Budgets Essay Example for Free

Budgets Essay There are certain elements that are to be considered in studying and defining the budget, especially in the field of public administration. These elements include economic, political, and ideological concerns that affect the processes budget goes through. A fourth element that defines budget is societal concerns, which proves to be an important factor for the success of the budget. The budget is said to be economic such that it paints a picture where there is a supply and demand. The supply of funds available for the organization would likewise be met by a demand by its components. The scarcity in funds, as is mostly the situation for finite resources, results to the competition of the different departments for their share in the budget. On the other hand, the political and ideological concerns would mostly be found in the budget process as reflected by the final appropriations. The debate that it has to go through in the respective legislative bodies entails a political and ideological working where each actor would pursue their interests. The last component is the concern for societal welfare. A budget, no matter how big, if it is hounded by cold gigantic infrastructures is said to be a failure. It is important that behind every amount pursued for in the budget, there should be a corresponding impact on raising the quality of life of the people for whom it is intended for. The elements of the budget? economic, ideological, political, and societal? are important elements that play several important roles during the existence of the budget and will continue to serve their purpose to make an effective appropriation.

Structured systems analysis and design

Structured systems analysis and design Structured Systems Analysis and Design (SSAD) With this particular methodology, a software development venture is divided into stages, steps, tasks and modules/ components. Objectives of SSAD:   ITC Infotech India Ltd. Structured Systems Analysis and Design (SSAD) was developed with specific objectives: To warrant that a project could lucratively persist should a loss in staff occur without any adverse consequences on the project To improve communication between all participants in the project so that an effective construction is in place To develop a better of class systems To improve the manner in which projects are controlled and directed To allow for the efficient use of both experienced and inexperienced staff To allow for projects to be supported by computer- aided software engineering applications How SSAD works: SSAD is a waterfall approach whereby there are a series of events which occur in sequential order, each step leading from the last. There are a total of five steps and they are as follows: Feasibility study: This is a study that will determine if the project is actually possible to undertake and whether it is cost effective or not. Requirements analysis: Identifying the needs of the business Requirements specification: The requirements (functional and non- functional) are clearly and unambiguously identified and stated. Logical system specification: The technical systems options are created and also the logical design of the system, including upgrade and enquiry designs. Physical design: The logical system specification and technical specification is then used to design a physical database and set of program specifications. Advantages of SSAD: Timelines: as mentioned before, SSAD can be used to improve the way a project is controlled and directed. This is due to the fact that it allows one to plan the project well which is essential to deliver the product on time. Improvement of productivity: By encouraging on-time delivery, meeting business needs, ensuring better quality, using human resources effectively as well as evading bureaucracy, SSAD improves general productivity of the project. Better quality: Decreases the error rate of information systems by identifying a certain level of class in the launch and constantly checking the system. Effective use of skills: It does not require any special skills and can easily be taught to the staff. It usually makes use of diagramming and modelling tools. It can respond to changes in the business environment: Business requirements and objectives are taken into consideration while the project is being developed. This creates the possibility to adjust the planning of the project to the actual requirements of the business. Usability: Special emphasis is put on the analysis of the user requirements. Concurrently, the system model is constructed and a wide-ranging demand analysis is conducted. Cuts costs: Due to the fact that SSAD separates logical and physical systems design, the system does not have to be executed again with new hardware or software. Disadvantages of SSAD: SSAD puts prominence on the analysis of a system and its documentation. This paves the way for over-analysing, which in turn can be very time consuming and puts strain on expense. Available from: http://www.scribd.com/doc/19681828/SSAD [Date accessed: November 25th, 2009] Object Oriented Analysis and Design:   Ã‚  Ã‚   This is a software development approach that puts great prominence on logical solutions based on objects (individual components of a system). It takes a bottom- top developmental approach and makes use of UML (Unified Modelling Language). Objectives of OOAD:   JS Consulting Group Inc. (2000-2009) To study already existing objects to see if they can in fact be reused or adapted for newer uses. To identify new or modified objects that will be pooled with existing objects into a useful business computing application. Available from: http://www.jscgroup.com/object-oriented-analysis-and-design.html [Date accessed: October 25th, 2009] How OOAD works: Kenneth Pefkaros, International Journal of Business research, March 2008.   Ã‚  Ã‚   In OOAD, the developers capture required details as a system of objects which encapsulate both data and processes. It uses three elemental techniques to for analysis: Functional modelling: The analyst uses activity diagrams and use case diagrams to give designers a clearer picture of how the system works. Structural modelling: The analyst uses class diagrams to group related objects. Behavioural diagrams: The analyst uses sequence diagrams, communication and state diagrams, to give a basic description of how objects respond to the environment, as well as, how they change state during transactions. These techniques then provide the designers with sufficient documented information which they will use in the creating of the system. Available from: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6773/is_2_8/ai_n31126769/pg_4/?tag=content;col1 [Date accessed: October 25th, 2009] Advantages of OOAD: It significantly simplifies the development of the system It enables the consistency of objects which increases the understanding of the design Decomposing the system into individual objects makes it easier and more manageable for the analyst to work with. When working with objects, they can be reused and modified which cuts costs and save time. Disadvantages of OOAD: There is more emphasis on codes There isnt much emphasis on team work The early designs for the system may be too simplified to be adequate It isnt easy to establish all the necessary classes and objects needed for the system

Baz Luhrmanns Romeo And Juliet Review Film Studies Essay

Baz Luhrmanns Romeo And Juliet Review Film Studies Essay Baz Luhrmann brings a unique visual style to William Shakespeares renaissance tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Set in a modern Verona Beach, Luhrmann sets the assertive and trendy tone of his adaptation within a decaying Miami City. Within minutes, the opening TV prologue hurls us into the white-hot intensity of the two warring families, bombarding the audience with chaotic action scenes and passion. Constructing an edgy and dynamic environment, his brash interpretation uses rapid cuts and erratic zooming techniques to create a comic strip style sequence against the multicultural backdrop of the graffiti scattered streets of Verona. Though effective, the restlessness of the camera becomes confusing, slicing the action into short, sharp images that can mystify rather than illuminate. Such fervent action so soon into the film is dizzying and unexpected. Luhrmann attracts the audience with his lively cinema style, speeding up the action to hype up the confrontation and the rivalry of the two f amilies alongside an intense soundtrack of contemporary and popular music. As a contemporary film director, Luhrmann clearly values the younger audience who would usually only come into contact with Shakespeare in a school environment. This could explain the roaring energy of car engines and elaborate guns instead of horses and swords originally used in earlier productions. Encompassing the elegance of Shakespeares text, Luhrmann introduces the star crossed lovers in a tender exchange of affectionate eye contact across the shimmering light of an aquarium. The pair follow each other across the length of the glass in an enduring and delicately youthful and romantic moment, capturing the innocence of the fated pair. Luhrmann creates a sensual and glamorously romantic atmosphere whenever the lovers meet alone. The balcony and swimming pool scene in particular surrounds the pair in a glimmering sheen of water and light. Luhrmanns use of atmospheric lighting leaves the audience to swoon, drinking in the glow of the dreamy eyed couple as they exchange their most iconic and enduring dialogue. Though their love is prohibited by tradition, ego and prejudice in the society of Verona, Luhrmann exposes Shkespeares drama to a contemporary world without limits, modernising the play with radical scenes of drug use, drag queens and public brawls. A couple so concerned w ith the traditional morals of their families in a world of law breaking and promiscuity comes as a stark contrast which at times, is unconvincing. As the audience enjoy the rowdy and loose morality at the Capulet Ball, it is initially somewhat difficult to believe that two young people in love would not act upon their passionate attraction. However, the undeniable beauty of the couples love is infectious. As they lie in the church lit by thousands of candles, the beauty of Shakespeares romantic tale is undeniable in the soft, atmospheric style with which Luhrmann combines light and opulent religious design to glamorize the tragic scene in which the love affair comes to an end. The language used in this film is lifted from the pages of Shakespeares text; which is surprising and pleasing as the dialogue fits seamlessly into the style of the film. Luhrmann has stripped the dialogue right down the necessities in order to sell to a commercial younger audience who may not understand the complexities of the original dialogue. The bare bones of the text are delivered confidently, notably by Friar Lawrence. Actor Pete Postlethwaites portrayal of the Friar as a new age herbalist gives the audience a glimpse of Shakespearean imagery and rhythm as he optimistically agrees to marry the pair in a bid to turn the households rancour to pure love. Similarly, Harold Perrineaus portrayal of Mercutio adds an exotic and audacious tempo to the film. Perrineau portrays him as entrancing and compelling, emphasising Shakespeares skilfully witty character, which becomes most poignant during his speech before they are due at the house of Capulet. The volatile style in which he prese nts this famous speech builds from a jovial and bawdy exchange with Romeo at the steps of a run-down theatre, to an explosive and passionate conclusion. Delivered naturally, Luhrmann heightens suspense by climaxing the speech with a furiously bright light and sound of a single firework. The audience are brought to a peak of tension and anticipation, unsure where this volatile character will take them next. As well as presenting an aggressively modern adaptation with the setting and language of the play, Luhrmanns interpretation of Shakespeares tragedy is styled inventively by costume designer Kym Barrett. The clothing is eclectic and riotously colourful, complimenting the up-beat and psychedelic style of the film. Reflecting the disposition of the characters, Kym Barrett dresses the characters as a portrayal of their position in the society within the plot. The contrasting morality within the generations and conflicting traditions between the families is illustrated by the way they dress. The Capulet boys for instance, are dressed in smart and formal suits throughout the film, proudly reflecting their traditional Latino heritage which Luhrmann portrays. Creating a contrast, the Montague boys are dressed in very casual beach shirts and board shorts, illustrating the less mature and jovial features of their characters. In a comparison to the younger members of the cast, the parental and authoritative figures are dressed in expensive and regal clothing, suggesting the traditional values of their society. Both women at the head of each household are seen to be dressed in the luxurious clothing typical of wives of influential men. As their wealth is illustrated in the elegance and glamour of their dress, the authority that their husbands hold within the city is also established. It is interesting to note that Luhrmann includes a modern style drag queen in this adaptation, dressed in a provocative and bold sequined outfit. Though not unknown in the other Shakespearean plays, cross dressing, most involve women dressing as men. Mercutios flamboyant style of dress at the Capulets ball is an expression of sexuality ineffectual to the plot, not a central theme to the resolution of the plot as in many of Shakespeares plays. Luhrmann heightens the aesthetic sexuality in his film adaptation to attract a younger and more contemporary audience. The romantic characters of the fil m remain innocent. Dressed to reflect her youth, Clare Danes instils the naivety and youthfulness of Juliet in a modest white dress and plain style of hair and make-up. Similarly, Romeo reflects her adolescence and compliments her dress, choosing a simple black suit and tie. Before they fall in love, the audience can pick up on their compatibility by the harmonizing styles of the lovers. The costumes and setting of the film generate an up-beat and boldly elaborate overall vision. The audience are bombarded by an audacious and lively interpretation complimented by an energetic soundtrack and attractive cast. Though incredibly pleasing on the eye, Luhrmanns concentration on the aesthetics of the film does sacrifice the story and dialogue for style. However, this interpretation of Shakespeares classic does bring renaissance drama into the 21st century. Luhrmann tells the story in an edgy and fast paced film which smashes the Shakespeares stereotype of stodgy, uninteresting plays that are difficult to understand. As a director, Baz Luhrmann revisits the play with great attention, choosing to only leave out scenes that are really futile to the plot. This may be due to the audience his film is designed for, catering for the commercial audience who require more of the action and romance than the subtleties of Shakespeares dialogue. His style of directing is sometimes intrusive, zooming in and speeding up the action in a way which draws the audience in, almost too close to the drama. His wild style of filming places the audience into the action immediately, which at times, particularly the opening scene, is obtrusive and gaudy. This adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is significant in that only one other film edition is recognised with the same commercial acknowledgement. Franco Zeffirellis 1968 adaptation is a traditional take on the play, set in the 15th century Renaissance period and filmed entirely in Italy. With only one other well-known film version of the play, Luhrmanns film has become an important alternative to the conventional style of renaissance drama. Largely shot in Mexico City, there is a strong unapologetic ambience, giving the film more of an attitude than the traditional setting of Verona. Luhrmanns definitive rendition of the play is outrageously narcissistic and easy on the eye, opening the world of Shakespeare to a wider audience in a contemporary and brash interpretation that leaves the commercial audience wanting more of Shakespeares compelling drama.

Essay --

Gender roles have always been a constant controversy in the world of religion. Women, more so then men, have been trying to gain religious power for the past several decades. Many religions already have gender equality, while others fear the change of gender roles. Gender roles in Christianity vary considerably in today’s age, as they have during the last two millennia. This is especially true with regards to marriage and ministry. Certain roles in Christian religious groups have been restricted to males or females only. For example, in the Catholic and Orthodox churches, men may serve as priests and only males serve in senior leaders positions such as bishop, patriarch, or pope. Women may serve in positions such as abbess. Christianity emerged from patriarchal societies that gave men the power of authority in marriage, society and government. The status of women in early Christianity has been debated in recent years, no doubt driven by interest in the women's movement in Western countries today. Evidence in the New Testament clearly supports women doing many things and having many roles within early Christianity. "Nowhere in the Bible is it clearly and unambiguously stated that women and men are of equal dignity and worth, that women should never be treated as men’s inferiors, that the domination of one sex by the other is a sin, or that the divine takes female form." (Linda Woodhead Professor in the sociology of religion in the Department of Politics, Philosophy & Religion at Lancaster University). â€Å"The rule remains with the husband, and the wife is compelled to obey him by God’s command. He rules the home and the state, wages wars, and defends his possessions †¦ The woman, on the other hands, is like a nail driven into the wall... ...avior. Women, on the other hand, tend to be more caring and more sensitive to others’ discomfort and pain. Although men and women have the same potentials for aggression and warm-heartedness, they differ in which of the two more easily manifests. Thus, if the majority of world leaders were women, perhaps there would be less danger of war and more cooperation on the basis of global concern – although, of course, some women can be difficult! I sympathize with feminists, but they must not merely shout. They must exert efforts to make positive contributions to society.† (Dalai Lama, University of Hamburg 2007). He has very clearly stated that â€Å"if the majority of world leaders were women, perhaps there would be less danger of war and more cooperation on the basis of global concern†¦Ã¢â‚¬  , this reinforces Buddha’s idea on how a society based on equality can benefit everyone.

Reforming Australian Legal Education to match Canadian Essay -- Austra

Legal Education in Australia On January 25, 2005 one of Canada’s most respected law schools, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University (Osgoode), announced the launch of its new LL.B./JD programme with New York University Law School (NYU). The program provides an opportunity for students to earn both a Canadian LL.B. and a U.S. (ABA - American Bar Association approved) JD degree in four years. An LL.B. is a three-year Canadian law degree. A JD is a three-year U.S. law degree. A JD that is â€Å"ABA† approved allows U.S. law graduates to take the bar exam in any U.S. state. The program has been structured so that students will do two back-to-back years at Osgoode and two back-to-back years at New York University Law School. Students will receive both the LL.B. and JD degrees at the end of the fourth year. It is necessary to note that Osgoode Hall is not the only school to enjoin with an American university. Both Windsor and Ottawa have already established bilateral degree arrangements with U.S. law schools. Windsor has partnered with the University of Detroit whereas Ottawa has partnered with both Michigan State University as well as American University in Washington. Effectively, therefore, three of Canada’s seventeen law schools now have agreements with U.S. law schools allowing students to graduate with both Canadian and U.S. law degrees. In addition, McGill University in Montreal awards students both civil and common law degrees in three years. Commentators have suggested that it is only a matter of time before other Canadian schools will seek to establish similar programmes. 2 Like Australia, common law Canada has historically conferred the law qualification in the form of a Bachelor of Laws or LL.B. However, in recent times ... ...donesia. She is a former shop assistant and beauty student from Queensland. She was sentenced on May 27, 2005 and is currently serving her sentence in Kerobokan Prison, Indonesia. Despite the conviction, Corby maintains that the drugs were planted in her bag, and that she did not know about them. Her trial and conviction were a major focus of attention for the Australian media. 2 The ‘Bali Nine’ is the name given to nine Australian citizens arrested on 17 April 2005 in Denpasar on the island of Bali, Indonesia, in a plan to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin valued at approximately $4 million from Indonesia to Australia. Andrew Chan, Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Renae Lawrence, Tac Duc Thanh Nguyen, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens and Myuran Sukumaran, all aged between 18 and 28 at the time of their arrests, were convicted. Several have been handed the death penalty.

Market Selection and Entry Mode

MCristal Cristal Corporation International Marketing Executive Summary This report analyses how Cristal Corporation chose the United Kingdom as its European lauchpad for its MCristal mobile phone. MCristal phones use the Near Field Technology (NFC) to enable cashless money transaction. Cristal Corporation chose to do a Strategic Alliance with T-mobile to overcome some amount of foreign market hurdles. The company also needs to partner with large retail chains like Tesco, Aldi, and with the airline companies etc. to invest in NFC interface machines. The report also analyses the company’s marketing mix of product, price, promotion and place. Table of Content Introduction In today’s world of highly paced environment with a constant need to be in the frontline of technological advances, owing the newest mobile phones with the latest features is a must have that people line up for hours to get. The product that I am going to introduce is currently focused and available in Japan with European countries and USA trying hard to replicate the same success in their own countries. The name of the product is the M-Pay enabled Cristal mobile phones, simply called MCristal. The product, although based on the use of real technology, is fictional. M-Pay uses the Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The NFC works with short range frequency that gives a signal from, in this case, the customers mobile phone to another terminal (3). With this technology, via M-Pay, one can pay for goods and services cashlessly, by MCristal. The mobile phone will have a chip inserted in it that will store debit card, credit card information and/or prepaid voucher card on it. It will have a ? 200 pounds per transaction limit. You could use the mobile phone to pay for wide range of purposes from paying for groceries to paying for a plane ticket. All one will have to do is, touch the mobile phone on the cash-less payment point, insert a four digit personal pin number on the mobile phone to approve and complete the transaction. (2) The idea behind the creation of the MCristal is that there is a higher chance of leaving your wallet behind than your cell phone. This product from the fictional Japanese technology giant: Cristal Corporation. This company, founded in the 1979 has grown rapidly into one of the forerunners of technology in the 21st century. Not only has it invented technology to ease the everyday life of individuals but it also uses new technology to create new software and new products. Its cell phone range, with its latest features, rival that of Sharp and Panasonic in Japan. It now wants to introduce its range of MCristal phones in the European Market. This report will analyse which country Cristal Corporation should focus on launching its phones, how it should enter the market and how it should handle its marketing mix. Country Selection {draw:frame} {draw:rect} Stage One: All countries Since the company Cristal Corporation wants to introduce its MCristal phone in Europe, we start with a list of all the 27 member states of the European Union. Out of these countries, we will narrow it down to those countries that have a mobile cell subscription of more than 10,000,000, whose per capita income is more than $30,000 a year and whose urban population is more than 5,000,000. Stage Two: Priliminary screening: Macro Analysis After narrowing it down, we are left with 8 countries: France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom (Appendix). At this stage, we should do a preliminary screening taking into account the macro criteria of social, legal, political, economic, technological and environmental influences on the outcome. Below is the ideal pestle for the ideal country. Ideal Pestle for the Ideal country Social: The country that we are focusing on should have a high materialistic culture where individuals attach values to products and where people are perceived to have a higher status due to the products they own. The country should also have a large demographic in the range of 16-60. Legal: While looking into the legal aspect of the country, we should look into the various local domestic, international and home domestic laws. Domestic laws: Since the company is trying to penetrate a new country and also going for a strategic alliance with another company, there may exist potential legal problems. The potential country thus shouldn’t have high level of bureaucratism and red tapism as we would want to move in efficiently and with the least time wasted. Also, the local laws shouldn’t ban or discourage new entrants into their country thus overprotecting their own telecommunication industry and the local companies in that industry. International Laws: Since the company wants to penetrate into the European market, it will have to follow the norms and laws set aside by the European Union and will have to abide by any quotas or restrictions imposed. Besides quantity laws, it will have to follow the quality laws as well. Home Country laws: Besides these two, the company will have to also follow laws set by it’s home country. There may be cases where the home country may ban the company from entering a country due to the instability of the said European country. Other than that, the home country will also have its own quality standards, allowed export quantity, price allocation etc. which will have to be followed by the company. Political: The company should focus on those countries that have had a stable government continuously over the years. The company also requires the country to be a democratic country, leaning more towards capitalism than socialism. Economic: The country that the company should focus on should have a high GDP (of over $30,000). This is necessary in order for the individuals to pay for the MCristal Phone. Technological: The country should use a high level of technological advanced/innovated products in its daily life. Environmental influences: The target country should be a developed country with a high level of infrastructural facility. Majority of the population should live in urban areas. As this company needs to work with various different types businesses ranging from grocery stores to transportation companies and to develop cashless transaction points, there is a need for high infrastructure availability in the country. Taking these factors into consideration, we preliminary screen the countries using the Risk analysis table below. 1=Low; 2=Some/Little; 3=Medium; 4= Risky; 5=Very Risky Stage 3: Weighted Environment Criteria After elimination in stage two, we are left with France, Germany, Italy, Netherland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In this stage, we now assign weights to certain environmental criteria. The Criteria that we have chosen are a) Advancement in Telecommunication b) Market share of the top mobile service provider. Advancement in telecommunication is important as, being a new product and using a new technology, to implement that into a new country there should exist already established norms and standards in telecommunication. The company will have to collaborate with (at least at the beginning) with one service provider. Thus, there is a need for the top network service provider in the country to have a large market share. ,2,3,4,6 = Ranks 1,2,3,4,5,6= Ranks Stage 4: Final Selection Criteria From the previous stage, we are left with France, Italy and the United Kingdom. We have eliminated Germany, Netherland and Sweden because although the country may be good at a certain factor, it was found to be lacking at the other factor and for this company to be successfully established in a country, there nee ds to be a balance between the two factors. In this stage, we shall eliminate based on the demand for high technology mobile phones. Thus, the ranked preference of the country to enter is: United Kingdom France Market Entry Mode As the company needs to partner with a mobile network service provider, it will consider those entry modes which offer an affiliation with another company. Thus, we have identified three possible modes of entry. These are Joint Venture, Strategic Alliance, and Merger and Acquisition. The chart below shows the criteria of judgement for these three modes of entry. 1,2,3 are the ranks From the above table, we can see that there exists a tie between Joint Venture and Strategic Alliance. The company will choose the Strategic alliance. The biggest mobile network provider for the United Kingdom is T-mobile (4) with total number of subscribers more than 32 million. A strategic alliance between Cristal Corporation and T-mobile will open up the existing customer base of T-mobile for Cristal Corporation’s advantage. Marketing Mix Product: The M-Pay enabled Cristal Phone is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. This product provides a platform for mobile payment facility for various entities like at grocery stores, for airline tickets, train tickets etc. At a later stage, the technology may be adapted to remove the necessity of even buying tickets etc. Product Adaptation: The mobile phone and the M-Pay device will be in English language and not in Japanese so that the customers can use the product efficiently. Assessing Product suitability: Competive advantage: Since the product doesn’t have any competitors at present, it will gain monopolistic advantage. Market Acceptance: The product combines already available technology in a new form. United Kingdom, being high on the materialist factor, will at least give the product a try. Also, since it is high the materialistic factor, individuals have the want to own the newest technology products like the MCristal phone. Profit Potential: The sale of the phone plus the 1% commission charged on using the M-Payment will be the main profit making avenue for the product. Further investment: The company needs to invest in NCF interfaces for major chains of supermarkets, airlines, train etc. There is a possibility of sharing the cost of installing the NCF interfaces with the other companies as it is for the benefit of both. Managing International Products: Packaging: The MCristal Phone will come in a white box with blue borders. In the middle, there will be plastic see-through covering through which you can see the cell phone inside. The packaging will have the Cristal Corporation logo on the top left hand corner with the words MCristal under it. On the back of the box, specifications of the product will be mentioned. On all four sides of the box, the name of the product, the version of the product will be mentioned in black. The material used will be 100% recyclable cardboard which will be glossed over to give a shine. The separators inside the box will be made of 100% recyclable plastic too. Image, branding and positioning The image of a brand or product is different from one country, one group, one segment to the other. The following discusses the image of the M-Pay Cristal phone. Country of origin effects Since the country of origin is Japan, which is considered as a highly techonogized country in the world, the perception of the product is favourable. Moreover, a lot of new technology comes from Japan and is introduced to the rest of the world. Thus, even the stereotypical outlook of Japan is favourable for Cristal Corporation. Product Image: The product, being a cell phone with the latest in technology i. e. the M-Pay facility, using the NCF technology will have a good product image. Company Image: The company, a pioneer of different technologies has a sound company image the world over. Thus, any new product introduced by it will have a good image. Brand Category: The product is a mixture of an attribute brand and an aspirational brand. Attribute brand: Not only will the product set itself aside from other mobile phones, it will also create a platform for the company to release its line of mobile phones in UK. This particular product is centred mainly around the M-Payment facility. Aspirational Brand: Since this is a new concept there is a positive, even a curious image created in the minds of the people. The product is a status product. Owning the product will create or make people be perceived as a part of a different, higher social status. Place: The product is manufactured in Cristal Corporation manufacturing factory, Beijing Wang Mobile Communications, in Beijing, China. This factory is responsible for the design, sourcing, research and development of the Cristal mobile phones. Once manufactured, the product will be flown to London where it will be stored at one of Cristal Corporations intermediary’s’ units. Here, the product will be sorted into different groups depending on where in the UK it is being sent. Besides London, the product will be flown to Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Bradford, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Manchester. Thus, it is important for the company to attain an intermediary who has storage units in these cities. From the city intermediary’s storage unit, the product will be distributed to the T-mobile stores and to the stores that sell T-mobile network facilities. Promotion: The target audience of the product are those individuals who are between the age of 18 and 60. This segment represents the active wage earning segment and thus will be able to afford the mobile phone. These people lead a university or a working lifestyle and thus will be the ones who purchase grocery, airline tickets etc. the most. The main objective of the Cristal Campaign will be to identify new customers, further increase the value of the brand image and to help establish the product. The media strategy to be used should be a combination of advertisement, sales promotion, sponsorship and public relation. The advertisement should be youth oriented, showing the ease of payment through the MCristal. International celebrities that have a major appeal to the youth and the older part of the market segment should be contracted. A celebrity like Penelope Cruz would fit the bill here. T-mobile and Cristal Corporation could introduce a special price or a special promotion where for example, the first 1000 purchasers will get 1000 texts free and 1000 minutes free. T-mobile and Cristal Corporation can also sponsor charitable events like for Breast Cancer research etc. o that a social responsive side is developed for the brand. It should also sponsor events like football matches so that their name and logo is well displayed, attracting attention from individuals. Pricing Strategy: The MCristal will be introduced under two different price ranges: If the customer is out rightly buying the handset and using the T-mobile pay as you go network service, the price of MCristal will be for ? 185. Although there aren’t any real competitors in this field as yet, the high end mobile phone companies can be considered as a competition. The Blackberry Bold 9750 costs ? 35 pounds a month and the Sony Ericsson Statio costs ? 30 a month. The Nokia 5800 costs ? 195 to buy outrightly. Thus we see that the MCristal is in the same price range as the latest T-mobile phones. Recommendation and conclusion Although penetrating the market with this type of a new technology may be a challenge, it being time consuming with large initial investment in NCF interface machines, in the long run, the potential profits to be reaped from this are too high to be ignored. This technological innovative product could majorly replace the use of cash in the day to day life of individuals. However, since the technology isn’t patented to Cristal Corporation, it may be easy for other companies to replicate the work of MCristal thus reducing the monopolistic advantage that it had in the beginning. Thus, the company should create advantages wherever it sees them from the beginning of its entry into the United Kingdom.

Colombian Coffee Essay

El Dorado Coffee Shop is a start up business projected to open its doors to the public next year. Some of the priorities of the business are focalized in giving the consumer the ulti- mate coffee experience, by offering them with an extensive variety of options that range from a soft favored taste to a strong taste of pure coffee for those who enjoy their coffee black. Moreover, the company has designed not only to pro- vide the best quality of Colombian coffee, but has also thought about the consumer’s pocket, offering one of the most competitive prices in the coffee premium market. The firm is able to have this competitive price by importing the coffee straight form Colombia which also allows us to control the quality and providence of our product. The company will be managed and directed by its only owner Juan De La Parra as their CEO. Also, the store will have one general manager in Colombia who will be in charge of exports. WHAT WE SELL El Dorado Coffee Shop will be offering its costumer with a variety of coffee products described bellow. †¢whole beans †¢blended coffee †¢Organic †¢Single origen †¢Instant coffee †¢decaf WHO WE SELL TO In order to identify the main target market, El Dorado Coffee Shop has divided the general popu- lation of the Chicago area by age, focusing on the population over 40 years old with a middle to a high income. The most important group of customers are those coffee lovers who have some time during the morning to brew their own cup of coffee before starting the day. The idea is to target those people who are not completely satisfy by any kind of quality coffee but would rather prefer the taste of a more high quality premium coffee taste CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains con? dential,trade-secret information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with third parties without the express written consent of the plan au- thor. Colombian Co? ee FINANCIAL SUMMARY Financial Highlights El Dorado Coffee Shop will fund its starting up costs by using personal savings and probably a loan. However, because the initial plan of initiation does not necessarily requires a physical loca- tion since the coffee could be distributed and promoted by internet and local establishments, most of the investment would be used to purchase the product. Sources of the funds include: †¢5,000 Personal savings †¢2,000 to 5,000 Loan ( Depending on the demand and the current coffee production in Colombia. Also we would have to consider the fluctuation of the price depending on the world demand) Financial Highlights by Year CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains con? dential, trade-secret information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with third parties without the express written consent of the plan au- thor. Colombian Co? ee Company COMPANY OVERVIEW Overview: The company was founded as an initiative topromote an d distribute Colombian coffee in a relatively unexplored market. The main idea of the company is to create awareness of Colombia’s coffee inside a heavy coffee drinking society as the United States. Taking into account that the liquid capital that is go- ing to be used for the company’s creation is quite small, we are focusing on creating a web page where large amount of potential customers can be reached with a relatively low cost. Moreover, the web page will also serve as a medium to order any of our products, facilitating product distribution and the acquisi- tion of the product MANAGEMENT TEAM. The management team for el Dorado Coffee Shop will consist of the following personnel: Juan De La Parra, CEO. Some of the main responsibilities will be †¢Keep the store with the sufficient supply in order to maintain the demand while consider- ing the freshness of the product. †¢Coordinate and promote events that create awareness of Colombian coffee. †¢Coordinate monthly meetings with the general manager in Colombia. †¢set up goals and sales projections. Edgar Cruz, General Manager in Colombia. †¢Coordinates the exports to the U. S from Colombia †¢In charge of all legal documents. †¢Web site maintenance. Employees. (2 people). †¢Packaging and delivery CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains con? dential, trade-secret information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with third parties without the express written consent of the plan au- thor. Colombian Co? ee CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains con? dential, trade-secret information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with third parties without the express written consent of the plan au- thor. Colombian Co? ee Products and Services PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. This company will specialize in selling and distributing coffee as its main product. The coffee will be sold in different presentations and sizes. The presentations include whole bean, blend, or- ganic and Instant coffee. Kind †¢whole beans †¢blended coffee †¢Organic †¢Single origen †¢Instant coffee †¢decaf Size †¢Half pund †¢One pound COMPETITORS The essence of the company is based on meeting the expectations of a specific market share within the coffee drinkers, therefore competitors would be measured in the degree of how effec- tive they meet these expectations. We believe that we would have two kinds of competitors. Therefore only direct competition would be taking into account. examples of direct competitors are as follow: †¢Caribou Coffee shop †¢Intelligentsia †¢Big Shoulders Coffee †¢Bow Truss Coffee †¢Metropolis Coffee CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains con? dential, trade-secret information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with third parties without the express written consent of the plan au- thor. Colombian Co? ee Target Market MARKET OVERVIEW According to statistics, the total percentage of Americans over the age of 18 that drink coffee ev-eryday is 54% and the total percentage of coffee consumption that takes place dur- ing breakfast hours is 65%; therefore, the intended main target market would be fo- cused on people 45 and older who have a little extra time to prepare coffee in the morning. How- ever, according to coffee statistics, younger people between the ages 18-34 in the office are pay- ing almost about $10 more per week on coffee than their 45-and-older counterparts ($24. 74 vs. $14. 15, respectively). So, this last group would be projected as a potential market in the future. MARKET NEEDS We believe that the American society runs on coffee consumption. From the young students who need to stay active and focus late at night, to general everyday workers who are always seeking for extra energy. However, to specify our target market we have selected a more specialized and knowledgeable consumer who not only sees coffee as a source of a little extra energy, but also appreciates and distinguishes the quality of a premium cup of coffee. CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains con? dential, trade-secret information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with third parties without the express written consent of the plan au-thor. Colombian Co? ee Strategy and Implementation MARKETING PLAN Overview Our market strategy will be focused in two main points. First of all, the main objective is to meet or exceed the expectations of the consumers. By implementing this first step, the company will be able to create customer loyalty and therefore be abel to rely on a stable demand. Second of all, the company will be focusing on the creation of awareness of the qualities of premium Colom- bian coffee. Even though most people have heard about Colombian coffee being one of the best in the world, very few people have tried before. We believe that the stimulation of Colombian coffee awareness will boots the demand for premium Colombian coffee. Moreover, by doing so, we will be able to differentiate our quality from the rest of the competition. Positioning Our business is intended for people who appreciate coffee, not only for a boots of energy, but also for those who appreciate and distinguish a premium high quality cup of coffee every time. For those who won settle from something else but the best. Pricing El Dorado Coffe Shop, will be competing with the high edge providers of premium coffee in the Chicago area. However, We will be able to provide the consumers with not only the best coffeebut one o f the most competitive prices in this kind of market. Promotion we will offer a free membership which will enable us to keep track of our regular customer wile rewarding them by a special promotion on their birthday and also with discounts after reaching certain amount of money in purchases. †¢Free membership card †¢Special discounts on your birthday †¢10% to 20% discounts after reaching 100 dollars cumulative in your card †¢Buy one get the second one 50% discount on special events during the year †¢3 referrals= 10% discount on your next purchase CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains con? dential, trade-secret information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with third parties without the express written consent of the plan au- thor. Colombian Co? ee Distribution As a start up business we believe that the best way to grow and promote ourselves is to distribut- ing our products to other selling points besides ourselves. We will be willing to offer our product to coffee shops and cafes that are interested. Also, we plan to distribute the coffee ourselves, us- ing the Internet and local distribution channels. The distribution costs will vary depending the mediums available. MILESTONES Milestone Due Date Who’s Responsible Open the business February 28, 2015 Juan De La Parra CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains con? dential, trade-secret information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with third parties without the express written consent of the plan au- thor. Colombian Co? ee Financial Plan REVENUE FORECAST Revenue Forecast Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains con? dential, trade-secret information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with third parties without the express written consent of the plan au- thor. Colombian Co? ee Revenue whole beans co? ee bags $6,360 $0 $0 Organic co? ee $5,625 $0 $0 blend co? ee $4,750 $0 $0 Instant co? ee $3,105 $0 $0 Total Revenue $19,840 $0 $0 Direct Cost whole beans co? ee bags $2,862 $0 $0 Organic co? ee $2,250 $0 $0 blend co? ee $1,900 $0 $0 Instant co? ee $1,553 $0 $0 Total Direct Cost $8,565 $0 $0 Gross Margin $11,275 $0 $0 Gross Margin % 57% 0% 0% CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains con? dential, trade-secret information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with third parties without the express written consent of the plan au- thor. Colombian Co? ee Revenue by Month About the Revenue Forecast PERSONNEL PLAN Personnel Table Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Legal representative and chief manager in South America $12,000 $12,000 $12,000 assembly and Packing $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 Chief executive in North America $12,000 $12,000 $12,000 Total $26,400 $26,400 $26,400 About the Personnel Plan Personnel Plan will be as follows: CONFIDENTIAL – DO NOT DISSEMINATE. This business plan contains con?dential, trade-secret information and is shared only with the understanding that you will not share its contents or ideas with third parties without the express written consent of the plan au- thor. Colombian Co? ee †¢North American manager who will be in charge of managing the storage and distribution o0f the products inside the U. S †¢Legal representative who will be in charge of administrating all the legal aspects and agreements between the company and the local producers. Also will be in charge of su- pervising the packing and exports to North America. †¢There will be one employee in charge of packing all the product meeting the legal re-quirements for exportation. BUDGET Budget Table Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Operating Expenses Salary $26,400 $26,400 $26,400 Employee Related Expenses $2,400 $2,400 $2,400 Marketing & Promotions $0 $0 $0 Exports $5,777 $0 $0 Utilities $0 $0 $0 O