The Life of D. H. Lawrence Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Life of D. H. Lawrence - Term Paper Example In fact there are only few subjects which failed to grab the attention of DH Lawrence. Since many of his opinions were against the traditions and existing laws of English social life, he earned many enemies during his life span. In fact he forced to live in exile just like the current literature writers Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasrin because of the controversial remarks he made against English social life through his literatures. His liberal views about sexual life earned him the reputation or title as a pornographer during the latter stages of his life. In short, DH Lawrence was a misunderstood a person during his life period even though he got wide recognition at present. This paper analyses the life of DH Lawrence and his contributions as a novelist, poet, play writer, essayist, literary critic and painter. â€Å"David Herbert Lawrence was born on September 11, 1885, in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, central England. He was the fourth child of a struggling coal miner who was a hea vy drinker. His mother was a former schoolteacher† (DH Lawrence). His mother had better education than his father and therefore his father developed some inferiority complex which caused many problems in the family. As his father spent majority of his earnings for drinking, only the mother’s earning were used for the family expenses. However, her earnings were not sufficient enough to meet the living expenses of a big family and therefore DH Lawrence faced poverty during his childhood life. In fact his bitter early childhood experiences made him tougher as he grown up. DH Lawrence was a smart student during his childhood and has completed his school studies with some scholarships. After the completion of school education or matriculation, he failed to get college education because of poverty in his family. He accepted various jobs like clerk, school teacher etc immediately after the completion of his school education in order to support his family. At the age of 25, DH Lawrence lost his mother. In fact, â€Å"he helped her die by giving her an overdose of sleeping medicine† (DH Lawrence). Even though mercy killing is acceptable up to certain extent in the current society, it was not so in the past. Lawrence’s action of assisting his mother die brought many criticisms during that period. The conservative English society was not in a position to accept such activities at that time. DH Lawrence suffered lot of criticisms because of this act and even though his intentions were positive. DH Lawrence started his literature writing even before the death of his mother. In 1909, a number of Lawrence's poems were published by Ford Max Ford in the English Review. The appearance of his first novel, The White Peacock (1911), launched Lawrence into a writing career. In 1912 he met Frieda von Richthofen, the professor Ernest Weekly's wife and fell in love with her. Lawrence's novel Sons and Lovers appeared in 1913 and was based on his childhood. In 1914 Lawrence married Frieda von Richthofen, and traveled with her in several countries. Lawrence's fourth novel, The Rainbow (1915), was about two sisters growing up in the north of England. Lawrence started to write The Lost Girl in Italy. He dropped the novel for some years and rewrote the story in an old Sicilian farmhouse near Taormina in 1920 (DH Lawrence). The beginning of

First Nations and the Justice System Essay Example for Free

First Nations and the Justice System Essay First Nations are badly represented within our current justice system. They face a forced environment that does not represent their needs. Many of the problems that First Nations peoples face with respect to the justice system are influenced by their historical place in native and early in Canada. The first European settlers view of land ownership was a lot different from the Aboriginal theory that all things are related and development is viewed as circling the four parts of life: physical; mental; emotional; and spiritual. The Europeans didnt understand the Aboriginal spiritual attachment to their land. The concept of land ownership was foreign to Aboriginal culture and they could not understand the concept of owning lands, they believed that land was provided for the use and benefit of all living creatures. In Manitoba, Aboriginal people accounted for 71% of sentenced admissions in 2005/2006 (and make up 16% of the outside population) and aboriginals accused are more likely to be denied bail. Why are these percentages so high? Well many aboriginals still continue to fight for their rights to hunt and fish, even though they risk a higher chance of going to jail in doing so and most of the members in the jury of court are all non-aboriginals and will not side with them. Another factor that contributes to the high number of aboriginals in jail is the poverty in most of the reserves, the justice system has also contributed to the poverty by not allowing them to fight for their right. Social factors today that contribute to the poverty is, lack of education, there are not many Mikmaq schools that teach kids in the Mikmaq language. Some parents have been in residential schools, and most of those parents are alcoholics due to the way they were treated in the residential schools, being a alcoholic makes it difficult to provide for their family leading to the number of drop outs in schools because the kids feel like they need to take care of their parents. The number of Aboriginal students finishing high school is still lagging which is well behind the national average. In the 2001 census, 43 per cent of Aboriginal people between the ages of 20 and 24 have not graduated from high school, and not finishing high schools leads too having to find some way of making money, an easy way to make money without a education is selling drugs. For the Canadian population as a whole, the number of non-high school graduates in the same age range is 16 per cent so aboriginals contribute to most of that number. How could the government lower the high number of statistics for first nations people in jail? Well the government could provide a better educations for the mikmaq students, and put more money into reserves that are in poverty. The government could make more job opportunities for Mikmaq people. Maybe put more jobs in the reserves. Either way, the government doesnt do enough to change the statistics for the first nations people in jail.

Strategic analysis and marketing strategy for Samsung

Strategic analysis and marketing strategy for Samsung 1. Introduction and Company overview The consumer electronics industry is a versatile and competitive business environment (Porter, Consumer behavior, retailer power and market performance in consumer goods industries, 1974). Rival companies in this industry regularly attempt to surpass their contenders through innovative promotional methods, developing and reassessing their strategies regularly in light of external and internal factors affecting the business (Teece, 2010). Marketing departments of companies focus their efforts on identifying and anticipating the needs and desires of customers and designing products and/or services that meet all expectations of their client base (Gummesson, 2002). Industry leaders are usually companies that have excelled in research and development (RD) and marketing functions alongside their operational capabilities, utilising the information available to them to develop products that appeal to their target audience and communicate to their clients in a timely and relevant manner. Founded in 1938, Samsung is one of the industry leaders in a multitude of industries from power generation through to smart phones (Kovach, 2013). Each of their business units adhere to the same vision of becoming the preferred supplier of products and/or services to their clients, but the methods used to achieve this vision are tailored to suit the specific market focus, therefore demonstrating the adaptability of the company. This paper will analyse the marketing strategy and business environment of Samsung Electronics, focusing particularly on their TV production and sales functions. Therefore, this report intends to explore the various internal and external factors which shape the business strategy and tactics of the retailer, through the use of analytical business tools, namely PESTLE, SWOT, Value Chain and 5 forces analyses. 2. PESTLE analysis A PESTLE analysis is a tool used to examine the macro environment external to a business and highlight the aspects that impact on the chosen organisation (Teece, 2010). The letters in the acronym stand for the main structures (political, economical, social, technological, legal and environmental) which affect the business, as presented below for the Samsung case study. 2.1. Political One political aspect which influences corporations’ income is the level of corporate tax and customer taxation (HM Revenue Customs, 2013). Any fluctuations in the corporate tax percentage can impact on the operations of a business and many companies chose to move their business headquarters in countries where the corporate tax is beneficial to their profit purposes. However, many corporations do not understand that this could potentially impact on the overall reputation of the corporation. Samsung Electronics operates as a South Korean based and owned business and in one year from 2010 to 2011 the company has seen an increase in taxes and dues of 11.7% (Samsung Electronics, 2012). In spite of this, the company chose to remain loyal to its country of origin and, in turn, this has a positive impact on the ethical reputation of Samsung. In addition to this, the headquarters location of Samsung in South Korea is also a political factor that has to be factored into its strategic development, as the tensions with its neighbouring country North Korea and the threat of a military conflict in the Korean Peninsula is a pressing reality (Sang-Hun, 2013). Another political aspect is imposing tariffs and trade barriers, which aim to protect the local employment and producers through increasing the price of imported products into the country (Lee Swagel, 1997). This protects a country’s overall economy and Samsung has integrated local sourcing tactics into their Corporate Social Responsibilities activities, with locally focused RD departments and a focus on using and developing the skills of local labourers. 2.2. Economical The economic stability and growth of a region has a direct and significant impact on the profits of a business. Economic stability of a region provides high standards of living and high employment rates leading to an increase in consumers’ disposable income and a close analysis of growth trends determine the market focus of Samsung (Meyer, 2009). The consumer electronics market has experienced an increase in sales due to the growth of individuals’ spending power, which is expected to rise over the next decade, due to a steady recovery from the economic downturn of the past few years (Savitz, 2012). At the same time, the economic strength of a region (or the disposable income of the region’s inhabitants) is an indicator for the saturation of the market in regards to electronic products. As such, Western economies are areas where Samsung has a well-established brand name, but is experiencing potential resistance from the customers who are overly exposed to marketing messages from all consumer electronics sellers (Long, 2014). At the opposite end of the spectrum, growing economies are a great market for Samsung’s expansion, as the demand for upmarket consumer electronics is on the rise and the reputation of the company can be utilised to position it in a good competitive position (Lev-Ram, 2013). 2.3. Social Demographic variables influence a business’ focus, their product or service offerings and ultimately impact on the sales and the survival of a business in its market. Studies reveal that an aging population is less likely to purchase furniture items and the latest technological devices, which is relevant in determining the areas of focus (Jaimovich Siu, 2008). Comprehensive analysis of the demographics and cultural trends are needed in order to ensure that a company maximises its profits (Curtis Cobham, 2008). Samsung has local centres for RD in the different geographical areas, such as Samsungs Electronics China, Samsung Poland RD Centre or Samsung RD Institute India (Maniwa, 2010). This ensures that the company has a clear view of the customer demand and expectations and, although Samsung operates on a global basis, they can benefit from the local knowledge developed by these RD centres. Labelled as glocalisation, the strategy of mixing the global focus of a company with the local demands of the market is the way forward in establishing a company like Samsung as the industry leader in all the geographical areas where it operates (Svensson, 2001). Defeating the local competitors is only possible if a global retailer understands the strategies required to position itself as a market leader in a particular area. Samsung invests at least 9% of their sales revenue in the RD function, proving that the company has a clear understanding of the importance of the culture and demographics of its markets (Samsung, 2014). 2.4. Technological Another technological factor which increases awareness and reach amongst the target market of retailers is social media. The interactive online platforms allow companies to engage in meaningful communication with their customers and helps build a company’s reputation through customer reviews and feedback (Kaplan Haenlein, 2010). Whilst technology can be leveraged by companies to become more relevant to their targeted consumer market, mobile devices that allow access to the Internet on the go have empowered customers, who can compare and contrast the offerings of competitors with minimal effort (Simmons, 2008). Individuals can use webpages that are specifically designed to compare the technological specs and the prices of similar products from distinct brands in order to obtain the best value for money for the product they are looking to purchase. As such, Samsung’s influence in regards to marketing has been increased by the presence of smart technology but the marketing messages relevance has been negatively influenced by customers’ access to multichannel shopping environments. Due to technology, companies are also able to cut down production and promotion costs and improve the quality of their products. Samsung’s digital TV’s have evolved from black and white back in 1970 to the LED 3D TV sets currently available (Warman, 2013). In addition to this, the sale channels used by Samsung have diversified to cater to every need of the customer, with online shopping as well as in store options available. 2.5. Legal Electronics companies, particularly those who have diversified their product offerings to include smartphones and tablets are in fierce competition in the retail market (Brien, 2014). From a legal standpoint, companies have started to file lawsuits for patent rights in order to increase their competitive edge. After three years of corporate hostilities between the two market leaders in smartphone sales. Apple and Samsung, the companies have reached an agreement to drop all litigations between the two companies outside of the US (Swanson, 2014). Although less publicly spoken of, Samsung is currently facing another patent lawsuit from the chipmakers Nvidia, over the use of graphics which are patented to Nvidia and have been used in mobile and TV devices by Samsung over the last years (Rubin Tibken, 2014). The risk that a company is usually faced with when it comes to the legal macro environmental element is the precedent created by a lawsuit, as other competitors will attempt to find ways to affect a company’s cash flow and their reputation through claims. In addition to the patent lawsuits, Samsung is facing a controversial legal battle regarding compensation for factory workers who suffered from cancer and the company has officially accepted to compensate those affected (Simpson, 2014). Although the official statement of the vice-chairman of Samsung, Kwon Oh-hyun is an official apology to the affected families and individuals, Samsung clearly states that the payment and official apology do not concede a link between the chemicals used in the company’s semiconductor assembly plants and the cancer cases (Associated Press, 2014). However, the public might be inclined to believe that the payment is indeed an admittance of the company’s fault, affecting its reputation in regards to the ethical employment promoted by the Korean company. 2.6. Environmental Over the last decades, the importance of environmental sustainability has gradually increased, and successful companies are regularly scrutinised with regards to their carbon emission, recycling and supplier behaviour. Businesses are compelled by national and international standards to conduct their operations in a manner which limits their negative impact on the environment (McWilliams Siegel, 2001). Samsung’s design team matches the demand for new products with environmental standards and tries to make use of recyclable and eco-friendly materials. To exemplify, the LED TVs are made without the use of mercury or spray paint which are considered hazardous to the environment. In terms of manufacturing, the company has reduced greenhouse emissions by 47% through innovative production processes (Brownlee, 2009). In addition to this, Samsung has wind-powered facilities across the US, therefore utilising renewable energies, further reducing the negative impact on the environment at large (Samsung, 2007). 3. Porter’s 5 Forces Analysis Porter’s 5 forces is an analytical tool used for determining the profit potential of a company in its industry, in relation to all parties involved, from competitors to customers (Porter, 1986). 3.1. Industry rivalry The majority of industry rivalry in the retail business revolves around price competition. The consumer electronics industry is currently oversaturated and consumers are spoiled for choice in any given product category (McGoldrick, 2002). Therefore this is a very high threat, particularly for Samsung, as the competitors Sony, Panasonic and LG are able to match the product offerings of Samsung. 3.2. Threat of new entrants The threat of new entrants in the industry that Samsung Electronics operates in is generally low, because of the oversaturation of the business and because the existing competitors have established some barriers to entry, particularly the well established reputation of the existing brands. 3.3. Bargaining power of suppliers Another low threat is the bargaining power of suppliers, due to the same reason as above, as suppliers are not able to negotiate prices, as they are competing amongst themselves to become the preferred suppliers for the industry leaders, as a guarantee of constant profits. 3.4. Bargaining Power of buyers The bargaining power of consumers is one of the highest threats to Samsung, as the competition is fierce in the industry, and customers are overwhelmed with the promotional messages directed at them. Therefore, it is important in the retail industry to gain the loyalty of a customer (Macintosh Lockshin, 1997). Also, apart from the fact that consumers are price-sensitive, they are also becoming oversaturated with generalised promotional messages so, in order to gain potential customers, Samsung needs to invest time and budget into researching their target audience and developing relevant and appealing messages, which in turn increases the chances to boost the profits of the firm. 3.5. Threat of substitutes The threat of substitutes is a relatively high one, as an increasing number of individuals are using their laptop, PCs, tablets or smartphones to watch programmes that they would traditionally watch on TV. However, Samsung Electronics has diversified its product offerings to include any of the products that could potentially replace TVs, whilst also evolving towards more sophisticated and interactive models of TV, which offer seamless integrations with web applications and external devices. 4. SWOT analysis The SWOT analysis is a framework used to categorise internal and external factors that influence the operations of an organisation. Unlike the PESTLE analysis, this tool clearly requires a delimitation of negative and positive factors that influence a company and whether these factors are internal or external to the organisation. External Internal Positive Negative Strengths Weaknesses Product range Ownership of market share Brand reputation Awards and industry recognition Low cost productions Local teams in all locations Investment in RD Pricing tactics – lower price is usually interpreted as low quality Not niche focused Relies on external software for products Distribution channels costs for products Patent litigations with Apple Opportunities Threats Increased market demand in growing economies (particularly India) Increase in disposable income after economic downturn recovery Demand for innovative products Reputation of competitors Decline in demand for TVs Political instability in South Korea Aging population 5. The marketing mix (4Ps) 5.1. Product The variety of TV sets offered by Samsung ensures it keeps abreast of the competition in the consumer electronics market. Their product offerings are suitable to a wide array of customers, from those requiring basic TV sets through to large display 3D TVs with interactive features for those potential clients who are interested in the latest gadgets (Katzmaier, 2011). The consistency in high performance and stylish designs for their products ensures the brand recognition of Samsung TVs. 5.2. Price Pricing strategies are dependent on a variety of influencing factors. Despite popular belief, the lowest prices are not the most attractive to all customers, as the demands of the market in general has become more sophisticated and consumers have become aware of the concept of value for money (Ba Pavlou, 2002). As such, clients are prepared to pay premium prices if they are comfortable in the belief that they will obtain a high quality product. As such, Samsung uses the competitive pricing strategy for their TVs, devoting time to comparing their prices with the ones of their main competitors like LG or Sony in every geographical market (Woollaston, 2013). The Samsung TV prices reflect the quality that the customers can expect from the product. 5.3. Placement Through a thorough market research Samsung places their products in the best retail seller locations in each of the countries where they operate. For example, Samsung TVs can be found in John Lewis, Tesco or Argos stores across the UK, which are some of the best known British retailers. At the same time, Samsung operates independent showrooms and have partnered with numerous other companies from all industries that display Samsung TVs in their headquarters in order to increase the market presence of the brand (Kershaw, 2012). Overall, the placement of products in all the retail locations ensures that the brand maintains its leading market position, as the catalogues of stores where Samsung TVs are sold feature the newest TV models released by the company, promoting the brand even further. 5.4. Promotion Samsung often uses promotional pricing tactics in order to maintain its competitive edge over the other industry leaders. Specifically designed to attract customers, price reductions, such as the ones available in John Lewis online stores, with free delivery and 5 year guarantee and added care for all Samsung TV sets, these promotions are particularly available around the Christmas holidays in order to attract customers at a time when their disposable income is used to make more generous purchases, including new TVs for the house (Moore, 2011). In 2011, when Samsung launched their new generation of 3D TVs, they were offering two free pairs of 3D glasses with the purchase of selected TVs, an attractive offer for the potential customers, particularly as none of the other Panasonic or LG 3D TVs were benefiting from this offer (Katzmaier, 2011). 6. Conclusion Although the quality, design and technological specifications of consumer electronics remain important characteristics in the decision making process of a consumers’ purchase, marketing strategies and tactics have a crucial impact on the perception of existing and potential customers. The reputation of a company, including their ethical behaviour, from human resources to their impact on the environment at large and the perception of industry innovators in their specific market can influence the profits of a company in a significant manner. This paper has presented how the external environment can influence the marketing strategy of a company and how Samsung Electronics’ current practices are in line with the demands and realities of the consumer electronics market across the globe. Although the competition is fierce and Samsung’s rivals in the TV market share are other well-known global brands such as LG, Sony or Panasonic, the ethical behaviour of Samsung has helped the company increase their revenue each year, through launching products that attract the technological savvy customers, as well as launching promotional offers for the customers who are more price sensitive. Samsung’s ambition to become a global leader in the consumer electronics industry is complemented by their investment in research and development and marketing functions of the organisation, as well as adapting a strategy of glocalisation, using their recognisable brand name but becoming aware of the needs and desires of customers in each local market. All in all, this paper proves that time and resources invested in developing a strategy that focuses on the needs and desires of customers across the distinct markets that a global leader operates in translates into increased profits and reputation building. Bibliography Associated Press. (2014, May 14). Samsung promises to compensate factory workers who suffered cancer. Retrieved October 27, 2014, from The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/14/samsung-compensate-factory-workers-cancer Ba, S., Pavlou, P. A. (2002). Evidence of the effect of trust building technology in electronic markets: Price premiums and buyer behavior. MIS Quarterly, 26(3), 243-268. Brien, M. (2014, March 1). Samsung versus Apple: Dueling business models. Retrieved October 28, 2014, from Domicity: http://www.domicity.com/2013/04/samsung-versus-apple/ Brownlee, J. (2009, January 7). CES: Samsung announces Luxia LEDs, Palm Theater P3, 64GB SSD Digicam and more. 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How Samsung Executed its Premiun Notebook Strategy. Retrieved October 28, 2014, from Gap Intelligence: http://gapintelligence.com/blog/2012/04/13/how-samsung-executed-its-premium-notebook-strategy/ Kovach, S. (2013, February 9). How Samsung Went From A Dried Fish Exporter To One Of The Top Names In Tech. Retrieved October 26, 2014, from Business Insider: http://www.businessinsider.com/history-of-samsung-2013-2?op=1 Lee, J.-W., Swagel, P. (1997). Trade barriers and trade flows across countries and industries. Review of Economics and Statistics, 79(3), 371-382. Lev-Ram, M. (2013, January 22). Samsungs road to global domination. Retrieved October 27, 2014, from Fortune: http://fortune.com/2013/01/22/samsungs-road-to-global-domination/ Long, J. (2014, October 25). Stop Marketing Without An Integrated Marketing Communication Plan. Retrieved October 27, 2014, from Steam Feed: http://www.steamfeed.com/stop-marketing-without-integrated-marketing-communication-plan/ Macintosh, G., Lockshin, L. 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Consumer behavior, retailer power and market performance in consumer goods industries. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 419-436. Porter, M. E. (1986). Competition in Global Industries. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. Rubin, B. F., Tibken, S. (2014, September 4). Nvidia patent suits target latest Samsung devices. Retrieved October 27, 2014, from CNet: http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/nvidia-alleges-samsung-qualcomm-infringed-gpu-patents/ Samsung. (2007). Samsung Electronics Environmental Social Report. Seoul: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung. (2014, October 27). Research and Development. Retrieved October 27, 2014, from Samsung: http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/samsung_electronics/business_area/rd_page/ Samsung Electronics. (2012). Global Harmony with people, society environment. Gyeonggi-do: CSR Liaison Office Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Sang-Hun, C. (2013, April 5). Tensions With North Korea Unsettle South’s Economy. 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Essay --

I am applying to Stanford University for admission to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science. My research interests lie in the field of Computational Biology (CB). More specifically, I am interested in employing probabilistic and statistical methods to analyze genomic data more efficiently and accurately. As a statement of purpose of my graduate study, I describe here my academic background, research interests and future career plan. When I began my undergraduate career, I had the opportunity to be exposed to the full range of science courses. I rapidly became fascinated by the beauty of biological sciences and recognized the important role that computing and quantitative methods play in life sciences research. Dr. Dawkins once remarked, ``If you want to understand life, don't think about vibrant, throbbing gels and oozes, think about information technology." I could not agree more that computing (rather than mere experimentation) is the future of life sciences, and the sole idea of blending life sciences and computing in scientific research excites me. I was first officially introduced to the field of CB in my freshman summer, when I worked as a research assistant in the Center for Genomic Sciences, University of Hong Kong (HKU). During this project, I evaluated the performance of the Genome-wide Complex Trait Analysis software, conducting simulation studies based on a thorough literature review. I have gradually cultivated my persistence and self-study ability which I believe is crucial for becoming a researcher. In my second year, I went on exchange in UC Berkeley and audited the graduate course for Statistical Genomics there. Among the 20 or so students taking or auditing the course, I was the sole undergraduate. The course ... ...rful and friendly on this beautiful campus. Everybody here is living in Mr. and Mrs. Stanford's love for their son, and love makes everyday a perfect day. Perhaps this additional reason is not proper in a statement of purpose, but I strongly desire to continue my studies in Stanford, not only because of your excellent faculty and strong interdisciplinary research, but also because I feel that I belong here and my character accords with Stanford's spirit of freedom and love. To me, every step is not a finish, but a new start. I believe that your Ph.D. program would provide an stimulating and challenging environment for me to realize my full potential, and I possess the perseverance, intelligence and motivation to thrive and contribute to your team. I am fully prepared for my next step at the doctoral level in Stanford, and I look forward to this brand new beginning.

Is Organic Food Really Healthier For You? Essay

Maya W. Paul wrote an article for Helpguide. com about organic foods geared towards helping people understand how to read organic food labels and their benefits and claims. When she wrote her definition for the word â€Å"organic†, she defined it as: Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications, and must remain separate from conventional products. Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Organic livestock must have access to the outdoors and be given organic feed. They may not be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or any animal-by-products. (Paul) Kesterson 2 While this appears to be the correct definition as most people believe it is there is one major fallacy with this definition. The statement that â€Å"farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides† is not only completely false but misleads anyone who reads this article. The fact of the matter is that the United States government regulates and controls how organic food is grown. Under the National Organic Program and the Code of Regulations in section  §205. 601 titled Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production, (United States) it clearly states which synthetic chemicals are allowed to be used. This section clearly tells you how those chemicals are allowed to be used and under what conditions they are allowed to be used while preparing your land, the maintenance of your land, the preparation of your seeds, the production of your crops, and maintenance of your crops. This one section alone, which is federal law, completely refutes everyone’s claim that organic food is pesticide free whether it is synthetic or organic. This is just one area where people believe that organic food is healthier for you but there really are several reasons why organic food is no healthier than conventional grown foods. In the past few years there have been several studies regarding organic foods and how they affect your health. Their results have some people, mainly farmers and retailers up in arms because what these studies show is that has people questioning if the organic food they buy is worth the extra money they spend for them. I do not feel that organic food is any healthier than conventionally grown food. There have been a number of studies conducted by various agencies and but one stands out because of how they conducted their study and that was one by University of Stanford. The study concluded that there was no significant difference in the health benefits between the two. From vitamin content to the total nutrients, not one was any better than the other and this even included milk.

Body Shop PLC Dissertation Essays

Body Shop PLC Dissertation Essays Body Shop PLC Dissertation Paper Body Shop PLC Dissertation Paper Essay Topic: The Outsiders One of the major problems in business is the notion of whether companies should be concerned with other issues than profitability. Adam Smith in 1863 claimed that the process of achieving the overall good for the society is something that will happen inevitably happen because of his idea of the invisible hand of the market. However, more contemporary ideas assert otherwise as they believed that there are a number of conditions that would hinder the invisible hand to work effectively (Mohr and Webb, 2002). The Body Shop International, PLC is one of the leaders in terms of cosmetic stores focusing in skin and hair care products that are made from natural ingredients. The company is a subsidiary of LOreal and has branches to over 50 countries worldwide. On the fiscal year of 2006, Body Shop has total revenue of ? 485. 8 million which marks a total of 15. 9% increase compared to 2005 (Datamonitor, 2007, p. 4). Body Shops niche market sector has been famous due to the advent on the use of naturally inspired skin and hair care products. Body Shops product lines range from the use of Vitamin E Moisture Cream, Tea Tree Oil, Banana Shampoo and the likes. The company also advocates the use of aloe vera, jojoba oil, rhassoul mud, cocoa butter etc. Hence it could be said that the company has fully revolutionized the ethical disposition of the cosmetic industry with regard to the use of natural ingredients, and most importantly, the advent against using animals in terms of testing their products (p. 5). It could also be significantly noted that the Body Shop has been highly commended through the use of its own fair trade program which primarily includes transacting with disadvantaged communities all over the world. For instance, the company is known through its purchases of ingredients such as the blue corn from the Pueblo Indians in New Mexico; it has also been purchasing Brazil nut oil from the Kapayo Indians of the Amazon River Basin (p. 6). 1. 2 Significance of the Study The study is significant in order to know if customers now a days are informed in terms of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of multinational companies. In the cosmetics industry, wherein information about how products are produced and are tested is made unknown to the public, it is imperative to know whether consumers at present perceive these factors as relevant at all. More importantly, the implications of emerging ethical issues in the market could be focused upon to significantly contribute on the amount of literature and researches establishing the link between CSR and consumer buying behaviors. As such, this study is relevant in order to know whether The Body Shop consumers in London did take into consideration the CSR of The Body Shop in terms of their purchasing attitude. 1. 3 Objectives of the Study The objectives of the research are the following: 1. To know from a consumers perspective if The Body Shop International PLC have a responsibility to the society. 2. To know how much support does consumers have about the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of The Body Shop International PLC. 3. To know how much do consumers care about The Body Shop International PLCs level of CSR. 3. 1 To know if customer purchases are affected by the said factor. 4. To know what motives do consumers attribute to the CSR of The Body Shop International PLC. 4. 1 To know if the said motives make a difference to the consumers. 1. 4 Conclusion The implications of the workings of corporations overtime to the society, environment and other living things is something that is of utmost importance at present. In the age where science is triumphed over life and ethics, it is imperative to know whether cosmetic and skin and hair care international companies such as The Body Shop International are doing in terms of their CSR. More importantly, the study also seeks to establish the link between these CSR programs and know whether this affects consumer buying behaviors. Chapter II Review of Related Literature 2. 1 Introduction The review of related literature deals on: The Cosmetics Industry, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Consumer Buying Behaviors, CSR and Purchasing Decisions, Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty, and The Body Shop International, PLC Values: Against Animal Testing, Support Community Trade, Activate Self Esteem, and Protecting our Planet. 2. 2 The Cosmetic Industry The European Cosmetic Industry has a total value output of more than 35 billion â‚ ¬. The industry is highly innovative as it has been a custom to replace or reformulate more or less 25% of its products per annum. In addition with this, 150,000 Europeans work within the industry while there are more than additional 350,000 jobs that stem out due to retail, distribution and transport of the said products (European Commission A, 2006). Cosmetic products are generally divided into five categories which are: toiletries, skincare, fragrance and perfumes, hair care and decorative cosmetics (European Commission B, 2006). Toiletries are composed of products use for bath and shower such as salts, foams, oils, gels and the likes. In addition with this, shaving products, products for the teeth and mouth, soaps, powders etc are included within this category. Toiletries make up 25% of the market share of the Cosmetics Industry (European Commission B, 2006). Consequently, skin care products like creams, emulsions, lotions, gels and oils for the skin and face masks like peeling products belong to the skin care category. Powders, sunbathing products, whitening products and anti-wrinkle cream also belong to this category. The skin care section comprised 23% of the total market share of the industry (European Commission B, 2006). . The hair care section also gives up the 25% of the total market share for the industry and normally comprised of products for the hair such as tints, bleaches, waving, straightening, fixing, setting, cleansing, conditioning, hairdressing, etc (European Commission B, 2006). . Fragrances and perfumes made 15% and finally, decorative cosmetics made 12%. Make-ups for the eyes, lips, face, and even nail care also belong to this category (European Commission B, 2006). 2. 3 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) An organization which closely considers the ethical aspects of doing business seeks to cater to the interests of various stake holders. Such includes not only stockholders and employees but also other groups of individuals that are often composed of customers, suppliers, governments, unions, competitors, local communities, and the general public (Sims, 2003, p. 40). It is often the case that the demands of the stockholders, stakeholders and the outsiders within the organization are in conflict with one another. For instance, stakeholders expect that the company would be able to do their business in a responsible manner; on the other hand, stakeholders expect that their investments would be returned. Corollary with this, customers are looking forward a return on what they paid for, while suppliers look for dependable buyers. The government wanted companies to follow legislations, while unions seek benefits for their members. The competitors, expected companies to do their business in a fair manner and local communities wanted the aforementioned to be responsible citizens. Finally, the general public expects organizations to improve the over all quality of human life (p. 40). Table 1: Stakeholder View of Corporate Responsibility Stakeholder Nature of the Stakeholder Claim Shareholders Participation in distribution of profits, additional stock offerings, assets on liquidation; vote of stock; inspection of company books; transfer of stock; election of board of directors; and such additional rights as have been established in the contract with the corporation. Employees Economic, social, and psychological satisfaction in the place of employment. Freedom from arbitrary and capricious behavior on the part of company officials. Share in fringe benefits, freedom to join union and participate in collective bargaining, individual freedom in offering up their services through an employment contract. Adequate working conditions. Customers Service provided with the product; technical data to use the product; suitable warranties; spare parts to support the product during use; RD leading to product improvement; facilitation of credit. Creditors Legal proportion of interest payments due and return of principal from the investment. Security of pledged assets; relative priority in event of liquidation. Management and owner prerogatives if certain conditions exist with the company (such as default of interest payments). Suppliers Continuing source of business; timely consummation of trade credit obligations; professional relationship in contracting for, purchasing, and receiving goods and services. Unions Recognition as the negotiating agent for employees. Opportunity to perpetuate the union as a participant in the business organization. Competitors Observation of the norms of competitive conduct established by society and the industry. Business statesmanship on the part of peers. Governments Taxes (income, property, and so on); adherence to the letter and intent of public policy dealing with the requirements of fair and free competition; discharge of legal obligations of businesspeople (and business organizations); adherence to antitrust laws. Local communities Place of productive and healthful environment in the community. Participation of company officials in community affairs, provision of regular employment, fair play, reasonable portion of purchases made in the local community, interest in and support of local government, support of cultural and charitable projects. The general public Participation in and contribution to society as a whole; creative communications between governmental and business units designed for reciprocal understanding; assumption of fair proportion of the burden of government and society. Fair price for products and advancement of the state-of-the-art technology that the product line involves. Source: Sims, 2003, p. 41 These expectations from the aforementioned stakeholders are often in conflict with one another. For instance, the government and the general public often times have problems in contrast with the companys creditors and stake holders most especially in terms of the companys profitability. In effect of this, it is recommended that organizational objectives and strategies will be internally consisted and focused. In relation with this, it has been argued that leaders must be able to create a single-mind and multidimensional approach to the organizations’ aims (p. 42). The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is deeply rooted on the commitment of organizations to continue their business in an ethical manner. Also, it is relevant as well that the organization will be contributing to economic development of ones country while at the same time improving the quality of life of not only its employees and its families but also the society where it belonged (Watts and Holme, 1999). One of the central concerns with regard to the necessity of the implementation of CSR by a particular organization is the impact of their decisions and actions within the society. Closely related to this is an organizations responsibility to the entire society. As such this means that when aligning certain organizational goals or projects, it would be better if organizations will evaluate first their actions and make sure that they are in accordance to the welfare of the greater good (Parsons, 1954). As such, the impact of an organizations decision within the society is very vital in CSR. It should be emphasized as well that an organizations duty should span more than the economic and legal aspects but also assume the good of the majority. Archie Carroll said that an organizations social responsibility is something that includes the interplay of four important factors. These are economic performance, adherence with the law, ethical responsibility, good corporate citizenship, and improving the societys quality of life (Carrol and Buchholtz, 2003). The Body Shop International PLC considers the following as their stakeholders: Customers, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Partners, Franchisees and other business partners (The Body Shop International PLC I, 2007). The Body Shop International PLC gives immense value on their customers and considers them as their primary stake holder. Eighty percent of Body Shop customers are buying in the company because of the aforementioneds values. A huge number of the requested information came from the details regarding the take over of LOreal, animal testing and chemical use (The Body Shop International PLC I, 2007). Employees and consultants are also important to the company as it directly employs 10,034 people. The company assures that its values and objectives are in accordance with the needs of their consultants and employees, hence providing them trainings, direct communications with the administration, market level dialogues, company intranet and also numerous company magazines that would educate the aforementioned (The Body Shop International PLC I, 2007). Body Shops franchisees are also relevant because majority of them took part in the campaigns of the organizations. The specialty of the said franchisees most specially in terms of the latters perception of their own markets is something that helps the company not only to further increase their revenues and also preserving company values. Body Shop suppliers are also assured to follow strict compliance procedures against animal testing. In relation with this, the packaging processes of the products of the company are also assured to be non toxic and for that matter recyclable. The use of natural ingredients or alternatives to certain harmful chemicals is also taken in utmost consideration. In return with this, the company does its duty to the former by helping their suppliers most especially in marginalized countries to improve their quality of life. Other companies and multi-stakeholder networks of Body Shop are also working in accordance with responsible business practices (The Body Shop International PLC I, 2007). 2. 4 Consumer Buying Behaviors A persons terminal values are perceived as one of the major determining factors of consumer buying behaviors. According to Ratneshwar, Mick and Huffman (2000) the most important factors that determine buying behaviors of customers are means-end chain models that seek o connect product-feature preferences to a consumer’s values (p. 10). The social identity theory claims that consumer behavior is primarily dependent on these two factors: people take actions to buy products, and it is often the case that they buy products that are consistent with their ideal self images. Second of which, it is also important to note that the social identity theory claims that every person enacts multiple identities that functions in every social context such as for instance, mother, professor, volunteer, that could be drivers of buying actions (p. 11). The behavioral decision theory that is under the umbrella of the social identity theory claims that choices of consumers are often made in accordance with their attribute values. Closely related to this is the attitude theory which emphasizes consumer expectancies and evaluations on a particular product belief (p. 11-12). The figure below presents consumer goals in terms of their buying preferences. It could be seen that the core reason that determines why such and such consumers buy certain products is primarily due to their life theme and values. In effect of these, their life themes and values deeply influenced how they are going to deal with their life projects, current concerns and consumption intentions. Finally, the benefits sought and the feature preferences are also considered as the end goal of the being and doing hierarchy.