Adolf Hitler Essays -- Papers

Adolf Hitler When And Where He Was Born Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau, Austria, on April 20 1889. Adolf was the son of Klara and Alois Hitler. He was very hostile towards his father who was a minor customs officer on the Austro-German border, and deeply attached to his housewife mother. Adolf's father Alois used to beat on Adolf's half brother Alois Jr, but when Alois reached the age of 14 and had had enough of the beating, he ran away from home never to see his father again. This put Adolf next in line, and his discontent father then beat him. Hitler was a good student in the younger ranks of school gaining good grades with little effort. Eventually the time came when he had to take the next step up and choose which high school he wanted to attend. Hitler was very interested in art and so he wanted to go to a classical school. However, his father was eager for Adolf to follow in his footsteps as a civil servant and sent him to the Technical high school in the city of Linz in 1900. The city kids looked down upon Hitler, as he was only a country kid, Hitler's work began to slump due to his unhappiness. He did poorly in the first year getting kept back. Hitler hoped that if his father saw how little progress he was making at the technical school, that his father would allow him to go to a classical school, but this didn't work as the thought of Hitler becoming an artist in the eyes of his father were ridiculous. Hitler began his second year in high school as the oldest boy in his class as he was held back for the extra year. He had an advantage over the other boys and his grades did improve, but he still failed mathematics. Ge... ...rial for treason in a trial he had total advantage in. Hitler had the right to use the courtroom as a propaganda platform from which he could speak at any length on his own behalf, interrupt others at any time and even cross examine witnesses. Hitler admitted everything, however, put himself over as a German patriot wanting to take over Germany to do the right thing and not give in against the Treaty Of Versailles. Hitler accused the German politicians of being the guilty party because they where the people who stabbed the whole of Germany in the back by ending World War 1 and signing the Treaty Of Versailles. Hitlers tactics did and didn't work at the same time. He was found guilty however, where he could have had life imprisonment for what he did, he only got a 5 year sentence and was eligible for parole in 6 months.

Produce a document of customer guidelines Essay

Produce a document of customer guidelines to help maintain a safe, secure and healthy sports environment, including methods of distribution and evaluation. Write an assessment and analysis of the effectiveness of the promotional material and make suggestions for suitable changes and amendments. Customer Guidelines 1. No food or drink in the gym If customers were happily eating food in the gym the smell could put other customers off their workouts. Especially the very people who are in the gym for that very reason â€Å"Food†. The last thing someone trying to get fitter needs is to be working out next to someone eating a sausage roll. If such practices were allowed in the gym it would also bring down the overall reputation of the gym which no manager wants. Also if a customer is eating greasy food this could transfer onto the equipment which could be both unhygienic and unpleasant for other customers. This guideline is needed for hygiene purposes mainly. Food and the gym don’t mix well and it is good to keep them both separate. This guideline is also in place to avoid litter around the gym, if food was allowed no doubt there would be litter which an employee would have to go around picking up. 2. No running by the poolside area If you run by a poolside you run the risk of slipping over and injuring yourself. This is an important guideline as it keeps the customers safe. As well as the customers safety the guideline is there for the leisure centre’s own safety, its reputation. If a customer was to slip and injure themselves, they could easily sue the leisure centre saying there was no â€Å"guideline† such as a poster telling them not to run by the poolside. The leisure centre could be sued or in a worst case scenario be shut down. 3. No diving into the pool This guideline is in place to stop people injuring themselves by attempting stupid head first dives and hitting their heads on the bottom of the pool. As amusing is it seems it could have bad repercussions for a leisure centre should this happen. As with above this is a safety guideline. It is important because diving can be dangerous. It can apply to the prevention of a possible suing. If the guideline is implemented through posters the public have no excuse if they injure themselves. 4. No smoking on the premises In a gym there will be plenty of people who will take offence to someone smoking. A leisure centre cannot allow smoking in gym, the first think that comes to my mind is that someone smoking in a gym doesn’t exactly give off an air of â€Å"Healthy†. This isn’t the sort of environment a manager of a gym wants. Once smoking is allowed in gyms instructors may as well encourage people to have a bite of a kebab between reps. This guideline is implement because smokers are stupid enough to want smoking allowed in the gyms! As I mentioned earlier there are a lot of non-smokers that go to the gym who seriously wouldn’t appreciate a smoke filled gym. Having a non-smoking gym will give an air of professionalism and attract customers that generally want to get fit. 5. Showers must be used before entering the pool This is a matter of hygiene, a sweaty person who has just been to the gym or someone who is generally unclean shouldn’t enter the pool without showering. This guideline is put down for hygiene reasons again. True there is chlorine in the water which is a good anti bacterial and germ killer, but it is no excuse for people who have just left the sauna or gym to leave a trail of their excess dirt and grease into the pool. 6. Customers must not use weights prior to induction This guideline is there to prevent customers from injuring themselves as well as causing damage to the machinery and others. Without this guideline I am pretty sure there would be a lot of injuries in the gym. Quite often when you go to the gym you will see â€Å"newbie’s† with delusions of grandeur, they go straight for the heaviest weights and pump them like there’s no tomorrow, no doubt with visions of looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger. It is imperative that new inductees are shown and trained on different equipment by a qualified member of staff. 7. No children under the age of 11 are allowed in the pool unless accompanied by an adult. This is an important safety guideline as there are some very irresponsible mothers and fathers in this world who would let their children into a pool whilst not realising what standard of swimming their children are at. A lifeguard can only do so much and isn’t a telepath tic so cannot tell if a child is a strong or weak swimmer. This is a good guideline because it keeps children safe and forces mums and dads to be responsible. Once again having this guideline saves the leisure centre from being sued if this guideline wasn’t there and the lifeguard could not save a child’s life the leisure centre would be in serious trouble. 8. Please wear the correct footwear If correct footwear is not used serious or minor injuries can occur. It is important to raise this point as there are a lot of people out there foolish enough to go to the gym in incorrect footwear. For those that didn’t know what type of footwear to wear the guideline will explain it to them possibly helping them with their performance. Employee guidelines 1. Wear the correct uniform and clothing This is important as an employee’s dress code should reflect the company’s image. As a reflection of the company’s image an employee has a responsibility to wear clean, correct uniform. They are on the frontline and if a customer has a complaint they would rather be approached by a smartly dressed employee. From the start of their quarrel they are less likely to have a go at a smartly dressed person rather than a scruffy one. A scruffy employee would be perceived as someone who doesn’t care and as a reflection of the leisure centre a customer sees the employee as the company itself. What I am trying to get at is that if the employee is scruffy then so is the company. 2. Arrive to work on time It is important to be punctual to work as it can set a bad example to other employees around you. If one employee is consistently late and getting away with it, others start to look and think to themselves ‘Well it won’t hurt to be five minutes late if he/she is getting away with it’. Also if you arrive late they are not getting work done which they are being paid to do and most likely others around them are covering and doing their work for them, this is bad teamwork. 3. Staff should know fire procedures It is obvious that management need to make sure that all their employees know all the fire procedures. This will keep both the employees and customers safe. If certain employees do not know or understand all the fire procedures they themselves are at risk as well as the customers. A leisure centre would leave themselves liable for suing if It was found out that a fire drill went bad due to staff not knowing fire procedures. 4. Employees must know first aid First of as well as having qualified first aid personnel there needs to be a 1:50 ratio of first aiders to the amount of people in the building. For very much the same reasons as the fire procedures, this guideline would protect customers, the employees, as well as protect against possible suing. It is a must need guideline as injuries sustained in gym’s and leisure centre’s are numerous and it must be ensured all these injuries are taken care of quickly and efficiently. 5. Check equipment regularly so that it is safe for customers use This guideline helps prevent injuries to customers. Obviously accidents can happen but if regular checks are done you can slim the chances of injury. It will encourage regular maintenance checks and ensure that employees look for simple things like wear and tear or loose wires that people could trip over. It is an important guideline because it makes sure that the employees have to consider the risks of the equipment and think of measure to check and prevent these risks. 6. When treating a customer one’s manner and attitude must be calm and conservative When dealing with customers it is important to give off a good impression. If they ask you a simple question for example, it is good to be attentive to what they are saying. An aura needs to be given off that pervais an interest in what they are saying. If a customer comes up with a complaint and are perhaps rude it is important that an employee can keep their cool and not snap back. A situation is far more likely to be rectified if the employee is calm and composed, that way they can calm the customer down and help them to understand and fix or help with whatever problem they have. As I have said before the employees are on the front lines and whatever aura they give of the customers effects the company (leisure centre or gym) as a whole. 7. No smoking on the premises The smoking guideline needs to work both ways. You can’t very well have a customer guideline saying no smoking and then have your employees casually smoking away. This is an important guideline for the same reason as the customers. You can’t have people coming to the gym seeing employees smoking away, customers may find it off putting especially if they are smokers and it doesn’t set a good example. Again it would put off putting non-smokers as well especially ex-smokers who will represent a large client base. The atmosphere has to be that of a healthy one. If a customer must smoke an area needs to be made off premises where they can relieve themselves. 8. Treat other staff with respect At work it is important that there is a good atmosphere within the workforce as well as a high standard of moral. This starts with all the employees treating each other with respect. You can’t have a members of staff disrespecting each other a workplace needs discipline. This is a guideline that shouldn’t need to be upheld but sometimes it does. It is important as staff should have a comfortable environment to work so that they can efficiently get on with their work, the last thing an employee needs is having another member of staff on their mind whilst trying to work. Method’s of distribution and evaluation There were a few methods of possible distribution, including:- * posters * videos * leaflets * word of mouth * lectures/speeches * E-mail If I was trying to distribute my customer guidelines I think I would go for a big, bold, eye catching poster. I would want to make them numerous around my gym/leisure centre so that there would be no escaping them. As well as that I would go with Videos, these are virtually inescapable as they can be positioned directly in front of various exercise machines. Leaflets are far too easy for customers to ignore. the majority would screw them up. Word of mouth shows a lack of effort really, very pointless, plus it would be time consuming to go through each customer guideline as well as explaining them. A lecture or speech would be pointless most people don’t have the time or the patience to sit through one. Most people are no it alls and most likely feel they would not have to sit through a customer guidelines speech. E-mails are unreliable I feel, they can easily be regarded as junk mail and are easily ignored. E-mails are not in your face like a poster or a video. When distributing my information that is what I’m looking for a in your face â€Å"Escape this if you can† approach. With both videos and posters being used it will be hard for someone to ignore. With the employee guidelines I feel I could only go for a speech a rousing one ala â€Å"Gladiator† or an Alex Ferguson speech where I can really hit home and make my employees understand what I am trying to get through to them. Any other method they can just ignore and it will show a lack of conviction from the employer. You can’t beat a face to face conversation to get your point across. As for my evaluation the only method that I would choose to use is a questionnaire. With a questionnaire you can get straight to the point and ask what questions you feel need to be asked. The responses are gathered in a standardised way, so questionnaires are more objective, certainly more so than just asking people their opinion via talking to them. Generally it is relatively quick to collect information using a questionnaire. However in some situations they can take a long time not only to design but also to apply and analyse. But potentially information can be collected from a large amount of people. Some other advantages to a question are:- * Questionnaires are very cost effective when compared to face-to-face interviews. Written questionnaires become even more cost effective as the number of research questions increases. * Questionnaires are easy to analyse. Data entry and tabulation for nearly all surveys can be easily done with many computer software packages. * Questionnaires are familiar to most people. Nearly everyone has had some experience completing questionnaires and they generally do not make people apprehensive. * Questionnaires reduce bias. There is uniform question presentation and no middle-man bias. The researcher’s own opinions will not influence the respondent to answer questions in a certain manner. There are no verbal or visual clues to influence the respondent. * Questionnaires are less intrusive than telephone or face-to-face surveys. When a respondent receives a questionnaire in the mail, he is free to complete the questionnaire on his own time-table. Unlike other research methods, the respondent is not interrupted by the research instrument.

Good Fall

A Good Fall The word Freedom has a different connotation in every part of the world, to have freedom means to have certain characteristics. These characteristics would be having the Third Eye, self-control, humility, and the ability to be able to overcome problems with a strategized plan. In the short story collection A Good Fall by Ha Jin, each story puts characters in dissimilar positions where they show whether or not they have the characteristics that define freedom. A Composer and His Parakeet†, â€Å" In The Crossfire†, â€Å"The Beauty†, and â€Å"Temporary Love† all involve characters that seem to be trapped in a current relationship, but for different reasons. Learned Helplessness is a disease, in which you close your heart and mind to your strong self and settle for your weak self-resulting in shame, several characters are diagnosed with this disease. The Third Eye can be defined as self-awareness, it allows us to interpret the current situation w e are in, and analyze the good from the bad.It emphasizes the bigger, long-term picture over the short-term and helps make decisions out of reason rather emotion. A person with the third eyes exercises discipline over desire. Humility is simply learning from our mistakes to make us stronger and wiser. Fanlin from the story â€Å"A Composer and his Parakeets† shows traits of having freedom. His girlfriend Supriya owns a mute parakeet Bori; she leaves Bori with Fanlin as she goes off to Thailand for her job as an actress. At the beginning Fanlin disliked the bird because he believed one of Supriya’s ex-boyfriends gave her the bird.Over time he grows a heart and starts bonding with the bird, he lets him into his music studio in which the bird was not allowed in at first. Fanlin was preparing to write for an Opera event that was coming up. Weeks went on and the bird went everywhere Fanlin did, until one day by the beach the bird flies away and almost drowns and Fanlin thro ws himself into the water to save it. Bori would later die the following day and his girlfriend did not seem to care about the bird anymore. This made Fanlin’s third eye kick in as he wondered whether she would not care about him like she did with the bird over time.When the bird died so did his relationship with Supriya. Fanlin’s students that he thought music lessons seemed concerned about him and so they bring him another parakeet. This parakeet had a dirty mouth and Fanlin paid him no mind, he even left his window open so he would fly away. After the death of the first bird and the death of his relationship, Fanlin goes on to write a beautiful second half of music in his opera which was full of emotion and is told to go back to rewrite the first half. His second bird would fly away shortly after, symbolizing he being set free from his past relationship that was just a waste of time.Self-control is the ability to improve our position rather than surrender to self-de struction and compulsion. In the story â€Å"Temporary Love†, Lina a married woman who’s husband was in China, lived in the United States with a married man. Although she tells her husband that she lives by herself, she has sexual relations with this married man who’s spouse as well lived in China. They had a mutual agreement to end this temporary relationship until their spouses arrived in the United States. Unfortunately Panbin, the man Lina stayed with grew feelings for her and told her repeatedly he was in love with her.Lina told him a plethora of times that she was married and that they agreed to end this arrangement whenever one wanted. Her husband was coming to the United States so Lina prepares to move out and find her own apartment. She thought that her husband did not know about the affair but he did. He had his ways of having someone follow her and relay him the information he needed. This put Lina in an uncomfortable position, her husband told her he did not want to find a job and was going to go to business school to get his MBA. Not only that, but Lina was going to pay for it with all her money she had saved in her bank account.She had no other choice but to pay for his schooling, she feared that once she paid he would soon leave her. Secretly she would visit Panbin for advice but he paid her no mind for leaving him. Now she was trapped in a relationship she could not escape. Lina could either pay and face the consequences of her husband maybe leaving or not pay and face the humility, disappointment, and shame in her by her family back home for her actions. Lina is a victim of learned helplessness. Freedom was a major contributor in Fanlin actions as he could freely relieve himself from Supriya.As for Lina, she was strapped in for a long ride with the devil. Fanlin is able to figure out that Supriya was no good for him and that she would soon leave him. He made up his mind and left her, and was free without her. Lina in this case was stuck, she had no self-control, she was ashamed of herself and her actions, the only thing she could do was pay her husbands tuition for taking of her ailing father back home. Some people are born with the third eye such as Fanlin, while others lack it and suffer and live a life without any freedom.

Cosmetics and Revlon

Introduction of the Company Revlon Inc. is a leading cosmetics company offering cosmetic, skin care, fragrance, and personal-care products. Revlon was formed in 1932, and started out with selling only nail enamels. Over the course of the past 75 years, Revlon has become a leading brand in the cosmetic market, recognized both in the United States and worldwide. Revlon owns popular brands such as Revlon, Charle, Mitchum, and Almay. Revlon has recently been struggling with debt, posting losses for the past eight years. Mission Statement AnalysisRevlon’s vision is to glamour, excitement, and innovation through quality products at affordable prices. The key objective of Revlon is to offer high quality beauty products while keeping the costs down for the consumers. I believe Revlon has been holding true to that vision; however they could be following it too closely. Revlon’s recent losses and issues with debt could be attributed to their vision. While the answer to solve thei r issues is uncertain it is clear a new strategy is needed to help Revlon recover. External Analysis External| | | | Opportunities| Weight| Rating| Score| 1. Men are using cosmetics more| 0. 6| 1| 0. 06| 2. Weakening of the US dollar making foreign markets more appealing| 0. 15| 2| 0. 3| 3. Growing trend of using personal care products| 0. 1| 3| 0. 3| 4. The increase in the mini-baby boomers (young teens)| 0. 1| 2| 0. 2| 5. Baby boomer females entering retirement| 0. 12| 3| 0. 36| | | | | Threats| | | | 6. Concern for product safety growing| 0. 05| 2| 0. 1| 7. Concerns about environment and animal testing growing| 0. 07| 2| 0. 14| 8. Increased gas prices greatly reduce disposable income| 0. 15| 1| 0. 15| 9. Natural fashion trends| 0. 05| 2| 0. 1| 10. Intense competition| 0. 15| 2| 0. 3| 1| | 2. 01| 1. There is a growing trend of men using cosmetic products. Product lines marketed specifically for men will be necessary to profit in this market segment. Men will be reluctant to use pr oducts made for women, so separate product lines are necessary. 2. Weakening of the US dollar makes any US based product more appealing in the foreign markets. Not only will people with other currencies favor the currency advantage of buying Revlon, are huge emerging markets growing in Latin America, Asia, and India. 3. There has been an overall growth in the use of cosmetic and personal care products worldwide.As countries become more developed, more people are earning income to spend on these products. Especially in the United States, appearance is strongly valued and cosmetics play a large part. 4. As with the increasing trend in cosmetics, there has been a significant increase in the mini-baby boomer market. Young teens are using cosmetic, personal care products more, and more. This market of teenage women is huge, especially in the United States. 5. The original group of baby boomers are beginning to reach the age of retirement. Most have reached their peak earning potential an d now have large amounts of disposable income.With old age comes the need for cosmetics to help people maintain a youthful look. Retired women of the baby boom era are a significant market segment for Revlon. 6. There have been growing concerns for product safety. Most cosmetics are applied to the face, and some if not properly tested can have adverse side effects. The population is becoming more health aware, and is always looking at the health effects of everyday products. Most companies now advertise the use of natural ingredients to market to health conscious consumers. 7. There is also growing concern for the environment and the use of animal testing.Animal testing had always been an issue for the cosmetic industry; however it is becoming more prominent in recent times. Even more is the growing concern for the environment. Consumers are looking for products that are not harmful to the environment and are eco friendly from the manufacturing process all the way to packaging and d isposal. 8. Increase in gas prices has hurt many industries across the board. Gas is something that the majority of consumers have to buy, and they are forced to pay whatever price is asked. The more consumers have to spend on gas the less to have to spend on items that are not considered a necessity.Costly cosmetics are probably one of the first things to be forgotten when spending needs to be cut back. 9. There is a trend of using natural products from food to cosmetics. There is a trend of going for a completely natural look altogether, meaning no cosmetics whatsoever. Even natural cosmetics discourage the use of other similar or supplementary products that would normally be used. 10. Competition is fierce in this industry. Marketing, price wars, and product differentiation among the cosmetic industry make it an extremely competitive industry. Each company has numerous brands that are recognized globally.Breaking consumer brand loyalty can be a hard task to accomplish. Revlon has a score of 2. 01 which is average. Revlon has been lacking in taking advantages of the different opportunities that it has. Failure to seize these opportunities will allow competitors to move in and gain the upper hand. Revlon should definitely take advantage of the growing foreign markets, especially in light of the weakening US dollar. In terms of threats, Revlon has been passive in responding to are preparing against them. Revlon has to make sure it markets its products in a way that is fitting for the changing view of the consumer.Product quality is becoming less important, as image is becoming everything. Completive Analysis Competitive Analysis: Porter’s Five-Forces Model | | Potential development of substitute products| | | | | I| | | Bargaining Power of Suppliers| -| Rivalry Among Competing Firms| -| Bargaining power of consumers| | | I| | | | | Potential Entry of new competitors| | | Rivalry Among Competing Firms Rivalry is high in the cosmetic industry. A few huge cosmetic makers dominate the market. They all have to deal with the decline in disposable income due to rising gas prices.Companies fight with marketing and cost reduction. Consumers have many ways to purchase these products. While a large amount of cosmetics are sold in drugstores and large retailers such as Wal-Mart there is still a significant sales done door to door. Competition is getting so strong that there has been a move to increase door-to-door sales to help steal market share from competitors. Potential of New Entrants The cosmetic industry is a 200 billion dollar industry. Competition is already high, and the industry as a whole has been faced with difficulties in these economic times.So the threat of new entrants is unlikely. However, new entrants to the industry could be successful if they can make a quality product at affordable prices. While there is a significant amount of brand loyalty, a consumer would easily switch to a more affordable quality product. Potential Development of Substitute Products As mentioned before rivalry is intense in this market. While brand loyalty does exist, price is becoming a very important factor. As a whole the market for cosmetics is very dynamic. While price is important, quality is just as significant if not more significant for some consumers. Companies re faced with the difficult task of balancing the two. Consumers will likely switch to a cheaper product with quality even though they might have loyalties to a particular brand. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Bargaining power of suppliers is low to moderate. Rising commodity prices affect all industries. The raw materials used in cosmetics are used mainly by cosmetic and personal care companies. The cosmetic companies do have some leverage, and these companies are able to keep costs down to offer lower prices to consumers. Bargaining Power of Consumers The bargaining power of consumers in this market is relatively high.Products are easily substitutable and pri ce is probably the most significant factor. Customers have all of the buying power, and often lean towards the cheaper products in these hard economic times. Since consumer bargaining power is high, companies in the cosmetic industry are forced to drive their prices down to stay competitive. While there are segments of the market that will pay a premium for a quality product, are majority of consumers will chose with their wallets. Generic Forces | Approach| Focus| Cost Minimization| Product Differentiation| Broad| X| | Narrow| | |Revlon offers various product lines focused at different segments of the market. The company was founded on the idea of providing affordable cosmetics. While many cosmetic companies attempt to differentiate their products from competitors it is almost an impossible task. Cosmetic products are easily substitutable so cost becomes the more significant factor. A broad focus cost minimization strategy is the one I would recommend for Revlon, there are some pot ential risks. As for any company, introducing new product lines can be a hit or miss. Revlon had recently introduced a product line called Vital Radiance that was aimed towards older women.The new line was not successful and was eventually discontinued, but not without taking losses. I believe Revlon should continue to use the same approach, they just need to make sure enough research is done before introducing new products to minimize the chances of failure. Competitive Profile Matrix Revlon Estee Lauder Avon Critical Success Factors| weight| Rating| Score| Rating| Score| Rating| Score| 1. Financial Position| 0. 3| 2| 0. 6| 3| 0. 9| 4| 1. 2| 2. Brand Recognition| 0. 1| 4| 0. 4| 3| 0. 3| 3| 0. 3| 3. Market Share| 0. 35| 3| 1. 05| 4| 1. 4| 4| 1. 4| 4. Global Expansion| 0. 15| 3| 0. 45| 3| 0. 5| 4| 0. 6| 5. Marketing| 0. 1| 4| 0. 4| 3| 0. 3| 3| 0. 3| Total| 1| | 2. 9| | 3. 35| | 3. 8| Out of the three companies, Revlon is in the worst position. While Revlon does excel in marketing, th e amount spent on advertising is piled on to the already massive amount of debt. The most important factors here in this situation are market share and financial position. In both areas, the competition is clearly ahead of Revlon. Another significant area is global expansion, and Avon is the leader in expansion. The global market is the key to success in the cosmetics industry and Avon's overall score proves that.If Revlon can fix its financial position, then they can begin to look at competing toe-toe with Avon. However, the longer they wait to straighten out the longer they will continue to fall behind. Internal Assessment Internal| | | | Strengths| Weight| Rating| Score| 1. Strong marketing efforts| 0. 15| 1| 0. 15| 2. Large distribution network| 0. 1| 3| 0. 3| 3. Produces Quality Product| 0. 05| 2| 0. 1| 4. Tailors product lines to different segments| 0. 05| 2| 0. 1| 5. Strong Brand Recognition| 0. 1| 2| 0. 2| | | | | Weaknesses| | | | 6. Limited Locations| 0. 15| 2| 0. 3| 7. In crease in long-term Debt| 0. 1| 1| 0. | 8. Weak overall financial position| 0. 15| 1| 0. 15| 9. Risk of Investing in a Project with No Return| 0. 1| 2| 0. 2| 10. Relatively high prices| 0. 05| 2| 0. 1| | 1| | 1. 7| 1. Marketing plays a large part in the cosmetic industry. Most companies compete on price. So ultimately the consumers’ choice is based on the perception of the product. Certain cosmetic lines are marketed towards different groups of people. The success of certain products is directly related to the effectiveness of the marketing campaigns. 2. The channels of distribution also play a large part in the success of any cosmetic company.Today most companies sell their products in a variety of different stores. Having their products available at many different locations helps to keep he competitiveness. Cosmetics are sold at drugstores, grocery stores, and large retailers such as Wal-Mart. Some companies even use door-to-door sales such as Avon. Revlon is beginning to u se that approach in certain regions such as China. 3. While price is the most important factor for most consumers, quality plays a large part with cosmetics. Furthermore actual quality is probably less important than perceived quality. 4.Ultimately people are willing to pay a premium for a higher quality product. In the case of cosmetics, quality is less about the product itself and more about the result to the consumer. 5. In order to make market campaigns successful the products themselves need to be designed differently for different market segments. For example, cosmetics aimed for the older population usually focuses on wrinkle education and skin firming ingredients, whereas cosmetics aimed for young women might offer a lot of color variety and other flashy designs. There clearly exists a different fashion trend among different age groups and different cultural groups.Having product lines tailored specifically for each group can help drive sales for each product line. 6. While Revlon does sell its products globally there are large markets outside of the United States that are yet to be entered. Because of the weakening of the US dollar US products are more favorable to foreigners. This event, along with the recent growth and development of these foreign countries form a large untapped market for cosmetic companies. India, China, and South America are becoming huge unsaturated markets waiting to be taken over. The first company to enter and successfully market to regions will become profitable.If Revlon continues to stay in its concentrated markets it will continue to fall behind the pack. 7. One of Revlon’s largest pitfalls is its failure to reduce its long-term debt. This is due largely to a few failed product lines that Revlon has launched in recent years, with Vital Radiance being the latest disaster. A lot of resources are required to launch new products. Not only are there the costs of production, but also the research and developments before the products are actually made. If the new lines do not yield the expected results the company is left in a net loss.In Revlon’s case, they never get a chance to pay off their debt, and are constantly playing catch-up. 8. Having a large amount of long-term debt is one thing, but for Revlon their overall financial performance is in need of repair. If Revlon able to generate enough income to balance out of their debt they would be much better off. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The amount of income and addition of new assets is not enough to keep out with the increase in liabilities. Because of this their overall financial position is very weak. Something needs to be done in order to set the company on the right path. . The main risk involved in launching new product lines is the potential for complete failure. So much research, time, and capital are spent to launch new product line. If the product does not sell as expected then none of those costs are recovered. Even wit h proper research of both the product and market, there is always a risk of failure. Already having such a large amount of debt, Revlon needs to take its time and do all the necessary research involved to increase its chance of launching a successful new line. 10. Price is the most important factor involved in the consumers’ purchasing decision.Cosmetic companies must find a balance between price and quality. Cost reduction is key to the success of any company in the cosmetic industry. If consumers decide to ignore quality, then price becomes the deciding factor. Though some cosmetic companies might sacrifice quality to keep prices low, they tend sell better when consumers have less money to spend. Revlon obtained a score of 1. 7 which is below average. Revlon’s biggest struggles are faced internally. The inability to pay off their long-term debt and their willingness to acquire new debt leave them in an extremely unstable financial position.Revlon needs to focus on it s marketing and product strategies. In these hard economic times Revlon should focus on price minimization. Consumers are more concerned about price these days with all of their purchases because money is tight. Revlon needs to focus on fixing its internal problems before they can begin to adjust to external factors. Financial Analysis Revlon’s main area of focus should be reducing its debt. Revlon posted net losses from 2004 to 2006. Sales had been leveling off during the same period. Net loss per share went from (. 47) to (. 2) from 2004 to 2006. Overall Revlon had been performing poorly, and failed new product launches helped contributed to the losses. By the end of 2006 Revlon’s long term debt amounted to 2. 3 billion dollars. Because of their ongoing issues with debt, Revlon has been undergoing debt restructuring. Moving forward Revlon must change its strategy to help increase sale, while minimizing the addition of new debt. In 2006 Revlon had a current ratio or l iquidity ratio of 1. 29 which improved slightly from 1. 25 in 2005. However, Revlon’s long-term debt still outweighs their assets.Revlon needs to look at its current product lines, and consider liquidating lines that are not generating expected returns. They are better off canceling unsuccessful product lines, then continuing to take on losses. While it may cost more in the short term, reevaluating existing product lines, and doing the research and development to launch new product lines will be more profitable in the long run. SWOT Matrix | Strengths – S 1. Strong marketing efforts| 2. Large distribution network| 3. Produces Quality Product| 4. Tailors product lines to different segments| 5. Strong Brand Recognition| | | | | | | Weaknesses – W 6. Limited Locations| . Increase in long-term Debt| 8. Weak overall financial position| 9. Risk of Investing in a Project with No Return| 10. Relatively high prices| | Opportunities – O 1. Men are using cosmetics m ore| 2. Weakening of the US dollar making foreign markets more appealing| 3. Growing trend of using personal care products| 4. The increase in the mini-baby boomers (young teens)| 5. Baby boomer females entering retirement| | SO Strategies1. Create product lines for new markets. (O1,2,5+S1,S4)2. The company should expand in to global markets. (O2+S1,S5)3. Focus existing product lines to their targeted demographics. (O1,3,4,5+S4)| WO Strategies1.Open new locations worldwide. (O2,O3+W6,W9)2. Reduce costs. (O4+W10)3. Conduct research before starting new product line. (O1,3,4,5+ W7,W9)| Threats – T 6. Concern for product safety growing| 7. Concerns about environment and animal testing growing| 8. Increased gas prices greatly reduce disposable income| 9. Natural fashion trends| 10. Intense competition| | ST Strategies1. Expand into global markets. (T10+S1+S5) 2. Reduce costs. (T8+S3)| WT Strategies1. Open New Locations. 2. Carefully plan new projects to maximize their profitabilit y. 3. Research safer ways of product testing and formulate safer and environmentally friendly cosmetics. T6,7,9+W9)| Space Matrix ————————————————- Financial StrengthRatings Decrease in Debt1. 0 Increase in Assets 2. 0 Net Income Per Share1. 0 4. 0 ————————————————- Industry Strength Growth Potential2. 0 Profit Potential 2. 0 4. 0 ————————————————- Environmental Stability Competitive Pressure-3. 0 Going Green Trend-3. 0 Economy Dependent-4. 0 ————————————————- -10. 0 —————————†”——————- Competitive Advantage Market Share-5. Brand Loyalty -4. 0 -9. 0 Conclusion ES Average is -3. 33, IS Average is 4. 0 CA Average is -6. 0, FS Average is 1. 33 Directional Vector Coordinate:x-axis: -4. 5+(+2. 0) = -2. 5 y-axis:-3. 33+(+1. 33) = -2. 0 Insert Space matrix The SPACE Matrix shows that Revlon has a defensive profile. They are financially unstable, which is why the point falls in the negative quadrants. BCG Matrix High| Medium| Low| Medium| StarsRevlon Brand| ? ’sAntiperspirants/Deodorants| Low| Cash CowRevlon Beauty Tools| DogsVital Radiance Brand| Revlon’s star product is their Revlon brand.The cosmetic market is still showing considerable growth, and Revlon has a total market share of 13%. Globally the market for cosmetics is expected to grow with the help of the weakening U. S. dollar. Revlon Beauty tools are the cash cow for the company. The overall market share for that product line is almost 25% which makes Revlon a dominant player. Growth in that market is expected, but not nearly as much as the cosmetics segments. Market share of Antiperspirants and Deodorants has dropped within the past year. While growth in that segment is expected, Revlon maintains a small share of the market.However, with the right strategy that segment could become another star for Revlon. Lastly, Revlon’s Vital Radiance line dropped to less than 1% in market share in the most recent year. That segment showed negative growth along with minimal market share. It was a wise decision on Revlon’s part to discontinue that line as it was generating any net profits for the company. Strategy Recommendation Revlon should follow to strategies to help turn things around. The first recommendation I have is for Revlon to expand its business in foreign markets. Currently the US dollar is weak, which makes US products more favorable in foreign countries.There are huge emerging markets in India and China. As these countries become more developed women have more income to spend on cosmetic products. In these countries Revlon might have a better chance at success if they try more direct forms of marketing such as door-to-door sales. There are rumors that Revlon is considering that strategy for China. While I believe times have changed, and marketing has changed especially with the age of the internet, I believe direct marketing works well for cosmetics. The typical users of cosmetics are more likely to buy a product if they get to see it in person, or get to try it themselves.I think door-to-door sales would be successful and could be used in the United States and in other countries. I also believe free samples would be another good form of marketing. I’ve noticed that a lot off cosmetic products are sold on the home shopping network in the United States. I think consumers feel more comfortable buying a cosmetic product when they can see how it is used and what results they generat e. There are cultural differences between the United States and foreign countries. Revlon should create new product lines tailored to each culture.I believe they are better off making fewer product lines focused on broader groups of people, rather than making too many product lines. They need to test the waters of each region, and determine the most effective ways to gain market share. The second recommendation that I have for Revlon is an internal one. Revlon has serious issues with debt. Part of the reason they are in this situation is because of the launch of unsuccessful product lines such as their most recent Vital Radiance. It takes a lot of time and resources to launch a new product line or to acquire new manufacturing locations.Any new product launch poses a great risk for any company. Revlon is not in any financial position to be taking these risks. I believe they need to do two things. First Revlon needs to look at its existing product lines and reevaluate their effectiven ess. Lines that are not meeting sales expectations need to be modified or discontinued altogether. It is better for Revlon to accept its losses and start fresh. The second thing Revlon needs to do is to spend all the time and resources necessary to make a successful new product launch. This was obviously not what happened with the Vital Radiance brand.While it may cost more time and money initially, a successful product line will easily be able to recover those expenses. As they make the decision to launch new brands or re-launch existing brands, Revlon needs to make sure all of its advertising spending is put to good use. Revlon is already deep in debt, and they need to make sure than any additional expenses will generate concrete returns. Revlon needs to refocus some of their brands, and launching new ad campaigns can help them do so. Revlon needs to find out which of its products are successfully marketed, and follow those same strategies to market their less successful product l ines.Focus is necessary in getting Revlon back on track. Effective marketing can help to increase sales both in the United States and abroad. Pro Forma The US market accounts for over half of Revlon’s sales. There is great potential for Revlon to expand its global markets. Realistically their sales in the foreign markets should be more than half of their overall sales. Revlon’s international sales have increased over the past three years, but the growth could be far more rapid. With the reorganization of Revlon’s current brands they could possibly cut some advertising costs by not having to market every product line to the same extent.Refocusing their brands with successful marketing, they might experience a slight increase in sales. I can estimate maybe a 5% increase in sales, and hopefully expenses can remain the same. Whatever extra cash is earned should be used to begin to pay off their debt. However, if neither of the strategies help turn things round, Revl on might consider be bought out by another company. Epilogue Section Revlon had made little improvement since 2007. The company maintains a debt in excess of over 1. 3 billion dollars. Although the company stock price has increased from 13 dollar per share to around 16 dollars. Google Finance) In general Revlon is still in the same boat it was in four years ago. Over half of Revlon’s sales are still from the United States. There has been little progress made in foreign markets. However, things are starting to turn around for the company. Revlon has been facing declines in sales since 2007. Now, in the first quarter of 2011 they managed to increase sales. (WikiInvest) They are estimated to increase overall sales by 2% this year. These sales are attributed to an increase in spending of advertising. Apparently the marketing efforts are beginning to pay off.This additional spending has helped to strengthen some of the Revlon brands. While things are beginning to look positive, th ey are going to need a much greater increase in sales to help pay off the debt. If they continued to lose sales in today’s times I would say it would be smart to consider selling out to another company. The recent albeit small turn around might give Revlon one last chance pay off its debt and become a big player in the industry. Resources: http://www. wikinvest. com/stock/Revlon_(REV)/News/2566033/Revlon_Reports_First_Quarter_2011_Results http://www. google. com/finance? q=NYSE:REV

Questions And Answers Concerning Theory Assignment

Questions And Answers Concerning Theory - Assignment Example The meaning of the purpose of the study refers to the objective or expected outcome of the study and what the researcher hopes to achieve from conducting the research. A nurse leader can use descriptive statistics as a baseboard by which to form the justification for the proposed course of action. Properly interpreted, descriptive statistics can be very convincing in their portrayal of the efficacy of a proposed solution to a problem or implications of the use of a specific method. Through practice, I have used and experienced the use of descriptive statistics in support of specific evaluative procedures or changes in procedural methods used to treat patients. The interpretation of a well-researched article or series of articles detailing successful application of the procedural methods on patients with the same or similar afflictions can serve as a justification for trial procedures within the institution or demonstrative research to determine if this method would be effective in yo ur facility. Class 1: Question 2 Confidence intervals are used in research to assess the reliability of the results obtained (Confidence Intervals, 1999). The confidence interval is defined as the area within a measurement which determines the precision of the measurement (Confidence Intervals, 1999). However, this measurement performs a higher function than to simply tell the researcher the range of the variables around the estimate (Confidence Intervals, 1999). The confidence interval also tells the researcher how constant the assessment is (Confidence Intervals, 1999). A stable estimate shows stability within the research and the method conducted so that when the research is repeated, the same values would reappear or come relatively close to the values obtained within the model (Confidence Intervals, 1999). If the confidence interval is unstable, concurrent research will produce notable variances and the wider the confidence intervals are in relation to the estimate, the more un stable the research results are, meaning the determinations made within the research findings may be inaccurate as well (Confidence Intervals, 1999). A major controversy surrounding the question of the significance of statistical research versus clinical research is that, in statistical research, the sample selected may not be wholly representative of the population in question (Beyea & Nicoll, 1997). If the sample size does not accurately reflect the nature of the population being analyzed, the data collected can not be relied upon to make relevant inferences regarding the populace in question (Beyea & Nicoll, 1997). If the data collected for analysis within a statistical test, the results of the analysis will be equally flawed (Beyea & Nicoll, 1997). Clinical trials do not rely on statistical data, but on the actual raw data from examination of the elements within the circumstances under question. For this reason, clinical analysis is purported to be more accurate because there is less likelihood that the data will be flawed, although the chance remains that the sample group will not be wholly representative of the populace. I also think clinical trials are more accurate for this reason. Class 2: Question 1: The mid range theory selected was Advancing Technology, Caring, and Nursing, which was

Modern Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Modern Architecture - Essay Example One of the latest styles of architecture that emerged in the 20th century is Modern architecture. Modern architecture can be best described as a style which believes that "Less is more". The major proponent of this style is Ludwig Mies van der Rohe which thought of the "Less is more" theme for modern architecture. Modern architecture is known for its rejection of the classical styles (historicism) and believes that the materials and functions of the objects used in the structure is the end all and be all of the structure. It also firmly applies the principle of industrial aesthetic and the concept of functionality over being ornamental. Unnecessary details are removed and all design aspects are streamlined ("Modern Architecture", 006a). "Less is more" emphasises that every part of the structure must have a purpose other than being ornate and that every part must compliment each other in terms of function. In modern architectural design, the overall from and aesthetic value of a structure is determined by its function and the materials it is made from. This should be done without reverting to classical design concepts. A structure, commonly a building is envisioned as a wide governing space that rests on delicate foundations and surrounded by walls and ceilings complementing the foundations rather than a chunk of rock and other materials. Modern architectural design is mostly based on industrial concepts and by modern art styles such as abstract and impressionism. Le Corbusier's book entitled Vers une architecture (1923, tr. 1927) is a very good source of inspiration for modern architectural styles as well as the writings of Dutch architect J. J. P. Oud and German architect Walter Gropius, who handled the design of the Bauhaus in Dessau. Other early proponents of the modern movement include: German architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Marcel Breuer, Ernst May along with Americ an architects Raymond Hood, Albert Kahn, Richard J. Neutra, William Lescaze, and George Howe ("Form and Materials." 2006).Modern architectural style is also known as 'International style', 'Neue Sachlichkeit', and 'functionalism' and has been around after the end of World War II. Modern architecture relies on modern materials, the principles of functionality and the rejection of historicism and everything that is purely ornamental ("Modern architecture." 2006b). early forms of modern architecture were seen in the 1900's, but modern architecture was not formalised yet. Those times saw the advent of simplified and functional structures that eventually became the signature of modern architecture. By the 1940's the characteristics of this style were identified and given the name 'International Style' which became the trend for most building styles in the twentieth century. Some historians think that modern architecture is a response of the society to 'Modernity' and further in to the so -called 'Enlightenment'. They view it as a result of all the social and political turmoil that happened during that period. Critics and architectural experts however view modern architecture as the natural path of architecture fuelled by the latest advancements in structural technology and development in engineering. Also the availability of modern materials such as Plexiglas, metal alloys concrete etc. drove

Mother by amy tan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mother by amy tan - Essay Example The use of English however must be put in context just like Amy Tan narrated when she was delivering a speech as well as communicating with her mother. In everyday communication where we converse with people close to us, there is really no standard of right and wrong English in academic standard. Grammars are not observed and proper syntax can be ignored. Probably the standard of propriety in the use of English language in this context is the degree of respectability and consideration to the person we are communicating with by not using offensive language that could hurt or offend the other person. It is different however when we go out of the comfort of our homes and social circles. Especially in school when we are graded and at work where part of our professionalism depends on how we communicate. There, the standard of proper English becomes stringent and the student and/or professional must be able to communicate it well in accordance to the proper use of the English language. The comfort of the mode of communicating intimate language at home should not be made an excuse for communicating poorly in academic and professional setting. Just like in the case of Amy Tan where she forced herself to learn good English to the point of being a writer, a student must also strive to improve his or her command of English. Understandably, this would not be easy especially if English is not the person’s mother tongue just like the case of Amy Tan’s mother. One must however not pass harshly to Amy Tan’s mother just because she cannot speak straight or proper English. Her inability to speak straight English does not reflect her aptitude. As what Amy Tan has said, she can read and comprehend complex text more than Amy Tan could. And as Amy Tan narrated beautifully at the end of her essay, her language ability â€Å"does not reveal her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her