Report - Competing through Marketing Assignment

Report - Competing through Marketing - Assignment Example Marketing planning is a strategic process used by organizations to predict the future environment of the business for the sole aim of strategizing on the appropriate strategy for maximizing the full potential of the existing and future market. In organizations, market planning helps in allocation of resources, identification of the strengths and weaknesses and provides advance warning. Overall, marketing in organizations revolves around expanding the market, increasing the organization’s profit, exhausting resources, and targeting the right market (Lecture 1 & 2). Trends in banking and financial services Globalization According to Cummins and Venard (2007), different supranational agencies which include the World Bank and World Trade Organization have been major contributors in promoting globalization to the entire world, with a specific impact been focused to Asia. A good example in respect to this is in 2001 when the Chinese government was signatory of the WTO; there were cr ucial commitments made by the government in terms of liberalizing insurance industry. A new stage was hence created for the development of the insurance sector and opening of the market was enhanced instead of the previous restricted market (Padmalatha, 2011). Moreover, globalization ensures the ease of financial firms accessing the market beyond the borders of their country of origin. Globalization also ensures future penetration of foreign firms to a foreign market (Cummins and Venard, 2007, p.19). Private insurance In the past, majority of countries relied on government programs and insurance companies but of late, the trend has changed as they are relying on private insurance companies that have become dominant in the economy. Moreover, government insurance companies have diminished in time due to wave of privatization (Cummins and Venard, 2007, p.19). New technology Financial firms have witnessed advancement in new technology over the past few years. This has increased and enha nced marketing of new products in a rapid manner as compared to the past. New technology has brought with it an introduction to new sophisticated products. In insurance industry, for instance, there is an introduction of universal life insurance, which can be termed as a change facilitated by development in communication and computer technologies (Cummins and Venard, 2007, p.19). Differences between building societies and banks Building societies are mutual societies, which mean that, they are owned by members. These members either have taken a mortgage with the society or have invested with them. On the other hand, banks may not possess shareholders who earn dividends from profits earned; instead, the profit earned in banks is normally ploughed back into the firm. Basically, the difference between the two is based on their nature of lending (Boleat, 1985, p.4). In terms of raising money, building societies normally offer mortgage loans when purchasing a house. In this case, the hou se acts as the security against the received loan. In addition to this, building societies can transact loans, which are unsecured. These loans mainly

According to Darwin Essay Example for Free

According to Darwin Essay 1) Fossil fuels were formed a very long time ago from plants and animals that were buried and with time changes into oil, coal and natural gas. They are essentially not part of the carbon cycle. However when man burns fossil fuels, they upset the balance of CO2 concentration in the cycle as they released a lot of amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. With the abundance of CO2 in the atmosphere, all are not used for the photosynthesis and respiration sustained by the cycle. The excess CO2 contributes to the greenhouse effect, a condition where more heat is trap in the earth because of too many CO2 in the atmosphere. As a result, global warming occurs (Gautier, 2008, pp. 78-79). 2) All four species of lizards that are closely related can become separate species because of the process of active radiation. In an island, these four lizards may live and utilize in different microenvironments of different habitats. There is a rapid speciation of these lizards proceeding to the phenotypic adaptation to divergent environments. See more: Social process essay According to Darwin in 1842, phenotypes of species ‘fit’ the divergent environments that they inhabit, and hence that species have â€Å"been taken and modified for different ends† (qtd Schluter, 2000, pp. 10-12). 3). The DNA (chromatins) are not visible in the interphase because by then they are still uncoiled, diffused and disorganized in the nucleus. What happens at this time is that genetic information is transcribed to produce RNA. They appear as dots or grains or thin long strands. However to facilitate separation of DNA, chromosomes are duplicated in the S phase. To prepare for mitosis, the chromosomes condense; condensin (an elongated complex of several proteins) mediates then binds and circles DNA into a single chromatid at multiple spots, twisting the chromatin into a variety of shorter and thicker coils and loops. This made the DNA visible in the microscope (Hartl Jones, 2005, pp. 75-76). 4). The four daughter cells produced in meiosis are unique resulting from a variation of two processes known as independent segregation of the chromosomes and crossing-over. In the independent segregation at the end of Meiosis I, two very different intermediate cells are produced. Crossing-over then takes place in meiosis I which affords time and opportunity for the random exchange of information from homologous pairs of chromosomes resulting to the unique combination of alleles. These are the reasons why four daughter cells have completely different set of genetic information (Hartl Jones, 2005, p. 115).

A Guide To New Zealand Vacations

A Guide To New Zealand Vacations New Zealand is a country situated in the southern hemisphere close to Australia. New Zealand is basically made up of two islands. One is the North Island and the other South island. There are many smaller islands that are a part of the country. It enjoys a temperate climate due to which there is a variety of flora and fauna. Europeans barring a minority of Maoris mainly inhabit it. Its favorable climate has made New Zealand a destination of choice to people across the world. It is accessible to Europe and America by air. Many tourists travel here during vacations and various airlines offer competitive rates to travelers. Flights operate from major cities in New Zealand and are well connected with major cities of the world such as London, New York and Tokyo. These flights offer economy class and executive class bookings that suit the budget of various travelers. Some of the airlines offer special packages for vacations. These packages may include a free hotel booking at the destination for a specific period. They may also offer discounts on group bookings. There are some airlines that offer cash back facility if bookings are done through a credit card. Online bookings are usually granted a good discount. Many of the airlines guarantee lowest prices. If travelers find something cheaper, the fare is refunded by some airlines as a policy decision. The flight itinerary can be planned and booking for all the places can be made at the starting station. Another additional feature that includes the fare is travel insurance. Such Insurance schemes may cover cancellations at last moment due to unforeseen events. Accident and baggage loss are some other insurance covers offered by airlines. Long haul flights offer bookings without service fees. The flexibility of return dates and economic costs are major attractions of booking long haul flights for both domestic and international travel. Information about airfares of major airlines is easily available on the Internet. A tourist can make vacations cost effective and affordable by researching this information. New Zealand Vacation Costs New Zealand is often termed as a country of Gods. There is dramatic variation in the terrain of New Zealand. It ranges from geyser to glaciers, from rainforests to meadows. The range in variety in a limited area is the cause for many tourists to opt for New Zealand as tourist destination. Vacations to New Zealand can be planned at costs affordable to the travelerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s budget. The cost depends upon the travel destination and mode of transport. The first step of vacation is finding cost effective airfares. The duration of stay at particular destinations calls for hotel bookings. New Zealand offers accommodation at affordable cost. Travelers can opt for package tours that arrange for all travel and hotel bookings. Some of these include meals in their costs. This effectively reduces costs and the effort to find appropriate restaurants. Flexibility pass is offered to package tour travelers. This helps the tourist to break off at a required destination from the main tour and rejoin at a later stage. For the elite traveler there is an option to avail of exclusive services. Cars of choice can be arranged through the travel desk of the resort for sightseeing. This comes with an extra cost. Executive rooms or suites can be obtained with panoramic view of beaches or mountains. Specialized services such as usage of spa or pool are also a part of service for customized travel. Sight seeing tour operators mostly arrange sightseeing tours. Some of the tour operators arrange accommodation in tents. They have trailers that cater to food and luggage locker facilities. These tours are extremely popular for experiencing wilderness. Cycles or mopeds can be rented for traveling to nearby places. These tours include canoeing for free and serenity of lakes can be experienced at no extra costs. Costs of these vacations can be ascertained by logging on to the net. Various websites provide information on travel and tour options. A combination of best service with reasonable costs can be obtained through a little research. Planning Your New Zealand Vacation New Zealand is a land of contrasting terrain and weather in a compact area. This is the feature that helps the traveler to experience varied ecological terrain without having to travel long distances. The diversity in wildlife has helped New Zealand carve a niche in the tourism world market. New Zealand offers a variety of tours and packages to travelers. Tour operators can help in planning a vacation tailor made to suit the requirement of tourists. There are coach tours and independent tours that provide adventure and sight seeing tours. The offers vary from budget hotel accommodation to boutique hotels. Camper vans give a different experience to tourists. Options on the mode of transport used during the tours can decide the cost of the tour. It is recommended that accommodation bookings be made well in advance to avoid last minute disasters. Many tour operators provide information about the rich natural beauty of New Zealand that may help in planning the tour. The options may range from going on adventure tours, wildlife encounter tours to cultural tours. If traveling from a foreign country, the documents required for travel such as passports and visas need to be carried along throughout the travel. It is advisable that tourists, who are under medication, take details of medical care and medical formulas of prescribed medicines before starting on the trip. The kind of clothing to be carried will depend on the weather of the choice of destination. Information about the temperature and weather of a particular place can be obtained from websites of resorts or hotels. Standard itineraries are a safer option for travelers who do not want to take a risk during their vacation. In this way, tourists may find it easier to plan their holiday tours that cater for their budget. Additionally, they would also know exactly what to expect from the trip. A well-planned holiday to New Zealand can be an enjoyable experience. A Guide to New Zealand Vacations Tourists all round the world increasingly favor vacations to New Zealand. This country is known for its ecological diversity and for its varying climatic conditions across the country. Most places have sunny weather throughout the year. It would be beneficial to take suggestions from a professional travel planner if going on vacation to New Zealand, especially from a foreign country. Information can also be sourced online. It is important to know about the place and its history before planning a vacation. There are many websites that provide information about the history, wild life parks and natural beauty of New Zealand. Travelers are also informed about the time zones and exact season to visit these places. It also enlightens travelers about its origin and cultural heritage. Most of the web sites also provide information that may help tourists to plan their program. New Zealand offers a choice of tourist spots and tours. Glaciers with skiing grounds, geysers with hot springs can be visited in a short span of travel time. A choice can be made between a wide variety of tours involving camping, visit to nature parks, adventure tours, wildlife sightseeing or cultural tours. Every country has a set of regulations for foreign travelers. Information about formal documents such as passport and visas are necessary to avoid legal implications. Information about exchange rate of currency will help in planning expenditure. Places that offer currency exchange are also indicated on websites. Medical and emergency facilities that are offered to the tourists can also be known from websites or travel planners. Information about accommodation and their availability is also available with agents. Cost effective airfares and the airlines offering them can be accessed online. Many places in New Zealand have accommodation guides to help first time travelers. Additionally, maps and travel routes can be used while planning a trip to New Zealand.

stem cell :: essays research papers

Stem Cell Research One of the most popular clinical studies being researched these days is stem cell transplantation. Until recently, moral issues of states and countries haven't allowed research to expound deeply into the unknowns. Within the last ten years though, scientists have made leaps and bounds in finding out concrete facts that this stem cell research has supplied. Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of Health Services states, "I believe it will open up a world of opportunity for scientists, not only at the NIH, but elsewhere, because it demonstrates a cooperative atmosphere among academia, the private sector, and government that will allow us to move ahead" ("sign stem"1). New ways of conducting stem cell research have made the healing and repairing treatment for many diverse applications. To prove their point, scientists have broken down the basic facts of their studies throughout the last ten years. Embryonic stem cell transplantation is a related course of cells that are in charge of certain functions and systems of the body. The cells used in the transplantation process are contrived from "cryopreserved suspensions" from the fetal liver, thymus, bone marrow, spleen, brain, and the pancreas. Introducing these cells to the body can be approached in different ways. The first step taken is engrafting or multiplying cells in the affected area. These cells will then supplement missing or declining cells and replace/repair missing functions of the body. Production then commences with considerable amounts of biologically active substances such as nerve growth factor, tumor necrosis factor and interleukins etc. When these cells have been transplanted, they are capable of migrating, establishing intercellular links and responding to various effects. However, becaus e of their immature transplantation to the human body, these cells cause a weaker immune response than mature cells. Alexander Smikodub, a doctor of Medical Science at the National Medical University states, "cells that we use are not considered by the immune system of the recipient as foreign, therefore, they can survive, multiply, and develop full function in the body of a new host" Smikodub). These cells can then survive and multiply, capable of lasting for months and years in the body of the recipient. In the areas where tissue or organs have been damaged or lost, they substitute the lack of functional activities. These cells can also produce new generations of cells that are needed by the patient. When strategically placed, they can support, restore and replace the functions of their specialization in the body.

Aging U.S. Infrastructure

This paper talks about the United States of America and the state of its infrastructure which is aging now these days. Its infrastructure has been in a deplorable state, however much has not being done about it, except when for instance a road accident takes place or some citizen goes through the tragic experience caused by the suffering of the infrastructure, that the relevant Governmental units and committees decide to take action by formulating a plan.The paper has been divided into the various different segments the U.S. Infrastructure has and functions as.U.S. is a country which is far ahead in terms of economic and political prosperity. However a basis fact still remains that despite the vast differences that exist within it, it works as one single unit working towards prosperity and the American Dream.The Government spends and has always been spending a lot on its public expenditures and infrastructure. Today, when we see the state of this physical infrastructure we see gaps a nd loopholes in terms of physical state of these things.The naked eye however still cannot pin point towards a particular infrastructure unit and comment on its ‘deplorable state’, however research and the technician’s/ engineer’s eye can.The only area where the ASCE team saw improvement in the last four years from the Report dated 2005 was energy. The report said this area got a grade of D plus after a consistent D. Another area getting an improvement card was the flood protection system which received a D minus from an Un-graded grade.Much of the state that U.S. levees are in was and is unknown to the Committee. The new president also announced this week that an $825 billion package needs to be and will be spent on improvements in U.S. highways, bridges and rail projects along with expansion projects at airports. (BBC News)The different segments or divisions in its infrastructure are as follows: ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Roads ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bridgeso  Ã‚   Traffic Congestion ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Broadband ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Aviation ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Brown-fields ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dams and Levees ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Drinking Water and Waste Water ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Inland Waterways ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Energy ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Rails ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Schools ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Security ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   WastewaterRoads and BridgesThe state of America’s infrastructure has not improved in the last four years. This has been a report by the country’s top civil engineers. According to them US has received a Grade D in terms of its roads, public transports and basic transits.It, in the report called ‘Report Card’, from the American Society of Civil Engineers also claimed that around $2.2 trillio n need to be spent for proper repairs to this section of infrastructure. A news item also claimed of a bridge getting destroyed by collapsed in Minnesota in 2007 leading to loss of lives, injuries, property, reputation as well as money. (BBC News)When the bridge at Minnesota collapsed due to poor infrastructure state, it became evident back then in 2007 how appalling the condition of U.S. infrastructure is getting year after year. Poor roads have caused many people driving in cars and motorbikes their lives and injury traumas, and the Government $54 billion each year, especially in the year 2005.Annually, around $59.4 billion is spent on infrastructure pertaining to roads, bridges, airfields, brown fields, drinking water and wastewater; and waterways also.A lot many NHS or the National Highway system is an appalling state of affair as insufficient funds have been dedicated to this and more needs to be done without any further delay.Currently, around $ 32.1 billion needs to be spent on this NHS which consists of only 4.1 percent of all highways roads in America (however around a little less than half of all motorists are carried to and fro by the NHS, despite its minute percentage of the total. It is being said that congestion is the cause that ages these bridges, highways and roads even more fast since a lot is being in use by the motorists.US $ 70 billion of funds that are attributed to highways and bridges has to get doubled, so that this doubled figure can be put to appropriate use as said by the Federal Highway Administration.It also says that till 2015, or six years from now total investments needs to rise to double of what it is only to ‘maintain’ the current state all these things pertaining to transit and transport they are in. So, without a doubt, much more than the doubled figure needs to be spent so that improvements only if by a slight ratio are and can be seen. Logistics management and NAM have announced their dedication to this area. (White, F.)On the other hand, another report by the US Texas Transportation Institute has proclaimed that the major issue is congestion that when coupled with aging infrastructure leads to a faster decline towards collapse, or voluntary destruction. (Berman, J.)US bridges’ condition is also being said by US DOT, has decreased in conditions by a double figure. This is how fast things have been deteriorating. (Let’s Re-build America)Every year around a lot of time amounting to 4.2 billion hours is wasted in traffic congestion, costing the US economy $78.2 billion. It also costs $67 billion to these motorists for repairing and operating costs. Also, around 15000 lives of American citizens are lost due to traffic and road related incidents.A little less than half of all urban highways and bridges are congested and it is said that for a substantial improvement, $186 billion will need to be allocated and spent. (Report Card for America’s Infrastructure)One-fourth of the total US bridges in America face either of the two problems; one, their structure is lacking and deficient or second, that they cannot function at all. This huge 26% is proof enough to say that bridges especially in urban areas are declining rapidly.$17 billion according to the ASCE needs to be spent on this area every year to induce betterment in this infrastructure division of US. As of now $10.5 billion only is spent on the construction of new and repair of old bridges in USA, which is a figure too low. (Report Card for America’s Infrastructure)

Free Essays on The Political Economy Of Pets

Nearly every normal family has one, and why not? They’re cute and cuddly, they love you, and people love them. After all, pets are normal commodities, owned by normal people. In this paper I will be examining the political economy of pets. First of all you may be thinking â€Å"do pets have a political economy?† Well, of course they do. The first article I stumbled across, and the article that truly inspired the theme of this paper, is â€Å"Go Go Dog!’ And German Turks’ Demand For Pet Dogs† by A. Caglar. In this article the author discusses the functions of the pets that the German Turks own. There are three categories of dogs that are owned: The fighting dog, the guard dog, and the lap dog. Each dog serves a specific purpose, and therefore has certain ideal traits with which to serve that purpose. A guard dog is protective, and frightening; a fighting dog is macho, strong, and fierce; a lap dog is affectionate and loveable. People desiring to supplement their current identities with such traits own such dogs. The dog’s qualities become a part of the person’s image, and even status. I agree with the overview that Caglar presented in this article. Pets add certain qualities t o their owners by their actions, pedigrees, breeds, and behavior. In this paper I will be referring to dogs, as they are stereotypically the most common pet choice from within our culture. In America today, there are 43,143,849 dog owners owning a total of 61,542,900 million dogs. Of those 43,143,849 dog owners, 28,539,216 purchase Christmas gifts for their dogs. By examining that fact alone it is not surprising that the pet industry is expected to rake in $30 billion by the year 2003. The enormous growth of the pet industry is due to the new trend that shows Americans are becoming more interested in owning pets and less in the dwindling rate of population growth. Entrepreneurs acting on this trend seem to have struck it rich in regards to a consumer m... Free Essays on The Political Economy Of Pets Free Essays on The Political Economy Of Pets Nearly every normal family has one, and why not? They’re cute and cuddly, they love you, and people love them. After all, pets are normal commodities, owned by normal people. In this paper I will be examining the political economy of pets. First of all you may be thinking â€Å"do pets have a political economy?† Well, of course they do. The first article I stumbled across, and the article that truly inspired the theme of this paper, is â€Å"Go Go Dog!’ And German Turks’ Demand For Pet Dogs† by A. Caglar. In this article the author discusses the functions of the pets that the German Turks own. There are three categories of dogs that are owned: The fighting dog, the guard dog, and the lap dog. Each dog serves a specific purpose, and therefore has certain ideal traits with which to serve that purpose. A guard dog is protective, and frightening; a fighting dog is macho, strong, and fierce; a lap dog is affectionate and loveable. People desiring to supplement their current identities with such traits own such dogs. The dog’s qualities become a part of the person’s image, and even status. I agree with the overview that Caglar presented in this article. Pets add certain qualities t o their owners by their actions, pedigrees, breeds, and behavior. In this paper I will be referring to dogs, as they are stereotypically the most common pet choice from within our culture. In America today, there are 43,143,849 dog owners owning a total of 61,542,900 million dogs. Of those 43,143,849 dog owners, 28,539,216 purchase Christmas gifts for their dogs. By examining that fact alone it is not surprising that the pet industry is expected to rake in $30 billion by the year 2003. The enormous growth of the pet industry is due to the new trend that shows Americans are becoming more interested in owning pets and less in the dwindling rate of population growth. Entrepreneurs acting on this trend seem to have struck it rich in regards to a consumer m...