Animal Testing Essay Example for Free

Animal Testing Essay Abdulrahman.Bahjat AUIS August 5, 2013 We are at war, and we will do what we need to win (joey-gruber.tripod). There is much debate over whether animal testing should be allowed or not. Some people think that it is not essential to sacrifice animals for human benefit because they are being abused and tortured severely during experiments. Those People who stand against animal testing claim that humans eliminate many lives on Earth in order to safe humans lives, So there is no justice because even animals have the right to live on earth, yet these people do not consider the truth that animals are being used in the food industry. Many organizations such as (PETA), which is the biggest organization against animal testing, think that animal testing is one of the most disturbing experiments ever, and it should be banned. However, these organizations absolutely do not look at the big picture because animal testing uses only common pests to test on, improves health and medicine, and ensures the safety of cosmetic products for the human use. Many organizations claim that animal testing reduces animals numbers and lead them to face extinction. In addition, these people say that through animal testing humans destroy the lives of many organisms. However, researchers use only pests in their experiments to test on. Animal testing gives humans more benefit by decreasing the pests to humans. 60% of all animals are mice and 20% are rats and guinea pigs and rabbits are 10% all together(PETA). This claim comes from an organization which is surprisingly stands against animal testing. The statistic above shows that animal testing does not damage animals on our planet. Many diseases are being transmitted to humans by these pests like rats. One of the most historically dangerous rat-borne diseases is the bubonic plague, also called â€Å"Black Plague,† and its variants†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. fleas transported on rats are considered responsible for this plague during the Middle Ages, which killed millions(Orkin). It is really obvious that many people know what happened during the Middle Ages when Black Plague spread over London. It was one of the historical diseases that killed thousands of people, so we can avoid such these devastating diseases by reducing rats numbers simultaneously with getting benefit to our race. Many people think that animal testing does not  improve human health and medicine, and it is only used to develop silly things, such as toiletries. Also, those people think that humans cannot ensure the safety of drugs through animal testing because they say that humans do not have completely similar body to animals. However, those people do not know the fact that is the major pro for animal testing is helping researchers in creating drugs and treatments to improve human health and medicine. Animal testing is very essential to many scientific communities. In fact, there are many people who stand against animal testing for cosmetic products, but still support animal testing for medicine function. Many medical treatments, especially for cancer and HIV drugs are being found through animal testing (About Animal Testing). These diseases that I listed above are the most severe diseases that humans ever known because they have been suffered from, but through animal testing scientists are making great progress to figure out drugs that can end the tragedy of these diseases. Animal testing helps to ensure the safety of drugs and many other substances humans (About Animal Testing). Basically, drugs can carry a great danger to humans if they are used without any assurance of its safety. This means that through animal testing we can prevent the potential danger of drugs simultaneously with saving many human lives. Furthermore, some people think that we cannot ensure the safety of cosmetic products for human uses because humans and animals do not have completely similarities outside structure between them which may lead to many mistakes after using these products. However, those people do not look at the details which are the ones that matter. When scientists use animals to test on, they really do not care about the external structure, but they really care about the common organs and physical traits. Through animal testing we can test even the first toilet paper in order to know whether these products are safe for human use. Researchers often work with animal models that have biological systems similar to that of a human(Amprogress). This is why scientists use animals as models to test on because the common similarities that humans and animals have. It is really an inevitable fact that even if humans find out new methods of testing, companies will restore animal testing on new products to ensure full safety of any product (cosmeticproduct-europe). Animal testing is an irreplaceable, and without it we can rarely achieve full safety insurance. It is really important to test all cosmetic products  on animals because these products are usually chemical products that carry danger with them. In conclusion, I think that animal testing is really needed to improve the quality of societies, and that can be achieved by the results and discoveries of animal testing. Animal testing is a great way to find out how a living body reacts to different products which can help us to find out whether these products are safe to be used by humans, so if humans want to develop their communities, animal testing cannot be avoided. Cited Work: 1-Joey Gruber Tripod, http://joey-gruber.tripod.com/id2.html# 2-Peta, http://www.peta.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?q=statistics 3-Orkin, http://www.orkin.com/rodents/rats/rat-borne-diseases/ 4-About animal testing, http://www.aboutanimaltesting.co.uk/using-animals-testing-pros-versus-cons.html 5- Amprogress, http://www.amprogress.org/AnimalResearchFAQ 6- Cosmeticproduct-europe, http://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/Formulation-Science/L-Oreal-animal-testing-alternatives-vital-but-ensuring-product-safety-is-a-MUST

Story of Mary Magdalene

Story of Mary Magdalene A continued interest and associations with Mary Magdalene provided for further examination. The relevance of her time as a example of inspiration to all who still find their paths of sincerity and goodwill marked by scandal and controversy. The following personal journal entry may serve to clarify this interest. One of the most interesting and inspirational women of the bible, is Mary Magdalene. Her apparent dedication to Jesus despite ridicule, jealously and un-acceptance amongst his friends can be related to by many women throughout history. The importance of whether she was a prostitute, Jesus wife or both becomes less relevant than the conflicts she faced in her times and her steadfast dedication to Him, regardless of definition of relationship between and degree of intimacy expressed. Many women throughout history and today find themselves judged in societal situations in which they have to determine their dedication and faith within their relationship and would find Mary Magdalenes decisions and actions inspirational and reassuring to see that they are not alone in their situation. Mary Magdalenes influence and role in the bible seem to be one of the best influences in humanize Jesus. Showing us some the personal and emotional challenges that Jesus faced as a person and therefore having his life experience expressed in a way everyone, at some point in their lives can relate to. While the recount says that all of the disciples fled, out of fear, when Jesus was crucified, it is only Mary Magdalene that is recounted in all 4 versions of the Gospel to be near or by Jesus side during this horrific experience. Guess you know who your friends are when the chips are down. This brief recap of a previous journal entry was used to outline what is recognized as the most personally relevant stories of the bible and the observations regarding them. The following stories of Mary Magdalene from the bible are as powerful and relevant to the lives of many and in addition work to help me appreciate, understand and complete my initial observations. The following is taken from http://www.womeninthebible.net/2.2.Mary_Magdalene.htm Mary Magdalenes story is contained in four different events: Mary Magdalene as a disciple of Jesus (Luke 8:1-3) Mary is mentioned as the woman whom Jesus cured of an unspecified illness. She was expelled of seven different demons. The number seven may have been used to emphasize the severity of the illness. She led a group of women who provided for Jesus and his followers from their own financial resources. The following is quoted from http://www.biblebb.com/files/kss/kss-mmag.htm She was committed. MAR 8:34, 35 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. she had followed Him from Galilee, her home (Mat 27:55; MAR 15:41; LUK 23:49). LUK 23:49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. MAT 27:55, 56 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees sons. she cared for Jesus needs (MAT 27:55; MAR 15:41). MAT 27:55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees sons. MAR 15:41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. *she gave whatever she could to further Gods cause- This is a demonstration of Jesus acceptance of the independent woman. This was revolutionary in and of itself given the perceptions of woman of the times. Mary at the crucifixion (Mark 15:40-41, Luke 23:49, Matthew 27:55-56, John 19:25) In each of the four gospels of the crucifixion Mary was present, either standing at a distance with other women, or standing near the cross. Mary prepared Jesus body for burial (Luke 23:55-56, Matthew 27:61) Mary watched as Jesus body was sealed inside the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. She could confirm that he was really dead. She and the other women prepared the spices needed for proper burial of a body. Jewish tombs: Jews followed the custom of burial in natural and artificial caves. Generally only the rich used tombs, with the poor using pits, cisterns, caves, and earthen graves outside their cities. Tombs were located in gardens attached to homes, within city walls, on elevated sites, on hillsides, and in caves (natural and hand hewn). this information is from The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, vol. 5, pg.772. Prophets and kings were buried within the city limits; everyone else was buried outside the city limits. Wealthy tombs were often cut into rock, some containing several chambers. The entrance was closed by rolling around rolling-stone down an inclined plane in front of the mouth of the sepulcher. this information is from Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, by Fred H. Wright, Moody Press, co. 1953, pgs. 144,145. 4 Mary witnesses the resurrection (Mark 16:1-11, Luke 24:1-11, Matthew 28:1-10, John 20:1-18). Mary found that Jesus body was no longer in the tomb. She received a message from an angel and was the first person to see the risen Jesus. She was thus the first witness of the resurrection. The ethical cultural and political environment surrounding the people of this time played a strong influence on the interpretation of Mary Magdalenes life. Even with the stark contrast of todays environment of Middle America the relevance of interpretation of the power and influence of this women offers as an example for todays woman. The people of Jesus time lived in a state occupied by Roman rule, law and allegiance to Cesar, King of the Roman Empire. The Jewish state in this region was allowed certain amount of religious tolerance provided that legal and economic sanctions were upheld by the Jews with regard to Roman rule. The following quote is taken from http://www.womeninthebible.net/2.2.Mary_Magdalene.htm Greek philosophy was greatly admired at the time of Jesus, and it had a profound impact on the way that people saw their world. One of the greatest philosophers, Plato, proposed the theory of dualism, suggesting that everything in the cosmos had an equal and opposite other. This theory had a profound impact on the way that women were viewed, and it was not to womens advantage. Woman was placed in a category containing elements that were viewed as negative: Civilization was the ideal; Nature was mistrusted and potentially dangerous. Logic and reason were admired, and emotion was to be subordinated. Goodness was always preferable to evil. Light, especially in the pre-industrial world, was preferred to darkness These are examples only, but they show that Platonic dualism placed women in a negative category. They were seen as closer to the natural/animal world than men. By nature they were irrational and untrustworthy, and therefore unfit to make their own decisions and govern their own lives. They had to be looked after and controlled, never treated as equals. This differed from the traditional Jewish way of looking at the world, which saw all things in creation as integrated and complementary, rather than as opposites of each other. An example of this is the creation story of Eve, which relates that the first woman was created from a rib taken by God from Adams side, thereby suggesting that a man could never be fully complete unless he was in partnership with a woman. Jewish and Jewish/Christian women resisted the ideas of Platonic dualism, which patronized them and diminished their status. While Christianity remained a Jewish sect, the status ofwomen within the Christian communities was high. But as the ideas of Christianity moved out into the Gentile, Hellenised world, the first Christians found they had to use the Greek philosophical framework to explain their beliefs and be accepted.So Jesus original ideal of mutual respect between the sexes was watered down and changed. Women found they were given roles that were acceptable in the outside, Hellenistic culture. In doing so, the Christian church stepped back from the radical ideals of the first Jewish/Christians. The following excerpt was taken from http://www.watton.org/wftk/teaching/mary_magdalene.htm Jesus sees women as they were created equal reflectors of Gods image. God created us in his image we mirror a family resemblance of Him. 2 Cor.3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lords glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. This doesnt mean our physical nature but our spiritual and moral nature. We are able to communicate. We are creative, and that gives us joy and satisfaction. We experience emotions and feelings. We know the difference between right and wrong. We are responsible for our actions. Even though the original relationship between God and man was cut by the fall, God has pursued his children through the ages, sending his son Jesus so that we might be reconciled to God and become his sons and daughters. His image is reflected in us. Because of Jesus the image is brought back into focus so that his glory shines from the reflection. Jesus is in each one of us, you and me, and His glory shines out. This examination of Mary Magdalenes life and times has offered clarity in relating to those hardships and challenges and has served as an inspiration to women of all times. WORK CITED Biblical References have been noted as used throughout this document. http://www.womeninthebible.net/2.2.Mary_Magdalene.htm http://www.biblebb.com/files/kss/kss-mmag.htm http://www.biblebb.com/files/kss/kss-mmag.htm Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, vol. 5, pg.772. Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, by Fred H. Wright, Moody Press, co. 1953, pgs. 144,145. http://www.womeninthebible.net/2.2.Mary_Magdalene.htm http://www.watton.org/wftk/teaching/mary_magdalene.htm

Definition Essay - Defining Professionalism -- Expository Definition E

Defining Professionalism Academics believe that professional occupations are those that are full-time occupations, have a commitment to a calling, have formalized organization, are based on specialized education of exceptional duration and difficulty, exhibit a service orientation, and are autonomous. Students feel that a professional is anyone who acts in a professional way and has creditable knowledge of their field. The two are vying for increased recognition in the elite group known as professionals. The academic community wishes to restrict the values of professionalism’s definition. Society wishes to let itself into the professional community by broadening those values. Each side seeks its own best interests in an eternal power struggle. What exactly is the proper definition of professionalism? Also, once a definition is found, how is it enforced? The academic community seems to have settled on a definition, however it differs largely from that of the college students surveyed. The college students, though they are pre-professionals, have a view that is very relaxed, allowing more fields to be considered professional. According to Wilbert E. Moore, The Professions: Rules and Roles, professionalism entails these six values: Full-time occupation, a commitment to a calling, has a formalized organization, is based on specialized education of exceptional duration and difficulty, exhibits a service orientation, and is autonomous. Because of this, occupations such as doctors and lawyers would be considered professional, however, computer programmers would not be professional since they do not have a formal organization overseeing the occupation, or a corporate CEO is also not ... ...and training, it should be deemed professional. Though the academic community attempts to regulate the standards of professionalism, it is the general public who has the last say. Academics may be professionals, but they are not autonomous with regards to the interpretation of the language. Society disagrees with the definition of professionalism; they disagree with the community that regulates professionalism. The academic definition goes against society’s best interest. Because of this, there will always be a disagreement. A compromise will not be reached. Academics will always support values that limit the membership of the elite group they will always be a part of. Society seeks broad values that will provide membership for all. Until the two can agree it is simply disputed territory, like two countries in an relentless struggle for power.

Human Cloning Should be Condemned Essay examples -- Argumentative Pers

Human Cloning Should be Condemned    On November 25, 2001, the news that a firm called Advanced Cell Technology had created human embryos by cloning added new urgency to Congress's and the nation's deliberations on this issue.    This past summer, by a 265-to-162 margin, the House of Representatives passed a carefully worded ban on human cloning (H.R. 2505) which President Bush has said he will sign into law. The leadership of the Senate nonetheless has refused to take action on this measure, or even to consider a temporary moratorium on human cloning research. Further delay will only encourage some researchers to take further irresponsible steps toward the laboratory manufacture and destruction of human life. Such inaction is morally irresponsible and could result in irreversible harm to our society.    Creating human life in the laboratory by cloning should be condemned because it reduces human beings to mere produc... ...f these embryos be allowed to survive. By passing such misguided and ineffective legislation, Congress for the first time would not only allow the destruction of an entire class of human beings but require such destruction.    Progress in stem cell research and other medical advances does not depend on the pursuit of human cloning. Rather, a regression in society's respect for human life and human dignity will occur unless human cloning is prohibited by law.   

The Problem of Evil Essay -- essays research papers

Is there any satisfactory way of reconciling the existence of an omnipotent and all-loving God with the existence of natural evil (i.e. evil not due to the misuse of human free will)? One of the central claims of the Judaeo-Christian tradition is the existence of an omnipotent and all-loving God. Against this is the observation that people and animals suffer evil. By common sense, we would infer from this observation that God, as conceived in this tradition, does not exist - for, if He did, He would prevent the evil. This inference is called the Problem of Evil by those who profess one of the religions in the Judaeo-Christian tradition, and their attempts to 'solve' the problem have given rise to a labyrinth of sophistry. Put briefly, the solution most commonly espoused to the Problem of Evil is * Some suffering is caused by others' misuse of their own free-will (as in murder). * God does not intervene to stop people freely choosing evil because: o people can be virtuous only if they freely choose between good and evil; o having virtuous people in the world is a greater good than eradicating evil; o therefore God must allow people to be free; o therefore evil inflicted by other people is the price that God demands that we pay to enable some people to be virtuous. * Some suffering is caused by natural phenomena (as in earthquakes). Such occurrences enable people to be virtuous through: o heroics, such as rescuing those in danger; o strong faith in God, as it is harder to believe in God in the midst of grief; o humility, as people realise they are powerless against the whim of God. * Again, God does not intervene because he is using the natural disasters to engender virtue. I shall examine a number of such arguments, but first it is useful to clarify the nature of such debate. The nature of theological debate One difficulty that arises in writing about this subject is that the traditional view of God is ridiculous - as Hume's Philo says, it is fixed only "by the utmost licence of fancy and hypothesis", and the arguments put forward for it are transparently fallacious. In order to proceed with the debate at all, one must feign a deficit in the application of one's powers of reason, for if one relied exclusively on reason for deciding what to believe, then one would dismiss religion out of hand. It is well known that people hold their... ...answers here. First, although the discharge of benevolent deeds is a good thing, it is not such a great thing that it is worth inflicting war, pestilence, and old age on mankind. Second, there are ample opportunities for people to do great works that do not involve other people's suffering. For instance, they could build concert halls, or run marathons, or make scientific discoverie, or write novels. The claim that great human achievements can be secured only through other people's misery is an expression of pure evil, and not an argument for a benevolent God. Conclusion The existence of evil (natural or otherwise) in the world cannot possibly be reconciled with the existence of an omnipotent and all-loving God. If such a God existed, He would prevent the occurrence of such evil. This is therefore a definitive proof of atheism, in the sense of denying the existence of God as He is conceived in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. It must be admitted, though, that this conception of God is a sharply-delineated and simplistic one, whereas many people nowadays have a 'soft-focus' God. It is harder work for the atheist to refute the soft-focus God, although it can still be done.

Budget and Budgeting Techniques Essay

Answer- 1: Answer- 1 India was a closed economy in the beginning. Policy banning imports. The Liberalization of India’s Government in 1991. New Industrial Policy. Strict policies regarding the entry of foreign brands. Trade rules & regulations simplified. Foreign investment increased. Pepsi enters in 1986. Coca-Cola follows in 1993. Contd †¦ Slide 14: Unlawful to market under their Western name in India Pepsi became â€Å"Lehar Pepsi†. Coca-Cola merged with Parle and became â€Å"Coca-Cola India†. Different Laws for Pepsi and Coke Coca-Cola agreed to sell off 49% of its stock as a condition of entering and buying out an Indian company. Pepsi entered earlier, and was not subject to this. Contd †¦ Slide 15: India forced Coke to sell 49% of its equity to Indian investors in 2002. Coke asked for a second extension that would delay it until 2007 which was denied. Pepsi was held to this since they entered India in a different year. Coke asked the Foreign Investment Promotion Board to block the votes of the Indian shareholders who would control 49% of Coke. Change in oversight of the FIPB: Past lobbying efforts made useless. Contd †¦ Slide 16: Could these problems have been forecasted prior to market entry? Probably not Inconsistent, and changing government. How could these developments in the political arena have been handled differently? Coke could of agreed to start new bottling plants instead of buying out Parle, and thus wouldn’t of had to agree to sell 49% of their equity. Answer-2: Answer-2 Coca-Cola’s Pros & Cons of Timing of Entry in the Indian Market: Coca-Cola’s P ros & Cons of Timing of Entry in the Indian Market Benefits Parle offered its bottling plants in 4 major cities. Made its return to India with Britannia Industries India Ltd. Disadvantages Rigid Rules and Regulations. Buying of bottling plants leads to 49% disinvestment. Local demand of carbonated drinks is as very low. Harder to establish themselves. Pepsi’s Pros & Cons of Timing of Entry in the Indian Market: Pepsi’s Pros &  Cons of Timing of Entry in the Indian Market Benefits Own set up green filled bottling plants. Advantage of coming before Coca Cola. Government policies favored the company. Joint venture with Volta’s and Punjab Agro. Gained 26% share by 1993. Disadvantages Pepsi approached Parle but it was rejected. Launched 7up and there is stiff competition in the market for lemon drinks. Answer-3 Responses to India’s Enormity : Answer-3 Responses to India’s Enormity Pepsi and coca-cola responded in many ways to the enormity of India in terms of it population and geography. Conti .. Cont..: Cont.. Product Policies: Catering to Indian tastes Entering with products close to those already available in India such as colas, fruit drinks, carbonated waters Waiting to introduce American type drinks Coca-Cola introducing Sprite recently Introducing new products Bottled water Conti .. Cont.. : Cont.. Promotional Activities: Both advertise and use promotional material at Navratri . Pepsi gives away premium rice and candy with Pepsi Coca-Cola offers free passes, Coke giveaways as well as vacations Use of different campaigns for different areas of India â€Å" India A† campaigns try to appeal to young urbanites â€Å" India B† campaigns try to appeal to rural areas Cont†¦: Cont†¦ Pricing Policies: Pepsi started out with an aggressive pricing policy to try to get immediate market share from Indian competitors Coca-Cola cut its prices by 15-25% in 2003 Attempt to encourage consumption to try to compete with Pepsi and gain market share Contd ..: Contd .. Distribution Arrangements: Production plants and bottling centers placed in large cities all around India More added as demand grew and as new products were added Answer-4 Coke and Pepsi’s â€Å"Glocalization Strategies†: Answer-4 Coke and Pepsi’s â€Å" Glocalization Strategies† What is â€Å" Glocalization †? Global + Localization = Glocalization By taking a product global, a firm will have  more success if they adapt it specifically to the location and culture that they are trying to market it in. Both companies have successfully implemented glocalization Pepsi’s Glocalization: Pepsi’s Glocalization Pepsi forms joint venture when first entering India with two local partners, Voltas and Punjab Agro, forming â€Å"Pepsi Foods Ltd †. In 1990, Pepsi Foods Ltd. changed the name of their product to â€Å"Lehar Pepsi† to conform with foreign collaboration rules . In keeping with local tastes, Pepsi launched its Lehar 7UP in the clear lemon category. Pepsi’s Glocalization: Pepsi’s Glocalization Advertising is done during the cultural festival of Navrtri , a traditional festival held in the town of Gujarat which lasts for nine days. Pepsi’s most effective glocalization strategy has been sponsoring world famous Indian athletes, such as cricket and soccer players. Coca-Cola’s Glocalization: Coca-Cola’s Glocalization First joined forces with the local snack food producer Britannia Industries India Ltd. in the early 90’s. Formed a joint venture with the market leader Parle in 1993. For the festival of Navratri , Coca-Cola issued free passes to the celebration in each of its â€Å"Thumps Up† bottles. Also ran special promotions where people could win free vacations to Goa, a resort state in western India. Coca-Cola’s Glocalization: Coca-Cola’s Glocalization Coca-Cola also hired several famous â€Å"Bollywood† actors to endorse their products. Who could forget†¦ Answer-5: Answer-5 Yes, we agree that Coca-Cola India made mistakes in planning and managing its return to India. They wrongly forecasted Indian political environment due to which they had to dilute their stakes later (49% disinvestment). They rejected the plan to put up green fields bottling plants as they took over Parle’s existing bottling plants. Coca cola tried to get extensions twice. Answer -6: Answer -6 Pepsi and Coke can confront the issue of water use in the manufacturing of their products by the use of canal irrigation & rainwater harvesting. Then they can also put water recycling plant to treat the discharged water from their factories and then they can provide that water to farmers for their agricultural use. This way the ground water problem can also be solved and managed. Cont..: Cont.. Coke can further defuse boycotts or demonstrations against their products in California by doing Ad-campaigns in which they can ask the experts from the ministry of health to convey the message to the public that their products are safe and healthy. They can also hire celebrities to do the Ads for their products because the public follows them. Coke should address the group directly because their company was not wrong and they should justify themselves. Answer-7: Pepsi Better marketing and advertising strategies Widely accepted More preferable More market share Less Political conflicts Coke Government conflicts Trailing Pepsi in market share Pepsi will fare better in the long run Answer-7 Answer-8 Pepsi’s Lessons Learned: Answer-8 Pepsi’s Lessons Learned Beneficial to keep with local tastes Beneficial to pay attention to market trends Celebrity appeal makes for exceptional advertising It pays to keep up with emerging trends in the market Coca-Cola’s Lesson’s Learned: Coca-Cola’s Lesson’s Learned Pay specific attention to deals made with the government Establish a good business relationship with the government Investment in quality products Advertising is crucial

Amazon Case Syudy

AMAZON. COM Q. 1: A. Analyze Amazon. com using the competitive forces and value chain models. Five competitive forces shape fate of firm According to Porter's Five Forces Model, in my opinion, competition has increased overall as a result of the internet and e-Commerce. The internet and IT has made it possible to both focus on the top and bottom lines and market share is expanded and costs are cut. Many products and services exist just online, major companies have gone online to successfully augment the brick and mortar corporations, and the playing field is all the way to edges of cyberspace, wherever that is Traditional competitors Amazon has strong competitors like online retailing stores and a large number of physical stores(Books, Grocery,Electronics,Video games etc). Examples : Barnes & Noble, Inc. , Wal-Mart. com USA, LLC (privately held), Catalog & Mail Order Houses High – As search engines are becoming the first choice for consumers when shopping on-line e. g. Google. This increases the opportunities for other retailers. High – There is an increasing amount of dotcom companies due to the little capital needed to start up. Smaller niche affiliate online stores when combined create even more competition New market entrants Threat of new entrants is high when it is easy for new competition to enter the market. As the technology is increasing and facilitating the businesses more and more so it is becoming easier for any business to start online retailing operations. Low – For online established retailers a strong brand image generates consumer trust. Low – Economies of scale – Retailers that have refined technology and processes and are able to buy in bulk can offer the lowest prices. This is a major competitive advantage as there is much choice online. Low – Strong experience in the online retail industry gives e-retailers advantages in terms of cost and customer loyalty. High – Capital requirement entry is a low for online businesses’ as cost of lease premises is minimal. Substitute products and services High – Physical stores and touch, feel, hear factors. High – Renting products online instead of buying them is increasing in popularity. This is a major concern for Amazon in their book sales as online retailers such as Textbookflix. com and BookRenter. com are providing much cheaper options than buying. High – The internet is a â€Å"Global Market†, consumers can substitute any product by purchasing from companies overseas where products are cheaper, but of good quality. Low – Catalogue/mail order although not as popular still a substitute to online buying. Customers/Buyers High – There is a large variety of online shops and comparison websites to compare best prices. Buyer power is higher when buyers have more choices. Businesses are forced to add value to their products and services to get loyalty. Many loyalty programs include excellent services that customers demand on-line. Customers want to solve their problems and many times they are more successful on-line than on-phone. Also, we see internet savvy businesses springing up offering more valuable goods and services at lower costs. Now with the advent of eBay, many people are assuming roles as drop shippers. Individuals can have a thriving business selling goods of larger companies without having to carry inventory. Suppliers Low – For standardized products that are easily available supplier power will be low. High – Specialized products and brands increase switching costs for buyers so the suppliers have higher power. With Amazon products such as the Harry Potter books are exclusive from publisher. High – Online shops making it easier for publishers/ brands to sell directly to consumers without a third party (e. g. Blackwell’s), suppliers may not need Amazon. High – If there is a concentration of suppliers for certain products in the industry rather than fragmented. Low – Global shipping has increased the amount of suppliers available. Value Chain The value chain analysis undertaken examines the operational effectiveness of activities that enable Amazon. om to perform better than its competitors. Amazon. com configures its value chain activities to create unique value for customers, reduce its costs of carrying out these activities and reduce the cost of its customers’ transactions. SUPPORT ACTIVITIES Firm Infrastructure Huge central customer data warehouse available to all business units. Central planning function. Amazon. com has a single Technology platform wi th services being incrementally distributed to other worldwide locations, thus reducing costs by leveraging investments. Human Resource Management Amazon. om offers employees unique benefits such as medical, paid time off and stock grants and relocation allowances. Such a strategy means warehouses could be located in economically cheaper areas yet these benefits can attract highly skilled workers. For example in Kentucky, Amazon. com offers a decent rate of pay of about $11 – $12 thus reducing cost of labour. Amazon. com sources expertise from highly experienced workers from other competitors such as Walmart. Technology Development High investments in technology development to leverage new but unknown opportunities in digital sales of music, books and videos. For example being able to quickly digitize media for direct online sales/download or for â€Å"Search inside the book† service. Using standard hardware systems from HP to reduce cost of maintenance and compatibility Building an IT strategy, IT infrastructure and Data Centre on Linux open source software thus reducing cost of technology development. Renting computing resources to other companies reduce total cost of Ownership Procurement Using the Strategic Business Unit – BookSurge to keep a rich inventory of digital copies of books so as to make this readily available for customers through print-on-demand and reduce time of delivery. Specially built distribution centres, warehouses and fulfillment centres to increase the speed of order processing thus avoiding transaction costs. PRIMARY ACTIVITIES Inbound logistics Highly reduced returns to suppliers (such as unsold books and media) due to available accurate forecasting technology Laseter et al (2000). Efficiently gathering information about customer experiences to inform service inputs and inventory controls. Operations Easy and fast payment systems Online customer contact and feedback. 24hour warehouse operations to meet customer demands. Outbound logistics Close proximity to motorways e. g. UK Fulfilment Centre in Bedfordshire located next to M1. Ability to aggregate orders bound for specific locations. Marketing & Sales Discounts and price reductions made available with suggested product mixes. Similar products recommended to customers interactively. Interactive shipping and parceling price calculations. Free delivery based on single transaction spend. Service Free returns policy within 30 days. Uses marketplace to increase channel and range of goods through 3rd parties and customers. Price comparison of new products with used products in marketplace shops. B. How has it responded to pressures from its competitive environment? They responded with a continuous innovation in business strategy and information systems. Its business innovations are all driven by huge investments in information systems. There were three million titles in print, and any one physical bookstore could only stock a fraction of them. A â€Å"virtual† bookstore offers a much larger selection of titles. Amazon. com was able to charge lower prices than physical bookstores because it maintained very little of its own inventory (relying instead on distributors) and did not have to pay for maintaining physical storefronts or a large retail sales staff. Amazon also introduced Amazon. com Auctions (similar to those offered by eBay), and zShops (online storefronts for small retailers). To service these new product lines, Amazon significantly expanded its warehouse and distribution capabilities and hired large numbers of employees. C. How does it provide value to its customers? In 1995, former investment banker Jeff Bezos took advantage of new business opportunities created by the Internet by setting up a Web site to sell books directly to customers online. Amazon. com provided online synopses, tables of contents, and reviews to help with selection. Amazon tried to provide superior customer service through e-mail and telephone customer support, automated order confirmation, online tracking and shipping information, and the ability to pay for purchases with a single click of the mouse using credit card and personal information a customer had provided during a previous purchase. This was called â€Å"1-Click† express shopping, and it made the shopping experience even more convenient. Q. 2: Describe Amazon’s evolving business strategy? Amazon has changed its strategy for the last 13 years. They started from a way to sell books over the internet directly to customers, They offered so many things with time as : a. A much larger selection and lower prices b. Great customer support via telephone and e-mail c. Customer’s ability to connect with real people d. The creation of â€Å"1-click† shopping e. In 1998 began selling music and video products They set a goal of being a biggest virtual retail company. Their scope includes lean inventories, low head count, and significant cost savings over traditional bookstores and other retail competitors. Also in early 2000 they lowered prices, gave free shipping, and offered e-commerce to customers in order to increase profit. They improved their efficiency and became a profitable corporation. Q. 3: Why did the company change its strategy? Amazon kept changing its strategy throughout its existence to compete better. To be a successful player in the market a company especially an online retailer needs to have the ability to adjust according the changing situation of the market. Due to continue adjustments in its business strategy Amazon was able to get profits in less than ten years and getting a continuous profit in the recent years. They changed their strategy timely and in order to keep the company growing they need to change the business strategy according the current market and by keeping in view the competitors. Q. 4: Do you think Amazon can continue to be successful? Explain your answer. Amazon is one of the biggest online retailing company and is famous for providing textbooks and reading materials for purchase. People do not surf on internet in great deal to find another online retailing company because the Amazon has created an image in the minds of the users and they are confident that they will get a great deal at Amazon. Personally I would gladly use Amazon as It has developed a trust level over the years. As for as the success of the Amazon is concerned I think Amazon will keep getting success in the future and they will continue to deliver for their investors. If the senior management is flexible and creative they will be able to adjust in any economic situation. There will always be a great number of students and other people who needs books and other reading materials. Amazon with a good history and good steady revenue and customers also support my point more solid in regards to their continual success.