Arctic Power Essays - Hygiene, Home, Cleaning, British Brands, Tide

Arctic Power The Canadian laundry detergent market is mature, very competitive and dominated by three major consumer packaged goods companies, one of which is Colgate-Palmolive Canada (CPC). Arctic Power is CPC's top-of-the-line offering in its laundry detergent line. Arctic Power is specially formulated for washing in cold water. The detergent has risen in market share from 4% in 1981 to 6.5% in 1986, and the Senior Product Manager has established a goal of reaching 12% market share by 1996. Problem Definition Linda Barton and Gary Parsons face two problems. First, they must determine whether to continue developing the brand in their already strong regional markets of Quebec, the Maritimes and British Colombia, or go national with marketing efforts. Second, they must decide whether to use a single positioning strategy (as was successfully implemented in Quebec) or continue to use a dual positioning strategy. The dual strategy consisted of highlighting Arctic Power as a superior detergent in areas with strong sales, and focusing on encouraging Canadians to use cold water washing in areas with relatively weak sales. Analysis When it comes to laundry detergents, Canadians primarily think of one name, Tide. Procter and Gamble's Tide detergent has captured over one-third of the market and is twenty percentage points ahead of its closest competitor in market share. While Tide and Arctic Power are equivalent brands in terms of cleaning power, Tide outsold Arctic Power by a 5 to 1 ratio in 1986. The market share for Tide has remained level (at approximately 34%) during the same time that Arctic Power has enjoyed a market share increase from 4% to 6.5%. Due to Tide's dominance in the detergent market, it will play an important role in any major change in Arctic Power's strategy. Costs and profit structures for leading detergent brands were similar. A break-even analysis for the market (see Appendix A) indicates that a detergent must capture approximately 8% - 8.5% of the market in order to break even nationally. Detergents with small portions of market share have experienced diminishing sales (see Appendix B). Of the twelve offerings (or group of offerings) that held 10% or less of the market share, only two experienced sales growth from 1983 to 1986 - Wisk and Arctic Power. To keep its market share, Wisk spent disproportionately high amounts of money on advertising (see Appendix B). In such a competitive market with a high break-even threshold and increasing prices for materials, it is reasonable to believe that the offerings with lower market shares will continue to decline. This decline will provide opportunity for Arctic Power (although CPC's economy detergent offering, called ABC, has consumed much of the market share that was lost by the smaller competitors). Arctic Power holds a strong share of the market in three regions: Quebec (17.5%), Maritimes (6.3%) and British Columbia (5.5%). These three regions comprise 44% of the total volume of detergent sales for the country. Other regional market sizes are displayed in Appendix C. For Arctic Power to capture 12% of market share, it must look beyond these three regions (see Appendix C). Thirty-nine percent of the Canadian market is held in Ontario. Arctic Power's penetration into this large region is a meager 0.8%. For Arctic Power to reach its goal of 12% market share, Ontario must be considered a major part of the strategy. Ontario has the highest return on media expenditure of any region (see Appendix D). Ontario is also changing the way that it washes clothes. The proportion of households in Ontario that use cold water washing has increased from 14% in 1981 to 17% in 1986. Hence, a marketing strategy that will provide further penetration into Ontario is quite desirable. Arctic Power's positioning strategy has been twofold. First, Arctic Power has been positioned in eastern Canada as a superior laundry detergent, especially formulated for cold water washing. In the western market, Arctic Power has attempted to develop the cold water market. In either case, Arctic Power's position is connected to cold water. The good news is that regular cold water washing has increased nationally from 20% in 1981 to 29% in 1986. Another 25% of consumers could be described as occasional users of cold water for washing. Hence, 54% of Canadians wash in cold water. When people were asked about the benefits of washing in cold water, the results were astounding. The eight most common answers could be easily divided into two categories - those that were money saving in nature (saves energy, cheaper, saves hot water, saves electricity) and those that related to the quality of

Sharon Pollocks Walsh Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Sharon Pollock's Walsh Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers Sharon Pollock's Walsh Progress is the elimination of the savage. These words of General Terry, a character in Sharon Pollock's Walsh, demonstrates how he and his fellow white men feel towards Native Indians. The indians see Canada as their homeland, but the Canadian government will not let them stay and will do anything in their power to make them leave to the United States. They are cheated against, lied to, and betrayed by their government, because of their ethnic background. Especially Sitting Bull, the head of the Sioux nation, who is being accused for the death of General Custer. Walsh, Sitting Bull, and General Terry contribute to this theme of prejudice towards the Sioux by the government and Walsh's struggle to keep his responsibility as an individual and his high principles. Major Walsh of the North West Mounted Police who attempts to prevent Sitting Bull and the Sioux from being sent back from Canada to the United States, apparently to stand trial for the death of General Custer and his men at the battle of Little Big Horn. Walsh has sympathy for Sitting Bull and the Sioux. He feels, as a member of the force he should do everything in his power to help them: An able and brilliant people have been crushed, held down, moved from place to place, cheated and lied to.....and now , they hold here in Canada, the remnants of a proud race, and they ask for some sort of justice....which is what I thought I swore on oath to serve! Walsh has a responsibility for Sitting Bull and the Sioux as a friend to help them in their struggle for justice and respect but Walsh was forced against his better judgment, to sacrifice his own high principles by his fellow police men and friends. The government, which Walsh represents lies and makes excuses to the Sioux of why the should be going to the United States. Walsh is a man who knows that there is a nobility to his struggle, but he surrenders responsibility as an individual. Walsh is a well-meaning but ultimately ineffectual white man whose potentially tragic status is undermined by his decision to go back on his promise of his responsibility to Sitting Bull and the Sioux. His moral dilemma is at a disaster when he agrees to his governments demands and sends Sitting Bull and the Sioux to his certain death in the United States. His mentality has totally been altered and he almost feels no sympathy for them anymore: And I can give you nothing! God knows, I've done my damnedest and nothing's changed. Do you hear that? Nothing's changed! Cross the line if you're so hungry, but don't, for Christ's sake, come begging food from me! Now Walsh is just like the rest of the men, careless and heartless. He has hardly no feelings towards Sitting Bull and the Sioux and he is trying to send Sitting Bull and the Sioux to the United States, thinking that they're going to get food and shelter. Sitting Bull, the head of the Sioux nation, and the Sioux are not blind to see what's really going on. They know the Canadian government is prejudice against them and that they don't want them on their land or in their country. They know the government is lying to them so they can go to the United States to be in an even worse situation then they are in, in Canada. Sitting Bull and the Sioux are being betrayed by their own government. Sitting Bull says that to Walsh: When I was a boy, the Sioux owned the world. The sun rose and set on our land. We sent 10,000 men to battle. Where are those warriors now? Who seen them? Where are our lands? Who owns them? Tell me...what law have I broken? Is it wrong for me to love my own? Is it wicked of me because my skin is red? Because I am a Sioux, because I was born where my fathers lived, because I would die for my people and my country? ....This white man would forgive me....and while he speaks to me of forgiveness, what do his people say in secret? 'Seize their guns and horses! Drive them

Japanese and centralization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Japanese and centralization - Essay Example However, in tandem with an understanding that centralization establishes and upholds a natural order, the piece also indicates that the â€Å"unsettled† minds of the people and the doubt that they have for the future is likely to create a significant hardship for any that would attempt to establish a further level of centralization or control over the territories. Likewise, the second document, entitled â€Å"The Capital, Taxes, and the Army†, written in 646 AD also compounds the importance and need for centralization. In such a way, the author focuses on the need to maintain a national army and the importance of subservience and loyalty that this army will have to the emperor. Yet, rather than focusing on how this could be established, the article returns to the competing interests of tribal warlords and those that might wish to have a disproportionately large say in the affairs of the newly created state. The undertone of the entire article is one that leaves the reader with little question that these types of individuals cannot be won over to the cause and must ultimately be coerced by force to engage in the process of centralization. Similarly, the third document, entitled â€Å"The Corruption of Local Officials†, focuses, not surprisingly, on the high levels of corruption being a stumbling block to further levels of centralization. With these local officials withholding money and tribute for themselves, the degree and extent to which a central emperor can raise taxes and have sway over a given region was obviously

HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACION - Essay Example The variety of guests, with respect to their level of experience with technology, provided exposure to multiple genres of viewpoints and angles with which human computer interaction can be analyzed. The low tech guests provided the information regarding the expectations of users with technology and the common issues that are faced due to overestimation of the skills of the end users. The high tech guests provided valuable feedback regarding the technological methods with which human computer interaction can be enhanced and how user interaction with machines is influenced by different factors and circumstances. The liberty to inquire questions proved to be an effective method of letting the students clear out their confusions and concerns about the topic. The interactive session with the guests gave the students the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and set a broader perspective in their minds regarding the relation of human computer interaction with the environment of the users. Another mode of teaching that proved to help me understand the concepts were the presentation sessions of the students. I believe that an individual can understand any concept from his fellow students as effectively as any of his teacher since the young mind explains the content in the easiest manner. All students have more or less the same level of knowledge for a topic; therefore, they highlight the factors that prove to be easier for the other students to comprehend. It was a pleasure to attend the presentation sessions of my fellow students and learn about the different methods with which they approached the topic. My ‘Aha moment’ in this course was the freedom to choose any topic (within the context of technology) to write the responses and develop presentations. Research and exploration are the most effective modes to make the students understand the content and to enable them to think in a broader perspective. The

A study of traffic noise affecting residential building along Essay

A study of traffic noise affecting residential building along expressways - Essay Example (Wiberg, Mardh, 2008). Hong Kong can be considered as one of the densest cities in the world facing traffic noises issues especially with the growth in the economy leading to the demand for housing and transportation. Different people react differently to the level of noise. However, at certain level, noise starts affecting everyone in the form of irritating and frustrating people (Environmental Protection Department (2006). Noises can also affect the daily activities of life like watching television, talking over the telephone and doing household chores. Just like any other metropolitan city; Hong Kong also faces noise issues and more than 1 million people have been affected by it in last few years. (Amundsen, Klaeboe, 2005) Excess traffic noises can be considered as the major reason behind the noise pollution that is mainly because of the poor planning leading to cramped development of residential properties alongside the highways (Crawshaw, 2008) Moreover, the growth and developme nt in 80s and 90s marked serious noise pollutions along with a rise in residential properties and constructions. ... With land paucity, constructors are forced to look for lands that are outside the city and next to expressways. However, living alongside the expressways has its own disadvantages in the form of being exposed to high level of traffic sounds at wee hours along with getting affected by heavy vehicles sounds. The government cannot stop the movement of vehicles on expressways and therefore is bound to look for other options that can help residents to bear with the increasing traffic sound on expressways (Wiberg, Mardh, 2008) The government can improve the quality of roads along but the numbers of cars, lorries and trucks increase during nights that affect the sleep pattern of people considering the sound created by moving vehicles. The concept of low noise road surfacing can be considered as an option to mitigate the level of noise pollution but the concept requires time and research to be implemented and more importantly it requires huge investment considering the number of highways in Hong Kong. As per the information collected from the website of HKSAR Government, it was found that a number of flyovers and expressways cut though the main district of the city and people living beside such flyovers and expressways have been greatly affected by the traffic noise in last few years. The government stated that because of the previously built flyovers and expressways and currently developed urban areas, there have been some serious concerns over the quality of life among residents. Despite the introduction of planning standards and the Environmental Impact Assessment, there cannot be done anything that will reduce the level of traffic noises instantly (HKSAR Government (2012) 2.0 BACKGROUND TO THE

Main Concerns In Internet Banking Information Technology Essay

Main Concerns In Internet Banking Information Technology Essay The Internet banking is changing the banking industry and is having the major effects on banking relationships. Even the Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Internet research emphasised that Web is more important for retail financial services than for many other industries. Internet banking involves use of Internet for delivery of banking products services. It falls into four main categories, from Level 1 minimum functionality sites that offer only access to deposit account data to Level 4 sites highly sophisticated offerings enabling integrated sales of additional products and access to other financial services- such as investment and insurance. In other words a successful Internet banking solution offers  · Exceptional rates on Savings, CDs, and IRAs  · Checking with no monthly fee, free bill payment and rebates on ATM surcharges  · Credit cards with low rates  · Easy online applications for all accounts, including personal loans and mortgages  · 24 hour account access  · Quality customer service with personal attention DRIVERS OF CHANGE Advantages previously held by large financial institutions have shrunk considerably. The Internet has leveled the playing field and afforded open access to customers in the global marketplace. Internet banking is a cost-effective delivery channel for financial institutions. Consumers are embracing the many benefits of Internet banking. Access to ones accounts at anytime and from any location via the World Wide Web is a convenience unknown a short time ago. Thus, a banks Internet presence transforms from brouchreware status to Internet banking status once the bank goes through a technology integration effort to enable the customer to access information about his or her specific account relationship. The six primary drivers of Internet banking includes, in order of primacy are:  · Improve customer access  · Facilitate the offering of more services  · Increase customer loyalty  · Attract new customers  · Provide services offered by competitors  · Reduce customer attrition INDIAN BANKS ON WEB The banking industry in India is facing unprecedented competition from non-traditional banking institutions, which now offer banking and financial services over the Internet. The deregulation of the banking industry coupled with the emergence of new technologies, are enabling new competitors to enter the financial services market quickly and efficiently. Indian banks are going for the retail banking in a big way. However, much is still to be achieved. This study which was conducted by students of IIML shows some interesting facts:  · Throughout the country, the Internet Banking is in the nascent stage of development (only 50 banks are offering varied kind of Internet banking services).  · In general, these Internet sites offer only the most basic services. 55% are so called entry level sites, offering little more than company information and basic marketing materials. Only 8% offer advanced transactions such as online funds transfer, transactions cash management services.  · Foreign Private banks are much advanced in terms of the number of sites their level of development. EMERGING CHALLENGES Information technology analyst firm, the Meta Group, recently reported that financial institutions who dont offer home banking by the year 2000 will become marginalized. By the year of 2002, a large sophisticated and highly competitive Internet Banking Market will develop which will be driven by  · Demand side pressure due to increasing access to low cost electronic services.  · Emergence of open standards for banking functionality.  · Growing customer awareness and need of transparency.  · Global players in the fray  · Close integration of bank services with web based E-commerce or even disintermediation of services through direct electronic payments (E- Cash).  · More convenient international transactions due to the fact that the Internet along with general deregulation trends, eliminate geographic boundaries.  · Move from one stop shopping to Banking Portfolio i.e. unbundled product purchases. Certainly some existing brick and mortar banks will go out of business. But thats because they fail to respond to the challenge of the Internet. The Internet and its underlying technologies will change and transform not just banking, but all aspects of finance and commerce. It represents much more than a new distribution opportunity. It will enable nimble players to leverage their brick and mortar presence to improve customer satisfaction and gain share. It will force lethargic players who are struck with legacy cost basis, out of business-since they are unable to bring to play in the new context. MAIN CONCERNS IN INTERNET BANKING In a survey conducted by the Online Banking Association, member institutions rated security as the most important issue of online banking. There is a dual requirement to protect customers privacy and protect against fraud. Banking Securely: Online Banking via the World Wide Web provides an overview of Internet commerce and how one company handles secure banking for its financial institution clients and their customers. Some basic information on the transmission of confidential data is presented in Security and Encryption on the Web. PC Magazine Online also offers a primer: How Encryption Works. A multi-layered security architecture comprising firewalls, filtering routers, encryption and digital certification ensures that your account information is protected from unauthorised access:  · Firewalls and filtering routers ensure that only the legitimate Internet users are allowed to access the system.  · Encryption techniques used by the bank (including the sophisticated public key encryption) would ensure that privacy of data flowing between the browser and the Infinity system is protected.  · Digital certification procedures provide the assurance that the data you receive is from the Infinity system. Concluding Part Claus Nehmzow, a Principal in the Information Technology Group in London at Booz Allen Hamilton, writes of some compelling research findings and offers his projections for European banks in The Internet Will Shake Backings Medieval Foundations. He believes the low transaction cost will make banking on the Net irresistible, but also that this will require institutions to carefully consider and plan customer relations programs.  · It is believed that everything will be determined by content and context, and where execution will be key. From a customer and service provider perspective, this is where the world is moving-it is going to be real-time, on-line, personalisation for both marketing and the service experience. If existing banks dont want to disappear, it is this challenge of Integration that they need to embrace in order to win and survive. The more things change, the less they change. In the months and years-ahead are going to be how Service Providers integrate and market their offerings across different channels. The strategic and executional battles of the future are going to be fought for Channel Integration. What does Channel Integration means? It means that an institution presents an identical face to the customer-be it in the branch, on the web, at an ATM or for that matter, through a sales representative or a broker. An identical face, an identical message. Or better still, messages that re inforce each other. If a sales representative tries to sell you a housing loan, you get e-mail a day later reminding you about the loan. Thats called Integrated Sales, which results in incremental economic activity and improved efficiencies of communications. Channel Integration across the phone web can clearly lead to a gain of several percentage points of GDP. The beauty of this approach is that one channel does not displace another. They feed on each other to create incremental value for the customer, as well as the institution. The incremental value comes from two distinct sources. Firstly, you reduce inefficiencies. You dont send people junk mail because you know that they are not likely to buy a particular product or service today. That results in net saving for the economy. Secondly, you persuade people at the right time (the right time from the customers perspective, not from the service providers perspective) to opt for a tailor made offering. This too increases value. Actu ally, this has to do with the Internet itself, and more to with the underlying technologies of the Internet which allow incremental efficiency, and empowers the customer to make more enlightened and timely choices.  · Lastly the product range is another issue which becomes important. It will take a technological revolution to make available advanced banking products on the net and given the rate at which the technology is developing we can expect this to happen in near future. STRATEGIES TO BE ADOPTED BY INDIAN BANKS Internet banking would drive us into an age of creative destruction due to non-physical exchange, complete transparency giving rise to perfectly electronic market place and customer supremacy. The question to be asked right now is What the Indian Banks should do Whatever is the strategy chosen and options adopted, certain key parameters would determine the banks success on web: 1. For long term success, a bank may follow:  · Adopting a webs mindset  · Catching on the first movers advantage  · Recognising the core competencies  · Ability to deal multiplicity with simplicity  · Senior Management initiative to transform the organisation from inward to outward looking  · Aligning roles and value propositions with the customer segments  · Redesigning optimal channel portfolio  · Acquiring new capabilities through strategic alliances. 2. The above can be implemented in four steps:  · Familiarising the customer to new environment by demo version of software on banks web site. This should contain tour through the features which are to be included. It will enable users to give suggestions for improvements, which can be incorporated in later versions wherever feasible.  · Second phase provides services such as account information and balances, statement of account, transaction tracking, mail box, check book issue, stop payment, financial and customised information.  · The third phase may include additional services such as fund transfers, DD issue, standing instructions, opening fixed deposits, intimation of loss of ATM cards.  · The last step should include advanced corporate banking services like third party payments, utility bill payments, establishment of L/Cs, Cash Management Services etc. Enhanced plan for the customers in future can include requests for demand drafts and pay orders and many more to bring in the ultimate in banking convenience. All the above strategies will help banks in translating their traditional business model into an Internet one, falling into three main categories  · One stop shop  · Virtual one-stop-shop  · Best of breed supplier.

Operations Of Congress :: essays research papers

The operations of congress have been influenced by a number of factors. These including a committee system, political parties, public opinion and the media, and interest groups and lobbying. Each section takes a part in congress. By getting them in involved with each part or even running them. A committee is one or more people appointed or elected to consider or, report on, or take action on a particular matter. Because of the advantages of a division of labor, legislative committees of various kinds have assumed much of the work of legislatures in many nations. Standing committees are appointed in both houses of the U.S. Congress at the beginning of every session to deal with bills in the different specific classes. Important congressional committees include those on ways and means; appropriations; interstate commerce; and military, naval, and foreign affairs. As in the U.S. government, these committees are quite powerful because of their ability to delay legislation. A party political is an organization which aim is to gain control of the government usually through the election of its candidates to public office. Political parties take many forms, but their main functions are similar: to supply personnel for government positions; to organize these personnel around the formation; and to serve in a mediating role between individuals and their government. Political parties are as old as organized political systems. Political parties have been organized for various reasons: to support a particular political figure, to advance a particular policy or a general ideological stand, to aid politically certain groups or sections of society, or merely to combine for short-term political advantage. The public opinion and the media have activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations, is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most favorable light. Thus, the goal of the public relations consultant is to create, through the organization of news and advertising. An advantageous image for his/her client, be it a business corporation, cultural institution, or private or public individual; towards this end the making of favorable public opinion many researchers show techniques and communications media are used. Although many of the same methods are employed, public relations differs from propaganda, which is generally government supported, international in scope, and political in nature. The earliest form of public relations and still the most widely practiced is publicity. Lobbying is the practice and profession of influencing governmental decisions, carried out by agents who present the concerns of special interests to legislators and administrators. Operations Of Congress :: essays research papers The operations of congress have been influenced by a number of factors. These including a committee system, political parties, public opinion and the media, and interest groups and lobbying. Each section takes a part in congress. By getting them in involved with each part or even running them. A committee is one or more people appointed or elected to consider or, report on, or take action on a particular matter. Because of the advantages of a division of labor, legislative committees of various kinds have assumed much of the work of legislatures in many nations. Standing committees are appointed in both houses of the U.S. Congress at the beginning of every session to deal with bills in the different specific classes. Important congressional committees include those on ways and means; appropriations; interstate commerce; and military, naval, and foreign affairs. As in the U.S. government, these committees are quite powerful because of their ability to delay legislation. A party political is an organization which aim is to gain control of the government usually through the election of its candidates to public office. Political parties take many forms, but their main functions are similar: to supply personnel for government positions; to organize these personnel around the formation; and to serve in a mediating role between individuals and their government. Political parties are as old as organized political systems. Political parties have been organized for various reasons: to support a particular political figure, to advance a particular policy or a general ideological stand, to aid politically certain groups or sections of society, or merely to combine for short-term political advantage. The public opinion and the media have activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations, is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most favorable light. Thus, the goal of the public relations consultant is to create, through the organization of news and advertising. An advantageous image for his/her client, be it a business corporation, cultural institution, or private or public individual; towards this end the making of favorable public opinion many researchers show techniques and communications media are used. Although many of the same methods are employed, public relations differs from propaganda, which is generally government supported, international in scope, and political in nature. The earliest form of public relations and still the most widely practiced is publicity. Lobbying is the practice and profession of influencing governmental decisions, carried out by agents who present the concerns of special interests to legislators and administrators.