Nature in Literature Essay Example for Free

Nature in Literature Essay Nature is one of the most powerful forces that has ran through literature throughout human history. Ever since the first recorded dramas and philosophical works, man could not avoid being in contact with the world around him, and so his connection to the earth must inevitably be part of his story. In literature, when nature is addressed, it is often in praise or awe, of its terror or of its beauty. Nature can represent the real and visceral as well as the sublime and the mystic. If one examines the work of the Transcendentalists, the Romantic Poets, and certain novelists, it is evident that the underlying feeling is that Nature provides inspiration and bliss, as well as a much-needed refuge from society. One of the best known schools of thought which dealt with Nature in literature is Transcendentalism. The Transcendentalist movement began in America in the 1800s. Transcendentalists believed that the divine could be reached through nature, by any man. The hallmark work of the movement was Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Nature. The most famous section of the work is when Emerson recalls an experience he had in the woods, and says I become a transparent eye-ball. . . . I see all. The currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God. (Cromphout 210) Emerson tapped into an experience of non-being, connecting on a purely spiritual level through nature, without need of church or religion. Equally famed is Henry David Thoreau’s work Walden. In this classic, Thoreau captures the spirit of nature, solitude, and finding joy in both. As an experiment, Thoreau left society and went to live in a cabin on Walden Pond. In this famous statement, Thoreau sums up the mission of his experiment: I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. .. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms. † (Thoreau 5)He was making a stand against the materialism and convoluted nature of society- â€Å"Our life is frittered away by detail, simplify, simplify,† he says. For him nature represented the bare essentials- trees, rock, hunger, thirst; the things that lay behind the trappings of society. He took immense joy in the solitude and beauty of his life at Walden Pond. He farmed, observed, and lived in harmony with nature. Walden opened people’s eyes and inspired them, and might be the most classic example of nature in literature. Another Transcendentalist, the most radical and wonderfully incendiary, was Walt Whitman. His most famous work, Leaves of Grass, was written in free verse and was seen as controversial and even obscene by the uptight intellectuals of the day. The essence of his work is a deep oneness with nature, having no shame in being, and joy in what can be seen and felt. In Song of Myself, he says, â€Å"I am satisfied†¦ I see, dance, laugh, sing. † â€Å"The play of shine and shade on the trees as the supple boughs wag†¦ The feeling of health†¦ the full-noon trill†¦ the song of me rising from bed and meeting the sun. † (Whitman 12) For Whitman, nature is all he needs, he takes endless joy in being, tempering the intellect with natural physical pleasures. An equally important school of thought was the Romantic movement in Europe. Romanticism grew out of a rebellion against the Enlightenment and its stark intellectualism. Instead, romanticism revolves around passion, emotion, nature, mystery, turmoil, and all the qualities of life that were not constrained by reason. â€Å"Nature mysticism† was one of the most important aspects of the movement. (Micale 140) The romantics preferred the country and the wilderness to the city, and loved both gentle, pastoral landscapes as well as the turbulent, sublime, dramatic, and exotic. (Micale 150) Of course, literature was at the core of the Romantic movement, and the love of nature is reflected in its works. An excellent example of the â€Å"sublime† side of nature is found in the work of the mysterious literary figure Ossian, who influenced so many of the romantic writers. Ossian was actually the Scottish poet James Macpherson(1736-1796) who wrote a collection of ancient Scottish poems, claiming to be word-of-mouth folk tales, but it is supposed that he wrote them himself. (Simonsuuri 192) The poems involved misty, windblown, rocky landscapes and moonlight, and the romantic images and ideas he brought about captured the imagination of society and of individuals such as Goethe, Napoleon, and Jefferson. (Simonsuuri 287) People were drawn to this exotic, wild side of nature and the worlds that it conjured. An example of the green, pastoral side of nature in romantic literature is found in William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience. In the poem Laughing Song, he says:â€Å"When the green woods laugh with the voice of joyAnd the dimpling stream runs laughing by,When the air does laugh with our merry wit,And the green hill laughs with the noise of it. † (Blake 28) In Songs of Innocence, Blake connects the lovely landscape with youth, joy, and happiness. In his poetry, the countryside represents â€Å"innocence† and all things good, while the city represents â€Å"experience† and disillusionment. In conclusion, nature is one of the strongest forces found in literature. Men have written about the natural world and how it affects them for centuries, and will continue to do so. In Europe, Nature was at the core of the Romantic movement. Their works reflect both the stormy and sublime side of nature as well as the peaceful and pastoral. Either way, the romantics were moved to bliss and rapture by the beauties they saw around them. In America, a similar movement took place with the Transcendentalists, who believed that the unifying spirit in all things could be reached directly through nature. In literature, nature is often perceived with some amount of mysticism. To man, nature represents all that is not machine and society, it represents a state of freedom, passion, and beauty. If one examines the work of the Transcendentalists, the Romantic Poets, and certain novelists, it is evident that the underlying feeling is that Nature provides inspiration and bliss, as well as a much-needed refuge from society. Word count: 1100.

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Groom -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeche

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Groom I’ll have to keep this speech short because of my shins . . . Nicola has threatened to kick them I go on too long. The humor here is that you think I’m joking. I’d like to start by thanking you all on behalf of my wife and I, for sharing our special day. Thank you all for your kind wishes, cards and presents. I can’t wait to see how many stick on shower radios we get, and exactly how you wrap a wheelbarrow! Nicola and I have been worrying about this day for weeks and it means a great deal to us that you managed to make it. We hope you are all having a great time. Thank you to Barry and Marilyn for making this day possible. Without their help and support, none of us would be here today. I have to thank them both for bringing up such a beautiful and intelligent daughter, I’ll leave you to argue over which trait comes from who. Thank you t...

Jack Daniel Market Entry Strategy

Market Entry Strategy for Jack Daniels (Brown-Forman) to Germany Products Being Exported Consumer: Jack Daniels Old #7 Whiskey Industrial: Jack Daniels signature Whiskey Barrels International Business Policy 490 By: Market Entry Strategy for Jack Daniels (Brown-Forman) to Germany Brown-Foreman Company The Brown-Forman company who is the owner of the Jack Daniels brand since 1956 was founded in 1870 by George Gavin Brown, a young pharmaceuticals salesman in Louisville, who had the then-novel idea of selling top-grade whiskey in sealed glass bottles.Since then it has grown into a company that in fiscal 2006 had sales of 2. 4 billion dollars. The Brown family controls more than 70% of the voting shares. â€Å"This isn’t a History Lesson, This is Jack Daniels† â€Å"Was it simply his lucky number? Some say that Jack Daniel had seven girlfriends or the #7 train carried his barrels. Only Mr. Jack knows the real reason. † Jack Daniels was founded in 1863, at age 13 Jack Daniel owned his first whiskey still. The United States licensed its first ever distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee in 1866. This site is where Jack Daniels whiskey is still produced, today.Jack Daniel’s whiskey has become the top-selling whiskey in the United States due to few safety concerns involved in the distilling process. Also, prioritizing quality was Jack’s other focus, he said, â€Å"Every day we make it, we’ll make it the best we can. † Market Overview Germany is politically as well as economically one of the most important countries in Europe and the European Union. Due to its geographical position, its good infrastructure and its legal certainty, Germany is the first choice for many foreign companies when establishing a Representative Office or a subsidiary for their entry into the European market.The German economy is the world’s fourth largest and accounts for more than one-fifth of the European Union’s Gross Domestic Product. The United States largest European Union trading partner is Germany, also, being the sixth largest market for United States exports. Germany’s economy follows free market principles with a considerable degree of governmental market regulations and generous welfare programs. Germany has a welcoming attitude towards foreign direct investment (FDI). The German market is open for investment in practically all industry sectors, and business activities are free from regulations restricting day-to-day business.German law makes no distinction between Germans and foreign nationals regarding investments or the establishment of companies. The legal framework for FDI in Germany favors the principle of freedom for foreign trade and payment. There are no restrictions or barriers to capital transactions, currency transfers, real estate purchases, repatriation of profits, or access to foreign exchanges. Economic Data Year| Average Unemployment rate| Annual Inflation rate| 2008| 7. 8%| 2. 6% | 2009| 8. 1%| 0. 4%| 2010| 7. 7%| 1. 1%| 2011| 7. 1%| 2,3%| 2012| 6. 7%| 2,1%|Consumer: The largest consumer market in the EU is Germany, with a population of over eighty-two million. Enormous amounts of trade are conducted in Germany. Germany’s geographic location in the middle of the 27-member EU makes Germany a favorable gateway for many US companies to build their global expansion strategy. With Germany being the largest consumer market it gives the opportunity for Jack Daniels to gain a high value in market share. Industrial: A recent study conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce highlights the positive regard, in which the German usiness environment is held by US companies. US companies indicated that for the industrial market, 73 percent of participating American companies named Germany as their first choice for market entry; followed by Eastern Europe (57 percent),and Western Europe (33 percent). This is a good statistic for Jack Daniels because it shows that o ther companies are doing the same which opens up competition and for an easier market entry. Market Challenges The following information must be present on the label: Product type (Trademarks, brand names or fanciful names may not substitute the generic/product name, but may be used in addition to the product name) * List of ingredients proceeded by the word â€Å"Ingredients†; must show all ingredients (including additives) in descending order of weight as recorded at the time of their use in the manufacture and designated by their specific name. In the case of those products that may contain ingredients liable to cause allergies or intolerances, a clear indication should be given on the label by the word â€Å"contains† followed by the name of the ingredient.However, this indication will not be necessary provided the specific name is included in the list of ingredients. * Net quantity in metric units (liter, centiliter, milliliter) * Date of minimum durability not re quired for wine and beverages containing more than 10% alcohol by volume * Special conditions for keeping or use (if applicable) * Name or business name and address of the manufacturer, packager or importer established in the European Union * Country of origin or provenance * Alcohol content for beverages containing more than 1. 2% by volume * Lot identification with the marking preceded by the letter â€Å"L†.REQUIRED DOCUMENTS The following is a list of the documents that are required and/or recommended when importing alcohol beverages into Germany and/or any other EU member state: * Commercial invoice * Customs Value Declaration * Freight Insurance * Freight documents * Customs Import Declaration (SAD form a common import declaration form for all EU Member States; must be drawn up in one of the official languages of the EU) * Packing List * Certificate of Origin * Insurance certificate * Simplified Export Certificate IMPORT PROCEDURES An import declaration is required for goods from third countries such as the U.S. When goods are imported into Germany, it is the responsibility of the importer or his authorized agent to declare them to Customs. A Single Administrative Document or SAD is used for this purpose. This is the approved form for the import declaration process. * The Single Administrative Document (SAD) may be submitted to the Federal Customs Administration, either through physical means or through an electronic declaration. * Goods are released from Customs for â€Å"free circulation† once the pertinent documents have been filed and payment of tariff duties has been completed.After paying the value added tax (VAT) and any other applicable excise duty, goods are also released for consumption and ready to be marketed TAXES/TARIFFS * Value Added Tax (VAT) is an indirect tax on goods and services which is borne by the end consumer and applied to the value added at each stage of the supply chain. * In Germany, it is called Umsatzsteuer. Co nsumer: Germany’s relatively high marginal tax rates and complicated tax laws may constitute an obstacle, although deductions, allowances and write-offs help to move effective tax rates to internationally competitive levels.The Germany industrial market is one of many fluctuations throughout the years. The real German GDP expanded by 1. 7 percent in 2008, after a contraction of 0. 1 percent in 2007. Forecasters predict that the economic growth would slow to 1 percent in 2009. Sluggish consumer demand, weak investment spending and the persistent crisis in the construction sector continue to exert a dampening effect on recovery. The German economy continues to suffer from structural problems, including inflexibility and over-regulation in labor markets, taxation and business establishment, as well as high social insurance costs.This might slow the demand for Jack Daniels number 7 whiskeys due to it being a higher end drink. The German culture might not justify spending the 30 d ollars on a bottle of Jack Daniels when you can get Evan Williams for half the price. Industrial: With the exception of participation in the EU Common Agricultural Policy, Germany presents few formal barriers to U. S. trade or investment. Germany has pressed the new EU Commission to reduce regulatory burdens and promote innovation in order to increase the EU member states’ competitiveness.Germany's government regulation is often complex and may offer a degree of protection to established local suppliers. Safety or environmental standards, not inherently discretionary but always applied, can complicate access to the market for U. S. products. American companies (Jack Daniels) interested in exporting to Germany should make sure they know which standards apply to their product and obtain timely testing, certification (CE), and all the different regulatory compliances. Also the use of free trade zones and bonded warehouses might be a way to cut costs by assembling the barrels the re instead of beforehand.German standards are especially relevant to U. S. exporters because, as EU-wide standards are developed, they are often based on existing German ones. Market Opportunities For companies in the US, the largest EU market to enter is Germany. Germany is an important element to Jack Daniels Old Whiskey #7 and the signature Oak Barrels’ exporting strategy into Europe. With the high costs of doing business in Germany come, high levels of productivity, a first-class infrastructure, quality engineering, highly skilled labor force, and a location at the center of EU.This in turn makes Germany a very appealing country to export Jack Daniels brand into. U. S. Exports and Imports to Germany Year| Exports to Germany| Imports from Germany| Balance| 2008| 54,505. 3| 97,496. 6| ? 42,991. 3| 2009| 43,306. 3| 71,498. 2| ? 28,191. 9| 2010| 48,160. 7| 82,429. 1| ? 34,268. 4| 2011| 40,837. 0| 80,616. 8| ? 39,779. 8| 2012| 44,983. 6| 99,299. 3| -54,315. 7| Between Germany and its eastern European neighbors, the labor cost gap has been significantly reduced. In fact, Germany has gained the labor-cost edge in recent years.Since 2002, wages have risen in most European Union countries, with the growth rate averaging 3. 1 percent. While some countries; particularly those in Eastern Europe experienced a rise of more than seven percent. Germany recorded the lowest labor cost growth within the EU at just 1. 6 percent. This has been another decisive argument in favor of Germany as a premium market entry spot in the European Union Main Exports and Imports by Commodity with Germany 2010 Commodity| Imports from Germany| Exports to Germany| Apparel| USD 115. 6 million| USD 142. 3 million|Chemical goods| USD 7. 1 billion| USD 7. 2 billion| Electric Equipment| USD 9. 5 billion| USD 11. 4 billion| Beverages| USD 611. 9 million| USD 426. 2 million| Machinery| USD 15. 4 billion| USD 6. 8 billion| Cars and car parts| USD 25. 4 billion| USD 5 billion| Consumer: For the consumer product Germany’s excellent workforce is decisive to the country’s high productivity rates. It comprises over 40 million people, making it the largest pool of ready labor in the EU. Germany’s world-class education system ensures that the highest standards are always met.More than 80 percent of the German workforce has received formal vocational training or is in possession of an academic degree. For the productivity rates and workforce size, it shows good potential for Jack Daniels to gain market share and higher employees that will work hard and grow the company to the German standards. Industrial: Industrial market entry is all about efficiency and margins. Germany’s logistics infrastructure is among the best; its companies are also global logistics leaders. In fact, the world’s leading logisticsservices provider is a German company Deutsche Post DHL.Deutsche Bahn operates Europe’s largest rail network and Lufthansa Cargo is one o f the world’s leading global air freight companies. Annual revenues of over EUR 220 billion in 2011 make Germany Europe’s logistics leader. No other EU country comes close to Germany’s market size. This enables transportation of goods and services to be much more efficient, and cost worthy due to convenience. Product Description Consumer: Jack Daniel's Black Label, also known as Old Number 7 or more commonly as JD is one of the best-selling whiskies in the world.Made in the Tennessee Sour Mash style, it is very similar to bourbon with the additional step of dripping the fresh make spirit through a vat of sugar maple charcoal to â€Å"mellow† the whiskey before going into barrel. The result is a smooth, versatile whiskey that is true to its country roots. Whether drinking it neat, on the rocks or in a Jack and Coke or perhaps a Lynchburg Lemonade, Jack Daniels Black Label delivers a consistent, quality product that pleases imbibers around the world. It has been diluted from its original 45 percent alcohol content.Every drop is filtered through sugar maple charcoal in large wooden vats also referred to as sugar mellowing. Industrial: (Jack Daniels Barrels) The Brown-Forman Cooperage is the only barrel making facility exclusive to one distiller. Formerly the Blue Grass Cooperage Company, the cooperage was renamed in 2009 to the Brown-Forman Cooperage. The scale of the facility is massive, including an aging and storage facility for the wood that goes into making the barrels that has over thirty million dollars’ worth of lumber stored in it.Jack Daniel’s barrels are all made from American Oak. Wood is sourced from a number of regions, including the Ozarks, Appalachia, and a â€Å"Northern Region† that includes and surrounds Minnesota. The wood from the various regions is milled and then delivered to the cooperage. Fresh cut oak, or â€Å"green wood,† is 85% water, so to be used for barrels it needs to be drie d and aged. Drying wood too quickly can create splits, cracks, and checks (microscopic cracks) which cause a barrel to leak, so the wood needs to be slowly aged outdoors to abide by the jack standards.Also the barrel can only be used once so the demand is always constant for the American oak wood throughout the world. Fun Fact: In addition to gradually drying out the wood, exposing the wood to the elements also helps determine flavor. Green wood is high in tannic acids (as much as 12%), which translates into the bite you get when drinking the whiskey. When you dry wood outside and it gets drenched with rain and then dried by the sun, this helps reduce and â€Å"tame† the levels of tannic acid which makes for a smoother taste experience.One of the things you realize when reading the steps for a Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Barrel being built is how natural a process it is. While there’s a fair amount of machinery that goes into the process, but the process all is focuse d on shaping and preserving the natural qualities of the wood. â€Å"Each barrel is as individual as one of us,† Jack Daniels always said. But this is why they are in such demand for all the different countries (i. e. Germany) for trying to produce and make the Jack Daniels brand.Brown-Forman announced plans today for a new cooperage to craft barrels in Decatur, Alabama, in order to meet growing worldwide demand for Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. Brown-Forman officials said the tremendous growth of the Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands both domestically and internationally necessitated building the new cooperage . Brown-Forman and Jack Daniel’s officials joined with Alabama Governor Robert Bentley in Montgomery, AL, to make the formal announcement today. The Jack Daniel Cooperage is expected to be operational in May 2014, and it will eventually employ approximately 200 workers.It will be the second cooperage owned by Brown-Forman, which operates another fa cility in Louisville, KY, and will double the company’s barrel-making capacity. â€Å"Barrels are more than a container for our whiskey; they’re an important ingredient,† said Jeff Arnett, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. â€Å"All of the color of Jack Daniel’s and more than half of our whiskey’s flavor is derived from the barrel. We believe in the importance of the barrel in making our whiskey so much that we are the only major distiller that makes its own barrels. Product PricingConsumer: Jack Daniels Old No 7 goes for roughly $23. 99 per 750ml. This is your average price but since this Whiskey is being exported into Germany the rough price in Euros is 18. 47 with the conversion rate but then you must factor in the fact that alcohol is sold in different amounts in Europe. For 700ml it is 19. 61 euros roughly. So it is cheaper to get whiskey abroad then it is here. The Germany price is also taken into account that their currency is rated di fferent than ours in the fact that their Yen purchases different amounts then the US dollar.Also the prices of alcohol are different from the US in the fact that every country has their own regulations and tax rates. The age of the drinking age is also another factor which might cause the price to be lower due to younger adults usually having less income. Industrial: Most sales forces don't sell in a manner that yields the most profit. Relationships, of course, are important. But to garner the highest price, your sales force needs to confidently produce why your product offers the highest value compared to rivals. Value always doesn't mean lowest price.Instead, it is the offering that provides the best â€Å"deal† (most benefits for the price) for clients. Do to these different factors or pricing the whiskey barrels will be sold at prices compensated by exchange rates and currencies. * US: $160. 00-$200. 00/Per Barrel * Euro: Eu123. 04-Eu153. 80/Per Barrel These prices will a ccount for a 20% profit margin and take care of any costs that are gained through the export process. It makes sure that the company (Jack Daniels) has the right amount of cash coming in so there barrel manufacturing is up to full productivity potential. Product PromotionConsumer: Although, Jack Daniels Old #7 generally meets the criteria as straight bourbon, the company disavows this classification and simply just markets it as a Tennessee Whiskey. Old Senator Roger Motlow, believed in ‘stomach to stomach advertising. ’ â€Å"If you can get them to taste the whiskey, you won’t need any advertising. † Its target audience is mainly AB, male, 34-55; conservative people, with a strong personality based on the sense of effort and a life of tradition and strong values. The Jack Daniels drinker is an anti-conformist consumer, often like music especially rock music or country music especially in the States.Basing on the facts that 55% of whiskey drinkers use bour bon whiskey with a mix and that the majority of the people who mix a whiskey with a Cola or other substances are likely to use it in a bar or a club, assumptions can be made suggesting Jack Daniels drinkers are likely to be slightly younger than other type of whiskey drinkers. Furthermore marketing strategies conducted by Jack Daniel’s in the last five years suggest a reposition of the brand to appeal a younger audience. Sports sponsorship and music-related associations will attract a 24-35 years old type of audience, with an interest to expand the target to a female audience too.Industrial: The most successful market entrants are those that offer innovative products featuring high quality and modern styling (Jack Daniels Whiskey Barrels). Germans are responsive to the innovation and high technology evident in Jack Daniels whiskey barrels. The German market is decentralized and diverse, with interests and tastes differing dramatically from one German state to another. Success ful market strategies take into account regional differences as part of a strong national market presence which Jack Daniels had done very well.The experienced representation is a major asset to any market strategy, given that the primary competitors for most American products are domestic firms with established presences. Jack Daniels can overcome such stiff competition by offering high-quality products, services at competitive prices, and locally based after-sales support. Jack Daniels whiskey barrels are one thing that is unique and that is needed to produce the special Jack Daniels taste. The German culture is one that approves of the brand which also is a huge advantage. Conclusion Consumer: As shown below Jack Daniels is growing worldwide daily.Germany is no exception that it is an important part to conquering the global market for whiskey the fact that they are considered in their own category as Tennessee Whiskey helps because of how their whiskey is processed through the ba rrels is different to other ‘bourbons. ’ They do have a competitive edge in that regard since their product is considered more regal than other brands since they are in a category of their own. Germany is the perfect export country for the Jack Daniels Company and should use the market to their advantage. Industrial: As Jack Daniel's has grown from a U.S. brand to a global one, so the Jack Daniel's marketing team has grown from a small number of people to a global marketing organization. For Jack Daniels whiskey barrels, Germany is politically as well as economically one of the most important countries in Europe and the European Union for the Jack Daniels business. Due to its geographical position, its good infrastructure and its legal certainty Germany should be the first choice for any foreign company when establishing an office or a subsidiary for their entry into the European market. Bibliography * http://www. ackdaniels. com/history/legend-old-no-7 * http://www. dr inkspirits. com/whiskey/jack-daniels-barrel-making/ * http://translate. google. com/translate? hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www. jack-lives-here. de/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgerman%2Bjack%2Bdaniels%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1R2WQIB_enUS509%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D673&sa=X&ei=8wBJUeLwHYrSygHWyICgCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDwQ7gEwAA * http://www. businessweek. com/stories/2007-10-10/jack-daniels-international-appealbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice * http://articles. businessinsider. om/2012-01-10/strategy/30610634_1_jack-daniel-pop-culture-whiskey-brand * http://management. fortune. cnn. com/2011/12/08/jack-daniels-jim-stengel-grow/ * http://www. grin. com/en/e-book/180587/jack-daniel-s-brand-activity-analysis? partnerid=googlebooks * http://www. huffingtonpost. com/2012/09/26/whiskey-barrels_n_1916768. html * http://www. qualityassurancemag. com/qa0212-jack-daniels-whiskey. aspx * http://www. trademarkia. com/jack-daniels-old-no-7-brand-85128967. html * http://export. gov/germany/marketresea rchongermany/countrycommercialguide/doingbusinessingermany/index. sp * http://www. entergermany. com/marketentry. html * http://www. startupoverseas. co. uk/expanding-a-business-in-germany/entering-the-market. html * http://www. bbc. co. uk/news/business-18868704 * http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Content/EN/Invest/_SharedDocs/Downloads/GTAI/Brochures/Germany/economic-overview-germany-market-productivity-innovation. pdf * http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Economy_of_Germany * http://www. whiskyfinder. eu/beverage. php? cmd=show&id=85 * http://www. crownwineandspirits. com/brands/Jack-Daniels. html

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Sun Cellular

1. What are the factors that contributed to URC' s success? Some of the factors that contributed URC's success are: Being innovative and aggressive frontrunner in the snack food industry. Its products can be found in virtually every household across the country, with market shares indicating that one out of every two modern snack products enjoyed by Filipino consumers is a URC offering. The secret behind URC's success is the EXCELLENT VALUE that its products provide consumers. URC products offer consumers world class quality at affordable prices.Using only state-of-the-art equipment and stringent manufacturing standards, the company is also well on its way to obtaining ISO 9002 Certification for all its plants. 2. Analyzed the growing market base in Asia. How did Gokongwei take advantage of it? Gokongwei take advantage the growing market base in Asia by producing innovative products but at the same time cheaper than the other products in the market. Gokongwei also provide goods that basically needed by the consumer. As his early life as a teen, Gokongwei learned that basic need are the best product that the demand will never cease.Also he offered fresh products that the other company didn't offer. With this strategy invading the growing Asia market is possible. 3. Based on Gokongwei words of wisdom, how can the Philippines compete globally? â€Å" I am 81 today. But I do not forget the little boy that I was in the palengke in Cebu. I still believe in family. I still want to make good. I still don’t mind going up against those older and better than me. I still believe hard work will not fail me. And I still believe in people willing to think the same way.Through the years, the market place has expanded: between cities, between countries, between continents. I want to urge you all here to think bigger. Why serve 86 million when you can sell to four billion Asians? And that’s just to start you off. Because there is still the world beyond Asia. When you go back to your offices, think of ways to sell and market your products and services to the world. Create world-class brands. You can if you really tried. I did. As a boy, I sold peanuts from my backyard. Today, I sell snacks to the world.I want to see other Filipinos do the same. † Based on Gokongweis' words of wisdom, to able for the Philippines to compete globally, we Filipino must not be afraid to take the challenge of competing against multinationals compny or bigger competitors. For us not to be aeaten by larger competitors we must make sure we came prepared with great products and great strategies. We ended up changing the rules of the game instead. 4. Are there hindrances for the Philippines inability to have it's own global branch? Explain.Yes, there’s always an opportunity everyday passes our lives but ignore them as we don’t like of doing it because of PRIDE and FEAR. it is always printed in our mind that every time we saw something different we al ways ignore them as it is not our line of profession or simply saying its against our pride or just fear of doing it. if only we have the same determination and willingness to reach our goal just like Sir Gokongwei, then we are far more successful than any other countries. i knew that this is a life changing story and i hope that we all use it.I myself has a lot to work out specially my ATTITUDE. the attitude of wasting TIME. i have a lot of goals in life but did nothing to get them until time passes by and forgot them. if only i valued my time then i’m sure i would be now a somebody person. but its not yet late. starting immediately, ill make something different for my self. something that i can be proud of someday when my hair became grey†¦ and has a story to tell to my grandchildren. ITS NEVER LATE TO BE A SUCCESSFUL PERSON, just work it out.At the end, it is only you who will reap them all. don’t mind about the failure, as they say it is always â€Å"trial an d error†, and always say it to your self † at least i tried†. but never stop from there. as from failure you will learn the best wisdom in life, and from wisdom can have the best weapon to fight the battle, and through your best weapon you will have a big chances to win. then you will have a story to tell†¦ who knows you might will become part of the business history. 5. Identify Gokongwei's entrepreneurship traits which made him successful.Gokongwei's entrepreneurship traits made him successful are: Self-determination This self-made entrepreneur is not afraid to become a second mover. He loves to offer an alternative from the number 1 company offering products and services like in telecommunications (SUN Cellular), real estate (Robinsons Land), and airline (Cebu Pacific). He doesn’t like mixing politics and business. He doesn’t like being very close to government. Because according to him, wealth that’s based purely on politics cannot be sustained. He thinks outside the envelope.Like Henry Sy Sr. and Andrew Tan, John Gokongwei Jr. thinks outside the envelope because he started his businesses from scratch. There’s no baggage and no tradition to follow. 6. Make a research on the acquisition of sun cellular by PLDT. Make your comments. PLDT buys majority stake of Sun Cellular The biggest IT story of the day is PLDT’s acquisition of Digitel which operates Sun Celluar, the 3rd largest telco player in the Philippines. PLDT, which owns Smart Comm. , becomes a much bigger operator and strengthening it’s number 1 spot in the country.The Philippine Long Distance Telephone company announced today its acquisition of Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel) from JG Summit amounting to Php74. 1 billion or 51. 55% shares in exchange of new PLDT assets worth 2,500 per share. Digitel, which owns Sun Cellular, announced that under the new leadership the paired networks will continue to the expansion of broadband rollout and other next generation technologies in both fixed and wired services. PLDT says Sun Cellular will remain a separate entity and retain the brand.Smart already surpassed 45 million subscribers in 2010 while Sun Cellular, which has over 16 million subs, was already inching closer to Globe Telecom (26. 5 million). Smart’s rapid growth and expansion requires more wider frequency and that might have prompted the Sun Cellular buy-out. At the same time, Sun Cellular has become a large player in terms of post-paid subscribers (even the first one to reach 1 million). Meanwhile, Smart has only around 500k postpaid subscribers while Globe has around 900k.From having 3 large celco players, we now have just 2 — Smart at far #1 and Globe at a minority #2. COMMENT: This strategy that PLDT done is what we called Globalization, since the market for networks are now vast where there are various networks competing with each other,companies now have to buy another network. To maintain quality and competitive pricing, PLDT have redesigned their organizational structures and strategically buy the competing netwoork such as Sun cellular to lessen the competitors in the industry. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Sun Cellular 1. What are the factors that contributed to URC' s success?Some of the factors that contributed URC's success are:Being innovative and aggressive frontrunner in the snack food industry. Its products can be found in virtually every household across the country, with market shares indicating that one out of every two modern snack products enjoyed by Filipino consumers is a URC offering. The secret behind URC's success is the EXCELLENT VALUE that its products provide consumers. URC products offer consumers world class quality at affordable prices. Using only state-of-the-art equipment and stringent manufacturing standards, the company is also well on its way to obtaining ISO 9002 Certification for all its plants.2. Analyzed the growing market base in Asia. How did Gokongwei take advantage of it?Gokongwei take advantage the growing market base in Asia by producing innovative products but at the same time cheaper than the other products in the market. Gokongwei also provide goods that bas ically needed by the consumer. As his early life as a teen, Gokongwei learned that basic need are the best product that the demand will never cease. Also he offered fresh products that the other company didn't offer. With this strategy invading the growing Asia market is possible.3. Based on Gokongwei words of wisdom, how can the Philippines compete globally?â€Å" I am 81 today. But I do not forget the little boy that I was in the palengke in Cebu. I still believe in family. I still want to make good. I still don’t mind going up against those older and better than me. I still believe hard work will not fail me. And I still believe in people willing to think the same way. Through the years, the market place has expanded: between cities, between countries, between continents. I want to urge you  all here to think bigger. Why serve 86 million when you can sell to four billion Asians? And that’s just to start you off.Because there is still the world beyond Asia. When y ou go back to your offices, think of ways to sell and market your products and services to the world. Create world-class brands. You can if you really tried. I did. As a boy, I sold peanuts from my backyard. Today, I sell snacks to the world. I want to see other Filipinos do the same.† Based on Gokongweis' words of wisdom, to able for the Philippines to compete globally, we Filipino must not be afraid to take the challenge of competing against multinationals compny or bigger competitors. For us not to be aeaten by larger competitors we must make sure we came prepared with great products and great strategies. We ended up changing the rules of the game instead.4. Are there hindrances for the Philippines inability to have it's own global branch? Explain.Yes, there’s always an opportunity everyday passes our lives but ignore them as we don’t like of doing it because of PRIDE and FEAR. it is always printed in our mind that every time we saw something different we alwa ys ignore them as it is not our line of profession or simply saying its against our pride or just fear of doing it. if only we have the same determination and willingness to reach our goal just like Sir Gokongwei, then we are far more successful than any other countries. i knew that this is a life changing story and i hope that we all use it. i myself has a lot to work out specially my ATTITUDE.The attitude of wasting TIME. i have a lot of goals in life but did nothing to get them until time passes by and forgot them. if only i valued my time then i’m sure i would be now a somebody person. but its not yet late. starting immediately, ill make something different for my self. something that i can be proud of someday when my hair became grey†¦ and has a story to tell to my grandchildren. ITS NEVER LATE TO BE A SUCCESSFUL PERSON, just work it out. at the end, it is only you who will reap them all.Don’t mind about the failure, as they say it is always â€Å"trial and error†, and always say it to your self † at least i tried†. but never stop from there. as from failure you will learn the best wisdom in life, and from wisdom can have the best weapon to fight the battle, and through your best  weapon you will have a big chances to win. then you will have a story to tell†¦ who knows you might will become part of the business history.5. Identify Gokongwei's entrepreneurship traits which made him successful.Gokongwei's entrepreneurship traits made him successful are:Self-determinationThis self-made entrepreneur is not afraid to become a second mover. He loves to offer an alternative from the number 1 company offering products and services like in telecommunications (SUN Cellular), real estate (Robinsons Land), and airline (Cebu Pacific). He doesn’t like mixing politics and business. He doesn’t like being very close to government. Because according to him, wealth that’s based purely on politics cannot be su stained. He thinks outside the envelope. Like Henry Sy Sr. and Andrew Tan, John Gokongwei Jr. thinks outside the envelope because he started his businesses from scratch. There’s no baggage and no tradition to follow.6. Make a research on the acquisition of sun cellular by PLDT. Make your comments.PLDT buys majority stake of Sun CellularThe biggest IT story of the day is PLDT’s acquisition of Digitel which operates Sun Celluar, the 3rd largest telco player in the Philippines. PLDT, which owns Smart Comm., becomes a much bigger operator and strengthening it’s number 1 spot in the country. The Philippine Long Distance Telephone company announced today its acquisition of Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel) from JG Summit amounting to Php74.1 billion or 51.55% shares in exchange of new PLDT assets worth 2,500 per share. Digitel, which owns Sun Cellular, announced that under the new leadership the paired networks will continue to the expansion of br oadband rollout and other next generation technologies in both fixed and wired services. PLDT says Sun Cellular will remain a separate entity and retain the brand.Smart already surpassed 45 million subscribers in 2010 while Sun Cellular, which has over  16 million subs, was already inching closer to Globe Telecom (26.5 million). Smart’s rapid growth and expansion requires more wider frequency and that might have prompted the Sun Cellular buy-out. At the same time, Sun Cellular has become a large player in terms of post-paid subscribers (even the first one to reach 1 million). Meanwhile, Smart has only around 500k postpaid subscribers while Globe has around 900k. From having 3 large celco players, we now have just 2 — Smart at far #1 and Globe at a minority #2.COMMENT:This strategy that PLDT done is what we called Globalization, since the market for networks are now vast where there are various networks competing with each other,companies now have to buy another netwo rk. To maintain quality and competitive pricing, PLDT have redesigned their organizational structures and strategically buy the competing netwoork such as Sun cellular to lessen the competitors in the industry.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrandâ€Discussion Questions

'Unbroken' by Laura Hillenbrand- Discussion Questions   Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is the true story of Louis Zamparini, who was an Olympic runner that survived for more than a month on a raft in the Pacific Ocean after crashing his plane during World War II. He was then taken as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese. Hillenbrand tells his story in parts, and these book club questions are also divided by parts of the book so that groups or individuals can discuss the story over time or focus on the areas they want to discuss more deeply. Spoiler Warning: These questions contain details about the end of Unbroken. Finish each section before reading the questions for that part. Part I Were you interested in Part I, which was mostly about Louis childhood and running career?How do you think his childhood and Olympic training helped him survive what would come later? Part II Were you surprised by how many servicemen died in flight training or in planes that went down outside of combat?Superman received 594 holes in the battle over Nauru. What did you think of the descriptions of this air battle? Were you surprised by their ability to survive despite being hit so many times?Did you learn anything new about the Pacific theater during World War II through this part of the book? Part III How do you think Louie survived the crash?What were details of the mens survival on the raft most interesting to you? How they found and saved water or food? The ways they kept up their mental acuity? The lack of provisions in the life raft?What role did emotional and mental state play in Phil and Louies survival? How did they keep their minds sharp? Why was this important?Were you surprised by how ferocious the sharks  were?Louie had several religious experiences on the raft that led to a new belief in God: surviving the gunning by the Japanese bomber, the tranquil day at sea, the provision of rainwater and seeing singing in the clouds. What do you make of these experiences? How were they important to his life story? Part IV Were you aware of how severely the Japanese treated Prisoners of War during World War II? Were you surprised to learn how much worse it was for men captured in the Pacific war than for those captured by Nazis?When Louie is interviewed just after his release, he says If I knew I had to go through those experiences again, Id kill myself (321). As they were going through it, how do you think Louie and Phil survived the starvation and brutality they faced as prisoners?What were the ways the Japanese tried to break the mens spirits? Why does the author focus on how this was worse in many ways than the physical cruelty? What do you think was the hardest thing the men had to endure?Later in the narrative, we learn that the Bird and many of the other soldiers were pardoned? What do you think of this decision?How do you think the men escaped the Kill All order?Why do you think Louies family never gave up hope that he was alive? Part V Epilogue In many ways, Louies unraveling is not surprising considering all he endured. After attending the Billy Graham crusade, however, he never experienced another vision of the Bird, he saved his marriage and he was able to move on with his life. Why do you think this is? What roles did forgiveness and gratitude play in his ability to move on? How did he see God at work throughout his whole experience despite the unimaginable suffering he experienced?From the moment of their rescue through the present day publishing of this book and the movie adaptation, Louie Zamparini has received significant media attention whereas Allen Phillips was treated as a trivial footnote in what was celebrated as Louies story (385). Why do you think that was?Louie continued to have adventures well into old age? What parts of his post-war story were most notable to you?Rate Unbroken on a scale of 1 to 5. Details of the book: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand was published in November 2010.Publisher: Random House496 PagesThe movie adaptation of Unbroken was released in December 2014.

Impact of Legal, Government and Business Structures D2 Assignment

Impact of Legal, Government and Business Structures D2 - Assignment Example t problem facing international business code of ethics is the that standard for employment practices which exist between international business field, this is mostly experienced in the case where an unethical practice that might be banned in a developed country might then be perfectly legal in a different less developed country. Connectively, this would allow an international company to set up its own division in a less developed country to take the advantage of such legality to raise its profits which is unethical employment practice. Bribery is a difficult issue where some communities view it as part of their culture, and believe it’s not a big issue that may need to seek prosecution; others perceive it as an expected daily occurrence form f showing gratitude (Brownell, 1997). Cultural diversity and competence practices which are divalent with different backgrounds and beliefs dictate how one behaves, health beliefs which are inherent to cultural beliefs where cultures have varying beliefs about health, treatment and disease. Different cultures have also had many methods of seeking healthy care. Another strong ethical issue which exists is the religious and cultural institutions (Beckmann,

Financial Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Financial Management - Case Study Example Every foreign exchange market is in a position to mitigate the risk of uncertainty occurred due to the variations in the exchange rates on cash flows of both payables and receivables. â€Å"Under the hypothesis of efficient foreign exchange markets, the validity of the Purchasing Power Parity theorem may take care of the company’s uncertainty with respect to the mean value of its foreign currency portfolio. The remaining uncertainty, i.e. the variance of the value of the foreign currency portfolio around its mean, can be reduced by hedging† (Soenon 2006). Under this kind of marketing, generally, there should be equilibrium between the estimated cost of hedging and the actual cost. In addition, the chances of risks and uncertainty will be higher in case of exchange rates and its variations. It is necessary to consider the uncertainty caused by fluctuating exchange rates on cash flows both payable and receivable. This is due to the fact that one of the important tools with the finance manager to determine the changes in cash in hand and at bank is the cash flow statement. The statement of cash flows, both inflows and outflows can be analyzed to reveal significant relationships. Cash generating efficiency is the ability of an organization or a company to generate cash from its current or continuing operations. To evaluate this, fundamentally, certain ratios are used. Similarly, free cash flow is significant in this regard. It is the amount of cash that remains after deducting funds a company must commit to continue operating as its planned level. Such commitments must cover current continuing operations, interest, income tax, dividend, and net capital expenditures. When the free cash flow is positive, it means that the company has met all its planned commitments and has cash available to reduce debt or expand. A negative free cash flow would mean that the company needs to sell investments, borrow money or issue stock, in a short term, to carry on its finance at the planned levels. Besides measuring the cash efficiency and free cash flow with the help of cash flow statement, the financial analyst also calculates various ratios on cash figures rather than the earnings of the company. Such major ratios are- 1. Price per share/free cash flow per share 2. Operating cash flow/Operating profit 3. Self financing investment ratio, which is the internal funding/ Investment activities (net). It helps to indicates how much of the funds generated by the business are reinvested in assets. It is evident that the concepts of investment and risk are related to each other. Every business entity aims to maximize its returns. The business that deals with the investment in different securities by the investors is beneficial to a great extend but at the same time is quiet risky. More