Philip Kotler's experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Philip Kotler's experience - Essay Example Depending on the market and product characteristics, the competition takes place at one of the product levels. Six levels of product hierarchy with relation to certain other products are described and few possible classifications of the products listed. A notion of product mix, or assortment, is introduced and defined as a combination of all the products offered by a particular market player to its customers. It is characterized by the width, length, and consistency. Product line decisions are important for the product strategy and should be based on product-line and market analysis, considering optimal product-line length and issues of modernization, featuring and pruning. The second part of the chapter is devoted to the brand and brand decisions. Brand is a complex symbol; it identifies certain products and distinguishes them from the competition in the mind of the customer and in the marketplace. Building brand identity is extremely important as it allows the company to increase the differentiation of its products and receive price premiums. Building brand identity requires decisions on the brand's name, logo, colors, tagline, and symbol. Brand strategy decision includes choice between functional, image and experiential brand, and brand development and repositioning. Packaging and labeling are also important parts of the overall product strategy. This chapter is devoted to the marketing and management of services. ... Services can be classified as equipment-based or people-based; requiring client's presence or not; targeting personal or business need; based on the type of the service provider. Four main characteristics of the services are intangibility, inseparability, variability, and perishability. They influence significantly the development and implementation of the marketing strategies for the service firms and pose certain challenges. Marketing strategy elements for the services, besides traditional four Ps, include also people, physical evidence and process. Three main tasks the marketing of services should fulfill are differentiation of the offer from the competition, effective management of the service quality, and improving the employees' productivity. For goods-producing companies marketing of services is important while they sell not only the physical products but the product support services as well. The company should manage its product's life-cycle cost, and meet or exceed the customers' expectations. The offered services may be of several types: facilitating services (e.g. installation, financing, training), value-augmenting services (e.g. product warranties, trade-in allowances), postsale services (maintenance, repair etc.). The recent trends in the product support service include "service unbundling", accumulation of the maintenance services and outsourcing them to the third parties, increasing role of call centers and customer service representatives, and extended warranties. Chapter 16: Developing price strategies and programs This chapter looks in deep into price element of the marketing mix. It is of high importance

The Transformation of the Music Industry Supply Chain Essay

The Transformation of the Music Industry Supply Chain - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that developments such as Information Technology (IT) have had profound impacts on the way companies do business. Of late, companies have had to rethink the way their activities are coordinated from production to the final consumers. These shifts in company’s actions have not been initiated by technology alone. The theory of investment, changes in consumer preferences, taste and fashion have had a profound impact in shaping company’s strategy. Supply chain management (SCM) has been considered as the most popular operations strategy to help companies sail through these challenges and for improving organisational competitiveness in the twenty-first century. In the 1990s, agile manufacturing (AM) gained momentum and received due attention from both researchers and practitioners as SCM gradually attract interest. Both AM and SCM appear to differ in philosophical emphasis, but each complements the other in objectives for improving organisational competitiveness.Supply Chain Management (SCM) activities are related to problem-solving, information sharing, and cost reduction initiatives. The influences of individual-level antecedents on post-adoption utilisation of a specialised IT within an SCM context were examined by Bradley. Bradley found out that 92% of the people he questioned in1999, were planning to implement one or more supply chain initiatives. Supply chain plans to integrate key business activities through improved relationships at all levels of the supply chains. In short, SCM has become a necessity for any firm seeking to solidify its position in the marketplace. An effective supply chain includes a variety of firms, ranging from those that process raw materials to those engaged in wholesaling and retailing. It also includes organisations engaged in transportation, warehousing, information processing, and materials handling. 1.2 Supply-Chain and the Music Industry Supply chain is a competitive management technique employed within the last two decades to ensure the effective flow of resources, information, services within and organisation network. Today, organisations have adopted it as a strategic competitive weapon as they continue to seek competitive advantage. This quest by organisation explained the recent influx of research into SCM. Hines, P. & Rich, N. (2005) postulated that SCM has become a converging ground for various disciplines and integrate key business activities through improved relationships at all levels of the supply chains (Internal operations, upstream supplier, networks and downstream distribution channels. In figure 1.0 below, I try to look at key players in the music industry and some of their labels. This table has been adapted from http://www.soc.duke.edu . 1.2.1 Warner Music Group Being the largest in the industry, it has total assets of over $16.7 billion. The company started in the 20s following an attempt to control music. It owns the Warner music group with publisher, Warner/Chappel Music Publishing. It merger with EMI Ltd. in 2000 took it to the dominant market position. 1.2.2 Sony Music With the main publisher Sony music publishing and Columbia records, to complement its hardware operations, the management of Sony created a software manufacturing and distribution system. Sony music is a key player in the music indusrty 1.2.3 PolyGram N.V. The company has a Dutch origin and is 75% own by Phillips. The position of the company today resulted from a

Lies and Interpersonal Communication in Win, Win Movie Review

Lies and Interpersonal Communication in Win, Win - Movie Review Example Mike’s practice is â€Å"slow† and does not earn him enough income. He is having a tough time paying the bills, which is made obvious when he refuses to call someone to take care of the dead tree in front of their property that is threatening to fall on their house. The plumbing and the heating system in his office need repair badly. His back-up system is malfunctioning and he refuses to call an IT person because it would cost money. He wants to shield his wife, Jackie, and their daughters, Abby and Stella, from the problem. Whether by accident or by choice, Mike ends up concocting a series of lies that landed him with more responsibilities and troubles. This paper will assess whether the consequences of Mike’s lies actually justify his decisions. It is said that lies are often treated â€Å"as the most efficient solution to interpersonal communication problems† (Camden, Motley, & Wilson, 1984, p.309). Deception is usually considered as the right thing to do in circumstances when one desires to avoid conflict, avoid distress, and protect one’s self and/or livelihood, among other acceptable reasons (Levine, Kim, & Hamel, 2010, p.273). These three reasons can be seen in the film â€Å"Win, Win† as Mike tries to protect his family from enduring the problems he is currently facing. First, Mike tries to avoid conflict by not telling Jackie that he became Leo’s guardian. This is to hide from her the fact that he took guardianship for the $1508.00 monthly commission. He also tries to avoid conflict by not informing anyone that he deceptively placed Leo in a nursing home despite the old man’s desire to stay in his own house. He even openly lied to Leo by telling him that it was the judge’s decision to place Leo in a nursing home for some time. Second, Mike tries to avoid distress by not telling Jackie about his real financial status. He hides from her the fact that he cannot call someone to cut down the tre e because he is worried about paying for labor. He tries to tell Jackie that he will cut down the tree with the help of his friend, Terry, but Jackie does not agree with him because she does not know the reason for this. Third, Mike tries to protect himself and his livelihood by telling the judge that he can keep Leo in his home. He lies to the state and the court by saying that he can do a better job in ensuring that Leo’s will is implemented more properly if he will be the guardian instead of the state. These lies are high stake lies because they hold severe consequences (Camden, Motley, & Wilson, 1984, p.309) for Mike and the people he lied to. To compare, low stake lies are simple lies that usually do not affect the people involved (Camden, Motley, & Wilson, 1984, p.310). For example, lying about a favorite color is a low stake lie. On the other hand, high stake lies affect the people involved in a big way (Camden, Motley, & Wilson, 1984, p.309). This is the case for Mike ’s lies. Had he not lied to avoid conflict and distress, the normally calm household he has might be impacted negatively. Mike would also have been pressured to keep Leo in his home, which technically defeats the purpose for why he volunteered to be Leo’s guardian in the first place. Obviously, keeping Leo in his home would cost not only more money but also more time from Leo. Furthermore, had Mike not lied to protect himself and his livelihood, he would have gone through more inner turmoil in thinking about how to continue his practice. The effects of Mike’s lies leak through his non-verbal communication. As a viewer, one could immediately sense through his actions that he is trying to control the situation that his lies created. A good example is in how Mike’

Broken window concept and it connection to social disorder, as Essay

Broken window concept and it connection to social disorder, as described by George L. Kelling - Essay Example This situation results in social withdrawal or flight from the area, thus reducing the power of informal social control, which increases crime. Signs of this conduct are unrepaired broken windows and graffiti, teen age drunks and young bands. Kelling underlines that securing and propping up informal control mechanisms, through the aggressive policing of disorder and incivilities, constitutes the central means of reversing the spirals of neighborhood breakdown and misbehavior. Society, from this viewpoint, behave to counter the degeneration associated with crime, on the presupposition that it is an inherent capacity of communities to improve their resources of social control. Through informal community controls, it is anticipated that the primary of the normative consensus of the society will be asserted. These ideas connect with, and reflect the influence of, broken windows thesis (kelling 1995). According to this, societies and citizens are seen as occupying an essential role in hal ting moral decline, the regeneration of neighborhood life, and the prevention of crime, by exerting their moral authority. Societies and individual citizens are identified as a powerful site of social order and control. â€Å"For many people, thanks in part to how it has been presented by many police leaders, community policing is viewed as â€Å"soft† policing comparable to community relations or, worse yet, social work† (Kelling 1999). Community in this sense is defined negatively, through reference to others. Community members recognize themselves as a collective, as us in contradistinction to them. Consequently, insiders only exist because there are outsiders and so community may be based less on what people share in common than upon their difference in relation to others. Community, thus understood, is more than geographic location, it exists where members of a social group feel bound together by shared values or traditions

Exploring an Object Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Exploring an Object - Essay Example Description: My grandfather’s weapon is a doubled barreled, semi-automatic CZ-USA Sporting Shotgun, which uses â€Å"ammunition of 12 or 20 gauges† and best suited for hunting, which is one of his most favorite hobbies (CZ-USA Shotguns 17). It is capable of firing both lead as well as steel pellets. With walnut wood gunstock and fore end, and â€Å"checkering† on its â€Å"gripping surfaces, it acquires a sleek outlook. The components of the â€Å"barreled action† are prepared in â€Å"construction steel† with the protection of â€Å"alkaline oxidation† on the surface (17). Its comfortable grip enables it to be balanced in both hands and it is easy to aim and shoot. Besides, the weapon facilitates best results even on the occasions of instinctive firing. Similarly, its trigger pull weight is low, and it possesses a high accuracy of fire, apart from having a â€Å"long service life and â€Å"high reliability† (17). The brown wood with a silver patch and the metallic steel barrels offer it an elegant look and render it a remarkable grace. (Image Source: CZ USA Shotguns 17) Formal Analysis: While normally people perceive a gun as merely a weapon, the fact remains that it connotes to concepts far beyond notions of an object of destruction. It represents class and power as well as emulates the emotion of pride in the person who possesses the equipment. Therefore, makers of gun pay meticulous attention in its design and visual appeal. The design of my grandfather’s shotgun illustrates these concepts and much beyond. Its whole structure and design inspires awe in the beholders’ eyes and the elongated barrel offers an impression of its muzzle power. The firearm’s heel is broader, which tapers down to its toe to a slightly pointed shape. Similarly, the stock is designed with a sharp slant upwards to the grip, while the grip is shaped to offer maximum comfort to the shooter when firing from the weapo n. In addition, the checkered design on the grip offers it great charm in close up besides providing extra firmness to the hold while gripping the weapon. The fore-end is also made in brown walnut wood, with the same checkered texture as in the case of the grip, to offer better hold on the weapon while firing from it. The magazine loading port is rendered in silver color, thus providing a contrast with the brown stock and base of the magazine tube. Similarly, the barrel done in metallic steel also compliments the color and appearance in full alignment with the stock and fore-end. The upper barrel is lined with steel grids, which give its design a three dimensional effect apart from providing it more sleekness. Further the elongated and rather narrow barrel best fits the athletic appeal of a sporting gun as well as renders it uniqueness from similar weapons. This object falls in the category of functional art, which envisages the concept that a piece of functional art is beautiful be cause of its â€Å"exquisite functionality† (Cairo xx). Thus, it can be construed that since the weapon serves a purpose and has functionality as a firearm, it needs to be categorized as functional art. Similarly, Cairo (2013) further clarifies that the ability to visualize is a tool and, therefore, functional art is a device, the aim of which is to â€Å"help an audience complete certain tasks† (23). Thus, it transpires that an object that serves a purpose falls in the cate

Wal-Mart vs Target Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Wal-Mart vs Target - Assignment Example Wal-Mart strives to operate under the premise of advocating for low prices while Target simply operates under the premise of focusing on style and fashion (Steverman 12). There are many brands that one can choose to shop in America, but based on their efficiency and affordability of their products, Wal-Mart and Target are the preferred brands. Most of the college students can associate with such brands because they can only afford to shop at stores that are pocket-friendly thus the reason as to why we proposed this project. However, despite the fact that both Wal-Mart and Target are known for their efficiency and affordability, customers can only be loyal to one of them. Wal-Mart and Target have over the decades grown to establish their brands in the market and as a result, both have used different techniques and strategies to propel their growth (Bickle 21). The birth of discount retailing is traced back to the year 1962, which was the first year for operation of Wal-Mart and Target. It is during this period that Sam Walton’s small chain variety of stores was engulfed in competition from other discount chains. As a result, Sam traveled all over the country to study more about the new form of retail concept and based on his vision that most of the American consumers were shifting to a new form of general store he decided to put up the first ever Wal-Mart store. Together with his wife Helen, they both put in approximately 95% into the first Wal-Mart store, which was located at Rogers, Arkansas. Wal-Mart goals ever since its inception has been to provide great value as well as great customer service (Barstow 32). Walton’s vision was focused on establishing the brand at all cost with an aim of improving the lives of the people. During the same year, George Dayton launched the first ever discount Target chain store in Roseville, Minnesota. The two brands henceforth set to become the largest retail chain stores in America attracting larger customer base and  giving their competitors a challenging ground.

The Home Depot in Chinese Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Home Depot in Chinese Market - Essay Example With this, home improvement comes up and there are numerous stores and companies that supply products and advice on how to make one’s home better by installing additional hardware and items to it. This is widely appreciated throughout the world, but in some cases it is only done by contractors based on the economic status of the people involved. One such company that provides these supplies Home Depot which operates across North America. However, attempts to venture into Asia failed miserably when the company attempted to establish itself in China by providing supplies for home improvement through do it yourself antics. Different reasons have cited for this failure, but there is no full consensus on the key causes of the failure of such a large company that was unable to replicate the success of its north American operations in China. This makes it necessary to look into the causes of this failure and how they served to drive the company out of China. Background The history of Home Depot spans over three decades since its inception in the year 1976 in Atlanta Georgia, where the initial Home Depot store was inaugurated in the same year. The main concept of opening the store was to provide comprehensive supplies to all clients who sought after home improvement equipment and provisions in the name of â€Å"do it yourself†. This made the company into a di it yourself supply chain across the state of Georgia after the establishment of additional stores. Besides this, there was also the provision of giving advice on home improvement to their clients and other customers purchasing supplies from their stores. With this home improvement target market focussing on do it yourself population types, it supplied partial and full components and products such as building, plumbing and electrical supplies. This is in addition to having a large selection of hand and power tools catering to both customers who preferred the traditional feel of hand tools over electri city powered tools (Miller 2). These also included an assortment of brands for maximum variety that even went beyond convention in regard to stocking gardening tools, where home improvement did not just imply the house or its aspects but the home in totality. The expansion of the store over the years has featured its listing in the New York Stock Exchange and even opening stores to hit a 100 in the year 1989 across all of the United States. Further expansion has gone to an extent of having over 2200 stores across the North American continent ranging from USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, Mexico and the US Virgin Island, and with these, expansion still continues (â€Å"Home Improvement Industry Profile†). With the success of the company across the continent, there were talks of further expansion into the world most populous nation, China. Reasons for the expansion into China was due to the large population that China has and the saturated retail market across the US, which saw t he company seek to expand into China. Another factor in consideration was the high amount of competition in China, where economic indicators were supportive of Home Depots expansion into China due to rapid growth of the Chinese economy especially following reforms after Mao’s reign as the Chinese communist leader. As such, the housing market had a lot of potential at the time of the feasibility for Home Depot to expand into China in that most of the houses in China were hardly complete or rather finished in that they needed further addition of features so that clients or home owners are charged with