tools, a birch stick. A watchman (like a policeman) watched over the meetinghouse so no one would get in. The watchman carried a long pole type thing with a knob on one end and a squirrel tail on the other end of the pole. Some meetings and school lasted all day, but with a break for lunch. On Sundays there were no school or work.... Free Essays on American History 1640-1720 The period in American history from 1640-1720 can be characterized by much crisis and conflict. This era saw the establishment of the African slave trade, political unrest aimed towards England, and increasingly violent clashes with Native Americans amidst an expanding frontier. The French were settling the great lakes region, the English and Dutch in the northeast, while Spain had colonies out west. As economies grew and trading expanded, all 3 ‘Old World’ settlements began to overlap into each other which resulted in hostility and war. At the same time, all 3 groups began clashing with Native Americans, mainly over land. Many Puritans insisted on trying to convert the natives to Christianity, with limited success. As colonial populations expanded, so did their need for new land acquisitions. With colonial expansion, the slave trade began to develop, and then flourish to become the mainstay or linchpin of the American economy by 1700. Plantation owners relied heavily on manual labor to cultivate their crops, as fewer and fewer Europeans were willing to indenture themselves for long periods of time, which was common practice before slavery. They were also considered ‘free’, and therefore had better access to decent wages and living conditions elsewhere. This was a problem for landowners, and they found a solution in the â€Å"Triangular Trade†. Mass quantities of slaves were imported from Africa, often through the West Indies. A cycle soon developed, whereby goods produced by slaves were then traded to bondsmen in Africa for more slaves in return. In effect, slaves indirectly funded their own exploitation. Politics began to shift in the colonies during this time. England developed a collective theory on economics called mercantilism. From 1651 to 1673, a series of laws known as the Navigation Acts were put into effect. These were designed to isolate trade markets between England and the colonies. They include...

Thomas Edison1 essays

Thomas Edison1 essays Thomas Alva Edison Thomas Alva Edison was one of the greatest inventors. He was a smart man. Thomas invented many things such as the light bulb and phonograph. Without the light bulb we would still be using candles and lanterns like they did many years ago. Although Thomas was deaf he Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. He had many family members. He had a father named Samuel Odgen Edison and a mother named Nancy Elliott Edison. Thomas' mother pulled him from school because Thomas' teacher called him a "retard." Nancy Edison taught her son at home. Thomas has six siblings and he was the youngest child in the Edison family. Thomas was interested in many things as a child. At age twelve Thomas got a job at the Grand Trunk Railroad. While working at Grand Trunk Railroad Thomas was a typesetter, press operator, editor, and publisher of his very own newspaper called the "Herald." Thomas got his news for his newspaper from telegraphers at other train stations. Thomas liked many things, but mathematics was not one of them. He enjoyed reading books about science and philosophy. His favorite book ever was Isaac Newtown's Principia Mathematica. Thomas was interested in inventing the light bulb. Thomas was a scientist as a kid. He like to test many things. When he was young he built a laboratory in the family's basement. Thomas did experiments he found in science books and got jars and chemicals for experiments from local shopkeepers. Thomas also used a spare train car for another laboratory. Thomas studied books on mechanics, manufacturing, and chemistry at the public library. He spent a long time studying Newtown's Principles. He also read lots of books such as Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Hume's History of England, ...

Staffing a Growing Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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