Effectiveness of Bollinger Band in Signaling Essay Example for Free

Effectiveness of Bollinger Band in Signaling Essay Financial markets are the most difficult markets to operate in when determining the price at which stocks (bonds and foreign exchange are trading). Since stocks trade for long duration of time, traders need to know the appropriate time to buy or sell their stocks. To do this, they must have perfect information on the trends in the market through the market indicators. These indicator are always not obvious and at times require technical devices to show exactly how the trend of a particular stock ha been moving for a period of time (Bollinger 56). A trader can calculate deviations of the prices of that particular that he/she intends to trade and observe it. Though this is one way of observing the indications of stocks in financial market, there have been other means of observing the trends which are easier to use. One of these is the Bollinger Band which was developed by John Bollinger in the early 1980s (www. investopedia. com ). Bollinger band is a technical indicator of a stock in the financial market which consists of a centerline/middle line and two bands that indicate the deviations of the stock’s performance in the market from their pre-determined true trading value (Bollinger 56). These two bands indicate whether the stock was over-trading or under-trading. The upper band indicates the extent at which the prices went above the true value while the lower band indicates the extent at which the prices went below the true value. Through such indications, traders know when to sell or when to buy and make profits. When the upper band is high above the middle band, it means that the prices are high above the true value and when it is below the prices are lowest below the true value. These bands only show indications and they are not actual buying or selling prices. When the band is high, it is said to be expanding such that traders would want to sell the stocks while the band is below the centerline it is said to be contracting and the traders would be willing to buy the stocks (Murphy 344). Bollinger bands technique is used along with other techniques (like the Profit Magic of Stock Transaction Timing and Dow Jones Industrial Average) to give the best results in stock trading. This technique is very effective in that accurate trends can be observed since the bands adapt dynamism as the prices go up or down. The stock price is said to oscillate between the two bands (Murphy 348). They can also be customized to meet each traders needs. Bollinger bands can be set in a way that they only show what each trader needs in the market and hence the kit focuses on a wide range of investor in the financial market ( http://biz. yahoo. com ). They also show whether the prices are high or low and hence indicating the range of how the price had moved in the market. This enables investors to know when to lay off some of their stocks and when to acquire more. Mostly they would acquire more when the prices are below the centerline and shed-off or sell more when the band is above the centerline. And when the price is very much close to the centerline meaning that the prices have not deviated from the true price of that particular stock, no action should be taken (Bollinger 92). Bollinger bands are also consistent since they use the moving average which is used in calculating standard deviation. Thus they give reliable information and at times investors need not require other technical analysis in making their sell and buy decisions (The Quarterly Journal). The Bollinger band also captures much data and hence at a glance one can tell the trend of the stock much faster. Below are examples of analysis of international stocks to show how effective the Bollinger bands are: Intel Corp analysis for 2006: Intel’s lower Bollinger band closed below the centerline on Dec. 22, 2006 and this was a signal for over selling of the companies stock. (www. investopedia. com ). New York Stock Exchange: On June 12, 2006 the stocks broke the lower Bollinger band indicating that there was over selling. Through these signal technical traders would place orders to buy. The Bollinger band showed the extreme end of its lower band the following day putting much pressure for investors to sell. Yahoo! : On Dec 20th, 2006, Yahoo Company’s stock lowered the band which called for more buying. (Lifted from StockCharts. com) The chart shows that there was selling pressure on the stock and it turned out that most people were selling their stocks whereas the strategy was that of buying. Though Bollinger band analysis in the stock market has advantages, there are situations when this method does not give the expected results and it turns out that the market is operating in the opposite direction. Even if this is the case, the bands still oscillate and the trends will continue to show but the prices do not change quickly and thus the effects are not that severe. Over time, since stocks trade for long periods of time the strategy will be correct and the trading goes back to normal (Rachev et al 126). IBM: For instance, on February 26th 2007 IBM was trading below the lower Bollinger band. This meant that the pressure was mounting and forcing the technical traders to sell more. Since the prices were that low, the strategy was to buy stocks the following day on which it turned out that the day was trading low (The Quarterly Journal). This was abnormal in financial markets and this led to down fall of the stocks even greater. (Lifted from StockCharts. com) The stocks were sold well and the business would close below the lower band till March 5th when the selling pressure ceased. This resulted to the band starting to expand and approaching the centerline although huge losses had already been incurred. Apple Inc: On 21st December 2006, Apple closed below the lower Bollinger band which required that stocks be bought the following day. The stocks traded on the lower band and thus the selling pressure continued to take the stocks down. This trend continued until 27th December when some relief was felt. (Lifted from StockCharts. com) In conclusion, Bollinger Bands are just like moving averages which contradict and expand as they move. As they move they form unique patterns that investors are able to observe. Bollinger bands are used as signals of when to sell or buy a stock in the financial markets. Though used as signals, they are not the final indicators as to whether the stocks are to be traded but other factors need to be considered (Schlossberg). These bands are easy to use and one need not go for classes to learn about how to use them in making decisions about stocks. Since prices in the short run are not predictable, investors cannot make decisions based on short-term period but since Bollinger bands are a reflection of a longer period of time, they can make their decisions on that (Schlossberg). List of References John Bollinger: The eSignal Bollinger Band Tool Kit, accessed on 25th September 2008 from http://www. esignal. com/solutions/studies/bollingerband_article. aspx , John Bollinger: Bollinger on Bollinger Bands: McGraw-Hill Companies. 2001 John Devcic: Tales From The Trenches: A Simple Bollinger Band Strategy: accessed on 25th September 2008 from. http://www1. investopedia. com/articles/trading/07/bollinger. asp Boris Schlossberg: Using Bollinger Band Bands To Gauge Trends: Accessed on 25th September 2008 from 38. 102. 154. 10/articles/trading/05/022205. asp Bollinger Charts lifted from StockCharts. com on 25th September 2008 John J. Murphy: Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets: A Comprehensive Guide to Trading Methods and Applications: New York Institute of Finance,Prentice Hall Press. 1999 324-430 The Quarterly Journal of Business and Economics, Spring 2007 Bollinger Bands: Accessed on 25th September 2008 from http://biz. yahoo. com/charts/guide13. html . Rachev; Svetlozar T. , Menn, Christian; Fabozzi, Frank J. , Fat Tailed and Skewed Asset Return Distributions, Implications for Risk Management, Portfolio Selection, and Option Pricing, John Wiley, New York (2005) 123-145 Technical analysis in the forex / Bollinger band : Accessed on 25th September 2008 from www. forexchannel. org/technical_analysis/bollinger_band/

Collective Selection Theory and Class Differentiation

Collective Selection Theory and Class Differentiation Selection argues that fashion as a force in culture, collective selection substitutes class differentiation as a motive for its dynamic change. The elites (buyers and designers) are the ones that move but do not affect the fashion system thus causing collective selection. This occurs because buyers and designers are intertwined in a mesh of a uniform culture where they read the same trends and have the kind of influences to each other. The collective selection forms part of a new movement towards newer tastes with driving forces of fashion being historical continuity (newer fashions arising from older ones), modernity, collective taste from social interaction and finally psychological motives which Blumer (1969) acknowledges but does not favour. From his examination, he observes fashion as a central force that affects cultural sociology. His form of fashion is semi-autonomous which responds to but it is not influenced by opinions and taste of elites. This was a first attempt by socio logists to take the topic of fashion seriously. Georg Simmel in his 1904s class analysis of fashion had given a casual examination of the topic. Introduction Fashion is among the most creative and important industry in the world.  Everyone participates in development of the fashion industry to a certain degree. Fashion is a subject that periodically rediscovers itself and it is fascinating in its dynamics of humanities and social sciences. Social thinkers over time have treated the fashion industry as a window for social change and social class. Fashion has been viewed to embody characteristics representing modernity and culture. Some sociologists argue that it is hard to fathom a social life be it in arts, sciences, politics, entertainment, academia, business, law or morality without exhibiting elements of fashion in one way or another. Society tend to flock to styles, ideas, methods and practices that appear new and exciting to them, and after a period of time, the intensity of the fascination diminishes when newer ones emerge. The need and desire to be in fashion is manifested mostly in dressing. This is characterized by a pull of th e societys or inividuals continuity and the also the push to adopt new innovations. A cultural analysis of fashion is essential in understanding the dynamic shift in trends over time. Unlike the trickle down theory by Georg Simmel in 1904 which did not observe fashion first-hand, the Blumers collective selection theory gives attention to the whole process of meaning to society with focus on practices that are contemporary. An observation is made from the above two theories that fashion setters are the ones who mainly benefit from the intertwined relationship whereas followers benefit a little bit. Blumer asks fellow sociologists to take seriously the topic of fashion. He argues that this is so because fashion is more than clothing. Fashion is natural as it did not appear to society that in history as fashion but achievements that were up-to-date. He further states that fashion is important socially because where it operates be it in philosophy, business or science, it assumes a central position. Blumer asserts that fashion is a behavior that is rational. Fashion has its respectability because people respond to its character that is of distinction and propriety. Simmels (1957) view of fashion as style in his trickle-down theory provided insights such as the relevance of prestige in fashion operation and the proper identification of the realm of fashion as a form of change which is natural as opposed to aberrant. This analysis however falls short of catching the real position of fashion as a wider social happening. Simmel adds that fashion is taken up by social elites for the reason of classifying themselves from the other lower class. The lower group or class adopts the style of the upper group. When new fashions emerge, the upper class shifts to flee from their counterparts hence causing a continuous trickle-down effect characterized by the need for the upper class to distinguish themselves. In a nutshell, fashion is influenced by need for social stratification and social mobility. Though there has been wide criticism of the social class theory as being simplistic and also one-dimensional, it has had broad influence on todays fashion becaus e observation of fashion trends of many consumers show that high status people and the wealthy set the trend in fashion. For instance fashion magazines show images of items that are highly priced and outside the reach of lower class group, this cause a drive for the ordinary group to imitate and emulate the rich. However, it is not the wealth and prestige of the elite that makes the very design fashionable, but it is the designs potential fashionableness that allows the elites prestige to be attached. This is possible because the elite, rather than set the trends/fashion, they struggle and strive to follow its direction. This is based on the fact that people will consume fashion but not because of their wealth or prestige of their social class but just to show fashionability. Moreover, the elite have to make a decision of choosing between competing trends in fashion and that the choice they make is not always dependent on prestige of the innovator of the same fashion. In addition, c lass structure of the 20th century was different from the subsequent centuries. The contemporary societys class has a diversified structure and puts emphasis on fashion modernity. Zeitgeist theory Blumer (1969) expands on the views of Simmel by outlining all the societal conditions of fashion appearance because fashion emanates from societies. On the theory advanced by Herbert Blumer, fashion comes from a process that is collective where people adopt collective tastes expressed in trends in fashion. The driving force of fashion is not always imitation of the higher class people per se, rather they follow trends in fashion because of their desire to be fashionable. Consumers make a choice among various options available in the fashion market. People think of choices of their fashion as personal style and expressing individuality. As the selection goes on at individual level, it also occurs in aggregation into tastes that are collective. As selection and aggregation process in fashion goes on, a zeitgeist theory of trend is reflected. Individual choices in fashion spark a movement which has collective character implications on society. For example a style observed by a public figure may manifest the zeitgeist trend. The theory is a critique of the trickle-down effect of imitation of people of high status. The theory views fashion and trend as a collective or aggregation of choices of individuals in the society. It emphasizes not imitation or copying, but the desire by an individual to be fashionable. For instance, the desire to be in fashion does not necessarily mean emulation of values, lifestyle, or status of the group that sported the style first. Such individuals may opt to be in a collective moment which does not require imitation of what others are wearing. A status theory in trends might suggest that joining a trend is copying. Moreover, fashion rises as emulation then follows by a decline when early adopters try to stratify themselves from the masses by adopting new style. It then follows that, if one tries to equate joining a trend with copying, then the conclusion is that copying is a driving force for fashion. However, the trickle-down effect or status theory does not completely exhaust all the motivations for trends in fashion. According to the zeitgeist theory, imitation of elites and copying does not completely define fashion. Therefore, the theory disaggregates fashion from copying and that it moves not because the market is saturated with copies. In a nutshell, copying in fashion change may play a small role but it is not the engine without which the industrys innovation would stagnate. Social construction element of fashion in a society Blumer argues that fashion as a form of change is not linked to any field arbitrarily but it may affect or influence the content of that particular field which it operates. Fashion is the linkage to the past, the present and the future of the followers of fashion. Blumer (1969) gives six features which are basics of fashion which underline the function played by time in the whole fashion process. First is the readiness and willingness to change particularly in the area and the people through their practices, beliefs, attachments and they must also be ready to accept new forms of social order which thrusts them into the right direction in the future. The assumption and presupposition is that the area of fashion change is in passage, it will responding to changes around it and it is geared towards remaining abreast of current and new developments. Secondly, new proposals or models compete for them to be adopted and embraced. The models for adoption should be diverse by covering a range of viewpoints, themes, doctrines, practices, lines of preoccupation and artifacts use. Thirdly, there has to be relatively free room or opportunity for making a choice between the proposals or models. Fourthly, the selection should be made based on response to the interplay or incipient taste rather than rational considerations, merit or utility. This brings the difficulty of determination of merits because the guiding principles of fashion are not utilitarian or considerations that are rational. Fifthly, is the topic of presence of figures who are prestige and who espouse upon themselves the competing proposals. Blumer (1969) adds that what is perceived to be up to date is better than mere promotion of trends in fashion of certain figure that is prestigious (actor, organization, individual). The sixth element or feature is the area of applicability of the fashion. It should be open to emerging new interests in response to effects of outside situation/events, new participants being introduced in the fashion area and shift social interactions. Blumer argues that a course of fashion development must be present so that a given model is solidified and socially lifted which is important for a certain time frame (Blumer, 1969: 288). According to Meyer and Rowan (1977) as fashion comes and goes within the context of institutional environment, as long as they are accepted and institutionalized as standards in behavior, they can be regarded as institutions. A critique of fashion mechanism features Viewing fashion mechanism from the perspective of a continuing process of fashion that is of collective selection in a competitive model brings a different picture of social analysis. The elites in fashion form part of a collective process which responds to a shift in sensitivity and taste. Features such as historical continuity, modernity, collective taste and psychological motives which affect fashion mechanisms are discussed below. Historical continuity Fashion grows out of predecessors. The innovators of fashion always consider prevailing fashion for purposes of embracing, elaborating or departing from it. A continuity line is thus formed which typically has a trend. This continuity means that no extreme change occurs. On the other hand Blumer calls the popular adornments which lack successor as fads. Modernity Blumer refers to modernity as zeitgeist. Fashion is modern and seeks to remain abreast of modern times. Fashion is always sensitive to changes in developments. Fashion becomes responsible and responsive to trend, to developments in ornamentation, fabrics, and fine arts. Collective taste Collective taste is a force that ensures a process which selects, sets limits and provides guidance and also undergoes refinement through attachment to social forms. Taste is tri-fold in nature. It operates like a selector by giving basis for rejection or acceptance. It is also an agent which guides the growth of action lines and by shaping objects for the purposes of meeting demand. Fashion change occurs frequently in societies where there is more interaction between people and where the newness of the change is most valued rather than feared. Fashion is also not individual but social in nature. Psychological Motives Earlier scholars have traced fashion to be desires for notoriety and personal prestige. For instance, some define it as the effort towards increasing the self attractiveness under conditions that impair ones integrity of the ego. According to Blumer (1969), such explanations are shallow as they singly or either collectively, has been unable to account for trends in fashion because they do not show how the different feelings lead to fashion process. The definitions fail show fashion as a collective selection process as it is. In summary, there are many factors influencing fashion change. Fashion change is selected collectively through interplay between public taste that is dynamic and desire by the elite group to shape modernity which is part of the public. Fashion, according to Blumer (1969) appears as a collective class or grouping for the near future than a movement that is laid down by the prestige figures. Conclusion Blumers (1969) analysis of fashion as being social rather than individual in nature is a holistic attempt by a sociologist to explain the topic. Blumer (1969) concludes that fashion helps individuals and society in general to deal with the dynamics and potential complexities of modern world. Through the process of collective selection, social order is achieved. Fashion brings into fore a measure of uniformity and unanimity in a market that would have been fragmented. It introduces some order in the present. It does so by establishing a model that limits variability hence ensuring uniformity. Secondly, fashion serves at detaching the grip of past events in a dynamic world. This calls for option to move towards new directions hence it cannot be referred to as old-fashioned or out-of-date. Finally fashion operates as preparation that is orderly to the future. It offers elites the chance to give their models and at the same time adopts the ones that withstand collective selection. The ab ove three ways help society move in a unified and orderly manner. Fashion should be viewed as a pivotal mechanism which informs social order in a modernized society. Sociologists should strive to analysis fashion without irrationality and inconsequential behavior.

The Foundation Of Cadbury Limited Marketing Essay

The Foundation Of Cadbury Limited Marketing Essay Cadbury dairy milk is the product of Cadbury which got launched in 1905. It is a great success for Cadbury industry .In the beginning the product is produced by keeping in mind the customer satisfaction for the product which should match the regional selection criteria and it should fulfil the need and demand and customer expectations. Cadbury also introduced chocolate in tins with unique pictures and paintings on each box, which started fascinating the customers. As an international brand Cadbury Dairy Milk carries the same distinctive image all over the world. Wherever you buy a bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk the pack design will be exactly the same, only the language will be different. The famous slogan glass and a half of full cream milk in every half pound with the picture of milk filling into the chocolate bar, is the one of the best British advertising. Cadbury Dairy Milk was a great success as it has capture almost a great number of the market share but soon after some time Dairy Milk start to go down after the entrance of other brands in the market like Nestle, Mars, Hershey which bring down the market share of Cadbury Dairy Milk. Cadbury company was started by an individual person in 1824 name John Cadbury; in Birmingham he laid the foundation of Cadbury Limited. Now Cadbury is the world largest producer of chocolates in the world. Till 1831 the business of the company got changed from a grocery shop to a manufacture of drinking chocolate and coca and till present its going like the same. Dairy Milk is a popular brand of chocolate bar of Cadbury in United Kingdom and in the whole world. It was traduced in 1905 and its comes in a large number of varieties which includes Fruit Nut, Whole Nut, and original Dairy Milk .It comes in different package sizes to suits to the customer needs and demand. Cadbury Plc was founded in1824 by John Cadbury a young Quaker. He first opened a small grocers shop in Birmingham making chocolates on a small scale, with coca and drinking chocolate on the side. Then in 1831 John decided to start manufacturing on a commercial scale, and he bought a warehouse in nearby Crooked Lane. In 1847 John joined his brother Benjamin into the partnership and the name of the firm was changed to Cadbury Brothers. The business was getting popular then both the brothers moved the business to new factories in Bridge Street , but in 1855 after the death of John`s wife and his illness the combined business of both brothers John and Benjamin come to an end with mutual consent and then John transferred all the right to his sons Richard and George. 1861 1900 John Cadbury retired from his business and his sons Richard and George took over the company. As Richard had already joined his father business in 1850 but in 1861 with the partnership of his brother George who was only 25 at that time. Richard started to look after sales and marketing side which was not in good shape. He once said that if business ever made a profit of thousand he will take retirement. Richard was also a talented artist and in 1868 he founded the way of increasing the appeal of chocolate boxes by decorating its lid with pictures some of them are of his own creation, soon after some time he died unexpectedly from diphtheria in 1899. George son of John Cadbury joined Cadbury Brothers in 1856 and became partner in the business with his brother Richard in 1861. The first few years were extremely hard and the brothers worked very hard in order to establish the business. He looked after production and buying and he is also responsible for finding the companys new site, Bournville, he also planned the factory layout himself. Because of his trip to Holland where he bought innovative new coca press, in 1886 Cadbury launched Cocoa Essence, the first unadulterated cocoa in UK. In 1901 he gave the site to Bournville Village Trust. He did many good will works for his employees like setting up education facilities, opened work committees for both men and women and also donated Lickey Hills Country Park to the people of Birmingham. George remained Chairman of Cadbury Bros until his death in 1922. William Cadbury son of Richard Cadbury joined in 1887. He was mainly engaged in engineering, maintenance and new machinery. In 1889 he became managing director, then he gave up his engineering duties and took up charge of sales and buying. He setup the Mens Pension Fund in 1906 and a separate fund for women in 1911 and is also responsible for Cadbury pulling out of the purchase of cocoa from Sao Thome and Principe after evidence of slavery, and for the development of the Ghana cocoa trade. The first proper Cadbury logo of a cocoa tree was commissioned by him in 1905 from the French designer Georges Auriol and also the famous Cadbury signature logo is based on his signature. He became the Chairman of Cadbury Brothers Ltd in 1922 after the death of his uncle and held this position until his retirement in 1937. Elizabeth, Georges second wife is best known for her welfare work. The list of her good will work is endless like she and George in 1909 opened the Woodlands Hospital in North field. She died in 1951. Edward Cadbury son of George and Mary, joined Cadbury Bros in 1893. He was appointed as a Managing Director in 1899 and given two specific duties: to expand exports and to organize the women employees at Bournville, who formed the main part of the labour force. He was responsible for the Export Department from 1899 to 1927 and for the Womens Department from 1899 to 1919. He was made responsible for pricing in 1903 and set up the Costing, Statistical and Planning Departments over the next few years. He was also interested in education and founded the Selly Oak colleges in Bournville, as well as writing books on management and organisation. He was also in charge of the Accountants Department, a member of the Finance Committee and was responsible for the Advertising Department during the inter-war years. Edward was appointed Chairman of the British Cocoa Chocolate Company in 1932 and in 1937 succeeded William as Chairman of Cadbury Bros Ltd. He retained both chairmanships until he reti red in 1943. George Jnr, son of George and Mary joined Cadbury Brothers in 1898. The following year his uncle Richard unexpectedly died. His father George Snr set up a new limited company with himself as chairman and four managing directors: Richards sons Barrow and William and his own sons Edward and George. So George became a managing director at the age of just 21 and was responsible for the technical and scientific side of the business. Georges greatest contribution was the perfection of milk chocolate and he led the development and launch of Cadbury Dairy Milk in 1905. He was also responsible for setting up Cadburys milk factories and transport department. He retired in 1943. 1900 Present Laurence, father of Adrian and Dominic and son of George and Elizabeth joined Cadbury Brothers in 1911 and was the first graduate member of the family to work at Bournville. Cadbury Company builds a village for its employees. He was appointed to the Board of Directors in 1918 with a wide range of responsibilities including engineering and production. He was appointed Director of the British Cocoa Chocolate Company (BCCC) in 1921. Becoming Chairman of Cadbury Brothers and Chairman of BCCC in 1944, he held both posts until he retired in 1959. Dorothy, daughter of Barrow Cadbury and granddaughter of Richard Cadbury, joined the business in 1917. She worked in numerous departments and served on several of the main committees. She retired in 1952. Sir Adrian, eldest son of Laurence Cadbury was appointed as Director in 1958. In 1965 he became Chairman of the British Cocoa Chocolate Company. 1969 saw him taking up the position of Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Cadbury Schweppes, and he became Chairman of Cadbury Schweppes in 1974. He retired in 1989. Son of Laurence Cadbury and brother of Sir Adrian Cadbury, Sir Dominic was appointed director in the late 1960s. He joined the Cadbury Schweppes board in 1974. His subsequent positions have been: 1975-1978: Managing Director, Cadbury Foods Division, 1978-1980: Chief Operating Officer, Cadbury Schweppes, North America; 1980-1983: Managing Director, Cadbury Schweppes; 1983-1993: Group Chief Executive, Cadbury Schweppes; and 1993-2000 Chairman, Cadbury Schweppes. Now retired from the Cadbury business. Appointed Trustee in 1994 and Chairman of the Trust since 1996, Roger was previously a director of various companies. He chairs the Trusts Estate Management Scheme Committee and is a member of the Agricultural Estates Committee. He is currently Chairman of Warwick Independent Schools Foundation, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, and Croft Trust of Adult Education, as well as serving as Trustee of a range of charities. 2. Situation Analysis Cadbury Dairy milk was launched by Schweppes which was the largest food and Beverage cooperation headquartered in the U.S .The Kraft Inc take over Cadbury in 2010 which is the British Confectionary company, the industry`s second-largest globally. The new product is launched globally. 3. SWOT Analysis Cadbury first started its business in 1831 by John Cadbury. Its brings change in cocoa processing from the year 1866 onwards. The company got combined with Schweppes in 1969.Currently this company is employing approximately about 43000 people in all f the world. Today, Cadbury Schweppes is the world`s fourth biggest supplier of chocolate sugar Confectionary. One of its product, Dairy Milk was introduced in 1905 and has become the most successful moulded chocolate in UK history and the basic ingredient for many other Cadbury products 95years later, Dairy Milk is one of the worlds favourite Chocolate brand name sand company`s leading chocolate bar by revenue. 3.1 Aim: It was important to investigate on both forces internal and external environmental for the Dairy Milk in France. Significant organizational and industrial information is required for the development of the SWOT analysis. The main purpose of analysis of the environment and consideration of the situational factor when designing, marketing, planning, is critical as it would allow Dairy Milk to capitalize on organizational strengths, minimize any weakness, exploit market opportunities and avoid any threats. 3.2 Strengths: Cadbury would realize several possible advantages in going abroad. By penetrating a foreign market the company could: Maintain a stable growth of a company by maximizing the use of its production capacity and thus increase economies of scale and scope. With its brand name, Cadbury could counterattack the competitors it faces in the domestic market by attacking their domestic market. Keep up with the financial strength by increasing its sales and profit, indeed the foreign market could present higher profit opportunities than the domestic product. Acquisition rules in UK, reduce its dependence on the UK market and therefore diversify its market specific risk. Overall, Cadbury has been successful through the new products (development) it has to offer. 3.3 Weaknesses: Generally Cadbury has a weak position in the market. Thus, need to change its target to a different location. Cadbury distribution network is weak and has a small market share altogether so if they want to market there product in France successfully, Cadbury has to do its best to get great performance. They can also look towards those situation by them they can get success. Cadbury can market its products by keeping in mind the issue: France production of Chocolate bars and confectionary has increased by 24.5percent between 1988 and 1991 but now it has slowed down because of economic slump. Consumption of Chocolate products which got a rise till 1991 got a hold in 1992, due to the fall in demand because of gloomy economic conditions. Chocolate bars which were selling at 24 per cent of the total volume of chocolate bar have decreased to only 3.7 per cent. 3.4 Opportunities: Cadbury has to built variable position in his confectionary line in the market through his organic product growth. Besides that Cadbury can expand his opportunities to the markets based in Russia and China. Cadbury is also selling its products on internet which is also their popularity side which includes free chocolates. Some of the opportunities are as follows: France is the fourth largest Gross Domestic Product in the whole world. It is first world advanced market economy. Although the recession didnt did wrong with the country economy. 3.5 Threats As a confectionary product maker it is important for Cadbury to aware of its upcoming threats. Company should always check the buying behaviour of consumer buying trend. It is perceived that consumers. There is a possibility for the consumers to shift from chocolates to Healthy food or snacks. If this has happen it could cause Cadbury`s name to fall down. Cadbury prices are competitive from his competitors like Mars, Nestle, and Hershey. Seasonal sales slumps the chocolate market every year which affect the price of raw material that is needed to make the products. If Cadbury is entering in world it has to be aware of the risks involved in it. By not understanding foreign customers preferences and failing to achieving their expectations. By not understanding the business culture. 3.6 Conclusion In process of getting high and peak position. The company has to keep stressed on the global growth of the product. It can be a risk to market it in the region France, 4. Objective Setting Cadbury has set some objective related to Dairy Milk for its marketing and advertisement which are main factor for its product promotion and profit making which are as follows. To maintain the quality standards of its products. Enhance sales to gain more profits Packaging should be of good and hygienically passed quality To reach in every part of the world To give more and more benifits to the customers by by giving them promotions and free take aways. 5. Company Profile 1824 Aged 22, John Cadbury, a young Quaker, opens a small grocers shop in Birmingham- making chocolate on the sideline. 1847 John Cadbury moves his business to a larger factory, as his company becomes The Cadbury Brothers- his brother Benjamin joining him. 1861 John Cadbury retires and sons Richard and George take over the company. 1879 Cadbury Chocolate Company moves to Bournville. Over the next ten years the number of employees grows to 1,200. 1893 Cadbury Company builds a village for its employees. 1920s The Cadbury script logo is first used. 5.1 Company mission Cadbury Main statement is Cadbury means Quality and this is their promise and reputation to built quality products and continues its promise delivered to customers. Cadbury Has established its company as a fairness and integrity which proves that Cadbury is a socially responsible company. 6. Marketing objectives For achieving increase in sales Cadbury undertakes a number of marketing activities to encourage the sale of its products .Cadbury has set some objectives to maximize its sale and gain more profits. There are some basic aims that Cadbury has define in his corporation are as follows. 6.1 Survival For survival Cadbury keep its product quality up to a specific standard and prices to that level that could compete with other competitors. 6.2 Profit maximisation Profit maximization which is often taken to be the reason why firms exists and to be the primary objectives in practices most firms have a hierarchy of objectives when a firms survival is threaten it may profit maximise in order to restore its financial health. 6.3 Growth Which includes Cadbury selling new products or expanding overseas. 6.4 Diversification This is the spreading of business risks by reducing dependence on one product. 6.5 Sales Increase It is the main key factor of sales by which company gains more profits and generates revenues. 6.6 Improving the product image Its includes creating a new logo or launching a new brand of product and creating more attractive packaging.   For example, Cadbury has made to important key points for the development of their chocolate. These were: 1. To grow the market for chocolate confectionery 2. To increase Cadburys share of the snacking sector In the time of launching Cadbury they thought that any new product can make a big difference creating unique selling proposition (USP) i.e. a product with unique appeal which is not present in any other competitors product. Cadbury has wasted a lot of money on testing and combination of various ingredients and more than 250 recipes were combined together before finalizing the final chocolate recipe. As Cadbury produced products they first test them that can the consumers can buy Cadbury products or not. Promotion is a key factor of any product launching and Cadbury done this in various ways which include the following ways newspapers, magazines, television and radio etc. 7. Tactical application Marketing professionals and specialist use many tactics to attract and retain their customers. These activities comprise of different concepts, the most important one being the marketing mix. There are two concepts for marketing mix: 4P and 7P. It is essential to balance the 4Ps or the 7Ps of the marketing mix. The concept of 4Ps has been long used for the product industry while the latter has emerged as a successful proposition for the services industry. The 7Ps are described below. 7.1 Product Cadbury Dairy Milk was launched keeping in mind people taste about the chocolate which a research work is done by Cadbury in 1905. The entire taste ingredients included in it are selected from many different places to give customers the taste they want. 7.2 Price The pricing strategy of Dairy Milk has always been in accordance with its competitors. Price is simply the cost plus profit of the firm. There are many competitors in the market. As the products are of high quality, so usually high prices are charged. So the Management has considered about the competitive price while selecting new prices and schemes. Firms have to consider many factors for determining the price. Selecting the price objective Analyzing competitors costs, Prices and offers. Selecting a pricing method. Prices are set by taking into consideration: The price of the product must be competitive and must entail profit. The pricing strategy can comprise discounts. 7.3 Place Cadbury market Dairy Milk to those places where it can get a good response from the customers as well as revenue to the company. 7.4 Promotion Cadbury like all other brands also invest heavily in advertising its product special its major popular product Cadbury Dairy Milk, it is marketed in the following way Media, Newspaper, Billboard advertisement. 7.5 People People plays a vital role in brand establishment as they are directly involved in the recognition of it in the market and this matter should be realized by the customers that its in their hands, Cadbury target young people and children mainly as compared to elders. 7.6 Process Cadbury keeps a record of all processes it does like methods and process are provided and also keep a record of provided services are helpful for the customers or not, and whether customers are informed or not. 7.7 Physical (evidence) Cadbury keep a record of all experiences which it is getting by physical questioning, buying behaviour of the customers.nad providing them guidelines about the products they are purchasing by giving them brochures, and pamphlets. 8. Action and Implementation Cadbury Dairy Milk has been launched successfully and now we are projecting our focus on increasing the sales and profits of our brand .As after the launching of Galaxy in the market Dairy Milk has gown down to that level where Galaxy is making more profits then Dairy Milk, so Cadbury is trying to regain its market share by doing allot of promotional activities and advertisements for Dairy Milk. 8.1 Budget In view of our action plan for increasing the sales revenue of Cadbury Dairy Milk, extensive promotion is required, and we have the following Marketing budget outlined according to our line of action: Projected Income Statement For Year 2010 2011 UK (  £ ) Sales 20,000,000 Cost of Goods Sold 9,000,000 Gross Profit 11,000,000 General Administrative Expenses 2250,000 Earnings Before Interest and Taxes 8750,000 Interest Expense 110,000 Earnings Before Taxes 8640000 Tax 90,000 Net Profit 8550000 8.2 Conclusion As Cadbury launched Dairy Milk in 1905. Its market gets a great height but after some time its market got a huge decline and its sale got down because its competitor product Galaxy took its market share and customers started to buy Galaxy instead of Cadbury Dairy Milk. As for that Cadbury has started again to do remarketing of its product by doing advisement. Inform of TV advertisements, newspapers, Billboards, etc and hence Cadbury Dairy Milk is on declining stage. 9. Individual Critical Reflection 9.1 Specific Values Cadbury is the world Renowned confectionary company started its business in 1824 and based in United Kingdom .It provide drinking chocolate and chocolate bars like Dairy Milk. Dairy Milk is the largest profit giving product of Cadbury and it is liked by almost every person adult of child that is why its very popular in the world . 9.2 Declining Stage As Cadbury was going to a height then in the mean time new Competitors (Nestle, Mars, Hershey) came into the market with more variety and flavours which thus they started threatening Cadbury sales by a decline in its mass product Cadbury Dairy Milk, as Dairy Milk was coming in the same flavours and competitive prices where as Dairy Milk prices were not competing with its competitors as a result Decline in the product .As Cadbury Dairy Milk competitors like (Nestle, Mars, Hershey) were doing there best to keep there products up to the standard into the Market by doing Media advertisements. 9.2.1 Marketing disadvantages Marketing plays a vital roll in a products popularity and market share in the market but Cadbury lack this in the way that the marketing department didnt paid much attention towards its product so it starts declining . There should be a good marketing plan should be given to a top marketing agency to market the product and to spend money in a correct way 9.2.2 Brand Placement To make a product popular among customers the brand name Cadbury Dairy Milk should be made that much attractive among customers that when it is launched it get the height what it wants. And then it is the agency responsibility to make the product capable of getting its goals and compete with 9.3 Action Plans Dairy Milk has been launched successfully and now we are projecting our focus on increasing the marketing of our brand as it is in declining stage to that percentage that it can compete with its competitors for the upcoming year. Increasing marketing actually means shifting the marketing strategies and attracting new customers to enticing the proven customers to buy again. Attracting new customers is good. But attracting new customers is not the only way to increase the sales. Shifting the sales focus to enticing the current customers can also make increasing the sales easy as well as building customer loyalty that result in repeated sales. The key to success in increasing the sales is effective marketing promotion of the product to an extent that catches the customers confidence. For attaining the desired objective, Cadbury Dairy Milk will conduct back to back advertising and sale promotion campaigns. Following are some details of these campaigns: September: We will start with marketing promotion campaign to generate excitement in the consumers mind for the Cadbury Dairy Milk. During the first month, there will be four trucks that will be roaming in the target areas and distributing free samples of mini Dairy Milk chocolate bars of 25grams. October: In October, we will go to exhibit at the major retail chains, providing free samples in the major shopping malls and Schools and ask there comments. We will also endorse celebrities and hire opinion leader as part of our public relation strategy. Our training staff will work with sales personnel at major retail chains to guide and give information regarding Dairy Milk to the consumers. November: We will start print, TV and internet campaigns for Dairy Milk by running advertisements of all media. The campaign will show the customers hows the taste of Dairy Milk is and take suggestions from them and also telling them about it new flavours and attractive packaging. We will increase the expenditures on Mass Media advertisements in order to improvise the position of the brand in the consumers mind as well as to dominate other Brands in its promotion and per hour airing on TV channels. We will organize different events regarding children so that we can capture the interest of them. We will be visiting schools for organizing fun activities for children. December: We will be launching schemes for retailers and whole-sellers in September, in which certain points will be given to wholesalers on the highest sales of Dairy Milk, and in turn on the basis of these, certain incentives will be provided to peak wholesalers. This can be a good strategy to improve the relations with distribution network and its efficiency as well. January: The best way to promote marketing and sales is to add value. The trick in sales promotion is to come up with ideas which add value to a product, rather than just cutting the price. Therefore, we will be adding value to Dairy Milk by giving every customer a free pencil, free pencil box, free books with purchase of every 250grams chocolate bar of Dairy Milk. The promotion can be successful because consumers will like this idea, and for the company, it can be cheaper than a price cut. February: We shall be distributing Special Shelves, Wall clocks and Key chains with Cadbury Dairy Milk logoto the shopkeepers incentives to promote our brand. March: A scheme will be offered i.e. buy more and more Dairy Milk Family Bars and get a chance to enter a lucky draw scheme to win return ticket to Paris for two people. And therefore, it is hoped that all these promotional activities will create enough awareness amongst the target sector that will force them to look forward to Dairy Milk when buying a Chocolate and all these promotional activities will consequently be resulting in increasing the sale of our product and generating the expected revenue and bringing the product to again in previous position in the market among its competitors. 9.4 Implementation Control In order to effectively implement our desired stated action marketing plan for Cadbury Dairy Milk to increase the sales revenue by the end of this year, we need to have a check on various promotional activities if they are going on accordingly as planned. This review is required on monthly basis so that the objective of achieving high sales revenue can be well chased. Hence the following activities are required to be monitored: There will be the need to monitor whether the marketing objective is achieved or not. Apart from this, the expenditures should be properly monitored and they shouldnt vitiate too much from the forecasted budget. There will be the need to check the distribution network and ensure that product is available in market at all times. There should be a strict check on whether the customers are getting the same message as what we are trying to deliver in advertisement, and hence check its impact on sale. It will also be needed to see the impact on sales by the different promotional activities conducted. It will be strongly needed to identify the packaging preferences or the price related concerns of the customers from time to time, and take corrective actions to achieve the financial and marketing objectives. 9.5 Gantt Chart G A N T T C H A R T Month JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN Campaign Cadbury Dairy Milk COST General Budget: year 2010 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 5MILLION Big banners for shows X X X X X X 1million Website Creation X X X X X X  £1.5million ADD Designing Printing X X X X X X  £2.5mIllion Logo Design X X X X X X  £3million Statement Creation X X X X X X  £1million Advertisement on all media`s X X X X X X  £1.5million Agency Cost X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X  £3million Total X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 13.5million

3 branches of government Essay -- essays research papers

Democracy is a Greek word meaning â€Å"rule by the people.† The idea of a democratic government began in Greece in 700 B.C, about twenty-five hundred years ago. Rome was so large that not everyone could play a role in government so the Roman citizens elected representatives to speak and act for them. This form of government was called a republic. The United States has a representative form of government. The representatives make laws and rules for the country. The government should be rated at an 8 because it has some flaws but it is still decent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three branches of government in the United States representative democracy. The legislative branch, makes the laws for the country and creates agencies and programs. The judicial branch makes the laws and determines if the acts of congress are constitutional or unconstitutional. The executive branch carries out the laws making it the most important branch of the United States government. The Judicial Branch in the United States, unlike most national Judicial systems, yields great political power and must be counted as part of the American Political system. Someone or some group must go to the court first; the court does not take the initiative. The Judicial Branch is a system of courts that manage court cases at all levels including federal, state, and local. Federal cases have a higher penalty under conviction. Judges of Federal court cases are both strict and just. If found guilty in a federal court one must face sentencing to a variety of punishments. Punishments include the death penalty and prison sentencing. â€Å"The Judiciary is the safeguard of our liberty and of our property under the constitution†. This quote is a good description of the judicial branch and courts. The Judiciary is a safeguard of our liberty because it governs the court system, which keeps society in line.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The goal of the Judicial branch is to hold people accountable for crimes and keep justice in the land. This goal is being reached for the most part. Those who commit crimes are brought to trial. The court system is responsible for many duties of justice. Courts make the world a safer place.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Judicial Branch is made up of 3 types of courts: The Supreme Court, U.S. court of appeals and district courts consist of nine justices, are appointed... ... â€Å"Court Rulings; Virginia Laws: Cross Burnings†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Los Angeles Times 3 Nov. 2001   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Borenstein, Seth. â€Å"Anthrax forces House to Recess.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Philadelphia Inquirer 18 Oct. 2001   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gutkin, Steven. â€Å"Bombs Target the Front Lines†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Delaware County Daily Times 22 Oct, 2001   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mills, Doug â€Å"Bush to Allies: â€Å"It’s Time To Act†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Philadelphia Inquirer 7 Nov. 2001 Magazine Source Samuel, Terence. â€Å"The Fight over Safe Flights.† U.S. News & World Report 12 Nov. 2001: 18. Television Source   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"President Bush is Ready to Expand the National Guards Role At Airports†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ABCNews Tonight Peter Jennings. 9 Nov. 2001   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"President Bush returns to World Trade Center†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ABCNews Tonight Peter Jennings. 9 Nov. 2001

The Influence Of Organisational Culture Versus National Culture Essay

The Influence Of Organisational Culture Versus National Culture Within The Global Group of Companies Author: Table of Contents: Executive Summary  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Page 3 Company Background  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Page 4 Research Analysis  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Page 6 Recommendations  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Page 13 References  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Page 15 Appendix  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Survey questionnaire attached as a separate document) Executive Summary: Research (1) indicates that national culture has a greater impact on employees than does their organisation’s culture and this report examines both cultures within VOLE Inc. a seventeen month old company with the ambition to establish a worldwide presence within three years. At the moment VOLE is small enough to debate and address these issues but diverse enough with operations across four continents in fourteen countries to already be experiencing the strains of cultural differences, particularly between the Far East where the company has its roots and the recently opened markets of Western Europe and the United States. It will hopefully lead to the formulation of some agreed corporate communication policies as these will become increasingly difficult to put together and implement as global expansion... ...rketing of the VOLE network to individual JV companies, who are also granted financial autonomy and control of their respective P&L functions, the primary drawback of such a structure – the reduction of management control over key parts of the business – must be constantly borne in mind. This weakness can be best tackled from the centre by a continual emphasis on the interdependency of each VOLE JV on each other, a fact well recognised in the survey, but easily forgotten in the day to day business activities of each JV as new successful companies are built from the ground up. Maximum advantage must also be taken of the flexibility such an organisational structure provides and the ability of VOLE companies to provide a network management service simply, quickly and for a far smaller cost than the traditional video conferencing industry must be continually highlighted as the company’s USP. References: (1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  N.J. Adler 2002 International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior. 4th Ed Ciciinatti, OH: Southwestern pp. 67-69 (2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  S.P. Robbins 2002. Prentice Hall Self Assessment Library. Pearson Education Company

Wildes Importance of Being Earnest and Weschlers Boggs Essay

Wilde's "Importance of Being Earnest" and Weschler's "Boggs" At first glance, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest and Lawrence Weschler’s Boggs: A Comedy of Values treat the issue of art’s function in converse ways. Wilde, the quintessential Aesthete, asserts that art should exist for the sake of beauty alone. Boggs, on the other hand, contends that art should serve a practical function: it should wake individuals from their sleepwalking by highlighting essential, overlooked aspects of society. Fascinatingly, neither Wilde nor Boggs firmly adheres to his ostensible artistic purpose. Wilde’s Importance of Being Earnest, although it showcases certain Aesthetic elements, incisively critiques Victorian society. The play is not a functionless work of pure beauty. Conversely, Boggs’ project clearly serves an instructional function while it simultaneously revels in its own beauty. Moreover, Boggs himself is often uncertain of what his art represents and does. When placed side-by-side, The Importanc e of Being Earnest and Boggs queer the division between Aestheticism and Functionalism, suggesting that both schools are unattainable ideals. In doing so, the two texts elucidate a holistic conception of art that fuses aesthetic value to social critique. Aesthetic beauty coalesces with function. Historically, Wilde was a staunch—even notorious—advocate of Aestheticism: a doctrine popular throughout Europe in the late nineteenth century which held that â€Å"art exists for the sake of its beauty alone, and that it need serve no political, didactic, or other purpose† (Britannica). Indeed, David Cooper in his Companion to Aesthetics argues that the doctrine â€Å"asserts not merely that a work of art should be judged only on ... ... [pleasure, beauty]† (GP 799) were most valued in the fourteenth century, and as we have seen, they still are today. Art must be beautiful and purposefully inspire thought. Works Cited "Aestheticism." Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online. 30 Nov. 2005 . Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Riverside Chaucer. Ed. Larry D. Benson. 3rd ed. Boston: Houghton, 1987. Cooper, David, ed. A Companion to Aesthetics. Oxford: Blackwell, 1995. Foster, Richard. â€Å"Wilde as Parodist: A Second Look at The Importance of Being Earnest.† College English 18.1 (1956): 18-23. â€Å"Functionalism.† American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed. 2000. Weschler, Lawrence. Boggs: A Comedy of Values. Chicago: Chicago UP, 1987. Wilde, Oscar. The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays. Ed. Richard Allen Cave. New York: Penguin, 2000.

Cebu in Philippines: Mabuhay Essay

Mabuhay! It means â€Å"Welcome!† in Philippines. And here, you truly are. On Tourism Philippines Guide, you’ll find friendly unbiased updated travel information for touring Philippines, what to see and what to avoid. More [+] Cebu Posted by Roz Visarra on May 4th, 2009 Filed Under: Cebu, Featured Cebu CEBU TRAVEL GUIDE Why Not Go Why Go Best Time to Visit Where to Stay Where & What to Eat Nightlife To Do List Stay Away From Getting There Cebu is a very beautiful city with countless beaches and nature parks. It offers everything you need- from a relaxing retreat in a tropical island, to all the conveniences that a first class metropolis can give. In contrast to the bustling metropolis, the rest of Cebu ‘s 167 islets and islands are lined with idyllic white sandy beaches and pristine clear waters. The Queen City of the South is the capital of the Visayas (also the political, economic, educational and cultural center of the Visayas) and is the second biggest city in the country. Located in between two straits, and several surrounding islands, Cebu is about 225 kilometers long, a narrow island that is home to 2.4 million people. Cebu is the jump-off point to satellite destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao Islands – Leyte, Samar, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Cagayan De Oro, Camiguin & Surigao Del Norte. Spectacular Metro Cebu: This is an aerial view of Metro Cebu, showing Cebu City (top left), Mandaue City(right), Mactan Channel(the body of water), and LapuLapu City(part of Mactan Island, bottom left). The bridge farther in the image is the first Mactan-Mandaue bridge, the second one is the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. This is one of the finest aerial shots I have for Metro Cebu. The timing was perfect for the plane to take this approach, the weather was right, the sun was like a flood light that is constantly illuminating the subject from this angle. This angle and this view was observable for just a few seconds. Luckily, I was able to take the shot within that time frame. Photo by storm-crypt The Heart of Cebu City: The western half of Osmena Boulevard, from the Fuente Osmena circle to Cebu’s provincial capitol. Photo by storm-crypt Why Not Go Everybody loves to go to Cebu so there is really no reason why anyone would not want to go there, if given the chance. Although if you want to go to a very quiet, provincial place, you can always go to its neighboring towns such as Bantayan, Badian and Argao. Why Go Can’t Outdo Cebu: With an island like this, it is difficult to miss summertime in Cebu. A resort on the east side, and in the foreground(west side), is a fish sanctuary, teeming with corals, and a huge variety of species of fish, that you can view closely to the point that you can touch them. And you can do all that with just snorkeling. Shot taken off the southeastern coast of Mactan Island, just a few minutes of side trip on the way to the airport. This island is called Hilutungan Island — a few kilometers off the southeast coast of Mactan Island. Photo by storm-crypt Simply because Cebu has it all. If you are looking for a place to spend your honeymoon, there are several 5 star resorts nearby. If you are planning a  family vacation, you can enjoy parasailing and scuba diving in the island hotels, and you can also go mountain climbing or camping in one of its nature parks. When it is thrill and excitement you long for, it has a one-of-a-kind amusement park that you cannot find anywhere else- the Sky Experience Adventure at Crown Regency. Now, if it is shopping and dining you want, Cebu has it too; a lot of them in fact. Anything which your adventurous and wandering heart desires, you can find it in Cebu. Central Cebu Mountains: Going strait to north from the municipality of Sibonga will get you to this point.Taken somewhere in central Cebu’s mountain range, shortly before heading east to the city of Cebu. Photo by storm-crypt Best Time to Visit Summer in Cebu is usually very hot while in November-January, the wind is often cold. If you want to frolic in the beach, you should go there during summer which is from March to May. But, if you want to see what Cebu has in store for all its visitors, go there in January, specifically on the 3rd week as this is the time they celebrate one of the country’s biggest festivities, the Sinulog. But you need to book early as hotels are bound to be booked even a week or two before the festival. The rainy season begins in July bringing torrential downpours that would sometimes inhibit movement, typhoon activity is minor compared with other parts of the Philippines. Sinulog: Sinulog, on the third weekend in January, honors the baby Jesus (Santo Nino) with a solemn religious parade on Friday evening, and an all-day festival on Saturday. Sort of like Carnival with thousands of participants. Spectacular! These girls are your average Filipino teenagers, but are dressed up in the style of â€Å"cultural minorities† who still live in the more remote locals of the country. Photo by friskodude The Cebuano’s flair for showmanship and love for celebrations is manifested in the Sinulog, a colorful festival of pageant proportion observed every third Sunday of January. Sinulog is a dance ritual in honor of the  miraculous image of the Santo Nià ±o. The dance moves two steps forward and one step backward to the sound of the drums. This resembles the current (Sulog) of what was then known as Cebu’s Pahina River. Thus, in Cebuano, they say it’s Sinulog. SINULOG ’07 Photo by 2rokbotoy Where to Stay Save up to 75% on hotels in Philippines Since Cebu has always been a popular tourist destination, it is equipped with hotels and resorts for every budget. If you want to splurge a bit to experience luxury at its best, you can stay at the following hotels and resorts: Marco Polo Plaza- located at Nivel Hills, this is a great hotel with such awesome customer service. The food buffet at Cafà © Marco is like no other, plus you get a fantastic view of the city. Rates start at around $105. Waterfront Hotel and Casino- there are two Waterfront Hotels, one is beside the airport and the other is within the uptown area but I would recommend the hotel in the uptown area because it is so much nicer, with better amenities. Plus it is near everything else. Rate starts at $95. Plantation Bay- this is located in Lapu-Lapu, it is an island city just about 30 minutes away from Cebu. This is a truly lovely resort where you can really experience luxury and relaxation. Rates start at $150++. Shangrila Mactan Resort and Spa- this is probably the most popular resort in Cebu and with good reason too. It has a beautiful beach front, swimming pools, a huge garden, a play area for kids plus a wonderful spa. Rates start at $165++. If you are on a budget, you may prefer to stay at cheaper hotels. Don’t worry, Cebu has a lot of them and they are quite clean and nice too. Golden Peak Hotel- located in uptown Cebu; this is a newly built hotel. Rates start at $30. Maxwell Hotel- another newly built hotel, with a spa and coffee shop with free DSL internet. Rates start at Golden Prince Hotel- this hotel is very near food and shopping establishments, particularly one of Cebu’s biggest malls which is Ayala. Rates start at $49. Heritage of Cebu: The Heritage of Cebu monument in Parian showcases the significant events of Cebu. You can also see sculptures of Lapu-lapu, Rajah Humabon, Ferdinand Magellan, martyr Pedro Calunsod and other prominent historical figures that have moved and shaped Cebu in more ways than one. This monument is the work of national artist Edgardo Castrillo. It was constructed on July 1997 was inaugurated on Dec. 8, 2000. Photo by Brennan Mercado Where & What to Eat †¢Abuhan- Have you ever heard of Pochero? It is a great tasting soup with pork or beef bone marrow, corn and cabbages. Abuhan is famous for it. You can try this in one of their 3 brances. I would recommend the branch they have at Asiatown IT Park. †¢Golden Cowrie-This is probably the most frequented Filipino restaurant, particularly by tourists. Their food is simply amazing. You can try their sautà ©ed mushroom and chicken pandan. They have 3 branches: in Lahug, SM, and Hukad in Ayala. †¢Spice Fusion- this restaurant offers Asian Cuisines that are quite delicious. A favorite, roti in curry sauce is highly recommended. Spice Fusion has two branches, one at the Banilad Town Center and the other one at North Wing, in SM. †¢Sutukil- visitors should never leave Cebu without going to the famous SUTUKIL. It is an area with several restaurants offering the freshest seafood. You can actually choose from live fish, crabs, and shrimps, and then you can have it cooked SUTUKIL style, which comprises three different food: grilled, raw (with vinegar, tomatoes, ginger and chili), and soup. This is located beside the Mactan Shrine in Lapu-Lapu. †¢Cafà © Laguna-a place where you can taste authentic Filipino dishes. Try their bistek tagalog, it is simply heaven to the palate. You can find Cafà © Laguna in the mall and garden area of Ayala Mall. †¢Larsians- sample Cebu’s street food at its finest. Grilled chicken, pork and fish plus you can try their ‘puso’ or what others call ‘hanging rice.’ It is rice wrapped and cooked in palm leaves. †¢Harbour City Dimsum- great Chinese food- try their siomai and steam rice. Harbour City has branches in two malls, Ayala and SM. Nightlife Cebu has lots of places to go to enjoy your night – from downtown to uptown, Metropolitan Cebu comes even more alive as dusk sets in, with queues leading to music bars, discos and the casinos. If you want to go dancing, you can go to Sunflower at Lahug, or at Pump in Archbishop Reyes Street. If you want to go Karaoke, you can go to POD5 at the Banilad Town Center, or at K1 KTV at the Crossroads. If you just want to hang out in a restobar, you can go to Sinners and Saints in Banilad or a sportsbar called Badgers. You can also go to T.G.I.F. in Ayala where the food, beer and service are really good. Now if you just want to have some nice and quiet evening, you can go to Tops, it sure is nice there during the night; you get to see all the lights around Cebu. My to do List †¢Island Hopping- You can rent a pumpboat for about $60 and this will take you to 3 beautiful islands around Cebu. It is a whole day activity so you may want to bring in some lunch and snacks. †¢Mountain View- You can go there day or night- it does not matter as they are open 24/7. It is full of tall trees and flowers, plus hangout areas and playgrounds for kids. You also get a great view of the city at the top. Entrance fee: $1.25 per person †¢Nature Tripping- You can go to one of its many waterfalls, especially the one in Badian which is the Kawasan Falls, it is about 2  ½ hours away from the city. †¢Bantayan Island- This is about a 3 hour drive to the southernmost port, and then you will take a RoRo to the island which is about an hour’s travel. Bantayan is great for those who want some quiet time in sugary white sand beaches. Turtle with two live sharksuckers Photo by alfonsator †¢Moalboal- You should go there if you want to dive. It is about 2  ½ hours away from the city. They have several diving packages at different rates. The islands of Mactan and Camotes are not to missed by diver addicts too. †¢Sky Experience- located at the heart of the city, this is where the city’s tallest building is. Experience the thrill of walking hundreds of feet above ground! †¢Basilica del Sto. Nino- this very old church is located at the heart of downtown Cebu. There you can see the many faces and images of the Little Jesus. It has been said that miracles happen if you ask the Sto. Nino to pray for you. Cebu Cathedral Photo by neiltoot †¢Shopping- there are two kinds of shopping you can do-high end and low end. You can find some really good buys in downtown Cebu, specifically at Colon Street where tops can go as low as $2. You can also go to two big malls where you can find clothes, shoes and accessories: Ayala Mall and SM. Stay Away From Cebu is also home to a lot of pickpockets and robbers. Stay away from the downtown area late at night. Even during the day, you should keep your valuables in places where it is difficult for robbers to get access to it.