Erasmus-Praise of Folly Essay

Erasmus of Rotterdam (c. 1466-1536) is one of the supreme figures of the Renaissance humanist movement, which deserted Middle Ages pious nesses in support of a productive new image of the individual’s impending. Praise of Folly, scripted to engross his friend Sir Thomas More, is Erasmus’s famous work. Its incredible combination of flight of the imagination and spoof is recounted by a incarnation of Folly, appareled as a comedian, who fetes adolescence, happiness, crapulence and sexual aspiration, and goes on to berate human pretenses, mannerisms and debilities, to deride theologians and monks and to admire the ‘folly’ of simple Christian faithfulness. Erasmus’s humor, jousting and knowledge made the book an immediate accomplishment, but it also concerned what may have been sales- advancing criticism. He was apprehensive with the sleaze that had broadened all the way through the spiritual positions of organization. On the other hand, Erasmus believed that religious rebellion led openly to lawlessness; consequently he took the side of neither the Pope, nor the restructuring major, Martin Luther. Erasmus went for to intensify people into quizzical their poise in devout influence through his work as divergent to dialogue unswervingly next to the Romanists. As a result both parties, Luther and the Romanists, detested him. Spiritual influence: Erasmus wrote The Praise of Folly as a spoof in hopes that people would begin to query the Romanists’ spiritual influence. It is written from the viewpoint of Folly, a Greek goddess, who is appalled with the unawareness and pride of her believers. The goddess discriminates diverse classes along with her believers and discloses their mistakes. Erasmus insinuates that the faults of the followers which Folly remarks are those of the Romanists. One such group is that of the Scientists. They are criticized for conceiving that they are enhanced than all other individuals. They â€Å"teach that they alone are wise while the rest of mortal men flit about as shadows (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). † Erasmus is concerning to the forged propose that the Pope unaided has the capability to construe the Holy Christian Bible, as well as the insinuation that the Pope has a heavenly understanding that comes corresponding with his heading of workplace. Erasmus’ vision of the Pope and the Romanists is that they â€Å"know nothing in general, they profess to know all things in particular; though they are ignorant even of themselves, and on occasion do not see the ditch or the stone lying across their path, because many of them are blear eyed or absent minded; yet they proclaim that they perceive ideas, universals forms without matter, primary substances, quiddities, and ecceities; things so tenuous (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). † devoid of properly speaking out alongside the Pope, Erasmus entails that the Pope put on a frontage as an all-knowing, all-powerful mortal. Erasmus states here that the Pope has no true knowledge as to what God expects from his worshipers. He cannot believe that â€Å"these lucky scientists find people to believe them (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). † With this last account, he calls to the people of the church not to accept the whole thing that are told to them from dishonest power statistics. Erasmus assaults theologians through the voice of Folly when he says that they will not waste haste to proclaim heresy in order to â€Å"terrify any toward whom they are ill-disposed (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). † Erasmus does not accept the word of theologians as religious law, and therefore is not intimidated by their accusations of wickedness upon his surprised of influence. They are arrogant beings who overlook that they blunder as every human does. Their idea that they â€Å"already inhabit the third heaven they look down from† is proof that they have lost their humility in front of Christ (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). They have sheltered themselves with â€Å"scholastic definitions, arguments, corollaries, implicit and explicit propositions† and shaped resistance to any indulgence they may commend (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 67). To the Popes, Cardinals, and Bishops, Erasmus inquires why they believe that they have the information to respond any and all experiential doubtful nesses regarding human source and human fate. How is it that to blunder is human personality, but the Pope can direct a life devoid of intrude or responsibility? Is he not human being? These figures of spiritual influence are more apprehensive with their roles of ability than they are about their spiritual responsibilities. (Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, in Workbook, 71). Religious aspects: The most important premise found in Erasmus’ book considers with his thoughts toward belief and the Catholic Church. he inquiries the responsibility of the church leaders. What they are and what they should be. When Erasmus elaborates that Bishops don’t meet the requirements according to the role of work, compassionate, taking pains but care more about creasing in the income, it demonstrates that he wants revolutionize but not in a turbulent way. Erasmus thought that the Church could transform the industrialist in quest of Bishop into his suitable responsibility. Fundamentally the Church had turn out to be too concerned with wealth and control. The Churches role now had developed from stringently a spiritual meaning to an association that was accurately running the state and schooling. Erasmus also believes that the role of the Church leaders has been mislaid and that authority they now have has become dishonest. To a certain extent, it should go back to an establishment that mainly deals with the religious inspiring of the people. These ideas were believed to be carried out wordlessly and methodical inside the Church member of the aristocracy. as a substitute of a religious war between paragons, Erasmus required a tranquil amalgamated church serenely rehabilitated from inside. The alteration that is desirable would help concentrate on Erasmus’ predicament with the Churches misinterpretation of how spiritual observances should be accomplished. J. Huizinga details out that Erasmus is incapable to be pleased about the Churches workouts because of its succeeding domination it had in all fields of the social order. Connecting in well with the other writers aims that the Church demands to discontinue and re-examine its position in the general public. Erasmus’ thoughts were discarded in anticipation of the reorganization was over and the Counter-Reformation was in dangle. Erasmus considered scholasticism as the most caricature of the spiritual strength of mind; according to him this deterioration passe from the prehistoric Christological arguments, which induced the church to mislay its Christian church believing in personal conversion ease and turn out to be the fatality of word-splitting thinking, which climaxed in scholasticism. With the end there came out in the church that hypocritically pious which based uprightness on fine works and simple holiness, and on a observance underneath whose influence the Christian spirit was muffled. Alternatively committing itself to everlasting deliverance of mortals, scholasticism drove back the faithfully tending by its fine-spun unimportant conjectures and it’s over inquisitive conversation of impenetrable secrets. In Erasmus’ work, Mistress Folly addresses while admiring herself. â€Å"And to whom is it generally agreed life owes its beginning if not to me? For it certainly isn’t the spear of ‘mighty-fathered’ Pallas or the shield of ‘cloud-gathering’ Jupiter which fathers and propagates the human race†. She laughs at the Gods and denudes them of their abilities.

Irony Essay

Both â€Å"The Necklace† and â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† have plots that depend in large measure on the use of situational irony to create a surprise ending. â€Å"The Necklace† tells the story of Madame Mathilde Loise, a lowly clerk’s wife, who, in an effort to appear more debonaire than she is, borrows expensive jewels from Madame Jeanne Forestier, a wealthy friend. After the inevitable loss of the jewels, Madame Loisel and her husband secretly replace the jewels. Years later, Madame Loise, now impoverished, encounters Madame Forestier on the streets of Paris and admits to the secret. Madame Forestier, shocked by the change in Loise, explains that the necklace was merely costume jewelry. The situational irony that both the reader and Madame Loise experience simultaneously is the twist, the unexpected turn of events that is both a perfect example of irony and the very element that makes the plot so original and memorable. Similarly, â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† employs irony to provide the unexpected ending. A young couple, barely able to feed and house themselves, sells their most valuable possessions to buy presents for each other. In an ironic catch typical of O’Henry, Della sells her hair to buy a watch fob for Jim, her husband. Jim, in turn has secretly sold his watch to buy the tortoise-shell combs Della dreamed of running through her long, dark hair. The story makes use of both dramatic irony and situational irony to create the literally-doubly ironic ending: both â€Å"sacrifice for each other the greatest treasures of their house. †

Globalization in Iran Essay

1. Historical: Entered globalization in 1906 as they created a constitution that developed democratic principles. 2. 3 Consequences: 1. Growing disparity between urban and rural areas. 2. Cut back in government spending and education along with health care. 3. Limited evolution since the colonial period. 3. 3 Barriers: 1. Lack of new improved technology. 2. Too dependent on their natural resource wealth. 4. Reducing Barriers: The now have a desire for political unity. 5. FDI: Shell gas is involved in negotiations between Iran and Chinese oil companies. Total Oil gas company has complete control of the oil fields in Doroud and Balal. 6. Corporations Contribute: Yes, they do because they are looking for cheap labor and Iran is managing to keep them by maintaining low standards for laborers. 7. Effect on People: Women are seen as only a token of modernity in rural towns. They are not citizens in modern areas and have no equal rights or equal protections. 8. Gap between rich and poor: The gap between rich and poor is clearly shown as many of the few rich people have made money as a result of oil that brings in billions of dollars. The unemployment rate is 15.3%. 9. Cultural Changes: As a result of war from surrounding countries many are scared of practicing their religion and worry of the effects these wars may have on their own towns and cities. 10. Exclusion from globalization: Iran constantly has international sanctions imposed on them as a result of refusing to accept outside business. It is a country that is being forced to globalize. 11. Transnational Organizations: These include the IMF, WB, WTO, WHO and the most important OPEC. 12. Control of Information: There are no internet restrictions but some internet providers have filters on for websites. 13. Increased Mobility: Oil reserves allow Iran to become urbanized. 67% live in urban centers. 14. Nationalism: Resurgence of nationalism conducts research of nationalism because they seek expansion in scientific, nuclear, and technological advancement and exert their social and government views on nations. 15. Benefits: Promote services, resources, and idealology such as religious beliefs. 16. Costs: Alienation of opposing views, governments, and businesses.

The importance of literacy development in terms of life success Essay

The importance of literacy development in terms of life success - Essay Example Moreover, the notion of literacy is greatly expanded (informational, technical, financial literacy, etc.) and acquires some status of culture’s attribute. Already this issue is not about the availability of key areas of literacy, the question now should be put on the expansion of the general population literacy to the level of culture (information culture, scientific, technical, social, etc.). Thus, we are going to discuss different kinds of literacy and the importance of its development in terms of life success. First of all, it is necessary to mention that ‘literacy’ from a traditional point of view is a definite degree that is mastered by a person in accordance with grammatical rules of native language. Concerning the characteristics of the population – it is one of the basic indicators of its socio-cultural development. The need for literacy and learn reading, writing and arithmetic related to the occurrence of a pictographic writing system, and has its roots in early society. The transition of society to symbolic and graphical ways to store and transfer socially relevant information is a huge leap in the cultural and social development of mankind. According to Cope and Kalantzis, â€Å"literacy is at the heart of education’s promise† (Cope and Kalantzis, 2000). As a result, literacy has become an essential tool of possession of written culture. The specific content of the concept of literacy has changed historically, expanding with increasing public demands for the development of the individual - from basic skills to read, write, count, etc. to the possession of minimum socially necessary knowledge and skills (functional literacy). In addition Cope and Kalantiz emphasized that â€Å"literacy represents a kind of symbolic capital in two senses: as the preeminent form of symbol manipulation that gets things done in modern times and as a symbolic marker of being educated† (Cope and Kalantiz, 2000). Thinking abou t the historical background of the literacy development’s problem it is known that issues regarding the term ‘literacy’ definition, its statistical characteristics were considered at international meetings on statistics and census programs since the end of XIX century. UNESCO General Conference (10th session, Paris, 1958) recommended all countries in conducting censuses â€Å"to consider literate such persons who can read with comprehension and write a brief statement about their everyday lives† (Brandt, 2001). The semi-literate person in that context was a person who was able only to read. A term of functional literacy was proposed at the World Congress of Ministers of Education on literacy (Tehran, Sept. 1965), and a text of recommendations of the International Standardization of Educational Statistics, proposed by UNESCO, was revised in 1978. Street said that â€Å"Initially, functional literacy was used to refer to the needs of employment and economic development† (Street, 2001). Moreover, â€Å"the concept was then broadened to include the print demands of occupational, civic, community and personal functioning† (Street, 2001). According to a new edition of this document, it is necessary to consider a literate person who can be engaged in all activities in

How to start a new business venture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

How to start a new business venture - Essay Example People in modern world are more conscious about their health and the diets they take to be fit physically and be more active in their daily life. For this booming industry trend there is a great prospect for the new business venture in the fitness and healthcare industry. In this report we have a proposal for a new business venture at Mayfair in the City of Westminster as it is one of the growing regions at UK and the people nearby Mayfair region are more aware of the health and sports fitness centre compared to other regions at UK due to the presence of many clubs and hotels at nearby streets like Marshall Street Leisure Centre, Seymour Leisure Centre, Little Venice Sports Centre, Queen Mother Sports Centre, Porchester Centre etc (City of Westminster, 2011). As far as the UK Fitness Industry report by FIA, over the last few years’ regions of London has immense growth in Fitness Industry and has been forecasted to grow even more in future if people are educated with its benefi ts to their health and wellbeing (FIA, 2010). Proposed Services The new sport fitness centre should provide its customer with a variety of services. It would include first class fitness centres and some sports centres which will accommodate many types of sports like basketball, tennis, boxing etc. There should be a food and beverage area where customers can also relax during workout. Massage centre with training on fitness exercises are one vital service which should be there. A medical therapy clinic is also a modern trend in the fitness industry. Various other facilities like the conference room and the children centre, protective lockers and swimming pool are some attractive features which attract a lot of customers with the extra services they get from other fitness centres (Anything & Everything, 2011). Analysis of the market in London 7 P’s of Marketing Mix Fitness and Health industry being a service offered to the customer without any product thus the extended marketin g mix is to be used i.e. 7P’s of marketing mix. In order to formulate the right marketing mix the company needs to evaluate all the segments and work in the improvements of the each segment to compete with the other players of the market (Gupta, 2006, p.22). Product The product mix is the range of products that are available with the company. It may be broaden with different services or it can also be extended in order to fit the market scenario. The services of the fitness centre located near Mayfair road in the city of Westminster at London are very advanced with many facilities like swimming pool, recreation centre, modern equipments, therapy clinic etc. Thus to survive in this competitive environment the new business venture of fitness centre should also posses the existing services along with some added new differential services (Nargundkar, 2006, p.46). Place Place is one of the most vital factors which needed to be considered while placing the product or services. The place determines the cost of transportation of materials, scope of new customers. If the right service is properly placed at the right time at the right place then it will be best accepted by the customers. UK being a very flourishing country for the fitness industry especially in London the people is very aware of the services provided by the different fitness centres and since there are no fitness centres located at proper

Warehouse management systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Warehouse management systems - Essay Example The modern warehouse can ill-afford to ignore this important resource. The key focus of SCM is to get the right part to the right place at the right time. WMS facilitates this process by dramatically increasing the accuracy of inventory management, control, and distribution. For example, when parts are received at a warehouse facility, a good WMS can "check the bill of lading against the items actually received, [and] any discrepancies can be noted through the audit trail" thereby allowing management to track items that have been lost in transit (Gladston 40). It goes without saying that it is impossible to ship the right part from the warehouse facility if the item never actually made it to the warehouse. When the system generates an audit trail document, facility employees can quickly and easily identify the problem and resolve it. Thus, system accuracy is greatly enhanced through WMS. If, as in the case study, a facility that is holding more than 85,000 stock keeping units can obtain 99.9% accuracy, the impact of such a system is significant. Another reason why WMS is critical to operations is its ability to allocate storage locations of parts and supplies within the facility itself. Businesses that move a high volume of parts through their supply chain must focus on improving "the efficiency of warehouse management (especially space)" to avoid the logistical difficulties that would be present in a poorly-designed facility (Cortada 292). In the case of Toyota, the ability to allocate warehouse space according to the part's size and frequency of demand was a major contributor to the system's success. For a company like Wal-Mart, which uses centralized distribution centers to serve its many outlets, a WMS that streamlined facility space allocations by creating inventory zones would create a scale of supply chain efficiency that could save the company millions of dollars a year. In the same way that it is impossible to move the right part from the warehouse if it hasn't arrived, it is equally difficult to do so if managemen t knows that it has the part in the warehouse but isn't sure where it is. The organization of storage and product flow throughout a warehouse facility is so important that if a WMS did only that, it would be worth the investment. The advantages of a WMS, however, go beyond the ability to track and store inventory. As the systems become more sophisticated, they are able to increase supply chain efficiency in many other ways. As noted in the case study on Toyota, the WMS not only tracks position within the system, but also produces a tag label giving part details and locations. A dealer direct order capability, when combined with overall supply chain efficiency, leverages warehouse management to a much higher level. As one author notes, "WMS functionality will continue to broaden... with an increasing focus on dynamic optimization" to a point that will "enable the system to ship product without ever actually receiving it" (Hoctor and Thierauf 238). The ability to optimize a company's operations to the point that supply-chain subsystems are integrated across the entire platform is what makes a good WMS more than just a

Describe the importance of having a sound business continuity plan Assignment

Describe the importance of having a sound business continuity plan - Assignment Example Key areas that present challenges include commitment and involvement levels of senior management, incorrect assumptions in the stages of designing BCPs, and approaching the execution of BCPs inappropriately (BSI, 2012). The senior management may be too busy in other undertakings and, therefore, delegate their duties and responsibilities. From the organizational perspective, a project’s visibility is compromised by such delegation. To overcome this challenge, a steering committee should be formed and have membership from across the stakeholders, which will serve a cross-functional role in solving issues. In terms of incorrect assumptions, most limiting factors are usually not considered. For example, organizations presume that its activities in different locations will be supported by employees. However, disruptions that cause injuries or fatalities also lead to reluctance from the employees. However, when the BCP procedure is understood at the developing stage, it will elimina te the need of having to be amended when a disruption strikes the organization. The third challenge, from inappropriate approach, may be characterized by outsourced services from multiple providers (BSI, 2012). For instance, organizations operating from multiple locations my use services from different agencies in different locations, as much as the organization focuses on centralized management. This can be avoided by working with approaches based on services and products while assessing risks. Failure to implement these strategies means an organization will not be able to restore its critical services seamlessly following a disruption and may result in closure of

Are cell phones dangerous Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Are cell phones dangerous - Essay Example This is the main reason why the wireless industry dismisses the idea that cell phones are dangerous. This paper argues that the public should not easily overlook the possible harms of long-term cell phone use. Using cell phones can lead to cancer and critically harm children, especially since independent studies indicate potential biological effects of cell phone use. Extensive cell phone use can change or heat biological tissues enough to possibly cause cancer or other cellular changes. Walsh highlights the 1995 study of Lai, who co-wrote a study demonstrating that a â€Å"single two-hour exposure of RF radiation,† which are the levels deemed as safe by U.S. standards, had genetically damaged rats’ brain cells enough that they developed cancer (48). Other studies could not replicate the same findings, but they are funded by the wireless industry, stresses Walsh (48). ... Graham-Rowe stresses that William Stewart, the leader of the British government's â€Å"independent expert group† on mobile phones has taken these findings on a serious note. Graham-Rowe interviews Stewart who states: â€Å"These results are very important and potentially far-reaching. Independent confirmation is crucial and we need this quickly† (4). Graham-Rowe explains that microwaves normally do not have enough energy to damage even weak chemical bonds in human cells, so scientists think that they cannot make enough damage, unless they can heat up the cells (4). Heating up cells may be an effect of cell phones that come from the long-term human use of these gadgets. These studies provide some evidence that it is possible that cell phones, however weak their radio-frequency (RF) radiation may be, can introduce changes at cellular levels, especially at the present prevalence of cell phone use. Other studies provide findings that the same energies and heat from cell ph ones can result to changes in biological tissues. Graham-Rowe reports on another scientific research done by David de Pomerai at the University of Nottingham. De Pomerai affirms that cell phone radiation can impact nematode worms, though heating is not enough to explain it (5). Based on Graham-Rowe’s interview, De Pomerai's team discovered that nematode worms that are exposed to microwaves at frequencies comparable to those released by a cell phone, â€Å"increased the number of worms that go on to produce eggs† (5). The same energy and heat emitted by cell phones have caused these animals to become more fertile. This study suggests that it is possible that cell phone has radiation levels that are high enough to warming cells or to induce some cellular level of changes.

Nullification Crisis and its Impact on U.S. History Research Paper

Nullification Crisis and its Impact on U.S. History - Research Paper Example The present face of the U.S. as the world leader has a part of its history of rigorous fights between Federal laws and State rights which resulted in widespread depression of industries. Certain changes implemented by the Federal government related to the tariff bill were largely criticized as a tool for the industrial promotion in the North. With this change, the political conditions worsened across the South, and as a result, the State of South Carolina advocated the State’s right to nullify the imposition or operation of Federal laws by early 1830s, and the resultant actions were jointly called ‘the nullification crisis’. When the cultural rights of the citizens and the economic safety of migrant residents were seriously challenged against the interest of the Supreme Court, the assumed authority by the states to decline the instructions of the Federal government initially gave liberty to people in their economic activities. As stated by historians like Bancroft, the development of nullification process strengthened and reached at the peak by 1833, when President Jackson was openly opposed by Governor Hayne of South Carolina against a new bill introduced in the Senate for imposing heavy excise duties on States to support the national banking for fiscal stability (71-72). Following this, the succeeding governor of the state, Mr. Calhoun reassured the importance of the State’s policies to stand against the Federal laws. Â  

Culture and Globalization Essay Example for Free

Culture and Globalization Essay INTRODUCTION Identity is a question that may be expressed by an anxiety and a hope at the same time. The anxiety lies in the sense of the existence of our Moroccan identity in all its dimensions, Arabo-berber, Muslim negro-African and modern. It also lies in our existence in the world in different parts of the planet where we have decided, voluntarily or not, to assert our existence; a planet that has become a finished space, a global village, surrounded by all kinds of flows, economic, human, electronic, and cultural, which are aspects of globalization; a globalization that could not only be a kind of interdependence among the national spaces which existence is still alive but also an internal phenomenon in these spaces. The advantages and disadvantages of this multiform process can diverge from one partisan to another. Some see in it the chance of a new world and others see in it the risk of an incomparable oppression. The problem of the Arabo Islamic identity or Arab identity occupies the front of the scene. The Islamic world has never been so active in the sense of the expression of identity, maybe because of the more and more enigmatic character of this identity because as Dryush Shayagan reminds, more than the ethnic and the religious identities, we find a third one in addition that emerges from modernity. He adds that the three identities fit one into the other, create more and more complex fields of interference, and exploit territories that remain most of the time incompatible with each other. He goes on declaring that today, these identical cultures are situated between the â€Å"not yet† and the â€Å"never ever†: not yet modern and never ever traditional. These identities that live henceforth, in â€Å"between the two† are totally burst according to Dryush.[1] At first glance, this triple identity raises obstacles to communication, but on the condition of succeeding in fitting out their respective spaces, it offers on the other hand, new possibilities of communication. The assertion of a reactive and massive Arabian Islamic identity was the adequate answer to the colonial dominion. Today, however, the reflection has to fit and adapt itself to the requirements of a situation namely, globalization, that orders that identity becomes seen as open, diverse and it has to be attentive to pluralism in the internal as well as the external places. We can think that the new network of information and communication will favour the emergence of new forms of citizenship susceptible to fill the current democratic deficit. Media permanently present information in the different parts of the world. With the means of information which the internet network prefigures today, the individual can have a more active role in the search for information. One can also contact a multitude of people of different nationalities, discuss problems of public interest, and express his/her opinions in public forums. GLOBALIZATION, CULTURE, AND THE MOROCCAN IDENTITY It is crucial to see globalization from an academic point of view as there is a strong link bounding globalization and culture. The global culture belongs to what Simon During calls â€Å"transnationalization.†[2] This latter is the process by which cultural products extend their actual space to emerge in a global area. Cultural studies are a kind of reaction to this process. Going deeper in this perspective, we come across many points that may link globalization to culture if we consider that culture is a local issue that may be influenced by the global market, the global sight, or may itself influence the global sphere if it is considered as a tradition or a way of life. Culture, from another view, maybe considered as the basis of the construction of one’s identity but once influences by globalization, the identity may change and we may adopt some practices and beliefs that may be no more appropriate to the local culture. Education is another point where globalization and culture meet. Students nowaydays, are no more interested by some issues tackling family or social events, but rather opt to get aware of the global economic and capitalistic changes that the actual world witnesses. Culture is a part of our identity. If we change culture, we change our identity. Stewart Hall argues that in a changing history, identity should remain the same though it is far from being the case of the modern world we’re living in and where identities are in a permanent process of change and transformation and this is the result of globalization. Always according to Hall, the construction of identity is made by the sight of the other. In other words, the negative view on the other makes of our identity a positive one. The process of constructing identity then is based on opposition. If the sight of the other makes of us who we really are, we are then no more free to chose according to our own tastes but rather chose according to others’ reactions[3]. This may seem ambiguous in a sense and annoying in another. How can globalization affect our own sense of belonging? Belonging to a particular nation and adopting a specific culture is not a matter of choice, it is because we belong to a certain ethnic group that has its own tradition, culture and religion. Once we find ourselves involved in a pre-created world, the acceptance becomes an automatic reaction, but when our sense of belonging to a cultural space or another becomes guided by the global pressures, our identity gets hurt and our mind fragmented and confused between what is ours and what is theirs (what is local and what is global). â€Å"The global popular† is the means of communication that occupies an important place in the projection of visual images to spread information (TV, satellite, internet†¦). If I insist on citing the global popular as one of the links between globalization and culture, it is because I judge it of a high importance and necessity to remind the idea that Simon During came with and which expresses the impossibility to separate the global popular from the global culture. He kept arguing that the reason was not only that both of them belong to a single globalizing system but also because the relation between various forms of cultural products are changing and transacting.[4] Similarly, Arjun Appadurai cited in his essay â€Å"Modernity at Large† one of the most important means of the circulating forms which is the â€Å"mediascape†. Like the global popular, mediascapes allow any information to become local through all kinds of the modern media. By this way the local culture may be adopted by different societies and consequently be global.[5] GLOBALIZATION AND MEDIA Today globalization arouses number of controversies. The term by itself condenses anxieties: it evokes, quite at the same time, the shrinkage of the planet bound to technological innovations and the massive impact of the triumphant capitalism that imposes its extreme dominance. Appadurai approaches, in a frontal way, the question of globalization. He put in the centre of his analysis the notion of flows. For him, what defines the contemporary world is much more circulation than structures and stable organizations. The proof is quite clear when we see people constantly moving from one place to another and the extraordinary development of mass communication with images transited throughout the planet. Until then, the individual lived and conceived himself in certain limits. From a simple geopolitical point of view, the nation state was considered as a stable referent: within it, the dimension of the local used to have a great importance conferring to each individual in a given society their privileged points of anchoring. In this context, the identical constructions occur in a permanent game of opposition between the self and the other, between the inside and the outside. But migrations on the one hand, and the media flows on the other hand, disrupted the spreading order until then. What interests Appadurai is the way this situation not only alters the material life of people but also tends to give an incomparable role to imagination. This does not mean that previously societies have not abundantly, neither in their mythological, literary nor artistic productions, appealed to this faculty. Henceforth, imagination is no more limited in some specific domains of expression, but it changes the daily practices, notably the migratory situations where migrants find themselves obliged to create in their exile a world of them by using all the images that media allow them to receive.[6] The technological progress: Internet The cable and internet offer multiple means to reconstitute communities including migrants and those who stayed in their countries. When we come across globalization of communication we inevitably think of internet. Internet is considered to be the symbol of and at the same time, a vehicle for the development of the future mediatic landscape. As a polymorphic tool spread everywhere, internet is actually inescapable in the study of the actual communication processes. If we consider internet as a media, we automatically notice that it is a quite particular one. Among modern mass media, internet is characterized by a potentially or at least virtually wide broadcasting. It is one of the facets of the internet ideology: everybody can have access to messages, everywhere and so to speak with no constraints, and at the same time, internet presents specific characteristics that make of it an exceptional media. Unlike press or radio-television that necessitate material and financial means, licenses, and a diffusion and distribution network, by internet everything is easier. Everybody can be a transmitter and everybody is potentially provider of contents but not everybody can create his/her own television station contrary to internet by which each one –or almost– can create a web site with only an online computer. All this is almost free more than the accommodating of private individuals that is also, more or less, free. If we consider internet as a media, it is then the time in the history of mass communication when each citizen and each association has the ability to play in the same ground as that of the wide mediatic groups or the big companies. Yve Thiran states that from this point of view, internet is a means of communication par excellence and it is not surprising that the excluded traditional media were the first to use it.[7] What seems to be new in the case of internet is not really the fact that it facilitates the emergence of multiple forms of sites and more or less alternative means of information, but rather the fact that the local structuralizations have voluntarily or not, reached the world as a whole. The neighbouring radio station’s diffusion is limited in the neighbourhood, while the expression on the Net may give the impression to address the whole planet. A neighbouring radio station, once installed in the web, can be heard by the whole world. Contrary to the press of radio-television, internet still looks for its place in the media landscape[8] grouping sites together, contents, services and very (too) diverse possibilities to aspire to a real unit of speech (but it is not probably the purpose of internet neither), in a social gratitude other than the connotations that can be socially planed on the new technologies of information and communication in general. In other words, as we find everything on internet, it is still its strict technical dimension that allows an observer to apprehend it, to seize it mentally and conceptually and to succeed in defining it differently. What is internet then? It is a media, a commercial space, a means of information, a shop window, and a place for exchange and expression; that is to say, so many activities where the interlocutors position themselves differently. The telephone is not a newspaper; nevertheless, internet can be at the same time a telephone and a newspaper, an advertisement hoarding and a room of debate. CONCLUSION Born Jamaican, the English cultural theorist Stuart Hall argued that identity must be understood in terms of politics of localization, of location and statement –not as a process of discovery of lost roots but as the construction of a new or emergent shape of ourselves, linked at the same time to the actual social relations and to the contemporary power relations–. While most of us clearly wish to respect most of the aspects of our tradition and history, Hall suggests that we also need, for speaking, to understand languages which we were not taught. We need to understand and revalue the traditions and inheritances of cultural expressions in a new and creative way as the context in which they are produced evolves constantly.[9] [1] Shayagan Dryush,  « La Lumià ¨re vient de l’Occident,  » Paris : l’Aube, 2001, Entretiens du XXI Sià ¨cle,  « Oà ¹ Vont les Valeurs,  » UNESCO, Abbin Michel, Paris, 2004. [2] Simon During,  « Postcolonialism and Globalization,  » Culture, Globalization and the World System, ed., Anthony King, Dinghamton, 1991. [3] Stuart Hall,  « Old and New Identities, Old and New Ethnicities,  » Culture, Globalization and the World System, Current Debates in Art History 3, State of New York: Bihghamton, 1991, pp. 41-68. [4] Arif Dirlik,  « The Local in the Global,  » Global/Local: Cultural Production and the Transnational Imaginary, eds., Rob Wilson and William Dissanayake, Durham: Duke UP, 1996. [5] Arjun Appadurai,  « Modernity at Large,  » Cultural Dimensions of Globalization, Public Worlds, Vol. 1, London: University of Minnesota Press, 1996. [6] Arjun Appadurai, Aprà ¨s le Colonialisme, Paris : Payot, 2001. [7] Yve Thiran, Sexes, Monsenges et Internet, Bruxelles : Castells-Labor, Coll.  « quartier Libre,  » 2000, p. 42. [8] Yve Thiran shows that the internet needs traditional media such as television to be able to claim the impact that it had notably during the Clinton-Lewinsky affaire. (Thiran, p. 43) [9] Stuart Hall,  « Old and New Identities, Old and New Ethnicities,  » Culture, Globalization and the World System, Current Debates in Art History 3, State of New York: Bihghamton, 1991, pp. 41-68.

Companies And Organizations Definitely Have Systematic Strategic Management Marketing Essay

Companies And Organizations Definitely Have Systematic Strategic Management Marketing Essay Companies and organizations definitely have systematic strategic management process in order to achieve competitive advantage over its rivals in the industries. The same goes to Hwa Tai Industries Berhad (HTIB). HTIB has been conducting strategic analysis to analysis the external and internal environment of HTIB. HTIB formulates strategies after analyzing the environment and implements the strategies formulated. Strategic analysis of HTIB It is undeniable that HTIB has a good strategic management that eventually drives it to success. Wheelen Hunger (2006,p.3) states that the set of managerial decisions and actions that determines the long-run performance of a corporation is strategic management which consists of environmental scanning, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, evaluation and control. Porters Five Forces as analytical tool for external environmental scanning The external environment of HTIB includes the general environment and competitive environment. Talking about the competitive environment, HTIB has been scanning it via Porters five forces. Michael E. Porter is the one who develops the five-forces model to describe the specific environment in an industry (Ketchen et al,2009). The threat of new entrants The threat of new entrants refers to the possibility that the profits of established firms in the industry may be eroded by new competitors(Greenwald Kahn 2005) . We cannot deny that fact that HTIB is the second best biscuit manufacturing company in Malaysia market( Hwa Tai rationalizes business process 2009). It has a stable position in the biscuit manufacturing industry and thus the threat of entry by newcomers is low. The newcomers like Gloria Biscuit faces with high entry barriers because HTIB which is their existing competitor has strong brand identification. Consumers are loyal to HTIBs products and its product differentiation has created a high barrier to entry to Gloria Biscuit. Gloria Biscuit has to spend a lot to defeat the existing customer loyalty on the products of HTIB. Therefore, it is not easy for the newcomers to entry the biscuit manufacturing industry and affect the position of HTIB. This is an opportunity to HTIB to own its market with fewer new entrants after having the SWOT analysis. HTIB will always be the strong biscuit manufacturer and last long in the market. The bargaining power of buyers Buyers can affect an industry through their ability to force down prices, bargain for higher-quality or more services, and to play competitors off against each other. (Henry 2008). The bargaining power of buyers of HTIB is high. There are many other biscuit manufacturing companies in the market and the products from the industry have standard or undifferentiated. Buyers can easily get the alternative suppliers from the market such as Munchy, Hup Seng, Julies, Shoon Fatt, and so on. Since it is an ease to get standard products and have alternative suppliers, buyers emphasize the prices of the products more than which biscuits taste better. The products of HTIB is not very expensive compared with others biscuits of other brands and many buyers choose the products of HTIB now. This finally creates high bargaining power of buyers of HTIB. Large-volume purchases by buyers are important to HTIB. The higher sales of HTIB enable it to gain higher profit margin. The bargaining power of suppliers Supplier can exert bargaining power over participants in an industry by threatening to raise prices or reduces the quality of purchased goods and services.( Ketchen et al,2009). HTIB has the low bargaining power of supplier. This is because the ingredients of manufacturing biscuits and cakes such as eggs, flour, sugars and others can be found everywhere from any suppliers. Many traders supply those ingredients in the market. Thus, HTIB can have ingredients anytime without worrying lack of inputs. More importantly, the bargaining power of supplier is low because the switching cost to other suppliers is low. Suppliers products are very crucial to HTIB to have effective production to fulfill the demand of buyers and production of high quality products to the public. Besides raw materials, another important input to HTIB is the supply of labor. HTIB does not only own the domestic market but also own the international market. It exports its products to many foreign countries, hence, it needs a lot of labor to contribute to the high production of biscuits. The threat of substitute products and services Due to the technological advancement nowadays, there are a lot of substitute products with different appearance but have the same function to satisfy the same need as another product in the market. According to Porter, Substitutes limit the potential returns of an industry by placing a ceiling on the prices firm in the industry can profitably charge.(Porter 1980). The threat of substitute products is high because there are a lot of products which able to satisfy the need of consumers, too besides the products of HTIB. For instance, the Kelloggs rice krispies cereal can be a substitute product for the biscuits by HTIB. Consumers can have the rice cereal as breakfast in stead of HTIB s biscuits. Consumers can also eat instant noodles MAGGI in stead of eating cakes by HTIB, and even the Gardenia bread can replace the biscuits and cakes by HTIB for meal. The prices of the substitute products bring effect to the products of HTIB and finally influence the return and profit of HTIB. This i s the threat of HTIB as what the SWOT analysis shown. Technological advancement is also one of the element of PEST analysis for general environment which brings effect to HTIB itself. The intensity of rivalry among competitors in food processing industry Rivalry among the firms occurs when rivals sense the pressure or act on an opportunity to improve their position. HTIB faces intense rivalry in the food processing industry. The rivalry is very intense because there are numerous or equally balanced rivals in the market. Nestle, Kellooggs, Hup Seng, IKO and others which are the direct rivals compete with HTIB for the consumers. Each of the companies manufactures biscuits ,cakes and snacks. Super, High 5, Gardenia and so on are the indirect rivals of HTIB. Diversity of risk occurs since the rivals compete with each other with different ideas to challenge the position of HTIB. It is clearly depicted when Kelloggs and Nestle advertise their products through the media to introduce their products to the public to increase their sales. The intense rivalry brings some impacts to HTIB as the rivalry will erode its profitability and may decreasing its sales of 72,106,000 in 2009 in the future (appendix no4). SWOT analysis as analytical tool for internal and external environmental scanning SWOT analysis (Andrew 1971) refers to strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, a framework for analyzing a companys internal and external environment. Albert Humphrey is the one who create SWOT analysis. (Friesner, T 2007).Strength and weakness are referred to the internal environment of the HTIB whereas opportunity and threat are referred to the external environment of HTIB. Strength of HTIB Strengths are areas where the organization excels in comparison with its competitors. HTIB has its own strengths in order to be the second best biscuit manufacturing company in Malaysia market. HTIB has strong research and development ( RD )focus. HTIB do RD to produce better quality products. It can be said that HTIB has core competence of strategic capability. Having better and special products enable HTIB to achieve competitive advantage. HTIB possesses tangible resources and intangible resources to compete more successfully. In term of tangible resources which include physical resources, HTIB has its own lab and professionals to conduct RD. HTIB has also intangible resources which is technological resource to renovate the existing products and as fast as what consumers expect. Good allocation of resources enables HTIB achieve cost effectiveness without waste. The effort of HTIB has driven it to have high brand equity and eventually gains a lot of awards for its biscuit products such as Malaysia Power Brand Award 2008 ( appendix no2) by the Asia Entrepreneur Alliance Worldwide. 2.2.2 Weakness of HTIB Weakness are areas where the organization may be at a comparative disadvantage. HTIB has its own weakness although it has been achieving success. HTIB has limited presence in organic food market. Consumers more and more care about their healthy. They prefer organic food to normal food because they think that organic food is free from chemical. Among the products of HTIB, only the biscuits with the brand name of LUXURY almost fulfill the requirement as organic food because they contain whole meal, wheat bran and others which consumers think that they are nutritious. However, the other products of HTIB still not be grouped as organic food. This may lead HTIB lost some market which loves organic food and their sales will not be as high as what HTIB targeted. Opportunities of HTIB After analyzing HTIB, there are opportunities that enable HTIB to gain profit and growth. HTIB has the opportunity to own the manufacturing agreement with London Biscuits Bhd (Hwa Tai to market London Biscuits Swiss rolls 2007). HTIB is in collaboration with London Biscuits Bhd and it really brings a lot of opportunities to HTIB because it gives HTIB instant expanded production capacity and opportunities to create a new variety of cakes by the sharing of technology between them. HTIB is appointed to market and distribute the best-selling product, Lonbisco Swiss rolls. HTIB is the key distributor to mini-markets, supermarket and hypermarket in Peninsular Malaysia. These opportunities have widen HTIBs market and it will definitely progress rapidly within few years. Threats of HTIB Threats are something from external environment of the company that will deter the company from obtaining success. HTIB faces some threats that deter it from having smooth production. Expensive raw materials is the main threat faced by HTIB. It contributes towards the increasing of cost of production of HTIB. Although HTIB has the opportunities to own manufacturing agreement with London Biscuits Bhd, high production cost is a burden to HTIB. HTIB has to prepare a lump sum of money from time to time in order to have smooth production. Due to the high cost of production, HTIB is not able to increase the number of countries for its exportation. Such situation is really a barrier to HTIB to enter the bigger market. Internal analysis(Benchmarking as analytical tool for internal environmental Scanning) Benchmarking is a systematic comparison of organizational processes and performance to create new standards or to improve processes. (Benchmarking methods 2009).After analyzing HTIB, Nestle is a more success company compared to HTIB. Nestle has diversification and manufactured a variety of products. Nestle has much more range of products compared with HTIB. HTIB should improve and increase its types of new products besides the existing type of products although it has been making upmarket biscuits and non-traditional product such as baked potato chips to suit the consumers taste (Hwa Tai makes upmarket biscuit to suit new tastes(656)1999).HTIB has only three types of food which consist of biscuits, cakes, and snacks whereas Nestle has more types of food such as drinks, instant noodles, biscuits, cakes, snacks and so on. Wider range of food enables company to gain wider market and higher sales. If HTIB does as what Nestle did, HTIB will as successful as Nestle. 3.0 Strategy formulation of HTIB Either the weaknesses or threats of HTIB are clearly depicted after analyzing the company through SWOT analysis and Porters five forces. Strategy formulation should be conducted with the aid of the opportunities and strengths of HTIB to tackle its weaknesses and threats in order to accomplish sustainable competitive advantage within the food processing industry. 3.1 Business level strategy Business level strategy is a means of separating out and formulation a competitive strategy at the level of the individual business unit.(Henry, A 2008) There are five generic competitive strategies which are generated by Michael Porter (1980) to achieve the competitive advantage and only low cost strategy is the most suitable way to HTIB because he stated that low cost strategy and differentiation will be stuck in the middle if using both at the same time (Henry 2008). 3.1.1 Low cost strategy Low cost strategy is used by the companies which produce their products and services at the lowest costs within an industry without sacrificing the products quality and market them at a broad market. This strategy is suitable to HTIB to tackle its threat of high cost of production. This strategy implies low overall costs in term of raw material, production, transportation and so on. HTIB can achieve low cost strategy through economic of scale. Economic of scale arises when the cost per unit falls as output increases(Economic of scale 2008). HTIB has low bargaining power related to its suppliers since it will order high quantities of raw materials at a cheaper price from any suppliers for its production and eventually contribute towards cheap cost of production. Besides, HTIB has its strength of strong research and development (RD). It should utilize its strong RD to find out the better product designing for efficient production like easy-to-use manufacturing technologies so that costs can be reduced and increase quantities without affecting quality. Workers should be sent for training so that skilled workers available in the production and able to work in team effectively and deliver the lowest possible costs of production. HTIB should also signing contract with certain logistic company so that to get lower costs of transportation. This is win-win strategy since the logistic company gain profit from HTIB for longer duration whereas HTIB able to reduce its cost of transportation. The effort of HTIB in reducing overall costs enables HTIB to have lower costs of production and lower selling price for its products than its competitors. For instance, cream sandwish biscuit of HTIB costs RM2.99 a packet whereas Lexus of Munchys costs RM 4.60 a packet, that is 35% cheaper than Munchys product. HTIB drives its cost-based competitive advantage into price advantage to the customers and gain high market share eventually. HTIB can be price leadership finally because it can adjust the price as it like. Its price can act as the entry barrier to the new entrants, too since newcomers are not afford to set lower price for their products to compete with HTIB. HTIB will be able to overcome its threats after utilizing low cost strategy because it enables HTIB to settle the threat of expensive raw material and enter bigger market. More importantly, HTIB able to reduce the threat of substitute products because buyers prefer to buy biscuits, cakes and snacks with high quality and c heaper prices. Having low costs strategy, HTIB will be able to compete with its competitors , General Mills which also conducting low costs strategy . Low costs strategy is really a better strategy for HTIB to settle its weakness and threats as well. 3.2 Corporate level strategy Corporate strategy is primarily about the choice of direction for a firm as a whole and the management of its business or product portfolio. (Wheelen Hunger 2006,p.3). Growth strategy from the directional strategy is the most suitable strategy for HTIB. A directional strategy is any trading or investment strategy that entails taking a net long or short position in a market.(Directional trading strategy 2005). 3.2.1 Growth strategy There are many aspects that needed to be grow so that HTIB can become more competitive in the market. Growth in the aspects of sales, assets, profits, or some combinations are crucial to HTIB. Ansoff (1965) devised a matrix to analyse the different strategic directions organizations can pursue . 3.2.1.1 Market penetration Market penetration is the effort of increasing the market share in the existing market with the existing products. HTIB has been exporting its products to foreign markets and domestic market. HTIB has a lot of consumers who eat its biscuits, cakes and snacks worldwide. However, HTIB should keep on its effort to increase its market share in the existing market by attracting more new consumers to buy its existing products. HTIB should also make sure that the existing consumers to eat more its products. With the capabilities and resources of HTIB, this strategy is not risky because HTIB do not need to do anything unless increase its products quality to meet the consumers needs and wants. Improving its quality is not a problem to HTIB as it has professionals for RD. 3.2.1.2 Market development Market development is the entry of the new market with the existing products. HTIB should aim at other market segments and geographical areas as well. For instance, the products of HTIB are not HALAL since HTIB not yet apply for that. Malays are not allowed to eat food without HALAL and they are not dare to buy the biscuits of HTIB. HTIB should target at demographic segmentation in term of religion in order to develop new market for its existing products. HTIB should put their effort to work on it and apply for HALAL so that Malays market segment can be another new market for HTIB and increase its sales. Besides, HTIB should export its products to more foreign countries other than its existing international market. New geographical areas should be found so that its products can be distributed to more countries such as Malays countries to increase its sales. Although it is a risk to distribute products to new market or geographical areas due to unfamiliar with their habits and culture, HTIB is yet able to distribute its products to more Malays countries since HTIB which based in Malay country, Malaysia already know thoroughly about the culture of Malays. It becomes less risky if HTIB chooses the right market segment. 3.2.1.3 Diversification Diversification occurs when an organization seeks to broaden its scope of activities by moving into new products and new markets. Diversification is actually a suitable strategy for HTIB because it helps to spread risk by reducing reliance on any one market or product(Ketchen2009). For instance, HTIB should have diversification by producing new products like organic food to new market especially health-conscious market. HTIB will face lesser competition if having new market. If one of the existing product is not in high sales, HTIB is still safe because consumers from other market may buy its other products. The risk of low revenue will be spread among different products. HTIB will be afford to implement diversification because it will earn a lot after implementing the low cost strategy. HTIB itself do not need to find more capital from other resources to sustain the diversification of products. As the result of benchmarking, having diversification is crucial in order to own sustaina ble competitive advantage forever. Related diversification HTIB has limited presence in the organic food market and this is the weakness of HTIB. It is suggested that HTIB should implement the related diversification because HTIB itself has the capabilities and resources of entering the organic food industry which there are some links with its own existing value chain. HTIB should diversify its products by manufacturing organic food to meet the needs of health-conscious consumers. Horizontal integration should be done by HTIB to take over its competitors and offer organic food as complementary products at the same stage within its value chain. If HTIB ables to do so, HTIB does not only has biscuits, cakes and snacks but also has organic food to new market. Its competitors like Nestle and Kelloggs do not have organic food at all and HTIB will be able to take over them. 4.0 Strategy Implementation of HTIB Strategy implementation is the sum total of the activities and choices required for the execution of a strategic plan.( Wheelen Hunger 2006,p.3). HTIB is trying to achieve efficiency after achieving effectiveness through strategy formulation. Having efficient implementation of strategies assist in building a capable HTIB in term of staffing, structuring and having core competencies and capabilities within the biscuit industry to achieve its vision of being the main players in biscuit industry with its quality products. 4.1 Management issue of HTIB ( division restructuring and rightsizing) Since HTIB needs to implement market penetration, market development and diversification as well, it needs more capital to succeed them. Therefore, division restructuring and rightsizing are better ways to gain more capital for those developments and improve the productivity and efficiency of the management team. Both ways help in low-cost strategy by reducing the expenses on tangible and intangible resources and salary. For instance, accounting department should combine with the financial department. This is because costs can be saved in term of expenses of stationery and office equipments and salary of employees because they can share resources when working together. Both departments deal with the same people for their range of works. Hence, the number of employees should be reduced by letting off the poor performers after combining both departments to reduce the expenses on salary. Top Performer Profiling (TPP) should be implemented to judge the employees according to their knowle dge and experience, skills and abilities, and behavior and characteristics ( rightsizing for profitability2009). In doing so, the employees are laid off fairly without affecting their motivation to work. HTIB is able to minimize its input by reducing cost and able to let the talented employees to enact adaptable workforce planning. They will fully utilize their talent on business needs to bring competitive advantage to HTIB (Rightsizing in challenging times 2008). The capital saved can be used for other purposes like market penetration , market development and diversification which help in maximizing the profit. Although diversification requires some cost but the low cost strategy implemented by division restructuring and rightsizing already save lots of cost and the capital is enough for the implementation of diversification since HTIB is not a poor company. 4.2 Marketing issue of HTIB 4.2.1 Market segmentation Marketing variables will influence the success or failure of strategy implementation of HTIB. It depends on how HTIB chooses the suitable market segmentation for its products. Market is being subdivided into distinct subsets of customers regarding to the needs and buying habits of consumers. Having appropriate market segmentation helps a lot in market development and market penetration as well. HTIB can spend wisely if allocate resources to the appropriate market segmentation. For instance, besides the market segmentation in term of religion as mentioned in strategy formulation, market segmentation in term of occupation has high possibility to bring high profit margin to HTIB. Students and the office workers consume the products of HTIB more than the other people with other occupation. This is because biscuits and cakes of HTIB are packed conveniently and easily brought everywhere. Cakes and biscuits are sufficient to the students and office workers who use less energy for their work and daily school activities. Products of HTIB are better choices for them because their prices are reasonable and not heavy and fulfill their needs. If HTIB invest in this market segment besides the Malay market segment, HTIB can earn a lot in the future. 4.2.2 Marketing mix Price Having the appropriate market segmentation, it is actually directly affecting the marketing mix variables too. Marketing mix consists of price, promotion, place and product. It is very acute that HTIB should pay more attention on fixing the selling price. Since it is suggested to conduct low cost strategy, HTIB affords to set lower selling price because of its low cost of production. For instance, HTIB should set reasonable price to the market because its main consumers are come from well-off family and not all from rich family. It is clearly depicted through the chart (appendix no3)which shows that the earnings of HTIB increase from 2009 to 2010 when its price of products decrease. This shows that lower selling prices assist in increasing profit margin of HTIB and HTIB should continues it by having lower prices for its products. HTIB should not set the higher price because its number of consumers may reduce especially the number of students who are not afford to buy expensive biscui ts and cakes daily. In doing so, HTIB will be the price leader within the industry and able to compete with its main competitors like Nestle and Kelloggs. Promotion HTIB should promote its products to the market segment targeted so that the targeted consumers spend on its products. For example, HTIB should promote its products through advertising. Advertising may bring deeper impression to the market segments targeted especially the students. Students can be said glued to the television screen more than loafing in supermarket. Students will be exposed to its products more if advertise snacks and cakes through advertisement. Place Place is very crucial because it determines how easy the consumers to get HTIBs products. Fortunately, HTIB already distributed its products to all the supermarkets ranging from small grocery shops to large supermarket like Giant and Jusco. However, it is suggested that HTIB should also distribute its products to the canteens of schools. In doing so, students will be able to buy its products easily and this way helps in promotion indirectly because students will promote the biscuits among themselves. Product Products are the main output of HTIB. HTIB ensures its products which including biscuits, cakes and snacks are of high quality from time to time although they are produced in high quantity. Besides quality, HTIB is suggested to change its existing packaging (appendix no1) to attract the consumers. Since one of its targeted markets is the students, attractive packaging is better because students are normally buy biscuits and cakes with nice packaging besides considering about their price. Nice packaging brings deep impression to the consumers. 4.3 Leadership HTIB already has good leadership from Mr Soo Thien [emailprotected] Thien See (CEO) in leading the employees to the direction which already set for HTIB. However, it is suggested that HTIB should also implement Theory O as stated by BEER and Nohria (2000) in order to achieve the vision and mission of HTIB. The leaders should adapt softer approach to overcome the change effectively. Leaders should affect the corporate culture by creating the culture of creative thinking and hardworking and the way the employees work. For example, after implementing rightsizing, leaders should encourage the employees who are able to remain in HTIB to have the creative thinking culture by organizing training and development, some internal competitions for the employees and others to them so that employees have contributions more to the strategy of diversification. 5.0 Conclusion HTIB should continue its effort on improving its sales and revenue. Analyzing its internal and external environment is crucial to aware of its resources and capabilities as well as its competitors in order to find out better strategies to achieve its vision and mission. Good allocation of resources and fully utilization of capabilities is important to HTIB so that to achieve efficiency when implementing any strategies and meeting effectiveness as required. HTIB should evaluate and control itself from time to time so that it always competitive in the biscuits manufacturing industry forever. (4499 words) Prepared by ____________ (NG PEI LING)

Compare Law Of Defamation In Us And Britain Media Essay

Compare Law Of Defamation In Us And Britain Media Essay Introduction The purpose of this report is to compare the law of defamation in the United States and the United Kingdom. Considering the defense is open to a journalist accused of libel, an analysis will be given as to which system better serve society. In considering a comparison of defamation law in the United States and the United Kingdom, it is useful to consider points of advantage and disadvantage. An assessment of the advantages and disadvantages will help to demonstrate which system better serve society. An overall assessment shows that, while the United States may have disadvantages associated with the defamation law system, the British system has many glaring problems that undermine free speech and equity. This means that the British system does not serve society better. Such analysis will be supported by referring to the sources of free speech guarantees, which in the US are guaranteed by the Constitution, the burden of proof, which in the US wife with the plaintiff, and the cost and ease of access, which in Britain is a situation that has spiraled out of control. Sources of Free Speech Guarantees In critically investigating the advantages of defamation law in the United States for journalists, Crook (2010) indicates that the existence of the First Amendment is advantages for journalists, a point well voiced by other legal practitioners (Meiklejohn, 1961; Byrne, 1989). The reason why is because it guarantees them, through the Constitution, the right of free speech. This means both at the federal level or otherwise cannot block the freedom of speech and that is the fundamental guarantee. In America, the case that sets the constitutional principles for libel is the case of New York Times versus Sullivan (Crook, 2010). Because of the constitutional right of the freedom of expression in the United States, there is more of a positive culture for the freedom of expression (Crook, 2010, p. 237), a perspective again voiced by other writers like Fiss (1988) who said the freedom of speech amendment to the constitution defines we America is as a nation. Indeed, there is more room given t o the rights of the freedom of the press as a result, among other advantages. In the United Kingdom, there are not a constitutional principles established. In other words, in the UK, there are not any constitutional provisions on free speech law like the United States. Crook (2005) explains the reason for this being is because the UK does not have a federal legal system or Constitution. As well, the UK is subject to unique forces like the European Court and the European communities. Still, the legal framework with regard to the freedom of speech and United Kingdom is found in the rulings of Reynolds versus Times and Turkington v Times. Burden of Proof Another advantage of the defamation law within the United States is the burden of proof for journalists is on the plaintiff. The evidence the US plaintiff has to present during cases of defamation includes the following. In particular, a U.S. plaintiff has to prove that the communication was executed to purposely injure reputation, that the message is false and publish to a third-party (Watts, 2004). Further, if the definition is associated with public officials or in the interests of the public, the requirements extend further. In such cases, the US plaintiff will have to prove actual malice and negligence (Crook, 2010). This is not the case in the United Kingdom where the burden of proof is said to lay with the defendant. With the burden of proof lying on the defendant rather than the plaintiffs, such the underlying assumption is that any offending speech has the potential to be untrue and the writer or author has to prove that it is true (Crook, 2010). Again, this is in contrast to the United States where, in order to succeed, the plaintiffs have to prove this speech is false and has been published with a disregard for the truth. The thoughts of the disadvantages because, when compared with the United States system, the plaintiff is in charge of providing evidence of an injury to reputation. Costs and Ease of Access Another disadvantage that has been associated with the defamation law for UK journalists are the costs involved. Crook (2010) documents the fact that attempting to defend against libel is way expensive, and as a result those who are able to defend against any attacks on reputation or against libel are generally those who are more powerful or who are wealthier in society. As a related concern, there has also been in the documentation of substantial awards of damages, and the amount of awards that are given are thought to heighten the risks associated with defending against libel actions and place on pressure journalists to settle even if they have a chance of winning the case. The situation is not helped by the introduction of what are called contingency agreements and conditional fee agreements, abbreviated CFA, which means more people are able to sue in cases of libel (Crook, 2010). Thus, the amount of damages awarded, the costs involved, and the lack of barriers, present a disadvan tages situation, and these issues are further explored in the paragraphs that follow. Indeed, some statistics are instructive in pertaining a picture of the current situation as pertaining to costs and restrictions on speech. According to the Libel Reform campaign (Libel Reform, 2010), more than 30% of editors supported medical and scientific journals say they have been threatened with libel more than 40% have been asked to change the articles to protect from libel, and more than a third have an his work from journalists because of the fear of libel action. Moreover, the report, Free Speech Is Not For Sale, has also documented a long list of criticisms against the wealthy in society as the report documents how those who are in power have filed their suit in London because of the fact that 90% of such cases are usually won by claimant (The Guardian, 2010). The total costs have been documented to be above more than 1,000,000 pounds, 140 times more than the little cases that are held in the mainland of Europe (The Guardian, 2010). Because journalists and scientists are n ot able to afford such extraordinary costs, they usually end up withdrawing their comments, apologizing to publish material that they believe true information and are important to contributing to an informed public debate on issues that matter to society (BeVier, 1980). There are efforts for change in place. In 2009, the Justice Secretary in Britain, Jack straw, indicated the introduction of the government plans to reduce the fees to launch defamation cases so as to make the system more equitable (Mulholland, 2009). If such reforms are implemented, this will represent an important step forward in making the British system more equitable because the press is a vital element of democracy (Shiner, 2008). According to the media and legal literature (Petrova 2008), the press serves the function of informing the public and providing information that enables them to make choices as good citizens (Dahlberg, 2001). Therefore, being able to publish information and not restrict the freedom of expression is seen as being a critical component of democracy but presently this situation constrained in Britain because of the libel law (Loper, 1974; Hensley, 2001). Lord McNally Justice Minister of the United Kingdom has raised this concern recently. McNally indicated the urgent need to allow different forms of journalism or scientific research be able to be published without the fear of unfounded, lengthy and costly defamation and little cases being brought against them (Sweney, 2010, p. 1). However, to achieve this, the government as well as the justice minister is of the belief that what it requires is to reform the UK law on defamation to strike a balance between freedom of expression and the protection of reputation (Sweney, 2010, p. 1). Attempting to achieve this balance is very typical in considering the present system where costs are extremely high and where awards serve as a deterrent to achieving justice in the system. Moreover, there has been a great deal of discussion regarding the ease of launching a lawsuit in Britain and how the rich are involved in it (Lahlou, 2009). In fact, it has led to what is called libel tourism (Howard, 2008). With the term refers to is instances in which a company operating in for example Iceland complains about a newspaper that published information in Denmark, and then a London lawyer will be called to handle the case, and the court is held in Britain (Carvaja, 2008). One report launched, called Free Speech Is Not For Sale, showed how dangerous the law of defamation is in this respect (Libel Reform, 2010). According to the English law for example, any writer who contributes to blogs or journalists, can be sued in London irrespective of where they live or work and regardless of where the blog was published (The Guardian, 2010). This means that citizens in America or a citizen of Russia can be sued in Britain who are exercising their right of free speech in their own country. Obviously, this is a system that is not in the interest of free speech and is not in the interests of equity. The situation described above is not just theoretical. Many cases have resulted from libel tourism. The disadvantages stemming from the system in the UK can be seen in the case of writer, racial Ehrenfeld, who published a book about a Saudi billionaire entrepreneur and accused the entrepreneur of providing financial support to Islamic terrorist groups (Carvaja, 2008). Although the book was not published in Britain, only copies of the book had been purchased their online, the judge in the case ruled that the writer had to pay more than $200,000 and apologize for the allegations in the book as well as destroy existing copies of it. (Carvaja, 2008) The outcome of this particular case has not only affected the writer in question but is also affected other publishers because they are now afraid, according to Ehrenfeld, to publish information about potential terrorist or Saudi financiers even if the evidence is there. So because of the way the burden of proof operates, this can have an eff ect on limiting the amount of free speech. Globalization does not ease the burden on journalists. Because of globalization, where telecommunications are increasing the amount of information dispersal and access, the potential to sue in Britain is increased all around. For example, a television network that is based in Dubai and broadcast in Arabic was sued by a businessman in Tanzania who was disputing against allegations to ties to a terrorist group in a British court (Ungoed-Thomas Gillard, 2009). The British court was involved because the program was accessible through a satellite in Britain. The man from Tunisian was awarded more than $160,000 (Ungoed-Thomas Gillard, 2009). In the United States, there have been some legislative protections passed to protect U.S. journalists from the British system. New York State implemented the libel terrorism prevention act (Carvaja, 2008). The law that has been passed in New York is important for many reasons, one of which is that it helps to provide protection for her journalists to publish information. Essentially, what the Bill has done is to declare any judgments that may be made with regard to a US journalist unenforceable unless the country that is deciding on the case has free speech protections that are similar to the United States Constitutions First Amendment (Libel Reform, 2010). British citizens are not much happier with the current system, either. In fact, there is even a campaign that has been ongoing for some time, which can be found on libelreform.org (Libel Reform, 2010), and is urging individuals as well as politicians and businesses to reform libel laws. Those participating on the reform campaign see the system as unjust because it enables too many individuals to launch cases and silent claims that others do not agree with. This is not to say the system in the U.S. is perfect. For example, in the past there have been cases in which, in the United States, companies have open suits of commercial defamation when journalists have listed companies among those who face bankruptcy risk. Hertz did this by suing a journalist publishing information about Hertz, questioning its financial performance (Starkman, 2009). This brings up issues of whether those involved in market research and other research firms can criticize a company that is publicly listed without fearing defamation claims. The issue also demonstrate how commercial and publicly listed companies have involved federal courts to punish those who speak out on company performance ((Starkman, 2009). The issue is disturbing because it shows an abuse of the system as it pertains to defamation law, and it also undermines the freedom of speech, while bringing up very disturbing implications about what is journalists can publish about companies obviously, hav ing access to accurate information about company performance is something that should be able to be published (Crook, 2010). However, in the end, it appears the system in Britain presents far more concerns and undermines democracy. Conclusion The purpose of this report was to compare the law of defamation in the United States and the United Kingdom to determine which system serves society better. In considering the defamation law in the United States and the United Kingdom, one could conclude that the system in the United States is better. The reason why is mainly because in Britain there are too many ways for journalists to be sued and it compromises free speech guarantees. In contrast, in America, such are solely rooted in the foundations of the country. To be sure, this does not mean that the system in the United States is without flaw. But from the perspective of the present writer, it does appear that the system in the United States is better serve society than the system in the United Kingdom because in the UK so many people can be sued and it serves the rich better. This undermines equity and undermines free speech. Such analysis may coincide with others who have criticized the British system; even the Minister for Justice, Lord McNally, has indicated that the libel law in England is not fit for purpose and is striving throughout his career in the justice system to reform the system (Libel Reform: Justice Minister tells campaigners libel law à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"is not fit for purposeà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ , 2010).

Free Essays - The role of Antonio in Shakespeares Tempest :: Tempest essays

The role of Antonio in Shakespeare's Tempest          [Note: In this written work Antonio thinks of himself as an innocent person and believes that the world is doing wrong to him .He also believes that his rights have been snatched from him and no one in this world is more miserable and sympathy deserving than him.]       Life is so miserable. Here I sit in a corner of this darkened room all alone thinking about my past and trying to figure out what to do with my futile life .The night is dark and long just like the rest of my life. But it is not too late, as long as I am living I will struggle to get what I deserve. Life has become very upsetting lately and I miss the times when I was the highest authority and the sole Duke on Milan. Now things have changed and I sit here in my room helpless, with nothing in my hand, no charge or position in Milan. What a glory I have experienced, guards on my security at all times, wo castles with several maids at my service, I worked with people I liked and got rid of the useless ones. I was the master and everyone else a slave, my orders were fulfilled in no time and I lived a happy life. If only I had planned more carefully and kept track of my men putting my brother to eternal sleep I would have been living a pleasant life of a duke; I would never ha ve been hopeless to Prospero's powers.       Ugh... I hear Prospero's insulting words in my ears. How could I have possibly heard those insulting words from him at the island when he snatched my dukedom from me? At that time my life was in his hands.   Looking at him now sitting at the place where I have ruled for 12 years is an unbearable sight to me. What is my future? ...A slave for Prospero? No! I will not let this happen. Prospero is taking revenge from me, he treats me like I am nothing .He doesn't miss any chance of teasing me. He did the worst to me today.

An Analysis of the Hurricane Catrina Relief Effort Essay -- foreign ai

In a state of national emergency, the United States government is expected to be efficient and organized. When Hurricane Katrina struck on August 25th, 2005, the United States government was not readily prepared for such an immense disaster. The mismanagement of relief efforts by the U.S. government led to a lack of adequate assistance to U.S. victims along with a prolonged restoration period for those in need. Had the government accepted more foreign aid and further prepared for the storm, hurricane Katrina may not have proved such a disaster in our nation’s history. This essay will explain how foreign aid was integrated into the relief effort. Additionally, this essay will explore the government’s refusal of aid from various countries willing to provide assistance and the lessons that can be learned from our nation’s actions in the aftermath of Katrina. In August of 2005, no one could predict the brutality and intensity of the natural disaster that was about to strike the city of New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina, known as one of the top natural disasters in our nation’s history, filled the city of New Orleans with water, leaving it a disaster area. Thousands of people’s lives were turned upside down by the damage and devastation that occurred from the impact of the storm. With a storm surge entering the city over 20 feet high, residents were forced to flee and abandon their Louisiana lifestyles. The Port of Mobile in Alabama, which did not even endure the full impact of the storm, sustained an estimated 28 million dollars in damages alone due to the storm (GAO 2006). Although an official estimate was not released, the total economic impact from Katrina is predicted to be around $150 billion in total damages (Kenny, 2013), an i... ...alth Reports 123(5):555. Kelman, Ilan. 2007. "Hurricane Katrina Disaster Diplomacy." Disasters 31(3):288-309. McNeill, Jena. 2/7/2011. "Accepting Disaster Relief from Other Nations: Lessons from Katrina and the Gulf Oil Spill." The Heritage Foundation:3/1/14. Nation Master. 4/18/2006. "International Aid Response: Countries Compared." Nation Master:3/1/14. Provost, Claire. 4/6/2011. "Aid from OECD Countries - Who Gives the most and how has it Changed?." The Guardian Data Blog:3/1/14. Robillard, Kevin. 10/3/12. "10 Facts about the Katrina Response." Politico:3/1/14. Solomon, John. 4/30/2007. "U.S. Refused most Offers of Aid for Hurricane Katrina." The New York Sun:3/1/14. Walker, David. 3/8/2006. "Hurricane Katrina - GAO’s Preliminary Observations regarding Preparedness, Response, and Recovery." United States Government Accountability Office:3/1/14.

Application Form Template (Sainsburys)

|Application Form | |THE INFORMATION YOU SUPPLY ON THIS FORM WILL BE TREATED IN CONFIDENCE. | |Please note that the closing date for this job vacancy is Monday 30th April 2013. apply for this post please accompany this | |application form with your curriculum vitae and a cover letter. | |We will require you to be available on 1st May 2013 for interviews. | |Section 1 Personal details | Title: | |Last Name: | | |First Names: | | |Address: | | | | | | | | Postcode: | | | | |Home Telephone Number: | | |Mobile Telephone Number: | | |E-mail address: | | |Are you eligible to work in the UK? Yes | |No | | |Do you hold a full UK driving licence? |Yes | |No | | | | |If yes, Do you have any points or convictions etc? : | | | | | | |Section 2 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act | |Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence? |Yes | |No | | |Have you any prosecutions pending? |Yes | |No | | If yes, please give details / dates of offence(s) and sentence: | | | |Section 3 Health | |Nu mber of days absent in the last 2 years: | | |Please state number of times in the last 2 years: | | | |Are you registered disabled? |YES No | |If yes please provide your disability number and details: | | | | | |Section 4 Education | Date From |Date To |Name of School |Examinations taken and Qualifications Gained (Specify Grades) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Section 5 Employment Record |Please list chronologically, starting with current or last employer |Name and Address of Employer |Date From: |Date To: |Job Title/Job Function/ Responsibilities: |Salary and Reason for | | | | | |Leaving | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Section 6 References | Please give the names and addresses of your two most recent employers (if applicable). If you are unable to do this, please clearly outline who your referees are. | |(NB. References will only be taken if you commence employment with us) | |Reference 1 | |Reference 2 | |Name: | |Name: | | Their Position (job | |Their Position (job title): | | |title): | | | | |Work Relationship: | |Work Relationship: | | |Organisation: | |Organisation: | | |Dates Employed: |From: |To: |Dates Employed: |From: |To: | Address: | |Address: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Postcode | |Postcode | | |Telephone No: | |Telephone No: | | |E-mail: | |E-mail: | | Section 7 Declaration | | | |I confirm that the information provided in this application and within my Curriculum Vitae is both truthful and accurate. I have omitted no facts that could affect | |my employment. I u nderstand that any false misleading statements could place any subsequent employment in jeopardy. I understand that any employment entered into is| |subject to documentary evidence of my right to work in the UK and satisfactory references. I expressly consent to personal data contained within this form being | |recorded for the purposes of assessing suitability for the post and may form the basis of any subsequent personnel file. | |Signed: | |Date: | | | | | |White Rose undertakes that it will treat any personal information that you provide to us, or that we obtain from you, in accordance with the requirements of the | |Data Protection Act 1998. After initial assessment, White Rose may keep your details on file pending suitable opportunities that may arise in the future. Please | |tick if you do not wish us to hold your details. | |Section 8 Recruitment Monitoring Form | | | |This sheet will be separated from your application form upon receipt and does not form part of the selec tion process.It will be retained by the Human Resources | |purely for monitoring purposes. | |Application for the post of: | | |To help us ensure that our Equal Opportunities Policy is fully and fairly implemented please COMPLETE THIS SECTION OF THE APPLICATION FORM. | |What is your Ethnic Group? | |Choose ONE section from A to E, and then tick the appropriate box to indicate your cultural background. | |A. White | |D. Black or Black British | | |White UK | |Black Caribbean | |Irish | |Black African | | |White non-UK | |Any other Black background | | | | |(please give details): | | |Any other White background | | | | |(please give details): | | | | | | |B. Mixed | |E.Chinese or other ethnic group | | |White & Black Caribbean | |Chinese | | |White & Black African | |Vietnamese | | |White & Asian | |Any other ethnic background | | | | |(please give details): | | |Any other Mixed background | | | | |(please give details): | | | | | | |C. Asian or Asian British | | I do not w ish to provide this | | | | |information | | |Indian | | |Pakistani | | |Bangladeshi | |Any other Asian background | | |(please give details): | | | | |Section 8 Recruitment Monitoring Form continued | |Gender | |Male | |Female | | |Disability | |Disability is defined as â€Å"physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day | |activities†. | |Do you consider yourself disabled? |Yes | |No | | If yes, please give details: | | | |Age Group | |16-25 | |26-35 | |36-45 | | |46-55 | |56-65 | |66-70 | | |Over 70 | | |Media | |Please state where you saw this post advertised | | |

Mama Thai Instant Noodle

Company Background Thai President Foods Public Company Limited  was established on February 15, 1972 with an initial registered capital of 6 million baht through a joint venture between President Enterprise Co. , Ltd. of Taiwan – providing manufacturing technology expertise and Saha Pattanaphibul Co. , Ltd. – responsible for marketing and distribution. The founding objective was to produce instant noodles under the â€Å"MAMA† brand. The Company’s first Head Offices were located on New Petchburi Road, while the first factory was inaugurated at Nong Khaem District, Bangkok. After the first year, all the shares then were transferred to Thai shareholder who remains as the major shareholder until now. The Company have been listd the Stock Exchange of Thailand and become a Public Company in 1994 with presently Registered Capital 240 million baht, comprising 18,000,000 ordinary shares, par value 10 bath per share, paid up 180 million baht. Mama Products Mama has variety of brands and products in food industry in which they separate their domestic products from export products. Mama’s main product is instant noodles under the brand name Mama is one of the most popular in Thailand as the brand has been a part in Thai market for the longest time comparing with other brands. The company had later launched many other products and brands including Homey, Bissin, Ruski, Mendake, Thai Chef, Kelly and Bamee. Under these brands, the company is able to expand its’ product lines to other kinds of food such as snacks, biscuits, fruit juice, etc. Today, Mama instant noodles have more than 20 variety of flavors which allow the company to match its exported products with each country preferences. The most famous flavor to all consumers both Thai and foreigner is Mama Shrimp Tom Yum. Mama instant noodles is also offered in vary sizes including pack 55-60 grams, pack 90 grams, bowl 60 grams, bowl 80 grams and cup. Internal Analysis Internal Analysis of Product ; Strength Cheap and Quick : Mama has low price. It’s only 5 baht per package and it uses 3 minutes for preparation. Easy to Cook : Mama is one of the foods that require low abilities of cooking. It is only pour hot water then it is ready to eat. ? Easy to Find : Mama has many distribution channels. You can easily find Mama in everywhere even in a small shop near your house or a big store. ? Many flavors : Mama has lunched many flavors to suit individually person. There are at least 20 flavors with also different type of noodles. Promotions : Mama has many promotions for their customers e. g. lucky draw for gold. ? Brand Loyalty : Mama has been introduced for 35 years. Therefore, everyone known Mama and will choose Mama as the first choice. Weaknesses Low Nutrient Mama has mostly only carbohydrate in their product. And people concern about the Monosodium Glutamate that Mama has been use in the ingredient. ? High Production Cost Recently, Mama has been face with the problem of high production cost. Internal Analysis of the Company ; Strength ? Global Network : The company has a global network and its products are sell in both Thailand and International markets. ? Reputation : The company has won the reputation as one of the most successful Thai distributors with its effective logistics system, wide distribution networks, and efficient handling services. Wide Range of Products : The company has wide range of products and can customize to serve different preferences of customers in different countries. ? Large Markets : The company’s market has expanded to many countries like North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania with the estimated annual capacity of 100 million packages per year. Weaknesses ? Image : Because the company specially focus on MAMA so consumer only knows that this company se lls only MAMA even they produce many products besides MAMA. Exact Product Line we are going to export . Instant Noodles Artificial Tom Yum Pork Flavour 2. Instant Noodles Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum Flavour 3. Instant Noodles Shrimp Flavour (Tom Yum) Target Market Demographic: Pilipinos 15-60 years old. Geographic: Urban and Suburban area Psychological: Lower income people and those who preferred as desired. In-land Transportation In order to ship our products to Philippines, we first have to transport the products to Laem Chabang port. Mama factory is currently located in Chonburi which is only around 16 kilomaters from Laem Chabang port. As we are using the ocean shipping service from NYK, the company also offers the pick-up service from our factory to Laem Chabang port. HS code Instant Noodle: 1902. 30. 10. 00 1902: Pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed (with meat or other substances) or otherwise prepared, such as spaghetti, macaroni, noodles, lasagna, gnocchi, ravioli, cannelloni; couscous, whether or not prepared. Custom Classification & Valuation Export Tariff structure of Thailand for instant noodles * Thailand Export Duty is exempted due to the agreement of ASEAN Import Tariff structure of Philippines for instant noodles Instant noodles that are imported goods into Philippines are levied on 1. Import Duty According to the Philippines’s custom policy, all imported goods are subjected to pay 3% of value of products. 2. Value Added Tax (VAT) According to the Philippines’s custom policy, it is 12% of the price of product. 3. Import processing fee The Philippines has import processing fees that are normally assessed against items that require review or examination, certifications, quarantine or similar services that are required upon import. Mama has food certifications which are needed to be examined for the first time exporting into Philippines. The rate of Import processing fees are as following. http://www. tariffcommission. gov. ph/cao02-2001. html Non-tariff barriers 1. Food Safety Certification In order to export â€Å"Mama† to Philippines, the certificates that the company needs to have are following. 1. 1 GMP : Good Manufacturing Practice GMP is a collection of generally recognized rules, procedures and practices that together provide a code stating what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in the Food Industry. It reflects the whole body of knowledge that has been developed by experience and scientific study in the fields of food preservation and technology and hygiene. GMP is closely linked to Quality Assurance because it is preventive in its approach. It aims to produce safe and wholesome food through well-controlled operations that avoid waste and any type of contamination. It is applied in the whole production and supply chain. 1. 2 HACCP : Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points HACCP is a preventive risk management technique designed to provide increased control and monitoring during critical stages of the food processing chain. It is a systematic and scientific approach of identifying food safety hazards along the manufacturing process flow and supply chain, setting limits or specifications, establishing controls and monitoring and then documenting results. Safety hazards precluded by this system are not only biological, microbiological and chemical hazards but also hidden allergens, physical contaminants such as dangerous foreign bodies and radiological contaminants. . 3 BRC Global Standard The BRC Global Standards are a leading global safety and quality certification programme. The BRC Global Standards are widely used by suppliers and global retailers. They facilitate standardization of quality, safety, operational criteria and manufacturers’ fulfillment of legal obligations. They also help provide protection to the consumer. 1. 4 ISO 9001 ISO 900 1 is an international standard that gives requirements for an organization’s quality management system (QMS). The requirements cover a wide range of topics, including supplier’s top management commitment to quality, its customer focus, adequacy of its resources, employee competence, process management (for production, service delivery and relevant administrative and support processes), quality planning, product design, review of incoming orders, purchasing, monitoring and measurement of tis processes and products, calibration of measuring equipment, processes to resolve customer complaints, corrective/preventive actions and a requirement to drive continual improvement of the QMS. Also, there is a requirement for supplier to monitor customer perceptions about the quality of the goods and service it provides. 2. Packaging According to mandatory label information, the label on packaging of foods exporting to Philippines should bear the following information. 1. ) Name of the Food : The name should indicate the true nature of the food and shall normally be specified and not generic†¦ 2. List of Ingredients : A complete list of ingredients should be declared in descending order of proportion on either the principal display panel or information panel except that when a food product is covered by a Food Standard, only the optional ingredients shall be declared unless otherwise required by such regulation†¦ 3. ) Net Contents and Drained Weight : The net content should be declared using the metric system of measurement or â€Å"SI† (International System of Units) on either the principal display panel or the information panel and in line generally para llel to the base of the package. . ) Name and address of Manufacturer, Packer and Distributor : The name and address of either the manufacturer, packer or distributor of the food should be declared on the label. 5. ) Lot Identification : The lot identification code shall be embossed or otherwise permanently marked on immediate individual packages or containers. PEST : Philippines 1. Political & Legal Environment 1. 1 Import tariff : There is no tariff of instant noodle product between Thailand and Philippines because of the ASIAN contract. Normally they charged 7% tariff restriction for noodles. 1. Free Trade Agreement : Philippines has join ASEAN as free trade agreement. 1. 3 Political System : Democracy modeled on the U. S. system 2. Economic Environment 2. 1 Market Size (Population): Total Population in Philippines is 92. 2 million people. The target consumer age 16-24 is around 61. 1% of total population in the country (male 31,103,967/ female 31,097,203). The annual population growth rate 2. 04% per year. 2. 2 GDP growth rate: GDP (2011 estimate): $188. 7 billion. Annual growth rate (2011 estimate): 7. 3%. GDP per capita is $2,007. 2. 3 Number of hypermarket and supermarket : Philippines has 192 Malls and Shopping Centers, 248 groceries, and 66 convenience stores. These are a lot of numbers of ways to sell and expand our noodles to Philippines. Especially for the groceries where they usually sell instant noodles in. Most of them are Greenfield groceries which use the owner name as the shop name. 2. 4 Import Volume : Total value of imports for the country is US$59. 9 billion. Primary imports products are electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic. Primary imports partners are Japan (12. 5 percent of total imports), US (12 percent), China (8. percent), Singapore (8. 7 percent), South Korea (7. 9 percent), Taiwan (7. 1 percent), Thailand (5. 7 percent). In Thailand we import instant noodles from Philippines at USD$ 26,454,000 value. 2. 5 Export Volume : Total value of exports: US$50. 72 billion. Primary exports – commodities: semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment , garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits. Primary exports partners: US (17. 6 percent of total exports), Japan (16. 2 percent), Netherlands (9. 8 percent), Hong Kong (8. 6 percent), China (7. 7 percent), Germany (6. 5 percent), Singapore (6. percent), South Korea (4. 8 percent). In Thailand we export instant noodles to Philippines at USD 27,933,000 value. 3. Social Environment 3. 1 Geographic Distance (from Thailand) : The distance between Thailand and Philippines are 2,215 kilometers away. 3. 2 Consumer eating habits : Philippines people love to eat. Since people are kind and hospitality, food is important of their social life. Rice is the main component as usual in Asia countries. They eat three meals a day plus 2 snacks in between. The ingredients of the food they like to eat are usually contain salt and remain fresh. They commonly use spoon and folk as an equipment to eat. Some local people they still use hand to eat. 3. 3 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) : The Environmental Performance Index of Myanmar is now scored 65. 7at ranked 50th. 4. Technological Environment 4. 1 Infrastructure (Seaport) : Since the Philippines country is island, there are 19 Seaports available in the country. We can choose the appropriate location to export the instant noodles. Most of them meet the standard quality so we make sure that there won’t have much problem about the facilities and procedures. 4. Infrastructure (Roads &Highways) : The road and highways in Philippines are most likely the same as in Thailand. They spent adequate budget to improve the road systems every year. The route of the cities and houses around the country are all connected. The raod quality is great. We can transport the product within the country by using car or truck with no problems. 4. 3 Infrastructure (Telecommunication) : I n Philippines the communication system is quite perfect. The telephone system is provided to every houses. The internet, FAX, mails and other communication tools are provided. O (opportunities)| T (Threats)| P (Political)| ASEAN trade member| There are import tariff (3%)and VAT (12%)| E (Economic)| – Large market size (3rd largest in ASEAN)- Highest GDP growth rate in ASEAN- Various convenience stores& department stores| There are only few big shopping malls in the country but there are large numbers of small grocery stores. So, it will be difficult for us to distribute the products in the country. | S (Social)| Same eating habitat as Thai| | T(Technology)| Highly developed of telecommunication system| Moderate infrastructure of transportation| PEST : Thailand 1. Political & Legal Environment 1. 1 Import tariff : There is no tariff of instant noodle product between Thailand and Philippines because of the ASIAN contract. Normally they charged 7% tariff restriction for noodles. 1. 2 Free Trade Agreement : Thailand has join ASEAN as free trade agreement. 1. 3 Political System : Democracy;The politics of Thailand is currently conducted within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government and a hereditary monarch is head of state. 2. Economic Environment 2. Market Size (Population): Total Population in Thailand is 66. 7 million people. The target consumer age 15-64 years: 70. 9% of total population (male 23,410,091/female 23,913,499). The annual population growth rate 0. 566% per year. 2. 2 GDP growth rate: GDP (2011 estimate): $616. 783 billion. Annual growth rate (2011 estimate): 9%. GDP per capita is $9,598. 2. 3 Number of hypermarket and supermarket : Thailand has 297 Malls and Shopping Centers all over provinces. These are a lot of numbers of ways to sell and expand our noodles in Thailand. 2. 4 Import Volume :Total value of imports: US$156. billion – Primary imports – commodities: capital goods, intermediate goods and raw – materials, consumer goods, fuels – Primary imports partners: Japan (18. 7 percent of total imports), China (12. 7 percent), Malaysia (6. 4 percent) 2. 5 Export Volume : Total value of exports: US$191. 3 billion – Primary exports – commodities: textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances – Primary exports partners: US (10. 9 percent of total exports), China (10. 6 percent), Japan (10. 3 percent) 2. 6 Exchange Rate : 1 baht = 1. 3832 pesos This currency chart displays the value of the  Philippine peso  in relation to 1  Thai baht  (PHP/THB) over a 6-month period. To view the currency graph over different time period please click the links below the chart. | 5-Day| 7-Day| 10-Day| 14-Day| 1-Month| 3-Month| 6-Month| 9-Month| 1-Year| 2-Year| 5-Year| 10-Year| 3. Social Environment 3. 1 Geographic Distance (from Thailand) : The distance between Thailand and ? Philippines are 2,215 kilometers away. 3. 2 Consumer eating habits : All types of food items are used by Thai people and they are also conscious about their health. They used to eat all dairy products, poultry products, eat, chicken, seafood, vegetables, fruits and grain products. Here are some famous dished of Thailand that people love to prepare and eat frequently. Thai pad Som tum Tom yum goong Tom kha kai Pad kaprao Moo satay 3. 3 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) : The Environmental Performance Index of? Myanmar is now scored 62. 2at ranked 12th in Asia -Pacific. 4. Technological Environment 4. 1 Infrastructure (Seaport) : Thailand seaport are fully equipped with many technology machines. We can able to move or transfer the cargo around the port. The areas are big and clean. The security system and safety are very great. There is a lot of private service to help provide facilities to us. The port also has general warehouses that we can keep our product or good, distribution centers, road and railway network system which connects every part of the country. Furthermore, the port provides significant utilities such as electricity, water and land lines throughout the whole port. 4. 2 Infrastructure (Roads &Highways) : The road and highways in Thailand are good. Total road network includes motorways, highways, and main or national roads, secondary or regional roads, and all other roads in a country. 4. Infrastructure (Telecommunication) : In Thailand the communication system is quite moderate. Daily Newspaper,Telephone,Mobile,3G,Internet, FAX, mails and other communication tools are provided. Thailand | O (opportunities)| T (Threats)| P (Political)| Thailand is always willing to promote the exportation in order to bring more wealth to the country. Thai government will support us and help us to export our product to the Philippine. Some advice or tax reduction or premium we might gain from the government. | Thailand and Philippine don’t do the business together much if we compare to other countries. Trust will be needed and bank guarantee should be the appropriate method. | E (Economic)| Thailand has a great number of cultivated area and be able to produce at very low cost. | As thai baht has been lately appreciated against pesos, this make our products more expensive to Pilipino people. | S (Social)| | The effect of major flooding in Thailand affect a lot to agriculture and maybe next year there will be a flood happen in Thailand again. | T(Technology)| Today, social network is very useful for the marketing purpose. We can bring the awareness of our product in less cost. The oil price in Thailand is going up especially diesel which can increase the transportation's cost within country. | Five Forces Analysis : Philippines 1. Rivalry Among Current Competitors (High) From our research, the market in the Philippines now having various brands of instant noodles sell in the country. Those brands are produce in the country and some were imported from other countries. Lucky me brand i s seems to be the biggest brand that earn a lot of market shares in Philippines. In the Philippines there are a lot of groceries and convenience stores where usually instant noodles have been sold. In each stores sell many kinds of instant noodles. Customer can choose the one they like easily. Each brand uses different promotions and different method to sell and present their products. This will challenge us, Mama Company, to think of new strategy in order to sell the product in Philippines. 2. Bargaining Power of Suppliers (Not our concern) For this type of industry, they mostly have ordered the ingredients and produced in the same place. The floor and other materials come from same factory. This type of factory are not much seen in the country because ostly the instant noodles product are imported (produced in other countries). So, the bargaining power of suppliers in Philippines are tend to be high. It is not not a good idea if we choose to produce the product in Philippines. Since we are doing the export method this should not be a problem. 3. Bargaining Power of Customers (Low) Even though there are a lot of instant noodle brands sell in the country. The price range is lik ely the same numbers. This price range tends to be fixed and most of stores in the market use this price range (From 1 USD to 2 USD). Customers can not bargain the price much because the prices are the same. If they are not satisfied with the price, they still have to buy it because every stores sell at the same prices. There are few well-known shopping malls in The Philippines. Convenience stores is tend to be more popular among the customers. In every area, city and local, there will be small groceries in each village. These small convenience stores or groceries buy the instant noodles product from shopping mall and sell it again in their own stores. EDSA CentralJTC Mall in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Southway SquareStarMall And many convenience stores and groceries 4. Threat of Substitute Products or Services (High) As we already know instant noodles are easily cooked and can eat instantly in few minutes. This type of product has different features and brands. These could be cereals breakfast, tea, coffee, cream soup, joke, and many others that can be easily cooked instantly. 5. Threat of New Entrance (Moderate) Since there are many goods (instant noodles) imported from many countries. Most of them are in the trade agreement that concern the surplus and reduce the tax between countries. Especially the ASEAN trade agreement that pay very little tax or no tax to export the instant noodles into Philippines. For those who are not in the trade agreement, Philippines charge 10% tax rate and it would be very hard to those new comer to survive in the Philippines market. Competitor Positioning Low Price Low Price Payless Payless Quick Chow Quick Chow Lucky Me Lucky Me Quality Quality Market Share Market Share Mama Mama Various Tastes Various Tastes Explanation Our company, Mama, currently have many types of tastes and the production cost is low so the price is not high. Lucky Me has been in the Philippines market for a long time. They have a lot of market share in the country. Payless is expert in selling price. They sell the product at low price and have some market share. Quick Chow is in the middle of everything. SWOT Analysis Strengths * Cheap and Quick : Mama has low price. It’s only 5 baht per package and it uses 3 minutes for preparation. * Easy to Cook : Mama is one of the foods that require low abilities of cooking. It is only pour hot water then it is ready to eat. * Easy to Find : Mama has many distribution channels. You can easily find Mama in everywhere even in a small shop near your house or a big store. * Many flavors : Mama has lunched many flavors to suit individually person. There are at least 20 flavors with also different type of noodles. * Promotions : Mama has many promotions for their customers e. g. lucky draw for gold. * Brand Loyalty : Mama has been introduced for 35 years. Therefore, everyone known Mama and will choose Mama as the first choice. Weaknesses * Image : Because the company specially focus on MAMA so consumer only knows that this company sells only MAMA even they produce many products besides MAMA. Opportunities * Since Philippines and Thailand are in the ASEAN trade member, There is no tariff collected when doing export-import business. Philippines has a lot of seaport and also has good facilities to export our product by shipment. * People eating habits in the Philippines are likely to consume noodles type quite often. * The current tastes of instant noodles in Philippines are not various enough. If we introduce new tastes of the product, we might success and earn lots of market share. * Thailand is always willing to promote the exp ortation in order to bring more wealth to the country. Thai government will support us and help us to export our product to the Philippine. Some advice or tax reduction or premium we might gain from the government. Thailand has a great number of cultivated area and be able to produce at very low cost. * Today, social network is very useful for the marketing purpose. We can bring the awareness of our product in less cost. Threats * Philippines currently has a lot of instant noodle brands. It would be serious competition n the market. * As the government of Philippines encourages foreign company to come and invest in the country, it would be easy for other competitors to enter into the market. * Philippines has a lot of stores in the country, many small one, The delivery system of flowing our product within the country might face a potential complex. Thailand and Philippine don’t do the business together much if we compare to other countries. Trust will be needed and bank guara ntee should be the appropriate method. * As thai baht has been lately appreciated against pesos, this make our products more expensive to Pilipino people. * The effect of major flooding in Thailand affect a lot to agriculture and maybe next year there will be a flood happen in Thailand again. * The oil price in Thailand is going up especially diesel which can increase the transportation's cost within country. Demand Situation Currently in Philippines has a lot of instant noodle brands sell in the country. Which means Pilipinos like to consume noodles very often? All kind of food related Noodles is seems to be the main dish of Philippine people. In today instant noodle production has contribute more ingredients, vitamins, various of taste, and other food enrichments. People would like to consume it more not because only it is cheap but also have qualities and benefits. Another factor is that the trend of Korean TV shows that show about the Korean teenagers like to eat instant noodles more often. It makes a huge impact around Asia to boost the sales of instant noodles up high. In Philippines the demand of the instant noodle product are increasing everyday due to the variety of brands provide to them. Some people want to try new taste different from the local traditional taste. If we export our instant noodle products to the country with new feature taste that different from the current taste that already sell in the Philippine. Focus on the young customers who like to be adventurous and want to try new things. Rank| Country| 2007| 2008| 2009| Total| 9| Philippines| 24. 8| 25. 0| 25. 5| 27. 0| 13| Malaysia| 11. 8| 12. 1| 12. 0| 12. 2| 26| Singapore| 1. 2| 1. 3| 1. 3| 1. 2| Sales Contact Agreement Number: 1234a55b Date: 08/03/2012 [date of acceptance and legal agreement number] This sales agreement is committed between: Thai President Foods Public Company Limited. And SM Investments Corporation. INCOTERM: CIF Port of Bangkok Incoterm 2010 Term of Payment: Documentary Letter of Credit, Time Draft Price of the goods: S$1 Sales organization details: Name: Thai President Foods Public Company Limited Address: 304 TF Bldg. , Srinakarin Rd. , Huamark, Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240 Thailand. Factory: Sahapat Group Industrial Park, 601 Sukapiban 8 Rd. , Nongkarm, Sri Racha, Cholburi 20232 Thailand. Phone Number: Telephone  : (662) 374-4730  Fax :  (662) 374-7743 Buyer organization details: Name: SM Hypermarket Address: Building E, SM Corporate Office 1000 Bay Boulevard Central Business Park Pasay Metro Manila Philippines Contact number: +6328311212 Whereas, the buyer is interested to buy the following products from the seller organization 1. Instant Noodles Artificial Tom Yum Pork Flavour 2. Instant Noodles Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum Flavour 3. Instant Noodles Shrimp Flavour (Tom Yum) The seller organization will receive $_________ [money in the local currency] on every purchase as the buyer organization has already received $___________ as advance amount. This sales agreement is commencing on 17/08/2012 and is ending on 16/08/2017. [Give required dates] Both the organizations will follow the given terms: – Importers are required to source products from regulated establishments. The food is produced under proper sanitary conditions. – Traders and manufacturers adhere to quality assurance procedures that are acceptable to the AVA (Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore). – AVA demands the importers to submit certified-true-copy documents from the food safety authority of the country of origin certifying that the imported food product is produced by licensed or regulated premises. Validation of the sales agreement by both the organizations: Signature of the Seller organization: ___________ Singed by the buyer organization: ____________ [approved by both the parties] Incoterm CIF (Port of Manila) INCOTERMS 2010 Cost , Insurance and Freight (CIF) Exporters have to pay the transportation costs and freight cost that are required to bring the goods or the product from the factory at beginning to the named port of destination (Port of Manila). More ever, Exporter (us) is also required to find and buy insurance against the buyer's risk of loss or damage to the products (Mama) during sea transportation. Furthermore, the exporter is required to clear the goods for export custom as well. * Our company (Mama) will prepare all the documents that are needed for clearing export procedures, and deliver the goods to the reach the port of origin. * Our company will load the finished goods from the factory in Sriracha, Chonburi into our own trucks and give all prepared documents with them for export clearing purpose. * When trucks reach the custom clearing point at the port, do the export custom clearing with all prepared documents to let the goods go into the harbor. Then we follow all the export procedures to get our products or containers into Laem chabang port. * The products will ship to port of Manila along with insurance that we pay. Reasons to choose this CIF INCOTERMS The reason why we choose CIF incoterm method for export our product to the Philippine because Ports Port of Shipping Laem Chabang Port We choose Laem Chabang port as the main port to send the product, instant noodles, a nd export to Philippines port. Laem Chabang port is elected to be the main major seaport in Thailand for years and it is also Thailand’s largest port. It is Deep-water port and used for international importation and exportation. It is located between Laem Chabang distinct, Amphoe Sriracha and Amphoe Bang Lamung in Chonburi province Thailand. This port is under control by Port Authority of Thailand in overall management. Private firms are responsible for the activities process. This port is first open in 2534 and was fully supported by Thailand Government all along. Leam Chabang port can handle or has ships or vessels come to port around 8,118 ships. The areas around Leam Chabang port are being developed to be economic area of the country. The area that being developed are housing, utilities, communications, transportation, industry, and government center. In 2005 Laem Chabang port was order to be the 20th busiest port in the word. Many of the international shipping come in and out of Thailand will go through this Laem Chabang port. Leam Chabang Port has many sub-port and they was separated into 4 main zones; -Zone A -Zone B -Zone C -Zone D -Others Factors why we choose this port 5. Location Mama instant noodle has 3 factories which are located at Rayoong, Lumpoon, and Sriracha. Especially the factory in Sriracha is very near to Laem Chabang port. So it is very easily to transport the product or goods by in-land from the factory through the Laem Chabang port. 6. Facilities and equipment Surely, Laem Chabang port is the main port that mostly used in Thailand. This port is fully equipped with many technology machines. We can able to move or transfer the cargo around the port. The areas are big and clean. The security system and safety are very great. There is a lot of private service to help provide facilities to us. The port also has general warehouses that we can keep our product or good, distribution centers, road and railway network system which connects every part of the country. Furthermore, the port provides significant utilities such as electricity, water and land lines throughout the whole port. List of facilities in Laem Chabang port 7. Provincial Office of Chonburi – Public Relations Office of Chonburi – Chonburi Transportation Station – City Council of Chonburi – Local Police Station (Pattaya) – Local Police Station (Bang Lamung) – Tourist Police – Tourist Police (Jom Tien) – Tourist Police (Pattaya) – Bangkok-Chonburi Hospital – Eak-Chol Hospital – Bang-La-Mung Hospital – Many banks ; Bank of Ayudhya included – Courier express – Accommodation 8. Service We can say that Laem Vhabang port has a one stop service. Many of private and government firms in the port provide different service and cover all port activities. There is custom burean in the port that take care about the documents and also many private firms have helping service for us to prepare the document and give advice. Laem Chabang open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week: that’s mean the port opens all the time. The port has skillful and experienced employees, truck services, vessel routes, train schedule, shipping lines, forwarders, and many other more. The port also has an efficient website that provides understanding information and contacts. Port of Destination Manila Port, Philippine The Port of Manila is the largest seaport in the Philippines. It is widely used as the main port of all international shipping gateways to the Philippine. The port is located in the vicinity of Manila Bay. The Port of Cagmat is another name of this port for local and it is also known as Manila International Cargo Terminal. This port is operated by International Container Terminal Services Inc. This port is recognized as one of Asia’s major seaports and one of the Philippine most active port with full of activities every day. In 2005, port of Manila was list as 31st the world most active port. Manila is also the Philippine country’s main economic, cultural, and political center because Manila is the capital city and has the highest population. -Port of Manila has 3 major areas. 1. Manila North (seaport code MNN) 2. Manila South (MNS) 3. Manila (MNL) Port Location Map 9. Quick fact Summary information Port Location:    Manila Port Name:    Port of Manila Port Authority:    Philippine Ports Authority, PDO Manila/Northern Luzon Address:    PNR Building South Harbor Manila Philippines Phone:    527-44-14 Fax:    527-44-14 Email:    [email  protected] com. ph Web Site:    www. ppa. com. ph Latitude:    14 ° 31’ 27† N Longitude:    120 ° 56’ 57† E UN/LOCODE:    PHMNL Port Type:    Seaport Port Size:    Very Large Factors why we choose this port 10. Reliable This port is very popular and has been trusted by many countries. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) who control and manage the port promise to provide reliable services, sustaining the development of port communities and the environment. The Philippine Ports Authority’s priority objectives are include of establishing, developing, regulating, managing, and operating a national port system that supports trade and development for the nation of the Philippines. To meet these goals, the PPA will make adjustment at least ten ports by the year 2010, improve port services, reduce costs for port customers, corporative between ports and communities, development and operation, and provide a working environment to improve productivity and job satisfactions. 11. Location Manila is the capital city. It implies the highest population city in Philippine. It will be a perfect place to enter our product to the market. This city has many distribution channel including Macro; where we going to send our cargo to. So this port is quite near to the destination location. 12. Facilities With no doubt, port of Manila is the largest and busiest port in Philippine. This port serves a total of 5325 vessels for both foreign and domestic. The entrance to the Bay of Manila is 19 Km wide and it will expand to 48 Km in the future so, the vessels could easily reach the port. The Port of Manila International Cargo Terminal (MICT) also help developing the facilities on the port. The company (MICT) is responsible for managing, operating, and administrating the Port of Manila. They are planning, developing, and constructing better facilities; supplying all equipment,handling more capacity, and controlling the system. Term of Payment Method of Payment : Documentary Letter of Credit (L/C) 16 16 15 15 14 14 13 13 12 12 11 11 2 2 4 4 8 7 8 7 7 7 6 6 5 5 Custom Shipper Custom Shipper Shipper Shipper Custom Shipper Custom Shipper Shipper Shipper 3 1 3 1 1 1 Issuing Bank Issuing Bank Advising Bank Advising Bank Exporter Exporter Importer Importer 9 9 10 10 1. Negociation in sales contact. 2. Send request to open L/C together with sending all documents required. 3. After bank verify the correctness of the documents, issue L/C and transfer to Advising bank. 4. Advising bank notifies the exporter the presence of L/C. 5. Exporter makes a shipping reservation. 6. Shipper sends export document to custom. 7. Receive mate’s receipt once product is on broad. Exchange mate’s receipt for Bill of Lading with shipper. 8. Documents collection as agreed. 9. Export sends documents for payment to advising bank. 10. Advising bank confirms documents and receives payment. 11. Advising bank sends documents and requests for reimbursement. 12. Issuing bank checks document and requests payment. 13. Importer makes a payment and documentation. 14. Reimbursement 15. Importer exchanges B/L for delivery order (D/O). 16. Shipper shows D/O for goods shipped to custom. Document needed * Draft or Bill of Exchange * Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading * Certificate of Origin, Insurance policy, License (if any) * Certificate of Health, Certificate of Analysis * Certificate of Inspection, etc * Insurance Certificate, Commercial, Official or Legal Documents (for shipping) Reasons for choosing this term of payment As we will export a large amount of goods to the foreign company as well as this is the first time that we do business with this company, using â€Å"Documentary Letter of Credit† will reduce the commercial risk or the risk of not being paid. This is because, for the first of doing business, there will be low trust of buyer’s credit and high risk that importer or buyer might not pay for the goods. Therefore, we choose â€Å"Irrevocable Letter of Credit, Time Draft (60 days)† to reduce risk. By using irrevocable letter of credit, issuing bank will be the one who is responsible for importers’ obligations toward exporters under the specified term and conditions and commit themselves not be able to make amendment without consensus from all parties related. Cable / Swift charges for LC opening| THB 1,000 for the first page, THB 300 for the other pages| THB1,000 (Max. pages, Next pages = 500/page)| Asia, Australia, % NZ: THB 500 Middle East, US, Europe, Africa ; Rest of the world: THB 800 With attached sheet: THB 400 per attached sheet Others: THB 400| L/C amendment | In case increase in amount or extension of validity date : ? % of opening amount for validity of each 90 days (1 period), fraction of month w ill be treated as one period (Minimum THB 500) Other cases: THB 500| Increase Amount – 0. 5% of incresing amounts (min. THB1,000. 00), Extend validity if exceed 1 period – THB 500 per item| Increase of L/C amount:0. 25% of additional amount per period (90 days) or part thereof min. THB 1,000 Extension of L/C validity: 0. 25% of opening amount per period (90 days) or part thereof min. THB 1,000| Cable / Swift charges for LC amendment| THB 500 per item| THB 500 per item| THB 400/item| Revolving L/C comission| ? of opening amount upon L/C times amount of time for revolving (Minimum THB 1,000)| 0. 25% per quarter or part thereof with a minimum of THB 1,000| 0. 25% of opening amount per period (90 days)or part thereof min. THB1,000 | Standby L/C comission| N/A| Morethan 2. 5% per annum or part thereof with a minimum of THB 300| 1. 5 – 2. 5 % per annum min. THB 1,000| Kasikorn Bank Kasikorn Bank Bangkok Bank Bangkok Bank Bank of Ayudhaya Bank of Ayudhaya Postage (Cour ier Charges) | N/A| Asia, EU and USA: THB 500 except China, Laos and Cambodia: THB 700| THB300. 0 for 1st envelope, additional charge of THB100. 00 per additional envelope | Reasons for choosing Kasikorn Bank 1. Kasikorn Bank provides the services of Cable/Swfit charges for L/C opening, Cable/Swift charges for L/C amendment,Standby L/C and postage fee at the rate cheaper than other banks. 2. Kasikorn Bank has professional staff, innovative technology and worldwide network that will enhance our international transaction easily and smoothly. 3. Kasikorn Bank got the award of Best Trade Finance Providers 2011 for the fourth consecutive year (2008-2011). This guarantees that it provides good international trade services. 4. Kasikorn bank got the award of Best Bank (Thailand) for the second consecutive year (2010-2011). This guarantees that the bank is realiable and trustable. 5. Kasikorn Bank provides a lot of information towards its services on the internet. So, the customer can find the information about the fee, procedure and document needed of services easily and conveniently. 6. Kasikorn Bank has K-BIZ contact center that provides business information for 24 hours. So, we can contact the bank anywhere anytime when we need information, advice or when we have a problem regarding our business. In addition, the K-BIZ staff are well-trained. So, we can be sure that we will get comprehensive and accurate answers or advice. Trade Finance Services 1. Export L/C Advising Kbank acts on behalf of the beneficiary in receiving the L/C issued by the overseas issuing bank. The bank will check the apparent authenticity of the L/C before notifying and delivering it to the beneficiary. Documents Needed 1. Letter of Credit agreed upon by both sellers and buyers. 2. Pro forma invoice 3. Application form for amendment of letter of Credit Procedure for Export L/C Advising 13. After receiving the L/C from the issuing bank in overseas, the bank will check its apparent authenticity. 14. Kbank notifies exporter of the arrival of the original L/C. 15. Before picking up the original L/C at any  Corporate ; SME Service Center, exporter have to pay for the L/C advising fees. 16. It is recommended that exporter has to review all terms and conditions specified in the L/C. If they are not comply with the terms and conditions as agreed with the importer, exporter is required to notify the importer to amend those conditions in the L/C. By using export L/C advising from Kbank, we can receive the authenticated L/C within 3 hours after Kbank receives it by SWIFT Message from the issuing bank in overseas and a copy L/C will be delivered to us in advance by facsimile or email to allow us to prepare export documents in advance. So, it’s more convenient for us to do the international transaction. 1. L/C Confirmation L/C Confirmation is the service that the bank, Kbank, add confirmation on the letter of credit received from the oversea issuing bank which allows adding confirmation and the beneficiary in the L/C request it to do so. The bank will add confirmation on full amount, not on partial amount, and effect payment to the beneficiary upon receipt of conforming documents provided that all terms and conditions have been complied with the L/C’s. Documents Needed 1. Application for L/C confirmation 2. Original L/C and amendment L/C (if any) Procedure  for L/C Confirmations . Exporter ( the beneficiary in L/C) submits an application for L/C confirmation alongwith the original L/C and the amendment of L/C (if any) to Kbank. 2. The bank will examine the application form, conditions in the L/C and credit rating and country rating of the issuing bank. 3. If all criteria is met, the bank will collect all confirmation charges and other expenses from the beneficiary. 4. A letter of confirmation and the original L/C will be delivered to  the beneficiary. 5. The bank, then, inform the issuing bank of the adding confirmation without delay. By using this service, we will have more security in receiving payment under L/C, Kbank will serve us with L/C confirmation with their professional and experienced staffs. Therefore, it is more reliable and secure than using only Export L/C advising. 2. Export Collection under L/C Kbank acts as the nominated bank authorized by the L/C issuing bank to collect payment from the L/C issuing bank in a foreign country by sending the documents for collection under L/C provided that all terms and conditions have been complied with L/C. Documents Needed 1. Application for Negotiation/Discount of Export Bills Drawn Under Letter of Credit. 2. Original L/C and amendment L/C (if any). 3. Other documents stipulated in the L/C. Procedure  for Export L/C Collection 1. Kbank receives the export documents submitted by the beneficiary, then check for the complying presentation. 2. Notify the beneficiary of checking result. 3. Send the documents to the issuing bank for collection. Also, tracking payment (as the case may be). 4. Upon receipt of payment, inform the beneficiary and remit proceeds to the beneficiary’s account. By using this service, we can be more assured of receiving payment under L/C. Moreover, the documents will be checked by professional and experienced staff. Also, they will be re-checked by CDCS or Certified Documentary Credit Specialists. As a result, we can operate our export business smoothly and confidently. Custom Export Clearance Procedure in Thailand Generally, the export clearance processes include 4 stages: 1. Submission of a Declaration: The export procedures start when an exporter/broker submits an Export Declaration in ebXML message to the e-Customs system. 2. Verification of a Declaration: The second stage is automated verification of the Declaration. As soon as the e-Customs system receives the Export Declaration data, such data is preliminary validated. In cases where the validated data contains no error, the Goods Declaration number is generated in conjunction with the e-Payment system (if export taxes and duties are applicable. ). The response message, then, is transmitted to the exporter/broker. In addition, the selectivity profile system will validate the transmitted data and classify the Goods Declaration into two categories: Green Line and Red Line. . Payment of Duties and Taxes: The third stage is payment of applicable duties and taxes and/or guarantee. There are currently 3 means for payment of export duties and taxes: payment at the Customs Department, payment via e-Payment system, and payment at banks. 4. Inspection and Release of Cargo: The last stage is to inspect and finally release cargo from Customs custody. At this stage , a freight forwarder loads cargo into containers and electronically sends a cargo control report to the e-Customs system. The e-Customs system validates the data, and reports any error for immediate online correction. If no error is found, the cargo control report number is automatically generated by the system and the response message is sent to the freight forwarder and the exporter/broker. The freight forwarder then prints out the cargo control report with its number and removes the cargo to the port of exit. At this stage, the Customs officer at a sub-gate checks whether the declaration is a Red Line or a Green Line. 4. 1  In case of the green line,the Declaration is cleared within a few minutes. After the cargo is exported, a shipping company/agent is required to submit, the manifest information to the e-Customs   system. The system then automatically loads the Goods Declaration and transmits the response message back to the exporter/broker. 4. 2  In case of the red line, the cargo is removed for physical inspection. Documents needs 1. Export Declaration 2. Invoice 3. Export License (if applicable) 4. Other relevant documents such as catalogue, product ingredients, etc. Example of Documents Custom Import Clearance Procedure in Philippines Documents required in all shipments to the Philippines * Commercial Invoice * Bill of Lading or Airway Bill for air shipments * Certificate of Origin, if requested * Packing List Applicable special certificates required due to the nature of goods being shipped/requested by importer/bank/letter of credit clause, such as the Bureau of Food   and Drugs (BFAD) license * Commercial Invoice of Returned Philippine Goods and Supplemental Declaration on   Valuation * For Letter of Credit (L/C) Transaction, a duly accomplished Letter of Credit (L/C)   including Proform a Invoice and Import Entry Declaration for Advance Customs Import   Duty (ACID) * For non-L/C Transactions, either Draft Documents against Acceptance (D/A),   Documents Against Payment (D/P), Open Account (OA) or self-funded, a Proforma Invoice Example of Documents Container * Type of Cargo and Container Size: Container| Interior Dimension| Door Opening| Tare Weight| Cubic Capacity| Payload| 20’ Dry Container| L:5. 919m 19’ 5† W:2. 340m 7’ 8† H:2. 380m 7’ 9 ? †| W:2. 286m 7’ 6† H:2. 278m 7’ 5 ? †| 1,900 kg 4,189 lbs. | 33. 0 cbm 1,116 cu. Ft. | 22,100 kg 48,721 lbs| As our products can be packed in cases, they are classified to be general cargo and can be stuffed in containers. Our products to be exported to Philippines will be sold throughout the country, we believe that the demand of the whole country with a huge number of population like Philippines is sufficient for us to fill up the whole container, meaning that we can use full cargo load. Our products do not require any special container, the normal general purpose container or dry cargo of 20’ft is sufficient to keep the products safely while transporting them from Thailand to Philippines. One 20 footer container can fit 360 cartons, one carton contains 6 boxes of 30 packs. Totally one container can fit 68,400 pack of Mama. * Container Transport Status: In order to deliver the products to Philippines, we have to use the combination of transportation modes that includes land and ocean transportation. The products will be placed in the container and taken from our factory by using the container truck or line haul to transport them to the port. At the port, the products then will be moved from the truck onto the container ship which will transport our products from the port of Thailand to the port of Philippines and again the products will be taken of the ship and placed on the container truck and deliver them to the distribution of our customers in Philippines. The most suitable container transport status for us is FCL/FCL. We as the only one seller deliver products by using full container load from Thailand and export to only one buyer in Philippines which is SM Hyper Market. To keep the products safe and in the best condition, we have to use the right method of packaging and cargo unitization which are mention below. Freight Forwarder As our products are shipped from Thailand to Philippines which are already a normal and often travelled route, we can save our cost by using the service from conference line vessel or the so called†Liners†. By using these liners, the service is cheaper than to use the non-conference vessels or charter ships. The rates are fixed and standardized, the schedule is also strictly followed which allow us to deliver our products to customers at the expectable time. The company that we use for ocean transportation is NYK and the route is FTS (Far East Thailand Service) which serves from Laem Chabang pass by Port of Manila to Busan. The turnaround day for the service route is 21 days. The total fee for ocean transportation is 765 USD which includes 730 USD for the service fee plus with 35 USD fuel fee which is calculated to be roughly around 23,532 Baht. Insurance Company As we are using CIF Incoterm 2010, we are responsible for all the risks of lost or damages occur during the inland transportation from our factory to Laem Chabang port and we are assigned to purchase the insurance to cover any risks of lost and damages occur during the ocean shipment from Laem Chabang port to Port of Manila. We selected Dhipaya Insurance Public Company Limited as our insurance company. The type of policy selected is open policy, which covers over a period of time as we plan to ship the products quite often in the near future. The package we choose is â€Å"Institute Cargo Clauses type C† which covers fire or explosion; vessel stranded or sunk, collision of vessel and discharge of cargo at port of distress. The reason we choose Dhipaya Insurance is because the company has a long history as well as the credit of the company is widely accepted both in Thailand and other countries in this region. Marketing Mix Marketing Mix(4P) 1. Product 2. Price 3. Place 4. Promotion Product Ingredients and Condiments of MAMA instant noodles still remain the same. The size of MAMA's pack and accumulated net weight within the pack are also the same. But label that state on the pack will be changed from Thai language to English language. And all informations at the back of the pack will be translated to Pilipino as well. – Product Standardization We make our product to be standardized. We not change any Research&Development. We use the same strategies as in Thailand. We dont adapted or changed our products forward Pilipino . Price We changed the price from originally 6 baht in Thailand to 30 baht or 1USD per pack selling Philippines. We set the price followed our competitors but our competitors set 1USD or more than but we set only 1USD to penetrate the market. Pricing Policy We use Dual Pricing because we change the selling price from 6Baht to 1USD. We add more price because we have to calculate cost-plus method ,For example; Import taxes,Vat,Transportation cost,Shipping cost,etc. Place We decided to sell our products MAMA instant noodles into Philippines though only one major distribution channel,SM hypermarket company. Promotion We use quantity discounts as a promotion in Pilipino market. Consumers will pay less if they buy pack of six. Cost Structure EXPORT| IMPORT| Cost element| Cost| Cost element| Cost| Factory cost of 205,200 [email  protected] US$0. 098 per packs| US$20,109. | Land cost CIF| $****| Expenses:| | Duty @ 3%| $****| Export packing (205,200 [email  protected] US$0. 005 per pack)| US$1,026| Other Taxes| $****| | | Brokerage – Clearance fees| $****| Consular invoice| US$30| Forwarder Fees| $****| Freight forwarder Fee (included in transportation cost)| -| Banking charges| $****| FOB price| US$21,165. 6| Total landed cost (DDP)| $****| | | Expenses:|   | |   | Warehouse| $****| |   | Repacking| $****| |   | Freight out| $****| |   | Advertising| $****| |   | Interest| $****| |   | Others| $****| Marine Insurance| US$317. 5| Total landed plus expenses| $****|   |   |   |   | Transportation (Ocean)| US$2,295| Plus Markup| $****| Landed cost (CIF)| US$23,778. 1| Suggested selling Price| $****|   |   |   |   | |   |   |   | Reference * http://www. dksh. ph/htm/388/en_PH/News-Detail. htm? Id=60707 * http://goodnewspilipinas. com/2010/04/06/philippines-set-to-become-food-safety-hub-of-asean/ * http://www. selamat. wur. nl/NR/rdonlyres/F6A33BEE-EE82-464A-A1EB-118034E1F9D9/122444/Philippines. pdf * http://www. iso. org/iso/iso_catalogue/management_and_leadership_standards/quality_management/more_resources_9000/9001supchain. htm#what_is_iso_9001 * http://www. rcglobalstandards. com/GlobalStandards/Home. aspx * http://www. inspection. gc. ca/food/fish-and-seafood/exports/by-jurisdiction/philippines/eng/1304243817860/1304243914409 * http://www. mama. co. th/faqs. php * http://ebook. foodrecap. net/food-standard/pinoy-food-label/ * http://www. lcbcustoms. net * http://www. laemchabangport. com * http://www. mama. co. th * www. thaiblogonline. com * ma ps. google. co. th * http://www. ppa. com. ph * http://www. maplandia. com/philippines/ncr/manila/port-area/ * http://www. worldportsource. com/ports/PHL_Port_of_Manila_1947. hp * http://www. mapsofworld. com/cities/philippines/manila/port. html * http://smhypermarket. com/hypermarket/index. php? p=420 * http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/SM_Hypermarket * http://internet1. customs. go. th/wps/wcm/connect/custen/importexport/exporter/exporter * http://www. dti. gov. ph/dti/index. php? p=196&fb_source=message * http://www. chanrobles. com/presidentialdecrees/presidentialdecreeno1679. html * http://www. nykline. co. th/main/content_view. php? data_cat=6&data_id=16 * http://www. dhipaya. co. th/ * http://www. x-convert. com/chart/PHP-THB? period=6m